Lincoln-Eliot 2015 Supply List

It would be very helpful for all children to have age appropriate dictionaries that they can use at home and library cards for Newton Free Library. 

KINDERGARTEN

FIRST GRADE
(Please do not put names on supplies)

SECOND GRADE

2^nd Grade Materials for Home

THIRD GRADE

FOURTH GRADE

4^th Grade Materials for Home

FIFTH GRADE

5^th Grade Materials for Home

Dear Lincoln-Eliot Families,

I hope everyone is enjoying this glorious summer. Remember February?  The seasons are what make New England so special.

Over the summer there is much happening at Lincoln-Eliot to get ready for the upcoming school year. Our custodians, Jay Shippie and Geary Calmus, are emptying every classroom to wash and wax every floor. We have several school improvement projects based on the work of our School Site Council including: painting, Plexiglas window replacements, carpet removal, and other small projects to spruce up Lincoln-Eliot.

To help you get ready for the upcoming school year, you will find the grade-level supply list attached to this e-mail. We like to get this out early so you can find supplies when they are on sale before the school year begins.

There is some faculty news to share as well. Lincoln-Eliot veteran fifth grade teacher, Sean Davan, has accepted a position in his hometown of Hopkinton. This is a big loss for Lincoln-Eliot but a huge gain for the Davan family, as Sean will save hours a day in commuting. We wish Sean well in his new position and thank him for his years of teaching and commitment to the Lincoln-Eliot community. Please read Mr. Davan’s letter that is attached.

The school office will open the week of August 24^th. If you need to reach me, I am always available by e-mail at Marcia_uretsky@newton.k12.ma.us .

Please put the following dates on your calendar:

Best,

Marcia Uretsky

Now that the summer is fully upon us, I want to thank you all for any help, support, and interest in LE PTO this year.  Obviously, site content will not be coming quite as frequently over the summer, but we will be back at the end of the summer/beginning of the school year to keep you updated on events and announcements from the school.

One thing to note as we sign off is that the structure of the PTO governance is changing for next year.  We are moving from a group of officers (President, Treasurer, Secretary, etc) to a council.  We’ve recognized that parents have different demands for time spent with the family and feel that sharing responsibility among a larger group of parents may work best for our school.  We feel that this will allow parents to help with an event or two, as opposed to holding an officer position and having to manage several events and meetings.

We are also going to try to focus our fund raising next year into concentrated periods of time and/or couple them with student events, instead of a constant trickle of requests throughout the year.  We think this will have more impact and be easier for parents to manage, and will combine events students like with an opportunity to help fund future events.  Please bear with us while we go through this change, there will be a lot of moving parts and streamlined fundraising may not happen right away, but we think it’s worth the effort in the long run.

So thanks everyone, if you would like to help the LE PTO please contact the Principal, Marcia Uretsky, at the beginning of the school next year.  We are frequently in need of volunteer help for events and appreciate anything you can do.  We’d also like to give Marcia a shout out for assuming the role of President this year and doing much to manage PTO events like the Halloween Dance, Science Night, and many others.  Marcia is a big reason why our kids had lots of extra curricular events this year, so, THANKS!  And thanks to the many parents working behind the scenes to manage our fund raising and helping out with events, we could not have done it without lots of hands.

Have a happy summer,

Lincoln Eliot PTO

INTERNATIONAL NIGHT
Our Lincoln-Eliot community celebrated our annual International Night on Thursday, June 4^th. The evening featured a Cultural Museum of artifact tables from Russia, Ukraine, Austria, China, Italy, Dominican Republic, Sweden, France, Mexico, Italy, Ethiopia, USA, Nigeria, Ecuador, Ireland, and Brazil. The International Buffet was a feast of flavors and dishes from around the world! The evening ended with a talent show of International dress, singing, Irish Step Dance, Belly Dancing, and Rock and Roll. If you were unable to join us this year, we hope you can attend next year. International Night is a highlight that brings our wonderful community together.

TEACHER APPRECIATION LUNCHEON
Save the Date / Volunteers Needed:
The Teacher Appreciation Luncheon is planned for Tuesday, June 16^th (12:30pm-2:30pm in the Cafeteria).  We need volunteers to help with set-up, serving and clean up, as well as donations of side dishes (ie. salads of any kind), drinks and desserts!  Cash donations to purchase supplies are also welcome.  Food/Drinks can be dropped off in the office all morning on June 16^th or can be brought to the cafeteria at noon.   If you have questions or can help, please contact Andrea Hemment at ahemment@gmail.com or Miriam Alandydy at mealandydy@comcast.net.  Thank you!

TITLE I FAMILY MATH MORNING OPEN HOUSE: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10^TH
Come learn about the math your children are doing in class and learn ways to practice skills over the summer to prevent summer loss.

FINE ARTS NIGHT: THURSDAY JUNE 11^TH 6:00-8:00 PM (All school art exhibit and Gr. 4 & 5 Concert.)

GRADE 5 GRADUATION CEREMONY: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24^TH 10:30 AM in the Gym.

DONOR’S CHOOSE:

Mr. Raisner, Grade 2
My Project: Interactive Projector
Total Project Cost: $1945.00
$1279.00 TO GO (25 days left!)

My Project: Having an interactive projector will allow my students to use this technology as a tool for their learning. The work that’s projected on the board can be moved around and manipulated. For example, when learning about geometry, students will be able to transpose shapes on top of each other. Using an interactive projector is a 21st century skill for students. Several upper grade classrooms have this technology available to them. Getting them used to it now will help them in the future.

You can support Mr. Raisner’s Project by linking to:
http://www.donorschoose.org/raisner

The Lincoln-Eliot School Auction opens for bidding on June 1, 2015 at 8:00 AM EDT Time.

Our goal this year is to support our wonderful school. 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!

Click here to bid!

TEACHER APPRECIATION LUNCHEON
Save the Date / Volunteers Needed: The Teacher Appreciation Luncheon is planned for Tuesday, June 16^th (12:30pm-2:30pm in the Cafeteria).  We need volunteers to help with set-up, serving and clean up, as well as donations of side dishes (ie. salads of any kind), drinks and desserts!  Cash donations to purchase supplies are also welcome.  Food/Drinks can be dropped off in the office all morning on June 16^th or can be brought to the cafeteria at noon.  (See the attached flyer.)

If you have questions or can help, please contact Andrea Hemment at ahemment@gmail.com or Miriam Alandydy at mealandydy@comcast.net.  Thank you!

 Joint Site Council and PTO Meeting: Tuesday, June 2^nd is the final Site Council and PTO Meeting of the year. The meeting will be held from 8:30-9:15 in the cafeteria.
Please join us to hear a summary of the Site Council’s work this year and to give input into the PTO budget for next year. We are also looking for a few more family members to join the PTO council. The council will be a steering committee for PTO events and fundraising.

LINCOLN-ELIOT PTO COUNCIL
The L-E PTO is looking for parents to join the PTO council. The PTO council will meet, at an agreed upon time, 6 times throughout the school year and act as a steering committee to lead the direction of PTO community events and decision-making. We are looking to comprise the council of a diverse group of families to represent the many interests of the Lincoln-Eliot community. If you are interested or have any questions, please send an email to the Principal Marcia Uretsky (marcia_uretsky@newton.k12.ma.us).

INTERNATIONAL NIGHT WILL BE HELD ON THURSDAY, JUNE 4^TH FROM 5:30-7:00. International Night is a celebration of the many cultures and backgrounds of our families. The night consists of informational tables about our various cultures, a talent show by the children and parents, and an international Pot Luck dinner. We hope to see ALL our families attend this end of the year celebration. It is not too late to sign up for food, to participate in the talent show, or to host a cultural table. (See the attached flyer.)

NewtonPAC FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION AWARDS
The Board Members of the NewtonPAC for Special Education are hard at work planning the 6th Annual Awards Ceremony!

The event will take place on Wednesday, June 10th at 6pm at Newton North HS. We invite parents and/or guardians of children with Special Needs (on a current IEP or 504) to nominate Newton Staff Members who have made a positive impact on their children.

Attached please find the nomination template, which you can use to make a nomination.

Thank you for taking the time to recognize our wonderful Special Education Teachers and Staff.

SAVE THE DATES… 

• TITLE I FAMILY MATH MORNING OPEN HOUSE- WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10^TH Come learn about the math your children are doing in class and learn ways to practice skills over the summer to prevent summer loss.
• FINE ARTS NIGHT- THURSDAY JUNE 11^TH 6:00-8:00 PM (All school art exhibit and Gr. 4 & 5 Concert. See attached flyer.)
• GRADE 5 GRADUATION CEREMONY- JUNE 24^TH 10:30 AM

There’s nothing like summer camp at the Y. One session or the whole summer. Indoors and out. On their own or in a group. Archery to arts, canoeing to cannonballs, with the West Suburban YMCA your kids will have an amazing experience, all in a safe, inclusive and nurturing environment.

Camp Chickami        Ages 6-14     Outdoor day camp in Wayland, MA

Camp Frank A. Day  Ages 7-15     Overnight camp in East Brookfield, MA

Camp Pikati             Ages 6-13     Sports and Enrichment Day Camp at the Y

Camp Polliwog         Ages 3-6       Preschool / Early Education Day Camp at the Y

Our camping season begins on Monday, June 15 and runs through September 4.

Registration is ongoing and we are currently offering discounts if you register at one of our upcoming events:

Camp Blast-Off Party – a Free Event Open to the Community
Saturday, May 30^th from 4:00-6:00 pm

Join us at the Y as we count down the days to the start of summer camp season.

This free event is open to all, not just families who have already registered for camp this summer. Meet our camp directors and counselors and join us for “camptivities” such as face painting, crafts, family relay races, and gaga ball. Take a tour of our on-site day camps and enter to win a raffle!

Camp Information Night at the Y
Wednesday, June 3^rd from 5:00-6:30pm

Open House at Camp Chickami
139 Boston Post Road, Wayland
Saturday, June 6^th from 4:00-6:00pm

Open Houses at Camp Frank A. Day
125 South Pond Road, East Brookfield, MA
Sunday, June 7^th 1:00-4:00pm

For more information, email campingservices@westsuburbanymca.org or visit www.westsuburbanymca.org/camps.

Free Skate Park at the Y
The Skate Park at the West Suburban YMCA, made possible with funding from the US Department of Education Carol M. White Physical Education Program, to the Newton Public Schools/Newton Partnership, is supervised at all times and FREE. We welcome skateboarders, razors/scooter, in-line skaters and roller skaters of all ages.  Visitors need to sign in at the Y’s front desk. Skaters or parents of participants under 18 must sign a waiver that is available on our website.

Current schedule:

• Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 1:00 – 7:00 pm
• Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 am – 7:00 pm

For more information, please visit www.westsuburbanymca.org/skate-park

 Band Night at the Y
A Free Concert in conjunction with the Newton Festival of the Arts
Wednesday, May 27 at 7:00pm

Featuring local bands: The Bad Babysitters; Toy Boat; NSH Boy; Cole Brightbill;
and The Dominoes.

The Y is currently hiring Lifeguards and Swim Instructors
The Aquatics Department is hiring Lifeguards, Swim Instructors, and Swim Coaches for the remainder of the spring and into the summer. If you are interested, please contact Amanda Pierce at amandap@westsuburbanymca.org.

Lifeguard Certification Classes
Need certifications? Need to renew your certifications? We are offering Lifeguard Certification and Re-certification classes throughout the month of June. For class schedules and more information, please visit www.westsuburbanymca.org/LGT.

Annual Golf Tournament – On Course for a Cause
The West Suburban YMCA’s 12^th Annual Golf Tournament is Monday, July 20^th at Brae Burn Country Club in Newton. When you give to the Y, by playing in or sponsoring our Golf Tournament, you make our community stronger. Your participation helps us nurture the potential of children and teens, improve community health and well-being and support our neighbors in need. Registration is open now at www.westsuburbanymca.org/events. Please contact Rosie Carey for more information at rcarey@westsuburbanymca.org or 617-244-6050 x3099.

Financial Assistance is always available for Y Memberships and Programs
The West Suburban YMCA is a non-profit charitable organization and it is our mission to never turn anyone away due to their inability to pay. Please contact our Membership Department at 617-244-6050 x3653 for financial assistance on any of these programs.

Lisa LaVallee
Marketing & Communications Director
WEST SUBURBAN YMCA
276 Church Street, Newton, MA 02458
(P) 617-244-6050 x3036  (F) 617-964-8472

(E) llavallee@westsuburbanymca.org  (W) www.westsuburbanymca.org

TEACHER APPRECIATION LUNCHEON:
Save the Date / Volunteers Needed: The Teacher Appreciation Luncheon is planned for Tuesday, June 16^th (12:30pm-2:30pm in the Cafeteria).  We need volunteers to help with set-up, serving and clean up, as well as donations of side dishes (ie. salads of any kind), drinks and desserts!  Cash donations to purchase supplies are also welcome.  Food/Drinks can be dropped off in the office all morning on June 16^th or can be brought to the cafeteria at noon.

If you have questions or can help, please contact Andrea Hemment at ahemment@gmail.com or Miriam Alandydy at mealandydy@comcast.net.  Thank you!

NEWTON SCHOOLS FOUNDATION “HONOR THY TEACHER PROGRAM
Honor Thy Teacher was started 18 years ago as a way for parents to honor teachers by supporting our schools through NSF’s innovative programs. Teachers who are honored by the program receive a personalized letter informing them of the honor, school principals and Superintendent Fleishman receive notification of their teachers honored, and the teachers’ names are published in the Tab newspaper.  It’s also a great way for families to show their appreciation for faculty and staff while still adhering to the Newton Public Schools gift policies.

Honor Thy Teacher is a great way for families to recognize the important work our teachers are doing, and it is an important source of funding for NSF’s programs to enhance the quality of education in the Newton Public Schools. This year, NSF funding has enabled Newton schools to launch and expand numerous innovative programs and initiatives including responsive classroom training at the elementary level, a sustainable energy generation curriculum at the middle school level and the Green Trail and AP United States History Summer Academy at the high school level. For more information on NSF and the programs we fund please visit www.newtonschoolsfoundation.org.

For more information on how you can show your appreciation of a Lincoln-Eliot Teacher see the attached letter and click on the link to NSF website. http://www.newtonschoolsfoundation.org/honor-thy-teacher

LINCOLN-ELIOT PTO COUNCIL
The L-E PTO is looking for 8 parents to join the PTO council. The PTO council will meet, at an agreed upon time, 6 times throughout the school year and act as a steering committee to lead the direction of PTO community events and decision-making.

We are looking to comprise the council of a diverse group of families to represent the many interests of the Lincoln-Eliot community. If you are interested or have any questions, please send an email to the Principal Marcia Uretsky (marcia_uretsky@newton.k12.ma.us) on or before Friday May 22, 2015.

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK!
Looking for an easier way to stay connected?  Click the link to our LEPTO Facebook Page and “Like Us” to receive new article alerts on your Facebook page.

INTERNATIONAL NIGHT WILL BE HELD ON THURSDAY, JUNE 4^TH FROM 5:30-7:00.
International Night is a celebration of the many cultures and backgrounds of our families. The night consists of informational tables about our various cultures, a talent show by the children and parents, and an international Pot Luck dinner. We hope to see all our families attend this end of the year celebration. More details to follow.

SAVE THE DATES…

COMBINED PTO & SITE COUNCIL MEETING- TUES. JUNE 2 (8:20-9:15 AM) IN THE CAFETERIA. This final meeting of the school year will introduce the new Site Council and PTO Council. The Site Council will report out on this year’s projects and accomplishments. The PTO Council will present the budget for next year and outline the functions of the new PTO Council.

TITLE I FAMILY MATH MORNING
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10^TH

FINE ARTS NIGHT
THURSDAY JUNE 11^TH 6:00-8:00 PM (All school art exhibit and Gr. 4 & 5 Concert. See attached flyer.)

GRADE 5 GRADUATION CEREMONY
JUNE 24^TH 10:30 AM

Fundraising

Ms. Krieger, Grade 2
My Project: Classroom Supplies Set Students Up For Success!
Total Cost: $611

Give to my classroom by May 23 and your donation will be doubled thanks to DonorsChoose.org. Just enter the code SPARK on the payment page and you’ll be matched dollar for dollar (up to $100).

My Project: I want to make sure my students have the materials they need to succeed, so I just created a request for my classroom at DonorsChoose.org: Classroom Supplies Set Students Up For Success!.

 I am requesting classroom supplies that will help to keep our classroom organized and will help students develop strong work and study habits. Many of these supplies will be used during language arts. For example, stand up display boards and clipboards help students organize their materials during note-taking when conducting research. Having crates to store these boards in will create an organized classroom environment. Additionally, a 3 shelf binder storage system will allow students to have a designated area to store their writers’ toolkits which they use each day for writing. All of these materials will foster student growth in regards to both academics and independence as they learn routines for properly storing and caring for these items.

You can support Ms. Krieger’s Project by linking to:
http://www.donorschoose.org/josie.krieger

Mr. Raisner, Grade 2
My Project: Interactive Projector
Total Project Cost: $1945.00
$1529.00 TO GO

My Project: Having an interactive projector will allow my students to use this technology as a tool for their learning. The work that’s projected on the board can be moved around and manipulated. For example, when learning about geometry, students will be able to transpose shapes on top of each other. Using an interactive projector is a 21st century skill for students. Several upper grade classrooms have this technology available to them. Getting them used to it now will help them in the future. 

You can support Mr. Raisner’s Project by linking to:

http://www.donorschoose.org/raisner

GRADE 5 ONLINE AUCTION …
Please support our fifth graders by participating in the online auction. Your support will help fund the Crossroads for Kids Camp Program at Camp Wing in Duxbury. This 3 day camp trip is the culminating activity for Lincoln-Eliot fifth graders. It is an experience they talk about for years to come.

https://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/item/browse.action?auctionId=239736268

GRADE 5 BERTUCCI’S FUNDRAISER…
Eat out on Tuesday May 19^th at the local Bertucci’s (275 Centre Street) and Bertucci’s will donate 15% of your order to the Grade 5 Camping Trip! A flyer with a coupon will be going home with the students.

AMAZON 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.

Labels for Education will be ending this MAY. April is our final push for labels.
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! With your support, office supplies were just ordered for Donna McLoughlin!

STOP AND SHOP:
Thank you to Diane Collins for organizing our Stop & Shop A+ Rewards Program. The total to date that L-E families has earned is $1,733.10! This is a wonderful source of revenue for L-E since it comes from dollars our families spend anyone on weekly groceries. If you have signed up, please keep using your card. At this point in the year, registration is closed to new members.

COMMUNITY NEWS…

NEWTON’S FESTIVAL OF ARTS PROGRAM- STRIKE A CHORD- LIVE MUSIC AT THE LIBRARY
Celebrating Newton’s Musical Talent
Saturday, May 30^th from 10:00-4:30 PM RAIN OR SHINE

TUTOR
Experienced tutor available this summer! Elementary level-reading, writing and math. I am retired from the Wellesley Public Schools and live and tutor in Newton. My approach is highly motivating for your child. Please contact Haralie Alpert, M.Ed., M.S. at (617) 630-0608; haralie@gmail.com. References available.

GRADE 3 RECORDER PERFORMANCE: Tuesday, May 12, 8:45 – 9:15 AM.
Grade 3 parents, please join our Music Teacher Ms. Nelson and the L-E Third Graders to see what our third graders have been up to all year and their introduction to instrumental music through the recorder. The performance will be held in the cafeteria.

 LINCOLN-ELIOT PTO COUNCIL:
The L-E PTO is looking for 8 parents to join the PTO council. The PTO council will meet, at an agreed upon time, 6 times throughout the school year and act as a steering committee to lead the direction of PTO community events and decision-making. We are looking to comprise the council of a diverse group of families to represent the many interests of the Lincoln-Eliot community. If you are interested or have any questions, please send an email to the Principal Marcia Uretsky (marcia_uretsky@newton.k12.ma.us) on or before Tuesday May 22, 2015.

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK!
Looking for an easier way to stay connected?

Click the link to our LEPTO Facebook Page and “Like Us” to receive new article alerts on your Facebook page.

INTERNATIONAL NIGHT WILL BE HELD ON JUNE 4^TH FROM 5:30-7:00 THIS YEAR.
International Night is a celebration of the many cultures and backgrounds of our families. The night consists of informational tables about our various cultures, a talent show by the children and parents, and an international Pot Luck dinner. We hope to see all our families attend this end of the year celebration. More details to follow.

SAVE THE DATES…

• COMBINED PTO & SITE COUNCIL MEETING- TUES. JUNE 2 (8:20-9:15) IN THE CAFETERIA. This final meeting of the school year will introduce the new Site Council and PTO Council. The Site Council will report out on this year’s projects and accomplishments. The PTO Council will present the budget for next year and outline the functions of the new PTO Council.
• FAMILY MATH MORNING- JUNE 10^TH
• GRADE 5 GRADUATION CEREMONY- JUNE 24^TH 10:30 AM

CLASSROOM NEWS…

UNDERSTANDING OUR DIFFERENCES PROGRAM
Understanding our Differences, a disabilities awareness curriculum, is delivered to all Newton students in grades 3-5 by parent volunteers.   All Lincoln-Eliot parents, regardless of your child’s grade, are invited to participate in this dynamic program.   In Spring, 2015 we will be delivering the following units:

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

Grade 4 (Intellectual Disabilities):            Thursday, May 14, 2015               12:45 – 2:45 p.m.

There is a 2 hour time commitment on the day of the unit and 30-60 minutes to train for the unit at your convenience with on-line materials.

This is a wonderful opportunity to engage with our students in the classroom.

If you are interested in participating, please contact the L-E parent coordinators, Debbie Berechman, dberechman@gmail.com and Cathleen Morrison, ccanhc@gmail.com.

COMMUNITY NEWS…

NEWTON’S FESTIVAL OF ARTS PROGRAM- STRIKE A CHORD- LIVE MUSIC AT THE LIBRARY Celebrating Newton’s Musical Talent

Saturday, May 30^th from 10:00-4:30 PM RAIN OR SHINE

SPACE CAMP…
Summer Program for Academic and Creative Encounters

SPACE Camp is a four-week summer enrichment program for students entering kindergarten through students entering ninth grade. SPACE is a terrific opportunity for students. We offer two programs – an upper school (entering grade 5-entering grade 9) and a lower school (entering kindergarten-entering grade four). During the upper school program, students are given the opportunity to become involved in program courses of their own choosing. During the lower school program, students are assigned to age appropriate groups. They will work with staff members in art, music, science, movement, games, recreation, drama, and other enrichment activities.

This summer we will be located at: F.A. Day Middle School

Please visit our website below for more information, or email us with any questions!

http://www.newton.k12.ma.us/spacecamp
SPACE@newton.k12.

WALK AND BIKE TO SCHOOL DAY:
Join the Lincoln-Eliot Families on Wednesday, May 6^th for Walk and Bike to School Day!

LINCOLN-ELIOT SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL: The Lincoln-Eliot School has one family member open seat on our School Site Council beginning next school year.
Positions on the Site Council are two-year terms with half the council elected each year. The School Site Council is an equal group of parents/guardians and teachers plus one community member who convene monthly to work on issues of school improvement.  The council meets on the first Tuesday of each month from 8:30-9:15 AM in the main office. The Site Council is an advisory committee that oversees building and community projects. We are very interested in bringing on members to represent the diverse community that comprises our school.

If you are interested in participating on the School Site Council, please send an email to the Principal, Marcia Uretsky (marcia_uretsky@newton.k12.ma.us) on or before Tuesday May 22, 2015.

WEDNSEDAY, MAY 6^TH IS DESIGNATED AS NATIONAL SCHOOL NURSE RECOGNITION DAY.
Since 1972, a day is set aside to honor nurses for the work they do to contribute to the well-being, academic success, and life-long achievement of children in the educational setting. School nurse day falls each May during the birthday week of Florence Nightingale, the founder of nursing. This is not a day of giving gifts, but rather, a day of recognizing Newton school nurses for their important contribution to our students. Lincoln-Eliot is very fortunate to have Nurse Heather Gagnon caring for the children and faculty of Lincoln-Eliot School.

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE SCHOOL NURSE? CHECK OUT THE MAY NEWSLETTER FROM NURSE HEATHER GAGNON (ATTACHED).

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK!
Looking for an easier way to stay connected?  Click the link to our LEPTO Facebook Page and “Like Us” to receive new article alerts on your Facebook page.

NEWTON SERVES:
Did you notice this week how beautiful the school grounds look? That is because of the hard work and community involvement of Lincoln-Eliot families. Thank you to L-E parents Amy Pollack Howard and Nora Zizlsperger for organizing Lincoln-Eliot’s Sixth Annual Newton Serves Day. Thank you to the many L-E families who came to school to help that day. We laid new fiber chips on the playground and weeded and mulched all the beds. We also began to spruce up the space between the two buildings in the front of the school. It is our goal to turn this space into a beautiful courtyard for families and friends to gather. Watch for more to come!

SAVE THE DATES:

Grade 3 RECORDER AND VOCAL CONCERT- MAY 12TH
INTERNATIONAL NIGHT- JUNE 4^TH
FAMILY MATH MORNING- JUNE 10^TH
GRADE 5 GRADUATION CEREMONY- JUNE 24^TH 10:30 AM

2015 Newton Schools Foundation Honor Thy Teacher

May 4-8 is Teacher Appreciation Week. Say “Thank You” to the exceptional teachers and staff who motivate, educate and inspire your students to be the best they can be by participating in the Honor Thy Teacher campaign. Newton Schools Foundation created this special program for parents to honor teachers by giving a gift in their name. You may also choose to honor a special education aide, a fine arts or music teacher, or a coach or counselor who has touched your child’s life. Suggested donation is $25 per teacher/staff member.

NSF celebrates Newton Public Schools teachers and staff by:

• Notifying honored teachers and staff of your gift
• Sharing honoree names with the Superintendent and Principals.
• Listing all honored teachers and staff in the Newton TAB

You can make your donation on line at www.newtonschoolsfoundation.org or by mailing your donation to Newton Schools Foundation, 246 Dudley Road, Newton, MA 02459.  Please include the names of teachers and/or staff at which school that you are honoring.  Flyers will be going home in elementary school backpacks in the next week.

Newton Schools Foundation is a non-profit organization that raises funds to enhance the quality of education in Newton’s public schools.  All donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

CLASSROOM NEWS…

 From Mr. Rota: Connecting Physical Education to Your Family…

On Wednesday, May 6, Lincoln-Eliot will participate in the Massachusetts Walk and Bike to School Day.  This day is promoted by the Massachusetts Safe Routes to School.  This is a great way to connect fitness and health and PE lessons to your children and family.

The purpose of this day is to learn about safe choices when being active and to promote fitness and wellness.  This year in Physical Education, your child has learned many important lessons about fitness and exercise.

Currently, 2^nd -5^th graders have been focusing on jumping rope (a challenging skill as well as great fitness activity). Earlier in the winter we had a fitness unit where students learned about and practiced strength exercises and cardiovascular endurance. Throughout the year, students have improved their fitness by learning many exercises, and lots of hard work.  Ask your children about what they are learning in PE, so they can teach you, which makes their learning stronger. I hope to see many of you walking and biking to school on the morning of May 6.

UNDERSTANDING OUR DIFFERENCES PROGRAM
Understanding our Differences, a disabilities awareness curriculum, is delivered to all Newton students in grades 3-5 by parent volunteers.   All Lincoln-Eliot parents, regardless of your child’s grade, are invited to participate in this dynamic program.   In Spring, 2015 we will be delivering the following units:

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

Grade 3 (Blindness):                                       Monday, May 4, 2015     10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.               

Grade 4 (Intellectual Disabilities):            Thursday, May 14, 2015               12:45 – 2:45 p.m.

There is a 2 hour time commitment on the day of the unit and 30-60 minutes to train for the unit at your convenience with on-line materials.

This is a wonderful opportunity to engage with our students in the classroom.

If you are interested in participating, please contact the L-E parent coordinators, Debbie Berechman, dberechman@gmail.com and Cathleen Morrison, ccanhc@gmail.com.

FUNDRAISING…

NOW HAPPENING! OTIS SPUNKMEYER COOKIE DOUGH FUNDRAISER
It’s time for the Otis Spunkmeyer® Cookie Dough Fundraiser!

Order delicious, ready-to-bake Otis Spunkmeyer® cookies, brownies and pretzels.
WHEN: Monday, April 27^th through Friday, May 8^th. 

When purchased, Meadow Farms Fundraising will donate a portion of the proceeds back to L-E! http://www.meadowfarms.com/otis-spunkmeyer/

Questions?  Contact Carly at carly3380@gmail.com

GRADE 5 ONLINE AUCTION …
Please support our fifth graders by participating in the online auction. Your support will help fund the Crossroads for Kids Camp Program at Camp Wing in Duxbury. This 3 day camp trip is the culminating activity for Lincoln-Eliot fifth graders. It is an experience they talk about for years to come.

https://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/item/browse.action?auctionId=239736268

GRADE 5 SAVERS CLOTHING DRIVE…
While cleaning out closets for spring, please save outgrown clothing and unwanted items for the Fifth Grade

Savers Clothing Drive on May 16^th. Proceeds to help fund the Grade 5 Camp Trip.

GRADE 5 BERTUCCI’S FUNDRAISER…
Eat out on Tuesday May 19^th at the local Bertucci’s (275 Centre Street) and Bertucci’s will donate 15% of your order to the Grade 5 Camping Trip! A flyer with a coupon will be going home with the students.

AMAZON 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.

RAFFLEPALOOZA to Change…
After much deliberation it has been decided that Rafflepalooza will be done as an online auction this year instead of an evening event. More details to follow.

Labels for Education will be ending this MAY.
April is our final push for labels.  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! With your support, office supplies were just ordered for Donna McLoughlin!

STOP AND SHOP:
Thank you to Diane Collins for organizing our Stop & Shop A+ Rewards Program. The total to date that L-E families has earned is $1,733.10! This is a wonderful source of revenue for L-E since it comes from dollars our families spend anyone on weekly groceries. If you have signed up, please keep using your card. At this point in the year, registration is closed to new members.

DONOR’S CHOOSE:

Mr. Raisner, Grade 2
My Project: Interactive Projector
Total Project Cost: $1945.00
$1529.00 TO GO

Having an interactive projector will allow my students to use this technology as a tool for their learning. The work that’s projected on the board can be moved around and manipulated. For example, when learning about geometry, students will be able to transpose shapes on top of each other. Using an interactive projector is a 21st century skill for students.

Several upper grade classrooms have this technology available to them. Getting them used to it now will help them in the future.

You can support Mr. Raisner’s Project by linking to:
http://www.donorschoose.org/raisner

COMMUNITY NEWS… 

2015 COACH JONES’ SUMMER BASKETBALL CLINIC AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY June 29^th to July 2^nd for boys age 7-18 and girls age 12-14.
The Joe Jones Basketball Clinic is a four day experience that will focus on the fundamentals of basketball through station work and competition, with strong emphasis on shooting, ball handling and individual offensive and defensive skills.  Our camp will stress the importance of fundamentals, smart decision-making and hard work while having fun along the way.  Campers will be divided by age and skill level to ensure that each camper has a meaningful experience.  All campers will receive one-on-one coaching from members of the Boston University Men’s Basketball Staff as well as from members of both the Men’s and Women’s Basketball Teams. http://www.coachjonesbasketballclinics.com

SPACE CAMP…
Summer Program for Academic and Creative Encounters

SPACE Camp is a four-week summer enrichment program for students entering kindergarten through students entering ninth grade. SPACE is a terrific opportunity for students. We offer two programs – an upper school (entering grade 5-entering grade 9) and a lower school (entering kindergarten-entering grade four). During the upper school program, students are given the opportunity to become involved in program courses of their own choosing. During the lower school program, students are assigned to age appropriate groups. They will work with staff members in art, music, science, movement, games, recreation, drama, and other enrichment activities.

This summer we will be located at: F.A. Day Middle School

Please visit our website below for more information, or email us with any questions!

http://www.newton.k12.ma.us/spacecamp

From Newton Community Partnerships for Children and Families…

Upcoming Events…..

Annual Brain Building Literacy Fair,
Saturday, May 2, held at Family ACCESS, 492 Waltham St, 10:30am to 12:30pm, ages 0-7

Dads’ & Kids’ Night,
Tuesday, May 5, held at West Suburban YMCA, Newton, 6:30pm to 7:30 pm, ages 3-8

Food, Family, Celebrate picnic
for families who are in need of resources, Thursday,      May 14, held at Creative Start Playground, 5:30pm to 7:00pm

All Events are FREE