Hello wonderful LE community,
We know these are challenging and stressful times, so the LE PTO board wanted to reach out with some ideas and resources that we hope might help while everyone is stuck at home! Remember that you can still go outside — the recommendation is to avoid other people and playgrounds, but walks and parks and bike rides are a great way to get some fresh air and keep kids from going stir-crazy, especially while the weather is so nice.
Stay Connected
Our kids are going to miss each other — keep in mind the magic of Skype/FaceTime, writing real letters, or letting them email or text one another! We’re hoping to find more ways to keep the LE community connected, but for now, remember that you can find contact information for many of your friends through our directory at Membership Toolkit.
If you know someone who isn’t in there, please reach out and encourage them to join so we can all find each other! And if you’re not in the directory, or you can’t remember your login/password, email secretary@lepto.org anytime for help.
The LE PTO is also on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/LincolnEliotPTO for anyone who wants to connect there!
Home-Based Activities
* Mommy Poppins has a great guide for parents, with hundreds of activities and online resources
* Our own Lincoln-Eliot library website has several links to free books, poetry games, online STEM activities, and more.
* If you have a local library card, you can also access thousands of free ebooks, music, movies, and audiobooks from home using any of the following apps/services:
Hoopla
Libby
Overdrive
Kanopy
Freading
* A kind soul of Facebook has compiled a list of free educational resources, including several that are currently offering free subscriptions due to all the school closings: http://www.amazingeducationalresources.com/
* Check out this YouTube channel of authors posting fun videos for kids:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCowhHSUaWp3KJDcuI0nR0vw?view_as=subscriber
* And here’s a collection of other resources and videos from authors for learning anywhere: https://www.katemessner.com/read-wonder-and-learn-favorite-authors-illustrators-share-resources-for-learning-anywhere-spring-2020/
* This is also a great time for kids to submit book reviews and questions for authors for Grace Lin’s new podcast, Kids Ask Authors
We will try to post more of these throughout the week and in our next newsletter, so if you have any other ideas, please send them to secretary@lepto.org anytime!
More Information About Social Distancing
We found these two articles to be helpful sources of advice about “social distancing” and self-quarantine:
The Do’s and Don’ts of “Social Distancing” (The Atlantic)
Social Distancing: This Is Not a Snow Day (Medium)
How to Help
As Principal Morrissey noted in her update, there is a group organizing to help people in the community: Newton Neighbors Helping Newton Neighbors. If you need any help, or if you can volunteer to help others, please fill out the form at:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQNTahca3LS8GkS0mht7d3JAVsAc5Apy2H_LJLiGntlwTVOw/viewform
(And if you’re looking for other ways to help, monetary donations to any of those food pantries would also be greatly appreciated right now.)
That’s all for now — we hope everyone is staying safe and healthy and sane and taking care of yourselves!
With love,
Your Lincoln-Eliot PTO 🙂