ENGLISH: Need translation? Just click "Translate" at the top of your screen!

ESPAÑOL: ¿Necesita traducción? Haga clic en "Translate" (traducir) en la parte superior de la pantalla.

PORTUGUÊS: Precisa de tradução? Clique em “Translate” (traduzir) no topo da tela!

We are heading into an exciting stretch before Spring Break and wanted to share a few important updates and reminders with you. This week is Spirit Week, running from Monday, April 14 through Thursday, April 17. Each day will feature a fun theme to help us celebrate Acceptance Week and end the month on a positive, inclusive note. As April is Autism Awareness Month, we are using this opportunity to highlight neurodiversity and the importance of embracing and celebrating differences. We encourage your child to join in the fun—see the Spirit Week schedule below to help them participate!

There will be no school on Friday, April 18 in observance of Good Friday, and the following week (April 21–25) is Spring Break. We hope all of our families enjoy some time to relax and recharge.

Looking ahead, we’re beginning our class placement planning for the 2025–2026 school year. A big part of this process includes thoughtful input from families. This week, we are sharing a Parent Input Form and ask that it be returned by May 2. Your insights are incredibly helpful as we work to make the best possible placements for every student.

As a friendly reminder, we ask for your help in keeping arrival and dismissal safe for everyone. Please remember there is no stopping or parking at the front of the school or at the entrances to any parking lots. This includes the horseshoe driveway, which is strictly reserved for buses, vans, and vehicles with Blue Zone permits only. Your cooperation makes a big difference in ensuring a safe and smooth flow of traffic each day.

Lastly, we have worked to update our list of important dates for April and May. Please take a moment to review and mark your calendars as we move through this busy spring season.

Wishing everyone a great week ahead—and an early Happy Spring Break!

Warm regards,

Kathie and Kate

Kathie Lasky, Principal klasky@framingham.k12.ma.us

Kate O'Leary, Assistant Principal koleary52@framingham.k12.ma.us

• Friday, 18th
  • No School: Good Friday
• Monday-Friday, 21st - 25th
  • No School: Spring Break
• Monday, 28th
  • 5th Grade Math MCAS Session 1
• Tuesday, April 29th
  • School Council, 4:15-5:15pm
• Wednesday, 30th
  • 5th Grade Math MCAS Session 2
  • PTO Meeting, 6:00pm

• Thursday, 1st
  • 4th Grade Math MCAS Session 1
• Friday, 2nd
  • 4th Grade Math MCAS Session 2
  • Parent Input Forms Due (see below)
• Saturday, 3rd
  • Pasta Dinner, 4-8pm
• Wednesday, 7th
  • 3rd Grade Math MCAS Session 1
• Thursday, 8th
  • 3rd Grade Math MCAS Session 2
• Tuesday, 13th
  • 5th Grade Science MCAS Session 1
• Wednesday, 14th
  • 5th Grade Science MCAS Session 2
• Monday, 19th
  • Arts Night K-2, 6:00-7:30
• Tuesday, 20th
  • School Council, 4:15-5:15pm
• Thursday, 22
  • Arts Night 3-5, 6:00-7:30pm

We will begin the process for planning next year’s class placements soon. The primary goal of this process is to create balanced, heterogeneous classrooms where each child’s learning needs can be met. Given the many and varying needs of our students, this is indeed a challenging task.

While this process involves important input from many of our building’s professionals, the most important input in this process is from your child’s teacher. Your child’s teacher has spent the better part of each school day, working with and observing your child in a variety of learning and social situations. Your child’s teacher has identified your child’s learning style and has observed under what conditions your child learns best.

The placement process is the primary responsibility of the placement teams, however, you can help in several ways. Firstly, please make sure that you have communicated with your child’s teacher about what you have observed about your child’s learning and progress this school year. A parent’s perspective always enriches a teacher’s understanding of how a child learns best.

To assist in this process, please complete a Placement Information Form:

• 2025-2026 Placement Information Form (English)
• 2025-2026 Formulário de Informação de Colocação (Portuguese)
• 2025-2026 Formulario de Información de Colocación (Spanish)
• Please note that it is not a necessity to complete and submit one of these forms.

The Placement Information Form is designed to be a formal way for parents to share information with the placement team. Questions on the form are designed to gather information about a child that a parent would like considered as the team develops class groupings.

• Requests for specific teachers will not be considered.
• If you choose to complete the Placement Information Form, please complete it by Friday May 2nd

While no placement process is perfect, we work very hard to consider each child as an individual with the goal of placing the child in the best possible grouping. With your help, we will achieve this goal.

We need your help to ensure a safe and smooth arrival and dismissal process for all of our students.

Please remember the following important guidelines:

🚫 No stopping or parking at the front of the school or at the entrances of any parking lots. This includes the horseshoe driveway, which is strictly reserved for buses, vans, and Blue Zone permitted cars only.

🚗 Parent Drop-Off/Pick-Up:
Parents must either park and walk their child to and from the building or park in a parking spot so that children can safety exit the car and walk to the school. For the safety of everyone, please do not drop off or pick up unless you are parked in a designated parking spot.

✅ Parking Options:

• Frost Street

• Walsh Parking Lot (with rear door access)

• Dunning Main Parking Lot (please note this will be slower due to bus priority)

Entrance Options:

• Main Entrance – Park on Frost Street or the main lot. Please do not stop in the horseshoe.

• Rear Doors – Eastside near Walsh pathway or Westside near Cornell Street (rolling drop-off allowed on Cornell – no parking).

💙 Blue Zone (Approved Permitted Drop-Off/Pick-Up Lane):
Families with a Blue Zone Pass are permitted to use the horseshoe driveway for live drop-off/pick-up alongside buses and vans.

• Please wait until you reach the front of the bus line and be patient before letting your child out or receiving your child so the buses can continue unloading efficiently.

• Make sure your Blue Zone Pass is clearly visible each day so staff can direct you appropriately.

🚌 Bus Safety Reminders:

• No passing buses or vans when stop signs are out or when lights are flashing.

• Always follow the directions of staff members helping during drop-off and pick-up.

⛔️ Lot Closures:
The East Wing Kindergarten Lot and the West Wing Front Lot are closed to cars from 8:45–9:30 AM and 3:15–4:00 PM.

Thank you for doing your part to keep all of our students safe and to help traffic flow more smoothly. Your cooperation makes a big difference!

Please join us for this fun family fundraiser where our 5th graders will serve you dinner!

All proceeds from this year’s pasta dinner go to fund our 5th graders’ field trip and other end-of-the-year activities. Reserve your seat at the “Dunning Trattoria” for just $5 per person or $25 per family.

To sign up, return the form (be on the lookout for a hard copy in your child's backpack) to your student’s teacher by Wednesday, April 30th with your check made payable to: Charlotte Dunning PTO.

We are excited to fill the yearbook with photos of our 5th Grade Graduating Pandas! Please help us do this by uploading photos below. We will only be able to use photos that are associated with school (field trips, school events, in class activities, etc). We will not be able to use photos from playdates, birthday parties, etc. 

The Character Trait for the month of April is Acceptance!

The 2024 Annual Dunning Arts Night will be split into two separate Arts Nights:

• Monday, May 19th, 6:00 - 7:30 Grades K-2
• Thursday May 22 6:00 - 7:30 Grades 3-5

For the month of April, we are collecting Spaghetti to go to A Place To Turn food pantry in Natick. The two classrooms that collect the most food items for the pantry will earn extra recess!

Framingham Public Schools (FPS) & Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) Updates 

Updated February 4, 2025

• January 29, 2025 District Communication 

• January 22, 2025 District Communication 

Additional Resources

Caregiver Authorization Affidavit

Protecting Students and Their Information 

Addressing Hate and Bias in Schools - Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office

Combatting Hate in Our Schools - Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office

The Framingham Public School District uses images and/or videos (‘media’) of students and student work to showcase educational activities and programs (including before and after school and vacation programs), as well as to inform the community of the Framingham Public Schools experience. Photographs, videos, and/or the name of your child may be included in publications (print or digital), news releases, and on District maintained websites or social media accounts.

If you DO NOT give Framingham Public Schools permission to use your child’s name, image, or school work in any public display or presentation, please complete the digital Google Form (Photo / Video Opt-Out | Exclusión de foto/video | Formulário de Exclusão de Mídia (Foto/Vídeo) or print, sign, and return the form(s) listed below to the appropriate place based on your school(s).

Printed Forms

• Photo / Video Opt-Out (Click here to view)
• Exclusión de foto/video (Click here to view)
• Formulário de Exclusão de Mídia (Foto/Vídeo) (Click here to view)

Printed forms can be returned to the:

• School Office
• Homeroom for elementary students

Please note that FPS does not control the disclosure or use of photographs or video taken by participants at events that are open to parents, community members, and/or the news media. Additionally, this form does not apply to students participating in public events, like academic competitions, performances and athletic events. Student photos and names from these events may be published by news media.

Upon receipt of this signed opt-out form, school staff will document your child’s status (Media Opt-Out) in the X2 Student Information System for the current school year.