Sunday Greetings: October 4, 2026
Ryan Stein
Sunday Greetings
We are pumped to finally have a full 5-day week ahead as we head into our 7th week of school! It is hard to believe how quickly this year is moving. There is a lot happening at Greenwood this week, so here are the three things I want every Gator family to know.
This Week's Big 3
1️⃣ Help Us Kick Off Our Unity Drive!
Our goal is to raise $35,000 in October, and we need our entire Gator family to help make it happen. Please share our Unity Drive with 10 family members or friends and help us show what the Power of Us can do!
2️⃣ Keep an Eye on Grades, Homework & Retakes
We are three weeks away from the end of the marking period, and this is a great time to check PowerSchool, talk with your child about their progress, and make sure homework and retake opportunities are being completed. Our teachers are working hard to provide intervention, remediation, enrichment, and individual support—but the partnership between school, student, and family matters.
3️⃣ Let's Keep Building Our Gator Family!
From our House Achievement Picnic and 5th Grade Senior Convocation to All In Tutoring, READtoRUN, Shine Your Light, and everything happening in between, there are so many opportunities this week to celebrate our students and strengthen our community. Thank you for continuing to show up, participate, volunteer, and make Greenwood a special place to be.
Unity Drive - We Need Your Support
We are incredibly grateful that our Greenwood PTA facilitates our Direct Donate fundraiser. Because of their work, Greenwood keeps 100% of every dollar donated, meaning your generosity directly impacts our students. Many schools partner with outside vendors that take 30–50% of the money raised, but thanks to our amazing PTA Board and President, that is not the case at Greenwood! Please help us spread the word by sharing our Unity Drive link with at least 10 family members and friends. Our goal is to raise $35,000 during the month of October—and we know we can do it! Thank you for helping us continue to build the Power of Us!
October 2: Spilling the Tea @ 9 AM - Video Recap
Our latest Spilling the Tea session was loaded with great information about reading, intervention, House Achievement, attendance, homework, retakes, and gradebooks. If you weren't able to join us live, we hope you'll take a few minutes to watch the recording and stay connected with what's happening at Greenwood!
Piano or Drums in the Hallway
We are looking for parents and community members who would like to share their musical talents with our students by playing piano or drums in the hallways! If you can help bring a little more music and energy to our school day, please consider signing up. We would love to have you join us!
SmartWatch
Please remember that students should not wear Smartwatches to school. Smartwatches that allow students to text or communicate during the school day create a distraction and are not permitted under HCPS policy. Students should not be texting or messaging family members during the school day; if you need to reach your child, please contact the school office and we will make sure the message gets to them.
Homework Reminders/Update
Our teachers are using homework as an extension of classroom learning by reviewing assignments to identify misconceptions, provide clarification, and adjust instruction when needed. Homework also helps teachers identify students who may benefit from additional remediation, enrichment, or one-on-one support, while feedback such as “Glows and Grows” helps students understand what they did well and what they can improve. The majority of our students are consistently completing homework, and when assignments are repeatedly missed, teachers are communicating with families to provide support and reinforce the importance of completing learning opportunities at home.
Grades Reminders/Update
Our teachers are closely monitoring students who are currently earning a D or F and are using small-group instruction, intervention time, individual conferences, and targeted support to address the specific skills or assignments that may be impacting their grades. Because we are still early in the marking period and some gradebooks are continuing to build, a student’s current grade may not yet provide a complete picture of their overall progress; teachers are looking at assessments, missing work, classroom performance, and individual skills to determine the best next steps. Teachers are also communicating with students and families about areas for improvement and encouraging families to monitor PowerSchool and ParentSquare so that we can work together over the next three weeks to help students make meaningful progress.
Retake Reminders/Update
Our teachers are using retakes as an opportunity for students to demonstrate improved understanding after receiving additional support, rather than simply retaking an assessment without intervention. Students may receive small-group instruction, targeted remediation, opportunities to review missed questions, and time to practice the specific skills they have not yet mastered before completing a retake. We also need families to be active partners in this process by reviewing assessments and missed skills at home, returning retake forms when requested, and helping students prepare so they are ready to demonstrate their learning the second time around.
📅 This Week at Greenwood
Monday, October 5 — Candy Collection Begins
We are excited to begin collecting candy for our big Trunk-or-Treat celebration on Friday, October 30! Each House can earn 5 House Points for every 10 pounds of candy collected.
Monday, October 5 — All In Tutoring Begins
Our All In morning tutoring program from 7:20 - 8:00 AM begins this week for students identified as chronically absent or chronically tardy.
Friday, October 9 — READtoRUN Book 1 Kickoff
We are incredibly grateful for this amazing partnership with Tony Curtis and for READtoRUN’s commitment to helping students build a love of reading while promoting fitness.
Friday, October 9 — Shine Your Light Ceremony
We look forward to celebrating students in the gym at 7:20 AM for our Shine Your Light award ceremony.
Friday, October 9 — 5th Grade Senior Convocation
We are excited for our 2nd Annual 5th Grade Senior Convocation starting at 8:20 AM. We have three keynote speakers!
Friday, October 9 — House Achievement Picnic
We look forward to celebrating our Gators who have reached their academic and behavior goals with a special House Achievement picnic! Students can bring towels or blankets to share with friends.
🔜 Coming Up
Tuesday, October 13 - Fire Drill
We will conduct a scheduled fire drill on Tuesday, October 13. These drills help ensure our students and staff know exactly what to do in an emergency and can exit the building safely and calmly.
Wednesday, October 14 PTA Spirit Night: Chuck E Cheese
Come out and support our Greenwood PTA at Chuck E. Cheese on Wednesday, October 14! Bring the family, have some fun, and help support our school while enjoying some time together.
Friday, October 16 - Math Award Ceremony
We are excited to celebrate our students who have demonstrated outstanding effort, growth, and achievement in mathematics. We can't wait to recognize their hard work and celebrate their success with our Greenwood family!
Friday, October 16 - House Achievement Picnic
It's time to celebrate! Students who earned House Achievement will enjoy a special picnic with their housemates as we recognize their academic effort, positive behavior, and commitment to the Power of Us.
Final Thought
As we head into another big week, I keep coming back to one simple idea: we are better together. Our students need all of us—teachers, staff, families, and community members—to keep showing up, lifting them up, and believing in what they can become! Let's GO!
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