Staff and students returned from April Vacation looking quite refreshed and ready to begin the last phase of the school year.

While the teaching staff enjoyed the vacation, the custodial crew was busy cleaning the building and supporting the efforts of the contractors who were focused on punch list items. Several contractors worked on interior projects (painting, caulking, repairing door frames, & sealing floor surfaces, etc.). In addition, the fields adjacent to the school were fertilized. Hopefully, warm and sunny weather will soon be heading our way and the grass on the fields will grow nicely.

Two sessions of Kindergarten Registration were held at Willard on April 27th. The third and final session is scheduled for today, April 29th. Parents and teachers have reported that the children enjoyed their time in the classroom and their bus ride around the Willard neighborhood. The Information Session for parents included words of welcome and information from the PTG Co-Presidents Aimee Cupp and Kate Olney, PTG Communications Co-Chair Christine Evans, Willard's Family Friends Representative Debbie Osofsky, and Willard staff members Janine Gaudreau (School Nurse), Susan Chafe (Language Arts Specialist), Laurie Penney (Math Specialist), and Julee Vitello (School Counselor). I was happy to greet many families who are new to Willard, as well as current and former Willard parents who have
a child entering Kindergarten in September. It was wonderful to hold the Parent Meeting in our new auditorium.

April is Poetry Month. Students across all grade levels have enjoyed learning about poetry, listening to poetry, and writing their own poems in class. Poetry is an important component of the Lucy Calkins Writing Program. As a way to celebrate and extend the poetry experience in the classroom, students were invited to submit their original poems about Spring for display on special bulletin boards at school across from the library and near the office. First and third grade buddies in Ms. Merrill and Mrs. Fitzgerald's classes made lovely three dimensional flowers which they offered to enhance the Spring Poetry bulletin board display.

Prior to vacation, all families received Student Registration Sheets to complete. Thank you to the many families who have already returned these important sheets. If you have not yet returned the sheets, please do so as soon as possible. As explained in the letter that was sent with the document, please be aware that if you would like to have your child's address and phone number printed in the Willard Directory which is published by the PTG, you need to give permission by checking the
appropriate box on that form. In addition, Student Information Sheets were included in this mailing. Although the Student Information Sheets are optional, this is your opportunity to provide input into the Placement Process. These sheets should have been returned to your child's teacher earlier this week. If you have not yet returned the form, please do so by Friday, April 30th. The information that you include will be considered during the Placement Process. The sheets are turned in to the office in June and will be passed along to next year's receiving teacher in September.

As always, thank you for all you do for Willard School.
- Pat Fernandes