Mason-Rice Online Book Fair, Tuesday 2/2

The 2021 Mason-Rice Online Book Fair launches this Tuesday 2/2! You will find fantastic recommendations from Ms. Reed, Mr. Bultema, and Ms. Addleman, as well as teacher/classroom wish lists. Check your email on Tuesday for the link to the online book fair. Feel free to forward it to friends and family too- 30% of all purchases come back to Mason-Rice to support this year’s CAS Authorfest!

Virtual PJ Party! Tuesday 2/2

You are invited to a Virtual PJ Party this Tuesday 2/2 to celebrate the launch of the 2021 Mason-Rice online Book Fair. Wear your PJs, bring a stuffed animal, and curl up to listen to some great stories from Mason-Rice readers!

Grades K-2: 7:00-7:30pm
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 834 8241 4861
Passcode: [see emailed notes]

Grades 3-5: 7:40-8:10pm
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 820 5695 3471
Passcode: [see emailed notes]

Mason Rice AuthorFest, March/April 2021

Mason-Rice AuthorFest is almost ready to launch! This year, six grade-wide virtual events will take the place of our normal Creative Arts & Sciences programming. Each grade will be visited by a special author (selected by our amazing librarian, Jennifer Reed).

These events will bring together all Mason-Rice students within a grade – DLA and hybrid. Presentations will take place on Wednesday mornings. In the next couple of weeks we will confirm the author your child will see, as well as the presentation date, and set up parent-led reading groups to support kids in getting the most out of their session. We also hope to buy each child their own copy of their author’s book!

Please look for more information in the coming weeks.

Wanted: Parent Volunteers!

Baking Captain: Baking enthusiasts to lead one or more of FOUR on-line baking sessions (two sessions for K-2 and two for 3-5). Recipe is up to you, but should be a kid friendly recipe which costs under $10 and that can be adjusted to accommodate gluten-free and nut-free diets.

B-I-N-G-O Captain: Work with seasoned Mason-Rice Bingo Captain to run a night of online excitement for the M-R community. Opportunity to continue in this role in years to come if you are interested.

Volunteer Qualifications and Rewards: Ideal captains should be fun, extremely patient, and technologically literate. Volunteer alone, volunteer together. In exchange for your generosity with your time and talents, captains will get: 1) School-wide gratitude; 2) Personal satisfaction of helping our community stay connected through these strange times. (Anything you see/hear on the other side of the Zoom screen is a total bonus.)

Interested applicants should contact Rebecca Diamondstein.

Winter Walk to School Days, 2/8-2/12

Winter Walk & Roll! (by Newton & Massachusetts Safe Routes to School)

This February, walk or roll to school or a park, or around your neighborhood. Click here to see how to participate and for fun tips on winter walking!

FORJ: Wednesday, February 24th, 7pm

The Work and Challenges of Being Anti-Racist. Discussion led by Dr. Edward Fergus, author of Solving Disproportionality and Achieving Equity: A Leaders Guide to Using Data to Change Hearts and Minds.

Space is limited, please register here. (Login information will be sent the day of the webinar.)

U8 Skating Skills and Development

U8 Skating Skills and Development is a new program to strengthen skating skills and build on previous instruction, regardless of skill level. Participants must have at minimum, 1 year of skating or Learn to Play Hockey experience. Registration for Session 2 is now open for the 6-wk session that takes place Jan-Mar. Cost for each session is $230. Register HERE.

*COVID Information: Like all our current programs, if hockey season and rinks permanently shut down, you will receive a prorated refund.

Sign Up: K-2 Musical Morning

Musical morning is fun way for kids to showcase their musical talent! K-2 Musical Morning spots are still open. Sign up here.

(All grades 3-5 slots have been filled.)

Lunch Bunch: All Grades Meeting This Week

Lunch Bunch is an informal time for DLA and Hybrid students to socialize and chat. Each Lunch Bunch starts with a GoNoodle activity; kids will learn how to draw something fun. Lunch Bunch is optional (no sign up required).

Grades K-1A – Thursday 2/4 (see emailed notes for more info)

Grade 2A – Friday 2/5 (see emailed notes for more info)

Grade 3 – Wednesday 2/3 (see emailed notes for more info)

Grades 4-5 – Monday 2/2 (see emailed notes for more info)

* If you didn’t receive the invitation to these events, email Monica so she can report the issue to NPS’s IT team.

Free: Breakfast and Lunch for Families

For the 2020-2021 academic year, FREE breakfast and lunch is available for ALL students. There are grab-n-go options for in-person pick-up, or separate pick-up locations at the high schools for virtual learners.

See the City of Newton’s website for updated information on pickup locations and other important updates.

Give Back: Business of the Week

Galit’s Treats Café & Bakery

Galit’s Treats Cafe & Bakery is a petite shop in Newton Center, owned by a Newton mom. Galit’s is known for our authentic Israeli food, amazing challah & pastries, great coffee and amazingly delicious custom cakes and cupcakes for ALL occasions. Gluten-free, nut-free, dairy-free and vegan options are available upon request. We also offer tasty sandwiches, salads, quiches and so much more.

This month Galit introduced her family dinner menu – family sized weekday meals cooked to order (requires advanced ordering).

During the pandemic, Galit offered senior citizens free challah breads and delivered them on Fridays, free of charge. If you have a senior neighbor or a relative that would like to receive a free challah, please let her know at bestchallah@gmail.com. (The mayor wrote about it in the weekly email on 4/29/20.)

Galit’s Treats Cafe & Bakery is truly a hidden gem in the center of our city, so be sure to drop by and say “Shalom!”

749 Beacon St, Newton Centre

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