[CabotCommunity] FW: JABBERWOCK FOR TUESDAY, MAY 22ND
Jo Doherty
jcdoherty11 at comcast.net
Wed May 23 17:09:52 EDT 2007
It would appear that we are having technical difficulties with the receipt
of Tuesday's Jabberwock. Our apologises if you have already received this.
Jo Doherty
Cabot PTO Co-President
11 Leonard Avenue,
West Newton, MA 02465
617-332-1530
jcdoherty11 at comcast.net
_____
From: Jo Doherty [mailto:jcdoherty11 at comcast.net]
Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2007 9:30 AM
To: 'cabotcommunity at cabotpto.org'
Cc: 'Marilynne Quarcoo'; 'Betsy_Nurczynski at newton.k12.ma.us'
Subject: JABBERWOCK FOR TUESDAY, MAY 22ND
JABBERWOCK FOR TUESDAY, MAY 22ND
This issue contains information about the following:
Volunteers needed for Color Day, June 5th
Last PTO meeting of the year, June 12th at 8:40am
Parent Co-ordinator needed for 3rd Grade Understanding Our
Differences Program Next Year
Did your child try riding the school bus last Friday? Want to
continue for the remainder of the year? Then fill out this form from the
office
Welcome your new School Council parent members
Summary of the recent Traffic Congestion Survey
Calendar
May 22, 2007
MCAS, Grade 3
May 22, 2007
Incoming Kindergarten School Visitation Day, 1-2 PM
May 22, 2007
Affinity Group 12:30 PM
May 22, 2007
Grade 5 Parent Puberty Meeting
May 22, 2007
Shavuot begins at Sundown
May 23, 2007
MCAS, Grade 3
May 24, 2007
MCAS, Grade 5
May 25, 2007
MCAS, Grade 5
May 28, 2007
Memorial Day, NO SCHOOL
May 29, 2007
MCAS Make-up
May 29, 2007
School Committee Meeting, 7:30 PM
May 30, 2007
MCAS Make-up
May 31, 2007
MCAS Make-up
May 31, 2007
Cabot Class of 2000 Reunion 7:00 - 9:00 PM
June 1, 2007
Grade 5 Step-Up Day, 11:30AM
June 1, 2007
Creative Arts & Sciences Grade 4, Theatre Espresso-Justice at War, New Art
Center, 1:00PM
June 6, 2007
Grade 4 Instrumental Concert 9:00 AM
June 4, 2007
Creative Arts & Sciences Grade 5, Origamido
June 5, 2007
CASP Picnic and DVD at Cabot 6:00 - 7:30 PM
June 5, 2007
Color Day (rain date 6/7)
June 7, 2007
Early Release Day, 12:30 PM Dismissal
June 11, 2007
School Committee Meeting, 7:30 PM
June 12, 2006
Final PTO Budget & Election Meeting, 8:40 AM
June 12, 2006
Orchestra Concert for Cabot Village 11:45 - 12:30
June 14, 2006
Class Play for Ms. Moriarty's Class 1:00 - 3:00PM
June 18, 2007
Awards Ceremony
June 19, 2007
Last Day of CASP
June 20, 2007
Last Day of School for All Students, 12 Noon Dismissal
June 20, 2007
End of Year Picnic on Field, Noon onwards
June 21, 2007
Last Day of School for Teachers
June 25, 2007
School Committee Meeting, 7:30 PM
Have Fun at Color Day, June 5th - Volunteers Needed!
Don't miss out on the fun of Cabot's Annual Color Day! The whole school
participates in this day of friendly competition. Each class is divided
into 3 teams (red, white and blue) and participates in the games and
activities. We are seeking volunteers to help run the stations. If you
would like to help, we will need you from 9:15 - 12:00. We ask that
volunteers where possible hold June 7th available as a rain date. It's a fun
filled morning so don't miss this opportunity to experience Color Day!
Respond to Dana Bennett at Dana_Bennett at newton.k12.ma.us or Daphne Potter at
dfpotter at rcn.com
LAST PTO Meeting of the Year!
Join us for the Final PTO Meeting of the year on Tuesday, June 12th at
8:40am in the Library. At this meeting we will submit the PTO Budget for
the 2007 - 2008 School Year for approval, Elect our New PTO Co-President and
briefly recap other important issues.. Please join us as we vote to elect
Archana Vahalia as the incoming PTO President to join Mary Kathryn Fallon
next year, and thank her for stepping forward to volunteer for this
position. Also, come along and find out what PTO Positions are currently
still available and which Committees need members.
Parent Co-ordinator needed for next years 3rd Grade Understanding Our
Differences Program.
"Understanding Our Differences was an incredible experience for me as a
parent.!! First it provided me an opportunity to volunteer in my son's
classroom on a regular basis.! Most importantly, I loved being part of a
program that teaches an invaluable lesson about life.!" Parent Volunteer
Help teach our children empathy and respect by joining the Cabot PTO parent
team for Understanding Our Differences.
This award-winning curriculum teaches elementary students about disabilities
and how to be a good friend to everyone in school.
It features units on blindness, deafness, physical disabilities, learning
disabilities, developmental disabilities and chronic medical
conditions. The program is run entirely by parent volunteers, offered to all
3rd, 4th and 5th grade students, and we hope you will be interested to join
us! In order to ensure that this worthwhile program can be offered at 3rd
grade next year, we need a parent volunteer to co-ordinate the 3rd grade
program. Become part of a large and strong circle of friends who have
supported Understanding Our Differences in Newton for over 25 years.
If you are interested please call Carol Weigert, Program Director for
Understanding Our Differences within Newton Public School at 617-559-6075 or
email her Carol_Weigert at newton.k12.ma.us . You can also contact Rick Reilly
for information. Rick is the current 4th grade co-ordinator and will be the
5th grade co-ordinator next year at rmreilly at rcn.com
All Aboard The Magic Cabot School Bus!
Thanks to all those new eligible families who braved the rain last Friday to
ride the school bus. This experiment was a great success - we nearly had a
full school bus! If you would like your children to continue to ride the bus
for the remainder of the school year then please contact the office to
obtain a green information sheet that needs to be filled out. This provides
the school with information as to which days your children will be riding
the bus etc,..
Welcome Your New Cabot School Council Members!
Please say a big thank you to our new Cabot School Council parent members
Virginia Dean, Jim Robertson & Jay Schwartz. They join existing School
Council members where their enthusiasm and professional expertise will be of
enormous use as the School Council establishes its agenda for next year. We
thank you all for volunteering to help Cabot School address the challenges
of educating a growing student population.
Summary of the Traffic Congestion & Parking Survey
We had a high response rate to our survey receiving some 187 responses which
is approx. a 60% response rate from our families. In survey terms that's
big! Go to
http://cabotpto.org/announce/traffic_fundraiser_survey/traffic_fund_results.
html to check out all the survey results. Below is a summary of the major
points.
Most people drive their children to school in the morning (64%) & at pick-up
(46%). Of those families eligible to take the bus a whopping 69% don't. When
asked why, the most frequent reason was time - bus times not convenient, too
much waiting around, stops not convenient so families would be in the car
anyway. When asked about factors that would encourage ridership, respondents
cited fees were a deterrent, concerns about safety & the location of bus
stops. Cabot is taking steps to increase ridership with a trial "Ride the
Bus to School" morning that happened May 18th.
Of those that drive to school, 36% use the Blue Zone (BZ) at drop-off and
40% use Parkview street (non BZ areas) to park their cars. Opinions on the
BZ were varied. The consensus was that at drop-off it is far less
problematic - the real problem is at pick-up. The majority felt the BZ
should not be changed to allow people to park and leave their cars (65%).
Some (36%) thought the BZ should be a place where you could stay in your car
for 10 mins rather than a moving zone, whereas 25% thought the BZ should
remain as it is, a move along zone enforced with tickets. Comments revealed
that people felt a moving zone put unnecessary pressure on the neighboring
streets as people were forced to move around the block. There was some
support for traffic monitors and tickets to enforce the BZ rules. And 56%
voted not to eliminate the BZ entirely.
Comments specific to the BZ were varied although some consistent themes came
out as follows:
- allow parking on the school side of Parkview with clearer signage
and non blocking of driveways;
- post more signs along the BZ to identify the rules;
- the BZ does not work for K & 1st grade parents who need to
collect their children from teachers- they should be discouraged from using
the BZ if this practice is continued. This ambiguity needs to be recognized
and addressed;
- Success at Williams school reference for a moving BZ;
- Support for traffic monitors to either keep traffic flowing,
rules enforced and perhaps escorting children into/out of school. Question
is who would do that?
- Consideration to making the block/loop between Bridges and
Parkview a one way loop.
Potential changes for the new traffic plan were identified & people were
asked for their willingness to adopt or support these (Q4). Respondents were
supportive of parking on nearby streets (33%) as was support of neighborhood
buddy walking systems. To further this Mary Kathryn Fallon has now enrolled
Cabot into The Massachusetts Department of Transportation 'Safe Routes to
School' (SRS) Program. This Program encourages walking to school and helps
provide resources for traffic reduction and safety, including money for
infrastructure changes. The goal is to increase awareness of the traffic
issue and make alternative means of getting to school (other than driving)
easier. To learn more about Safe Routes to School, check out
<http://www.commute.com/downloads/SRSbrochure.pdf>
http://www.commute.com/downloads/SRSbrochure.pdf In partnership with the
Program the PTO is initiating a walking school bus using resources,
experience and support we are receiving from SRS. Providing teachers with
priority parking spaces was also supported by the majority (54%).
Comments in general about parking and traffic congestion were varied but
generally centered around similar issues such as:
- Opening both the lobby and front office entrances in the morning
would alleviate congestion;
- Have satellite drop-off areas where kids could be accompanied
into school ie. other side of Cabot field, or encourage use of neighing
streets to park and walk other than Bridges. Who would supervise this was
not addressed;
- Many voice their opinion that the School Committee should
re-consider its 1mile free bus radius. Reducing it would encourage families
to ride the bus and reduce congestion;
- Make Bridges and Parkview a one way loop throughout the entire
school day extending into CASP hours, thus eradicating the confusion caused
by Parkview returning to 2 way at 4pm;
- Suggest a best practices approach by looking at how other schools
& summer camps manage their traffic congestion problems, also the suggestion
that a budget would be needed to enrole monitors;
- Many people raised the issue of dangerous streets and not enough
crosswalks and crossing guards;
- Educate the students about the rules of the BZ;
- To encourage walking the City should ensure all streets have
sidewalks and all streets are plowed!
- Stagger drop-off and pick-up times between lower and upper grades
at school;
- Introduce incentives for kids adopting healthier options (walk
,bus or ride) for getting to school ie. certificate for school store;
- Encourage riding bikes;
- Explore parking space available at senior living complex at back
of Norwood;
- Provision of monitors to establish & police the traffic rules.
These results have been passed onto the Traffic Task Force and Alderman
Stephen Linsky who is spearheading the traffic initiative for Cabot.
Announcement From Newton Food Services
We encourage all parents to sign up for on-line ordering even if you do not
want to order your child(s) meal on-line. Your personal on-line account
allows you to access your child(s) account balance and your child(s) orders
at any time.
Openings for next School year:
If you are interested in working a couple of hours a week M-W-TH-F as a
lunch attendant, please call Rob at 617-559-9015 in the beginning of August.
September Menu:
The September menu will be mailed out over the summer.
Jo Doherty
Cabot PTO Co-President
11 Leonard Avenue,
West Newton, MA 02465
617-332-1530
jcdoherty11 at comcast.net
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