Sunday Greetings
It’s finally here! After months of planning, preparing, and dreaming about this school year, tomorrow we welcome our Gators back to Greenwood! The Power of Us begins!
This year, we have three first days of school. On Monday, August 24, our 1st–5th grade students and PK and Kindergarten students with last names A–L will begin school. On Tuesday, August 25, our 1st–5th grade students return, and PK and Kindergarten students with last names M–Z will have their first day. On Wednesday, August 26, all of our Gators will be together for our first full day of school!
We are ready. Our staff is excited. We are ready to make our Gators feel known, loved, safe, and excited to learn. Boom!
This Week's Big 3
1️⃣ GET EXCITED — Night Before School | Sunday, August 23 | 7 PM
Grab a blanket TONIGHT, get cozy, and join us for our annual Greenwood Night Before School virtual reading! Parents can stay on the call and ask Mr. Stein any last-minute questions about the first day.
2️⃣ KNOW THE PLAN — Arrival, Dismissal & Transportation
The first few days will take a little extra patience as we establish routines. Please review the arrival, dismissal, and bus reminders below before Monday morning.
3️⃣ CREATE A GREAT START — Sleep, Screens & School Readiness
The first week is all about establishing healthy routines. A good night’s sleep, limited screen time, a charged-up family, and a positive attitude can make a big difference. We are excited to partner with you to help your child start the year strong.
How is Your Child Going Home Day 1
Thank you to the more than 90% of Greenwood families who attended Open House! If you were unable to attend, please send your child’s teacher a ParentSquare message tonight letting them know how your child will be going home on Day 1. Do not wait until tomorrow.
Sunday, August 23 - The Night Before School Virtual Reading @ 7 PM
Join us tonight for a special reading of a book created by our Greenwood teachers to get your Gators excited about coming to school. We know the first day can bring excitement, nerves, or a little bit of both. Our goal is to help every child feel ready, confident, and connected before they walk through our doors.
ParentSquare
Thank you for making sure ParentSquare is on your phone or computer. ParentSquare is our primary way of communicating with you throughout the year. If you are not receiving our messages, please contact the main office on Monday, August 24 between 10 AM–1 PM or after 3 PM. Beginning Friday, August 28, you will receive a weekly Friday Communication from your child’s teacher. These messages will highlight instruction, learning, classroom updates, and celebrations. Major school events, important announcements, reminders, and schoolwide information will come from Mr. Stein each Sunday at 6 PM. We take great pride in communicating clearly and consistently with our Greenwood community.
Car Drop Off Reminders
We will begin unloading cars at 7:10 AM. Students must be able to open their own car door. If your child needs help getting out of the car, please park and walk your child to the front entrance.
You may use either drop-off lane:
The gym loop
The Gator Garden loop
Please stay in your lane and follow the direction of our staff and traffic cones. Do not drive around other cars or over the cones. Students should not be on devices while entering campus. If your child is having difficulty getting out of the car, please park and walk them to the front entrance so we can keep traffic moving and give everyone a great start to the morning. Car drop-off ends at 7:40 AM.
For safety, parents will not be able to walk into the school with their child on the first day. We will have plenty of Greenwood adults ready to welcome, reassure, and help our Gators get to class.
Car Pick Up Reminders
We have two pick-up loops:
PK–1st grade: Gator Garden loop
2nd–5th grade: Gym loop
If you have children in multiple grade levels, use the loop for your youngest Gator.
During the first week, we will begin car pick-up at 2:00 PM to help us get students loaded and buses dismissed on time. Please have your green car pick-up tag visible in your window. If you did not attend Open House and need a car pick-up tag, please visit the main office Monday between 10 AM–1 PM. Students must be able to open their own car door. Our teachers are unable to buckle students into car seats.
If you are picking up your child as a walker, meet your child by the flags. Walkers should not go to the Gator Garden or gym pick-up areas.
Bus Reminders
Students will have assigned seats, with PK and Kindergarten students seated toward the front of the bus. Beginning on Day 2, students must have their student ID with them when riding the bus. Please have your child at the bus stop early and ready to board when the bus arrives.
At dismissal, teachers will walk students to their buses. A Greenwood adult will also assist the driver with loading and help students follow expectations. We expect every Gator to ride safely, respectfully, and responsibly. Bus-riding privileges may be lost when students do not follow expectations.
Each week, a 4th or 5th grade student will be recognized as our Bus Captain of the Week for demonstrating our Gator House values. The Bus Captain will earn a House Point for their House!
Student ID Updates
Our student IDs did not arrive before Open House. Every student will receive their ID and lanyard on their first day of school. Students should bring their ID to school every day. IDs are used for transportation, lunch, and the library. During the first week, teachers will teach students strategies for keeping track of their IDs throughout the day. If your child loses an ID, please contact their teacher as soon as possible so we can begin the replacement process. Please note that there is a fee for replacement IDs.
Safety Reminders
Every student will enter the building through our weapon scanners each morning. We anticipate longer lines during the first two days, especially for students who did not bring school supplies to Open House. After Day 2, we expect the process to move much more quickly. Some water bottles and glasses cases may set off the scanners. As we learn which items belong to which students, we will help students know what to do if an item needs to be checked.
You may also see our School Security Officers throughout campus. Henrico Police representatives will support our school during morning arrival and dismissal throughout the year. We are grateful for the many layers of safety and support we have in place to protect our Gators.
Day 1 Supplies - What Do I absolutely Need
Two items are especially important:
Headphones — Your child will need headphones for learning at school.
Green Take-Home Folder — This folder is the hub for daily communication between school and home. It can be purchased Monday or Tuesday for $3.
If your child is missing any of these essential items, their teacher will follow up during the first week. These are a must.
New Student (1st-5th) House Reveal
We are excited to welcome all of our new 1st–5th grade students into one of our five Greenwood Houses on their first day! Our PK and Kindergarten students will join their House during Back to School Night in September. We can't wait to welcome our newest Gators into the family!
Tuesday, August 25 - PTA Spirit Night: Chick-fil-A
Join your fellow Gators for our first PTA Spirit Night of the school year!
Friday, August 28 - Spilling the Tea: Morning Clubs @ 9 AM
We are excited to offer so many opportunities for our Gators through our morning clubs! Join us Friday at 9 AM to learn more about this year’s opportunities, ask questions, and hear what is coming this year.
Sunday, August 30 - Q1 Morning Club Registration @ 6 PM
Our morning clubs fill up quickly! Be ready to register at 6 PM on Sunday, August 30.
Questions That Spark Conversation
On Day 1 of school, instead of asking your child, “How was school today?” we encourage you to ask questions such as, “What made you laugh today?”, “Who did you sit with at lunch?”, “What was the hardest thing you did today?”, “Did anything surprise you today?”, and “How were you kind today?” These questions can prompt great responses and help your child share meaningful details about their first day. Most importantly, take time to listen, celebrate their experiences, and let the conversation unfold naturally.
Computer Reminder
Students will not bring their computers home each day. We have shared our Digital Wellness Plan in previous communications and virtual chats, and we are excited about our commitment to reducing unnecessary screen time and creating healthier technology habits for our students.
Devices at Home
We will teach digital citizenship at Greenwood, but what happens outside of school matters just as much.
This month, our school counselors will work with students on digital citizenship and strategies for using phones, gaming systems, social media, and other devices responsibly.
We also want to be clear: teaching digital citizenship at school is only one part of the equation. Families play the most important role in setting expectations, establishing boundaries, and knowing what their children are doing online.
At our 5th Grade Leadership Summit on August 14, we were very direct with students about the expectations and support we will provide around group chats, TikTok videos and comments, FaceTiming, and other online interactions. These became significant challenges last year, particularly on weekends and school holiday breaks for students 2nd - 5th grade navigating this digital world.
We encourage families to find the boundaries that work best for your home. Many Greenwood families have shared strategies that have worked well for them, including no phones during the school week, no devices after 8 PM, or delaying personal phones until children are older. There is no single strategy that works for every family. What matters most is that we set clear expectations, check in regularly, and stay involved in our children’s digital lives. If you need help navigating any of this, please reach out to our counseling team. We are here to partner with you.
Family Photos
We heard from many families how much they enjoyed seeing family photos on our teachers’ bulletin boards! If you did not bring your family photo to Open House, please send one with your child during Week 1.
Previous Messages (Click the links below to review)
Click the links below to review important information we've shared with families:
Final Thought
Tomorrow is more than the first day of school. It is the beginning of another year of learning, growing, laughing, leading, and becoming. There will be excitement. There may be a few nerves. There will probably be a few things that don't go exactly as planned. And that’s okay.
What matters is that we begin together. Our staff is ready. Our doors are open. Our Gator family is strong. Bring it on!