[CabotCommunity] Jabberlite for Tuesday January 2, 2007

[marykathf at aol.com]

JABBERLITE   TUESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2007 
 
This Jabberlite contains information about:
Campaign for Cabot – Where does your money go?
Special PTO Meeting – Q&A Session with School Committee Members
Cabot Connecting Families Bowling Date
Conversations About Newton North
Cabot Math Challenge
Date Changes
 
Upcoming Dates
A complete & updated calendar for all events for the year can be found at www.cabotpto.org  
January 2, 2007School resumes
January 4, 2007Understanding our Differences Grade 5 1:00 - 2:45 PM
January 8, 2007School Council 6-7:30 PM
January 8, 2007School Committee Meeting, 7:30 PM
January 9, 2007Conversations About NNHS:Part II The Finances  Lasker Auditorium 7:30PM
January 10, 2007All-City School Chorus Concert, Brown Middle School 7:30 PM
January 15, 2007Martin Luther King Day, NO  SCHOOL
January 17, 2007METCO Parents' Council Meeting 7:00 - 9:00 PM
January 17, 2007PTO MTG - School Committee Members visit Cabot- Ask questions of your Elected Officials 7:30PM 
January 22, 2007School Committee Meeting, 7:30 PM
January 25, 2007CA&S Chinese Ribbon Dance - Grade 2  1:00 - 2:45 PM
January 25, 2007Winter Concert, 10:45 AM & 7:30 PM
January 27, 2007Cabot Connecting Families Bowling, 2-4 PM Ron's Ice Cream & Bowling Hyde Park
February 3, 2007Cabot Family Dance (snow date 2/10)
February 3, 2007PTO "Campaign for Cabot" ends
February 8, 2007Early Release, 12:30 PM Dismissal

 
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Welcome back from School Vacation, and welcome to the 3 new families who are starting at Cabot this year.  We hope this Jabberlite finds you well, rested and ready for the New Year.
 
WHERE DOES YOUR MONEY GO? HOW DOES THE PTO USE MY MONEY?
Have YOU made your contribution to the Campaign for Cabot yet?  So far we have 110 or 35% of families who have contributed.  Thank you!
 
Each week we have been highlighting areas where the PTO spends your money.  So far we have talked about program enrichment, funds given to teachers to help defray out of pocket expenses, money donated to the Library, programs such as Understanding our Differences and the City-Wide Child Assault Prevention Program, and other expenditures by the PTO, such as the purchase of antibacterial wipes for each classroom to help keep us all healthy.
 
Did you know that the PTO has a budget of $3,000 to subsidize field trips to make them more affordable for all?  Last year this was especially helpful as the funds were spent to help defray the high cost of fuel for the buses, which reduced the price of field trips for all students.  Our students take some remarkable field trips that complement the curriculum and take advantage of the great places our state has to offer, such as going to the Museum of Fine Arts, the Science Museum and Plimoth Plantation just to name a few.
 
Also, the PTO, with the help of Dana Bennett, purchased ‘recess bags’ for each classroom last year, consisting of balls and games the children use when playing outside.  These bags were replenished this year, again funded by the PTO. 
 
You can check where else your money is spent at www.cabotpto.org , under budgeted fundraising and spending plan.  As we have said, the PTO will spend approximately $55,000, or about $133 per child this year. 
 
Thank you so much to those who have contributed to the Campaign for Cabot already, your generosity is greatly appreciated.  We are still a bit short of our goal of $24,000, but more importantly we are short of having more families participate in the campaign. Now is the time to make that tax-deductible contribution, so since I have your attention and it is fresh in your mind, go find that check book!  Drop your check in an envelope and place it in the PTO mailbox in the office.  We are checking it twice a day, so we will be sure to get it!  This year we are striving towards 100% participation from our community of families, so please contribute whatever you can.  For each family who donates, another square is covered on Humpty in our main lobby.  Help us color Humpty in!!  
 
PTO Special Meeting – An Evening with Your School Committee Representatives
Join us on Wednesday January 17, 2007 for a Q&A session with 2 of your School Committee Members.  Do you have questions about the current short-term space issue, about the long-term facility study the School Committee is starting this month, next year’s budget or about the Newton North High School situation?  This is your opportunity to ask!   The meeting will start at 7:30PM in the Cabot Music Room.  Join us!
 
CABOT CONNECTING FAMILIES BOWLING DAY
Cabot Connecting Families, our committee to help bring Cabot families together outside of school, is sponsoring our annual bowling day!  Last year we had a great turn out for this fun event! Bring the family on Saturday January 27, 2007 from 2:00 – 4:00 PM at Ron’s Gourmet Ice Cream and Bowling in Hyde Park.  Look in the backpacks for more information coming home soon!    
 
Conversations about Newton North High School
The second forum of ‘Conversations about Newton North High School’ will be held on Tuesday January 9th at 7:30 PM in Newton North’s Lasker Auditorium.  This forum will focus on the finances of the project. If you were unable to attend the first meeting, and would like to see it on TV, please check www.newtv.org  for listings, under "Special Meeting Coverage: Conversations about NNHS Part 1: The Site Plan."
 
CABOT MATH CHALLENGE
Wow, we had 156, or 37%, of Cabot students participate in the last Cabot Math Challenge.  Kudos to Mr. Adams classroom, which had 100% participation and to Ms. Robertson’s classroom with 95% participation.  Way to go!! 
 
The new Challenge is out today. Please return your solutions by January 11th.  We encourage all students, families and faculty to try to problem.
 
DATE CHANGES:
Please note there were some changes from the original PTO calendar.  The Winter Concert has been changed to Thursday January 25th at 10:45 AM and 7:30 PM. Also please note that the joint PTO/School Council Meeting has been postponed to a future date. More information will follow.
 
 
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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