⛄️ Hello Spraguewell and Happy New Year! ⛄️ 

Life at Sprague is back in full swing, with lots of fun events coming up this month, including CAS events and our next PTO meeting on Wednesday, January 17th. We will be meeting in the Sprague Library, with a Google Meet option for anyone to join remotely.

We hope everyone is enjoying the first snowfall ❄️ of the season - and it's a good time to remind you to pack snow gear for your kids to keep at school. Anyone without proper snow gear will be stuck on the blacktop while everyone else frolics on the playground. And be sure to label their gear with Mabel's Labels. 😉

By the way, it was great to see so many of you for the first Walk/Ride/Roll to School last week, despite the cold temperature! Save the date for the next one on Wednesday, February 7th - and stick around for the February PTO meeting.

Best, Rose & Wendy

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!

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

Save the Date! The Sprague Spring Auction will be held at the Charles River Country Club on May 17, 2024. 

We are planning a super fun social event for our community while also raising much-needed funds for the PTO. We can't do this on our own and would love some helpers! There are many ways to lend a hand and get involved:

• Request Donations from local businesses (we need many people for this)

• Donate Goods/Services: Do you have season tickets to a local sports team? A vacation house that you would be willing to offer? If you don't, do you know someone who does? We could use it! 

• Grade Level Parents to coordinate baskets to be raffled off

• Coordinate Sign up Parties (think Ping Pong Party, Bingo Night but if you have a better idea, we are all ears!)

• Designer - Can you help us design the invitation? Can you help us with the signage for the event?

• Run the games at the event (in shifts, we want you to still have a great night!)

• Day of Set Up

• Day of Cleanup (TBD)
  
  

Email with any questions, or to volunteer. 

Thank you,

Bryanne Tartamella (Mom to Josie-3JL and Jack-6th @ WMS)

bryanne.tartamella@gmail.com &

Sneha Patel (Mom to Leela-3KF and Ilina-6th @ WMS)

designsbysneha@gmail.com

January 9: Discovery Museum visit, Kindergarten 

January 16: JFK Library Visit, Fifth Grade (Sprague cohort)

January 23: JFK Library Visit, Fifth Grade (Hunnewell cohort)

January 25th: Sound Waves, Fourth Grade

GRADE: Fifth

EVENT: On December 12th, our fifth graders were visited by author, Rob Buyea. He led a great presentation and workshop to all the 5th grade students at Spraguewell discussing his books, Because of Mr. Terupt Series and the Perfect Score Series. Mr. Buyea explained how his ideas and characters are based on real events, experiences & memories in his life as a teacher and dad. He talked about his writing switch always being on and how he is always thinking about new ideas. The kids were super engaged! He then went to all the classes to lead a writers' workshop, in which he helped the students draft a fun story coming from the narrative of one of his characters in the book, which was enjoyed by all! Ask your 5th grader to share their experience writing their story, or even to read it to you!

GRADE: Fourth

EVENT: On December 20th, our fourth graders had a fun and interactive visit from Michael, of Origamido. His 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! Please ask your 4th grader:

1. Can you fold 2 pieces of paper into triangles, place the short sides together and make a quadrilateral parallelogram that is not a rectangle?

2. What is the difference between acute, obtuse and right angles?

3. Can you fold a piece of paper to make a trapezoid quadrilateral with only 1 set of parallel lines?

4. How can your origami shapes act like a calculator?

5. How can you use an isosceles triangle to make a fox out of paper?

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

There are many opportunities to support Sprague while you shop! 

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

ORDER SPRAGUE GEAR 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

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.

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