The PTO’s springtime restaurant series continues with our next partner: Lee’s Burgers! From Tuesday, May 18th to May 24th, Lee’s will donate 10% of all Mason-Rice orders to the PTO. To participate, simply leave your receipt in the blue box on Lee’s counter when you pick up your order. It’s *that* easy! So mark your calendars and make sure to order from Lee’s starting Tuesday!

 

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Naco Taco fundraiser! The Mason-Rice community placed 81 orders and raised $550 for the PTO!

 

And be sure to stop into Bill’s Pizzeria to thank the owner who generously upped their donation to the PTO following our week-long promotion earlier this season. More details on this donation and the exciting way that we’re planning to use the funds is coming soon. 

Do you have a business you want to advertise? Do you know someone in the Mason-Rice community who might? Maybe there’s a house in your neighborhood that’s coming up for rent? Is someone you know available to babysit? If you have an advertisement, the Notes Team wants to help you spread the word. Email your ads to MR Notes Team and we will include your advertisement in our new-to-launch once monthly Community Classifieds blast email.

 

Instructions:

Note: Submissions will be accepted if they are for opportunities owned by, led by, or intended exclusively for Mason-Rice community members.

The 5th graders are washing cars for charity*!!!!

 

Bring your dirty cars to Mason-Rice on Saturday, May 22nd between 2p and 5p. 5th graders will be ready to wash your car! A clean car is a happy car! Hope to see you there! 

 

$10 suggested donation is appreciated.

 

The City of Newton is trying to learn as much as we can about Newton community members’ experiences of and visions for their village centers to inform zoning proposals. Engagement will include a Vision Kit to explore your village center(s), an interactive survey, and Focus Groups for equitable participation.

 

Sign up for a Community Engagement Information Session on May 20^th, 6-7pm, here and fill out this Focus Group Interest Form if you identify as a renter, younger person (age 15-35), BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color), someone with a disability, LGBTQ+, of the creative community, and older adults (65+). 

 

Learn more at newtonma.gov/zoningredesign.

You’re invited to a zoom for parents of rising 6th graders who are transitioning to Brown Middle School with an IEP or 504 Plan.

 

Join Zoom Meeting, Meeting ID: 796 742 0402

 

This is an opportunity for parents whose children are receiving special education services (IEP/504 Plan) to ask questions about what student life is like at Brown Middle School including programs, activities, accommodations, communication with staff, ways to get involved, etc. 

 

You can also contact Brown M.S. SEPAC Liaison, Kim Gallaugher anytime at with any questions or concerns about transitioning to Brown.

Over 90% of Mason-Rice students contributed self portraits to the Portrait Project! They’re currently on display in the windows of the Art Room. From there, we’ll be moving the portraits inside the building, to preserve our memory of this year when, despite the unusual times, our community worked hard to stay connected and strong.

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:

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.

 

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 June 4th. Please email the A+ Magazine team with any questions.

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: 

Sweatshirts @ $30: We also still have some hoodies available. Sizes include: 

To purchase, email Katie Gaines. All proceeds go to the Mason-Rice Fifth Grade Graduation Fund.

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.

 

Blackbird Doughnuts is an artisanal bakery and coffee shop that originated in the South End in 2015. In the past six years, Blackbird has opened five more locations in Boston, Cambridge, and Newton Center, and are hoping to continue expanding in the future. They make all of their doughnuts and other baked goods by hand and strive to provide the freshest product daily. 

 

Blackbird makes cake and brioche doughnuts and include both classic and creative toppings that change monthly.  In addition to the doughnuts you can find in their shops, they also have cakes, cider-doughnut pies, and mini doughnuts available to special order through their website. 

 

Blackbird has enjoyed being part of the Newton community over the past 16 months and appreciates the continued support!

 

Mabel’s Labels: 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 [see e-mailed PTO Notes] at checkout, and 15% of each order will be donated back to the PTO.

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.

 

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 as usual!