Originally delivered on 3/19/2023 8:55 pm

SUBJECT: Sprague PULSE - Week of March 20, 2023

Week of March 20, 2023

Hello Spraguewell Community!

Spring is in the air! We are looking forward to warmer months with some excellent activities for the kids. Don't miss the A-CAT-AMY Awards March 29th! Read below for information about the iCode Game Night and a Spring Closet Clean Out to raise funds for the PTO in April, and a Popsicle Playground Playdate in May! 

Raffle participants, make sure you check your email every day this month - Bry Tartamella is reaching out to winners directly!

As always, please reach out with any questions or concerns.


Best,
Sneha & Rose

SpragueSchoolPTO.com
For Everyday Sprague

SPRING CLOSET CLEAN OUT FOR SPRAGUE

Edit your family's wardrobe and raise funds for the Sprague PTO! Sprague School has the opportunity to sell gently used clothing items in Shoppers Corner at Schofield Elementary School. Our PTO will receive 50% of sale proceeds!


We are looking for both Adult and Children's clothing, specifically:

  • Shirts
  • Pants
  • Shoes

(please no pajamas or undergarments)


Bundle up your clean, gently used donations and drop them in the Sprague Lobby. We are collecting donations April 24th - 28th (right after Spring Break!)


SPRAGUEWELL PLAYGROUND POPSICLE PLAYDATE


Join us after school on Friday, May 5th after school on the Sprague playground for a PTO sponsored popsicle playdate. Siblings welcome!

 

33RD ANNUAL SPELLING BEE AT WHS 

March 29th 7pm

Sprague is looking for 3 volunteers for our a Spelling Bee Team! Email spraguepto@gmail.com to volunteer!

Find more information HERE


SPRAGUE GARDEN

It's that time of year! The Sprague Garden Clean Up is set for April 29th (rain date Sunday, April 30th). Planting Day will be on Sunday May 21st! 

Stay tuned - Sign Up Genius for Volunteers to come!



Sprague Virtual Raffle


Thank you to our incredible sponsors and congratulations to the  winners!


March 13th - Fall Getaway in Woodstock, VT

Winner: Lisa Neighbors

Get ready for a relaxing stay in one of New England's most quintessential towns, Woodstock, Vermont! This charming 3 bedroom home, located just steps from the village center, makes a wonderful getaway for up to 6 people. Click Here for the Airbnb Listing and additional photos. Please note, this home is Non ADA Compliant. 

Walk to the village restaurants and shops, go for a leaf peeping hike at Billings National Park, take a scenic drive along the Ottaquechee River, hit the mountain bike trails around the corner or at Killington. There is something for everyone in Woodstock! The Dooleys would be happy to provide a lengthy list of fun things to do! 

Please note that this 2 night stay is not restricted to Fall dates but needs to be redeemed by end of 2023. Dates to be mutually agreeable between all parties. 


March 14th - Birthday Party @ Exxcel Gymnastics & Climbing

Winner: Sneha Patel

Have your child's next birthday party at Exxcel Gymnastics & Climbing! There will be a Hostess on-hand to help welcome your guests and get everything set for a memorable day  your kids and their friends won't soon forget.

Exxcel Birthday Party includes (Ages 4 and up):

  • One hour in the gym with a minimum of two (2) instructors
  • 30 minutes of refreshment time in the party room
  • Up to 15 participants
  • Physical activities include Warm-up, obstacle course, age-appropriate games & races, trampoline, trapeze, rings, ropes and 60ft tumbling track, 110 ft zipline.
  • Birthday Child receives T-Shirt!
  • Parties are offered Saturday and Sunday afternoons.


March 15th - Hermés Bracelet 

Winner: Jodi Prosek

Have you always wanted to wear that oh-so-recognizable brand? Now is your chance! The lucky winner will get to stroll around town in their new Hermés Clic H bracelet in Blue Abysse! Donated by Sprague Parent Sneha Patel of The Lara and Chelsea Collaborative


March 16th - Principal for a Day

Winner: David Nolan

Think your child may want to be a school principal someday? Or, maybe your child truly adores our fabulous principal, Ms. Petrowsky? Here is their chance to shadow Leigh Petrowsky for the day and fulfill some of her duties such as leading the pledge and making daily announcements. A priceless opportunity for any child who likes to pretend to be "THE BOSS"! 


March 17th - Wine & Cheese Party

Winner: Catherine Cerio

This package has everything you need to host a wine and cheese party. Wasik's! Wine from Upper Falls Liquor! And a gift card for a gorgeous floral arrangement from Fleuri!


March 18th - Bodyscapes & Cycle Bar & Stretch Med

Winner: Allie Baker

Healthy lifestyle alert! Score one hour of personal training with BenMackly Bossuet for YOU and a FRIEND at Bodyscapes Personal Training. Enjoy a 10 pack of rides (plus a new water bottle) at Cycle Bar and stretch those strong muscles at Stretch Med.


March 19th - Foursome at Old Sandwich Golf Club

Winner: Bryanne Tartamella

Join Sprague parent, Mark Sullivan (father of Tyler in 5KM) for 18 holes at Old Sandwich Golf Club on the South Shore. Invite 2 of your closest friends to play a foursome for a lively round of golf. Enjoy lunch (or dinner) at the club, and drinks on the course. Availability is Friday, Saturday, or Sunday until late October, 2023 when the club closes for the season. 

Old Sandwich Gold Club is a members-only club and golf course dedicated to the rich heritage of New England golf. Click HERE to review the course rating. The commitment at Old Sandwich was to create an interesting golf course of traditional character, a course that would reward thoughtful and skillful play and most of all, a course that would provide enjoyment on a long term basis to players of varying abilities. 


Thank you again to Bry Tartamella and the entire volunteer team for carrying out such a successful fundraiser!

Be sure to check your email every day this month to find out if you won one of the fantastic raffle prizes!


iCODE KIDS GAME NIGHT 

Spraguewell parents night out! Drop the kids for two hours for fun and games at iCode on April 28th! 

Sign up details to come - stay tuned!

CREATIVE ARTS AND SCIENCES (CAS)

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:

Brian Lies coming to 1st & 2nd graders on Friday, March 17th

The "Tried-and-True" Presentation

A peek into how an author/illustrator creates a picture book, including sketchbook drawings, original artwork and a live drawing demonstration.  Discussion of where ideas come from, how to revise, and the fact that everyone has to rewrite to achieve their "best work."  He talks about the importance of adding unique details to make writing come alive, and demonstrates how details trigger lively images in the brain.  He ends presentations with a drawing demonstration based on student suggestions.  Throughout, he reinforces how a growth mindset is essential in making your work better.



Event Recap:

Friday, March 17

1st & 2nd Grades

Author Visit with Brian Lies

Students got a special peek into how an author/illustrator creates a picture book, including sketchbook drawings, original artwork, and a live drawing demonstration. Mr. Lies led a great discussion of where ideas come from, how to revise, and the fact that everyone has to rewrite to achieve their "best work." Mr. Lies talked about the importance of adding unique details to make writing come alive, and demonstrated how details trigger lively images in the brain. He ended the presentations with a drawing demonstration based on student suggestions. Throughout, Mr. Lies reinforced how a growth mindset is essential in making your work better - a wonderful lesson for both children and adults!

Ask your students:


  • Is the first draft of your story going to be your best and final version
  • Can you tell or show me how much paper Mr. Lies uses in yellow and white paper notepads to write a single book?
  • How can you make sure that no teacher ever tells you again to "add more details?"
  • Can you tell me about some of the drawing techniques that Mr. Lies demonstrated? 
  • Was Mr. Lies' second-grade drawing very good? Why did he share it with you?
  • Why did he use a crayon instead of a marker in his live demonstration?


More photos are available on the CAS 2022-2023 Events page.


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

Our next Walk, Ride & Roll to school day is Tuesday, April 4th

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!

Tuesday, April 4, 2023 @ 8:45 a.m.

Sprague Playground Pavilion


Upcoming Meetings:

  • Wednesday, May 3, 2023 @ 8:45 a.m. Sprague playground pavilion 


SPRAGUE GEAR

Grab your Sprague gear year round at our online store.


THE SPRAGUE SPIRIT WEAR SHOP


For Your Community

METCO ADVOCACY DAY AT THE STATE HOUSE


Tuesday, March 21st 9:00-10:30am 


Join Milly, METCO’s CEO, and Karsten Cash, Wellesley’s METCO Director, in the "Great Hall of Flags" on Beacon Hill to help advocate for the continuation of METCO’s funding in Massachusetts for all 33 districts. All you have to do is be present to show your support! 

More information is on the link below and if you are interested in attending to support the METCO program, please email your Sprague coordinators, Katie Sullivan at katiebsullivan@me.com or Kasia Schwarzman at wegrzynka@hotmail.com


More info here: https://metcoinc.org/get-involved/advocacy/


WELLESLEY SERVICE LEAGUE

Wellesley Service League was established in 1928 by women residing in Wellesley to provide volunteer services to the community. We engage directly with community members through partnerships with organizations such as The Council on Aging, Food Pantry, Wellesley Historical Society, Friendly Aid, Library, Ellie Fund and more. 


The Wellesley Service League annual membership drive kicks off on March 1, 2023 with a prospective member informational coffee. Applications are due on March 24, 2023. 

Visit www.wellesleyserviceleague.com to learn more about the organization and membership.

Email reachwsl@gmail.com to for more information.


Your children are invited to a FUN Sleep-Under on Friday, March 31st.

Girls and boys (PK - 5th grade) can wear their PJs, bring a blanket or sleeping bag and have a fun time with the WHS Girls Varsity Lacrosse Team. 

A movie will be played, pizza and snacks and fun games. 


Drop off at 6 pm and pick up at 9 pm. 

St. Paul’s Church - Parish Hall (located behind the church next to the back parking lot) 

$30/child

Net proceeds support the WHS Girls Varsity Lacrosse Team. 


Please register early so the team can plan ahead: https://go.teamsnap.com/forms/364017


GO RAIDERS!


WGS GREEN TIP OF THE MONTH

Did you know that children are especially susceptible to air pollution from idling?  Monitoring at schools has shown elevated levels of air toxics coinciding with the time parents are picking up their kids. These air toxics are known to cause cancer, respiratory effects like asthma and other serious health effects.  Children’s developing lungs have a smaller surface area and a higher inhalation rate (can be over 3x that of adults), which means greater exposure and potentially permanent damage to lung function. Be on the lookout for our Anti-Idling Pledge coming next month and go Idle Free in 2023!! (Source: EPA)

PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL (PAC)

Join the PAC at our monthly coffee on Thursday, April 6th 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, May 4, 2023

Thursday, June 1, 2023

STRIVING TO ADVANCE RECREATIONAL SERVICES - STARS

Help WPS families fundraise for the S.T.A.R.S, Wellesley’s adaptive swim club for children and adults with special needs. Donations will help the team purchase specialized safety equipment and design events for many of their young swimmers who fall outside of the Special Olympics demographic. Michelle Shaw is running Boston on behalf of the S.T.A.R.S. to increase awareness of the need for accessible athletics, connect families looking for adaptive swim and recruit volunteer coaches. Michelle says, “Town athletics - and all the feelings of joy, accomplishment and camaraderie- are out of reach for more kids than I ever realized, and I'm a parent of one with pretty significant challenges. I want Eleanor and her friends to be able to participate in sport together and feel seen and included on Boston’s biggest day of the year.” 

To learn more, visit: https://tinyurl.com/wellesleystars


SUPPORT THE WELLESLEY SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION

This will be my 10th marathon (5th Boston) and I would love all the help I can get to raise $5,000 for such an amazing organization (Wellesley Scholarship Foundation). 


Please consider supporting my run:

https://www.givengain.com/cc/support-wsfs-marathon-runner-go-cassie/


Best,

Cassie Short McLaughlin


MARATHON RUN FOR FRIENDS OF WELLESLEY METCO


Help support Friends of Wellesley METCO and contribute and cheer on Christina Tai on her 26.2 mile Boston Marathon this spring. 

https://www.givengain.com/ap/christina-tai-raising-funds-for-friends-of-wellesley-metco-inc/#timeline 



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.


YEARBOOK PHOTOS

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


Thank you!


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! 

If the above document does not download, try this one: 

Wee Delivery Directory A-Z


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.


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