At the start of this year, the PTO decided to postpone our annual fundraising efforts until we had a better sense of the expenses of the year. Not surprisingly, we’re spending differently. With less program-specific expenses this year, instead there is increased need for creative solutions that address pandemic-related challenges (both financial and morale) for our teachers as well as within our broader Mason-Rice community.

In that spirit, we will be launching a fundraising campaign in the coming days and we ask for your support. Our community has a unique and deep appreciation for the strength with which we support each other. Your gift this year will assist the teacher(s) you’ve had in past years, the teacher(s) you have this year, and the teacher(s) you’re going to have next year. It will also help sustain our community, ensuring it continues to thrive, despite the hurdles of the pandemic.

Watch for more details in the coming days. 

Our next Board meeting will be on Thursday evening, December 17th, at 7:30p. All are welcome!

Link here (Passcode: see e-mailed PTO Notes)

Thursday December 17, 2020 –  RSVP for zoom link.

All are welcome to attend: An Open Dialogue Between Newton Educators and Parents (see flyer here for details). Matthew Miller, Newton’s Ward 8 School Committee Representative, will moderate.

Even in a pandemic, it’s an exciting time of the year! Our Grade Leads and Parent Representatives are hard at work, creating events and experiences to keep our community connected. Below is a list of upcoming grade-level events; email the PTO if you aren’t receiving emails about these efforts.

• Kindergarten: Deliver gifts for Secret Snowflake gift exchange between 12/14 & 12/23. Playground meetup is on Saturdays at 2pm at Mason-Rice.
• 1st: Food Drive to help the Centre St Food Pantry! Donations and assembly of Kid Club kits on Sunday, 12/13 at 2pm in front of Mason-Rice. Deliver gifts for Secret Snowflake gift exchange between 12/10 &12/20.
• 2nd: Deliver books for the Secret Snowflake book exchange by 12/16. Secret Snowflake Craft is on Wednesday, 12/16 at 7:30pm.
• 3rd: Deliver gifts for Secret Snowflake gift exchange between 12/11 & 12/20. Virtual meet-up with special guests on Wednesday, 12/16 at 1pm. M-R playground meet-up is on Sunday, 12/20 at 10 am.
• 4th:  Please watch your inbox for upcoming activities. 
• 5th:  Deliver gifts for Secret Snowflake gift exchange between 12/13 & 12/19.

For those who signed up to participate in Secret Snowflake activities, please be mindful of your specific class gifting details. For questions, contact your class Parent Rep.

We are Emma, Brieza, Luana and Vivie and we are 4th graders at Mason-Rice. We are collecting donations for St. Mary’s Center for Women and children. St. Mary’s is a homeless shelter that has been going on for a long time and they have a wish list that we would like to help them complete. 

Consider donating items (below) to the collection box outside of the Mason-Rice’s front entrance through Friday, December 18. Requested items include:

• Toiletries
• Baby items (especially diapers)
• Female hygiene products

Click here for a complete list of items. 

We greatly appreciate your help and support!

The Social Committee just wrapped up their 6-week Secret Morale Pal event. 37 families participate and many reported that the act of giving, as well as receiving, created excitement and something to look forward to every week!

The Social Committee is prepping for some more fun ahead in 2021. Stay tuned for Trivia Night coming in January!

As a reminder, Mason-Rice’s annual online auction is our biggest fundraiser. This year, because of the pandemic, we aren’t hosting the auction. Instead, in each week’s Notes, we are spotlighting the amazing businesses that have generously supported our auction year after year with hopes that now, during their time of need, you’ll consider patronizing those who have consistently supported our PTO.

Don’t forget to support the previously-spotlighted businesses! You can find them in the past Notes on our PTO webpage.

A message from Sandwich Works: 

We are proud to be celebrating 30 years in Newton Centre, and we truly enjoy being a part of the Newton community and love giving back to it. We have been feeding the teachers at Mason-Rice and all of the other schools for most of those 30 years! (In fact, we made 275 breakfast sandwiches this morning for the staff at Newton South, and we are making lunch for the after school program at Mason-Rice tomorrow!)

During the pandemic, we remained open every day, mainly to feed the frontline workers, as very few restaurants were open for them. With the financial support of our customers, we have done lots of catering for the local hospitals, ambulance drivers, police and fire departments, schools, nursing homes, and many other places. We are proud and feel truly blessed to be able to help our community and do our part during these difficult times, and we would like to thank all of our customers for supporting local businesses. We wish everyone Happy Holidays and hope for the New Year!

827 Beacon Street, 617-332-6777

http://sandwich-works.com/

minted promo: now through December!

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

Help the PTO earn commissions from your everyday purchases!