Principal's Corner
Dear FW Families and Friends,
On behalf of our terrific team at Furnace Woods Elementary School, I would like to welcome you to the 2026-2027 school year. Through collaborative efforts and a strong school-home connection, great growth and success will continue to take place. Our staff will work continuously to provide feedback on your child’s strengths, areas to work on and support suggestions for home.
I hope everyone is healthy, safe and has found moments of peace and relaxation this summer. This is my 16th year in Hen Hud and I continue to be extremely proud of our amazing and supportive school community.
As relationships are essential in allowing us to best focus on teaching and learning, many of our staff members have filled out a brief introduction to help us get to know one another. Below is a link to the one I completed:
Parent Portal and Teacher Assignments
Families will be able to access teacher assignments on the Parent Portal on August 21st (after 3 pm). Please try to log on before then and contact technology helpdesk if you are experiencing any problems. Activation emails for new accounts have been sent out all summer. Please let us know if you still have not received yours. You will be able to create your accounts and on the 21st will then be able to see schedules and transportation as well. (*Please note that transportation information is subject to change and should be checked the weekend before school begins.)
SAVE THE DATES:
Monday, August 24th will be our PTA Playdate, giving you and your student(s) the opportunity to meet classmates / families. When you arrive at FW, park your car and come to the back of the school to our playground area to sign in. You can also drop your school supplies off. If you haven’t picked up your supplies yet, supply lists are attached to this email.
9:00 - 9:30 a.m.
Kindergarten & ABC Classes
9:45 - 10:15 am
First and Second Grade
Thursday, September 10th will be our Meet the Teacher Night. More specific details will be sent home with your child after school begins.
I look forward to our first day of school on Wednesday, September 2nd and seeing everyone in the near future! Please note that our first day is a half day for Kindergarten only, breakfast will be served and a bagel lunch will be available by sending in a note with your child or emailing your child’s teacher by 9:00 a.m. on the first day. Buses leave FW at 11:55 a.m. Please send in a note with your child if you will be picking them up. Pickups will begin at 11:55 a.m. right after our buses leave. Mr. Riley (our security officer) will guide you through the parking lot to the front of the school where your child(ren) will be brought out to your car. Please do not arrive at the school before this time as the parking lot is off limits while the buses are loading.
Daily Arrival and Dismissal Protocols
We will continue the protocols used at FW for arrival. Buses will arrive from 8:30 – 9:00 a.m. Drop-offs will begin at 8:30 a.m. Please do not drop off students before this time as there will be no staff members available to supervise your child(ren). Please follow our security officer's directions while there are buses unloading students. We will have families wait on the right side of the circle until the buses have left. You may not pass a school bus until the bus finishes unloading and the STOP sign is lowered. If you drop off after 9:00 a.m., please ring the bell for entry into the building.
After school pickups will begin at 3:15 p.m., after the buses have finished loading. Mr. Riley will guide you through the parking lot to the front of the school, where your child(ren) will be brought out to your car. Please do not arrive at the school before this time as the parking lot is off limits while the buses are loading.
Please send in a note to your child’s teacher indicating a change in dismissal plans. One note for the year for full year plans. This includes pickups, Mother Connection, etc. Whenever there is a change of plan, notes should be sent that day.
Stay Connected
Some ways we inform families of FW happenings is through ParentSquare, the district website and I will occasionally put things on X (@FW_Principal) in an effort to share bite-sized updates as they happen. Please check out our PTA’s social media accounts as well.
If I may ever be of assistance to you, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you for your support and enjoy the remainder of the summer!
Sincerely,
Joshua S. Cohen
Josh Cohen
Principal