FORJ Update 1.09.22

Martin Luther King Jr Day of Service

Monday, January 17th is the Martin Luther King, Jr Day Observance for all of Newton. The City of Newton is hosting a webinar community book discussion of MLK’s “Where do we go from here: Chaos or Community?” See the link for information to prepare for the event and for details on a community food drive: https://www.newtonma.gov/government/mayor-fuller/special-projects-and-initiatives/newton-mlk-day

Each year, Cambridge organizations gather for a day of service to honor the memory of MLK. On January 17th, Many Helping Hands 365 will host virtual activities for families. And, they are offering a community walk from Starlight in Central Square through The Port Neighborhood to learn about Cambridge’s Black and Brown History. https://manyhelpinghands365.org/

January 19th CityWide FORJ Meeting via Zoom, 6:30PM

The January Citywide FORJ meeting will take place on Wednesday, January 19th at 6:30PM via zoom. This month, we will be celebrating the life and impact of Dr. Martin Luther King. This meeting is called “Building a Beloved Community in Newton”. In this meeting, we will focus on the idea of Dr. King’s Beloved Community.

With the start of the new year and the significance of January (MLK day and birthday), it is important that we use this time to reflect on Dr. King’s words and life as we look towards our anti-racism aspirations for 2022. Please join us for this important conversation and help us contribute to building a Beloved Community throughout Newton.

We also are looking for individuals to share a quote from Dr. King that has some relevance to this idea of the Beloved Community and to the Newton community during the meeting. If you are interested in reading this quote during the event, please indicate in the registration form.

The Heller School at Brandeis University is hosting a 7-Day Anti-racism Challenge

Check out these daily learning and reflection resources to make thinking about (and acting on) anti-racism a part of your everyday life: https://heller.brandeis.edu/diversity/learning/antiracism-challenge.html Features readings, videos, web resources and reflection activities.

While you’re on the site, feel free to check out last year’s 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge.

Racial Justice in America

In November, in Brunswick, Georgia, three white men were convicted in the killing of 25-year old Ahmaud Arbery, a Black man who was running through the neighborhood. All were sentenced to life in prison this week.

Recognizing the pain, fear, and trauma brought on by continued racism within the justice system, there is clearly still work to be done to fight racism and violence against and within our communities.

Our friends from the Bigelow Middle School Chapter of FORJ shared some resources for people at all levels in the work of racial justice education, understanding and practice:

105 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice | by Corinne Shutack | Equality Includes You | Medium

Education As an Agent of Change: A Racial Justice Reading List & Resource Guide | Books | 30Seconds Mom

Talking to children after racial incidents | Penn GSE (upenn.edu)

Anti-racism resources for white people (google.com)

Dr. Ibram X. Kendi’s Picks: Anti-Racist Books for Kids (commonsensemedia.org)

Beyond the KKK: Understanding White Supremacy as a System of Power | Pocket (getpocket.com)

Educate Yourself: Virtual Racial Equity Workshops | Eventbrite

Mental Health Resources | City of Newton, MA (newtonma.gov)

If you’d like to have a conversation, coordinate a book or article discussion or other virtual event for families and/or our kids to address racial justice in our community, let’s chat. Please contact L-E FORJ PTO Liaison Lanni Isenberg, lanni_harris@yahoo.com

Principal / PTO Update 12.19

Dear Families,

We had two positive COVID cases this past week. Just a reminder that there will be NO COVID pool testing this coming week of December 20th.

Nurse Kristen wants to hear from you, even over break!  If a student tests positive for COVID over break, please email Nurse Kristen. If you have any questions about close contacts or positive family members, please email Nurse Kristen ( Thibodeauk@newton.k12.ma.us).

December Recess/Break will be from Friday 12/24 – Friday 12/31. Have a happy and healthy break and we will see everyone in the new year on Monday, January 3rd!

Principal Morrissey & the PTO

LE Leopards Choose to Include

Thank you to all the students who participated in our Inclusive Schools Week paw print activity. Check out over 220 paw prints decorating the LE hallway and window! Thank you to our SEPAC liaisons, Lauren and Winko for organizing this beautiful display!  

Principal / PTO Update 12.06

Hi LE Families,

This week, Lincoln-Eliot school recorded 0 COVID cases. Information on districtwide COVID cases and vaccination rates can be found on the Newton Health and Human Services website here: NPS COVID Case Count and Vaccination Rates.

The staff will also start Flannel Fridays! We would love to have students join in as well if they’d like. Wear your best flannel or plaid every Friday!

And thanks to everyone who wore their Game Day colors today!!

Principal Morrissey & the PTO

Naco Taco Coming to LE: 12/21!

Mark your calendars! LE PTO is partnering with Naco Taco for one night only of tasty takeout! Take a break from cooking, support a business owned by a Newton parent, and help the LE PTO all at the same time!

Save The Date: Tuesday, December 21st from 4pm-7pm. Naco Taco will donate 15% of its proceeds back to the LE PTO!

Pre-order here:  Nacocentral.com/lincolneliot to set a pickup time. You will even get a text when your order is ready!

Help spread the word to friends and neighbors too! You don’t have to be an LE family to participate.

Inclusive Schools Week: December 6-10

Lincoln-Eliot Leopards Choose to Include

Lincoln-Eliot is proud to be an inclusive school that recognizes that great things happen when everyone is included. Inclusive Schools WeekTM is celebrated annually the first week in December by families, schools and organizations in the U.S. and abroad. The Week highlights and celebrates the progress that schools have made in implementing inclusive practices to ensure a quality education for an increasingly diverse student population. Learn more at www.inclusiveschools.org.

This week in your child’s blue folder, there will be a paw print that your child is invited to decorate. Please send the decorated paw print back to school in your child’s blue folder so it can be included in our school’s Inclusive Schools Week banner in the window on Jackson Road. We will be collecting the paw prints all week long 12/6-12/10, so be sure to get it back to school this week.

In addition, we are encouraging all students to participate in a school-wide Spirit Day on Friday, December 12th. All students are invited to wear a “kaleidoscope of colors” on Friday. Be creative and let your unique personality shine!

Thank you for your support!

FORJ Updates

FORJ Newton will be hosting the December citywide meeting on Tuesday, December 7th, at 6:30PM. All are welcome to join!

This month’s conversation is called The Intersection of Race and Class: How Systemic Racism and Economic Disadvantage Collide Right Here in Our Own Backyards.

We will be focusing on the intersection of race and class, and how it manifests in Newton. Our panel of speakers include:

– Aubrey Conquergood, Executive Director of Cradles to Crayons Boston
– Ranjani Paradise, Co-Founder and Board Member of Newton Neighbors
– Regina Wu, President of the Newton Food Pantry

Please mark your calendars for this important conversation! This meeting will occur via zoom, so we hope you can join us. If you would like to join this meeting, sign up here and you will receive the zoom information to join. If you have any questions, feel free to email David Corbie, School_Coordinator@FORJ.org.

Your Lincoln-Eliot FORJ PTO Liaison is Lanni Isenberg, lanni_harris@yahoo.com.

Safe Routes to School Update

Snow Removal

The City removes snow from major routes after a storm; residents are still ultimately responsible for making sure their sidewalks are clear. There are a few changes from year to year based on resident feedback, sidewalks being added this summer, and current student addresses.  You can use this document to find the maps in Newton with keys describing which sidewalks are plowed.  I would like parent feedback on these routes, if you feel any are neglected or if there are major roads that are not being cleared, please email us at president@lepto.org

Blue Zones

I listened to our policemen describing challenges with Newton school Blue Zones, which are the areas close to the school with a painted blue curb meant for parents to quickly drop off their children.  It sounds like we have a lot of cars, not a lot of places to park, leading to these getting congested.

I wanted to share a few graphics I pulled from the presentation on how to optimally use active Blue Zones – stop at the curb that is painted blue, parents remain in their car, children exit on the curb side, and parents drive away promptly to reduce idling and allow other parents to utilize this space.  If you would like to walk with your child/children, consider parking outside of a Blue Zone.

Principal / PTO Update 11.28

Hi Families,
It was so wonderful to see so many of you at our Book Fair on Tuesday night! I also wanted to announce that Lincoln-Eliot now has an official mascot….the LEOPARDS! Thank you to all the students who helped to create the mascot choices, campaign, and vote!

I also wanted to report that we had 3 Covid cases this past week. Pool testing will resume this week on Tuesday, November 30th.

Have a great week,
Principal Morrissey & the PTO