Originally delivered on 12/5/2022 7:39 am

SUBJECT: Sprague PULSE - Week of December 5, 2022

Week of December 5, 2022

Hello Spraguewell Community!

There is a PTO Meeting on Wednesday in the Sprague Cafeteria, everyone is welcome to attend! We have a lot of events coming up (a spaghetti dinner, discussion about a Valentine's Day cookie sale, and so much more).


Fifth Grade Families - don't miss the Winter Social sign up - we're looking for a few volunteers for the event.  As always please reach out with any questions or concerns!


Best,
Sneha & Rose

SpragueSchoolPTO.com
For Everyday Sprague

PTO MEETING

Our monthly Parent Teacher Organization meetings are your inside track into what's happening at Spraguewell - all are welcome! Attending does not commit you to anything - though we'd love for you join in on any events or projects that interest you!


Join Us!

Wednesday, December 7th at 8:45am

in the Sprague Cafeteria


Upcoming Meetings:

  • Friday, January 6, 2023 @ 7 p.m. (via Zoom - link to come)
  • Tuesday, February 7, 2023 @ 8:45 a.m.(via Zoom - link to come)
  • Friday, March 10, 2023 @ 7 p.m.(via Zoom - link to come)
  • Tuesday, April 4, 2023 @ 8:45 a.m. Sprague playground pavilion
  • Wednesday, May 3, 2023 @ 8:45 a.m. Sprague playground pavilion 


FIFTH GRADE WINTER SOCIAL - HELP WANTED!!


We are looking for parent volunteers to set up, chaperone and clean up after the Winter Social. 
Any and all help is so appreciated. 


sign up here: https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showRSVPSignUp/20f0c49aaa722aafa7-5thgrade

STAFF APPRECIATION LUNCH

Thanks to your PTO donations we were able to provide a fantastic staff appreciation lunch catered by Roche Bros. (organized and ordered by Rose Nolan - thank you, Rose!) on Monday, November 8th.

UPCOMING SPRAGUE RAFFLE!


Later this year Sprague will hold a virtual month long fundraising raffle, details to follow, and we need YOUR help! 

If you have been dying to help the PTO someway but didn’t know how or were running the other direction for fear of what the commitment might be, then this is for you! 

The PTO is looking for volunteers to request donations from local businesses, places you may already be visiting as you are doing your holiday shopping. We are also seeking help coordinating some larger “experience” packages to be included in the raffle (i.e. Red Sox tickets). 


Please reach out to Bry Tartamella   bryanne.tartamella@gmail.com 

Every bit of assistance helps! 


CREATIVE ARTS AND SCIENCES (CAS) UPDATES

Don't forget to check out CAS 2022-2023 Events for event recaps and photos throughout the year. As a reminder, your PTO donations fund these informative, hands-on lessons. Thank you for your kind contributions! 

Questions about CAS? Contact Wendy Englebardt.


Upcoming Events:

December 6

2nd Grade - Leland Faulkner's Walker Between Worlds

Kids will virtually travel with Leland down a path of stories unique to Native America.... Watch as Grandmother Spider weaves a web that catches nightmares. Be there on the first night of creation as stars are put into the sky. Fly with birds who hunt a bear made of stars. Laugh at the coyote's foolishness, and experience the great bravery of a crow.


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December 14th

Parents, Mark Your Calendars for December 14th to attend an All-School Event with the popular a capella group,  Ball in the House!

We are excited to host TWO concerts - you may choose to attend either or both concert based on your child's grade(s):

  • Grades K-2 will attend Totally Vocally. Through contemporary & classic cover songs and original works, the performers will discuss and teach many aspects of music and performance.
  • Grades 3-5 will attend And Now I See: Race, Racism and American Music, which explores African-American music, from Spirituals, Gospel, and Jazz to Soul, Hip-Hop, and R&B. Students will build awareness of where each style came from and why, as well as the cultural/social evolution of these styles and their influences, and connect them to the contemporary styles of today.


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Last Week's Events:


5th Grade - Visit from Author Rob Buyea

Rob Buyea is an American children's fiction author best known for his Mr. Terupt series of novels. Following a large group presentation, Mr. Buyea conducted small breakout sessions with the students. 

Ask your 5th grader:


  • How a person can come up with story ideas... How can someone use imagination to add to memories and experiences?
  • How many failures Rob Buyea had before his first win.
  • About their "Writing switch." They should keep it on and always be thinking like a writer. Imagination beyond the desk is so critical.
  • If they ever read the author's note in a book. (HInt: they should!)

Remind your 5th grader that whatever they write is never perfect the first time. Just get going. Also: “Only a reader becomes a writer!”


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1st Grade - Mad Science Presents: Marvels of Motion

This interactive event is all about the fundamentals of moving science with Newton’s Laws of Motion. The children discovered the science of gravity and balance, kinetic beads, and watched Jon remove a tablecloth without clearing the table!

Ask your 1st grader about:

  • Why wasn't the orange ball rolling off the table?
  • Who had tennis balls balanced on their heads? Why were they balancing?
  • Why didn't anything fall off the table when the tablecloth was removed?
  • What happened to the cup of water when it was quickly rotated around in circle? (Hint: centripetal force was in action!) 


Post performance reviews: 

“That show was amazing!”- 1LB student 

“ Can you come back next year?!”- 1DG student 


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2nd Grade - Discovery Museum Presents: Physical Changes of Matter

Investigating the physical properties of solids, liquids, and gases has never been so much fun! In this popular workshop, dry ice and liquid nitrogen made learning the phase changes very dramatic as together they observed a solid change directly to a gas, shatter flowers, and use a banana as a hammer. 

Ask your 2nd grader:


  • What happens when molecules move around really fast or slow down?
  • What can you add to ice to turn it into a liquid?
  • When the water on the back of your hand disappeared, where did it go?
  • Why did the plastic bag with dry ice expand? 


GRADE SOCIALS

A huge thank you to 

The Lacey Family 

for hosting the Kindergarten Social

Thank you for Hadley Stephens & Ambika Hoguet for organizing the 1st Grade Social at Lockhart

We heard both socials were a blast!


We are still looking for party hosts in Grade 3


Grade 4 is planning a get together for January. Details to come! 


If any 3rd grade parents are considering organizing or hosting a parent social and have questions about logistics - please don't hesitate to reach out. Email Liz Sower (lizsower13@gmail.com).


HELP! GREEN TEAM MEMBERS *STILL* WANTED

The Green Team is a group of people who work with students, teachers, administration as well as other schools via Wellesley Green Schools to reduce the Sprague's ecological footprint and inspire students to become ecologically-minded citizens.

Just a few years ago, the Sprague Green Team was recognized by the Mass DEP for its effort to increase recycling and pollution prevention in the school and community, and won the grand prize!! We have accomplished so much and would love to keep things going!

If you are a green-minded person and want to help school become more green, this position is for you. 

If you are interested or want to know more, please contact SpragueGreenTeam@gmail.com  

Both Sprague and Hunnewell parents are welcome!


WALK, RIDE, & ROLL TO SCHOOL - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!!

Sign Up Here:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080844A5AF2FA02-spraguehunnewell


Volunteer time is 8:00am - 8:45am. Volunteers help with table setup, assisting kids with signing in, and table breakdown. Available dates are in the SignUpGenius form

Questions? Contact Katherine MacRostie at kmacrostie@gmail.com & Doreen Barrett at mabarrett2012@gmail.com.


YEARBOOK PHOTOS

Parents! Please forward along your Sprague photos to the yearbook at spragueschoolphotos@gmail.com 


Thank you!


For Your Community

PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL (PAC)

Join the PAC at our monthly coffee on Thursday, January 5th at 9am at the home of Christine Mizzi at 16 Suffolk Road. 


If you are unable to attend this coffee, following are the dates for the remaining coffees in the 2022-2023 school year. All of them are on Thursday mornings as they have been for the past few years. The coffees will be hosted at the home of Christine Mizzi at 16 Suffolk Road from 9-10:30 am. Please feel free to bring a friend or forward to someone that you think may benefit from meeting others within the PAC community. 


Upcoming Meetings:

Thursday, February 2, 2023

Thursday, March 2, 2023

Thursday, April 6, 2023

Thursday, May 4, 2023

Thursday, June 1, 2023

WELLESLEY EDUCATION FOUNDATION

WEF GRANTS IN ACTION: 

Spanish Education for all K-5 students in all Elementary Schools


"Seven years later, the elementary Spanish team is deeply proud and excited to jump-start the development of their learners' Spanish proficiency skills at an early stage of language acquisition, to support content-area instruction at each grade level, to foster openness and appreciation for other cultures, and to cultivate a nurturing environment. ¡GRACIAS WEF for your help bringing ESPAÑOL to l@s niñ@s de Wellesley!"

Ruth Ortiz Collazo, Elementary Spanish Teacher

 

Click here to help WEF support our schools.

Click Here to Donate

WELLESLEY FIELD FUND

The Wellesley Field Fund (WFF) would like to thank to everyone who has given and all who will give to the Phase II Field Fund Campaign. With over 300 donors, WFF is grateful for all support as the campaign heads into the final days of fundraising.

www.WellesleyFieldFund.com


To Learn More/Donate:

  • Visit www.Wellesleyfieldfund.com
  • Text “FieldFund” to 53-555
  • Donation Tax ID: EIN 47-2147009

Questions?

Please email ContactUs@wellesleyfieldfund.com


For Your Information

THE SPRAGUE 2022-2023 PTO BOARD


Co-Presidents: Sneha Patel & Rose Nolan

Co-Vice Presidents: Sita Mehta Merchea & Liz Sower

Treasurer: Hande Alparslan & Jill Wells

Creative Arts and Sciences: Wendy Englebardt

Secretary: Katie Sullivan

Communications: Liz Sower

Social Co-Chairs: Dena Giggie & Sangita Kalidas

Social Media Chair: Catherine Cerio

Spirit Wear Chair: OPEN POSITION

Auction Chair: Bry Tartamella

Yearbook Coordinator: Jenny Lee & Julie Covino Vogel

METCO Liaisons: Katie Sullivan & Kasia Schwarzman

Walk-to-School Coordinators: Katherine MacRostie & Doreen Barrett

Green Team: OPEN POSITION

Sprague Garden Masters: Tomoe Harrison, Margaret Flitsch, Xiaojing Su, & Rose Nolan


Sprague Elementary needs your help! In order to organize and facilitate all the wonderful programs for our kids, we need an amazing PTO Board to get the job done!

Please email spraguepto@gmail.com with any questions.


SPRAGUE SOCIAL MEDIA

Hi Guys! Today I just wanted to like, share our social media links with you. Be sure to like and follow! Thanks, byeeeee!


Instagram  @sprague_pto

and

Facebook  @spraguePTO


SPRAGUE SCHOOL FAMILY DIRECTORY 

Clickthis link to access our Directory and create/update your account and be sure to download the Membership Toolkit app onto your phone!

This will ensure that you are included in the 2022-23 Family Directory and that you will receive Sprague PTO communications.


AMAZON SHOPPERS HELP SPRAGUE

Did you know that every purchase you make at Amazon.com could - at no added cost to you - send a donation to our PTO?

A percentage of each sale adds up to major financial support for our school, especially during the holiday season. Follow these three easy steps:

1. Sign in to your account using this link EVERY TIME you make a purchase: https://smile.amazon.com

2. Set your Charity (found under Account Settings) to "Sprague School Parent Teacher Organization Inc. Wellesley, MA".

3. Make your purchase! Questions? More details can be found here.

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