[CabotCommunity] Jabberlite for Tuesday January 8, 2008

Tue Jan 8 14:54:09 EST 2008

Jabberlite for Tuesday January 8, 2008
This issue contains information about:

Traffic Around the School

Interactive Forum on Long Range Facilities Planning for NPS 
Campaign for Cabot - IPOD raffle 

Understanding out Differences

Jump Rope for Heart
Newton School Foundation Bike-a-thon

Update on Newton North 

Calendar

January 8, 2008

Long Range Facilities Forum 7:00 pm at Oak Middle School.

January 9, 2008

All-City School Chorus Concert, Brown Middle School 7:30 PM (snow date 1/10)

January 10, 2008

Understanding our Differences Grade 5 1:00 - 2:45 PM

January 14, 2008

School Committee Meeting, 7:30 PM

January 14, 2008

METCO Parents' Council Meeting 7 - 9:00 PM Roxbury (snow date 1/28)

January 15, 2008

Jabberwock Publication 2007-08 Issue #5

January 15, 2008

School Committee Meeting Review of Proposed Budget, 7:00 PM

January 17, 2008

School Committee Review of Proposed Budget, 7:00 PM 

January 21, 2008

Martin Luther King Day, NO  SCHOOL

January 22, 2008

Affinity Group 12:30 pm

January 22, 2008

Straw Vote on Override Budget

January 23, 2008

Understanding our Differences Grade 3 1:00 - 2:45 PM

January 24, 2008

Winter Concert  10:45am & 7:30pm

Traffic Around the School
The recent cold weather and icy conditions  (hard for us to remember on such a beautiful day as this) have made travel to and from the school difficult.  There seem to be many more cars on these types of days.  We thank you all for your help in reducing the traffic this year, it has made a difference, however, we would like to remind everyone of the following:

·         Do not block driveways, all of our neighbors must be able to access their own driveways at all times. This is common courtesy and we ask your help in this matter.  If you happen to be blocking a driveway for a moment and are asked to move, please do so.

·         Bridges Avenue is a one-way street at all times, going from Cabot Street toward Norwood Avenue.  This is a new designation this year.  Please do not turn down Bridges Avenue from Norwood Avenue

·         Please pull all the way to the top of the Blue Lane to let your child out. When cars stop at the Kindergarten Wing to allow students to get in our out of cars, and there are lots of spaces in front of them, it causes gridlock and does not allow for a successful use of the blue lane.

·         Please do not drop students off on Bridges Ave.  Cars are not expecting it and this is not safe.

Of course, the overall goal is to keep everyone safe.  Please be safe, respectful and courteous to our neighbors and plan for a just a little extra time during winter weather.  Thank you.

The Interactive Forum on Long-Range Facilities Planning for NPS is (tonight) and The FY09 Budget Discussion

The School Committee will be hosting an interactive forum on the long-range facilities options for the Newton Public Schools tonight, January 8, 2007 at 7:00 PM in the library at Oak Hill Middle School.

As with past interactive forums, this is a chance for community members to come to the table and share their ideas.  HMFH architects will first present the revised facilities options at the regular School Committee meeting on December 10, 2007.  NewTV will be taping the forum for later broadcast.

FY09 Budget Discussion

The School Committee will begin discussions on two versions of the FY09 School Budget on January 14, 2007.

Override Budget - Because of the upcoming override vote, the School Committee will be reviewing and debating two budgets for FY09. The first is called the Override Budget and will be reviewed in January of 2008. This budget will reflects what the school department programs and services will look like with the additional funds available if the overrides passes. Click on to the School Committee website to see the guidelines for the override budget. http://www.newton.k12.ma.us/schoolcommittee/budget/budget09.html 

Allocation Budget - The second budget is called the Allocation Budget. This budget will reflect what the school department programs and services will be with the revenues available without a tax override. The Budget Guidelines for the Allocation Budget will be reviewed and voted on by the School Committee in December 2007. Click on to the School Committee website to see the guidelines for the non-override budget. 

http://www.newton.k12.ma.us/schoolcommittee/budget/budget09.html 

Campaign for Cabot  

Thank you the families who have already made a donation to the Campaign for Cabot.  The Campaign for Cabot is the single largest source of funding for the PTO which allows us to fulfill our mission to enrich the educational experience of our children, support the school staff and build the community that makes Cabot School such a special place.  Cabot School is fortunate to have a powerful partnership between the school’s terrific leaders, teachers and staff, and a dedicated PTO. This partnership makes possible the wonderful learning environment we have for our children. We invite you to make a donation in honor of a special teacher or staff member. We will send the honoree a card acknowledging your gift.  

Congratulations to Angela DiLeo who won the IPOD Shuffle raffled off after break! We will be raffling off another IPOD Shuffle on February 2, 2008.  Anyone who has made a donation to the Campaign for Cabot, no matter the amount, will be entered to win.  So, there is still time to get your donations in. Thanks to Lori Seuch and Deb Klein for organizing the raffle.

UNDERSTANDING OUR DIFFERENCES VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES 

Two Understanding Our Differences programs are coming up on Thurs. Jan. 10th (5th Grade) and Thurs. Jan. 20th (3d Grade), from 1-2:45 each day.  These are wonderful opportunities for parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts, to help out and interact with your child's classmates and specialty teachers.  We train you and have materials set up for you to supervise a 20 minute program small groups (repeated 3x).  If interested, please contact Rick Reilly (617-332-3006) or Maureen Mullowney (617-969-8302) or email rmreilly at rcn.com.

5th Annual Jump Rope for Heart Program

Our school is participating in our 5th annual Jump Rope For Heart program in physical education class. This is a very special community service program to help raise funds for the American Heart Association. We’re joining the fight against our nation’s number 1 and number 3 killers – cardiovascular disease and stroke. 

Every student at Cabot school will participate in jumping rope for the month of January in P.E. class. Your student will bring home an American Heart Association envelope to collect donations for this cause from family and friends. However, I ask that your student not go door to door or ask strangers for donations. If your child receives any cash donations please convert those to a check prior to turning in the collection envelope. All checks should be payable to the American Heart Association. The deadline for your student’s collection envelope to be turned into Ms. Bennett is January 31, 2008.

Last year as a community we raised $5,839.61 we received a portion of this to buy physical education equipment. This year our goal is 6,000!!!

Jump Rope For Heart is a fun event that helps our children understand the importance of community service and physical activity while helping save lives. Our efforts truly make a difference!

Newton Wide- Bike-A Thon – Preliminary Stages

Newton On the Move  

The Newton Schools Foundation and all of Newton’s Schools are planning a Bike-a-Thon for next fall, Sunday October 5, 2008.  The route 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 our 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 school 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 your 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.

If you are interested in this, please attend the first organizational meeting which will be:
January 14, 7:30 - 9:00 PM in Room 206 at the Ed. Center.
AGENDA:
*Introductions
*Date/Time
*Route/Safety
*Fund raising/50/50 split
*Sub-committees
*Future meetings (please bring your calendars!)

Many thanks for your enthusiastic support - and I look forward to
seeing as many of you as possible on the 14th - Jennifer Huntington

Newton North Update and Future Improvements to Other Schools:

The PTO received this notice from the City of Newton:

Dear Colleagues,

Mayor Cohen asked that I share with you a copy of the remarks he made at his 
weekly press conference today regarding this morning's meeting with the MSBA 
in hopes that you will share it with your email list.  We are anticipating providing 
the MSBA with an updated project schedule by January 16th, and with a current 
total project budget in mid-February.

Also at this afternoon's press conference the mayor was asked for an update on 
the ledge and asbestos removal.  He reported the ledge removal (including the 
crushing of the rock, etc.) is 70% complete, with the expectation that it will be 
finished in early February.  He also relayed that we are roughly 60% complete 
with our current asbestos removal activities.  That work is expected to be 
finished in early March.

Feel free to contact me if I can provide you with any further information.

Best Regards,
Jeremy

Jeremy Solomon
Director of Policy and Communications
Office of Mayor David B. Cohen
City of Newton
(617) 796-1110

Newton Central Little League Community Meeting
There will be a meeting of the Newton Central Little League community on Tuesday, January 8, 2008 (tonight) at 7:00 PM at the Cabot School in room 113. The purpose of the meeting is to elect members to the Board of Directors, discuss the upcoming 2008 season and some recent developments regarding an alliance and possible merger with Newton North Little League and to answer questions you may have about the League. 

Mary Kathryn Fallon
Cabot PTO Co-President
marykathf at aol.com
617-244-1821

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