Sunday Greetings:
We hope your summer has been filled with fun, family, and opportunities to make lasting memories together! While we hope our students are enjoying every minute of summer, I have to admit—our staff is already counting down the days until Greenwood is once again filled with laughter, learning, and smiling faces. We truly can't wait to welcome our Gators back home.
As we prepare for another incredible school year, we're excited to begin sharing updates centered around our 2026-2027 theme, The Power of Us. This theme reminds us that our greatest strength comes from working together, supporting one another, communicating openly, celebrating successes, and creating a school community where every child and every family feels valued and connected. We hope these Sunday updates are informative, encouraging, timely, and helpful as we prepare for another amazing year together.
Throughout the summer, our goal is not to overwhelm our families with communication, but rather to provide meaningful updates so there are no surprises as we approach the first day of school. By staying connected now, we can begin the year with confidence, excitement, and a shared commitment to making this the best year yet.
As always, if you have any questions about the information below, please don't hesitate to reach out. We're always happy to help.
Kindergarten & Preschool Staggered Start
For the upcoming school year, Henrico County Public Schools will implement a staggered start schedule for all incoming preschool and kindergarten students. The following schedule is the schedule for Greenwood Elementary School:
Monday, August 24
Preschool and Kindergarten students with last names A-L will attend school.
Preschool and Kindergarten students with last names M-Z will remain home.
All students in Grades 1-5 will attend.
Tuesday, August 25
Preschool and Kindergarten students with last names M-Z will attend school.
Preschool and Kindergarten students with last names A-L will remain home.
All students in Grades 1-5 will attend.
This staggered schedule allows our youngest Gators to experience a calmer, more personalized transition into school while giving teachers additional time to build relationships and establish classroom routines.
To answer questions about this countywide initiative, Mr. Stein will host a virtual Spilling the Tea with Mr. Stein meeting on Thursday, July 16 at 9:00 AM.
CLICK HERE to Submit Questions
Spilling the Tea with Mr. Stein (2026-2027) | Meeting - CLICK HERE to Join | Microsoft Teams
GatorFest: 5th Grade Leadership Camp
Our administrative team is excited to welcome our incoming fifth graders to GatorFest on Friday, August 14, from 9:00-11:00 AM! This leadership experience is designed to help our oldest students prepare for an incredible final year at Greenwood. We believe every fifth grader has the ability to positively impact our school, and GatorFest is the first step in empowering them to lead with confidence, kindness, and pride. If your family is unable to attend, that's absolutely okay. We'll make sure every fifth grader receives the same important information and opportunities once school begins.
Remaining School Supplies
We still have a large number of school supplies remaining in the main office from students who did not attend the final week of school. Our staff has contacted families multiple times through phone calls and email regarding pickup. As previously communicated, any remaining supplies not picked up by July 1 will be donated or discarded.
July 16 — Spilling the Tea with Mr. Stein
We're excited to continue our monthly virtual conversations with our Greenwood community through Spilling the Tea with Mr. Stein! These meetings provide families with an opportunity to hear school updates, ask questions, and learn more about upcoming events and initiatives. Questions may be submitted ahead of time or asked during the live meeting. We look forward to connecting with you and continuing to strengthen the partnership between home and school.
July 23 — School Theme Logo Challenge
We've already received six logo entries!
Thank you to the students and families who have already begun showing what The Power of Us means to them. Your creativity reminds us that the Greenwood spirit doesn't take the summer off.
This year's theme embraces a fun 90's-inspired style because it reminds us of a time when children built friendships face-to-face, played outside, solved problems together, explored their creativity, and learned through meaningful experiences. As we continue reducing screen time at Greenwood, we'll remain committed to developing the whole child academically, socially, emotionally, physically, and creatively. Students and families are invited to submit their original logo designs by commenting on our social media post or emailing them directly to the school. Deadline: July 23
New Student & Kindergarten Registration
If your family is new to Greenwood or your child will be joining us for kindergarten, we encourage you to begin the registration process as soon as possible. Registering before the first day of school helps ensure a smooth transition and allows us to prepare for your child's successful start at Greenwood.
https://greenwood.henricoschools.us/o/greenwood/page/registration
Recess Equipment Donations
As you clean out garages, closets, or playrooms this summer, please consider donating gently used recess equipment to Greenwood. Every soccer ball, jump rope, and kickball creates another opportunity for students to build friendships, stay active, and simply enjoy being kids.
Morning Choice Donations
Each morning from 7:20-7:45 AM, students may participate in a morning club or enjoy Morning Choice activities in their classroom. We're looking for donations such as LEGOs, action figures, board games, puzzles, magnetic tiles, building blocks, card games, and other hands-on activities.
This year, one of our goals is to provide even more opportunities for students to collaborate, create, imagine, and interact with one another. As part of that commitment, students will no longer use computers during Morning Choice or indoor recess, allowing for more meaningful play, conversation, and creativity.
August 7 — Teacher Placement Cards Mailed
Be on the lookout for our special Power of Us postcards arriving in your mailbox on August 7! These postcards will officially introduce your child's teacher for the upcoming school year while building excitement for the first day of school. Just like many families looked forward to receiving letters and postcards in the 90's, we're bringing back the joy of opening the mailbox and celebrating this exciting milestone together.
Parent Handbook
The more informed our families are, the more successful our students become. That's why we're excited to share our 2026-2027 Greenwood Parent Handbook, a one-stop resource that answers many of the questions our families ask throughout the school year. We encourage you to review the handbook before school begins. If you have any questions or need clarification, please don't hesitate to reach out to Mr. Stein—we're always happy to help. If there's additional information you think would benefit future families, please let us know. Our Parent Handbook is a living document that will continue to grow and improve with your feedback.
https://greenwood.henricoschools.us/o/greenwood/page/parenthandbook
Follow Greenwood This Summer!
Don't miss all the fun happening this summer! We regularly share school updates, reminders, celebrations, behind-the-scenes moments, and opportunities for families to stay connected. Follow Greenwood_Elem on Facebook, Instagram, and X and help us celebrate all the amazing things happening at Greenwood!
Important Links
Mr. Stein's Corner
One of my favorite parts of being a principal is watching students walk through our doors each morning excited to see their teachers and friends. Summer is an important time to recharge, but I can't wait to hear about your vacations, camps, new pets, soccer games, books you've read, and everything else you've been doing. Enjoy every moment together—we'll be ready to make this our best year yet.
Gator Students: Keep reading, keep playing outside, help someone at home this week, and remember—we can't wait to see your smiling faces in August!
Final Thoughts
A successful 2026-2027 school year starts long before the first day of school. It starts with families, teachers, staff, and students working together to create something special. Thank you for believing in Greenwood, believing in one another, and believing in the Power of Us.