May 9th Update

TEACHER APPRECIATION LUNCHEON:
Parent volunteers are needed for the LE teacher appreciation luncheon scheduled for Tuesday, May 17th from 12:30-2:30pm in the Cafeteria. Parents are needed to help organize the event, as well as donate food and drink items. If interested in helping to organize this event, please contact Andrea at ahemment@gmail.com.

PULL TABS FOR SHRINER’S HOSPITAL:
We are collecting can pull tabs in the LE office to help support families who need transportation to Shriners Hospital. More details can be found in the attached flyer.

 UNDERSTANDING OUR DIFFERENCES:
Grade 5 Understanding Our Differences: Monday June 6 (1:00-3:00) The Unit is Autism Spectrum Disorder.  If anyone is interested, they can contact Cathleen Morrison at 617-699-2977 or ccanhc@gmail.com

 

SAVE THE DATE! International Night Wednesday, May 25 from 5:30 – 7:00

  • Celebrate the diversity of our community!
  • Food: bring your national or favorite dish!
  • Culture: Share your culture by hosting a table of artifacts
  • from your country!
  • Talent: Share a special talent in the L-E talent show!
  • (Dance, music, martial arts, comedy, magic…)
  • Friends: visit with old friends and make new ones!

 

L-E BUILDING INFORMATION PROJECT:
On Monday May 3rd Assistant Superintendent Cynthia Paris-Jeffries, members of the School Committee, and Julie Kirane, from central administration, shared an update on the Aquinas Building Project and the move for Lincoln-Eliot.

An outline of the time line was presented. All dates are best estimates based on prior building timelines.

  • Spring 2015 – City acquired Aquinas
  • Spring 2016 – Statement of Interest to MSBA
    • A competitive process to allocate available funds to cities and towns that demonstrate highest need
  • 2016-17 – Possible MSBA Invitation
  • 2017-18 – Feasibility
  • 2018-19 – Design
  • 2019-21 – Construction (2 years)
  • 2021-22 – Completed/Occupy

You can find the complete Lincoln-Eliot Presentation on the NPS website at: http://www.newton.k12.ma.us/Page/2744

For the complete district long-range building plan go to: http://www.newton.k12.ma.us/district-initiatives

 

Lincoln-Eliot Spotlights:

 Newton Serves
A HUGE thank you to Nora Zizlsperger and Amy Pollack-Howard for organizing a very successful Newton Serves event at Lincoln-Eliot on Sunday, May 1st. The focus of this community service day was the Lincoln-Eliot playground, garden, and the grounds surrounding Lincoln-Eliot. We had several L-E families and community volunteers to help with the efforts. Fibar mulch was spread in the playground near the slides and structures to provide an extra cushion. The raised beds in the garden were painted and preserved. The landscaping all around the school was raked out and fresh pine bark mulch was spread. We also began to spruce up the “courtyard” in the front of the school between the art room and the cafeteria.

Thank you to the Lincoln-Eliot Families and Friends who volunteered that day:

  • Valerie, Aria, and Mia  Conen
  • Nina Bellucci and Brant, Michael, and Luca Borghorst
  • JJ, Stacey, Ezra, and Zoey Kazakoff-Eigen,
  • Teresa, Margot, and Evangeline Carmona
  • Allison Eldredge and Max, Jessica, and Natalie Levinson
  • Jason Zheng
  • Tanya Bardakh
  • Paul, Kaleigh, and Kelsey Yee
  • Lanni Harris and Liliana Isenberg
  • The Newton Rainbow Girls
  • Kevin, Laura, Ellie, and Caroline Fahey
  • Karen, John, Sadie, and Liam Mulligan
  • George, Amy, and Greer Howard
  • Joe, Nora, Hannah, and Ava Zizlsperger

 

Walk Bike to School:
Under the leadership of L-E Parent Donna Vincenzino and P.E Teacher Dave Rota, Lincoln-Eliot Families have joined the Walk/Bike to School Movement. On Thursday, May 5th we had our largest turnout to date.  With the help of 5th grade students, everyone who participated received a Safe Routes award.

Thank you to all the families who participated and braved the rainy weather. Newton Public Schools remains committed to neighborhood schools and students walking and biking. This is a rare and wonderful commitment in public education.

CAP Program (Child Assault Prevention):
One of the programs our PTO funds each year is called the CAP Program. The CAP Program is sponsored by Family ACCESS. It is a national and international Child Assault Prevention Program. CAP staff visits grades Kindergarten, second, and fifth grade and teach students strategies to empower them to be safe through guided discussion and role-playing. On Thursday May 5th, CAP instructors held a parent workshop to explain the structure and goals of the program.

 

From the CAP Adult Information Guide:

Program Goals

  • To give children information in a sensitive safe, and non-threatening manner within their classroom.
  • To teach children how to recognize a potentially threatening situation.
  • To encourage children to practice skills for potentially threatening situations.
  • To encourage children to problem-solve options for responding to difficult situations.
  • To increase awareness among adults and help adults respond effectively to children in need.
  • To help children identify trusted adults in their lives.
  • To help children in recognizing and establishing peer support.
  • To build support among children and adults within your community.

 The CAP Program Emphasizes “THE THREE RIGHTS”

The Right to Be Safe
Every child has the right to live a life free of abuse.

The Right to Be Strong
Every child has the right to be strong in body, mind, and spirit; to be confident; to stand up for self and others; to ask for help.

The Right to Be Free
Every child has the right to be free to love themselves, to love others, and to take advantage of all the opportunities life has to offer; the right to choose where and with whom they feel safe.

If you would like more information about the CAP Program, we have Adult Information Guides available in the Lincoln-Eliot Office.