Downey School Core Values
Welcome to the Downey Elementary School! Our school is an inclusive K-5 building that provides an excellent education to all students. At Downey School we believe that learning is a partnership between the child, parent/guardian, and Downey School professionals. As a staff, we believe that open and honest communication with parents/guardians is important, and we value the input from parents/guardians. To ensure that Downey School is a safe environment for all students and staff to take academic/professional risks, we live by the 6 Downey School Core Values:
Courage, Pride, Excellence, Respect, Responsibility, Inclusion
September 17, 2023
Dear Downey Community,
We have had a great start to the new school year! Thank you for preparing your children for the start of school. A big thank you to the PTO for hosting a delicious BBQ Welcome Back Lunch for the Downey Staff last month. I would also like to congratulate the PTO on a very successful first PTO meeting on Thursday. There were over 20 parents who joined us in person in the library and about 20 parents on zoom!
This week we will be hosting our annual Curriculum Night for parents on Thursday. Please see below for details about time. Curriculum Night is an opportunity for parents to learn about curriculum and hear more about what their children are doing in the classroom. Also, the math and literacy specialists will have tables set up in the front hallway so you can have the opportunity to chat with them to learn about the work they do with students and to ask any questions you may have about math and literacy. The PE teachers will be in the gym and the music, art, coding, and library media specialists will be in the library. Please stop by the library and say “hello” to our specialists and learn about the work they do with your children!!
Below you will find information about upcoming dates and other important information, please take a few minutes to read through it.
Thank you for your continued support. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me or your child’s teacher with any questions.
Sincerely,
Principal, Deb Gallagher
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Upcoming Dates:
September 20th-Early Release/12:00 p.m. Dismissal
*Lunch will be provided for Extended Day students only.
September 20th-Bus Safety and Evacuation practice with Officer Brad Pindel
September 21st-Curriculum Night
6:30-7:00 p.m. K-2 Families in classrooms
7:00-7:30 p.m. K-5 Families in cafeteria for Principal welcome and other announcements
7:30-8:00 p.m. 3-5 Families in classrooms
6:30-8:00 p.m
*Math and Literacy Specialists will be in the front lobby.
*PE teachers will be in the gym
*Art, Music, Coding,Library Media Specialist will be in the library.
September 25th-Yom Kippur. No School
Staff Update:
Ms. Erin Allaire, student at Stonehill College, is doing her student teaching at Downey with special education teacher Mrs. Teebagy through December. Ms. Allaire is a former Downey student and we are thrilled to have her back!
Kayla Keefe, graduate occupational therapy student from the University of New Hampshire, who will be doing her level II fieldwork at Downey with OT Lori Weisenborn and Amanda Mellon. Ms. Keefe will be with us through December!
Cafeteria Update-We have a new procedure in the cafeteria this year. All student lunch cards are scanned into the computer in real time as they exit the lunch line with their food. If your child has food allergies this information will pop up on the computer screen and your child will not be allowed to take the items they are allergic to. We have hired Ms. Valerie Harding to help with this procedure. Ms. Valerie is working closely with the school nurse and cafeteria staff to help monitor student food allergies.
SEPAC Update:
School Site Council-Each Elementary school has a School Site Council. School site councils were first formed 1993 in accordance with.G.L. ch.71§59C. It is a representative, school-based committee composed of the principal, parents, teachers, and community members. If you are interested in being on the council please email Principal Deb Gallagher by Friday, September 22nd at dgallagher@westwood.k12.ma.us. Mrs. Gallagher is looking for 2 parents to join the council this year!
There are 4 meetings that will take place during the school year. The meetings will are from 9:00-10:00 a.m.
A few friendly reminders….
The school day officially starts at 9:00 a.m. The expectation is that students are in their seats and ready to learn at this time. If your child arrives after 9:00 a.m. they will be marked tardy.
Label, label, label
Please label your child’s belongings so that we can return them to your child when they get lost in the building.
School Dismissal Manager
Please take a few minutes to review your SDM account to make sure it accurately reflects your child’s dismissal plan. We are still finding some errors. Thank you for your help with this!
