PTO Notes 03-14-21
In This Edition
- NEW & UPCOMING:
- REMINDERS & UPDATES:
- SUPPORT:
New & Upcoming
School-Wide Art Project!
We are excited to announce a fantastic school-wide art project. Every student is being asked to create a monochromatic self portrait using shades of only one color (determined by grade). All students have the option to deliver your completed artwork to the Mason-Rice office by March 26th.
An instruction sheet and a 3.5 square of paper was put in all DLA packets and will be distributed to all hybrid students if they haven’t already been received.
These squares will be combined to create a giant Mason-Rice Rainbow Mural which will be displayed in the art room windows this spring so our entire community can see it! In the fall, we will make it a permanent art installation in the school to commemorate this year.
Watch Ms. Discenza’s video for tips on how to construct a self-portrait. An email was sent to all children’s school email accounts with a link to the video. There will not be live zoom tutorial sessions. If you have questions, please email the Mason-Rice PTO.
Last week: Susan Tan, author of the Cilla Lee-Jenkins series, visited the 3rd graders. It was an exciting, energetic discussion of the daily life of an author and what the writing process looks like for Susan. Students were engaged and she answered lot of their questions.
This week:
Monday, March 15, 4th grade read-aloud and discussion hosted by parents of Eric Velasquez’s Octopus Stew from 7-8pm; all 4th graders welcome.
Wednesday, March 17, 5th graders will host Jerry Craft, who won the 2020 Newbery Medal for his graphic novel, New Kid. This is sure to be another fantastic presentation.
Note to all grades: questions for each author can be submitted in advance through our AuthorFest portal (so all children get a chance to be heard).
Coming soon: March 24, 4th grade, Eric Velasquez; March 31, 2nd grade, Vita Murrow; April 7, 1st grade, Brian Lies
Lunch Bunch Dates
Ms. Becker’s drop in lunch bunches for DLA & Hybrid students are a great way for our students to connect! Dates and links for upcoming Lunch Bunches are below.
Remember: Lunch bunches are entirely optional, so no need to sign up in advance; just drop in!
Grades K & 1
Cohort B: Monday, March 15
12:35 – 1:05pm and 1:25 – 1:55pm
Grade 3
Friday, March 19
1:25 – 1:55pm
(See emailed notes for links)
Grade 2
Cohort B: Wednesday, March 17
1:25 – 1:55pm
Grades 4 & 5
Thursday, March 18
1:25 – 1:55pm
Upcoming Promo: Spring Tea School Days March 15-23
It’s time for the Spring Tea School Days promotion offered by Tea Collection, a globally-inspired children’s clothing company! Starting Monday, March 15 through Tuesday, March 23, 2021, feel free to use our special promo code (see e-mailed PTO Notes for code) for 15% off for you and 15% donated back to Mason-Rice PTO when you shop at teacollection.com!
Disclaimer: this is a special code created exclusively for fundraising for MRPTO community through teacollection.com, and is not meant to be shared publicly with coupon or deal sites.
Families Organizing for Racial Justice
Please join our Zoom for a discussion on Racism In Newton and Mason-Rice: Wednesday, March 17, 2021, 7:30-9:30pm.
Zoom Link; Meeting ID: 843 4437 5820; Passcode: (see e-mailed PTO Notes)
Please contact: Janelle Phillips, Sara Penn, or Ellie Axe with questions.
Reminders & Updates
Calendar Reminders: Day Switch and Early Release
Cohort A Day Switch: Due to the Special City Election on Tuesday, March 16, the in-person day for Cohort A will be switched to Wednesday, March 17. Cohort A will follow their Wednesday remote schedule on Tuesday, March 16. Please contact Mr. Bultema with any questions.
Early Release: Students will be dismissed at 12:30pm on April 5 and April 8 to provide time for elementary school conferences.
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.
Support the Businesses that Support Us
Give Back Business
Mason-Rice’s annual online auction is usually the PTO’s biggest fundraiser. This year, because of the pandemic, we are not hosting the auction. Instead, in each week’s Notes, we are spotlighting the amazing businesses that have generously supported our auction year after year. We hope that now, during their time of need, you will consider patronizing those who have consistently supported our PTO.
Don’t forget to support the previously-spotlighted businesses! You can find them in the past Notes on our PTO webpage.
Hipstitch
Hipstitch is a sewing and craft studio located in West Newton Square. We offer sewing, crafts and Fashion Design classes to all ages, as well as parties, camps, parent/child classes and creative events.
We also sell sewing and craft supplies, as well as sewing machines and our own line of DIY sewing kits (machine and hand sewing) and crafts and sewing patterns.
***Sign up for a week of our Summer camp and receive 10% of the total cost (this promotion only applies to Summer 2021).***
We also are in the middle of expanding! We will be opening two new locations: Wellesley next month and Brookline in June!
617-965-0880 – hipstitch@gmail.com – 1276 Washington St. West Newton, MA 0246
Shop with Amazon & Help the PTO
As an Amazon affiliate member, the PTO is able to earn commissions from your everyday purchases! Before you shop, simply click through the logo on our website and then go about your shopping as normal. You won’t see anything different, but the PTO will earn commissions from your purchase. (Purchases are aggregated and individual buyers are not reported by Amazon to the PTO.)
Stay in touch. Stay informed. Get involved!
