Dear Claypit Caregivers,
The first couple of weeks of school have been wonderfully productive! Across Claypit, classrooms are settling into routines, building strong learning communities, and diving into meaningful learning. It has been exciting to see our students engaged, curious, and ready to learn. There is a wonderful energy throughout the building as students and educators begin another year of learning together.
Our implementation of CKLA has been particularly exciting to watch. We are seeing a level of rigor, rich discussion, and deep learning that is truly energizing. Students are engaging with complex texts and ideas, building their knowledge, and stretching their thinking in new ways. We are seeing the power of a curriculum that gives students opportunities to think deeply, make connections, and develop knowledge across a wide range of topics.
We are also incredibly proud of our educators. They are working hard each day to learn and implement this new curriculum thoughtfully and with fidelity. As we shared with staff, this is a year of learning and growing together. Implementing a new curriculum takes time, practice, and a willingness to learn alongside our students. We are grateful for the care, collaboration, and commitment our educators are bringing to this important work. It is a wonderful time to be learning at Claypit!
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Every Day Matters
As we settle into the rhythm of a new school year, we also want to underscore the importance of regular attendance. Every day at Claypit is an important day—chock full of learning, connection, and opportunities for students to grow. We saw a very positive increase in attendance in previous years, and unfortunately, attendance dipped again last year. This decline will once again be reflected in our Massachusetts DESE school report card. More importantly, missed school days mean missed opportunities for students to learn, participate, build relationships, and be part of our classroom community.
We know that illness and other circumstances sometimes make absences unavoidable. Whenever possible, however, we encourage families to prioritize being at school each day and arriving on time. Every day truly counts!
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Connection Matters
One of the most important ways we build a strong school-home partnership is through connection. We hope all caregivers will make time to join us for Back to School Curriculum Night on September 24th. This evening is an opportunity to connect with your child’s educators early in the school year, learn about grade-level expectations, and hear about what your child will be learning. Making space for this proactive connection will better equip you to support your learner at home and partner with your child’s teachers throughout the year.
The evening will follow this schedule:
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Grades 3–5: 6:00–6:45 p.m.
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Claypit Leadership: 6:45–7:15 p.m.
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Grades K–2: 7:15–8:00 p.m.
We look forward to welcoming you into our classrooms, sharing the exciting work underway at Claypit, and continuing to build the strong school-home partnerships that help our students thrive. Thank you for being such an important part of our Claypit community!
Sincerely,
Marie, Kate and Naomi
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As many across the state prepare for the 2026-2027 school year, we encourage families and caregivers to vaccinate their children. Please see the joint statement below from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (MCAAP) endorsing the AAP-recommended immunization schedule. The statement is also available online.
Sincerely,
Massachusetts Department of Public Health
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Massachusetts pediatricians and public health officials urge families to follow AAP-recommended immunization schedule
As families across the Commonwealth prepare for the new school year, the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (MCAAP) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) have an urgent message for parents and caregivers: get your children vaccinated.
This guidance comes as new national data show that childhood vaccination rates continue to decline across the country. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, vaccination coverage among kindergarteners fell for every vaccine tracked during the 2025-26 school year, while exemptions from one or more vaccine requirements rose to a record 4.2%. The consequences of this decline are playing out in real time, as the nation is now experiencing its highest number of measles cases in more than 35 years, a bleak reminder of how quickly preventable diseases can return when vaccination rates slip.
While Massachusetts has historically maintained some of the highest pediatric vaccination rates in the country, rates are declining in some school districts and previously rare requests for exemptions from vaccination requirements are becoming more common. Massachusetts is seeing an increase in nonmedical exemptions, a worrisome trend that we are watching closely. Protecting the progress that Massachusetts has achieved requires ongoing attention from families, schools, healthcare providers, and community partners all working together to keep children safe and healthy.
MCAAP and DPH do not support the proposed restructuring of the childhood immunization schedule as outlined in an executive order signed August 10, 2026, by President Trump. The order calls for reducing the recommended childhood immunization schedule from 17 vaccines to 11, splitting the combined MMR shot into three separate injections, and directing the Department of Justice to challenge state laws that protect school vaccination requirements. This sweeping rewrite of federal guidance is inconsistent with scientific evidence about the safety, effectiveness, and timing of the childhood immunization schedule that has protected children for decades.
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Governor Maura Healey also immediately issued a statement reminding residents that the state had already taken action to protect access to vaccines based on trusted medical experts and reaffirming that in Massachusetts “childhood vaccine recommendations are not changing, and we will continue to make sure families can get the vaccines they need to keep their children healthy and safe.”
Vaccine requirements for Massachusetts schools are set by state law and DPH regulation – not by the federal government or executive orders. Nothing about this recent executive order changes what vaccinations children need to enroll in Massachusetts schools this fall.
A child’s pediatrician remains the best and most reliable source of information about vaccines. Pediatricians know a child’s health history, understand the evidence behind vaccine recommendations, and can answer questions, address concerns, and help make informed decisions grounded in a child’s individual needs.
Vaccination should be part of the back-to-school checklist. The start of the school year offers an ideal time to review a child’s health records and catch up on any vaccines that may have been missed.
Vaccines are one of the most powerful public health achievements in history, saving hundreds of millions of lives worldwide. Here in Massachusetts, that same life-saving power protects children, their classmates, and their communities – and continues the progress we have worked so hard to achieve.
Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD
Commissioner
Massachusetts Department of Public Health
David A. Lyczkowski, MD
President
Massachusetts Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics
If you have any comments, questions, or feedback, please email:
Office of Local & Regional Health
Massachusetts Department of Public Health
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PTO communications team: Do you have an interest or expertise in graphic design (Canva) or social media? We could use your help on the Claypit PTO Communications team!
Cultural enrichment: Our active Cultural Enrichment team is looking for a new person to help plan in-school events and collaborate with the other Wayland public schools to bring cultural enrichment programming to students.
These are important roles, all with a small time commitment (2-3 hours a month). Please email Amanda at ClaypitPTO@gmail.com if you are interested. Thanks in advance for sharing your expertise and joining a fantastic team of volunteers!
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We want to share an important reminder about dogs on school grounds. Our priority is to ensure that Claypit is a safe and welcoming place for every child and family. Last week, an incident involving a dog and a child on school grounds (outside the school day) reminded us that not all dogs are comfortable around young children, and some of our students are understandably fearful of dogs.
In accordance with Wayland's policy, dogs may not be on school grounds from 30 minutes before the start of school until 30 minutes after dismissal.
Moving forward, only approved service or therapy dogs may be on campus during the school day or during the 30-minute periods immediately before and after school. This expectation applies to everyone who uses our school grounds, including during arrival and dismissal.
We recognize that dogs are beloved members of many families, and we appreciate your understanding that this policy is about creating a safe, comfortable environment for all of our students. Thank you for helping us care for our entire Claypit community and for respecting this important expectation.
From Wayland town Bylaws...
School grounds: dogs not allowed during school/leash control only at other times. Unless the school principal gives permission in advance, no dog may be on school grounds from 30 minutes before classes begin until 30 minutes after classes end. At all other times, the dog may be on school grounds only if it is on a six-foot or shorter leash. A dog is not violating this prohibition if it remains within a vehicle.
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Join Principal, Marie Brigham, and her administrative team, as well as the Claypit Hill PTO, at the fall caregiver coffees. We look forward to sharing a little bit about the school year ahead and how families can best support their students and engage with our school community.
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Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade caregivers: Tuesday, September 22nd, 8:15am - 8:45am
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3rd, 4th, and 5th grade caregivers: Tuesday, September 22nd, 9:00am - 9:30am
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Join us at Claypit Hill for Curriculum Night on Thursday, September 24! 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade caregivers will have an opportunity to visit their child’s classroom and meet their teachers from 6-6:45pm. Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade caregivers will do the same from 7:15-8pm.
Join the PTO in the cafeteria any time between 6-8pm for snacks, information on activities around town, and to catch up with other caregivers! From 6:45-7:15pm, the Claypit administrative team will give a presentation in the cafeteria.
Our staff appreciation team is also planning a dinner for the Claypit staff that evening. Pizzas will be generously donated from Max and Leo’s but the team is asking for donations of additional items - sign up here. Perishable items can be dropped to Gina Cherco at 17 Squirrel Hill Rd. Non-perishable items can be dropped to the school directly. Please deliver by the morning of September 24.
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School Photo Day is coming up on Friday, September 25! And did you know that 30% of all pre-sales are donated back to the Claypit Hill PTO? Last year the PTO received $3,200 from the pre-sales and we hope to exceed that number this year!
Order your child’s photo package by Tuesday, September 29 to receive the discounted pre-order rate, lower shipping, AND to support the PTO. Orders can still be placed after that date, but your purchase will not be included in the donation back to our school.
Ordering is completely paperless! Visit Hayward Photography’s website to place your order. Click the blue “Prepay for Photo Day” button, enter school code CPHF26, and search for your child’s name.
A few helpful details:
- Group photos are provided to all students at no charge.
- Retakes will be scheduled a few weeks after photos arrive.
- Questions or trouble ordering? Email ClaypitPTO@gmail.com
Volunteers Needed! We are also looking for parent volunteers to help Photo Day run smoothly on Friday, September 25. If you would like to help, please email Caeli Richter (caeli.richter@gmail.com) or ClaypitPTO@gmail.com and let us know if you are available for:
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Shift A: 8:15–11:00 AM
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Shift B: 10:45 AM–1:30 PM
- Either shift or Both shifts
As a thank you, volunteers receive one complimentary digital download for one child, so volunteers should take that into account when deciding what you will preorder.
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Celebrate with Heart Annual Community Festival & Run with Heart 5K Road Race
Join us at Cochituate Ball Fields on Sunday, September 27! Register to walk or run here for the 5K road race at 11:00 a.m. The festival runs from 12:00 p.m - 3:00 p.m. with food trucks, sports clinics, inflatables, face painting, hair braiding and music along with KISS 108 DJ Mikey V. There is a Kids Fun Run starting at 12:30 p.m.
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Save the dates! Claypit Hill’s Harvest Festival is scheduled for 1-3pm on Sunday, October 4. Our fall-themed, family event includes games, crafts, snacks, first access to our book fair, a water bucket challenge, and - NEW THIS YEAR! - bouncy houses. Classes will visit the book fair the week of October 5-9. Stay tuned for more information about the events as well as sign-ups to help!
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Mark your calendars for playground playdates this October! Families are invited to meet up at any of the following events for popsicles/ice cream, play time, and an opportunity to catch-up with friends and make new connections!
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All Grades in Boston! - Sunday, October 18, 11am-1pm, playground at the Neponset Trail located at the Pope John Paul II Park in Dorchester. Sign up in advance here.
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Kindergarten - Sunday, October 25, 2-4pm, Claypit kindergarten playground
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1st Grade - Sunday, October 25, 12-2pm, Claypit main playground
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2nd Grade - Saturday, October 17, 2-4pm, Claypit main playground
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3rd Grade - Sunday, October 25, 2-4pm, Claypit main playground
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The Claypit Hill Library is looking for parent volunteers to help kids check-out books, shelve returned books, and keep the library looking awesome. Several classes are still in need of weekly volunteers. Our library volunteer coordinator is building a new master list of volunteers, so please fill out this volunteer survey if you’d like to help (even if you volunteered in the past).
Volunteers will receive a sign-up to select specific dates to help in the library this fall, and new volunteers will have a brief training to learn about the Claypit Hill Library. Please sign-up whether you can volunteer one time or regularly. Thank you!
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Help Us Reach 100% Participation!
Gift Your Child, Claypit Hill PTO’s annual fall fundraiser, is underway! Thank you to everyone who has already contributed!
If you haven’t donated yet, we hope you’ll consider making your gift today. Our goal is participation from 100% of Claypit Hill families—and every donation, at any amount, gets us closer.
Your support helps fund the enrichment, classroom support, special events, staff appreciation, and community-building activities our students and teachers enjoy throughout the year.
Thank you for supporting Claypit Hill! 🧡
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Do you like the smell of a hot laminating machine in the morning? How about the soothing, rhythmic sounds of a copy machine? Claypit teachers and staff need our help! If you can periodically help copy, collate, staple, laminate, etc. classroom materials, email JenDotLux@gmail.com. By giving teachers a hand with these jobs, we are freeing up more time for them to prepare lessons and do other classroom work. Volunteering will be done at Claypit on Thursday or Friday mornings and training will be available. Thank you!!
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A big thank you to all of the families and caregivers who supported Claypit’s First Responder Appreciation Week, specifically Amanda Gale, Catherine Burns, Ana Genofre, Alexis Schayowitz, and all of the kids who wrote kind notes to our fire, police, and EMS workers. |
Claypit Hill collects donations throughout the year to support local families through My Brother’s Table food pantry. Watch for suggested donations each month, and consider picking up a few items to contribute when you’re at the grocery store. There is a donation bin at the Claypit Hill entrance, which is an easy spot for kids or families to drop-off donations as they enter the school. |
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- Monday, September 21 - NO SCHOOL
- Tuesday, September 22 - Caregiver Coffees
- Thursday, September 24 - Back to School Night 6:00 - 8:00 - Grades 3-5 from 6:00 - 6:45 - Meet with Claypit Leadership 6:45 - 7:15 - Grades K-2 from 7:15 - 8:00
- Friday, September 25 Claypit Picture Day
- Wednesday, October 7 - Super Early Release, Dismissal at 11:30
- Monday, October 12 - NO SCHOOL
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