Dear Underwood Families, The recent weeks have been quite difficult as they have been filled with incomprehensible news about mass shootings involving the elementary school students in Texas, a church shooting specifically targeting Taiwanese worshippers, and a supermarket attack where a white supremacist sought to terrorize and murder Black community members. I have few words to describe my own feelings about these devastating events and recognize these realities are impossible to digest. As we process our own range of emotions, I am making a conscious effort to remind myself of the many wonderful things happening within our Underwood community. Last week, I spent the day with an incredibly kind and smart 5th grade student who worked alongside me as “Principal for the Day.” Together, we visited classrooms at every grade level, joined morning meetings, assisted classroom teachers and students with READ MORE
Category: From the Principal
Community Conversation: How to talk to your kids about racism
PLEASE JOIN UNDERWOOD PRINCIPAL, DR.SUZIE TALUKDAR, FOR A PRESENTATION OVERZOOM ON TUESDAY FEBRUARY 8, 2022 AT 7PM One of the challenges facing parents in today’s world is the struggle to raise race-conscious children. In this session, we will talk about how can we start a conversation with our children about race and racism. Register: https://bit.ly/community_2022Questions about the event? Contact: Gretchen Weismann g_weismann@yahoo.com
From the Desk of Principal Talukdar, January 2022
Dear Underwood Families, Can you believe that Monday, January 31 marks the 90th day of school and is this year’s date for our “Halfway Day” celebration? In the past, students have chosen to celebrate halves in some of the following ways: Wearing two different shoes Wearing half of their hair in a ponytail or braid Spiking up or styling half of their hair Rolling up one sleeve or pant leg Decorating half of an old shirt. Although none of this is required, these are just some ways to mark this momentous occasion and have some fun with each other. All are welcome to join in if interested. As February approaches, we take time to reflect on two important occasions, Lunar New Year and Black History Month, both beginning this year on February 1. Lunar New year is the observance of READ MORE
Letter from the Principal Talukdar
Dear Underwood Families, December is already whizzing by and, before we know it, we will bring 2021 to a close. I have been incredibly impressed with our efforts to maintain a safe and healthy school environment. Our staff are 100% vaccinated, 71% of our students have received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, over 85% of our students are participating in weekly pool testing, families are conducting daily health assessments, and students and staff continue to abide by our Covid-19 healthy and safety guidelines throughout each school day. Although Covid-19 rates across the Commonwealth and variants remain a concern, I am grateful we have navigated these challenging times in a productive manner together. Indeed we have demonstrated our commitment to each other in many ways. Parents and caregivers have generously donated food, clothing, and boots in order to support READ MORE
Letter from Principal Suzie – November 2021
Dear Underwood Families, What a beautiful fall we are enjoying so far, with temperatures so warm it is hard to believe we are part way through November. As you know through participation in recent parent-teacher conferences, students are well into their routines here at Underwood. This week we held our first virtual All School Meeting (ASM) during our Social Emotional Learning (SEL) time on Wednesday. During our weekly SEL block, we all engage in activities that build a sense of community within and across all grade-levels, teach and reinforce social/emotional skills, establish connections between all adults in school and children, and foster an environment where students feel as though they belong, are safe, and can have fun. ASM is a time when the entire K-5 community joins together and, due to COVID restrictions, we will do so via Zoom. Our READ MORE
NPS District Update: COVID-19 Testing Sign Up
A note from Principal Suzie: COVID Testing Program – REGISTER NOW! One of the many layers of safety we have put in place in schools this year is COVID testing. I am happy to report that, as of today, nearly 50% of students of our students at Underwood are registered for our COVID testing program. If you have not done so already, I would ask you and your family to strongly consider opting into the testing program in order to meet our goal of 100% participation. In addition to helping to keep our school community healthy, one of the most important reasons to opt into testing is so that your student can stay in school, even if they are identified as a close contact. This new program is called Test and Stay. Test and Stay means unvaccinated asymptomatic close contacts exposed at school can participate in a COVID READ MORE
First Day of School is tomorrow! :)
We are so excited to welcome your children back to school tomorrow, September 9, 2021. Unfortunately, the forecast indicates that it will rain and to avoid any confusion during the morning drop off, I have outlined a revised plan for the first day of school. Morning Arrival (9/9 Arrival Map): K-2: Line up under the tents At 8:05am, K-2 Teachers will greet their students with their large signs under the tent Grade 1 will line up closest to Eldredge, then Grade 2, then Grade K closest to the parking lot side of the tent. At 8:10am, Grade 1 & 2 Teachers will walk students into the building through the main entrance. Kindergarten will enter through the entrance by the parking lot. Grades 3-5: Line up in the gymnasium At 8:05am, 3-5 Teachers will greet students in the gymnasium with their READ MORE
Slides from Back to School Meeting on 8/31
In case you missed the presentation and live Q&A with Principal Talukar on August 31 the slides are now available! Download the Presentation
Welcome Back from Dr. Sujan S. Talukdar, Principal
August 24, 2021 Dear Underwood Families, Welcome back to school! A special welcome to our incoming kindergarten families, our “New to Underwood” families, and our returning DLA families! I hope this letter finds you well and rejuvenated, particularly after such a challenging year. Summer is intended to be a time filled with laughter, relaxation and new adventures. My family enjoyed time together and took an exciting trip to Maui where my son went snorkeling for the first time. We met up with friends there and took time to explore the island and experience the culture. This year, my son (Jonathan, 13) will attend a new school and enter grade 7. This is an exciting time for my family. I know it will come with the many ups and downs of adolescence and middle school, all while navigating the challenges that READ MORE
PTO Newsletter – June 10th, 2021
School CalendarFriday, June 11th – Spring Fling Outdoor Family NightThursday, June 17th – 5th Grade GraduationFriday, June 18th – Juneteenth Observed – NO SCHOOLTuesday, June 22nd – Last Day of School! Letter From the Principal Dear Underwood Families:As I reflect on this past year, I realize how much we have accomplished together. What a difference a year makes! I thank the Underwood Community for the tremendous support you have given to me in my first year as principal in Newton, which happened to also coincide with being the most unusual year of my career. I have felt privileged to work among so many wonderful people. I begin by saluting every member of the Underwood staff who are thoughtful, caring, and collaborative professionals. No day is ever the same in an elementary school, and this year made it all the more unique. READ MORE
Kindergarten Info Night Presentation – May 17, 2021
Welcome to Our Incoming Kindergarten Families! Thank you for joining us for Virtual Kindergarten Information Night on May 17th! Principal Talukdar’s presentation is below for those who couldn’t make it. Kindergarten Visit Day will be held Wednesday, May 26, 2021 from 1:30pm-2:30pm at Underwood.The Kindergarten team and supporting staff will host a visit day for students only, which will offer an opportunity for children to “practice” being a kindergartener. While students are in the classrooms, parents and caregivers will remain outside of the school in the tent area to make connections with other Underwood families. Click here for Principal Talukdar’s Info Night Presentation
Underwood School PTO Newsletter, November 12, 2020
Note: This newsletter will be published monthly throughout the school year, for a total of 8 issues. It will include columns as they are submitted by Underwood Principal Suzie Talukdar, PTO Co-Presidents Amy Davis and Laura Goldworm, and the school staff. It will also include a school calendar, and school and district-wide news.For questions, email underwoodpto@gmail.com. School Calendar Letter From the Principal Dear Underwood Families, It was my pleasure to see many of you at our recent PTO meeting with special guest, Dr. David Fleishman, NPS Superintendent of Schools. At that time, information was discussed that involved the experience within the Hybrid and DLA learning models as well as some upcoming changes. In addition to learning model changes that occurred on November 30 (i.e. transfers between DLA & Hybrid), we now know that beginning on January 4, 2021 the school day will READ MORE