Originally delivered on 12/12/2022 10:26 pm

SUBJECT: Sprague PULSE - Week of December 12, 2022

Week of December 12, 2022

Hello Spraguewell Community!

We are so excited for the upcoming all school event this Wednesday. Parents are encouraged and welcome to join us in the gym for a concert series by acappella group Ball in the House. See the details below.


Wednesday is jam-packed. Parents are also invited to join us for for a 30 minute zoom meeting to learn about the Wait Until 8th campaign. Sprague Mom and child psychiatrist Allie Baker will lead a discussion about smartphone use and health concerns. You'll find the Zoom link below. 


As always please reach out with any questions or concerns!


Best,
Sneha & Rose

SpragueSchoolPTO.com
For Everyday Sprague

ALL SCHOOL EVENT - CREATIVE ARTS & SCIENCES

Join the entire school community this Wednesday, December 14th in the gym and enjoy Ball in the House, Boston's premier, full-time, touring a cappella group. 


All parents are encouraged and welcome to join!

WAIT UNTIL 8TH

Please join the Sprague PTO Wednesday, December 14th at 7:00pm for a 30 minute zoom meeting to learn about the Wait Until 8th campaign.

Wait Until 8th is a community of parents dedicated to helping families have a healthy relationship with technology. It started several years ago to empower parents to say yes to waiting on smartphones by signing a Wait Until 8th Pledge. 

Beyond delaying the smartphone, robust digital training is necessary for families to use technology safely, appropriately, and moderately. 

Sprague Mom and child psychiatrist Allie Baker will lead a discussion about smartphone use and health concerns. 

Whether you are contemplating giving your child a phone or struggling with how to teach your child how to use a smartphone, we will discuss it all.


Join us Wednesday, December 14th at 7:00pm via Zoom:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84274766337?pwd=S21FRnhiQ0IyY1c0UWYvYWY4N1UzQT09


WEE DELIVER

Thanks to 4th Grade teacher, Mo Henzel, our internal Sprague Wee Deliver mail system is successfully delivering letters between students in the building! 

Parents are encouraged to pen a note to their kiddos too! 

You may drop your letter off in the small blue mailbox located in the school lobby. The kids love getting mail in the classroom. 


Use this handy Wee Deliver Directory to address your letters! 


FIFTH GRADE WINTER SOCIAL

The fifth grade social was a huge success! Thank you to the Fifth Grade Committee, Alison McCarthy, Lindsey K, and Marissa Rosenbaum for putting on this fun event. 

More thanks go to the parent volunteers who helped to create the fun, memorable night for the kids:

Madina Jastromb
Becca Cahaly
Bei Zhang
Tomoe Harrison
Neal Glock
Jill Wells
The Hu Family
The Ceballos Family
Rebekah Leigh
The Livson- Miruki Family
The Sullivan Family
The Tartamella Family
The Cerio Family
The Clarke Family
The Pedrazas Family
The Huang Family
The Campbell Family
The Fallon Family

UPCOMING SPRAGUE RAFFLE!

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

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.


Event Update:

2nd Grade - Leland Faulkner's Walker Between Worlds

Last week, all 2nd grade students enjoyed a spectacular in-person performance by Leland Faulkner, a Native American and theater professional.  The 45-minute production covered three traditional stories unique to Native American heritage: Grandmother Spider and her dream catcher, Coyote's scattering of the stars, and Rainbow Crow's great gift of the fire stick.  Leland's energetic dance, music and storytelling allowed the students to think about their own personal narratives that they are working on in Writer's Workshop. Both teachers and students were captivated by this unique and thoughtful performance!


Ask your 2nd grader

  • Members from different Native American tribes are able to communicate through "hand talk."  What were some of the hand signs Leland taught you?

  • What did Grandmother Spider create to protect children from harmful dreams?

  • How can you incorporate some of Leland's energy and enthusiasm into your own Writer's workshop personal narrative?


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Upcoming Events:

December 14th

ALL SCHOOL EVENT with  Ball in the House!

Parents are encouraged and welcome to join us in the gym for a concert series by acappella group Ball in the House. Students will attend a concert based on grade: 


Grades 3-5

And Now I See: Race, Racism and American Music  

8:45 am to approximately 9:30 am


Grades K-2 

Totally Vocally

9:45 am to approximately 10:30 am


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Friday, December 16th

Grade 4: Origamido

Michael G. LaFosse has been working for over forty years as an origami artist, papermaker and author. Trained as a biologist, he finds his strongest inspiration in the natural world preferring to study his subjects in their natural habitats. He credits the work of the late Japanese Origami Grand Master, Akira Yoshizawa, for leading the way by exploring nature and achieving creative expression in origami art.


He has authored over 70 books and kits on Origami. He also collaborated with the Wellesley Free Library on the works on display on the children’s section of the library.


This has been a favorite event for Sprague 4th graders for years!


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Friday, December 16th

Grade 1: Presentation by Jerry Pallotta, author of the Who Would Win book series and tons of other children’s books. 

Special surprise… shh, don’t tell your kids! Each child will receive a copy of one of Jerry’s books, courtesy of PTO funding! 


GRADE SOCIALS

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).


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

Our next Walk, Ride & Roll to school day is Friday, January 6th

Sign Up Here to Volunteer:

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.


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!

Friday, January 6th at 7:00pm

via Zoom - link to come


Upcoming Meetings:

  • 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 


YEARBOOK PHOTOS

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


Thank you!


For Your Community

WELLESLEY YOUTH BASEBALL & SOFTBALL

Wellesley Youth Baseball & Softball Spring 2023 registration is open. Leagues for grades K-8.


Sign up at wellesleyybs.org


WELLESLEY GIRLS LACROSSE

Wellesley Girls Lacrosse Spring 2023 registration is open. 


Sign up at 

https://www.wellesleygirlslacrosse.com/spring-registration


WGS GREEN TIP OF THE MONTH

 Did you know that between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, household waste increases by more than 25% - over 1,000,000 tons per week?!  Help make your holiday celebrations as Green as possible with the help of our own RDF's Holiday Waste Guide.  Get the kids involved and start green traditions early!!  As a community we can meet our Town's greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) reduction goal by lowering the waste hitting the landfills.  

Learn more about Wellesley's Climate Action Plan here.


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

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: Tomoe Harrison

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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