From the Principal-June 2

Dear Peirce Families,

Although it is hard to believe, we have come to the final weeks of the one-of-a-kind 2020-21 school year, and the adventures of summer lie just ahead.  On June 17th, we will say “Farewell” to our Fifth Grade class with an outdoor Graduation ceremony, and our year will conclude on June 22nd at 12:00!  Between now and then, I look forward to seeing you at our grade-level family events, which have been organized by our PTO leaders and parents at each grade.  These gatherings will include structured games (borrowed from Color Day), our annual Fun Run (see more details below), collaborative art projects, fun activities, and a chance to reconnect with other families.   Here is the schedule:

  • Friday, 06/04/2021, 4:30pm: 2nd grade
  • Saturday, 06/05/2021, 3pm: 3rd grade
  • Sunday, 06/06/2021, 3pm: Kindergarten
  • Sunday, 06/06/2021, 6pm: 6th grade Reunion
  • Friday, 06/11/2021, 5pm: 4th grade
  • Saturday, 06/12/2021, 5pm: 5th grade
  • Sunday 06/13/2021, 3pm: 1st grade

Our new Kindergarten students and families will visit Peirce this Friday, June 4th, to tour the school and meet the teachers.  As of this date, we have 36 new Kindergartners enrolled in 2 classrooms.  This Kindergarten enrollment gives us a total of 13 classrooms for next year, which is consistent with this school year.   One change is that we will have 3 Third Grade classes and only 2 Second Grade classes.  With this change, the classroom teaching roster will be:

  • Kindergarten/Room 204  Melina Crovo
  • Kindergarten/Room 205  Maddy Psyhojos
  • First Grade/Room 209   Bre Norvell
  • First Grade/Room 210  Erin Tracey
  • Second Grade/Room 213 Gennie Salzsieder
  • Second Grade/Room 214  Nicole Capodilupo  
  • Third Grade/Room 206   Katie Beaulieu
  • Third Grade/Room 212  Amanda Berneburg
  • Third Grade/Room 218   Emily Donahue
  • Fourth Grade/Room 215  Katie Busk
  • Fourth Grade/Room 216  Laura DiSipio
  • Fifth Grade/Room 201  Anne Carey
  • Fifth Grade/Room 202  Kelly Champagne 

I look forward to seeing all of you in these final weeks.  It is an honor to serve as your principal.

With best June wishes,

Mark Chitty

Give the Principal a Pie!  Peirce’s annual Fun Run will happen at each grade-level family social event in June!  In addition to the Fun Run, we will hold a raffle and both the top Fun Run fundraiser and the raffle winner will get to give Mr. Chitty a pie in the face!   

This year, in recognition and support of the many families in our community who have been affected by the COVID crisis in India, all funds raised through the Fun Run and raffle will support Vibha, a nonprofit organization helping to purchase and distribute oxygen concentrators and PPE kits in India.  To learn more about Vibha’s efforts, please visit Vibha.org.  All donations must be received on/by Tuesday, June 15, and we will announce the final amount raised once tallied and send all proceeds directly to Vibha.  Raffle tickets will be sold at the front of the school during drop-off and pick-up in the coming days. 

To learn more about the Fun Run, raffle, and details for documenting, collecting, and turning in pledge forms and donations, please click here.

Progress Report Access:  Progress Reports will be available to families in Aspen on Thursday, June 17th.

Class lists will be available in Aspen in late August.

STAFF GIFT AND SOLICITATIONS POLICY

The Newton Public Schools Staff Gifts and Solicitations Policy is updated and incorporates current Massachusetts Conflict of Interest Law M.G.L. c. 268A. This replaces the earlier 1991 policy.    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.

For any questions about this policy and our procedures, please contact the Department of Human Resources.

*Please see the Equity Policy for information on classroom gifts or donations.