Since 1993, Kindergarten Soccer has been introducing children to soccer in a fun and non- competitive environment where girls and boys develop friendships, learn teamwork and gain confidence. We play on Saturday mornings at Richardson Field in Waban, Starting September 10th. Join us and meet other families in your neighborhood!

Kindergarten Soccer is open to all children in Newton entering Kindergarten Fall 2016.  We will attempt to place your child on a team with others who will attend the same elementary school.

Kindergarten Soccer is a program run by the Zervas Elementary PTO.

For more information and for online registration, please visit our website: www.KindergartenSoccer.org

The last weeks of the school year are creeping up on us, and Plowshares invites all families to join us for pizza and view performances, art projects, and photos from this spring.

This will take place on Wednesday, June 8th.

4:30-5:00 Pizza will be served in the cafeteria, and families will have a chance to see the art work and pictures displayed.

5:00-5:30 Families will meet in the music room to watch performances.

There will be a sign up for families joining us for pizza by the sign out sheets in both the music room and cafeteria.  This is to help us have an idea of how much pizza will be needed.

Internet Safety:
There is not a doubt in my mind that children will experience the rest of their education and future careers with a huge emphasis on technology.  They are inherently comfortable with technology and their interest is piqued when it is incorporated into lessons and learning.

Technology is exciting, powerful, and educational.  As children increase their technology use, it is important to teach children, beginning at a young age, to use it appropriately and safely.  With the summer months ahead, there is no doubt that children will have even more time and access to the internet.

Here are some other helpful tips that promote safe and acceptable use of technology at home:

• Ask questions and have conversations with your children about their technology use
• Set limits
• Check text messages
• Check friend/buddy lists
• Have a shared, family email
• Check iPods, computers and game systems
• Consider use of monitoring/filtering software
• Check your App store setting on devices to monitor what is being purchased
• The website commonsensemedia.org has been recommended as a helpful site for families

Important updates to note:

COME ONE COME ALL! International Night Wednesday, May 25 from 5:30 – 7:00
International Night is one of the annual celebrations at Lincoln-Eliot. We hope everyone will participate this year. It is a great evening of friends, food, and fun!

• 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!

GRADE 5 BIKE SAFETY PROGRAM (Wed. May 25^th, 8:30-12:00)
Volunteers needed!
Lincoln-Eliot P.E. teacher, Dave Rota, is organizing L-E first Bike Safety Program for 5^th graders. We need a few parent volunteers to ride along-side our fifth graders. This is an initiative promoted by Mayor Setti Warren to ensure our children understand the fundamentals of bike safety. If you can volunteer that day, please contact the L-E office or Dave Rota at david_rota@newton.k12.ma.us

1. 5 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

PIZZA TUESDAY:  June 7th is the last Tuesday Pizza Sale of the school year!  If ordering a whole pizza, please place your order with Jenn at jrogan78@verizon.net by noon the Monday before the sale.  The 5th Grade Committee thanks you for your support!

 Community Service Spotlight:

STUDENTS DONATE TO LOCKS OF LOVE:
Locks of Love is a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada under age 21 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. Lincoln Eliot students Shayna and Harper Wong and Fiona Peltonen recently donated their beautiful locks to support this wonderful charity.

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.

Community News:

NONANTUM VILLAGE DAY
Nonantum Neighborhood Association will be having their 5^th Annual Village Day on June 5^th at Coletti-MagniPark and along Watertown Street between Adams and Chapel Streets from 11:30am to 3:00pm.  This year we will be having 25’ foot rocking climbing wall, professional band, trackless train, and many more events free to all!  For more information, please visit Nonantum Neighborhood Association Facebook.

MAYOR’S SUMMER READING PROGRAM
On Your Mark, Get Set, READ!!!!

Mayor Setti Warren is coming to Lincoln-Eliot on Thursay June 2^nd to kick off the Summer Reading Program!

Summer Reading is Important to prevent reading loss and keep young minds growing. Lincoln-Eliot School is encouraging EVERY student to participate in our Mayor’s Summer Reading Challenge.

How much will you read this summer?  Kids in preschool through 6^th grade can use our online reading log to keep track of the time spent reading alone (or with parents, siblings or friends). Audiobooks and Ebooks count too!

Join Mayor Warren on Wednesday, June 22nd at 6:30pm at City hall for a special evening Summer Reading Kick-off event. There is so much going on this summer!  Check out our events calendar.  All registered kids are invited to an end-of-summer celebration on Wednesday, August 17th, 5:30-8:00pm.  We will play giant board games and eat pizza.  Then join the Mayor from 2-4pm on Saturday, Sept. 17, for his summer reading ice cream celebration at the library!

Reading Rewards                                                       

• Make reading a habit! If you log at least one hour of reading you will be entered in a raffle to win one of 3 gift certificates to local bookstores!
• The reader who logs the most hours will win a Kindle Fire!

“On your mark, get set…Read” is sponsored by your local library, the Massachusetts Library System, the Boston Bruins, and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.

IMPORTANT!:
The Newton Police Department has informed us that as of Monday, May 9th the new crossing light on the intersection of Watertown Street and Pearl Street will be operational. Walkers are highly encouraged to cross at the light, walk down Pearl and cross at the Crossing Guard.

TEACHER APPRECIATION LUNCHEON
The L-E teacher appreciation luncheon is this Tuesday, May 17th from 12:30-2:30pm in the Cafeteria. Please bring your food and drink donations to the Main Office on Tuesday morning, or to the cafeteria at 12pm. If interested in helping to organize this event, please contact Andrea at ahemment@gmail.com.

GR. 5 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
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.

SAVE THE DATE! International Night Wednesday,
May 25 from 5:30 – 7:00
International Night is one of the annual celebrations at Lincoln-Eliot. We hope everyone will participate this year. It is a great evening of friends, food, and fun!

• 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!

GRADE 5 BIKE SAFETY PROGRAM
Wed. May 25th, 8:30-12:00
Volunteers needed!
Lincoln-Eliot P.E. teacher, Dave Rota, is organizing L-E first Bike Safety Program for 5th graders. We need a few parent volunteers to ride along-side our fifth graders. This is an initiative promoted by Mayor Setti Warren to ensure our children understand the fundamentals of bike safety. If you can volunteer that day, please contact the L-E office or Dave Rota at david_rota@newton.k12.ma.us

PIZZA TUESDAY
 June 7th is the last Tuesday Pizza Sale of the school year! If ordering a whole pizza, please place your order with Jenn at jrogan78@verizon.net by noon the Monday before the sale. The 5th Grade Committee thanks you for your support!

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 3^rd 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 1^st. 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 5^th we had our largest turnout to date.  With the help of 5^th 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 5^th, 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.

• The LE 5^th grade car wash and SAVERS donation drive is scheduled for Saturday, April 30. Please see the attached flyer for more details.
• Come help spruce up LE during NewtonSERVES on Sunday, May 1, from 9 am – 12 pm! Adult workers are needed, as well as kids ready to work with their parents. We need 50 volunteers. We will be spreading mulch, raking, preparing our school garden, painting the class garden boxes, as well as aiding with other needed outdoor maintenance. Please see attached flyer for more information. Feel free to email Nora at noraziz@gmail.com or Amy at arpollack2@yahoo.com with any questions.
• Parent volunteers 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.
• 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.
• The Boston Emeralds, a 3^rd grade basketball program focused on development, is looking for players! For more information and/or to register, please visit: http://bostonemeraldsbasketball.com/

Spotlight on the Gym
Since February vacation we have done a lot with hand dribbling and basketball skills and lots of jumping and jumping rope (so many opportunities for fun). Just as we were finishing dribbling, March Madness started with lots of great basketball to watch.  Soon, the NBA playoffs will be starting and the Boston Celtics will be playing.  I showed 3^rd – 5^th graders this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OE_zVd49u0I short video of Stephen Curry, the current NBA Most Valuable Player doing a dribbling warm-up with many of the skills students were working on. They were amazed at how easy he made it look to do skills they were struggling to figure out! Kindergarteners made great progress learning to dribble with one hand and were pre and post assessed, which shows evidence of the dramatic improvements many made.

Jumping has been a ton of fun! 2^nd -5^th graders learned to jump rope or to jump better, 3^rd-5^th adding different jumps to their repertoires.  This is exciting and makes jumping rope more interesting.  Students made great improvements in the number of jumps they could do in 1 minute.  3^rd-5^th graders also learned how to turn and jump with long ropes.  They really enjoyed working together with others as a team and were surprised and excited when they were able to accomplish new skills.

Also, in the last few weeks, in coordination with Massachusetts Safe Routes to School, we have had a bicycle safety presentation for 4^th graders and pedestrian safety for 2^nd graders (unfortunately the safety walk was rained out, but we improvised some situations indoors, that we are confident will carry over).  Thank you to Donna Vincenzino, the LE parent coordinator, and the parents who volunteered to help with the pedestrian safety.  We will need a few parent volunteers again in June when we have a bike safety program with the 5^th grade that includes a Bike Safety Ride with the Newton Police Safety Officer.  See Bike and Pedestrian safety videos on my website: http://www2.newton.k12.ma.us/~david_rota/?OpenItemURL=S0CFE34ED

Keep up with what is happening in PE on my new website http://www2.newton.k12.ma.us/~david_rota/?OpenItemURL=S0CFE20D5 . Also, in student links, there is the Stephen Curry video, and links to a couple of sites I highly recommend with different movements for students & families to use to be better movers.  I have been using these sites with my own children and they really enjoy doing the exercises together with me.

April Vacation Week is coming up quickly.  I have attached the sign up form for families.

April Vacation will take place right here at Lincoln Eliot.  We will open at 8:00 and close at 5:45, Tuesday thru Friday.

We are closed on Monday, April 18th in observance of Patriot’s Day.

We have a lot a fun activities and special events planned for the week.  Our theme for the week is Spring Into Fun where each day is focused on a fun theme for all the children.

Tuesday, April 19^th——–A Candyland Adventure– Afternoon Ice Cream Sundaes

Wednesday, April 20^th—-Movin’ and Groovin’-Trip to Launch Trampoline Park

Thursday, April 21^st——-Hocus Pocus– Special Guest: Bonaparte the Magician

Friday, April 22^nd———-Science Explorers– Special Guest: Top Secret Science and a Nature Walk along the Charles River.

FORMS MUST BE RETURNED BY WEDNESDAY, April  13^th, 2016

If you have any questions about our vacation week program, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Angela Marra
Director, Plowshare Childcare @ Lincoln Eliot
 

Save the Date: Mayor’s 1st Annual Community Discussion on Newton as a Welcoming City For All

Help us ensure that Newton is open to people of all races/ethnicities, religions, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, and disabilities.

On Thursday evening, April 7th, Mayor Warren will host the first annual community discussion focused on ensuring that Newton is a welcoming community to people of all backgrounds. The forum will include leaders from our community and beyond. This will be an opportunity for residents of all ages to ask questions, and join us in making Newton the most inclusive community it can be.

The discussion will be held in the War Memorial of Newton City Hall, located at 1000 Commonwealth Avenue, on Thursday, April 7th at 6:30 pm

• Parent volunteers 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.

• Parent volunteers needed for Understanding Our Differences on the following dates. Please see the attached flyer for more details on how to participate.
  • Grade 3 (Deafness/Hard of Hearing) – April 8th, 9:30 am – 11:30 am
  • Grade 4 (Deafness/Hard of Hearing) – April 14th, 12:45 – 2:45 pm
  • Grade 5 (Autism Spectrum Disorders) – TBD, TBD

• The LE 5^th grade car wash and SAVERS donation drive is scheduled for Saturday, April 30.

• A responsive home workshop is being held on April 7 at the Education Center to help parents create a calm, supportive and encouraging environment at home.

• A Crocodile River music concert is being held on April 8 at Newton South High School bringing the music of Mali, Brazil, Spain and Trinidad, and the instruments and dances that celebrate these cultures to Newton.

• 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.

• There is a workshop on navigating the cyber world scheduled for April 12 from 7:00 – 8:15pm at Brown Middle School Auditorium.

• The Boston Emeralds, a 3^rd grade basketball program focused on development, is looking for players! For more information and/or to register, please visit: http://bostonemeraldsbasketball.com/

Soccer, Basketball and Football Donations:
It is springtime and playground sports are in full swing. Classrooms are looking for ball donations for the students to use during recess time. We begin the year with playground balls and have replaced them a few times. We are now looking for ball donations from families. If you would like to donate a ball to your child’s class, please mark the ball with the grade and classroom teacher name so we know where the ball belongs. Thank you from all the children for your kindness and support.

PTO Dues!!!
There’s still time to pay your 2015-2016 PTO Dues!  Help fund great programs and events for your child, including: 

• Creative Arts & Sciences – PTO Dues have helped pay for arts classes, Science fair, Dances, and the LE Mosaic over the Jackson Street Entrance.
• Classroom Technology – Computer carts for Google Books, IPads, and more.
• Library Resources – Books, etc.
• Playground Equipment – New Swings coming this year

PTO Dues Form

LE 5th Grade Toiletry Drive
THANK YOU to the Lincoln-Eliot community for supporting the fifth grade toiletry drive. With your help, we were able to donate over 1,000 toiletries to a local shelter.

Parent Volunteers Needed for the LE Teacher Appreciation Luncheon 
Save the Date / Help Needed: The annual L-E Teacher Appreciation Luncheon will be held on 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.  Be on the lookout for a flyer in the coming weeks!  If interested in helping to organize this event, please contact Andrea at ahemment@gmail.com. Thank you!

Parent Volunteers Still Needed for Understanding Our Differences
Understanding our Differences is a disabilities awareness curriculum that is delivered to all Newton students in grades 3-5 by parent volunteers.

At least 6 parents are needed on each of the following dates to help lead activities:

• Grade 3 (Deafness/Hard of Hearing) – Friday, April 8th, 9:30 am – 11:30 am
• Grade 4 (Deafness/Hard of Hearing) – Thursday, April 14th, 12:45 – 2:45 pm
• Grade 5 (Autism Spectrum Disorders) – TBD, TBD

There is a 1-2 hour time commitment on the day of the unit and 30-60 minutes to train for the unit at your convenience with online materials. Please see the attached flyer for more details on how to participate.

LE 5th Grade Car Wash and SAVERS Donation Drive
DATE: Saturday, April 30, 2016
TIME: TBD
LOCATION: LE Parking Lot
All proceeds benefit the 5th grade camping trip! Please see the attached flyer for more details.