PTO Notes 10-3-21
This Thursday, 10/7 is an Early Release Day.
School dismisses at 12:10pm.
In This Edition
- NEW & UPCOMING:
- REMINDERS & UPDATES:
- SUPPORT:
- Fundraising Promotions: Mabel’s Labels, Minted, AmazonSmile
- Classified Guideline for Ad Submission
New & Upcoming
Can the PTO count on your support of $25, $50, $100, or $500? All gifts matter!
The PTO needs your financial support! Your tax-deductible gift will ensure the sustainability of our community this year, and in the future. Funds raised this year go directly to our teachers, students, and community. Our goal is to raise $34,000 by November 1st.You can donate online by clicking the button below. (Suggested donation: $100 per student.)
For more details on what the PTO funds, click here. And watch for emails in October with more information about the many ways the PTO supports the Mason-Rice community. Thank you!
MUSICAL MORNINGS ARE BACK!
C.A.R.E.S. Assemblies are beginning in October, which means that Musical Mornings are back as well! The Musical Mornings Program provides an opportunity for students to play their musical instruments (virtually) for their peers and teachers.
This year, parents will video their child’s performance and submit it to a Google Folder to be included in Principal Bultema’s in-school assemblies.
Please note that there will be seven assemblies for Grades K-2 and seven for Grades 3-5. Each assembly will feature 3 performances. Slots fill up quickly at the end of the year, so sign up for an earlier slot today!
Questions? Feel free to contact Jay Wood for grades K-2, or Michael Hooper for Grades 3-5.
WALK – ROLL – BIKE – BUS – THIS Wednesday
Newton will celebrate International Walk to School Day on Wednesday, October 6. Will you walk, roll, bike or bus this year? Choose what works for your family to celebrate International Walk to School Day this year! Held annually, this event joins together students from over 40 countries. Visit their website for more information about walking, rolling, biking and taking the bus.
Mason-Rice PTO Shoes & Home Goods Drive!
Please help us to collect new and gently used SHOES and HOME GOODS for those in need, now through 10/18. In addition, sign up your child to join the Mason-Rice Green Team after school on 10/18 to sort and deliver donated home goods to a local non-profit. See HERE for more information on what, where and when to donate.
Questions? Contact Martha Bixby or Wendy Sheu.
Launching: “First Thursdays” Fall Food Truck Fundraising series
Back by popular demand! The PTO is thrilled to kick-off the “First Thursdays” Fall Food Truck Fundraising series! We’re partnering with StrEATS so the Mason-Rice community can try out new Food Trucks for dinner while also supporting the school – 15% of orders will be donated back to the PTO! This COVID-friendly series takes pre-orders only so pre-select your pick-up time to allow for social distancing and minimal wait times. (hint: pre-order ASAP to get your preferred time slots!)
Red’s Street Kitchen
First up on Thursday October 7th will be Red’s Street Kitchen. PRE-ORDER HERE.
Red’s Street Kitchen has been roaming the streets of New England since 2016, and serving up quality street fare that’s truly a cut above the rest. At Red’s Street Kitchen, they’ve elevated street food classics to a whole new level of delicious. What level? Gourmet, and specifically using only the freshest ingredients around. Craving a big ol’ cheesesteak? Red’s Street Kitchen uses thinly shaved beef on an amoroso roll. Get the classic alongside sauteed onions, mushrooms and cheese, or go for their specialty Blue Zombie topped with bleu cheese, bacon and horseradish mayo. But that’s not all. Red’s Street Kitchen is known for their cluckin’ delicious buttermilk fried chicken, dusted in signature breading and deep fried to golden brown perfection, along with hand-cut fries.
Tea Collection Promotion: Kicks off Tomorrow!
Two days left of the biannual Fall Tea School Days promotion offered by Tea Collection, a globally-inspired children's clothing company! Feel free to shop with our special promo code [see e-mailed PTO Notes] for 20% off for you and 15% back to Mason-Rice PTO at this link! Offer valid through Tuesday October 12th.
Disclaimer: this is a special code created exclusively for fundraising for Mason-Rice PTO community through here, and is not meant to be shared publicly with coupon or deal sites.
Reminders & Updates
Newton SEPAC
We encourage families with children supported by an IEP or 504 to join the Newton Special Education Parent Advisory Council (Newton SEPAC), an all-volunteer organization of parents of children with diverse learning styles, social-emotional needs and/or disabilities in the preschool, elementary school, middle school, high school, who meet to ask questions and share knowledge about special education programs, issues, policies, regulations, and resources. We maintain an online discussion group and have monthly online Board meetings and presentations. If you are interested please reach out to Lindsay MacAuley Friedberg for more information.
Free and Reduced Meal Program
For 2021-22, all NPS students will receive school meals free of charge. However, qualified families are asked to complete the Free and Reduced Meal Application. By completing the application, your student and family may be eligible to receive additional benefits beyond the free and reduced meal program. For more details on the free lunch program, check this link.
Calendar Reminders
Support the Businesses that Support Us
Your usual shopping can support PTO-funded activities (such as teacher classroom allowances, appreciation lunches, and curriculum-enhancing programming for all our students). Last year, the Mason-Rice community shopped with our partners and raised nearly $1500 while participation in our Spring '21 Restaurant Series raised an additional $1100!
Note that these programs/partnerships, below, run year-round!
- Go to Mabel's Labels homepage and click "Support a Fundraiser"
- Type and select "Mason-Rice Elementary School PTO" in the menu
- Shop your order and check-out as usual
- Mabel's Labels will automatically donate 20% of the order back to the PTO
Enjoy 20% off Minted cards & gifts with promo code [see e-mailed PTO Notes]. 15% of each order will be donated back to the PTO.
Have Something to Advertise to our Community?
Do you have a business and want to spread the word? Do you know someone in the Mason-Rice community who might? Or 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 M-R Notes Team and we will include your advertisement in our once-monthly Community Classifieds blast email (sent on the 1st of the month). Please follow the 3 steps below for submission:
- Send an email to M-R Notes.
- Email’s subject should read: Community Classified submission
- Content to include: exact text and any photos/logos
Note: Submissions will be accepted if they are for opportunities owned by, led by, or intended specifically for Mason-Rice community members.
Stay in touch. Stay informed. Get involved!
