Basketball Starts up again January 3, 2015!!!!
Our Gym floor has been refinished, fresh double sided, reversible game jerseys are in, and our Saturday Basketball Program will pick up on January 3, 2015. Don’t forget to come this weekend!

Mighty-Mites are off this Friday ad will resume on January 9th.
Travel Basketball Program
The Travel Basketball Programs will be starting this month. Stop by the Boys & Girls Club and show your support! Our teams will be playing other Boys & Girls Clubs from all over Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
12 and under Boys Practices every Tuesday 8:00-9:00 pm
Season Starts January 8th
14 and Under Girls Practices every Friday 8:00-9:00 pm
Season Starts January 7th
18 and Under Boys Practice Every Wednesday 8:00-9:00 pm
Season Starts January 8th

Community Open Gyms
Did you know that thanks to a grant from The Newton Partnership and funding from the Carol M. White Physical Education Program the Club’s gym is open to the general public twice per week? Anyone ages 6 to 18 is welcome to join us and make use of the Club’s gym equipment. Come on down for flexible, supervised, organized activity.

Tuesdays 5:00-6:00 pm
Thursdays 7:00-8:30 pm

Free Tennis Clinics
Starting February 24, 2015 the John M. Barry Boys & Girls Club will be teaming up with Lapides Tennis Academy to offer Members an opportunity to learn how to play Tennis! The first 25 members to enroll will work with coach Lapides and his team during a 5 week program that meets every Tuesday, from 3:00-4:30 pm. Contact Mike in the Gym to Sign up for this great opportunity!!!

www.lapidestennis.com

Free Basketball Clinics
3 Dates Set!!!
On January 8, January 22, and February 5, Beaver Country Days Basketball Program will visit the John M. Barry Boys and Girls Club. The teams will provide a free hour-long clinic from 4:00-5:00 for the members. Contact Mike in the gym for more details.
http://bcdschool.org/athletics/
More To Come
The John M. Barry Boys & Girls Club is working closely with some great volunteer groups in order to provide top notch athletics for the members.We will soon be offering football and baseball clinics, as well as more in- house leagues. Stop by the Club and check out all of the fun stuff going on!

Mike Doran
Athletic Director
John M. Barry Boys & Girls Club
675 Watertown Street
Newton, Ma. 02460
617-630-2066

Sign up now for winter classes with Newton Community Education. Coming up at Lincoln-Eliot we have Lego Robotics and Actors Studio on Wednesdays, and Chinese Club on Fridays.

We have many more weekday classes at schools throughout Newton, including Shark Tank Jr, Pottery, Fencing, Imagination Authors, The Stockmarket Game, and the list goes on.  We have family classes, such as Glass Fusing, and Saturday sports options for kids ages 2 and up.

Thinking ahead for February and April vacation? Sign up for Domino Physics, Domino Architecture, 3-D Sculpture, or Engineering & Electricity Workshop. (Space is limited for these so please act fast.)

Making summer plans? To see what NCE has in store, join us at the camp fair at Newton North, Sunday, January 25 from noon to 4pm. We have something for everyone! Kids can do what they love or try something new. For more information or to register for classes, call our office at 617-559-6999 or visit our website at newtoncommunityed.org.

PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF DATE FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING WITH SUPT. DAVID FLEISHMAN.

• Monday, Jan. 12th: 8:20-9:15 – General Meeting & PARCC Spring Assessment Update
• Monday, Feb. 23rd 8:20-9:15 – Meeting with Superintendent David Fleishman and
  members of the Newton School Committee for their annual visit to our PTO.

The meeting will include a brief update on district initiatives (e.g. the new PARCC standardized test and new building plans), followed by an interactive session to answer your questions and listen to feedback.

• 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