From marykathf at aol.com Fri Feb 1 08:58:34 2008 From: marykathf at aol.com (marykathf at aol.com) Date: Fri, 01 Feb 2008 08:58:34 -0500 Subject: [CabotCommunity] Override and Allocation School Budget Information Message-ID: <8CA32F1AB5CD222-1514-7BC@mblk-d20.sysops.aol.com> TO: ??????????????? Cabot Community FROM: ?????????? Sue Covitz, Sarah Ecker and Isabelle Thacker, PTO Political Issues Co-chairs DATE: ?????????? January? 31, 2008 RE: ???????????????? OVERRIDE AND ALLOCATION SCHOOL BUDGETS ? ? The budget process is here, and it?s complicated this year.? Superintendent Young has presented two budgets to the School Committee for next year.? The override budget is the proposed budget that would be in place if the citizens of Newton vote to approve an override this May.? The allocation budget is the proposed budget that would be in place if the citizens of Newton vote against an override in May. ? To give some context to the latest budget proposals, it is helpful to remember what happened last year. Last March, the School Committee directed Superintendent Young to prepare a budget that restored some (but not all) of the cuts made in previous years.? Mayor Cohen then gave the school department the additional funds to cover this comprehensive budget.? The direct benefits that your children see at Cabot this year from this budget are many.? The average class size for the school is 20 students.? The separate recorder program is back for 3rd graders.? The art, music, library and PE programs were not reduced.? The modular classrooms? needs (teachers, supplies, furniture) were funded. ?There is a full time literacy specialist at Cabot. ? In order to maintain most of the services presently in our schools, the school budget for next year needs to increase by $11.5 million.? That would cover the costs of contractual obligations, enrollment related increases and fixed and mandated costs.? Those three items are being called maintenance of effort. ? In addition, in order to make some improvements and restorations to our current budget, the budget for next year needs to increase by a further $2.4 million.? The improvements and restorations in the override budget call for increasing funding for: the per pupil allocation, elementary school staffing, PE, health and wellness, curriculum and instruction, secondary education, pupil services, regular education transportation and benefits to cover the increased staff. ? To continue the ongoing initiatives put into place this year would cost an additional $2.4 million.? The ongoing initiatives are: the middle school BRIM initiative, mathematics initiative, technology initiative, building maintenance initiative and benefits for increased staff.? If the override budget passes, Cabot is one of the schools that has been chosen to receive a full time mathematics coach.? A mathematics coach is similar to a literacy specialist for math. ? If the citizens of Newton do not approve the override this spring, there will be huge cuts in the school department budget. In the maintenance of effort category alone, over 100 positions will be eliminated.? All the improvements and restorations will be eliminated, except one additional school bus and ELL translations.? All of the ongoing initiatives will be eliminated.?? ? For the elementary schools, this means: ?increased class size ?reduction in specialist teachers (art, music, PE and library) ?elimination of all existing math coach positions ?elimination of curriculum specialist ?50% reduction in literacy specialists (this means each literacy specialist will cover two schools) ? elimination of 22.5 FTE literacy aids ? reduction in social workers; and ? reduction in support staff. ? ? To see all the budget details, go to: http://www.newton.k12.ma.us/schoolcommittee/_documentsFY08/FY09_Override_Budget_01_14_08.pdf ? http://www.newton.k12.ma.us/schoolcommittee/_documentsFY08/fy09_allocation_budget.pdf ? The public hearing on the budgets is on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 7:00 pm at Day Middle School. To see a schedule of the budget hearings go to: http://www.newton.k12.ma.us/schoolcommittee/_documentsFY08/schedule_09_budget_mtgs.pdf ? The budget process is not going to be fun to watch this year.? As citizens of Newton, as parents and guardians, we urge you to get involved in this process and consider what type of education you want for your children in the Newton Public Schools. ________________________________________________________________________ More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! - http://webmail.aol.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://cabotpto.org/pipermail/cabotcommunity_cabotpto.org/attachments/20080201/56c2e647/attachment.html From marykathf at aol.com Mon Feb 4 19:09:55 2008 From: marykathf at aol.com (marykathf at aol.com) Date: Mon, 04 Feb 2008 19:09:55 -0500 Subject: [CabotCommunity] Jabberlite for Tuesday Feb 5th (a bit early) In-Reply-To: <8CA35A1C1F15DB7-DE4-24B9@WEBMAIL-MC05.sysops.aol.com> References: <8CA359B040E5033-DE4-2273@WEBMAIL-MC05.sysops.aol.com> <8CA35A1C1F15DB7-DE4-24B9@WEBMAIL-MC05.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: <8CA35A29287F791-DE4-2503@WEBMAIL-MC05.sysops.aol.com> Dear Cabot Community: We are sending this Jabberlite out a bit early as some of these events are happening tomorrow morning.?Please read below to find out what is going?on around Cabot School!!? Jabberlite for Tuesday February 5, 2008 This edition contains information about: ASK Marilynne Session - 2/5 Progress Reports - please sign and return Primary Day Bake Sale - 2/5 Public Hearing on Newton School Budget -2/6 Artwork for Education Permission Slips- due 2/6 CASP Art Show - This Friday 2/8 Bowling with Cabot Connecting Families - This Saturday 2/9 Family Dance Campaign for Cabot comes to an End Cabot 5th Grade Activities Teacher Vacation Raffle MCAS Test Date Schedule METCO in Massachusetts, featuring speaker Susan Eaton - 2/26 Invention Invasion - 3/18 Spring Little League sign-ups Calendar - visit www.Cabotpto.org for an up to date calendar anytime. February 5, 2008 Ask Marilynne Session 8:40am Principal Office February 5, 2008 Primary Day & Bake Sale February 6, 2008 Creative Arts & Sciences? Grade 3 Rob Aptaker -Way of the Wampanoag February 6, 2008 Newton Public Schools Public Hearing on the 2008-09 Budget 7:00pm Day Middle School February 7, 2008 Early Release, 12:30 PM Dismissal February 8, 2008 CASP Art Show 7- 9:00 PM February 9, 2008 Cabot Connecting Families Bowling, 2-4 PM (Snow date 2/10) February 11, 2008 School Committee Meeting, 7:30 PM February 14, 2008 CASP Advisory Board Meeting? 7:45am 2/18/08 - 2/22/08 Winter Vacation, NO SCHOOL February 25, 2008 School Committee Meeting, 7:30 PM February 26, 2008 Jabberwock Publication 2007-08 Issue #7 February 26, 2008 Affinity Group 12:30 pm February 26, 2008 METCO in Massachussetts, featuring speaker Susan Eaton 7:00pm Mason Rice School February 27, 2008 Kindergarten Parent Evening (snow date 3/3) ? ASK Marilynne - Tuesday February 5th, Principal's Office 8:40am Join Principal Dr. Marilynne Quarcoo for an informal conversation.?Do you have questions about the progress report,?or want to ask a question about the lunch program, the bus or the school budget,?this is?your chance! Feel?free to drop in and ask away.? These conversations are designed so that parents and guardians feel they can have access to the school principal. (note: Please do not come to talk about specific issues related to your child or a teacher.)?? Progress Reports Please sign and return the front cover of the progress reports as soon as possible.? Thank you. Primary Day - Bake Sale Tuesday February 5th As you know the 5th grade activities committee is planning a bake sale on Primary Day, Feb. 5th. We expect there to be a huge turn out since it is such an exciting election race.? This bake sale will be for the whole school, with the proceeds going towards 5th grade activities as well as Cabot PTO.? Please donate baked goods for this wonderful event, just bring whatever you have and remember, no nuts!? If you would like to volunteer to help sell items at the event, please contact Lisa Spagnoulo at spags70 at people.pc.com ? Please note that Cabot School is a voting location.? Citizens will be entering the building during school hours to vote.?Please?keep this in mind when traveling to and from school?tomorrow.? ? ? Public Hearing on the Newton Public School Budget, Wednesday February 6th at 7:00 p.m. Day Auditorium (2nd floor, Day Middle School) Most of you read the email we sent out last week on behalf of the Cabot Political Action Committee, (if you'd like a copy, please email us and we will be happy to send it along).? Wednesday evening the City is having a public hearing in which the School Committee, Superintendent and the Mayor listen to comments from the public regarding the proposed school budget.? The hearing lasts as long as there are people who wish to comment.? NOTE:? There is a 3-minute limit for speakers.? This is open to the general public. To see all the budget details, go to: http://www.newton.k12.ma.us/schoolcommittee/_documentsFY08/FY09_Override_Budget_01_14_08.pdf ? http://www.newton.k12.ma.us/schoolcommittee/_documentsFY08/fy09_allocation_budget.pdf ? The public hearing on the budgets is on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 7:00 pm at Day Middle School. To see a schedule of the budget hearings go to: http://www.newton.k12.ma.us/schoolcommittee/_documentsFY08/schedule_09_budget_mtgs.pdf ? ARTWORK FOR EDUCATION This year, we are working with Worldwise Education to create beautiful all occasion notecards using your child(ren)?s artwork which they have made during art classes at Cabot.? Each family will have the opportunity to purchase a box(es) of cards made with their own child(ren)?s art.? Additionally, we will select 12 different cards from all those created to be part of a mixed box which we will sell as part of our Cabot Goods inventory.? ? We need your permission to use your child(ren)?s art work to scan into notecards. These slips were sent home in your children's backpacks last week. By signing this permission slip, you are in no way obligated to purchase anything; it will just allow us to use the artwork for notecards.? All of the original artwork will be returned to you.? Please sign and return the permission slip by Wednesday February 6th. ? CASP Art Show? The Cabot After School will be hosting a Student Art Show and Fundraiser on Friday, February 8, 2008 from 7-9 P.M. at the New Art Center, 61 Washington Pk., Newtonville.? Come join the CASP Community for a wonderful evening of art, friendship, refreshments, and auction and raffle opportunities.?? Guests will enjoy CASP students' art exhibit and to bid on auction items many of which were donated by CASP staff and families. We have an original oil painting of a Tuscan Jug on a wooden panel, jewelry, birthday party options at Giroux Brothers Martial Arts and Roller Kingdom in Hudson, hand painted scarfs, golf lessons, ski passes to Okemo, a weekend in Quechee, Vt to name a few.? In our raffle we have an IPOD Shuffle, ITUNE Gift Cards, gift certificates to local restaurants, AMC movie passes, Booklet of admissions into some of Boston's best children's venues (ie Museum of Science, JFK Museum, etc.)? Our hope is to raise a significant amount of money to add to our scholarship budget for 2008-09. There is a $20 suggested donation per family. Bowling with Cabot Connecting Families It's that time of year again! ?Come bowl with your Cabot friends on Saturday, February 9, from 2:00 ? 4:00pm at the annual Cabot Connecting Families winter event. ?Eat Ron's delicious homemade ice cream and participate in a fun family activity. ?Ron's Gourmet Ice Cream and Bowling is located at 1231 Hyde Park Avenue in Hyde Park (Cleary Square) and is an easy commute from Newton. ?$6.50 per bowler (to cover our costs) entitles you to 2 strings of bowling and shoes. ?Look for the flyers posted at Cabot for more info, or call Mary Heney at 617-244-4888, or email her at mheney at gmail.com?or Amy Siegel/Brett Leav at amysiegel at rcn.com Cabot Family Dance? - A Great Night! We hope you and your family were able to join us last Saturday evening for the?Annual Cabot Family Dance.? There were over 140 members of the Cabot Community enjoying the evening, including Dr. Quarcoo who was out there with her dancing shoes on!? Many thanks: ?- To Suzy Enyeart and Julie Lindstrom, the Chairs of the event, for organizing such a wonderful evening.? So many things had to be done behind the scenes to make the dance?run smoothly, - they have been working on this since early in the fall.? Everything went off without a hitch thanks to all their effort and enthusiasm. ?- To Mr. Lacatell - DJ extroadinare for playing?great music, keeping the dancers entertained and playing crowd favorites such as the chicken dance,?High School Musical songs, the Limbo and of course, Sweet Caroline! ?- To Isabelle Thacker and Sue Klapish for organizing the food drive and for delivering all the donated items (a full car load) to the Newton Food Pantry.??? ?- To Mr. Wong for getting out there and encouraging everyone to dance? - and for being the best "macarena leader' ever. ?- To Doug Hoffman - our PTO photographer for taking many pictures to help us remember the night.? Look soon at the PTO Bulletin board for some candids of the evening.?? ?-?To all of you who came out?to enjoy some great music and community spirit!? Campaign for Cabot - Congratulations to us all for reaching our goal and to the Family of Raynold Huang! Our endless gratitude to the 140 families, or 43% of you,?who donated to the Campaign for Cabot this year.? With your help we reached our goal of $29,000!!? WOW!? This will allow us to fund many wonderful programs and services for the students to help assist the school and enhance the learning at Cabot.? Thank you so very much!!? The final details are being tabulated and will will print the?official amount in the next week or so.? Thanks are not enough, but go to Lori Seuch,?VP of Fundraising who sent out all the letters and compiled at the detailed information, Emily Hess, our database guru, and Rosemary Thomsen, the PTO Treasurer for depositing all the checks and completing any matching gift forms.? Thank you!!!?? Congratulations to the family of Raynold Huang of Mr. Velluto's class!!? His family won the IPOD Shuffle we raffled off at the dance. All families who donated to the Campaign were entered into the raffle. 5TH GRADE ACTIVITIES - TEACHER VACATION RAFFLE Four teachers/staff members have the chance to win the ?Weekend Away? Raffle, sponsored by the 5th Grade Activities Committee!? Students can buy tickets naming the teachers/staff members they would like to win.? (We think this is a great way to say ?thank you? to the folks who work so hard on behalf of our children every day.)? The homes have been donated by members of the Cabot community: one in New Hampshire, two in Vermont, and one on Martha?s Vineyard.? Tickets are $5 each or 6 for $25.? There is a Raffle Ticket envelope outside each classroom door for completed ticket forms and checks (NO CASH PLEASE).? Raffle tickets can also be purchased during the Bake Sale hours at Cabot School on Election day (February 5th).? We will have two drawings ? 2 winners on February 14th and two on February 15th.? Special prizes will also be given to the students who purchase the winning tickets.? Questions?? Please contact Sandy Connors, Alice Cunningham, Sue Sagan, Kim Spencer or Julie Stonehill. ? All proceeds go towards the 5th grade activities.? We have been getting great response. Thank you for your support!! MCAS Assessment Dates - Look for the Blue Sheet which came home in your child's backpack today.? This lists the dates for the MCAS exams for grades 3,4 & 5.? Please make an extra special effort to be in school on these days.? Attached to this email is a letter stating that Tuesday March 25th will be a full day of school due to the MCAS testing, and Wednesday March 26th will be the regular weekly early release day. Please mark your calendars now! The Newton PTO Council and Newton PTO?s invite you to a special evening: METCO In Massachusetts - A Significant Work In Progress February 26, 2008? 7:00 pm Mason Rice Elementary School - 149 Pleasant Street, Newton Centre Featuring Susan Eaton,? Research Director, Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice, Harvard Law School ????????? Explore the history and founding purpose of METCO. ????????? Understand METCO?s evolution over the years. ????????? Learn the benefits of the program for students from Boston and from the suburbs. ????????? Discover new research findings on the benefits of diverse learning environments. ????????? Examine Massachusetts? efforts in a national context. ? Susan is author of several books, The Children in Room E4: American Education on Trial, The Other Boston Busing Story: What's Won and Lost Across the Boundary Line, and co-author, with Gary Orfield, of Dismantling Desegregation: The Quiet Reversal of Brown v. Board of Education ? Special Thanks to Angier Human Differences Committee for organizing this event. Invention Invasion Volunteers Cabot Family Dance? - A Great Night! We hope you and your family were able to join us last Saturday evening for the?Annual Cabot Family Dance.? There were over 140 members of the Cabot Community enjoying the evening, including Dr. Quarcoo who was out there with her dancing shoes on!? Many thanks: ?- To Suzy Enyeart and Julie Lindstrom, the Chairs of the event, for organizing such a wonderful evening.? So many things had to be done behind the scenes to make the dance?run smoothly, - they have been working on this since early in the fall.? Everything went off without a hitch thanks to all their effort and enthusiasm. ?- To Mr. Lacatell - DJ extroadinare for playing?great music, keeping the dancers entertained and playing crowd favorites such as the chicken dance,?High School Musical songs, the Limbo and of course, Sweet Caroline! ?- To Isabelle Thacker and Sue Klapish for organizing the food drive and for delivering all the donated items (a full car load) to the Newton Food Pantry.??? ?- To Mr. Wong for getting out there and encouraging everyone to dance? - and for being the best "macarena leader' ever. ?- To Doug Hoffman - our PTO photographer for taking many pictures to help us remember the night.? Look soon at the PTO Bulletin board for some candids of the evening.?? ?-?To all of you who came out?to enjoy some great music and community spirit!? Campaign for Cabot - Congratulations to us all for reaching our goal and to the Family of Raynold Huang! Our endless gratitude to the 140 families, or 43% of you,?who donated to the Campaign for Cabot this year.? With your help we reached our goal of $29,000!!? WOW!? This will allow us to fund many wonderful programs and services for the students to help assist the school and enhance the learning at Cabot.? Thank you so very much!!? The final details are being tabulated and will will print the?official amount in the next week or so.? Thanks are not enough, but go to Lori Seuch,?VP of Fundraising who sent out all the letters and compiled at the detailed information, Emily Hess, our database guru, and Rosemary Thomsen, the PTO Treasurer for depositing all the checks and completing any matching gift forms.? Thank you!!!?? Congratulations to the family of Raynold Huang of Mr. Velluto's class!!? His family won the IPOD Shuffle we raffled off at the dance. All families who donated to the Campaign were entered into the raffle. 5TH GRADE ACTIVITIES - TEACHER VACATION RAFFLE Four teachers/staff members have the chance to win the ?Weekend Away? Raffle, sponsored by the 5th Grade Activities Committee!? Students can buy tickets naming the teachers/staff members they would like to win.? (We think this is a great way to say ?thank you? to the folks who work so hard on behalf of our children every day.)? The homes have been donated by members of the Cabot community: one in New Hampshire, two in Vermont, and one on Martha?s Vineyard.? Tickets are $5 each or 6 for $25.? There is a Raffle Ticket envelope outside each classroom door for completed ticket forms and checks (NO CASH PLEASE).? Raffle tickets can also be purchased during the Bake Sale hours at Cabot School on Election day (February 5th).? We will have two drawings ? 2 winners on February 14th and two on February 15th.? Special prizes will also be given to the students who purchase the winning tickets.? Questions?? Please contact Sandy Connors, Alice Cunningham, Sue Sagan, Kim Spencer or Julie Stonehill. ? All proceeds go towards the 5th grade activities.? We have been getting great response. Thank you for your support!! MCAS Assessment Dates - Look for the Blue Sheet which came home in your child's backpack today.? This lists the dates for the MCAS exams for grades 3,4 & 5.? Please make an extra special effort to be in school on these days.? Attached to this email is a letter stating that Tuesday March 25th will be a full day of school due to the MCAS testing, and Wednesday March 26th will be the regular weekly early release day. Please mark your calendars now! The Newton PTO Council and Newton PTO?s invite you to a special evening: METCO In Massachusetts - A Significant Work In Progress February 26, 2008? 7:00 pm Mason Rice Elementary School - 149 Pleasant Street, Newton Centre Featuring Susan Eaton,? Research Director, Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice, Harvard Law School ????????? Explore the history and founding purpose of METCO. ????????? Understand METCO?s evolution over the years. ????????? Learn the benefits of the program for students from Boston and from the suburbs. ????????? Discover new research findings on the benefits of diverse learning environments. ????????? Examine Massachusetts? efforts in a national context. ? Susan is author of several books, The Children in Room E4: American Education on Trial, The Other Boston Busing Story: What's Won and Lost Across the Boundary Line, and co-author, with Gary Orfield, of Dismantling Desegregation: The Quiet Reversal of Brown v. Board of Education ? Special Thanks to Angier Human Differences Committee for organizing this event. Invention Invasion Volunteers Interested in helping out with a fun and exciting PTO program?? Only have a limited amount of time but you want to contribute?? Then we could use your help.? We are looking for a parent volunteer to help us with the Annual Invention Invasion.?The Invention Invasion is a fun evening where Cabot students present an ?invention? that they have designed.? This year it will take place on Tuesday, March 18th.? You don?t need to be a scientist.? All you need is a desire to help!? Contact Vicki Gartland (vgartland at comcast.net) or Karen Jauregui (kjauregui at repligen.com) if you are interested. Register now for Newton Central Spring Little League. Newton Central Little League is open to all children who live in the Cabot, Pierce or Ward elementary school districts and are age eligible. There are several different leagues within the Newton Central Little League: Farm, AA, AAA, and Majors. The league that your child will play in is determined by their age as well as tryouts (for older children only). Tryouts are intended to ensure that children play at the level that is most suitable for their skill level, as well as to attempt to balance teams.? T-ball will also be offered this year for the first time ever. REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Spring 2008 registration closes February 18, 2008 You may also email Mitch Klein, webmaster, registrar and the information manager, to be included in the email blasts: info at NewtonCentral.org ? ________________________________________________________________________ More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! - http://webmail.aol.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://cabotpto.org/pipermail/cabotcommunity_cabotpto.org/attachments/20080204/1ae3acfe/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: MCAS_Schedule_Letter.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 462194 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://cabotpto.org/pipermail/cabotcommunity_cabotpto.org/attachments/20080204/1ae3acfe/attachment.pdf From marykathf at aol.com Fri Feb 8 13:11:44 2008 From: marykathf at aol.com (marykathf at aol.com) Date: Fri, 08 Feb 2008 13:11:44 -0500 Subject: [CabotCommunity] Save the Date!! Feb 28th - Cabot Community Conversations Message-ID: <8CA3895326F3942-8C-F8F@MBLK-M37.sysops.aol.com> The School Council and the PTO proudly present: ? ? Cabot Community Conversations Thursday February 28, 2008 Cabot Gymnasium 7:00 PM ? 9:00 PM ? You are invited to a Round Table Discussion on: ? ??????? FY ?08 -?09 School Budget ? Override vs. Allocation, and how this is not part of the Newton North Construction Project; ??????? Facilities Planning ? Current and Long Term; ??????? Strategic Vision Planning ?? Newton Public Schools of 2020. ? In an open forum format, you will be able to ask questions, and hear more about the above topics from a host of people, such as: ? ??????? Principal, Dr. Marilynne Quarcoo; ??????? School Committee Members, including Reenie Murphy and Geoff Epstein ??????? Move Newton Forward Representatives, including Cabot parent Sarah Ecker; and ??????? Newton Strategic Planning Committee Members, including Cabot parent Lisa Prior. ? We welcome you to be part of the future of education for our children and Newton schools!!? Hope to see you all. ? ? ________________________________________________________________________ More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! - http://webmail.aol.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://cabotpto.org/pipermail/cabotcommunity_cabotpto.org/attachments/20080208/27da9dfb/attachment.html From marykathf at aol.com Tue Feb 12 14:40:04 2008 From: marykathf at aol.com (marykathf at aol.com) Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:40:04 -0500 Subject: [CabotCommunity] Jabberlite for Tuesday Feb 12th In-Reply-To: <8CA35A29287F791-DE4-2503@WEBMAIL-MC05.sysops.aol.com> References: <8CA359B040E5033-DE4-2273@WEBMAIL-MC05.sysops.aol.com> <8CA35A1C1F15DB7-DE4-24B9@WEBMAIL-MC05.sysops.aol.com> <8CA35A29287F791-DE4-2503@WEBMAIL-MC05.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: <8CA3BC63355315B-14AC-E46@WEBMAIL-MC18.sysops.aol.com> Jabberlite for Tuesday February 12, 2008 This edition contains information about: Call Back Reminder Cabot Community Conversations 2/28 METCO in Massachusetts, featuring speaker Susan Eaton (childcare now available!!) 2/26 PTO Meeting date change Artwork for Education Cabot 5th Grade Activities Teacher Vacation Raffle Invention Invasion - 3/18 Spring Little League sign-ups Upcoming Calendar - visit www.Cabotpto.org for?the entire?calendar anytime. February 14, 2008 CASP Advisory Board Meeting? 7:45am 2/18/08 - 2/22/08 Winter Vacation, NO SCHOOL February 25, 2008 School Committee Meeting, 7:30 PM February 26, 2008 Jabberwock Publication 2007-08 Issue #7 February 26, 2008 Affinity Group 12:30 pm February 26, 2008 METCO in Massachusetts, featuring speaker Susan Eaton 7:00pm Mason Rice School February 27, 2008 Kindergarten Parent Evening (snow date 3/3) February 27, 2008 Cabot Community Conversations 7-9:00pm Cabot Gymnasium Call Back Reminder If your child will be missing school as a result of the upcoming?winter vacation, please remember to notify the school. Please call the Cabot Safe Arrival Call Back number at 617-559-9390. Cabot Community Conversations February 28, 2008, Cabot Gymnasium 7:00 PM ? 9:00 PM ? You are invited to a Round Table Discussion on: FY ?08 -?09 School Budget ? Override vs. Allocation, and how this is not part of the Newton North Construction Project; Facilities Planning ? Current and Long Term; Strategic Vision Planning ? Newton Public Schools of 2020. In an open forum format, you will be able to ask questions, and hear more about the above topics from a host of people, such as: ? Principal, Dr. Marilynne Quarcoo; School Committee Members, including Reenie Murphy and Geoff Epstein Move Newton Forward Representatives, including Cabot parent Sarah Ecker; and Newton Strategic Planning Committee Members, including Cabot parent Lisa Prior.?? We welcome you to be part of the future of education for our children and Newton schools!!? Hope to see you all.? This meeting is sponsored by the School Council and the PTO. ? The Newton PTO Council and Newton PTO?s invite you to a special evening: METCO In Massachusetts - A Significant Work In Progress February 26, 2008? 7:00 pm Mason Rice Elementary School - 149 Pleasant Street, Newton Centre **Childcare now available!!? The Newton PTO Council has offered to pay for babysitting for anyone interested in attending this. Please contact Sue Flicop at suef at aol.com if?you would like babysitting. Featuring Susan Eaton,? Research Director, Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice, Harvard Law School ????????? Explore the history and founding purpose of METCO. ????????? Understand METCO?s evolution over the years. ????????? Learn the benefits of the program for students from Boston and from the suburbs. ????????? Discover new research findings on the benefits of diverse learning environments. ????????? Examine Massachusetts? efforts in a national context. ? Susan is author of several books, The Children in Room E4: American Education on Trial, The Other Boston Busing Story: What's Won and Lost Across the Boundary Line, and co-author, with Gary Orfield, of Dismantling Desegregation: The Quiet Reversal of Brown v. Board of Education ? Special Thanks to Angier Human Differences Committee for organizing this event. METCO In Massachusetts - A Significant Work In Progress February 26, 2008? 7:00 pm Mason Rice Elementary School - 149 Pleasant Street, Newton Centre **Childcare now available!!? The Newton PTO Council has offered to pay for babysitting for anyone interested in attending this. Please contact Sue Flicop at suef at aol.com if?you would like babysitting. Featuring Susan Eaton,? Research Director, Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice, Harvard Law School ????????? Explore the history and founding purpose of METCO. ????????? Understand METCO?s evolution over the years. ????????? Learn the benefits of the program for students from Boston and from the suburbs. ????????? Discover new research findings on the benefits of diverse learning environments. ????????? Examine Massachusetts? efforts in a national context. ? Susan is author of several books, The Children in Room E4: American Education on Trial, The Other Boston Busing Story: What's Won and Lost Across the Boundary Line, and co-author, with Gary Orfield, of Dismantling Desegregation: The Quiet Reversal of Brown v. Board of Education ? Special Thanks to Angier Human Differences Committee for organizing this event. ? ? PTO Meeting Date Change Due to the Cabot Community Conversations Meeting on February 28th, the PTO meeting scheduled for Tuesday February 26th has been postponed until Tuesday March 25.? We hope to see you on March 25th at 8:40 in the Library. ARTWORK FOR EDUCATION Thank you to all the families who sent in permission slips to have their children's artwork?scanned into greeting cards through Worldwise Education.? The artwork looks beautiful, just wait until you see the?cards!? The preview and order forms will arrive in April and the cards themselves in May. We would like to thank Sandy Connors, Kate Johnson, Caroline Eggert, Erin Gubert, Shelly Griswold, Susan Poole,Teresa Tocher and Ms. Stahl?who all helped organize and label the artwork!? Many thanks also to Kelly Conroy,?whose inspired our artists and?for her?endeless assistance helping us get this project off the ground. Bowling with Cabot Connecting Families Approximately 50 people attended?the annual Cabot Connecting Families winter event!??We had 7 lanes going with 5 people per lane for 2 hours, whew!? Ron's delicious homemade ice cream was also part of the fun.? Many thanks to Mary Heney,?Amy Siegel and Brett Leav?for organizing this fun annual event!? 5TH GRADE ACTIVITIES - TEACHER VACATION RAFFLE THIS WEEK!! Four teachers/staff members have the chance to win the ?Weekend Away? Raffle, sponsored by the 5th Grade Activities Committee!? Students can buy tickets naming the teachers/staff members they would like to win.? (We think this is a great way to say ?thank you? to the folks who work so hard on behalf of our children every day.)? The homes have been donated by members of the Cabot community: one in New Hampshire, two in Vermont, and one on Martha?s Vineyard.? Tickets are $5 each or 6 for $25.? There is a Raffle Ticket envelope outside each classroom door for completed ticket forms and checks (NO CASH PLEASE).? Raffle tickets can also be purchased during the Bake Sale hours at Cabot School on Election day (February 5th).? We will have two drawings ? 2 winners on February 14th and two on February 15th.? Special prizes will also be given to the students who purchase the winning tickets.? Questions?? Please contact Sandy Connors, Alice Cunningham, Sue Sagan, Kim Spencer or Julie Stonehill. ? All proceeds go towards the 5th grade activities.? We have been getting great response. Thank you for your support!! Invention Invasion Volunteers 5TH GRADE ACTIVITIES - TEACHER VACATION RAFFLE THIS WEEK!! Four teachers/staff members have the chance to win the ?Weekend Away? Raffle, sponsored by the 5th Grade Activities Committee!? Students can buy tickets naming the teachers/staff members they would like to win.? (We think this is a great way to say ?thank you? to the folks who work so hard on behalf of our children every day.)? The homes have been donated by members of the Cabot community: one in New Hampshire, two in Vermont, and one on Martha?s Vineyard.? Tickets are $5 each or 6 for $25.? There is a Raffle Ticket envelope outside each classroom door for completed ticket forms and checks (NO CASH PLEASE).? Raffle tickets can also be purchased during the Bake Sale hours at Cabot School on Election day (February 5th).? We will have two drawings ? 2 winners on February 14th and two on February 15th.? Special prizes will also be given to the students who purchase the winning tickets.? Questions?? Please contact Sandy Connors, Alice Cunningham, Sue Sagan, Kim Spencer or Julie Stonehill. ? All proceeds go towards the 5th grade activities.? We have been getting great response. Thank you for your support!! Invention Invasion Volunteers Interested in helping out with a fun and exciting PTO program?? Only have a limited amount of time but you want to contribute?? Then we could use your help.? We are looking for a parent volunteer to help us with the Annual Invention Invasion.?The Invention Invasion is a fun evening where Cabot students present an ?invention? that they have designed.? This year it will take place on Tuesday, March 18th.? You don?t need to be a scientist.? All you need is a desire to help!? Contact Vicki Gartland (vgartland at comcast.net) or Karen Jauregui (kjauregui at repligen.com) if you are interested. Register now for Newton Central Spring Little League. Newton Central Little League is open to all children who live in the Cabot, Pierce or Ward elementary school districts and are age eligible. There are several different leagues within the Newton Central Little League: Farm, AA, AAA, and Majors. The league that your child will play in is determined by their age as well as tryouts (for older children only). Tryouts are intended to ensure that children play at the level that is most suitable for their skill level, as well as to attempt to balance teams.? T-ball will also be offered this year for the first time ever. REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Spring 2008 registration closes February 18, 2008 You may also email Mitch Klein, webmaster, registrar and the information manager, to be included in the email blasts: info at NewtonCentral.org Compiled for you by the Cabot PTO. ________________________________________________________________________ More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! - http://webmail.aol.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://cabotpto.org/pipermail/cabotcommunity_cabotpto.org/attachments/20080212/3a7655d8/attachment.html From marykathf at aol.com Tue Feb 19 21:42:46 2008 From: marykathf at aol.com (marykathf at aol.com) Date: Tue, 19 Feb 2008 21:42:46 -0500 Subject: [CabotCommunity] Updated Newton School Budget information & Cabot Community Conversations Message-ID: <8CA41816914B750-C30-13B2@webmail-mf01.sysops.aol.com> February 19, 2008 Dear Cabot Community, ? In a memo dated January 31, 2008, the Cabot Political Issues Committee summarized this year?s budget process for our community.? As they stated, Superintendent Young has presented two budgets to the School Committee, the override budget and the allocation budget.? The override budget is the proposed budget that would be in place if the citizens of Newton vote to approve an override this May.? The allocation budget is the proposed budget that would be in place if the citizens of Newton vote against an override in May. ? Further deliberations have taken place since the last memo was sent (the original email is attached to this email for your reference).? The allocation budget was modified based upon feedback the School Committee received from the Community via letters, emails, and phone calls and at the Public Hearing held on February 6, 2008.? ? The adjustments made to the allocation budget include: ???? Reduction of an additional 4 elementary teachers, in addition to the 13 already lost in the original allocation budget.? ???? Loss of a Fine Arts Coordinator, a World Languages Coordinator, and a? Reading Specialist Coordinator ???? ?The loss of 12.3 elementary class size aides ? These additional reductions were made to put back : ???? 14.5 elementary literary specialists and early literary aides, which still will not restore the current level of these specialists ???? 3 elementary math coaches (none at Cabot) ???? 3 middle school teachers ???? 1.6 middle school multi-team teacher ???? 5 SPED/pupil Services positions ? What does this mean specifically at Cabot?? It means if the override budget is not passed, Cabot will see a reduction of 3 classrooms, from the current 21 classrooms to 18 classrooms, with a slight increase in students, projected from 424 this year up to 430 for next year.? These figures suggest that certain classes at Cabot may be as high as 28 students, especially in grades 2, 3, and 4 where consolidation of these grades are likely with the current numbers and projections.? Although final class configuration decisions are left to the Principal, total classroom teachers assigned to a particular school will be based upon these numbers. ? On the evening of February 11, 2008, the School Committee approved both the allocation budget and the override budget.? It was clear that both Superintendent Jeff Young and the School Committee were unhappy with the allocation budget, but felt that it was as good as it could be given the limited amount of money they were allocated. ? ?To see all the budget details, go to: http://www.newton.k12.ma.us/schoolcommittee/_documentsFY08/FY09_Override_Budget_01_14_08.pdf ? http://www.newton.k12.ma.us/schoolcommittee/_documentsFY08/fy09_allocation_budget.pdf ? To see the Superindent?s comments and specifics about the ?revised allocation budget?, go to: http://www.newton.k12.ma.us/pdf/FY09%20Allocation%20Budget%201-28-08.pdf ? ? As citizens of Newton, as parents and guardians, we urge you to get involved in this process and consider what type of education you want for your children in the Newton Public Schools. ?? ? Questions and comments about this and other issues will be welcome at our evening round table discussion. Please join us for: ? Cabot Community Conversations February 28, 2008 Cabot Gymnasium 7:00 PM ? 9:00 PM ? A Round Table Discussion on: ? FY ?08 -?09 School Budget ? Override vs. Allocation, and how this is not part of the Newton North Construction Project; Facilities Planning ? Current and Long Term; Strategic Vision Planning? ? Newton Public Schools of 2020. ? In an open forum format, you will be able to ask questions, and hear more about the above topics from a host of people, such as: ? Principal, Dr. Marilynne Quarcoo; School Committee Members, including Reenie Murphy and Geoff Epstein Move Newton Forward Representatives, including Cabot parent Sarah Ecker; and Newton Strategic Planning Committee Members, including Cabot parent Lisa Prior. ? We welcome you to be part of the future of education for our children and Newton schools!!? Hope to see you all. Mary Kathryn Fallon Cabot PTO Co-President marykathf at aol.com 617-244-1821 ________________________________________________________________________ More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! - http://webmail.aol.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://cabotpto.org/pipermail/cabotcommunity_cabotpto.org/attachments/20080219/364f74ec/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: override-allocation_Final[1].doc Type: application/msword Size: 39424 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://cabotpto.org/pipermail/cabotcommunity_cabotpto.org/attachments/20080219/364f74ec/attachment.doc From marykathf at aol.com Tue Feb 26 13:42:53 2008 From: marykathf at aol.com (marykathf at aol.com) Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 13:42:53 -0500 Subject: [CabotCommunity] Jabberwock for Tuesday February 26, 2008 In-Reply-To: <8CA46B9D3187DE5-8C0-23DB@MBLK-M38.sysops.aol.com> References: <8CA46B8CBCFD3DD-550-13E0@MBLK-M31.sysops.aol.com> <8CA46B9D3187DE5-8C0-23DB@MBLK-M38.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: <8CA46BE878D2CAA-878-E35@MBLK-M40.sysops.aol.com> View full size Jabberwock for Tuesday February 26, 2008 Issue #6 - 07-08 Edited by Kim Spencer ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? Respect for self and others??????????? Lifelong learning???????????????? Commitment to school and community ? Cabot School Contact Information ? Main Office: 617-559-9400???????????????????? ??? ? CASP: 617-964-2749 ? Gym: 617-559-9407?????????? ????????????????????????? ? Food Service: 617-559-9021 or 617-559-6315?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ? Inclusion Facilitator: 617-559-9409????? ????? ? Nurse: 617-559-9404 ? Library: 617-559-9406???????????????????????? ?????? ? Psychologist & Social Worker: 617-559-9405 ? Call Back/Safe Arrival: 617-559-9390 Call by 8:20 a.m. to report tardiness & absences ? Cabot School website ??????www.newton.k12.ma.us/cabot/ Cabot School PTO ????????????www.cabotpto.org Newton Public Schools? ???www.newton.k12.ma.us/ ? ?Calendar ? ? February 26, 2008 MELA-O Massachusetts English Language Assessment - Oral ( for English Language Learners, grades 3 - 5) ? February 26, 2008 Affinity Group 12:30 pm ? February 26, 2008 METCO in Massachusetts, featuring speaker Susan Eaton 7:00pm Mason Rice School ? February 27, 2008 Kindergarten Parent Evening 7:00 - 8:30pm (snow date 3/3) ? February 27, 2008 Cabot Community Conversations 7-9:00pm Cabot Gymnasium ? February 29, 2008 MELA-O Massachusetts English Language Assessment - Oral ( for English Language Learners, grades 3 - 5) ? ? ? ? March 3, 2008 School Committee Meeting 7:30 PM ? March 4, 2008 School Council Meeting 5:00 - 6:45PM ? March 5, 2008 Kindergarten Assessments (snow date 3/12) ? March 6, 2008 Creative Arts & Sciences Grade 3 - Brian Lies Author/Illustrator ? March 6, 2008 School Committee Meeting 7:30 PM ? March 10, 2008 School Committee Meeting 7:30 PM ? March 10, 2008 MEPA-R/W? Massachusetts English Proficiency Assessment ( for English Language Learners, grades 3 - 5) ? March 10, 2008 Kindergarten Assessments (snow date 3/17) ? March 11, 2008 MEPA-R/W? Massachusetts English Proficiency Assessment ( for English Language Learners, grades 3 - 5) ? March 13, 2008 Understanding our Differences Grade 4 1:00 - 2:45 PM ? March 13, 2008 School Committee Meeting 7:30 PM ? March 13, 2008 Newton Unplugged - No homework/No meeting night ? March 12 - 14, 2008 Book Fair, Cabot Library ? March 13, 2008 Book Fair & Ice Cream Social, 6:30-8:30 PM, Cabot Gym & Library ? March 14, 2008 MEPA-R/W? Massachusetts English Proficiency Assessment ( for English Language Learners, grades 3 - 5) ? March 17, 2008 School Committee Meeting 7:30 PM ? March 18, 2008 Jabberwock Publication 2007-08 Issue #8 ? March 18, 2008 Invention Invasion ? March 19, 2008 School Committee Meeting 7:30 PM ? March 20, 2008 Early Release, 12:30 PM Dismissal ? March 21, 2008 Good Friday, NO SCHOOL Please check the website www.cabotpto.org for an updated calendar at anytime. ?Marilynne?s Message Budget 2008-2009 ? While our lives are often quite full and most families have a generally good opinion of the school, the teachers and the school system, this year seems to present some very large challenges to the core fiber of the school district. Since January the Newton School Committee has been considering a budget to fund next school year. These decisions have now been made and impact life in the schools. Rather than cause unnecessary alarm, I am providing actual facts. After reading this I hope you will consider attending our School Council/PTO open forum with members of the School Committee this Thursday February 28th from 7:00 ? 9:00pm. ? Since the Mayor has called for an override, the school committee prepared a budget that requires $16.3 million more dollars to fund our current programs and start to restore programs that have seen severe reductions or elimination over the past years. You can read all the details at www.newtonk12.ma.us. One major positive impact for us in the override budget is a new position, a math coach assigned to Cabot School. Math coaches work directly with teachers to provide support in differentiating curriculum and adjusting instruction to meet all students? needs They work with the principal to identify professional development and resource needs for the school. This additional staff certainly would be a welcome addition as teachers work diligently to gain greater competence in differentiating curriculum. ? However, the school principal must look more closely at the allocation budget. This budget does not provide additional dollars, rather it causes grave disruption to programs. At Cabot School, the following reductions will occur: ? 1. Reduction in Literacy Program personnel. The Literacy Specialist position would be reduced to half time. Reduction would also be felt in the literacy assistants who provide direct instruction to students in classrooms at kindergarten through grade 3. They lead small reading groups so the students can have more frequent contact with teachers over the course of the week, Due to staffing arrangements we most likely will see a new Literacy Specialist at Cabot School. ? 2. Elimination of the part time School Social Worker. Our social worker provides support to parents and students and serves as a liaison with outside consultants and service providers. Her role also requires sustained work with teachers. The social worker is key to supporting issues related to family crisis, social skills support, and problem solving around a host of developmental issues. The social worker also supports the bully prevention programs and helps to maintain a healthy and safe school climate. ? 3. Reduction of 3 Classroom Teachers. Class size has been approved to go as high as 28 students per class. This means Cabot School will have only 18 classrooms. Our largest projected class sizes will be at grade 2, grade 3, and grade 4. Classroom teachers will be assigned based on a negotiated agreement between the Newton Teachers Association and the School Committee. The result will be the loss of at least 3 teachers but given the district?s obligation system wide we could lose even more classroom teachers. ? 4. Reduction of specialists. Based on an allocation of 18 classrooms, specialists such as art, library, music and physical education, health and wellness will be reduced. ? 5. Special Education reduction. These are harder to identify given certain obligations under special education regulations.? Students will be more likely clustered in classrooms so we can support children with an anticipated reduction in behavior therapists and teaching assistants. ? 6. Reduction in the per pupil expenditure. The school budget for instructional materials will be reduced from the current level of $130 per student. We will have decreased provision of classroom supplies to keep pace with inflationary increases.? Current funding is already below need, causing staff and families to provide supplies so classrooms can function adequately. ? 7. Operations, this means school maintenance. There will be a decreased capacity to maintain clean, safe and healthy learning environments as well as a decreased capacity to accommodate after-school and evening programming at school buildings. ? This list could be further developed but the picture that is being painted suggests the concern we all must be aware of? - ?all children will be impacted by these reductions. ? Be sure to read all publications especially those regarding the budget. As you can imagine, the climate in school has been particularly difficult for faculty and staff. The winter break probably came at the right time giving all of us time to regenerate ourselves so we can continue to work diligently this year. The faculty and staff are a remarkable group. While we all wait and wonder our collective fate as educators in Newton, we rally around our core values and what we believe is important at school. On Monday, it was clear that Cabot teachers remain very focused on children and being the professionals that have made this district and school a great place to educate children. ? I hope to see many of you Thursday evening. ? Gung Hei Fat Choy Happy New Year to all who celebrated the Lunar New Year on February 7th.? This is the year of the Rat, which begins the 12 year Chinese New Year Cycle, also known as Spring Festival.? It is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays.? The festival traditionally begins on the first day of the first month with a new moon and ends 15 days later; this day is called Lantern Festival.? The Chinese New Year celebrations are marked by visits to relatives and friends, a practice known as ?new-year visits?.? New clothing is usually worn to signify a new year.? The color red is used in all decorations.? Red packets containing money in certain numbers that reflect good luck (8 is considered very lucky) are given to children by older friends or relatives.? Several foods are consumed to usher in wealth, happiness, and good fortune. ? On the days before the New Year celebration, Chinese families give their home a thorough cleaning.? It is believed the cleaning sweeps away the bad luck of the preceding year and makes their homes ready for good luck.? Brooms and dust pans are put away on the first day so that luck cannot be swept away.? Some people give their homes, doors and window-panes a new coat of red paint.? Homes are often decorated with paper cutouts of Chinese phrases.? There is usually a big family dinner served on New Year?s Eve and celebrations for the following two weeks.? We wish those who celebrate all the blessings and rewards for the year ahead. ? ? ? PTO Pen ? Welcome Back - we hope this winter vacation relaxed and recharged you all.? This edition of the Jabberwock is full of information and upcoming events ?- there is so much going on! ? We are forever grateful to our community for your generosity in donating to the Campaign for Cabot ? we had 46%, or 150 families participate, which allowed us to reach our goal and then some ? we rose over $31k!!? Thank you, thank you, thank you.? This amount will allow us to fund many wonderful programs and services for the students, to support the school and the teachers at Cabot, and to enrich the learning of all our students.? Thanks are not enough, but go to Lori Seuch,?VP of Fundraising who sent out all the letters and compiled the detailed information, Emily Hess, our database guru, and Rosemary Thomsen, the PTO Treasurer for depositing all the checks and completing any matching gift forms.? Thank you!!!?? As mentioned a few times in this edition, we encourage you to come and join us at the Cabot Community Conversations Open Forum this Thursday evening.? We have invited many special guests to come and speak on your behalf ? this is your opportunity to ask questions and get answers!? This is an important year for the budget and your participation and feedback are important.? Attached to this email is a list of FAQ?s prepared by the Move Newton Forward Organization working on the override.? We received this forms courtesy of Sue Flicop of the Newton PTO Council and think it contains some interesting background for your information. ? March comes in like a lion - full of exciting happenings: we have the Book Fair, Newton Unplugged, Creative Arts & Sciences programs, the Invention Invasion, Understanding our Differences presentations and a PTO Meeting.? Of course, the fun doesn't?t stop there, in April please mark your calendar for Cabot Clean-up Day/ NewtonServes on the weekend of April 12 ? 13th.? ? We extend thanks to our involved community, our numerous volunteers and everyone?s energy and commitment ? Cabot is a great place to be! ? Mary Kathryn Fallon????????????????????????????? Archana Vahalia PTO co-President????????????????????????????? PTO co-President ? ? ?Upcoming Events at Cabot ? This Week: The Newton PTO Council and Newton PTO?s invite you to a special evening: METCO In Massachusetts - A Significant Work In Progress Tonight, February 26, 2008? 7:00 pm Mason Rice Elementary School - Featuring Susan Eaton,? Research Director ? Incoming Kindergarten Parent Meeting ? The parent evening program for incoming Kindergarteners will be held this Wednesday, February 27, 2008 from 7:00 ? 8:30pm. ? Cabot Community Conversations This Thursday, February 28, 2008, 7:00 PM ? 9:00 PM ? Join our Round Table Discussion on: FY ?08 -?09 School Budget ? Override vs. Allocation, and how this is not part of the Newton North Construction Project; Facilities Planning ? Current and Long Term; Strategic Vision Planning ? Newton Public Schools of 2020. In an open forum format, you will be able to ask questions, and hear more about the above topics from a host of people, such as: ? Principal, Dr. Marilynne Quarcoo; School Committee Members, including Reenie Murphy and Geoff Epstein Move Newton Forward Representatives, including Cabot parent Sarah Ecker; and Newton Strategic Planning Committee Members, including Cabot parent Lisa Prior.?? This meeting is sponsored by the School Council and the PTO. ? The National Mythology Exam to be held this week. The exam will be given on Wednesday, February 27th for all the students who have signed up for the exam.? The questions are based on information found in d?Aulaires? Book of Greek Myths, New York: Doubleday and Co., 1962.? Grades 3 & 4 will answer 30 multiple-choice questions based on material from pages 1-62 and pages 186-187.? Grade 5 will answer 30 multiple-choice questions based on material from pages 1-62 and pages 186-187.? They will also answer 10 multiple-choice questions based on THESEUS.? Grade 5 students must also study pages 148 ? 157. ?? Upcoming Events in the next few weeks: The Cabot Book Fair is coming! Visit the Cabot School library March 11-13 to browse and buy books. On March 13th, Cabot will again host Bedtime at the Book Fair, a fun night when you and your children can sip hot chocolate, listen to stories read by parents and teachers, and buy your favorite books.? The book fair will again have a used book section. If you have books to donate, please bring them to the library March 3-5. If you are able to volunteer at the book fair or if you?d like to be a guest reader, please contact Kate Johnson at kate at textreviews.com. ? Invention Invasion The invention invasion forms have been distributed and the classrooms visited.? Invasion Invasion fever has arrived!? Students are busy ?inventing? things like the ?sister seat-belt buckler? to the ?bedtime brusher?, the ?gerbil exercise maze? and the ?stinky sock zapper?.? All students in grades K- 5 are welcome to submit an invention.? Students can work, alone or as part of a group.? Forms are due back on March 10th and the ?invention themselves should be brought to school on Tuesday March 18th.? Interested in helping out?? We could use your help.? We are looking for a parent volunteer to help.? You don?t need to be a scientist, all you need is a desire to help!? Contact Vicki Gartland (vgartland at comcast.net) or Karen Jauregui (kjauregui at repligen.com) if you are interested. ? Next PTO Meeting We hope to see you on March 25th at 8:40am in the Library. ? ??VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Cabot Book Fair -- March 3-5 If you are able to volunteer at the book fair or if you?d like to be a guest reader, please contact Kate Johnson at kate at textreviews.com. ? Understanding Our Differences --March?27. If you are able to help with the UOD unit on Deafness and Hard of Hearing, please contact Maureen Mullowney at maureenmullowney at aol.com.? Training is provided by the Understanding Our Differences Program of Newton.? ? Save the Date-Cabot Fair 08' Mark your calendars for the exciting Cabot Fair 2008! ?Saturday May 3, ?10-3 p.m. // Creative games, ?Distinctive foods, Cool amusement rides, Excellent ponies, Awesome baked goods, Super karate, Great yard Sale and more...ALL day fun! ? If you would like to get involved please contact event co-chairs :Deb Klein at deb.klein at approachgroup.com or Laura Dreese at tiggermack at aol.com ? RECENT EVENTS Understanding Our Differences Program On January 24, 2008 the third graders participated in the Understanding Our Differences Program with a unit on Blindness and Visual Impairment.? We came together as a group from 1:00 to 2:45 to talk and learn about visual impairments and blindness. Third graders were able to experience what it was like to have a visual impairment; watch a video called " What do you do when you meet a Blind Person"; circulate through 4 stations learning about:? mobility, using your senses, writing braille, and understanding adaptive equipment.? This program was run entirely by parent volunteers.? Thank you to the parents who helped out: Rick Reilly, Bruce Brumberg, Maureen Mullowney, Jenny Gamson, Lisa Carbone, Dana D'Agostino, Lisa Porter, Lisa Svensson, Jenny Duvall and Isabelle Thacker.? Also thank you to the specialists Dana Bennet, Kelly Conroy, and Lani Gerson for keeping us?moving.?? ? There will be another opportunity coming up on March?27, 2008 to have parents help with the UOD unit on Deafness and Hard of Hearing.? If you want to help out with this program contact Maureen Mullowney at maureenmullowney at aol.com.? Training is provided by the Understanding Our Differences Program of Newton.? ? Bowling with Cabot Connecting Families Approximately 50 people attended?the annual Cabot Connecting Families winter event!??We had 7 lanes going with 5 people per lane for 2 hours, whew!? Ron's delicious homemade ice cream was also part of the fun.? Many thanks to Mary Heney,?Amy Siegel and Brett Leav?for organizing this fun annual event!? ? ? HOUSEKEEPING ? LOST & FOUND As always, the bin is overflowing! Be sure and check to see if there is anything in there that belongs to you! Thanks. ? Early Release Day Swap due to MCAS Testing Due to the MCAS testing across the state, Tuesday March 25th will be a full day of school.? We will have our weekly early dismissal on Wednesday March 26th instead.? Please mark your calendars. ? CABOT BROADCAST ? Got Old Birthday Certificates?? Don?t toss them - redeem them at the school store!? We gladly accept birthday certificates (worth 50?) from previous years.? The school store is open every Tuesday morning from 8:00 ? 8:20 am, and is located in the new Fine Arts wing.? Students just need to tell the fifth-grade safeties that they want to visit the store to be allowed in the building early.? We carry pencils, erasers, sharpeners, folders, rulers and other school-related items.? Proceeds from the school store go to the fifth graders to offset the cost of their yearbook, t-shirt and community service project.? Contact:? Karen Lumino, 617-630-5073 or family at swain.name. ? New Spanish Language Club to be held at CabotLook for the flyer from Newton Community Education/IES regarding the new Spanish After School Club beginning on March 13, 2008, 3-4:10.? The class will be held here at Cabot for 12 weeks. ? The Newton School Committee has launched a new bi-weekly Newsletter The newsletter has current?information on the latest?hot topics, as well as quick links to the School Committee and Newton Public Schools?websites.??This is a great way to keep up?with breaking?developments on budget challenges, building projects, the possible Prop. 2 1/2 override?and more.? Go to the newsletter at http://www.newton.k12.ma.us/schoolcommittee/newsletters/SCNewsletter_012208.html.? You are encouraged to subscribe to this newsletter so that updates?can?automatically be sent directly to your computer.? To subscribe, go to http://visitor.constantcontact.com/email.jsp?m=1101944472847. ? ? FUNDRAISING ? Thank you to the 46% of Cabot Families who made a donation to this year's Campaign for Cabot! We are so thankful and appreciative of your generosity! The total raised came to slightly over $31,000 and will help support all of the programs and projects that the PTO does on behalf of our children at the Cabot Elementary School.? Congratulations also to the families of Elijah DiLeo?Ward of Mrs. Mann?s class and Raynold Huang of Mr. Velluto's class!!?? Each won an IPOD Shuffle in the participation raffle. All families who donated to the Campaign were entered into the raffle. ? Yard Sale at the Cabot Fair Wait! ?Don't take that old set of Magic Tree House books to the Newton library - put them aside for the Cabot Fair Yard Sale! ?The yard sale at the Cabot Fair was a great success last year. ?Cabot families donated great merchandise and there were lots of buyers. ?Items for elementary school age kids (books, toys, DVDs), summer outdoor gear (bikes, trikes, sports gear, yard games) and household gadgets all sold especially well. ?So as you clean out your closets this winter, please save those good condition castoffs for the Cabot Fair Yard Sale. For more information contact: Noelle.Huntington at childrens.harvard.edu. ? Box Tops Please remember to start your on-line shopping at: http://cabotpto.org/shop/index.html and the Cabot PTO will receive a percentage of your sale, at no cost to you.? And please keep bringing in the Box Tops and putting them in the bright pink box in the front lobby. Questions: contact Isabelle Thacker, isabelle at thackers.net, 617-795-2332. ? Think Recycle! We have moved the location of the Think Recycle box into the office.? Please keep bringing in your old cell phones and empty ink cartridges and place them in the Think Recycle box over the mailboxes in the main office. Questions:? contact Isabelle Thacker, isabelle at thackers.net, 617-795-2332. ? ARTWORK FOR EDUCATION Thank you to all the families who sent in permission slips to have their children's artwork?scanned into greeting cards through Worldwise Education.? The artwork looks beautiful, just wait until you see the?cards!? We mailed in 268 pieces of art to be turned into cards. The preview and order forms will arrive in April and the cards themselves in May. Thanks go to Sandy Connors, Kate Johnson, Carolyn Eggert, Erin Gubert, Shelly Griswold, Susan Poole, Teresa Tocher and Ms. Stahl?who helped organize and label the artwork!? Many thanks also to Kelly Conroy,?who inspired our artists and?for her?endless assistance helping us get this project off the ground. ? FIFTH GRADE ACTIVITIES ? Thank you, Cabot School community, from the 5th Grade! What a fantastic vacation raffle we had! Thanks to Michael Mullowney, Ms. Robertson is going to New Hampshire; thanks to Nico Antoniadis, Ms. Forseter is going to Vermont; thanks to Jarrod Stomberg, Mr. Wong is going to Vermont; and thanks to Elias Cardoso, Mr. Miller is going to Martha?s Vineyard. Over 600 tickets were purchased by more than 100 families on behalf of every single teacher, specialist, many CASP staff members, Cabot lunch teachers, building staff and teaching assistants? ? what a fantastic statement about how much we appreciate everyone who takes care of our kids at Cabot School! ? Funtastic Fridays for all Newton 5th Graders Funtastic Fridays for all Newton 5th graders, March 7th:? A great way to meet kids from the ?feeder? elementary schools, as our 5th graders get ready to move up to Bigelow.? Here are the monthly dates for the remainder of the school year to put into your calendars: 4/4, 5/2, 6/13.? All are 7-9 pm. at the Hyde Community Center 90 Lincoln Street. $6 admission for Music, games and more. Snacks and drinks available for purchase. Sign up for a ?Fast Pass? card to speed entry by emailing your name, phone number and school to fevercoach at aol.com.? Sponsored in part by Parks and Rec. Questions? Call Judy Dore: 617-796-1525. ? ? TECHNOLOGY CORNER Great things are happening in technology at the Cabot School! During the past year, the Cabot PTO Technology Committee has purchased a color laserjet printer for the main office, 5 new laptops for the third floor, new iMacs for grade 5 classrooms and a new laptop and digital camera for the learning center. Computer speakers were purchased for all classrooms and we are looking forward to many exciting experiences with this resource! We are making plans to upgrade all the laptop carts in the future and provide students with increased accessibility. The PTO (Enrichment grant) has purchased a subscription for our classrooms to use Brainpop, an online learning tool.? Cybersafety lessons are being taught by the Instructional Technology Specialist and Library Teacher, for grades 3-5 during the months of February and March. Additionally, Cabot teachers are attending district-wide grade level laptop workshops and the Department of Instructional Technology has introduced a new website: http://www.newton.k12.ma.us/Technology/it/index02.html ? Classroom happenings: http://www.newton.k12.ma.us/cabot/abc2/abc_eton.html Grade 2 Mexico exchange http://www.newton.k12.ma.us/doucette/podcasts_grade3/vaswani_podcasts.html Grade 3 Poetrycasts http://www2.newton.k12.ma.us/~alan_ripp/math Mr. Ripp?s Fabulous Math Webpage ? The Technology Committee is working on updating the Cabot School website. The NPS Instructional Technology Plan for 2008-2011 is available online at http://www.newton.k12.ma.us/Technology/techplanning/index.html ? ? COMMUNITY PARK ? New Composting Program has Begun at Cabot! For those who have recently walked through Cabot Community Park and wondered at the black bin, Cabot has begun a composting program!? Ms. Fiorenza has spearheaded a campaign for composting, and 11 teachers/specialists/the office and CASP are participating.? The compost was started with the leaves from the park (some of which were added to the compost at the Newton Community Farm!) and continues to grow with daily additions of apple cores, clementine peels, etc.? The program is exciting for the students to observe how their food waste will break down to return to and nourish the earth while being removed from the waste stream as well as the park to being used for a new, educational opportunity.? In fact, the park has become such a favorite destination that a multitude of birds feed there daily, including the flock of turkeys (who tried but were unable to reach the feeders!)? ? FROM THE NURSE ? Hands Up for Health The Newton Elementary Schools have an exciting and effective new addition to their classrooms!? Waterless hand sanitizer dispensers are being installed in all regular classrooms during the months of January and February. This safe and effective hand cleaning method can be used when hands are not visibly soiled.? Regular hand washing with soap and water will continue to eliminate food residue for food allergy management. The common cold, flu and several gastrointestinal disorders are commonly spread through hand-to-hand contact.? Inadequate hand hygiene can contribute to the spread of these illnesses. Hand sanitizers are easy to use and are actually more effective than soap and water in killing bacteria and viruses that cause disease. We hope to see the incidence of illness reduced by employing this hand cleaning method. The following e-mail link is a Mayo Clinic article, it is quite good. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/handwashing/HQOO407 ? If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me: Karen E. Kerrigan, R.N. School Nurse ? COMMUNITY NEWS ? Demand is Up The Newton Food Pantry is reporting that demand is up. There is a new local family coming in for help just about every week. Most needed locally?are non-perishables:? canned spaghetti and meatballs, beef stew, tuna, canned fruits and vegetables, etc.??Toiletries:?Shampoo, razors and shaving cream, toothpaste and toothbrushes, etc.? Also dish detergent?for the sink.? Cash donations most welcome.? Drop off at the Waban Branch Library Monday or Friday afternoons or Wednesday mornings.? For info about how to give or receive: 617-527-2394. ? Project Bread The 40th Walk for Hunger will be on Sunday, May 4, 2008.? Project Bread, the state's leading anti-hunger organization, is dedicated to alleviating, preventing, and ultimately ending hunger in Massachusetts.? Through the Walk, Project Bread is able to provide millions of dollars each year to over 400 emergency food programs in 126 communities across the Commonwealth.? In 2007, 43,000 Walkers raised $3.4 million to fund emergency food programs, which served more than 42 million meals to people in need.? To get more information, or to register, go to www.projectbread.org. ? Kids can make a difference! Come be part of the PMC Kids ? Newton/Needham Ride! The annual PMC Kids ? Newton/Needham Ride is looking for 500 children, ages 3 - 15, to ride their bikes to raise money for the Jimmy Fund/Dana Farber Cancer Institute on Sunday, June 15th. The ride will take place at the Wells Office Park in Newton and will be followed by a party with music, raffles and exciting events. ?New this year: ?Teen Challenge Ride (13-15 year olds ride on their own route!) Register by March 15th to enter a raffle for a FREE bike. Hurry, space is limited, so all riders should register as soon as possible! There is a $10 registration fee and a minimum fundraising donation of $50 due the day of the ride. ? Go to: http://kids.pmc.org/kids2006/Events.asp?EventID=148 for more information; or to help form a Cabot team, contact Julie Stonehill at jastonehill at rcn.com or 617-964-4937. ? Presbyterian Church Nursery School Fundraising Event Families with young children, come and enjoy some light-hearted fun with Joe the Storyteller.? Saturday, March 1st, 11:00 am, at the Watertown Middle School, 68 Waverly Avenue, Watertown.? $8 per ticket, $30 family maximum, children under 2 are free.? Refreshments will be sold after the show.? Proceeds will benefit the Presbyterian Church Nursery School in Newton Corner.? For tickets, questions call 617.332.9255 x 1. ? Burr Cooperative Nursery School Winter Festival and Concert Get the whole family dancing at the BCNS Winter Festival and Concert -- a fun-filled morning including live music from fabulous singer/songwriter Wayne Potash, activity stations, arts and crafts, bake sale, amazing raffles, and a magic show! Saturday, March 1, 10:00am - 12:30pm; Newton Cultural Center, 225 Nevada St. Newtonville. $8 per person in advance (call Martha Trail 617-916-9736) or $10 at the door. ? Bowen Cooperative Nursery School There are still a few openings left at Bowen Cooperative Nursery School?s Transitional Kindergarten program for the?2008-2009 year.??This program is for children who are 5 years old, or who are about to turn 5, but who will not yet be in Kindergarten as of September.? Located in Newtonville, we are a child-centered, play-based school at which children can continue their social, emotional, intellectual and physical development in a creative, safe and exciting environment. ?For more information about our Transitional Kindergarten program and to obtain an application, please visit our website, www.bowencoop.org or contact Barbara Cleary, Director, at (617) 332-3923. ? First Aid and Adult Pediatric CPR Course This winter Newton Community Service Center (NCSC) is offering an American Heart Association First Aid and CPR course. ?The course will cover first aid basics, medical emergencies, injury emergencies, allergies, environmental emergencies and other topics. It will also cover adult and pediatric CPR. This is the course to take if you are a parent, a childcare professional, or working with other community programs. At the conclusion of this course, participants will receive 2-year certification in First Aid and in Adult and Pediatric CPR. This course will be offered on March 13th from 6:30PM to 9:30PM at the Newton Community Service Center.? The cost for both the CPR & First Aid Course is $85.? For information or to register, please call Jennifer Capello McAuliffe, NCSC Camp and Recreational Director (617) 969-5906, ext. 224 or visit www.ncscweb.org and click on Recreational Programs. ? Facing History's Choosing to Participate exhibit at Boston Public Library How do you talk to your children about the hard choices they face? About what to do when they encounter differences, prejudice, or exclusion? These are some of the hardest conversations to begin. Facing History's Choosing to Participate exhibit offers unique opportunities for families with children in grades K-6 to engage in activities, storytelling and conversations about respect and tolerance. Bring the family and join us at 10:00 am on the following Saturdays: March 1?? Little Things Are Big: A Conversation about Identity, Stereotypes, and Choices April 5???? Choices in Little Rock: A Story about Courage and Belonging May 3????? Not In Our Town: Lessons from a Community of Upstanders Boston Public Library, Dartmouth Street Entrance Space is limited. Please RSVP to kyle_meingast at facing.org or call 617-735-1646. For more info: www.choosingtoparticipate.org. ? Newton Youth Players Newton Youth Players puts on plays starring our kids, Grades 1 through 6.? Parts for everyone.? At Newton Cultural Center, 225 Nevada Street. Curtain time is June 19th for ?The Sound of Music?, with rehearsals on Thursdays 3:45-5:15 April 10th through June 19th -- sorry, the Tuesday slots are filled.? Coming attractions: Summer 2008 ?Oklahoma? (Monday-Friday), Winter 2008 ?You?re a Good Man, Charlie Brown?, Tues or Thurs., Spring 2009 ?Oklahoma? Tues or Thurs.? Register at 617-796-1540.? Info: www.ci.newton.ma.us, click on ?departments? then ?Cultural affairs?; or email Lplaut at newtonma.gov or Janderson at newtonma.gov. ? New Rep On Tour brings "Cyrano" to the Newton Cultural Center The Mayor's Office for Cultural Affairs will sponsor the New Rep On Tour with a three-player adaptation of Edmund Rostand's Masterpiece, "Cyrano", Saturday, March 15, at 1PM at the Newton Cultural Center, 225 Nevada Street, Newtonville. "Cyrano" a witty, brave and image -conscious poet with a rather conspicuous nose, is in love with the beautiful Roxanne.? Through an unexpected chain of events, he is destined to help his rival, a handsome yet dumb soldier, win her heart.? With word-play, sword-lay, poignancy and humor, this three-character adaptation tells the timeless tale of love, deception, honor and a great nose. $5.00 suggested donation.? Open seating. 617 527-8283. ? Newton Girls Soccer Spring 2008 Registration is ongoing for K - Grade 9. Intramural games are played Saturdays April 5 through June 7th.? For grades 2-9 there is also a weekly practice.? Scholarships available.? Register online at www.newtongirlssoccer.org - click on ?Registration?. ? Think Spring!? Think Softball!? Online registration is underway for Newton Girls Softball?s Spring Season.? The program is open to all girls in grades 1-8. Players of all skill levels will have a rewarding experience. For details about the spring season and the ongoing winter indoor clinics go to www.newtongirlssoftball.org. ? ?Newton On the Move? Bike-a-Thon: Each of Newton?s individual schools is being asked to start now to plan for next fall?s Bike-a-Thon, coordinated by the former principal of Newton North High School, Jennifer Huntington, who is now a Newton Schools Foundation Board Member.? The event, scheduled for Sunday, October 5th will take bike riders to each of Newton?s 21 schools and ends at City Hall for prizes, refreshments, etc.? The goal is to raise money for the Foundation and for?the individual schools.? Although this event is almost a year away, it takes a lot of planning.? The current aim is to get volunteers from?each of the schools to meet monthly?to work out logistics/finances/safety/rules/publicity, etc.? Here is some of what needs to be done:? Form bike riding team(s) from each school, sponsor the event, get sponsors and donors, help with publicity, cheer riders along the route, help hand out water/ice cream at City Hall, and of course help with the overall planning. Please consider helping out in ways both large and small.? Contact Jennifer Huntington at 617-965-5063 or granx4 at gmail.com. ? ?My daughter wants to play golf...Now what?? If you know of any young girls interested in playing golf, the Women's Golf Association of Massachusetts (WGAM) is having a free information session for current or future junior girl golfers and their parents. Saturday, April 12, 2008, 1:00 pm ? 2:30 pm, William F. Connell Golf House & Museum. 3:00 pm Demo at MGA Links at Mamantapett Museum Open from Noon to 1:00 pm, Norton, MA. Call the WGAM at (774)-430-9010 or get info at www.wgam.org. ?? Calling all 4th Graders ?Funtastic Fridays? and ?Unplugged and Connected? bring you ?Special Edition?, March 14th 6:30-8:30 pm at Newton Community Service Center 492 Waltham Street, West Newton.? $6.? DJ, Basketball, games and more.? Snacks and drinks available for purchase.? For more info:? 617-796-1500.? ? Saturday Drop-In Art at the New Art Center Parents can drop off their children or stay and create art together from 10 am-11:30 am on Saturdays. A different project and theme each week! Grades K-5. No pre-registration required, $15 cash/check. Upcoming Dates: March 1, 8, 15. For more information call 617-964-3424 or visit us online www.newartcenter.org. ? Newtonopoly Available for the first time in over 20 years, our own local version of the classic board game! Newtonopoly plays like the popular game, but features local businesses as property! A great present for residents, both current and former, of all ages. Proceeds will pay for software and computer updates in the Newton North Business Department, along with a portion to benefit the Carroll Center for the Blind. Developed and marketed by the Newton North Business Club. To order: Mail a check for $20 payable to Newton North Business Club c/o Robert Kane NNHS 360 Lowell Ave. Newtonville, MA 02460 Include your name, address, phone, email.? Free local delivery. ? It?s not too early to start thinking about Summer Camp The city of Newton?s Parks and Recreation Department offers more than 15 quality summer camps for children from pre-school to high school, from sports clinics to arts, from theatre to outdoor adventure.? Many of these camps offer extended days, a great boon for working parents.? For descriptions of these offerings, watch you child?s backpack for a brochure, visit www.ci.newton.ma.us/parks, or call 617-796-1500.? You may register for several of these programs on-line at www.activityreg.com. ? NCSC Summer Day Camp Registration is Underway Hale Reservation in Westwood offers boating, Red Cross swim lessons and free swim, arts and crafts, fishing, archery, ropes challenge course, nature activities, athletics, cookouts, special events, overnights and more.? June 23rd through August 22nd. Gather at 8 am at the Newton Community Center for an 8:30 bus to Hale Reservation, returning at 4:30.? Extended Camp is available until 6 p.m. $540 for a 2-week session.? Info and registration at www.ncscweb.org, click on ?summer camp?. Or call Jennifer Capello McAuliffe, NCSC Camp and Recreational Director at (617) 969-5906, ext. 224. ? All Newton Music School Summer Creative Arts Program The All Newton Music School is accepting applications for its summer ?08 creative arts program. Boys and girls, 5-8 years old, are engaged in art, music, movement and drama. The four-week program focusing on the arts cultivates individual expression, encourages group participation and provides a supportive nurturing environment. Monday, June 30 through Friday, July 25 9:00 am ? 2:30 pm, at the All Newton Music School, 321 Chestnut Hill in West Newton. For information and application forms, visit the school, or contact Kim Petot at 617-527-4553, ext. 103, or check out the website at www.allnewtonmusicschool.com. Financial aid is available. ? CLASSIFIEDS ? Momentum Yoga Stress relieving & energizing, supportive atmosphere -- no previous yoga experience required. Mondays?from 9:30 am- 10:30 am at 1121 Washington Street (above Trader Joe's).? Contact Kelly Weaver for more information ka.weaver at verizon.net. ? Excellent Cleaning Crew Now taking on new families/homes.? Has worked for years with several Cabot families. Very thorough, reliable and affordable.? Great references.? If interested, please call Maria at 617-257-5415. ? Can You Start A Campfire with One Match? On Sunday, March 2nd at 2pm in Newton, campers and directors from Camp Birch Rock in Waterford, Maine will be demonstrating their firestarting skills and talking about their favorite boys? overnight camp while enjoying? s?mores.? For boys 8 to 15 years of age, Camp Birch Rock is an old-fashioned boys? camp, where water sports, hiking, and woods survival skills are taught every day under the motto, ?Help the Other Fellow.?? Since 1926, Camp Birch Rock has challenged boys to grow in skills, confidence, and learning to be a good friend in cabins along the shores of Lake McWain in Waterford, Maine. Checkout the camp?s website at www.birchrock.org.? Come learn about this adventurous boys? camp from campers who enjoy it every summer on Sunday, March 2nd 2 pm, 85 Cabot Street, Newton. Please RSVP to the Koffman Dreyer Family at 617-527-6033 or at koffmandreyer at aol.com.? ????????? Piano Lessons ? Jazz/Blues/Classical Berklee/NE Conservatory graduate with 25+ years of experience has several studio openings. Beginners welcome. 617-566-9704 or piano566 at comcast.net ? ? We are looking for a loving home for our parakeets Perky and Tango. They are two years old and are inseparable mates. We think they are both female! They sing so sweetly and are very easy to care for. Best yet, there is absolutely no pet odor. They come equipped with cage, accessories, cage heater, as well as food and snacks to last several months. Cats and dogs would love them too much (yum yum) so sorry to say, cat and dog owners excluded. If ?interested, please contact Newton School parent Karen Brenner at 617-244-4067. ? Mary Kathryn Fallon Cabot PTO Co-President marykathf at aol.com 617-244-1821 More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail! ________________________________________________________________________ More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! - http://webmail.aol.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://cabotpto.org/pipermail/cabotcommunity_cabotpto.org/attachments/20080226/bf002d20/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: MNFFAQs_2-11-08[1].pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 22047 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://cabotpto.org/pipermail/cabotcommunity_cabotpto.org/attachments/20080226/bf002d20/attachment.pdf From marykathf at aol.com Tue Feb 26 16:56:50 2008 From: marykathf at aol.com (marykathf at aol.com) Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:56:50 -0500 Subject: [CabotCommunity] Date clarification -Cabot Community Conversations & childcare Message-ID: <8CA46D99FD16530-15C8-2BC@mblk-d20.sysops.aol.com> Hello Cabot Community - The good news is that so many of you are reading the Jabberwock - thank you!!?The bad news is that I inadvertently listed the Cabot Community Conversations in the calendar section as happening on ?2/27.? The meeting will be held on THURSDAY February 28th from 7:00 - 9:00pm.? Also, we are trying to?organize?childcare for that?evening so?parents/guardians can attend.? If?anyone?knows a former Cabot Student who may be willing to help out, please let us know.??More details to follow, but we hope to provide an area for supervision so all?who want to are able to?attend the meeting. Thanks! Mary Kathryn Fallon Cabot PTO Co-President marykathf at aol.com 617-244-1821 ________________________________________________________________________ More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! - http://webmail.aol.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://cabotpto.org/pipermail/cabotcommunity_cabotpto.org/attachments/20080226/d2fc67cd/attachment.html From marykathf at aol.com Wed Feb 27 18:11:49 2008 From: marykathf at aol.com (marykathf at aol.com) Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2008 18:11:49 -0500 Subject: [CabotCommunity] Childcare will be available tomorrow evening - Cabot Community Conversations In-Reply-To: <8CA3895326F3942-8C-F8F@MBLK-M37.sysops.aol.com> References: <8CA3895326F3942-8C-F8F@MBLK-M37.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: <8CA47AD431A27E9-E8-1662@webmail-dd19.sysops.aol.com> We are pleased to announce that we will be offering childcare tomorrow evening!? We will have a classroom set up where children can draw, play games, even do homework while being supervised by some terrific former Cabot Students. If you think you may be interested in utilizing the childcare, please respond to Virginia Dean at vrd1966 at comcast.net or myself at marykathf at aol.com just so we can get an idea of how many children will be coming.? If you don't respond, please feel free to come anyway and bring your children! We hope to see many of you tomorrow evening!? Thank you! (We will have a voluntary donation jar out if you wish to contribute a small amount to compensate the students for babysitting.? Donations would be appreciated, but are certainly not required.) The School Council and the PTO proudly present: ? ? Cabot Community Conversations Thursday February 28, 2008 Cabot Gymnasium 7:00 PM ? 9:00 PM ? You are invited to a Round Table Discussion on: ? ??????? FY ?08 -?09 School Budget ? Override vs. Allocation, and how this is not part of the Newton North Construction Project; ??????? Facilities Planning ? Current and Long Term; ??????? Strategic Vision Planning ?? Newton Public Schools of 2020. ? In an open forum format, you will be able to ask questions, and hear more about the above topics from a host of people, such as: ? ??????? Principal, Dr. Marilynne Quarcoo; ??????? School Committee Members, including Reenie Murphy and Geoff Epstein ??????? Move Newton Forward Representatives, including Cabot parent Sarah Ecker; and ??????? Newton Strategic Planning Committee Members, including Cabot parent Lisa Prior. ? We welcome you to be part of the future of education for our children and Newton schools!!? Hope to see you all. ? ? ? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://cabotpto.org/pipermail/cabotcommunity_cabotpto.org/attachments/20080227/182f0d51/attachment.html From auvpto at aol.com Fri Feb 29 10:09:59 2008 From: auvpto at aol.com (auvpto at aol.com) Date: Fri, 29 Feb 2008 10:09:59 -0500 Subject: [CabotCommunity] [Elem-schools] Green Decade Coalition Student Contest In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <8CA48FC48A340C3-988-2B57@MBLK-M15.sysops.aol.com> As you know there is great effort going on in the city of Newton for energy saving and using solar energy.? Newton energy consumption continues to climb in spite of increased awareness of the harm caused by CO2 emissions and global warming. City encourages students to reflect and speak out in a creative way towards global warming and energy conservation. Mayor David B. Cohen announced the 2008 Student Energy Conservation contest on February 2, which includes the essay contest as well as an art contest so that we can give children new ways to express their feelings and ideas about this important issue affecting us all. The Newton Student Art and Essay Contest on Conserving Energy The Green Decade Coalition and the Mayor's advisory committees on Renewable Resources and Sustainability envision that the essay and art contests and the related publicity will encourage people to reduce their energy consumption. The contests are open to all students who live or go to school in Newton, grades K-12. Students may enter either or both contests, and the submission deadline is March 30, 2008. Entries will be judged by school level; registration information and other details are available at the Green Decade website at: http://www.greendecade.org/energycontestinfo.html. In addition, the Newton Schools Foundation will also send out an essay and art contest memo to over 2,000 Newton School teachers and administrators.? You can find details in the attached electronic version of the flyer. You will also receive the paper flyers, when available. Submission deadline: March 30, 2008 Announcement of Winners: April 2008 (Week of Earth Day) Judging: Newton Teachers (current and former) The TAB will print the names of the contest winners ?Archana Vahalia Cabot PTO Co-President auvpto at aol.com 617-244-1435 Delicious ideas to please the pickiest eaters. Watch the video on AOL Living. _______________________________________________ Elem-schools mailing list Elem-schools at newtonptocouncil.org http://newtonptocouncil.org/mailman/listinfo/elem-schools_newtonptocouncil.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://cabotpto.org/pipermail/cabotcommunity_cabotpto.org/attachments/20080229/94d82f7d/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: 2008EnergyContestPTOletter.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 206217 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://cabotpto.org/pipermail/cabotcommunity_cabotpto.org/attachments/20080229/94d82f7d/attachment.pdf