Dear Peirce Families,
I hope that all of you enjoyed your Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends. This week, we reach Day 60, which means one third of the school year is nearly behind us. Busy holiday and vacation weeks are ahead of us, and I wish all of you a joyful ending to 2018.
Although today is quite mild, winter will find us again sooner rather than later. Children need to be prepared for playing outside in snow and in colder weather. They will need to have the 5 Snow Gear Essentials: 1. jacket 2. hat/hood 3. gloves 4. boots 5. snowpants. Please plan ahead with your children so that they are prepared for the cold weeks ahead!
Happy Hanukkah to all of our families who are celebrating this week!
Newton Public Schools Gift Policy: As we enter this season of holidays and vacations, we ask that families please be mindful of the Newton School Committee’s updated policy (May, 2015) stating, “Newton Public Schools allows a group gift to an individual staff member only if the gift is identified as being from the entire class, the identity of the givers and the individual amounts are not disclosed to the recipient, and the gift does not exceed $150 per school year. This differs from a gift for the classroom. Individual gifts of appreciation in the form of sentimental tokens are allowed. Gifts of commercial value are not permitted. NPS allows and encourages giving to charitable organizations such as school PTO’s or the Newton Schools Foundation’s Honor Thy Teacher Program, which honors staff while supporting our schools.”
Absences: If your child will be absent from school for any reason, please call the Student Absence Line at 617-559-9650 before 8:00. Also, please be sure that teachers have accurate information about dismissal routines for your child.
CAPP Program Meeting: Parents of students in Grades K, 2, and 5 are invited to an informational meeting about the Child Assault Prevention Program, which is brought to Newton Elementary Schools by volunteers working with Family Access of Newton. The meeting will be held on Thursday, January 3rd, 8:45-9:45 a.m. in the Peirce School Library.
Early Release Dates: Please note that the following Wednesdays and Thursdays will have dismissal at 12:30 for the purpose of professional development and conferences: December 5th, February 6th, March 21st, and May 9th.
Parent Coffees: Our next PTO/Principal Coffee will be held on Friday, January 11th. Please join the PTO Presidents, Principal, Math Coach, and other parents in the Art Room at 8:30 for coffee and conversation about topics of interest in our school community. Future coffees will be held on February 1st (with Superintendent David Fleishman and members of the Newton School Committee), March 15th, and May 10th.
Winter Concert Date: Please mark your calendars for the Fifth Grade Band/Strings/Chorus Winter Concert. The concert will be held on January 29th (snow date: February 6th). There will be 10:00 a.m. (for students and staff only) and 7:00 p.m. (for families) performances.
Spring Concert Dates: Please mark your calendars for the Fourth and Fifth Grade Band/Strings/Chorus Spring Concerts. The Fourth Grade concert will be held on May 22nd. The Fifth Grade concert will be held on May 29th. There will be 10:00 a.m. (for students and staff only) and 7:00 p.m. (for families) performances.
With best wishes,
Mark Chitty