January 31, 2025
Dear Families,
Believe it or not, we have been together for five months now and have reached the midpoint of the school year. Today was a special day – Family Conference Day. Thank you for being present to share and celebrate the many wonderful milestones and adventures that your children have experienced during their time here thus far. I hope many were able to have some nice conversations with our amazing teachers. It is always a day that we look forward to as we exchange stories, create goals, and share thoughts and plans for the upcoming school year. Some children even get to experience some extra fun in the Big Room for the first time, too. Thank you to the Purple Room families for supplying “Fun Friday” lunch for the staff on this special day.
2025-26 REGISTRATION
Speaking of next year, Registration for the 2025-26 school year has begun. Information was emailed out to families last week. Let us know if you need hard copies. If you are returning to GCS next year, please get your information to us at the front desk by the end of next week (Friday, February 7th) so we can begin the placement process. We are here to help you with questions, thoughts, or advice.
WINTER IN FULL SWING
The long-awaited snow has finally been a steady presence on our playground recently, and the children are loving it when it is not too cold for outside play. They are working and playing hard as they climb up the sledding hill and then enjoy the ride back down, sometimes with two on the back of a toboggan. Hats off to our energetic teachers for providing extra pushes for those who are just not heavy enough to pick up speed to get down the hill and for handling the excitement while keeping everyone safe. There is also snowball making (and sometimes tasting), snow painting, snow angels being made, and lots of shoveling going on. Thank you for helping us by labeling and bringing along extra bags of hats, mittens, snowpants, boots, and any other needed supplies. We know the loads are big, as are the efforts. And while the children are all enjoying the snow, we as adults are grateful to have made it through the 10 darkest weeks of the year from November 16th through January 22nd or five weeks on either side of the Winter Solstice. We do love seeing glimmers of daylight as school closes at the end of the day. Wahoo for moving just a little closer to spring!
A SPECIAL GUEST
We also had an exciting day a couple of weeks ago here at GCS as we paid tribute to our school-wide theme of “A Sense of Belonging”. Children’s author, Casey Robinson, shared an exciting presentation and read-a-loud to the children and staff in our library. Casey authored both Small Things Mended and Iver and Ellsworth. Staff also enjoyed a special luncheon with Casey for conversation and book signing. How wonderful it was for everyone to have the opportunity to meet and learn from Casey, while also sharing her message of A Sense of Belonging. Please see some more of Casey’s events planned at www.silverunicornbooks.com in Acton. Thank you to Blue Room Teacher, Inga Nuccio, for helping to plan for this special guest.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Congratulations to the Biberman Family on the birth of their son (sister, Isabelle, is in the TTh PM Blue Room) and to the Fiori Family on the birth of their son (brother, Leo, is in the FD Pre-K class).
THANK YOU!
Thank you to the Board of Directors for supporting Stafff with a teacher appreciation breakfast and lunch last week, and to all of our “Stock the Staff Room” volunteers during the month of January: Crystal Doherty, Meagan Doyle, Sara Ellison, Kristina Hepburn, Daphney Hilaire, Terra Machado, Caitlin Mahoney, Danielle Recco and Erica Tamlyn. The Staff certainly appreciate your generosity!
We’d like to thank the following families who have donated various items to the school: The Babin family for spare clothing/footwear & toys; May Chaar for Magic Treehouse Books for the Library; the Cleary family for cookies for the Staff; June Cloutier for oatmeal for sensory tables & chocolates for the Staff; the Guaraldi family for toys & curriculum materials; and the Montilli family for toys.
In closing, we continually strive to teach our young children here at GCS about resiliency and perspective taking, along with kindness and acceptance. With so many changes, conflicts, and tragedies going on around us, including the recent air collision, our thoughts are with many as we navigate all that is happening, and hold family close
Linda Kosinski
Director
Dates to Remember:
Friday, February 7th Enrollment Forms due for the 2025-26 School Year
Monday, February 10th GCS Board Meeting – 7:30 PM
February 17th – 21st Winter Break – No School
Sunday, March 2nd Annual Open House: 11 AM – 1 PM
