Election Day Bake Sale – Volunteers Needed!

Election Day is coming up on Tuesday, November 2nd and it is tradition for the voting school to hold a bake sale to support the PTO. This is typically a huge fundraiser for L-E and we are hopeful for a large turnout with BIG sales profits! We are asking for your assistance in two ways:

1. Offer to BAKE (or BUY & BRING)

Please sign-up for one (or more!) of the following bake sale items. We are requesting that each treat be individually wrapped and then put in a disposable container (such as a cardboard box).  Please bring the treats to the main office on the day before the sale (Monday, Nov. 1st) or deliver them directly the day of the sale to the table that will be located in front of the Jackson Street entrance.

2. Offer to WORK a shift during the sale (which will run from early morning until the afternoon)

Please sign-up for before school hours, during school hours, or after school hours. The first and last slots will involve set-up or clean-up.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0F49AFAC22A7FB6-election1

LE Spirit Wear Store is Back: 11/01 – 11/14

Don’t miss out! Lincoln-Eliot spirit wear will be available for sale for 2 weeks only in 2021! From 11/1-11/14, you can shop for cool L-E branded T’s, sweatshirts, pants, PJ’s, vests, headbands and more for kids and adults! Not only will you show your support for L-E, but 20% of the purchase price of each item goes back to our school!  The online store will not reopen again until 2022. The spirit wear website will launch on 11/1, so please keep an eye out for emails to direct you to the store when it is live! 

Coming Soon: A Lincoln-Eliot Mascot!

Did you know that Lincoln-Eliot is the only school in Newton that doesn’t have a mascot?  This is the year that changes!  A group of 4th graders are organizing an election to give all the students and staff a chance to vote and choose the perfect animal to represent our unique school.

    

Are we wise and loyal elephants?  Playful and positive lemurs?  Curious, quirky llamas?  Or are we independent leopards, gentle lizards, or fierce lynxes?

   

More information coming soon, but for now, start thinking about these choices — and kids and teachers, get ready to vote for our first ever Lincoln-Eliot mascot!  (Also, if your kids want to make their own campaign poster for their favorite, please feel free to send them in to school!)

Newton Preschool (NECP) Accepting Applications

Newton Early Childhood Program (NECP) is now accepting applications for students for the 2022-23 school year. NECP will be moving to its new location at 687 Watertown St. midway through next year. The fully renovated building will be completely customized for NPS’ littlest learners! If you have a preschool age child and would like to learn more about enrolling in this fantastic program in an amazing new space, please visit the application process section of the NECP website at: www.newton.k12.ma.us/NECP.

Newton One-to-One Program

Newton’s One-to-One Program, our very own “big brother/sister program” has been matching wonderful high schoolers with children in grades one through five for over 40 years.  If you think your elementary aged child would benefit from a mentor in their life and you can commit 2 hours each week to have your child meet with a high school mentor from November to May – you should contact us.

Here is a link to the program information and application: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DUJsVEX4rEVbyJZkzSgZ8hH-CUttDSGNuhjBlK0BZWc/edit?usp=sharing

For questions or more information, please contact Rebecca Young, Program Coordinator, at youngr@newton.k12.ma.us or 617-315-8733

Principal / PTO Update 10.17

Dear LE Families,

I am happy to report that there were no COVID cases at Lincoln-Eliot this week!

As part of our NPS System-Wide Goals for the 2021-2022 School Year, we have committed to identifying and addressing students’ strengths and needs in literacy development.  In addition to our ongoing district measure, the Benchmark Assessment System, we have adopted universal literacy screeners at all grade levels, K-5, Fall, Winter, and Spring.

Because the best time to identify and address reading difficulties is as early as possible, in Kindergarten, students will complete the EarlyBird Screener, a comprehensive, game-based assessment tool that assesses our youngest students on the key literacy milestones most predictive of later reading success.

In grades 1-5, students will complete the i-Ready Diagnostic, an adaptive assessment that provides teachers with both screening information and actionable insight into specific literacy growth and needs.  Both the EarlyBird and the i-Ready meet MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Guidelines for Dyslexia Screening.

Both of these assessments will enable educators to support students using a proactive, preventative model.  Classroom teachers will be using this information and meeting with school-based teams to plan targeted instruction that will support the growth of all students.

Thank you,
Principal Morrissey

Fall Festival Volunteers Needed

Are you interested in seeing the Fall Festival happen this year? We need your help to plan and organize the event! If you are interested in leading this committee to make the Fall Festival a reality this year, please contact secretary@lepto.org.

Due to COVID restrictions, this event must take place outdoors. Time is running out so don’t wait to contact us! This event can’t happen without parent volunteers!

PTO Secretary Needed!

Julie Loh has graciously volunteered to take on the role of President of the Lincoln-Eliot PTO this year. (Thank you, Julie!) This means there is now a vacancy in the Secretary position and we need one or two volunteers to share this role. Responsibilities include taking notes at the bi-monthly PTO meetings and writing posts for the newsletter you are reading. This role works with the rest of the PTO board to plan our year. Want to know more? Email secretary@lepto.org. Have a friend or spouse who are willing to split the responsibilities? That’s great too!

Ideally we would have a 2nd co-President to work side-by-side with Julie, so please inquire if you are interested in that position as well. It’s critical that we fill these roles so we can continue to support the staff and families in our school community.

FORJ Update

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY CEREMONIAL CELEBRATION 2021

If you were able to stop by Albemarle Park on the first-ever Indigenous Peoples’ Day Ceremonial Celebration in Newton, as promised, there was a bustling market of vendors selling handmade jewelry, artwork, clothing, books on Indigenous Culture, foods and more. People ate just-prepared fry bread, empanadas and drank strawberry flavored beverages and a purple Peruvian corn drink called Chicha Morada – to name a few of many things! Local community organizations shared insights and information. There was dance, music, storytelling, history, poetry and sharing language. The moon rose over the event as presenters and guests gathered in a final circle at the event closing. A beautiful day led by and featuring the voices, culture, family, traditions and culture of many Indigenous Peoples in the Newton community and beyond! Congratulations to the Indigenous Peoples’ Day Newton Committee with special appreciation to Founder & Chair and featured presenter, Lincoln-Eliot parent Chali’Inaru Dones!

FEATURED FIGURE IN HISTORY

Former Cherokee leader Wilma Mankiller (1945-2010) will appear on the U.S. quarter in 2022 along with Maya Angelou and Dr. Sally Ride, the first American woman in space. Wilma Mankiller is honored and recognized as the first female Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. The surname “Mankiller,” refers to a traditional Cherokee military rank, like a captain or major. She revitalized the Nation’s tribal government, and advocated relentlessly for improved education, healthcare, and housing services. Under her leadership, infant mortality declined, and educational achievement rose in the Cherokee Nation. She said, “The secret to our success is that we never, never, never give up.” Words to live by for all of the changemakers in our midst!

HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH, September 15 – October 15, 2021

As Hispanic Heritage month comes to a close, check out this compilation of books to read with kids demonstrating a wide array of Latinx experiences and stories: https://www.today.com/shop/children-s-books-hispanic-heritage-month-today-t229002

FAMILIES ORGANIZING FOR RACIAL JUSTICE (FORJ)

FORJ is a group of diverse Newton families helping our children learn about issues of power and inequality and how to stand up for racial justice. We seek to generate understanding and curiosity about differences in our society, and to work together towards racial equity.For more info or to join, contact Lanni Isenberg, L-E FORJ PTO Liaison, lanni_harris@yahoo.com