New & Upcoming
The PTO Appreciates Mason-Rice Teachers!
This week, the PTO coordinated several efforts to make sure our teachers know they are appreciated! A HUGE thanks to Celia Ivanov and all of the Parent Reps who coordinated class photos–they look great and everyone appreciates your leadership and creative efforts!
In addition to the class photo project, the PTO was so happy to treat our teachers to some extra goodies this week including:
- limited edition Mason-Rice tote bags with our logo
- a spread of cupcakes from Party Favors
We hear the totes were a big hit with Mrs. Read explaining, “Oohhh! I need this!!” and it’s our understanding that the teachers always love free sweets. We are grateful to be in a position, as a PTO, to provide these extra surprises and thank you, our community, for providing the funds and energy to make it happen.
Join the PTO Board! We Need YOU!
The PTO is looking for volunteers to join our leadership teams next year! Specifically, we are seeking:
- 5 At-Large Board members to join us (term is from September 1, 2021 to August 31, 2023)
- Individuals to lead and serve on committees
Join us for an Open House on Wednesday, May 12th at 8:00pm to learn more about the roles that are available! Members of the current PTO leadership team will walk through the open positions and answer questions you might have about the PTO, the process for growing your involvement. RSVP here. (Zoom link information will be sent to all who RSVP.)
LAST CHANCE for Naco Taco!
PRE-ORDER your May 11th “Taco Tuesday” pick-up with Naco Taco Food Truck at Mason-Rice! Click here to order!
The PTO is thrilled to host a “Taco Tuesday” Fundraising event with locally-owned Naco Taco’s food truck! The COVID-friendly event is “pre-orders” only and you select your pick-up time to allow for social distancing and minimal wait times. 15% of the orders will be donated back to the PTO!
Naco Taco is a full-service restaurant and bar in Cambridge, MA that serves scratch-made tacos and tortas. They bake their own bread and grind fresh masa in house daily to make the tortillas. They currently have 1 food truck daily on Newbury St and another truck with an in-residence at Trillium Brewery and for events like ours.
Congratulations 5th Graders Bessie & Emma!
Mason-Rice’s own Emma and Bessie from E&B Classes were featured on NPR’s Morning Edition! See what the buzz is about by checking out their flyer with their May schedule. Or just click here to sign your K-3 kid up for a class now!
Reminders & Updates
Sign Up & Keep Our Community Healthy
Will you help us keep our students and staff safe? NPS STRONGLY ENCOURAGES families whose students are participating in in-person learning to enroll their student(s) in the COVID-19 testing program. Testing is one of the best ways we have to quickly identify infection and reduce the possibility of in-school transmission. Testing began at Mason-Rice last week, but it’s not too late to join!
Here are 3 reasons to enroll:
- It’s easy to sign up! Complete the Consent Form in the Aspen portal for your child to participate (here’s the link!).
- It’s painless to administer! This is NOT the “touch your brain” swab! This is a sample taken from the front of your nose with a Q-tip like swab. It’s super-fast and painless. Students are sent home on Monday with an at-home test kit. They swab their nose on Tuesday morning and return the test to school that morning. Easy peasy!
- It makes a difference! The more students who participate, the better data NPS has on infection rates in our community. This means NPS can quickly identify infection, reduce the risk of in school transmission, limit quarantines, and keep our schools, athletics and other important activities open for the rest of the year!.
- Bonus reason: This testing program is FREE to all families!
Note: Once you enroll, it may take a week for your child to receive their first Monday kit.
Also note: The asymptomatic pooled testing, detailed here, is a separate consent process from giving consent for Nurse Becky to administer a rapid Covid test in school should your child becomes symptomatic at school.
Thank you all for doing your part to keep our kids, teachers, and community safe!
A+ Literary Magazine is Looking for Submissions
A+ Magazine is still accepting submissions for this year’s publication, which will be on-line and available to all Mason-Rice families. Don’t miss this opportunity to have your child’s creative work showcased to the entire Mason-Rice community! Submissions can be anything from artwork to a review of a book – as long as it was created by a current Mason-Rice student. Please submit your child’s work via email to the A+ Magazine team (photos of work should be in jpeg format, and please include your child’s name and grade), or place it in the submission box located in the main entrance of the school (originals will be returned back to your child). Submission deadline is Friday, May 14th. Please email the A+ Magazine team with any questions.
Buy Your Spiritwear for Spring!
The Mason-Rice Spirit Store is still open!
T-Shirts @ $15: We have t-shirts in two styles: navy with the Mason-Rice logo in color on the front or heather blue with the Mason-Rice logo on the back. Available sizes include:
- Kids sizes S, M, L
- Adult sizes S, M, L
Sweatshirts @ $30: We also still have some hoodies available. Sizes include:
- Adult sizes S and M
To purchase, email Katie Gaines. All proceeds go to the Mason-Rice Fifth Grade Graduation Fund.
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.
NPS Calendar Reminders
Friday, June 18: The City of Newton is observing Juneteenth on Friday, June 18. The Newton Public Schools will be doing the same to observe this important day in our history with no school on this day.
Tuesday, June 22: Last day of school for students.
Support the Businesses that Support Us
Give Back Business
Empow Studios Newton
180 Needham St.
Newton, MA 02464
At Empow Studios, kids have fun exploring coding, robotics, movie-making, Minecraft, Roblox, 3D printing, and more! With classes and camps across five STEM paths – Tech & Design, Minecraft, Coding, Robotics, and Video Game Design — kids deepen their technology skills as they build amazing beginner to advanced projects. Full-day and half-day summer camp options are available throughout Massachusetts and online.
Empow Studios is honored to be trusted by more than 150 educational and enrichment organizations that support STEM programs. We’ve won more awards than any other STEM after school program or camp provider in Massachusetts!
To learn more, please visit www.empow.me
Shop with these partners and a portion of the sale will be donated to the PTO:
We are excited to announce a new, year-round fundraising promotion from Mabel’s Labels just in time for more in-person school days, spring sports, and summer camps! Just follow these simple steps and Mabel’s Labels will donate 20% of sales from your order to the PTO!
1. Go to Mabel’s Labels homepage and click “Support a Fundraiser”
2. Type and select “Mason-Rice Elementary School PTO” in the menu
3. Shop your order and check-out as usual
4. Mabel’s Labels will automatically donate 20% of the order back to the PTO!
Minted: Enjoy 20% off Minted cards & gifts throughout the year when use unique promo code sent in emailed Notes at checkout, and 15% of each order will be donated back to the PTO.
Disclaimer: this is a special code created exclusively for fundraising for M-R PTO community and is not meant to be shared publicly with coupon or deal sites.
AmazonSmile:
1. Visit AmazonSmile and sign in with your Amazon.com credentials.
2. Choose and select Mason-Rice Elementary School PTO as the charitable organization to receive donations.
3. Start all of your Amazon shopping at the Smile homepage, versus amazon.com. The shopping experience is the exact same, but your purchases will qualify for Smile commissions to the PTO.
To turn on AmazonSmile in the Amazon Shopping app:
1. Make sure you’re signed up for AmazonSmile in web browser.
2. Open the Amazon Shopping app and find “Settings” in the main menu (☰).
3. Tap on “AmazonSmile” (under “Programs & Features”) and follow the on-screen instructions to turn on AmazonSmile in the app.
4. Shop at usual!
Stay in touch. Stay informed. Get involved!
