Dear Greenfield Public School Families,
October was a fantastic month in and out of our classrooms! It’s a beautiful time of year to be in Greenfield with all of the fabulous fall foliage, the activities, and the excitement in the schools. I was very happy to be able to visit a lot of classrooms and a lot of students and teachers in all of our schools this month. I was also able to attend several sporting events and meet more parents and students.
One event I had the pleasure of attending was the GHS National Honor Society induction ceremony. What a great way to celebrate the accomplishments of those students! And by the time you read this, I will have also gone to my first Halloween event in town. I am 100% positive it will be a great time for everyone, especially the kids.
Thank you, and I look forward to meeting even more of you soon!
Superintendent Kruser
This Month at a Glance
- November 3rd- Election Day/PD Day-No school
- November 6th- First Quarter Ends
- November 11th-Veteran’s Day- No School
- November 25th- Early Release Day
- November 26th- Thanksgiving
- November 30th- Winds for Kids begins
Making Waves
Accountability Results
Our district’s accountability results have been released, and we are pleased to see progress in several of the areas we identified as priorities. These results reflect the ongoing work of our students, educators, and school communities.
While we are encouraged by the progress we have made, we also recognize that there is still important work ahead. We will use these results to identify areas of strength, address areas for growth, and focus our efforts on supporting student learning and achievement. Accountability Presentation SC 10.14.26
Winds for Kids – Middle School
We are pleased to be working with the Pioneer Valley Symphony and offering Winds for Kids, a music program now open for middle school students in GMS Band.
Winds for Kids – Elementary
We are also offering the Winds for Kids elementary school program, which is now open to fourth-grade students interested in music performance.
https://www.pvsoc.org/winds-for-kids
Safe & Healthy Schools Summit
On October 8, GPS district and school-level staff attended the Annual Safe & Healthy Schools Summit at Greenfield Community College. This year’s summit focused on the Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG), an evidence-based model that provides school personnel with practical tools to identify, assess, and respond to concerning behaviors while supporting safe and healthy school environments. Our team had the opportunity to deepen our understanding of this model and consider how it can support our ongoing work to maintain safe and supportive school communities.
Greenfield High School National Honor Society
It was a great honor to attend my first National Honor Society induction ceremony at GHS. Seventeen students from Greenfield High School were inducted into the NHS, where they were recognized for their academic achievements and their dedication to their school and community. Being inducted into the National Honor Society is an honor, and I am very proud of our students who have worked hard to earn this recognition, and of the families who have supported them along the way. Please see the attached press release.
Nineteen Greenfield High School Students Inducted into the National Honor Society
A Fun and Busy Fall for GHS Marching Band
The Greenfield High School Marching Band has been having a busy and fun fall. Led by Drum Majors Jane Schofield and Derek Scotera (in the attached photo), the band marched in the Franklin County Fair Parade on Sept. 10 and earned second place among school bands. Then, on Sept. 18, the band marched in the parade at the Big E in West Springfield. On Sept. 25, they debuted their new field show theme of David Bowie, featuring “Changes” and “Modern Love,” at the first GHS home football game. The GHS Marching Band once again participated in the spectacle that is UMass Band Day on Oct. 3. The energy was high as our band performed at the UMass football game’s halftime show right alongside the UMass Marching Band and dozens of other high school bands from all over Massachusetts. The GHS band returned to UMass on Oct. 16 for Multibands Day, a showcase of more than 700 UMass student performers in 13 ensembles, plus the UMass Marching Band. Senior Night was Oct. 30, when we recognized our band seniors at the football game! Just before the game, our band marched, in costume, at the annual Greenfield Rag Shag Parade.
Staff Spotlight
Director of Health and Wellness – Kathryn (Katy) Smith
I would like to welcome our Director of Health and Wellness, Ms. Kathryn (Katy) Smith. She is coming to Greenfield Public Schools with 16 years of varied experience, including years of experience as a school nurse in Deerfield. Ms. Smith is currently a clinical triage nurse and a sexual assault examiner nurse. She has experience in patient and family education, health promotion, and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams. Ms. Smith will be vital in ensuring that our schools are adhering to all state and federal health regulations. She will collaborate and coordinate with all medical professionals and state and Federal medical guidelines to ensure legal compliance. She will oversee all nurses and ensure that there is proper coverage in our schools and that families are receiving vital information on time. Ms. Smith will be coordinating meetings and overseeing wraparound services for our students and families and working closely with our counselors, social workers, and building administration. In addition to those leadership roles, she will also be collaborating with our restorative justice initiatives to build capacity and accountability. We are very excited to welcome Ms. Smith to our team when she officially starts on November 16, 2026!
Central Office Receptionist- Lillian Stafford
I am also excited to introduce Lillian Stafford, who will be our central office receptionist as of November 2, 2026. She will not only be the first face people see when they come to the central office, but she will also be monitoring and contributing to our social media and news media coverage. She will be assisting the central office and the schools in keeping the Greenfield Public Schools up to date on all of the many events and news throughout the year. I believe she will be instrumental in supporting all of the central office while creating a welcoming environment.
SUPERINTENDENT KRUSER’S ENTRY PLAN
I presented my Superintendent’s Entry Plan at the October School Committee meeting. Please see the attached plan. I look forward to meeting as many people as possible this year and getting feedback and input on what the Greenfield community would like to see in a school district.