• It is hard to believe it is already Winter Break. I want to wish everyone Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanza, and Happy New Year. Thank you to all the Lincoln-Eliot families for your support and commitment to making our school an extra special community for growing and learning. Have a wonderful winter break. We will see everyone back at school on Monday, January 5, 2015!
• MAYOR’S FOOD DRIVE: Lincoln-Eliot School is participating in the Mayor’s Food Drive to help support Newton food pantries and those in our sister city, Lawrence Massachusetts. Please join us by sending in one canned food item on Monday (jar of peanut butter or pasta sauce, tooth paste, etc.) There is a collection box inside the front door and inside the Jackson Road entrance.
• FAMILY SCIENCE NIGHT: Winter Break is a great time to start a science project with the
  family!  Lincoln-Eliot PTO will host its first Family Science Night on Thursday evening, January 29th 2014 from 5:30-7:00 PM. Participation in sharing a science project is voluntary and everyone is invited to attend. The Tide Pool Tank from the N.E. Aquarium will bring Tide Pool animals to explore! (See the attached flyer for details.) We are looking for volunteers to help with set-up from 2:30-3:30 that day. Please e-mail: Marcia_uretsky@newton.k12.ma.us if you can help.
• Recess Reminder: We go outside every day unless the temperature drops below 20 degrees F.  Please ensure your children dress appropriately with coats, hats, mittens, boots.
• Food Lunch Balance: Every Tuesday and Friday e-mail notices are sent out from Whitson’s Food Service notifying families of outstanding balances. If you are not receiving these e-mails, please call the school to let us know. In addition, you can always check your balance and make electronic payments on the “My School Bucks” page on the Newton Public Schools website.

Understanding Our Differences is pleased to announce that we have been awarded an official B.A.A, invitational entry application to the 2015 Boston Marathon on April 20, 2015.   We are looking for runners to apply for this spot in order to run the Marathon and raise money for Understanding Our Differences – applications due December 23, 2014!  For more information and to download an application please visit our website at www.understandingourdifferences.org

NESN at Lincoln-Eliot: This week producers from NESN came to Lincoln-Eliot and taped some of our 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th graders asking questions of Boston Red Sox Players. The interviews will be aired during the Small Talk show before the games beginning in April!

Haiku Writing with Newton Librarian Jean Holmblad: Jean Holmblad, the librarian from the Newton Free Library visited each third grade classroom on Friday, December 5 to share her love for poetry and her expertise on writing Haiku poems.  Haiku poems originated in Japan, and consist of three lines with a total of 17 syllables.  The first line has 5 syllables, the second line has 7 syllables, and the third line has 5 syllables.  Ms. Holmblad has been visiting the third grade classrooms for several years now sharing poems and writing a poem with the students before sending them off to write their own poems. The students were able to practice counting syllables and using their creativity while writing their own original Haiku poem.

FAMILY SCIENCE NIGHT: Lincoln-Eliot PTO will host its first Family Science Night on Thursday evening, January 29^th 2014 from 5:30-7:00 PM. Participation in sharing a science project is voluntary and everyone is invited to attend. (See the attached flyer for details.) * We are looking for volunteers to help with set-up from 2:30-3:30 that day. Please e-mail Marcia_uretsky@newton.k12.ma.us if you can help.

Hour of Code: Last week L-E students began trying their hand at computer coding by participating with their class in the Hour of Code. You can learn more and try it at home by logging on to http://hourofcode.com for details. You will also learn more about the Hour of Code at Family Science Night on January 29^th.

Recess Reminder: We go outside every day unless the temperature drops below 20 degrees F. Please ensure your children dress appropriately with coats, hats, mittens, boots.  

From Our School Nurse, Heather Gagnon… There will be a family flu clinic held next Wednesday, Dec. 17^th from 3:30 to 5:30 PM in the Lincoln-Eliot Gym. This is a Family Flu Clinic and open to all Newton residents and city of Newton employees and their families. Consent forms are available on site or at www.newtonma.gov/flu. This is a drop-in clinic, no need to register in advance.  

From Mayor Setti Warren…  Lincoln-Eliot will be a Drop-Off Location for the Food Drive this year. Please join fellow Newton residents and donate goods to help others this time of year. Many of you may have seen the recent Boston Globe article about the food insecurity our neighbors in Lawrence are facing—their food pantries are really struggling this year. I was struck by the story, spoke with Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera about the issue, and we have decided to partner in our efforts to collect food during this holiday season for both our Newton and Lawrence food pantries. We have teamed up with the United Way and United Parcel Service to get the donations we collect in Newton for Lawrence packed and delivered to our sister city alongside the packing of Newton supplies at the Mayor’s Open House on December 31^st. We will be reaching out to provide you all with new labels for a second box that designate Lawrence as a recipient community to place on boxes alongside the Newton boxes you’ve already put out. We are asking Newton residents to contribute both to Newton and Lawrence. We also ask that you promote your participation as a food drive location on social media to spread the word far and wide, reaching customers and contacts in other communities to support the regional effort. Thank you again for all that you’ve contributed and for your help in supporting our residents and neighbors.

FIFTH GRADE ON-LINE AUCTION… The 5th Grade Winter Wonderland On-line Auction is open for bidding. Our goal this year is to raise $10,000 to send the 5^th grade to camp! We need your support! This is an exciting and fun way to help us, and at the same time have a chance to win cool items! We’ll be adding new items to our auction for you to preview as the auction date approaches. Check back often to see what’s new. Feel free to place a Watch on your favorite that you’ll know as soon as the bidding begins! https://m.biddingforgood.com/auctions/226741598/categories

Newton Girls Softball is committed to providing an experience that fosters positive self-esteem, team spirit, and individual growth through personal achievement and as a team member. Players of all skill levels will have a fun and rewarding experience.

In addition to three age group divisions for players in Grade 1 – 7,  the league announces the inaugural year of KINDERGARTEN T – BALL. New for 2015 and open to all girls in Grade K who live in Newton or attend a Newton Public School, this program is going to be a fun introduction to softball. The sessions will consist of 30 minutes of skill development rolling into a short 45 minute game on six Saturday afternoons in May and June. Will your kindergartner join her friends in the excitement of learning softball?

Registration is open on our web site at: WWW.NEWTONGIRLSSOFTBALL.ORG

2015 Registration Dates

1/31/15 Deadline to register without paying a late fee.

2/28/15 Deadline to register with guaranteed placement, pair-me-with rights, and a $15 late fee.

Starting on Tuesday, January 13th until Tuesday, Feb 10, Plowshares children from both Lincoln Eliot and Franklin will have the opportunity to participate in ice skating at the Daly Ice Rink on Nonantum Road.

Ice Skating is being offered to all Plowshares Children (Kindergarten through 5th grade)  who already are able to skate on their own.  Beginners are welcome as long as they can make it around he rink by themselves.  We do not have the staff that would be needed to teach lessons.  Children will need to have a helmet to participate. Skates can be rented if needed.

As soon as a more details are available (cost, time, etc) we will post more.

• The Winter Break is quickly approaching and the excitement of the holidays can be felt in the air. Lincoln-Eliot is a wonderfully diverse school with families from all over the world who speak many languages and hold different customs and beliefs. It is wonderful to learn from one another how holidays are celebrated in different parts of the world.

  As we enter this season of holidays and vacations, we ask that families please be mindful of the Newton School Committee’s Gift Policy stating, “No teacher in the performance of regular duties shall receive presents from the students under his or her direction. This policy does not apply to gifts of classroom supplies or materials that are for student use.”

• Technology Update: This month Lincoln-Eliot has received two technology carts of class sets of laptops (25 each cart). The carts are checked out by classroom teachers so every student can use technology for classroom projects. This is in addition to the five devices per classroom that already exist. We also received 3 new much needed printers from the district.

• Recess Reminder: We go outside every day unless the temperature drops below 20 degrees F. Please ensure your children dress appropriately with coats, hats, mittens, boots.

From Mayor Setti Warren…

Lincoln-Eliot will be a Drop-Off Location for the Food Drive this year. Please join fellow Newton residents and donate goods to help others this time of year.

Many of you may have seen the recent Boston Globe article about the food insecurity our neighbors in Lawrence are facing—their food pantries are really struggling this year. I was struck by the story, spoke with Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera about the issue, and we have decided to partner in our efforts to collect food during this holiday season for both our Newton and Lawrence food pantries.

We have teamed up with the United Way and United Parcel Service to get the donations we collect in Newton for Lawrence packed and delivered to our sister city alongside the packing of Newton supplies at the Mayor’s Open House on December 31st.

We will be reaching out to provide you all with new labels for a second box that designate Lawrence as a recipient community to place on boxes alongside the Newton boxes you’ve already put out. We are asking Newton residents to contribute both to Newton and Lawrence. We also ask that you promote your participation as a food drive location on social media to spread the word far and wide, reaching customers and contacts in other communities to support the regional effort.
Thank you again for all that you’ve contributed and for your help in supporting our residents and neighbors.

Fundraising Notes….

• Amazon.com Shoppers: With the upcoming holiday season, don’t forget to access amazon.com through the PTO website. Our school receives up to 10% of all purchases simply purchased through this link.

• Don’t forget to bring in your Box Tops, Coke Points and your Labels for Education labels into school.  This is an easy way to raise money for programs at L-E.  Drop off boxes are located near the Main Office.   Check for labels on the following products: BIC, Campbells, Dannon, Emerald, Glad, Pace,  Pepperidge Farm, Pop  Secret, Post, Prego, Spaghettios, Swanson, V8 Beverages, and Wolfgang Puck!

• Everyone, please register you Stop & Shop card for the Stop & Shop A+ Rewards! Great News!  If you registered your card last year, it will re-register automatically! If you are new to the program, just log on to www.Stopandshop.com/aplus to register online.  Our school ID is 05887.  Or, dial 1-877-275-2758 to register your card over the telephone. Ask family members to register too and select Lincoln-Eliot!

Fifth Grade On-Line Auction…
Lincoln-Eliot PTO – 5th Grade Winter Wonderland

Our auction date is fast approaching!  The Winter Wonderland opens for bidding on November 27, 2014 at 8:00 AM EST Time. Our goal this year is to raise $10,000 to send the 5th Grade to camp! We need your support!  This is an exciting and fun way to help us, and at the same time have a chance to win cool items!
We’ll be adding new items to our auction for you to preview as the auction date approaches.
Check back often to see what’s new. Feel free to place a Watch on your favorites,
so that you’ll know as soon as bidding begins!
https://m.biddingforgood.com/auctions/226741598/categories

DONOR’S CHOOSE…
“DonorsChoose.org is an online charity that makes it easy for anyone to help teachers fund classroom projects. Teachers post projects on the site and people across the country help fund projects that interest them.” Check out Donor’s Choose at http://www.donorschoose.org

Remember that this Thursday, December 4th is an early dismissal day!   Students are released at 12:30

This Saturday, December 6th, at 2pm the Plowshares Basketball Players (Lincoln-Eliot and Franklin) will have the opportunity to play basketball at half time during a Lasell Women’s College game.  This is free to all Basketball families.

Pizza will also be served after the game. Please let us know if your family will be attending and how many.  The Lasell Athletic Center is located on 1844 Commonwealth Ave, Newton.

 (Please note: A parent must accompany each child playing.  This is not a drop off event.)

General Announcements

• Michael St Germain is the new treasurer.
• Our Charter was approved.
• Charter and tax exempt status is set.  We still do not have Presidents.
• FRONT STAIRS REPAIRED! Internal doors have been repaired and adjusted/shaved, Lights around the building were worked on and repaired.  (exterior)

Upcoming Events

• Dec 15th there is a parent coffee for ELL parents to find out about how they can support the school.  We have a parent engagement outreach coordinator – she is a district employee, grant funded position, LE is a priority school with our high % of ELL students.

• SThe Lincoln-ELiot Science Fair will be on January 29, 2015. It is not a fund raiser.  Any student  can participate.  Not a competition, all students will receive a Participation Ribbon.  Parents can help with projects.

• Rafflepaloza scheduled for  April 4^th at the VFW. Suzanne Goddard will be leading this fundraiser.

• PTO will be sending a parent involvement survey to parents out after the new year.

Fundraising:

Three major fundraisers have happened this fall- Meadow Farms, The Halloween Dance, and PTO Dues.

Meadow Farms brought in  $1,200. Thank you to Carly Semerjian for leading these efforts.

The Halloween dance brought in  $4,300. Thank you to Kara Brodsky, Karen Hite, Amy Pollock Howard, and Carol Pelon for all the planning and to everyone who baked treats, sold raffles, and manned the booths.

PTO Dues $5,485. Thank you to all the families who have sent in dues. Dues are collected all through the year.

Meeting with Alderman

Met with Scott Lennon and Allison Leary to share building, playground and safety concerns.

Concerns:

Top concern is problems that continue with the  Heating system . Then playground, as it ices over or turns to mud.

The third area is the alley between the two building on Pearl Street. This is mostly a cosmetic concern for the front of the building. All three of these items have an impact on the quality of life of the school community.

We agreed to have Josh Morse, Town Commissioner,  from the city come to the school and do a walk through and discuss building issues.

Other areas of concern include:

• Plexiglas windows that are grayed out.
• Playground
• Window in music room is boarded up, windows are not insulated.

Discussed how the playground floods and then freezes in the winter prohibiting children to use it at recess.

o  Newton Parks and Recreaction will visit the playground and go over the state of it to see what can be done.

o  Also talked about Watertown side of playground – It’s used as a dog park now, but the city asked them not to build an official dog park there.

o   Improving the park is tricky as it will require the coordination of several city departments, all with an existing agenda for improvement.

o   Possible revenue streams include: BAA/Marathon and CDBG funds  that goes to parks.  Mayor Warren is interested in improving parks across the city .

o   Newton soccer, softball, and little league use the fields and may have money for parks.

Cleaning up Trees on Jewett street for walkers is discussed, DPW can notify private tenants and clean up roads for school

Traffic and Safety – Police are the best way to stop dangerous drivers.   Police and fire dept are not in favor of raised crosswalks or raised speed humps. Alderman Lennon would like to get more crossing guards assigned around the city. Recruitment is difficult with low compensation.  We asked the alderman about putting cones out in the drop off spot to funnel cars into the drop off zone.

Come with questions to our 3rd PTO meeting this year, hear what David has to say for the upcoming year, and ask questions.

Mon. Jan. 12, 2015, 8:00am-9:00am