June 16, 2020
See Principal Harold’s final message below with June, July and August birthday announcements!
May 31, 2020
May 29, 2020
Ms. Harold says hello and announces the May Birthdays.
May 28, 2020
May 27, 2020
May 18, 2020
May 15, 2020
Dear Underwood Community,
Please see the video below to see whooo’s cooking. Please add to our community cookbook and share your favorite recipe.
Have a great weekend.
Elaine
May 9, 2020
Play the Staff Hat Game below.
May 4, 2020
April 30, 2020
Underwood’s report can be accessed here: http://reportcards.doe.mass.edu/2019/02070115.
April 27, 2020
Dear Underwood Families,
I recognize that the Governor’s announcement about schools in Massachusetts being closed for the rest of the year was perhaps expected news and unsettling at the same time. I know that the news left me feeling a sense of loss for our spring together. I am still committed to finding opportunities to foster community and ensure that we are working together to support one another and our children. I imagine that you and your children may have had similar reactions, and we will work together to continue to provide meaningful connections to our school.
While I do not have specifics as to what virtual schooling will look like beyond the May 4th plan, we will continue to update you as new information develops. At this time, there are more questions than answers, but together we will continue to educate, comfort, and support our students, families, and each other. I know that many of our 5th-grade students and families are concerned about not being able to have the typical Moving On ceremonies and celebrations, but over the next few weeks, we will be working with our parents and 5th Grade teachers to develop a virtual celebratory closure for Grade 5 students and families.
We all have more questions than answers at this time but together we will continue to do what we do best which is to educate, comfort, and support our students, families, and each other. As a staff, we are discussing ways to keep students engaged in their remote learning and to feel connected to us for the rest of the year.
Please know, you are not required to fill out the Placement Form that was sent to you. The teachers know your children well; trust them to thoughtfully place your child in next year’s class. Although a child may want to be with a best friend, that best friend may not be the best working partner for your child. Feel free to comment on any information you feel the school may not know that would be helpful for the placement process. Remember you are not allowed to request a specific teacher.
Stay Well and Take Care,
Elaine
Elaine Harold, Principal 101 Vernon Street Newton, MA 02458 Phone (617) 559-9660 Fax (617) 552-5552
April 13, 2020
April 6, 2020
March 29, 2020
March 25, 2020
Video Update to Students from Mrs. Harold.
March 13, 2020
Dear Underwood Families,
You should have received a message from David Fleishman with updates about our school closure. I’ve pasted the text of his letter below for your reference. Thank you all for your messages of support and for reaching out with questions over the past 24 hours.
The NPS Office of Teaching and Learning is assembling a collection of materials to provide enrichment and connectedness opportunities for your children during this unprecedented time of school closing. The materials will provide educational opportunities and activities at grade level for your children while school is closed. They are not intended to replace classroom instruction, or to substitute for instruction in any way. Rather, they are supplemental – curated grade-level activities that are interesting and fun and encourage students to explore new topics on their own.
As David mentioned, parent/teacher conferences and other meetings and school activities have been postponed. We’ll likely revise our schedule for report cards and progress reports once we resume normal school functioning. I look forward to rescheduling other key events that we had to postpone this week and next.
For those of you with questions about how to talk with your children about COVID-19, I wanted to point you to two helpful resources. The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) has put together some guidance that can be found here. Riverside Trauma Center also has useful suggestions here.
During these challenging and uncertain times, we are aware that families may need food resources. Below are some local Newton and Boston resources for food:
If you are on Facebook, there is a group called Newton Neighbors Helping Newton Neighbors, which matches residents needing help with volunteers who are willing and able to help. This group has created an intake form to service our community as we navigate disruptions caused by COVID-19. Below are some local resources for food. A referral form is required.
- Centre Street Food Pantry
- 11 Homer Street, Newton Center
- www.centrestfoodpantry.org
- 617.340.9554
- Newton Food Pantry
- 1000 Commonwealth Avenue (City Hall)
- www.newtonfoodpantry.org
- 617.796-1233
- Arabic Food Pantry
- 187 Church Street, Newton Corner
- www.arabicbaptist.org
- 617.723.9766
- Project Bread (1-800-645-8333) will be able to support families in need, especially if you are unable to go to work.
Please take care of yourself and your family. I will be in touch with further information.
Elaine Harold
Interim Principal