Volunteer
The Thompson PTO is always in need of helping hands for all sorts of tasks. From selling community cards to helping clean-up after movie night to helping plan one of our many events: the link below lists all of the many ways you can give of your time to help your Thompson Community.
http://tinyurl.com/ThompsonPTOVolunteers
Is there an accountant in the house?
As a 501(c)(3) registered charity, the PTO is seeking the assistance of a CPA to prepare our form 990-EZ for FY17. If you or a family member are a CPA who would like to make an in-kind donation of free or reduced-rate tax preparation, please contact us at thomptreas@gmail.com.
In This Issue
- Save the Date | School Calendar
- #everythingyoueverwantedtoknowaboutthompson
- Highlight of the Month
- Thompson News and Events
- Community News and Events
- PTO Fundraising
- Connect with Us
Save The Date
- October 27 – Spirit Day: Career Day
- November 1 – No school
- November 8, 7-9 pm – PTO meeting, Special speaker: Lori Pescatore AYCC (Arlington Youth Counseling Center)
- November 9 – Arlington EATS Community Dinner
- November 10 – No school
- November 22 – Early dismissal 12:00 pm
- November 23 and 24 – No school
School Calendar
Click http://tinyurl.com/ndp8spb for Thompson’s Google Calendar to get school holidays, early release days, and PTO events on your own calendar. Click http://tinyurl.com/y7u5k2on for a printable version of this month’s calendar.
#everythingyoueverwantedtoknowaboutthompson
For families looking for extra information, unfettered access to our weekly newsletter, volunteer opportunities, the link to shop at Amazon (your purchases benefit all Thompson students via the PTO!), contact info and soooo much more, please pop over to our site, and be sure to bookmark it. We will be making changes to the content over the coming weeks, but the link will remain the same.
Highlight of the Month
Direct Donation Drive
115 more families to make our participation goal!!!
The Direct Donation Drive is coming to an end in less than 2 weeks. So far, 135 families have participated, but we still have a long way to go to meet our 250 family participation goal. If you have been putting off making a contribution, this is the time to put it at the top of your to do list! Send a check in your kid’s backpack or make a contribution online. Click here to DONATE NOW!
100% of your donation goes toward enriching your child’s educational experience. The Thompson PTO is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, so your contribution is tax deductible! Check with your employer to see if you have a matching gift program; many of these programs match contributions dollar for dollar, and some will even double or triple the amount of your gift!
Email friends and family to help us meet our goal by making a donation in your kid’s name.
No donation is too small.
Thompson News & Events
Movie Night
The annual Thompson movie night was a spooky success with a viewing of Hotel Transylvania on Friday the 13th. Thanks to the staff, families, and students who participated and a special shout out to the volunteers who make these events happen. This is a great kick off event for students to make new friends and reconnect with old ones. We can’t wait to see you at the next event!’ (Literacy night?)
We also want to send a big thank you out to My Brother’s Place Pizzeria and the Capitol Theater for their generous donation of popcorn.
Don’t forget! The Capitol Theater is also on your Community Card, good for a free small popcorn when you buy a movie ticket.
Arlington EATS
Hunger makes learning hard and there are many ways you can be a part of Arlington EATS’ efforts to end childhood hunger in our town. To learn more visit: www.arlington-eats.org
There are many ways you can become involved with Arlington EATS:
To get food assistance: info@arlington-eats.org
To learn more: www.arlington-eats.org
To donate: www.arlington-eats.org/giving/
To volunteer: www.arlington-eats.org/volunteer/
To follow along: www.facebook.com/Arlington.EATS
To contact: info@arlington-eats.org
Community Card
Fall Family Sales
Keep up the good work! To join the sales effort, fill out this form here.
Other Volunteer Needs
- Please “Like” our Community Card Facebook page!
- Follow us on Twitter at @ArlCommCard
- Post your own visits to, and/or savings experiences at, participating Community Card businesses to Facebook or Twitter, and reference #ArlCommCard.
Any questions? Contact ashley.e.lorenz@gmail.com
Flu Clinic
The Arlington Board of Health will be hosting a flu clinic for the students and staff of Thompson Elementary on November 15th from 7:45 AM to 9:45 AM. Mrs. Donato will be sending out a link from the Board of Health to register your child for the clinic over the next few weeks. Paper forms will also go home in the next few weeks as well. In addition, November 16th will the general clinic for Arlington children 6 months – 18 years at Ottoson Middle School, 63 Acton Street (5 PM to 7 PM) where parents are welcome to attend with their child.
Join Thompson Families for
Green Team After School Nature Adventures!
- Spy Pond Friday October 27th 3pm* at playground
- Menotomy Rocks Friday November 17th 3pm at Ottawa Rd entrance
The rain date for each adventure will be the following Friday.
*If the weather is warm, bring gear for water play. If your family has a kayak or canoe, feel free to bring them..
We hope to continue to share our nature adventures with Thompson as we advocate for system wide changes such as industrial composting to curb climate change and protect our natural environment.
If you support composting, recycling and the Thompson PTO, there is an unique opportunity to champion composting and recycling at all PTO events. Contact Elizabeth Rocco at egrocco@gmail if you are interested in being a Green Team champion!
The Thompson Green Team cares about the earth, the environment, and all living creatures. It aims to empower and support students and the broader Thompson community to take action to protect and preserve our environment. Guided by student interest, ideas, and energy, the Green Team provides opportunities and coordinates activities that will have a meaningful and positive impact.
Community News & Events
Spookywalk
Sat Oct 28th, 6:30-8pm at Menotomy Rocks Park
Put on your costumes and enjoy some kid-friendly frightly fun! Spooky Walk is an annual volunteer-run event, where around the perimeter of the pond you’ll enjoy jack-o’-lanterns, punny gravestones, and silly mad scientist skits. Enter via the Jason Street entrance. FREE.
Dia de los Muertos – Day of the Dead Festival!
Sunday, October 29th, 4-6pm in Capitol Square
The Fiesta shares in the rich Mexican tradition of honoring loved ones who have passed away, with Mexican food, live Mariachi music, memory altars (ofrendas) and FREE festive activities for all ages like face painting and celebratory crafts. This event also coincides with the final day of the Arlington International Film Festival at the Capitol Theatre.
Come sing with
This Arlington-based inter-generational chorus will be holding a “Music Workshop for All Ages” at Thompson School on Sunday, October 29 in the Gym. It will feature songs of James Taylor (Shed a Little Light, Shower the People, Everyday) being taught in a fun and lively way for the whole family by Chris Eastburn who works brilliantly with mixed groups from beginners to experienced singers. We’ll have snacks and activities for non-singing kids, too. This will be an inspiring community event! Click HERE for details: http://www.familyfolkchorale.org/JT.pdf
10/29/2017, 1:00-2:30pm, Thompson School gym, $10/adults, kids free, Community Card holders half-price – $5!
Halloween Event at Waldo Park, Tuesday, October 31st
All are invited to the 12th annual Waldo Park Halloween Party on Tuesday the 31st. We’ll gather at the Park beginning at 4 pm, and we’ll have a costume “fashion show” that’ll start around 4:30 – 4:45 pm. A light dinner (hot dogs and veggie items) will be served after the fashion show, so that all who wish can eat a meal before trick-or-treating. (Waldo Park is located at the end of Waldo Road, off Cleveland Street, between Mass Ave and Broadway).
– Alex Hoffinger, Friends of Waldo Park
You are invited to the 7th Annual Out on the Town Gala
November 3, 7-11pm at Arlington Town Hall
Please join the Board of Youth Services for the annual Out on the Town Gala, to support the Arlington Youth Counseling Center (AYCC). This year’s event is extra special as we recognize and honor Arlington’s own Dr. Michael Thompson, a renowned child psychologist, school consultant, international speaker and New York Times best-selling author. His books – nine in all, among them Homesick and Happy, Best Friends/Worst Enemies, The Pressured Child, and Raising Cain – have become popular references on bringing up children in the world today, with illuminating insights on the emotional lives and experiences of children and adolescents. Over the course of his career, Dr. Thompson has worked in more than 700 schools across the country and around the world, and has served as the supervising psychologist at the Belmont Hill School. As a popular headliner for Arlington Parent Forums, Dr. Thompson’s gentle guidance, wise counsel, and extraordinary wit have guided Arlington parents for more than a decade.
The Out on the Town Gala is an annual event in which community members come together to support the work of AYCC and promote the importance of having affordable, high quality, and community based mental health services for Arlington residents. Over the past year, AYCC provided over 5,500 counseling and psychiatric sessions to more than 375 youth and families, case management services to more than 80 Arlington residents, and support, education and advocacy for members of the community who have experienced domestic violence. AYCC has been able to offer these services thanks to the funds that are raised through the Gala, grants, corporate sponsors, and individual donors.
In addition to honoring Dr. Thompson, the gala features many wonderful silent auction items and raffles, beautiful live music from the Arlington High Jazz band, an array of delicious hors d’oeuvres, and a cash bar. Tickets may be purchased for $75 through AYCC’s webpage- arlingtonma.gov/aycc. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. For more information visit arlingtonma.gov/aycc or contact Colleen Leger, Executive Director of AYCC, at 781-316-3255.
PTO Fundraising
Amazon
Shopping at Amazon.com? Click the Amazon link from the Thompson PTO website and a share of your purchase will help the Thompson PTO.
Stop&Shop A+ Bonus Bucks Program
Thompson is participating in Stop&Shop A+ Bonus Bucks Program, in which our school receives a check based on the amount of purchases made by people with Stop&Shop cards. Enroll your Stop&Shop card. with Thompson’s school code: 07331.
Connect with Us
THOMPSON PTO BOARD
Nandana Mewada, Co-President (Mom to Eshaan, 3rd)
Diana Trudell, Co-President (Mom to Matilda, 4rd and Joaquin, 1st)
Yael Beals, Vice-President (Mom to Annabella, 2nd)
Carolyn Schneyer, Co-Treasurer (Mom to Leah, 4th)
Sara Wilkinson, Co-Treasurer (Mom to Ezra, 4th, and Amelia, 1st)
Emily Gauthier, Co-Secretary (Mom to Sophia, 5th)
Fiona Ehring, Co-Secretary (Mom to Emma, 4th and Elise, K)
Danielle Gottesman, Communications Chair (Mom to Oliver, 3rd, and Penny, 1st)
Melissa Crowley, Spirit and Appreciation Co-Chair (Mom to Joseph, 1st)
Judu Hu, Spirit & Appreciation Co-Chair (Mom to Sofia, 1st)
Sarah Gupta, Room-Parent Chair (Mom to Norah, 3rd, and Meena, 1st)
Juliet Moir, Fundraising Chair (Mom to Jack, 5th, and Eva, 2nd)
Maf Terry, Enrichment Co-Chair (Mom to John, 5th)
Tonja Bishop, Enrichment Co-Chair (Mom to Ellen, 2nd and Neil, K)
Ashley Lorenz, Community Card Chair (Mom to Oliver, 5th, Melanie, 3rd, and Peter, K)
Gaggi DeStefanis, Community Card Chair (Mom to Sofia, 3rd)
If you have news to share with the community, please email ThompsonPTOevents@gmail.com by Thursday at 12 noon to be included in the next newsletter.
Please note that we will only include news from the Thompson School and Town of Arlington. Announcements of interest to the Thompson community from other non-profit organizations may be included at our discretion.