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The Hawk Has Landed In Your Inbox 5Dec25

Posted Date: 12/05/25 (02:30 PM)
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HAPPY HOLLOW HAWK

December 5, 2025

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FROM OUR PRINCIPAL

Ms. Foundas

Nicolette Foundas
Dear Happy Hollow Families,

Thank you for sharing your amazing children with us each day. A few friendly reminders to help keep our morning entry and dismissal running safely and smoothly:
  • Morning Drop-Off: Please ensure that cars pull all the way up past the main entrance door. This helps us keep traffic flowing and ensures a safe and efficient drop-off for all students.
  • Pedestrian Safety: Always use the designated crosswalk. This small step makes a big difference in keeping everyone safe.
  • Dismissal: Caregivers should stand at the flagpole during pickup. This helps reduce congestion at the main entrance and keeps dismissal organized for students and staff.
I also want to extend a heartfelt thank you for entrusting us on those tricky mornings when students may be tired or feeling unsure. You are doing a wonderful job reassuring your children that they will have a good day as staff swoops in to help your children out of the car. We are always ready to “pick up the baton” and support them as they transition into the building. 

Our classroom teachers know their students, as we continue to prioritize strong, caring relationships. Please know that we would never hesitate to reach out midday if we felt your child needed additional support or was not having a successful day.

As always, reach out to me any time with questions or concerns.

Have a great weekend and stay warm!

Warmly,
Nicolette Foundas
 

FROM OUR PARENT TEACHER ORGANIZATION

A MESSAGE FROM PTO

Happy Hollow PTO logo featuring an owl with outstretched wings.

Dear Happy Hollow Community: A Few To Dos:

  • Check out the Lost and Found – Donated by Dec 15 th .
  • Join us for the December 9 th PTO Meeting
  • Save the Date for Game Night: January 30 th

PTO Coffee

We had a great PTO Coffee where we learned about the math curriculum and future goals from HH’s math coach Matt Burch. We also heard about the wonderful mental health, clinical, and social work support available through Lauren Keating with the WPD.

If you need any support, please reach out at (508) 358-1715 or LKeating@wayland.ma.us. Plus, our friends Officers Shane and Archie stopped by for an adorable visit!

Superintendent Meeting

A productive discussion covering:
  • Budget planning (an override will be needed soon) 
  • The Facilities Master Plan (two meetings held with consultants) 
  • Classroom size and balancing, including possibly reassessing Move-Along Day to help with summer enrollment balancing

Gratitude Breakfast

Thank you to all of our volunteers and to Ilyssa Weiner for organizing the sign-up!

Gift Your Child Update

We are at ~$12,000, just $1,000 shy of last year!

Wilson, The Guinea Pig

We found a home for our therapy guinea pig for Winter Break! Please let us know if you’d like
to help with his care in the future.

DCF Gift Drive

Thank you so much to Beth and Abbie and all of you for supporting the DCF gift drive. All the
wish lists were fulfilled! If you are still looking for ways to donate, please consider this: WMS
PTO Wayside Youth Drive still has many gifts left and ends Friday.

PTO Goals Update

HH PTO has been hard at work on several outdoor and sustainability initiatives:

  • Sandpit Refresh: We partnered with the Wayland Parks and Trees Department to bring fresh sand to the sandpit. And please — ask your kids what happened with the Gaga Ball pit… it';s hilarious! 
  • Composting Initiative: We are currently exploring funding options for this large, schoolwide sustainability project.
  • Courtyard Cleaning: A team of dedicated volunteers has toured the courtyard and is meeting with companies to partner on a potential spring cleanup.
 

December Updates

1) PTO Board Meeting — December 9th 
Please join us for the December PTO Board Meeting!

2) WPSF HATS OFF Winter Campaign (12/1–12/12)
Share a special THANK YOU with a teacher or staff member in appreciation of a great start to
the school year!
Say thank you to the special teachers and staff members on your list here: https://www.waylandpublicschoolsfoundation.org/hats-off

January — Save the Dates

1) PTO Board Meeting — January 13th 
Please join us for the January PTO Board Meeting!

2) Happy Hollow Game Night — January 30th 
 6–8 PM | Happy Hollow Gym
Games, Arts & Crafts, Card Trading, and more! 
Please note: This is not a drop-off event.
 

Reminders!

Please Use Pick Up Patrol For Your Safe To School (and from school) Notifications

If your child(ren) will be absent, tardy, or have a dismissal change please Fill out Pick Up Patrol accordingly, any time of day or night. You can enter this information as soon as you know it and don't need to wait until the date of the absence, tardy (or change).

Our safe arrival program was established to ensure that every child is accounted for at the start of each day. If a child is unaccounted for, the office staff follow the process below until the child is located:
1) recheck the child's classroom
2) contact parents/guardians at all phone numbers on file with an automated call system
3) call emergency contacts
4) contact police for a wellness check

(The Link to pick up patrol can also be found on our school website)

Tips And Tricks For Using Pick Up Patrol

How To Make PUP An Icon On Your Apple Device


  1. Open Safari.
  2. Navigate to the website you want to save to your home screen by entering the URL of the website you want to create a shortcut to. ...
  3. Tap the Share button on the bottom of the page. ...
  4. In the list of options that appear, scroll down until you see Add to Home Screen.
How To Make PUP An Icon On Your Android Device:
  1. Open Chrome.
  2. Navigate to the website or web page you want to pin to your home screen.
  3. Tap the menu icon (3 dots in upper right-hand corner) and tap Add to home screen.
The PickUp Patrol logo features a stylized traffic light and the company name.

How To Report A Late Arrival Or Tardy

Please see photgraph for instructions:
A digital interface displays school dismissal plans, including options for late arrival.

How to report an absence

or change today's dismissal plan
A screen displays a schedule with options for dismissal, late arrival, and leave.
A menu on a screen shows options including 'Absent' and various transportation choices.

How to report an early dismissal

.
A screen displays upcoming plans for Monday, December 16.
A mobile app screen shows dismissal options, including 'Early Dismissal'.

How to Report A Leave And Return

For mid day appointment or something simialr
A digital interface displays upcoming plans for Tuesday, November 5.

How To Report A Late Arrival/Tardy

.
A screen displays a schedule with options for dismissal and late arrival.

How To Change Your Child's Default Plan

Your child's default dismissal plans is their expected weekly dismissal on a typical day.
Screenshot of a mobile app interface showing upcoming plans and a dismissal plan.
A webpage displays a section titled 'Default plans'.
A mobile app screen displays default plans for Walker/Biker activities.
 

School Security

You Are Not Being Rude or Unfriendly

Your parents have taught you that it is impolite to not hold the door for another person. As awkward as it may feel, according to the police protocol we ask that you do not hold the door open for anyone coming into our building behind you or as you leave our school (even students). In fact, we ask that you remind anyone trying to piggy back into the building that they please buzz in for their own personal greeting. Please make sure that the door closes tightly behind you. There are red octagonal signs by our front door reminding visitors of this request. I know how hard this is to do and goes against your natural instinct, but please know that we will kindly explain it to the other party and we do notice and appreciate your vigilance in keeping our children safe.

I Am Not Being Rude or Unfriendly

The Happy Hollow office is working very hard to keep your children safe and happy in our building. To this end, we are following a protocol created by the Wayland Police that has been implemented in all of the schools. We are responsible for vetting each person before they enter our building. Every visitor must buzz in individually. They will be asked to identify themselves, their student and their business in the building. Anyone with whom we are not familiar or who does not have a job or student in the building will be personally met at the door and escorted. Anyone, regardless of their connection with the school, who does not have a Wayland Public Schools-specific CORI on file is not allowed past the front office without an escort. While this feels counter to the friendly environment we strive for here, it is necessary to keeping your children safe and allows us the personal contact to make sure that you do have a friendly welcome. We will do it with a smile!

Criminal Offender Record Information

A CORI IS REQURED FOR EVERYONE

Anyone who walks the halls of our building must be CORIed or escorted. This means that everyone who visits their child's classroom, volunteers in the building, visits the book fair/field day or attends field trips must be CORIed.

- CORIs completed with other town departments are NOT transferable to the schools.
- We cannot allow you into our building without a valid Wayland Public Schools CORI on file

To complete a CORI application please present in person at any Wayland Public School Office (or central office) with valid government issued photo identification