[CabotCommunity] Jabberlite

Tue Oct 10 14:15:13 EDT 2006

JABBERLITE   TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2006

Upcoming Dates
A complete & updated calendar for all events for the year can be found at www.cabotpto.org 

October 10, 2006PTO Coffee for all Grades & Meeting, 8:40 AM
October 10, 2006PTO Gift Wrap Orders Due
October 10, 2006School Committee Meeting, 7:30 PM
October 11, 2006Grade 4 Bike Safety 8:45 AM (rain date 10/18)
October 14, 2006Coffee Pond Family Photo Day (rain date 10/15)
October 15, 2006Cabot Connecting Families Play date 2-4pm Larz Anderson Park, Brookline (rain date 10/22)
October 16, 2006School Council, 6-7:30 PM
October 19, 2006Parent to Parent Series, Grade K thru 5, Overview of Open Circle Curriculum. 8:35AM – 9:30AM
October 19, 2006Early Release Day, 12:30 PM Dismissal
October 21, 2006Coffee Pond Family Photo Day (rain date 10/22)
October 23, 2006School Committee Meeting, 7:30 PM
October 25, 2006PTO Papa Gino's Fundraiser
October 26, 2006CA&S Program K-5 Semenva McCord - Journey into Jazz, 1-3PM
October 28, 2006Coffee Pond Family Photo Day (rain date 10/29)
October 31, 2006Wellness Day
October 31, 2006Halloween UNICEF Collection

THE JABBERWOCK RETURNS
We are thrilled to announce that the E-Jabberwock is coming back.  Yes, Cabot’s wonderful and informative newsletter will be back next week!  Many thanks go to our parent volunteers who have agreed to be the editors, Liz Lehrer, Kim Spencer and Ann Duvall. Here’s what you need to know:

The E-Jabberwock will be published the 3rd Tuesday of every month. 
The E-Jabberwock will contain clipart and certain graphics and it will come direct in an email, without the reader having to open a separate document.  It will also be posted on the Cabot PTO website where you will be able to print it with all the bells and whistles, (for those individuals without that capability in the email format). 
There will not be classifieds or community news for the first few months until we get the Jabberwock up and running. 
You will still receive an E-Jabberlite every Tuesday, except the 3rd Tuesday of the month when you receive the Jabberwock, which will revert to its original ‘lite’ form, just listing calendar dates and important information for the week ahead.

We are excited to bring the Jabberwock back to Cabot.  We know how much this facilitates knowledge and involvement in our community.  We anticipate that this newsletter will truly represent Cabot as an active, dedicated and dynamic school.  Finally, our extreme gratitude goes to Melinda Roman, our former Jabberwock Editor, for her many years of dedicated service. 

Cabot Political Issues Committee
Cabot Parent Meeting - "The Space Crunch at Cabot"
Friday, Oct. 13th, 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. 
At Isabelle Thacker's Home 
19 Salisbury Road (from Cabot School, go left on Cabot St., then left on Salisbury to #19) 
617 795 2332 

What is going to happen next year? When we're asked "What does Cabot want?" what will we say? 
-- Can we install a modular (temporary) classroom somewhere at Cabot? 
-- Do we want an entire grade to be relocated to another school building? 
-- Should we combine our art room and our music room? 
-- Do we think redistricting can solve the problem? 
-- Do we want to preserve small class size? 

The School Committee is currently examining elementary enrollment and the use of space city-wide. They will vote on a plan to relieve overcrowding on December 11th. They want to hear from parents at a forum on October 30th. What will we say? Which options are feasible? desirable? 

Please come to a Cabot parent meeting on Oct.13th for an opportunity to: 
-- learn about the overcrowding at Cabot and other schools 
-- discuss what changes might be in store for next year 
-- gauge parent opinion about various options 
-- gather suggestions for our principal, superintendent and School Committee 

Join us on the 13th, if you can, and stayed tuned for more information as it becomes available. Go to the next School Committee meeting (or watch it on NewTV) -- check www.newtonpublicschools.com  for agenda and related reports. 

If you cannot attend on the 13th, but would be interested in an evening meeting for Cabot parents, please let us know.  
Prepared by - Sarah Ecker sarahecker at comcast.net, Sue Covitz suecovitz at rcn.com and Isabelle Thacker isabelle at thackers.net  - Cabot PTO Political Issues Committee 

PLEASE JOIN US FOR OUR ANNUAL CABOT CONNECTING FAMILIES PLAYDATE!  
This coming Sunday, October 15, we'll meet at the Larz Anderson Park playground in Brookline, at 2:00 PM and will play and converse until 4:00 PM.  Bring lawn chairs, blankets, any type of outdoor toy or game your child enjoys (a football to toss, bubbles to blow), and some type of snack to share. Look for the blue and white balloons to identify where Cabot families are gathering.  Keep an eye out for flyers around Cabot and in your child's backpack this week, for more information.

CABOT DIRECTORY – We are sending it off to Print Soon – Make sure you get your copy and that your entry is correct!!
NEW FAMILIES: If you are a family new to Cabot this year, you should have received in your child’s backpack the entry that will appear in the Directory based on your registration information. Upon receipt, please check your entry & send the form back ONLY IF THERE ARE CHANGES, as soon as possible.  You may return the form either in your child’s backpack or put them in the PTO Mailbox in the office.

ALL FAMILIES: Thank you to everyone who has returned your Dues and Volunteer Form.  This form is the only way we know you would like to receive a directory.  Please double check to ensure that you have returned the form if you would like a directory as we order only a certain amount from the printer.  Can’t find the form? Don’t worry; you can get a copy online at http://www.cabotpto.org  under Jabberwock/News  Welcome Packet - Dues & Volunteer Form (Word doc)

Also, like last year we are selling advertising space in the Directory to local businesses. As a Cabot parent if you have a business that you would like to advertise in our Directory contact Rick Reilly, our parent volunteer Advertising Manager -  rmreilly at rcn.com  617-332-3006. Be aware that copies of the Directory are ONLY distributed to Cabot families.

SCHOOL BUS PROCEDURES & SAFETY
The after-school buses and van transportation has been running very smoothly.  On Thursday, October 12, we will have our first bus evacuation drill.  Teachers will discuss bus safety with your children prior to the drill.  We would appreciate your reinforcing bus safety, i.e., remain seated with feet on the floor, buckle up those seat belts, speak quietly so as not to disturb the driver.  Or just ask your child what new safety tips (s)he learned during the drill.  

As in the past, an important aspect of Cabot's Building Aide position is to ensure that your child safely boards the bus or van.  This year Betsy Nurczynski is job sharing with Alice Cunningham, a Cabot parent and active volunteer.  Margaret Hannah is still with Cabot in the capacity of ISS, Instructional Support Staff, and will spend her time in the classroom.  Each morning one of us greets the children arriving by the Newton bus and in the afternoon attendance for the Newton bus and vans is taken prior to departure.  The Boston bus children are supervised by a staff member prior to the beginning of school, and our teachers rotate bus duty and check in the kids prior to departure in the afternoon.  If your child's schedule changes for one day or more, please send in a note which is the best way to communicate those changes to us.

If you have any questions, please give one of us a call at 617-559-9400.  
Betsy Nurczynski and Alice Cunningham, Cabot Building Aides

Coffee Pond Family Picture Day  
We keep saying it because it is true - time is running out to sign up for Family Picture Day. If you want a high quality family picture which will be ready in time for the holiday season, ACT NOW! For further information contact our parent volunteer coordinator, Sharon Dwyer at 617 641 2342 or jsordwyer at rcn.com.  Cabot School will receive the sitting fees charged by Coffee Pond as part of this fundraiser.  All proceeds received will benefit the outdoor Cabot Community Park to be used for recreational & educational purposes. Help support this initiative & worthy cause! 

GIFT WRAP FUNDRAISER-Deadline extended to October 20th
Did you notice our own Kate Johnson wrapped up to promote the Gift Wrap Fundraiser this morning?  If you haven’t had a chance to send in your order, you’ll be glad to know that the Gift Wrap Fundraiser has been extended to October 20th, so get busy peddling gift wrap to neighbors and co-workers.  Check out the catalog, Sally Foster has some fun and fancy gift wrap along with many other items, (arts & crafts, candy, candles and much more).  Every year the Gift Wrap Fundraiser is one of the biggest money makers for the PTO.  Don't forget to include out-of-town friends and family by going to SallyFoster.com and giving them the e-mails of your favorite out-of-towners.  In addition to raising important funds for Cabot School, the more gift wrap you sell, the more prizes your children can win. Questions, please contact Kate Johnson at kate at textreviews.com.

LIBRARY VOLUNTEERS
Thank you to all of you who have agreed to volunteer in the Cabot Library.  We are still looking for volunteers to come in and help with the following classes:
            Mr. Adams – every other Monday at 1:45 PM
Mrs. Forseter – Thursdays at 10:30 AM
Mrs. Mann – Wednesdays at 9:45 AM
Interested, contact Kate Johnson at kate at textreviews.com.

Lost & Found
Where did that sweatshirt go?   What about that new lunchbox?  Check out the Lost & Found bin in the main lobby.  We will be emptying this bin at the end of every month – so please take a look.  All items not claimed at the end of each month will be donated to The Second Step. Many thanks to Eileen Morrison for coordinating this monthly donation.

Register your email to receive PTO emails 
Our webmaster Mie-Yun Lee has been hard at work updating our website & email distribution system. If you are a new family to Cabot & need to register, or if your email changes or you want to add another email to our distribution system, please go to
http://cabotpto.org/mailman/listinfo/cabotcommunity_cabotpto.org

You will be guided through the steps & will receive a confirmation email to indicate you have been successfully added to the Cabot PTO email distribution list. In the event you have any questions please contact our webmaster, Mie-Yun Lee at mylcabot at gmail.com 

PTO Meetings
We hope you were able to join us at our second PTO meeting this morning.  The minutes of this meeting will be posted online at www.cabotpto.org soon.  Take a few minutes to read up on what your PTO is doing to benefit your child’s experience at Cabot. Don’t forget to join us at our next PTO meeting on Tuesday November 7, 2006 at 8:35AM in the Library.

Compiled for you by the Cabot PTO 

Mary Kathryn Fallon
Cabot PTO Co-President
10 Worth Circle,
Newton, MA 02458
617-244-1821
MaryKathF at aol.com

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