We hope everyone in our community had a happy, healthy, and safe Thanksgiving!
* * * * * * NEW & UPCOMING * * * * * *
CyberMonday: You Can Support the PTO With Your Purchases
Don’t forget to click through the Amazon logo on our PTO homepage (or above) and the PTO will earn commissions from your purchases! (Purchases and purchasers are not tracked or reported.)
Event: Reduce, Reuse & Recycle this Holiday Season!
Please join us on Wednesday, December 2, 4:00-4:45pm for an interactive session about the 3Rs (reduce, reuse & recycle) and how you can practice the 3Rs this holiday season. Students will also learn and have a chance to make a small recycled (or “upcycled”) craft during the session. Open to all Mason-Rice students. Sign up here.
Save The Date: Next Virtual Parent Coffee
Friday, December 11 @ 9am.
Zoom link: Click here. (passcode: see emailed Notes)
Thank you to those of you who were able to stop by the last virtual coffee. It was nice to connect with parents from DLA and Hybrid learning modes, and across grades. Please save the date for our next Mason-Rice Virtual Coffee on Friday, December 11th at 9am.
DLA: Upcoming Events
DLA Virtual Coffee: Mark your calendar for Tuesday, December 8th at 7pm. Led by Jennifer Shore, Principal, Distant Learning Academy. Link will be shared separately.
Next DLA Supplies Pick-ups at Mason-Rice will be on Thursday, December 10th and Friday, December 11th, Parents can come to Mason-Rice anytime between 1:00 and 3:00 pm on these days.
Also, school pictures are in. If you haven’t received them in the mail, you can email Yasmeen, our parent volunteer overseeing school photos. She’ll coordinate with Monica for pick up at Supplies Pick Up Days.
FORJ Upcoming Events
Join the Mason-Rice FORJ team on Wednesday, December 9th from 8:00-9:30pm and learn more about the METCO program. Zoom link here (passcode: see emailed Notes).
Save the date for a city-wide FORJ meeting on December 16th at 7:30pm. More information forthcoming.
* * * REMINDERS & UPDATES * * *
Congratulations GOTR!
Congratulations to our 4th and 5th grade Girls on the Run whose successful Community Impact Project filled 4 donation boxes for the Newton Food Pantry. While dropping off the donations, a coordinator at the Food Pantry noted that they have experienced three times as many families come for help this year.
Update: Gift of Giving
You can still share the Gift of Giving.
Thank you to all the generous families who are fulfilling holiday Wish Lists for MCH and CWVP children this season. At this point all wish lists have been filled!
There are still 2 ways to participate in this beloved Mason-Rice tradition:
We still need Gift Cards in a variety of denominations. Please use the MTK Sign Up or contact Jay or Michele (see contact links, below).
We are also collecting new, unwrapped toys and art supplies. These items can be left on Jay’s front porch at 26 Park Lane.
If you are fulfilling a Wish List, please remember to drop off your gifts at 26 Park Lane no later than Sunday, December 6th.
Questions? Contact Jay Wood or Michele Niepel.
Update: Picture Day Photos
Student pictures were sent home (via mail for DLA families and in folders for hybrid students). Contact our parent volunteer, Yasmeen, if you haven’t received yours already.
Follow the Notes and our PTO Facebook page for information on photo retake day as it becomes available.
Reminder: Join/Follow M-R Eats
M-R Eats is off to a great start! We’ve had some delicious recipes posted and we’d love to have more people share their favorite dish for all to enjoy! Sign up here.
Share your family’s favorite meal traditions and recipes with M-R Eats on our Facebook page
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 attached informational flyer and do not hesitate to take advantage of this important offering.
Participate: NPS Survey
Please be sure to complete the NPS survey (emailed by Superintendent Fleishman on 11/18) and provide feedback on how the year has been going for your child(ren). Deadline is Monday, November 30.
* * SUPPORT THE BUSINESSES THAT SUPPORT US * *
Give Back Business of the Week: Ellana’s Kitchen
Owners Isabel and Miguel moved to Massachusetts from Venezuela over two decades ago. Since their move here, they have loved introducing Venezuelan dishes to their friends and colleagues – and now they are even more excited to share their made-from-scratch cuisine with the greater Newton community.
They proudly serve delicious Venezuelan specialties, alongside classic Mediterranean and American favorites. All are home-cooked with the care and attention you expect from a family kitchen. They use high-quality grass-fed kosher meats & free range kosher poultry but do not run a fully-kosher kitchen. They just introduced pork into their kitchen to be able to offer some Venezuelan favorite dishes.
Visit Ellana’s Kitchen at 19 Pelham St., Newton Center.
Don’t forget to support the previously-spotlighted businesses! You can find them in the past Notes on our PTO website.
minted promo: now through December!
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!
Stay in touch. Stay informed. Get involved!
