July 2026
Dear Lynnwood Families,
I hope this letter finds you well and enjoying the slower pace of summer! We wrapped up an incredibly successful 2025–26 school year, and it's hard to believe we're already approaching the middle of July. I don't know about you, but I'm hoping these next few weeks slow down just a little!
Although school is out for the summer, there is still plenty happening at Lynnwood. While the hallways may be much quieter, our custodial and main office staff have been hard at work preparing for the 2026–27 school year. Over the next several weeks, classrooms and hallways will be cleared, carpets will be cleaned, floors will be waxed, and every space will be refreshed. By the time students return on September 8th, Lynnwood will be sparkling and ready for another exciting year of learning. A special thank you to Miss Penny and our incredible custodial staff for all they do to ensure our building is welcoming and beautiful each fall.
As we prepare for the new school year, we also have several staffing updates to share.
As many of you know, Mrs. Chris White retired at the end of the school year after an incredible 35 years of teaching at Lynnwood. We also wish Mrs. Heather Brady all the best as she begins a new teaching position closer to home. While we will certainly miss both of these wonderful educators, we are excited to welcome some new faces to our Lynnwood team.
To fill Mrs. White's second-grade position, Mrs. Amelia (DeJarnette) Humphreys will be moving from first grade to second grade next year. This created two openings on our first-grade team.
Please join me in welcoming Miss Julia Lettrick to Lynnwood Elementary. Miss Lettrick joins us from the Bethlehem Central School District, where she taught kindergarten for the past three years. She is excited to become part of the Guilderland community, and I know she will build wonderful relationships with our students and families.
We are also excited to welcome Miss Morgan Phillips to our first-grade team. Miss Phillips is a proud Guilderland graduate and has spent the past two years teaching in long-term leave positions at Guilderland Elementary School and Pine Bush Elementary School. We are thrilled she will now officially join the Lynnwood staff, and we know she will be an outstanding addition to our first-grade team.
We also have an exciting addition to our Reading Department. Mrs. Meghan Wilson has accepted a classroom teaching position in another district, and we wish her all the best. Taking her place will be Mrs. Sandra Stedge, a longtime reading teacher at Farnsworth Middle School. Mrs. Stedge brings many years of experience, deep ties to our community, and a passion for literacy, and we are thrilled to welcome her to Lynnwood.
There are also a few updates in our Art Department. I recently spoke with Mrs. Gillis, and I'm happy to share that she continues to do well and wanted me to let everyone know how much she misses the Lynnwood community. While she is recovering well, she has decided to extend her medical leave for one additional year. During that time, we are fortunate to welcome two outstanding Guilderland art teachers to Lynnwood: Mrs. Anna Pellicone and Mrs. Chris Monlea. Both bring years of experience teaching art throughout the district, and I know they will inspire and nurture the creativity of our young artists.
Finally, some of you may already know that Coach JP will be returning to Pine Bush Elementary School full-time next year. As a result, Coach Schaffer will continue teaching at Lynnwood full-time, and Mr. Brian Torre will join us part-time to teach several PE classes. Mr. Torre is a longtime physical education teacher in Guilderland. In fact, he previously taught at Lynnwood many years ago. We are excited to welcome him back.
As a reminder, school supply lists for the 2026–27 school year have been posted on both the Lynnwood webpage and the district website. I have also included several important summer dates below for your reference, so be sure to add those to your calendar.
Before I close, I simply want to say thank you. It was a joy spending the last day of school with your children, and as I watched them board the buses, I couldn't help but reflect on how much they had grown over the course of the year. Every child made meaningful growth as students and classmates. That growth is a reflection of the dedication of our exceptional teachers, the hard work of our students, and the unwavering partnership and support you provide at home. Together, we make a tremendous team, and I am so grateful for all that we accomplish together.
I hope you continue to enjoy these special summer days with your families. Thank you, as always, for your continued support of Lynnwood Elementary School. We look forward to welcoming everyone back on September 8th for another wonderful year together.
Warmly,
Jacqulyn Dignum
Principal
Important Upcoming Dates:
8/6: Incoming K Visitation Day: Specific times and information will be emailed week of July 13th
8/7: 1st-5th Grade Placement released on eSchool Parent Portal, teacher welcome letters emailed out Monday 8/10
8/21: Kindergarten placement released on eSchool Parent Portal. Teacher welcome packets also emailed on this day.
8/21: Incoming Kindergarten PTA Playdate, 6:00-7:00 pm on new playground
9/1: LES Supply Drop Off and PTA Popsicles on the Playground
Last names A-L: 2:00-2:30
Last names M-Z: 2:30-3:00
Popsicles on the Playground: 2:30-3:30
Tuesday, 9/8: First Day of School!