November 3, 2024
Dear Downey Community,
October was a busy month with parent/teacher conferences, all school community share, and a PTO sponsored Fall Festival. The "Haunted Walkway" created by our 5th grade students was the favorite activity of the night!
I do have some exciting news to share with you! We were recently ranked #15 out of 991 elementary schools in the state in the Niche 2025 Best Elementary Schools in Massachusetts. I don’t like to put a lot of stock into rankings as there are many of them and our standing varies, but it is wonderful to have staff and students recognized for their hard work. Thank you for your continued support. Downey School is exceptional, a wonderful place to work and a great community to be a part of!
As we enter into the holiday season, and electronics are a popular gift idea, I would like to highlight a section from the Pre-K Elementary Handbook that can be found on the Downey website regarding electronics in school.
Mobile Phones, Smart Watches, Electronic Devices (iPad, Laptops, Gaming Devices)
These items are NOT allowed in school as they are a distraction to the learning environment. If a student brings these items into school the classroom teacher will ask them to turn off their device and place it in their backpack. If a parent needs to send a communication to their child during the school day, parents should contact the school’s main office and leave a message with the administrative assistant.
Lastly, a big thank you to the PTO who treated the Downey teachers to dinner from Sweet Green on the evening of the parent/teacher conferences. It was a long day for the staff and they very much enjoyed and appreciated dinner. The PTO takes very good care of the Downey staff, thank you for your support, kindness, and generosity.
Please read below for information about upcoming Downey and district events. Wishing you and your family a safe and healthy Thanksgiving season!
Sincerely,
Principal Deb Gallagher
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Upcoming Events:
November 5 - No School/Voting Day
November 7 - Picture Retake Day - The 5th graders will retake the Grade 5 photo on the structure.
The second time’s a charm! If you are not completely satisfied with your child’s student portrait and would like another try, you have the opportunity for a retake on Thursday, November 7. Please return the undamaged portrait package to the photographer on Retake Day. If your school has class photos, please keep it and just return the individual portraits. If you have any specific instructions for the photographer, please jot them down so they show through the envelope window and can be easily spotted. Retake packages will be distributed at the school approximately 3-5 weeks following Retake Day.
For refund information, please visit www.coffeepond.com. Email us at lifeguards@coffeepond.com. Call us in Eastern MA at (508) 907-6633, ext. 0, or outside Eastern MA at (800) 632-2323, ext. 0
November 8 - Honoring Our Veterans
At 8:55 a.m., all students will remain outside for a few minutes to recite, “The Pledge of Allegiance” together in honor of our veterans. The first grade students will also say a few words to honor our servicemen and women. Families are invited to join us for this short recognition ceremony.
Also, students, staff, and families are encouraged to honor a veteran they know or write a short message to the veterans on a star that can be obtained from their classroom teacher or the front office. These stars will be displayed throughout the month of November on our “Wall of Honor” displayed in the front lobby. Thank you to the first grade teachers for organizing these Veterans' Day celebrations - it has been a long standing tradition!
November 11 - No School/Veterans' Day
November 13 - Early Release
November 13 -“Empowering Caregivers to Provide a Safe and Balanced Digital Experience”
Dear Families and Caregivers,
We are excited to invite you to an informative session, presented by Steve Ouellette, Director of Technology and Innovation, focusing on digital citizenship and safety for WPS children. The workshop will provide valuable tools and knowledge to:
● Understand the challenges and opportunities of the digital world for our children.
● Learn about available safety measures and controls on smartphones and home networks.
● Explore digital citizenship instructions implemented within the Westwood Public Schools (WPS) system.
● Gain insights on fostering a safe and balanced digital experience for your children.
Join us on Wednesday, November 13, from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM at the Westwood High School, Professional Development Room.
Please RSVP here if you'd like to attend via Zoom. We look forward to seeing you there!
Sincerely,
Lateefah Franck, Director of Equity, Integration and Community Partnerships
Math League - Grades 3-5
Math League registration will begin this week. An email with more information will go out to all families in Grades 3-5 later today. A big thank you to Hannah Sullivan, parent of a 3rd and 5th grader, for stepping into the role again as our Downey School Math League Coordinator!
November 27 - Early Release - Thanksgiving Holiday
The dismissal times for the day before Thanksgiving will be as follows. The school day schedule does not include a full lunch period prior to dismissal.
Middle School 11:00 AM
Preschool 11:15 AM
High School 11:35 AM
Elementary Schools 12:10 PM
November 28-29 - No School/Thanksgiving Holiday
