Welcome to the 2025–2026 school year! I hope your summer was filled with joy, rest, and special moments with loved ones. The Ambrose staff and I are excited to begin a new year of learning, growth, and connection.

We look forward to welcoming all students on Thursday, September 4th. Please note this will be an early dismissal day at 11:25 a.m. for all students in Grades K–5. On Friday, September 5th, students in Grades 1–5 will attend a full day, while Kindergarten students will again have an early dismissal at 11:25 a.m.

To our new families—welcome! We’re so happy to have you join the Ambrose community. And to our returning Ambrose Huskies—welcome back! It is truly an honor to serve such a thoughtful and supportive school community. Over the summer, our dedicated staff has been busy preparing classrooms and engaging in professional learning to ensure we provide the best possible experience for your children.

Summer offers educators a valuable time for reflection and planning. As we look ahead to the new school year, we’re filled with excitement for all that’s to come—new friendships, deeper learning, and continued partnership with you.

Please read on for important information and updates to help you prepare for the start of school. On behalf of the entire Ambrose team, I wish you and your children a joyful, smooth, and successful beginning to the year.

Mrs. Phelan 😀

All Kindergarten students will meet each morning in the cafeteria and will be supervised by our teaching assistants. Please look for additional information from your child's Kindergarten teacher about where to meet on the first day of school.

All students in grades 1 and 2 will line up at the front of the school. Please look for signs with your teacher's name.

All students in grades 3, 4 and 5 will line up on the playground. Please look for signs with your teacher's name.

This year, we are proud to have 21 classrooms serving students in Kindergarten through Grade 5.

Kindergarten - Mrs. Kane, Mrs. Stefanini, Mrs. Morrison

Grade 1 - Mrs. Nucci, Mrs. O'Halloran, Mrs. Polesky, Mrs. Brown

Grade 2 - Mrs. Gleason, Mrs. Gentile, Mrs. Dorman, Ms. Bush

Grade 3- Mrs, Malone, Mrs. Habib, Mrs. Miskelly

Grade 4- Mrs. Leahy, Mrs. Kiwan, TBD, Mrs. Rankin

Grade 5- Mrs. Coogan, Ms. Schwartz, Ms. Musto 

Special Education Teachers- Ms. Quinn, Ms. Power, Mrs. Mihalchik, Ms. Mis, Ms. Johnson and Mrs. Decaneas

Diane Maloy and Patty Tully

Lynn Mazzocchi

School Psychologist-Kemi Akinyele

Speech Language Pathologists -Carol Donnelly and Kellie O'Hanlon

Occupational Therapist -Patrick Nobel

Physical Therapist- Suzanne Donovan

Social Emotional Coach-Emily Ward

For a complete directory please click here.

Ms. Cremens, Assistant Principal, has taken a new position in the district as the Out of District Special Education Coordinator. As a result we will be welcoming Mr. Thomas Carco who will be our new Special Education Supervisor at Ambrose. If you have any special education needs or questions, he can be reached at TCarco@winchesterps.org. Welcome Tom!

Please see the note below from Ms. Cremens.

I wanted to personally reach out and share my news that I will not be returning to Ambrose. I have accepted the position of Special Education Out of District Supervisor for all of Winchester Public Schools.It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the Ambrose community. Over the past two years, I’ve had the joy of watching your children grow, learn, and flourish. Your trust, partnership, and support have been vital in creating the nurturing and inspiring environment that makes Ambrose so special.

Thank you once again for the opportunity to be part of your child’s journey. 

I am thrilled to announce the appointment of Mrs. Gina Keating as our new assistant principal.

Mrs. Keating is excited to join Ambrose Elementary as the new Assistant Principal. Below is a short note from her.

After spending the past 12 years living and working in California, I’m thrilled to return to Massachusetts to be closer to friends and family. My background includes roles as an Assistant Principal of Student Support and Instructional Coach, along with many years in the classroom as both a classroom teacher and special education teacher. I’m passionate about supporting teachers, fostering student growth, and building strong, collaborative relationships. I look forward to being a part of the Ambrose community and getting to know the staff, students, and families. Welcome Gina!

I am pleased to announce Ms. Lynn Mazzocchi as our new Literacy Coach and Math Specialist. Below is a note from Lynn.

I’m thrilled to start this year at Ambrose as the new Literacy Coach and Math Specialist. I’ve been teaching in Winchester for the past 18 years, most of that time at Muraco Elementary, where I worked in special education, as a reading specialist, and as a classroom teacher.

I’m passionate about helping all students grow into confident readers, writers, and thinkers, and I enjoy partnering with teachers to support and build on the meaningful and engaging learning already happening in classrooms.

Outside of school, I love spending time near any body of water, whether it’s a lake, pond, pool, or the ocean, and Cape Cod is one of my favorite places to relax and recharge.

I’m excited to get to know the students, staff, and families at Ambrose and to be part of such a welcoming and dedicated school community! Welcome Lynn!

Our School Hours are from 8:05 am to 2:25 pm. School Doors Open at 8:00 am

Early dismissal Hours are 8:05 am to 11:25am

*For the safety of our community, our school doors will remain locked at all times. All visitors must use the main entrance of the school and sign-in to get a visitors badge in the main office.

Morning supervision begins at 8:00 AM. For safety reasons, please do not drop off your child(ren) before this time as staff supervision is not available. Below are the designated arrival and dismissal procedures by grade level. Your child’s classroom teacher will also provide specific information regarding arrival and dismissal routines.

Once the morning bell rings, we kindly ask all parents and caregivers to leave school grounds promptly. This helps ensure a smooth and safe start to the day and supports students in building independence with their morning routines.

Please note: All playground areas are closed before school, and during arrival and dismissal times. Thank you for helping us maintain a safe environment for all students.

For more information, please review the Arrival and Dismissal Policy

To help our youngest learners ease into their new school routine, we’ve designed a special staggered start schedule for the first week of kindergarten:

Your child’s teacher will inform you of your child’s assigned day.

We’re also excited to kick off the year with a Kindergarten Popsicle Party on the Ambrose Playground, happening on Tuesday, September 3rd from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM. This fun event is a great chance for families to meet classmates and staff before the first day of school!

We look forward to seeing you there!

Winchester Public Schools'  grade 5 has a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program. This program allows students to bring their laptops to school. Please visit the BYOD Website winchesterps.org/byod to learn more about device recommendations.

If you cannot provide your Student with a device for the coming school year, please submit a ticket on the WPS Family Helpdesk, and we will provide you with a long-term loaner device to use for the school year.

Please note that a Student can only receive a long-term loaner device if a legal guardian submits a request. 

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please contact Rowan Marcus, or submit a ticket through the WPS Family Helpdesk.

WPS families can use our Aspen Family Portal to register their students for bus transportation. winchesterps.org/transportation.

All students who ride the bus will be dropped off at the front of the building. Upon arrival, they will be supervised and supported by staff until the school day begins at 8:00 a.m.

Please ensure your child brings their bus pass to school each day. For convenience, we recommend attaching the pass securely to their backpack or school bag.

At dismissal, staff will assist students in safely finding and boarding their assigned buses.

Absences, Tardies and Dismissals 

If your child is going to be absent, tardy or dismissed please call the school office as soon as you can at 781-721-7012 and dial “1” as prompted to leave a message. Or you can email your child’s teacher and our new Ambrose absent email: ambroseabsentline@winchesterps.org.

Students who arrive AFTER 8:10 am, must enter through the front main door and get a tardy slip.

After arrivals and dismissals, all doors are locked. 

If your child’s regular pick-up arrangements change at the last minute, please make every effort to call the school office before 12:00 noon so that we can get the message to your child’s teacher in a timely manner and with minimal classroom disruptions. Our administrative assistant is Barbara Kirkpatrick You can reach her at BKirkpatrick@winchesterps.org. 

Being on time for school and having consistent attendance is essential for building strong academic foundations and healthy school habits. When children attend school regularly, they are more engaged in learning, build stronger relationships with teachers and peers, and develop the routines that support long-term success. Every day counts—missing even a few days can impact a child’s confidence and progress. Let’s work together to set your child up for a strong and successful school year!

Lunch will be free for all students this school year. Here is a link to the September menu. Families will receive menus each month.

If your child wishes to purchase water, an additional milk or other a la carte items, they will be charged. To place money in your child's account and to learn more please visit myschoolbucks.com.

Breakfast will now be offered for students each morning in the cafeteria beginning at 7:50 am. Students who would like breakfast should enter the building through the main entrance and go to the cafeteria. At 8:00 AM all students will line up with their classrooms. Breakfast will begin on Monday, September 8th.

School supply by grade level can be found on our school website.

The beginning of the school year is a crucial time for establishing classroom routines, setting clear expectations, and building positive relationships. It’s also an important time for fostering social connections and emotional well-being. At Ambrose, we use the RULER program as our core social-emotional learning curriculum. RULER helps students build skills in emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and empathy.

To learn more about the RULER approach, please visit their website: https://www.rulerapproach.org

If your child may need extra support with arrival routines or transitioning into the school day, please don’t hesitate to reach out to their classroom teacher, our school psychologist/SEL Coach, or the principal before the first day of school. We’re here to support every child in having a positive and successful start!

Below please see some of the many programs that offer after school care.

Kidsborough offers before and after-school care for students at Ambrose. Please visit their website at https://www.kidsborough.com/portfolio-item/winchester/ for more information.

Here are a list of other local programs that provide extended school day options:

-WRAP (Winchester Recreation After School Program): 781-721-7125 

-Kids’ Corner: 781-721-1514

-YMCA: Before / After School - YMCA of Greater Boston

-Ku’s Olympic TaeKwonDo: 781-935-3773

-Chinese School: 617-909-2497

September 3rd - Kindergarten Popsicle Party (3:00 to 4:00 pm)

September 4th- Students first day of School, Early Release 11:25 AM K-5

September 5th- First Full Day of School,Early Release Kindergarten Students Only

September 10th- Family Welcome Back Picnic

September 11th- Family Welcome Back Picnic Rain Date

September 15th and 16th- School Picture Days

September 17th - PTO Kick-Off Meeting

September - Picture Day Rain Date

September 19th -

Early Release Day - Professional Development (11:25am)

October 2nd - Parent Auction at Wright-Locke Farm

October 10th - Authorfest

October 13-No School Day

October 16 -Ambrose Open House Grs. K-2 Grs. 3-5 ( Additional Information to follow)

October 20-Book Character Pumpkins

October 22-24 - Early Release Day - Parent Conferences (11:25am dismissal)

October 25th PTO Fall Event 6:00- 8:00

October 27 Book Fair

October 31st - Halloween Parade 8:30 AM

Aspen