Dear Schofield ����ֱ��,��

Earlier today, the Schofield Orchestra, Beginner Band and Regular Band held their annual winter concert. ��It was sublime! ��Huge thanks to Mr. MacLeod (Schofield Orchestra), our very own Mr. Polletto (Schofield Beginner Band), and Mr. Adams (Schofield Regular Band) for their tremendous tutelage over these past months! ��Additionally, the 35 plus students that comprised these various groups have put in tens, if not, hundreds of hours preparing for this concert. ��Huge thanks to them (and their supportive families)!����

Note from Peggy Tsatsoulis, Assistant Director of Student Services – Elementary Learning Centers:����

Dear Schofield ����ֱ��,��

I am writing to share an update regarding the current vacancy for our Special Education Team Chair position.

As you know, this role is a crucial part of our Special Education team, providing leadership and coordination to ensure our students receive the support they need. We have conducted two hiring rounds but were unable to identify a candidate who met the qualifications for this important role.

We have now reposted the position and are hopeful that this search will bring a new and robust group of candidates. Our priority is to find the right individual with the skills, experience, and dedication to support our students, families, and staff in the best possible way.

In the meantime, I will continue to fill in for the Team Chair ensuring continuity of support for our Special Education team.��

We appreciate your patience, understanding, and continued partnership as we work to fill this essential role.

Thank you,��

Peggy Tsatsoulis, Assistant Director of Student Services – Elementary Learning Centers. ��

WHS Students (and former Schofield Alumni) are sponsoring Toys and Tales for Tomorrow: ��Vicky Draganov and Molly Goldberg are both 10th graders at Wellesley High School (and former alums of Schofield). They run a club at WHS called��Toys and Tales for Tomorrow, and their mission is to support children receiving care at Newton-Wellesley Hospital by donating toys and books and offering their time through community service.

This year, one of their main goals is to organize a toy/book drive—and I shared that the Schofield community would love to partner with them to make it happen.

They will be placing a clearly labeled donation box in the main lobby/vestibule at Schofield school between January 5th and January 20th. ��If you would like and/or are able to, please donate new or gently used toys and books. ��

On behalf of Vicky and Molly, thanks for reading/considering! ��

Upcoming Events:

• Monday, January 19 – No school due to the observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

• Thursday, January 22 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the gym – Schofield Math Games Night.

Take care,

Stephen Goodwin, Ed.D.

Interim Principal – Schofield School

Dear Schofield ����ֱ��,��

The Grade 5 Winter Solstice concert was sublime this morning! ��Huge thanks to all of our Grade 5 students, Mr. Polletto, Ms. Messore, Mrs. Sullivan, Mr. Doyle and Mr. Moretti. ��Also, many thanks to all Grade 5 parents/guardians who came out to support their child(ren) and the entire grade! ��

Huge thanks to Carrie Scott Sullivan, Schofield parent, for her leadership efforts in supporting our 5th grade students that provided some holiday cheer at a reception for senior citizens who reside at the River Street Senior Housing. ��From all reports, it was a wonderful experience! ��

I wanted to continue to wish a Happy Hanukkah to those who have been celebrating it this week. ��

Finally, Merry Christmas and Joyous Kwanzaa for those who will be celebrating these respective holidays in the days to come. ��

MCAS 2026 Dates for Grades 3 – 5: ��Per the district, below are the elementary MCAS administration dates for Spring 2026. ��Thank you for taking notice of these dates and being mindful to have your child(ren) be in attendance on these respective days! ��

April 2026

Monday, April 6 – Grade 5 ELA – Session 1

Tuesday, April 7 – Grade 5 ELA – Session 2

Thursday, April 9 – Grade 4 ELA – Session 1

Friday, April 10 – Grade 4 ELA – Session 2

Monday, April 13 – Grade 3 ELA – Session 1

Tuesday, April 14 – Grade 3 ELA – Session 2

Friday, April 17 – Last day to test ELA MCAS.

May 2026��

Monday, May 4 – Grade 5 Math – Session 1

Tuesday, May 5 – Grade 5 Math – Session 2

Thursday, May 7 – Grade 4 Math – Session 1

Friday, May 8 – Grade 4 Math – Session 2

Monday, May 11 – Grade 3 Math – Session 1

Tuesday, May 12 – Grade 3 Math – Session 2

Thursday, May 14 – Grade 5 Science – Session 1

Friday, May 15 – Grade 5 Science – Session 2

Friday, May 22 – Last day to test Math MCAS and Science MCAS.

Upcoming Events:

• Monday, January 5 – First day of school after the holiday break.

Take care,

Stephen Goodwin, Ed.D.

Interim Principal – Schofield School

Dear Schofield ����ֱ��,��

I have been sitting in fairly frequently with the Grade 5 chorus as they prepare for their Winter Solstice concert on Friday, December 19 at 9 a.m. ��The students are working hard and rounding into form. ��Special thanks to Mr. Polletto, sublime Schofield Music Teacher, for his instructional prowess over the past four months. ��As I have stated in different forms and formats, the Grade 5 Chorus teaching assignment is among the most challenging in public education. ��Regarding this assignment, Mr. Polletto excels at a level that I have not been previously privy to. ��Additionally, Ms. Messore, Schofield Building Substitute, consistently supports the entire Grade 5 chorus during their weekly lessons as well. ��Huge thanks to her as well! ��

I wanted to wish a Happy Hanukkah to those who will be celebrating it starting this coming Sunday. ����

MCAS 2026 Dates for Grades 3 – 5: ��Per the district, below are the elementary MCAS administration dates for Spring 2026. ��Thank you for taking notice of these dates and being mindful to have your child(ren) be in attendance on these respective days! ��

April 2026

Monday, April 6 – Grade 5 ELA – Session 1

Tuesday, April 7 – Grade 5 ELA – Session 2

Thursday, April 9 – Grade 4 ELA – Session 1

Friday, April 10 – Grade 4 ELA – Session 2

Monday, April 13 – Grade 3 ELA – Session 1

Tuesday, April 14 – Grade 3 ELA – Session 2

Friday, April 17 – Last day to test ELA MCAS.

May 2026��

Monday, May 4 – Grade 5 Math – Session 1

Tuesday, May 5 – Grade 5 Math – Session 2

Thursday, May 7 – Grade 4 Math – Session 1

Friday, May 8 – Grade 4 Math – Session 2

Monday, May 11 – Grade 3 Math – Session 1

Tuesday, May 12 – Grade 3 Math – Session 2

Thursday, May 14 – Grade 5 Science – Session 1

Friday, May 15 – Grade 5 Science – Session 2

Friday, May 22 – Last day to test Math MCAS and Science MCAS.

Upcoming Events:

• Friday, December 19 at 9 a.m. in the gym – Grade 5 Winter Solstice Concert.

Take care,

Stephen Goodwin, Ed.D.

This past Monday, the district held its annual full day Professional Development Day. ��From this perspective, it was a massive success. ��I attended three separate workshops (from well over 60 plus offerings conducted by over 100 Wellesley teachers/administrators) on that day and each one was phenomenal. ��I attended the following three workshops: ��“Counting Students In: ��Rethinking Math, Power and Possibility” (which featured the excellent math documentary��Counted Out); “Elevating Student Voice: ��Cultivation a Math ����ֱ�� Through Hands Down Conversations” (i.e., structuring math classes where student discourse is a lead element); and “Growing Up: ��What Our Students Need to Thrive in School” which for inspiration used the novella “Foster” by Claire Keegan, a sublime Irish short story author. ��I came away both inspired as well as motivated to learn more about how we can better support our math learning as well as our students’ social-emotional well being! ��Again, many thanks to the district for supporting a day of profound learning! ��

Huge thanks to our Kindergarten parents for supplying a bevy of snacks and beverages for our staff room! Wow! ��So kind and very much appreciated! ��

MCAS 2026 Dates for Grades 3 – 5: ��Per the district, below are the elementary MCAS administration dates for Spring 2026. ��Thank you for taking notice of these dates and being mindful to have your child(ren) be in attendance on these respective days! ��

April 2026

Monday, April 6 – Grade 5 ELA – Session 1

Tuesday, April 7 – Grade 5 ELA – Session 2

Thursday, April 9 – Grade 4 ELA – Session 1

Friday, April 10 – Grade 4 ELA – Session 2

Monday, April 13 – Grade 3 ELA – Session 1

Tuesday, April 14 – Grade 3 ELA – Session 2

Friday, April 17 – Last day to test ELA MCAS.

May 2026��

Monday, May 4 – Grade 5 Math – Session 1

Tuesday, May 5 – Grade 5 Math – Session 2

Thursday, May 7 – Grade 4 Math – Session 1

Friday, May 8 – Grade 4 Math – Session 2

Monday, May 11 – Grade 3 Math – Session 1

Tuesday, May 12 – Grade 3 Math – Session 2

Thursday, May 14 – Grade 5 Science – Session 1

Friday, May 15 – Grade 5 Science – Session 2

Friday, May 22 – Last day to test Math MCAS and Science MCAS.

Private School Applications FYI: ��It is that time of year again when application deadlines start to approach for those families who are considering private school for next year.��

Most applications are due starting in mid-January straight through February 1. ��January can be a busy time for teachers as they prepare progress reports for the last week of January. ��We proactively ask for your help so that the application process can be handled efficiently during December and January.

In an effort to facilitate this process for all:

• Please provide all application materials to your teacher at least 30 days in advance of the application deadline. To reiterate, this time of year is very busy for staff and they would like the time to give each student’s application the attention it deserves. ��

• Please fill out and return the attached Release of Confidential Information form to Kristin Lueken��luekenk@wellesleyps.org��as soon as possible.

• Many schools use the online application Ravenna (The Premier Admissions and Student Management platform for K-12 Private and Independent Schools) Once an account has been set up on Ravenna and we receive the Release of Confidential Information form, we can upload transcripts on the site.��

Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for helping ensure that the process works smoothly for both the Schofield staff and your family.

Upcoming Events:

• Friday, December 12 from 8:45 to 9:15 a.m. in the gym – Dr. Goodwin Hawk Talk. ��

• Friday, December 19 at 9 a.m. in the gym – Grade 5 Winter Solstice Concert.

Take care,

Stephen Goodwin, Ed.D.

Interim Principal – Schofield School