PTO Notes 11-15-20

Distant Learning Academy (DLA)

There were over 100+ families in attendance at the virtual DLA coffee this week. The recording is now available on the DLA webpage on the NPS site, towards the bottom of the page. Members of the DLA coalition will be meeting the DLA leadership team on November 17th to discuss challenges, share successes and raise issues. You can email our Mason-Rice DLA liaisons, Elle Axe and Sarah Deighton, email here if you have issues you’d like to share. If you have specific concerns/questions about your DLA student(s), please contact your DLA teacher and/or Principal Bultema.

Clean up the park with the Green Team (and other upcoming events)

Mason-Rice Green Team leading a Newton Centre Playground cleanup after school on 11/23, 3:30-4:15pm – open to K-5 students (space limited). Please click here to sign-up. Also, join us on Zoom on 12/2 to learn ways to reduce, reuse & recycle this holiday season! Please click here to sign-up for this zoom session. Questions? Contact Contact Barbara Nestle and Wendy Sheu.

Gift Of Giving Update

Thank you to all who have kindly signed up to fulfill a child’s Wish List for the Gift of Giving! We’re off to a GREAT start, but still have many Wish Lists available for both the Mildred C. Hailey Apartments and the Child Witness to Violence Project. See which ones speak to you and sign up HERE. We hope many of you will consider participating and including your children in this important effort. Feel free to reach out to Jay Wood or Michele Niepel with any questions.

Your PTO dollars at work

Mountain Lion paw prints for social distancing. We have painted Mason-Rice Mountain Lion paw prints around the school where each of our classes line up each morning. This helps support social distancing, as well as builds our school spirit. Many thanks to Leo the custodian and Jenny Evans for making these happen!

Jake’s new sneakers. The PTO was excited to gift Mr. Bultema—our resident shoe aficionado —his very own custom sneakers featuring our mountain lion logo this week. They are a small token of our appreciation for the countless extra hours he’s worked over the last 8 months: managing nearly 400 students, responding to parent concerns, supporting 24 classroom teachers and more than 75 staff members, all while welcoming twin babies and moving! We think he deserves some good shoes!

Mason-Rice Virtual Parent Coffee

Thursday, November 19th at 9am
Zoom link: (see emailed Notes for link and password)
We can share ideas for how to make the holidays feel festive during a pandemic! Please join us for this informal opportunity to connect with other Mason-Rice parents (both in the DLA and Hybrid learning modes). You can feel free to stop by for 5 minutes, come for the full hour, or any amount in between. We hope to see you! Co-hosted by Liz Bouvier (1st and 5th graders, Hybrid) and Sarah Deighton (1st graders, DLA)

Giving Back Business- Holly Cleaners

As a Newton family-owned business, Holly Cleaners has been helping the Newton community look great since 1956. Offering pickup and delivery, in-store express and contactless curbside service, we know how to keep you clean and safe. Our industry leading “Green Clean” program uses “K4”, a biodegradable hazardous free biofuel, derived from corn. This is great for you, your clothes, and our community. All our services are done on the premises including our deluxe “Hollycraft” hand cleaning, expert shirt laundry, fine linen cleaning and wash and fold. Our Newton store has a full time, on premise seamstress, to “fit” any of your tailoring needs. We offer patio cushion cleaning which will renew, restore, and refresh your outdoor cushions. We hope you will consider our services. As a special bonus, see emailed Notes for code to receive 10% off our Holly Onsite in-home drapery cleaning service. *Drapery discount is good thru December 31st, 2020.

M-R Eats is now LIVE!

We are looking for “hosts” to share their favorite recipes, whether it be for a special upcoming holiday, cookies you like to make at this time of year or something you like to make for your family for dinner.

Sign up HERE and then share something about why you like your dish along with the recipe, instructions and some photos of you or your family having fun making it on our PTO Facebook page for all to try and enjoy.

Let’s create something delicious!

For any questions or suggestions please contact Laura Mccaffery.

Support the PTO through your every day purchases

Reminder that if you shop at Minted now through December and use code sent in emailed Notes, you will receive 20% off all card and gift orders. Plus, Minted will donate 15% of orders back to the PTO. Win Win!

Click through the Amazon logo at top of page on masonrice.org and the PTO will earn commissions from your purchases! (Purchases and purchasers are not tracked or reported.)

Mountain Lions in Action!: 4th Graders Petition for Climate Change

We are proud of our 4th grade students, Daria Greenstein and Martina Forrest, for their efforts to think globally and act locally! They started a petition for a Car Free Weekend in Newton. Find out more HERE.

Daria and Martina plan to submit the petition to Mayor Fuller.

Stay in touch. Stay informed. Get involved!