Hello Spraguewell!

Hope everyone had a great long weekend, and a meaningful holiday for those observing Yom Kippur today. 

Echoing Leigh's note earlier this weekend, we want to remind everyone the importance of safety during school drop-off and pick-up. We know carline can be tough, which is why we've outlined the process to make it as smooth as possible. Check it out - and if you have any other pro tips to share, please share them with us.

Time is running out to enter the Annual Appeal Raffle - all donations made by September 20th are eligible to win one of two $25 gift cards to the Sprague Spiritwear store. 

Wishing our 5th graders a fun and safe trip to TreeTop Adventures tomorrow!

Best, 

Rose & Wendy

The annual Book Fair will be held October 2nd-6th in the Sprague Library.

• Students will shop at the Book Fair during their scheduled library classes that week
• Two family shopping events are scheduled: 
  • Wednesday, October 4th BEFORE school from 7:45 am to 8:45 am
  • Wednesday, October 4th AFTER school from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm

Visit the Book Fair homepage(www.scholastic.com/bf/spragueschool) to learn more, set up an eWallet, and online shop.

Reminder payment options: eWallet, cash, check (payable to Sprague School PTO), credit card or Apply Pay

A successful Book Fair depends upon parent volunteers:

Sign Up to Volunteer for the Book Fair

Every fall, a family from each grade hosts a parent party at their home. All parents are welcome, with the hosts sending out a Sign-Up Genius to other parents who wish to contribute food and/or drinks. 

We are looking for party hosts in Grades 2 and 4. 
Interested in hosting? Email denac916@gmail.com.

Sprague PTO organizes and pays for multiple programs and events, including:

• Creative Arts & Sciences
• Field Trip Entrance Fees & Bus Transportation
• Teacher & Principal Support
• School Yearbooks
• Digital Family Directory
• Curriculum Support
• Community Support
• Library Books

This year, we plan to spend approximately $130 per student to operate programs, including teacher classroom support. Funding from our budget comes from PTO donations and fundraisers. Suggested donation: $100/student.

Donate to the Annual Appeal

PTO donations are 100% tax deductible (Ask if your employer matches). Employer Tax ID: 01-0694293

Fifth Grade Parents and Caregivers, 

Help make this their Best. Year. Ever. Activities include a TreeTop Adventures Field Trip, DJ Mike Dance Party, Day of Play, Family Picnic, Graduation Events and Activities, t-shirts, and more. The cost of 5th grade activities is approximately $150 per child and is covered by parent donations and fundraisers.

Donate to the 5th Grade Fund

Thank you to Sprague mother Allison S. Baker, MD, Child, Adolescent and Perinatal Psychiatrist, for spearheading this initiative.

Did you know? The mere presence of one's own smartphone reduces available cognitive capacity.

As a child psychiatrist and Sprague Mom, I am deeply invested in our school community's health. We all want our children and one another to thrive at school, at home, and in our lives. Being fully present and with all of our available cognitive capacities is an essential ingredient of health.

Introducing Sprague's Wait Until 8th Pledge

This is a national pledge that empowers parents to rally together to delay giving a SMARTPHONE* until at least 8th grade. When we band together as a Spraguewell community, it decreases the pressure to give our children a smartphone at an early age. Ten years old is the average age children get their first smartphone. We can change this as a community and directly improve the mental health of our children and families. 

More than 50,000 parents have said yes to waiting on smartphones for their children. 

Signing the pledge is easy - visit https://www.waituntil8th.org/, enter your information, and look up Sprague using the "*Find Your Child's Current School" tool to join our community.

*Flip phones, watches with calling functions, etc. are not considered to impact children's mental health in the same negative way as smartphones. 

Sign Sprague's Wait Until 8th Pledge!

Owls, poets, scientists, naturalists, mathematicians... Did you know that these special guests visit your children's classrooms? It's true!

CAS Parent and Teacher Grade Reps organize amazing events that supplement their normal curriculum.

We'll share CAS event updates every week here in the Pulse. If you are interested in learning more, and joining in on the fun, contact CAS Chair Carolyn Kornwitz.

Donate to the Sprague PTO to support CAS!

Fall Fest is a yearly event hosted by the Sprague PTO where students and their families enjoy fall themed food and goodies and enjoy an outdoor movie after the sun sets. 

DATE: Friday, October 13th (spooky!)

TIME: 5:00 - 8:00pm (movie will start around 6:15pm)

The event's success depends upon many parent volunteers to manage the food, ticket, and activity tables. 

Questions? Contact Social Chair Dena Giggie (denac916@gmail.com).

Volunteer for Fall Fest!

Every parent and caregiver is encouraged to join us at our next PTO meeting. Agenda items include: Fall Fest, Green Schools Initiative, and the 2023-24 budget. 

DATE: Wednesday, October 11th 

TIME: 8:35 - 9:25am

Sprague Gazebo (by playground) or join by Google Meet.

Add to calendar

View September 20 meeting minutes.

Our yearbook is the culmination of a year's worth of school events... and we need YOUR photos to capture it all!

Submit your Sprague photos to spragueschoolphotos@gmail.com

Order from 1st Place Spiritwear

Please join the Wellesley PAC for our monthly coffee on Thursday, November 2 at the home of Christine Mizzi at 16 Suffolk Road from 9-10:30 am. These meetings are great opportunities for families with children getting special education services to connect. Bring a friend or forward to someone that you think may benefit from meeting others within the PAC community. We hope to see you at a coffee soon! 

2023-2024 PAC Meeting Dates:

• Thursday, November 2, 2023 
• Thursday, December 7, 2023
• Thursday, January 4, 2024
• Thursday, February 1, 2024
• Thursday, March 7, 2024
• Thursday, April 4, 2024
• Thursday, May 2, 2024
• Thursday, June 6, 2024

The Wellesley Food Pantry is seeking contributions to help fund their work and enable them to offer their clients healthy food choices. Did you know:

• WFP serves ~400 clients who are all Wellesley residents, ensuring food security
• About 40% of our clients are seniors and another third are youths (up to age 18)
• WFP donations have dropped significantly as inflation has increased and their purchasing power has eroded
• This is WFP's largest fundraiser of the year - they need your support today!

DONATE NOW TO WFP

Last chance to register for Wellesley Swimming Association tryouts!

WSA is looking for new and experienced swimmers between 6 and 18 to join our winter swim team.  Swim against other local towns in the Winter Suburban Swim League.  

Tryouts are Sunday, October 1st at the Boston Sports Institute.

Click here for more information and to register for tryouts

Wellesley Youth Hockey is proud to offer our Learn to Play Hockey (LTP) and Pre-Mite Development (PMD) program as part of a multi-year introduction for those new to the sport of hockey. We encourage you to Learn to Play or Pre-Mite Development programs. We look forward to seeing you on the ice during the 2023-24 season!

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN 

Click here to register your skater.

SEASON SCHEDULE

• Start Date:  Week of October 16, 2023, through March 2023 (35-40 sessions)
• Wednesdays:  5-6pm (Coaches-led practice)
• Thursdays:  5:10-6:10pm (Driscoll Skills)
• Saturdays:  8:10-9:10am (Coaches/Volunteers/Parent-led practice with direction from WYH and USA Hockey)
• Where:  Boston Sports Institute

Click HERE to access our Family Directory.

Instagram @sprague_pto

Share your photos with our Social Media Chair, Nicole Katz (nicolestacykatz@gmail.com)!

Interested in occasionally volunteering at Sprague PTO events? Sign the All Hands On Deck volunteer list.

You'll receive emails when volunteer opportunities arise (i.e., shifts at the Fall Fest, set up a teacher appreciation lunch, hand out popsicles at playdates, pick up groceries or a gift card to meet a Give From the Heart request, etc...). 

This is a great way to get involved when you can!

Sign the All Hands on Deck Volunteer List

Co-Presidents: Rose Nolan & Wendy Englebardt

Vice President: Ezra Englebardt & Open Position

Treasurers: Hande Alparslan & Jill Wells

Creative Arts and Sciences: Carolyn Kornwitz

Secretary: Ceren Bayulgen

Communications: Liz Sower

Social Co-Chairs: Dena Giggie & Tanya Johnson

Social Media Chair: Nicole Katz

Spirit Wear Chair: Inia Perez

Raffle Co-Chair: Bry Tartamella & Sneha Patel

Wellesley Wonderful Weekend Co-Chairs:Open Positions

Yearbook Coordinators: Julie Covino-Vogel, Ambika Hoguet, & Hadley Stephens

METCO Liaisons: Kasia Schwarzman & Nicole Katz

Parents Advisory Council Rep: Nicole Katz

Walk-to-School Coordinators: Ezra Englebardt & Alex Baker

Green Team: Tomoe Harrison & Jenny Lee

Garden Masters: Tomoe Harrison, Rose Nolan, & Margaret Flitsch