Sunday Greetings: November 1, 2026
Sunday Greetings
What an incredible way to wrap up October! Friday evening at Trunk or Treat, it was amazing to see so many of our current Gators, families, and Greenwood alumni come together. Seeing former students reconnect, families spend time together, and generations of Gators continue to show up for Greenwood was a reminder of what makes this place so special. Whether you are a current Gator, a former student, or a family that has been part of Greenwood for years, you are part of something bigger than a school. You are part of a family.
We have an exciting month ahead filled with opportunities to celebrate student achievement, strengthen our school community, and create unforgettable experiences for our Gators. As we kick off a new month and a new marking period, we hope you find the information below helpful!
This Week's Big 3
1️⃣ Unity Drive – Help Us Reach $35,000!
We are getting closer to reaching our $35,000 Unity Drive goal, and we need one final push from our Greenwood families! Your generosity makes an incredible difference in the experiences we provide for our students, staff, and families. Just in November, our PTA will sponsor two meals for our teachers, free family photos during Parent-Teacher Conferences, Friendsgiving decorations, our Gratos Unity Day Breakfast, morning club facilitators, field trip financial assistance, and so much more! Every donation, big or small, helps us continue creating these amazing opportunities for our Gators. Please consider donating and sharing our fundraiser with family, friends, and neighbors!
💚 DONATE TODAY – Support Our Greenwood Unity Drive!
2️⃣ Don't Miss These November Sign-Up Deadlines!
November is packed with exciting opportunities for our families to get involved! We are looking for volunteers and chaperones to help make Field Day on Monday, November 23 an unforgettable experience for our Gators. All Field Day volunteer and chaperone sign-ups must be completed by Friday, November 6.
We are also inviting families to register for an adult meal at our Friendsgiving Luncheon on Tuesday, November 24. Please take a moment this week to complete any sign-ups that apply to your family!
🏃 Field Day – Volunteer Sign-Up (Deadline: November 6)
🐊 Field Day – Chaperone Sign-Up (Deadline: November 6)
🦃 Friendsgiving – Adult Meal Sign-Up
3️⃣ Q2 Morning Club Registration - OPEN TODAY
Quarter 2 Morning Club Registration opens Sunday, November 1, at 6:00 PM! We are excited to offer another incredible lineup of extracurricular opportunities that allow our students to discover new interests, build friendships, develop leadership skills, and start their mornings doing something they love. Morning clubs will begin Tuesday, November 10, and run from 7:20–7:45 AM. We strongly encourage families to drop off participating students between 7:10–7:20 AM so they can enjoy the full club experience. Please remember that students arriving after 7:25 AM will not be admitted to their morning club. Many clubs have limited spaces, so be ready to register!
Kindergarten & New Greenwood Families
Welcome to Greenwood! We know we're not your ordinary elementary school, and we're excited for you to experience everything that makes our Gator family special! From Unity Days and House Breakfasts to morning clubs and school traditions, there is a lot happening at Greenwood, and we never want to assume everyone knows all the details. One great way to learn more about the magic happening here is to join us for Spilling the Tea with Mr. Stein (live or listen to the recording afterward). And remember, if you ever have questions or need clarification, please reach out to me directly through ParentSquare, email, or by phone at 804-261-2970. We're glad you're here!
Report Cards House Points
We are excited to celebrate our Gators' academic achievements and commitment to being at school every day! Students will earn 3 House Points for Perfect Attendance, 3 House Points for A/B Honor Roll, and 5 House Points for earning All A's on their Quarter 1 report cards. We love that our House System provides another opportunity to recognize students for their hard work, dedication, and academic success.
Room Parent Reminder
A HUGE thank you to our amazing Room Parents for helping us prepare for one of our favorite Greenwood traditions, Friendsgiving on Tuesday, November 24! This upcoming week, Room Parents are encouraged to create and share a sign-up with families to help collect items needed to make this celebration extra special. Room Parents can send their sign-up directly to their child's homeroom teacher, and our teachers will gladly share it with families through ParentSquare.
Can Collection
Greenwood's Annual Canned Food Drive will take place from November 5–20 and will benefit local community partners, including Hunton Baptist Church and Henrico Christmas Mother. The class with the most donations will be named this year’s Turkey King/Queen. Please have your child drop off these donations to their homeroom teacher.
Please bring non-perishable food items only. Needed items include canned foods (fruits, veggies, beans, etc), hearty soups, peanut butter, pasta, cornbread mix, and canned pasta sauce. Thank you for helping support our community!
Book Fair Dates
Link to our website and eWallet set up - CLICK HERE
Link to volunteer to work it: - CLICK HERE
Student Voice in Action
One of the things we are most proud of at Greenwood is making sure our students have a voice in shaping their school experience. During our recent PBIS and Principal Student Advisory meetings, students shared ideas about how we can make our House System, morning clubs, and school experiences even better. We aren't just listening to their ideas; we're putting them into action!
Some of the newest morning clubs and our upcoming RCA Store indoor recess opportunity came directly from student feedback. These conversations remind us that some of the best ideas come from the people who experience Greenwood every day. We are excited to continue creating opportunities where our students feel heard, valued, and connected!
This Week at Greenwood
Monday, November 2 – Wellness Day
There will be no school for students and teachers
Tuesday, November 3 – Election Day
There will be no school for students as teachers participate in professional learning.
Wednesday, November 4 – PTA Spirit Night at Chipotle
Join us at Chipotle for a delicious dinner and a chance to support Greenwood!
Wednesday, November 4 – House Advisory Meeting
Our House Advisory representatives will meet in the library at 7:20 AM to discuss our house system and share ideas for making it even better. If you have any questions, please direct them directly to Mrs. Earl at cjearl@henrico.k12.va.us.
Wednesday, November 4 – Q1 Academic & Attendance Awards
PK–5 classrooms will recognize students for earning A/B Honor Roll, All A's, and Perfect Attendance during classroom award ceremonies. This is not open for parents to join.
Wednesday, November 4 – Step Team Tryouts
The Gator Stomp is back! Join us in the gym at 7:20 AM as we kick off tryouts for Greenwood's award-winning step team. You must sign up on the morning club document.
Thursday, November 5 – Q1 House Winner Celebration - House Sol
It's time to celebrate our first marking period House Champions, House Sol! Our first marking period champions deserve a big celebration! The winning House will enjoy a special Gator Bash in the gym from 7:20–7:45 AM, an inflatable attraction during recess, and special seating at lunch. Congratulations, Sol!
Thursday, November 5 – Parent-Teacher Conferences
Our evening conferences will run from 3:00–6:30 PM, giving families and teachers an opportunity to discuss student progress and plan for a successful second quarter.
Thursday, November 5 – Free Family Photos
We are offering FREE family photos from 3:00–6:00 PM during conferences. No sign up required.
Thursday, November 5 – Step Team Tryouts
Day two of Gator Stomp tryouts is here! This will take place in the music room!
Friday, November 6 – Spilling the Tea at 9:00 AM
Join us for our monthly Spilling the Tea parent chat as we share updates on our school play, the results of our October 2026 safety audit, morning clubs, attendance, discipline, and academics. One of the highlights of our conversation will be sharing feedback, ideas, and recommendations from our Principal Student Advisory, PBIS Student Advisory, and House Advisory. We'll also look ahead to an exciting November filled with special experiences, including our Veterans Day Assembly, Field Day, Friendsgiving Luncheon, House celebrations, and so much more! Bring your questions, share your ideas, and join the conversation!
Spilling the Tea with Mr. Stein @ 9 AM | Meeting-Join | Microsoft Teams
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS
Friday, November 6 – Greenwood KEVA Plank Tournament
During lunch, students will compete to build the tallest tower in just one minute, with House Points on the line.
Friday, November 6 – Talent Show Tryouts
Does your Gator have a special talent to share? We are excited to host our K–5 Talent Show on Friday, December 18, at 11:30 AM! If your child is interested in trying out, please CLICK HERE.
Friday, November 6 – Book Fair Closes
It's your last chance to shop our Book Fair! Be sure to stop by before it closes and find your next great read.
Friday, November 6 - House Achievement Gator Games
Students who meet their academic and behavior goals for the week will be rewarded with a special Gator Games celebration during their lunch! A great way to recognize our Gators for their hard work, positive choices, and commitment to growth!
Coming Up
Monday, November 9 - No School
Tuesday, November 10 - Q2 Clubs Begin
Tuesday, November 10 - RCA Store Opens for Gratos Unity Day
Students can use their house points/coins to shop at the RCA Store and purchase items in preparation for our upcoming Gratos Unity Day!Wednesday, November 11 - Veterans Day Assembly
Greenwood will come together from 8:20–9:00 AM to honor and celebrate the brave men and women who have served our country. Our 2nd graders will perform special songs, and ADL will share a special routine. One of our favorite opportunities to teach gratitude, service, and appreciation. We hope you can join us as we recognize and celebrate our veterans! USA!
Thursday, November 12 - Indoor Recess - RCA Store
Student voice continues to lead to action! One recommendation from both our PBIS and Principal Student Advisory meetings was to give every grade level an opportunity to visit the RCA Store during an indoor recess day. We're putting that idea into action! Each grade level will have an opportunity to shop, making sure all of our Gators have a chance to participate.
Friday, November 13 - House Achievement Gator Games
We love celebrating our Gators for meeting their academic and behavior goals! Students who meet their weekly goals will enjoy Gator Games and open seating in the cafeteria during their lunch. Best of all, these celebrations happen without losing instructional time!
Friday, November 13 – Q1 Report Card Distribution
Quarter 1 report cards are coming home! Please note that this is a change from the November 6 date originally shared. We appreciate your flexibility!
Final Thought
It's hard to believe our first marking period has already come and gone. Just like the first quarter flew by, the second marking period will be here and gone before we know it. I don't want families to look back in January and realize they missed opportunities to be part of the Greenwood experience.
If you haven't had lunch with us, consider this your invitation. If your child hasn't participated in a morning club, sign them up for Q2. You might be surprised by the friendships they build, the interests they discover, and the sense of belonging that comes from finding their place. If you haven't attended a school event, join us for Friendsgiving on November 24. There is always a seat at the table!
Don't wait. Don't sit on the sidelines. Get involved, find your place! The Power of Us isn't something we just talk about. It's something we build together.
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