Originally delivered on 12/20/2022 2:15 pm

SUBJECT: Sprague PULSE - Week of December 19, 2022

Week of December 19, 2022

Hello Spraguewell Community!

We wish everyone a relaxing and fun winter break and a Happy & Healthy New Year!


As always please reach out with any questions or concerns!


Best,
Sneha & Rose

SpragueSchoolPTO.com
For Everyday Sprague

WAIT UNTIL 8TH

A huge thank you to Sprague Mom and child psychiatrist Allie Baker who shared invaluable information regarding children and smart phones and lead an incredible Zoom discussion about the Wait Until 8th campaign last Wednesday. Thank you, Allie!


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 

SPRAGUE GIVE FROM THE HEART OPPORTUNITY

Each year we support families within our Sprague Community in different ways and this year we have the opportunity to assist families who are experiencing financial strain.

Please donate to the Sprague PTO Give From The Heart fund - ANY amount helps. It is an urgent effort, one we hope to meet before school closes for our Winter Break. 

Donated funds will be used to purchase grocery gift cards. 


Please DONATE HERE via Venmo or PayPal 

** in the message line please note "Give From The Heart Fund"

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.


CREATIVE ARTS AND SCIENCES (CAS) UPDATES


Last week was very busy for CAS! 


On Wednesday, we welcomed Ball in the House, an a cappella group, for a two-part concert series. Both concerts were educational and entertaining, and we are excited to have them back again next year.

Grades 3-5 attended a special concert celebrating the origins and contributions of African-Americans to American music, and covered race and racism in an age-appropriate format. 

Ask your children:

  • Are there any musicians that you’re aware of who have used their voice and influence for good? 
  • Can you think of a song that uses Call and Response?
  • Next time you hear a song, listen carefully to see if you can pick out what styles of music might have influenced the band and/or songwriter. What specific elements of those influencing styles can you hear in the song?

Overheard: "That was so interesting!" "Yeah, and SO important, too." (An actual conversation between two children, as reported by a teacher!)


In the Grades K-2 concert, students learned what “a cappella” is and how it works, a bit of the history of a cappella singing from chant through doo wop, explored the technology behind a sound system, heard the various voice parts and how they fit together to make harmony and songs. They even learned how to beatbox and use rhythm! 

The program also addressed the teamwork aspect of performing together and how the performers need to work together as people and as voices - a valuable lesson for any team!

Ask your children:

  • What are the parts that make up an a cappella group?
  • How can YOU use your emotions to write your own song?
  • Can you imitate any percussion instruments?


***********


On Thursday, 1st Grade welcomed best-selling author Jerry Pallotta to spend the morning with them. 

Jerry shared a fascinating slide presentation with the students while he weaved together the story of how and why he started writing books. He talked about how his love of the ocean as a child inspired many of his early books ( The Ocean Alphabet Book, The Crab Alphabet Book). He also shared amazing footage of his trip to Antarctica where he saw albatrosses and penguins galore! Jerry Pallotta delighted the 1st graders with his stories, humor, and love of science and adventure!

Ask your 1st Grader:

  • Do you remember how Jerry Pallotta first came up with the idea to start writing books? (He would read rather dull alphabet books to his kids (A is for Apple etc) and thought he could write something more interesting. The first book he published was The Ocean Alphabet Book in 1986.)
  • Where does Jerry get his ideas? (Traveling, meeting with students across the country, visiting Harvard’s Natural History museum.)
  • How do the pages of Jerry’s books look after they are printed? (The entire books’ pages are printed on one very large poster size paper which gets folded and then cut before it is bound)

Fun facts Jerry Pallotta shared:

  • Where is the world’s largest bird population? (Antarctica)
  • How do ants listen? (With their feet)
  • His best selling book is Who Would Win? (Killer Whale vs Great White Shark)


***********


Finally, on Friday, Sprague Hunnewell 4th Graders attended Origamido, an interactive origami demonstration. 

Michael’s presentation was fantastic. He used origami paper to teach math and geometry. The students folded paper following his direction making squares and triangles talking through different degrees of angles, vertices and so much more. Hopefully some of the children's paper creations made it home for you to admire in person!

Ask your 4th Grader:

  • What kind of math was involved in making the origami?
  • What kinds of polygons did you create with the paper?
  • What kinds of angles did you need to make to create your origami?
  • What was the most difficult part of creating the pieces? What was the most fun?
  • Do you remember any of the steps that you could use to try to make your own origami?


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! 


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! 


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).


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 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.


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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