The Final Countdown

Just a few days remain before winter break - and with it, the clean-out of the Lost & Found! Any unlabeled items will be donated to Cradles to Crayons next week, so take some time to check the area for your family's items. And please, consider ordering high-quality labels from Mabel's Labels to ensure your items are always returned. Visit campaigns.mabelslabels.com and select "Sprague Elementary School - 20% of all sales benefit Sprague PTO!

PTO Meetings
Our next few PTO Meetings have been set for the winter. Visit PTO Meetings for the full schedule. Want to work on an upcoming project? Let us know!

Next meeting:

Wednesday, January 17, 2024 · 8:35 – 9:25am

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/xcs-yhtj-brb

Add to calendar

It's the Holiday Season
Wondering about what and how to give gifts to your child's teachers in recognition of all they do? We've outlined Gift Giving Guidelines & Best Practices - we hope this helps you this holiday season. 

Happy Holidays to all! 

Best, Rose & Wendy

As we gear up for the Sprague Spring Auction on Friday, May 17th, we’re looking for volunteers to pick up gift cards to local shops. 

We are also seeking Corporate Sponsors for the Auction. Please reach out to your company to ask if they would like to support Sprague. 

Please email bryanne.tartamella@gmail.com with questions or contributions.

There are lots of opportunities this week to save on holiday shopping, dining plans, and children’s activities while you support Sprague! 

Below you'll find a list of participating local stores who have generously offered a portion of sales to benefit Sprague PTO - and many are offering us exclusive discounts or shopping events.

New partners are still being added. More details about this program - including our special codes - are available on our website.

Partners include:

• Boston Ski & Tennis - $2 of every seasonal lease.

• Box Tops for Education - Earn money for Sprague PTO just by grocery shopping!

• Mabel’s Labels - 20% of proceeds!

• Minted - 20% off, 15% of proceeds! Use code FUNDRAISESPRAGUE.

• Robotfun Academy - Mention Sprague PTO to book a class or camp. 5% of proceeds!

• ScrubaDub - 50% of proceeds!

• Shutterfly - Use the link on our Fundraising page for us to receive 8% of proceeds!

• White Dahlia - 20% off AND 20% of proceeds! Use code FUNDRAISESPRAGUE.

Find all the details and links HERE

If you know of any other companies who would be interested in participating in this program, or contributing to our Spring Auction (save the date for Friday, May 17th), reach out. As always, if you would like to get more involved with Sprague PTO, we’d love your help. Email spraguepto@gmail.com to get started.

WHEN: December 20th

GRADE: 4th

EVENT:  Origami visit. Origami is a terrific way to teach and learn many math and geometry concepts from Kindergarten through Graduate school. Michael LaFosse of Origamido Studio has over thirty years of experience teaching this specialty and will visit the 4th Grade at Sprague Elementary this December. Michael has worked as an origami artist, teacher, papermaker, and author for over forty years. Trained as a biologist, he finds his most vital inspiration in the natural world, preferring to study his subjects in their natural habitats. 

In 1996, Michael and Richard Alexander co-founded the Origamido Studio, where they author books about origami and make custom, handmade paper for each new origami creation; their works have graced museums worldwide. They recently created hundreds of origami bats for the newly-opened exhibition Bats! at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts. The exhibit runs now through July 28, 2024.

Every parent and caregiver is encouraged to join us at our next PTO meeting:

DATE: Wednesday, January 17

TIME: 8:35 - 9:25am

LOCATION: Sprague Library

As always, you may join by Google Meet.

Add to calendar

DECEMBER MEETING NOTES

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

***When submitting photos: Please note the Classroom and Event in the Subject Line of your message.

Submit your Sprague photos to spragueschoolphotos@gmail.com

Order from 1st Place Spiritwear

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

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?! Make your holiday celebrations as Green as possible with the help of our own RDF's Holiday Waste Guide. Remember; wrapping paper is not recyclable so consider re-usable gift bags or Furoshiki wrapping (scarves work too)! Kids love it!! It's never too early to start Green traditions!

New York, London, Chicago, Berlin, Tokyo, and Boston… Ever imagined yourself running THE Boston Marathon? Are you interested in raising funds to support the Friends of Wellesley METCO, Inc? We’re looking for a dedicated supporter to train and lace up their sneaks and tackle 26.2 miles on the historic course, while progressing the educational experience of over 150 METCO students in Wellesley Public Schools. That person could be YOU! 

If you’re interested in receiving an application or have questions, please contact Erica MacInnes, Boston Marathon runner and Friends of Wellesley Metco Inc. Board Member at emacinnes14@gmail.com or 617-784-9428.

YOU can make a difference by running for FWMI. The Friends of Wellesley METCO, Inc is an independent charitable ordination program dedicated to helping Wellesley's METCO students make the most of the education opportunities and enriching experiences provided by the METCO program. See FWMI link below to learn more. THANK YOU.

TOPS Basketball is a program for individuals with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities in grades K-8. Carefully adapted activities include warm-up, station work, and small-sided games. These activities allow players to learn the skills necessary for passing, dribbling and shooting. The interactive game play allows both technical and social skills to be developed.  

Each athlete is paired with a peer buddy. The peer buddy assists with skill development while also providing support and encouragement both on and off the court. We will offer 2 sessions: K-4 and 5-8 (see below for times).

WHEN: Sundays: January 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th, February 4th & 11th

WHERE: Wellesley Middle School in the lower Gym

                      K-4th: 12:30-1:30pm

                     5th-8th: 1:45-2:45pm

COST: $65

Register HERE  

For more information please email: Ken Johnson at jrkjkc@gmail.com

Co-Presidents: Rose Nolan & Wendy Englebardt

Vice President: Ezra Englebardt

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: Alejandra Tejada & Open Position

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

METCO Liaisons: Kasia Schwarzman & Nicole Katz

Parent 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

Sprague Night at Fenway Coordinator: John Wells