Email the Office

School Dismissal Manager

Broadmeadow Families,

As we head into the Thanksgiving Holiday, we want to share our gratitude with you. We are tremendously grateful for our dedicated and caring school community. Broadmeadow is lucky to have students, families and a faculty that keep the interest of students at heart and support their growth into positive members of our community.

We will have an all-school singalong on Tuesday before dismissal to celebrate our community with joy and song. We will not send a Buzz next week so we will take this time to wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Do good. Be kind.

Tomorrow morning is the last opportunity for students to drop of decorated feathers. Beginning mid day tomorrow through Monday, November 24th, every student will have an opportunity to estimate how many feathers Gracias is wearing. We will announce the winning estimators from each grade level on Tuesday, November 25th during our all school sing-along!

The Lost & Found is currently on display in the main lobby through next Tuesday, November 25. If you haven’t had a chance to look yet, please stop by or encourage your child to check for any missing items. After November 25, all unclaimed belongings will be donated.

The Needham Community Council is ready to support families with Thanksgiving meals. Families in need can reach out directly to the Council at 781-444-2415 to reserve a meal. There is also an option for larger families to receive the ingredients for a meal that they can prepare themselves. Families will need to be active food pantry recipients or have a letter from me or a guidance counselor. Please feel free to reach out to me, Chanit List, Sofie Jelden, Katie Lizotte or Jacqui Murphy if you need support with this process.

Additionally, the Broadmeadow School has worked to support families by providing gift cards to families in need. In partnership with our amazing PTC, we can support Broadmeadow families via our administration staff and counseling team in response to requests for support with food and day-to-day expenses. As the winter months approach, this need within our community tends to grow.

 

If your family is in need of support including addressing food insecurity, holiday gifts, or another type of assistance, please feel free to contact me, or another member of our counseling team. All requests are confidential.

Andy Garlick

Principal

[email protected]

 

Chanit List

Assistant Principal

[email protected]

 

Anne Cline-Scott

Special Education Coordinator

[email protected]

 

Mary Beth Arigo

Nurse

[email protected]

 

Sofie Jelden

K-2 Counselor

[email protected]

 

Katie Lizotte

3-5 Counselor

[email protected]

 

Jacqui Murphy

Connections Counselor

[email protected]

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

As we continue to navigate these challenging times, I want to reach out personally to share how the Needham Community Council is preparing to support our community in the months ahead.

Even before the possibility of reductions to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, our Food Pantry was serving more than 370 households each month. Now, with expected changes to SNAP, we know that number will grow — and we are already taking steps to meet the increased need.

We’re expanding our capacity to purchase more food and increasing pick-up times so that every neighbor who turns to us will find the support they need.

Many of you have asked how you can help — and that spirit of generosity is what makes Needham so special. Here are a few ways to make an immediate impact:

• Make a financial contribution. Big or small, every gift matters and gives us the flexibility to purchase exactly what is needed, when it’s needed most.

• Donate your cans and bottles at the Recycle & Transfer Station shed. Every contribution supports our Cans for Calcium program, which helps us provide milk and dairy products to families in our Food Pantry.

• Private Fundraisers – host a party at your home, or have kids hold bake sales, collect spare change, or set up lemonade (or hot cider) stands, with proceeds benefiting the Food Pantry.

• Host a food drive in late Winter or Spring, once we have space available after the holiday season. (We’re so grateful for the many groups already organizing food drives for November and December!)

Together, we can ensure that no one in Needham goes hungry. Your partnership — whether through donations or spreading the word — truly makes a difference.

Sincerely,

 

Sandra Robinson (she/her)

Executive Director

Needham Community Council

570 Hillside Ave

Needham, MA 02494

W 781-444-2415 x 2120

C 617-922-3482

[email protected]

www.needhamcouncil.org

• Community members who visit Broadmeadow must enter and exit through the front door. Please ring the bell to your left when you arrive. All visitors must check-in at the office and sign our visitor log.
• After ringing the bell, families who arrive to drop off student materials are asked to label all items with their student’s full name and teacher name and place them in the bin on the office counter. The office will facilitate getting materials to the student’s classroom.
• Families who arrive to pick up students early will be asked to wait outside for their child to exit the building.

Andy Garlick, Principal

Chanit List, Assistant Principal

Sofie Jelden K-2 Guidance

Katie Lizotte, 3-5 Guidance

Jacqui Murphy, Connections Guidance

Any adult who volunteers at a school event will be required to complete the CORI review process at least 4 days in advance of their visit. Completed CORI and Confidentiality forms (linked below) can be dropped off at the office or emailed to Roberta Redpath.

 

• CORI FORM: Please complete both sides of the CORI form being sure to include the last 6 digits of your social security number. A copy of a license or passport is also required order for the CORI to be processed.
• CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT: In addition, please return a copy of a completed confidentiality form with your CORI documents.

In order to assure that you (and/or other adults in your family who do not have an online portal account) are set up to receive these important email communications, we urge you to log into your account on the PowerSchool parent/guardian portal and make sure that all adults who should receive email are set up as “contacts” who receive emails. While adding or reviewing these contacts, please also take the time to add or update cell phone numbers for parents/guardians and anyone else who is identified as an emergency contact. All of these tasks can be accomplished by viewing the instructions provided in this VIDEO or by referring to the following instructions:

1. Log into your account on the PowerSchool Parent Portal.

2. Click on “Forms” in the left-hand margin.

2. Under the “All Forms” tab, click on Student Information

3. Scroll down to the “Enter Contacts” section.

• Review contacts and update information. (click on the blue pencil to edit/update the contact)

• Be sure to add or update emails and cell phone numbers if necessary. IMPORTANT: If you would like the receive all school email communications, please select the option “Receives Mail” when adding an email address

4. New contacts may be added by clicking on the “ADD” button located under the “Enter Contacts” section. IMPORTANT: Please make certain that if the contact wants to receive all email communications, to select the option “Receives Mail.”

Please note that If you have not created a Parent Portal account, or if you have forgotten your login or password, please email Roberta Redpath for assistance.

COMMUNICATION

• Urgent information- always call the main office and inform the staff and they will find me

• Nonurgent information- email or phone call

• The nurse will inform a parent when a medication is given but the child does not need dismissal (tylenol, ibuprofen, inhaler) so you know when to administer the next dose if indicated

• The nurse typically will NOT inform a parent of health visits unless vital information needs to be shared

KEEP YOUR CHILD HOME IF:

• Fever greater than 99.9 degrees within the past 24 hours; student should be fever free for 24 hours WITHOUT the use of fever reducers

• Vomiting within the past 24 hours

• Uncontrollable diarrhea within the past 24 hours

• Unable to tolerate usual diet

• Unable to sustain concentration for full school day

• Uncontrollable coughing that interrupts sleep and/or disturbs usual activity

• ER visit in past 24 hours

• Narcotic use

• Unable to manage secretions (sneezing, runny nose)

• Rash- new

• Pink eye with discharge

• Not “themself”

• Illness Guidelines

INJURIES

Please let the nurse know about:

• injuries including stitches, sprains, strains, concussions, broken bones, anything requiring a splint, boot, crutches or cast, exclusion from physical education and/or recess.

• A note from your child’s provider (doctor, nurse practitioner, hospital) is required if he/she needs exclusion from physical education for more than 2 consecutive classs or needs any accommodation (elevator, limits at recess, quiet rest in health office)

• A note from the provider is also required when limitations are lifted.

MEDICATION

Please let the nurse know if:

• Your child takes a daily medication at home

• Your child needs his/her medication administered during the school day and I will direct you to the required forms which are on the Needham Public School website.

• You gave your child a pain reliever OR asthma medication before school

• All medication needs a doctor’s order and parental permission INCLUDING over the counter medications such as antihistamines, eye drops, sunscreen and bug spray

• Medication Policy

PLEASE DO NOT:

• Send medication into school in your child’s backpack- excludes epipens and inhalers

NURSE EMERGENCY CARDS

Now on the SNAP parent portal; please set up your account

SNAP PARENT PORTAL DIRECTIONS

REQUIRED

Copy of physical exam within the past 13 months of school entrance

Copy of physical exam at grade 4

Immunizations up to date unless medical or religious exemption (documentation required)

SCREENINGS~ starting September 16th

Kindergarten-5th grade- vision

Kindergarten-3rd grade- hearing

Height and weight (BMI)- 1st and 4th

PARENTS MAY OPT OUT OF HEALTH SCREENINGS

Mary Beth Arigo RN, MSN, CPNP

Broadmeadow School Nurse

[email protected]

781-455-0448 Ext. 51309

 

FAX 833-298-1217

The Food Allergy Adventure: Build, Discover, and Create Join the Mass General Brigham Food Allergy Buddies Program for a creative, hands-on experience at the Museum of Science, Boston on Sunday, December 7, 2025. Participants can build 3D models of immune cells or design their own tools to promote food allergy awareness and safety. The event starts at 11:30 AM and runs until 3:00 PM, after which families can explore the museum; for more details on start times (beginning at 11:30 AM or 12:30 PM) and to register, please see the flyer. For questions please contact [email protected].

The Class of 2027 Student Council is hosting a Parents Night Out on Saturday, December 13th, from 4:30-7:30 p.m. in the NHS Cafeteria. Young children are invited for a fun night of games, activities, family-friendly movies, and treats. Please note all children must be potty-trained to attend this event. Proceeds from this event benefit the Class of 2027, and you can register your children now using the following link: MySchoolBucks Registration.

Needham High School's Softball Team in conjunction with Needham Softball and Baseball will be hosting our annual Fall Softball Clinic on Wednesday, November 19th from 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM at McLeod Field due to the rain. Girls between 1st and 8th grade can get in some extra practice and coaching from young athletes that were in their shoes just a few years before. Please contact Rachel Horman [email protected] with questions and register today: https://go.teamsnap.com/forms/456621

Celebrate Needham’s sports teams and show your town pride during the fall season by joining the Needham High School Student Council’s annual Bonfire on Tuesday, November 25th, from 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm at the Needham High School Upper Lot. This is a great community celebration, and all ages are invited and welcome to attend! For more information, visit the NHS Student Council website at https://sites.google.com/students.needham.k12.ma.us/nhs-student-council/home.

The Community Center of Needham is hosting a Gymnastics Varsity Workshop! This popular program offers classes for boys and girls from preschool (age 4) through 5th grade and is taught by the gymnasts of the Needham High School Girls Varsity Gymnastics team. Classes are held on Saturday mornings in December and January at the Needham High School B-Gym for only $75. Mark your calendars: registration opens on Friday, November 7th! Classes fill up quickly, so be sure to register early starting December 6, 2025 on the website: www.needhamGymnastics.com. You can also reach out to Gary DeMaria at 781-727-8718 for more information.

Show your School Spirit and support the athletes by ordering a NEEDHAM ROCKETS yard sign from the Needham Touchdown Club! This is an ongoing sale, and you can get immediate delivery right to your yard. All students, families, and residents across ALL SCHOOLS are encouraged to participate and show their pride! Order your yard sign online today at touchdownclubneedham.org. For questions, you can contact [email protected].

Stay informed about the Pollard Middle School Project! Sign up for our mailing list to be notified about upcoming meetings and important updates. You can sign up on the project website, where you will also find future meeting dates, FAQs, project documents and much more:

tinyurl.com/NPSPollardProject