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 here for a printable version of this month’s calendar.
Thank you to all the parents who attended the first PTO meeting of the year on Tuesday, September 11th. At the meeting, we elected the new board for the 2018-2019 school year. I am delighted to introduce the members, many of whom are continuing for another year, and some are joining the board for the first time:
Here are some fun facts about the board: did you know that between us, we speak 8 different languages? In the world outside of Thompson, our professions include: a historian, editor, pediatric dermatologist, psychologist, fitness trainer, product manager, economist, pediatric physical therapist, illustration agent, nutritionist, elder service manager, film maker, and sustainable investing professional. Our favorite superheroes – the Thompson school teachers!
I would like to take this opportunity to thank our outgoing board members for their leadership. Diana Trudell, Sara Wilkinson, Sarah Gupta, Kate Murphy and Maf Terry, thank you for all you have done for the Thompson students and community!
Turning to fundraising, the 2018-2019 Arlington Community Card (ACC) sales were off to a spectacular start at Town Day. We topped all sales records to date, raising over $11,000 in one day! Despite the cloudy day and a busy weekend packed with other activities, parents and a handful of Thompson alumni volunteers helped exceed our sales goal by selling 1183 cards. Hats (and wigs) off to ACC co-chairs Ashley Lorenz and Gaggi DeStefanis, the ACC committee, and all the volunteers for a tremendous effort!
Next up is our largest fundraiser for the year, the Direct Donation Drive (DDD). This one-time request for a contribution from families and friends is held only during the month of October. Our family participation goal for the year is 275 families and no amount of contribution is too small. Please look out for the flyer and form in your child’s backpack.
Finally, thank you to those who filled out the PTO parent survey. If you have not done so, please take a few minutes to fill it out (link below). Tell us about your interests and skills and how you would like to help.
Nandana Mewada
PTO Co-President
Thompson News & Events
Arlington Community Card
The Community Card Team is pleased to announce that we sold a grand total of 1183 cards on Town Day! That’s a new all-time record, over 200 cards more than last year, and already more than $11,000 for our kids’ enrichment programming.
We want to thank each and every volunteer for getting out there on Town Day to help us meet our goal. A special shout out as well to the additional members of our Community Card Committee – Christy Murphy, Taffy McParland, Lori Leahy, Lani Obermeyer, Stacey Ihnat, Don Mei, and Ema Rodrigues for all their effort starting in May. Most importantly, this fundraiser would be nothing without the 40 establishments who so generously offer their exclusive deals to cardholders. Thompson PTO takes great pride in the fact that we can support our school AND help promote these local businesses at the same time.
It doesn’t end here though! We have about 600 more cards for sale out there, and as usual will continue to promote the points-of-purchase while supplies last.
What can you do to help?
• Sign up for Farmer’s Market Sales (Sept 26 & Oct 3); fun to do with kids or a friend!
• Help hang our posters around town – we have a list of locations you can pick from. Email ashley.e.lorenz@gmail.com.
• Help with Targeted Sales to Realtors and Professional Offices (a new initiative this year!).Email ashley.e.lorenz@gmail.com.
• Have a new marketing idea we haven’t thought of? Tell us!
Lastly, if you still haven’t had a chance to get a card, you can purchase one from:
Vicki at the front desk (cash or check made out to Thompson School PTO)
Arlington Health Department and the Arlington Public Schools are once again offering seasonal flu vaccinations at your child’s school. The Centers for Disease Control recommends all persons ages 6 months and older receive the seasonal flu vaccination each year.
The flu clinic for Thompson Elementary School students will be on Thursday, September 27th from 8:30am to 9:45am. This clinic, will be held during the school day and will be for students, teachers, and staff only and will not be open to the public. This year you can complete the form ans upload you insurance information online at: https://www.arlingtonma.gov/departments/flu-clinic-registration.
Electronic forms must be submitted by Tuesday, September 25th
For your convenience, a paper copy of the insurance form will be sent home. If you are filling out a paper form please include the grade and teacher for your student. Completed forms and a copy of your child’s insurance card must be submitted to the Main Office by September 25th.
Spirit Day, Thompson Pride
Friday, September 28th
Start the new school year off by showing your Thompson Pride! Wear a pineapple, spirit wear or kindergartners, use your new bag!
Walk/Bike/Scoot to School Day
On October 3rd, join with students around Massachusetts for Walk, Bike, and Scoot to School Day. If you’d like to volunteer to hand out prizes or help with a before-school bike safety clinic, contact Tonja Bishop at tbowenbishop@gmail.com
Box Tops for Education
We are collecting Box Tops throughout the year. The submission deadline is November 1st for fall earnings. You can find a pink and yellow Box Tops container in the lobby below the mailboxes.
Green Team News:
Minuteman Bikepath 25th Anniversary Celebration
Come celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Minuteman on Saturday, September 29, 2018, when Arlington, Lexington, and Bedford will host a tri-town celebration of the popular rail-trail. Community celebrations will be held simultaneously along the bike path in all three towns from 11 am to 3 pm on September 29th.
On Uncle Sam Plaza there will be a Haiku Hangout featuring a public reading of the haiku submitted for the stenciling of the bike path. Cambridge Typewriter is bringing vintage typewriters, so people can write new poems. Aeronaut Brewery, will be running a Beer Garden across the street (in Whittemore Park), so you can stop in there for drinks and food! More music will be at Spy Pond Park and behind Trader Joe’s on the Bikeway.
For up-to-date details, visit http://bikeway25.org. To learn more about the Minuteman Bikeway visit http://minutemanbikeway.org and view the 25th Anniversary video at http://youtube.com/watch?v=gBY81vjAD2E.
An Outdoor Education, Garden Tour for all Saturday, September 29th, 11am-2pm, 7 gardens (including Bishop and Dallin!)
This is a free self-guided tour and highlights include a backyard composting demo/Q&A by Jeremy Marin at 12pm , and “Meet the Hawk” with Diane Welch, Arlington’s Animal Control Officer at 11am and 1pm.
More info here: https://www.arlingtonma.gov/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/20136/18
Next Meeting: Friday October 5th 2:40pm in the Garden
Green Team Club will read about ecosystem superheroes, weeds. A Green Team mom and horticulturist, Meredith, will need the club in a plant walk on Thompson grounds.
Email Elizabeth Rocco at egrocco@email.com for more information.
Support Thompson
Please remember to use the Amazon link on the PTO Website for your back-to-school shopping!
Volunteer
Welcome Back Breakfast for Staff
To welcome back our tremendous Thompson Staff, the PTO is planning an appreciation breakfast on Tues, Oct 2nd at 7:45am. We need help with set-up, clean-up and with donations of breakfast items. Sign up here.
Room Parents play an important role at Thompson! One to two volunteer Room Parents collaborate to support each class teacher and specialist. Room Parents may be called up to: communicate important class and PTO information to families, organize supplies for special class projects, organize class celebrations, recruit volunteers and organize class gifts for the teacher. The role does not require you to be present at school during school hours.
If you would like to volunteer to be a Room Parent or have any questions about Room Parents, please contact Christy Murphy-Macinta, cembc99@yahoo.com
Volunteer Survey
We are looking for parents to help during the 2018 – 2019 school year for roles large and small. If you are just a little bit interested, please check off the position(s) in this survey. This simply shows your interest, it doesn’t commit you to the position! The PTO board will correspond and/or meet with interested parents.
We are looking for a co-chair for Movie Night. A popular fall event with Thompson families, the tentative date for movie night is October 12th. Please email Yael Beals: yael.beals@gmail.com, if you are interested or would like more information.
Community News & Events
AHS Building Project Community Forums
The community is invited to attend a series of Fall/Winter public forums to receive updates, ask questions and provide feedback on the AHS Building Project design. Forums will be held at Town Hall from 7-9pm on:
September 24
October 24
November 27
The September forum will focus on site definition; exploring possibilities for the front green, traffic flow, entrances, location of school on the site, outdoor learning areas, landscaping, and more. Later forums will focus on the look and feel of the exterior facade as well as interior layout and spaces.
DeVito Funeral Home is proud to sponsor a free “Touch a Truck” event in Arlington on Sunday October 21st from 1-4pm at the St. Camillus Church parking lot. We will have fire trucks, police cars, ambulances, dump trucks, excavation equipment, bobcats, oil trucks, paving equipment and more!! Take your turn sitting in the front seat of all of these awesome trucks and seeing how they operate up close. This is going to be a great event for children of all ages and will be held rain or shine.
Sept 17, Monday 6:30PM to 8:20PM – Curriculum Night
Sept 19, Wednesday – Yom Kipur (No School)
Sept 21, Friday 2:35 PM – Green Team Meeting
Sept 28, Friday – Spirit Day : Thompson Pride
Oct 2, Tuesday – Welcome Back Breakfast for Staff
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 here for a printable version of this month’s calendar.
This will be my second year at Thompson and my first year as a fourth grade teacher! I am very excited to be back and to have a classroom of my own. I am from Arlington, went to Arlington Public Schools and am excited to get to know my students and what they are excited to learn about.
Mr Gary Collins – Teaching Assistant
After completing my Masters in Elementary Education, I taught in Ireland for the past couple of years. As I recently relocated to the Boston area, I am now looking forward to working collaboratively with the staff and parents of Thompson. I believe that the building of positive, kind and supportive relationships with students and the cultivating of a safe learning environment are the foundations of both teaching and learning, and I continuously strive to achieve this in a compassionate way. I love all sport, exploring new places and all things outdoors. As an Irishman, I have a fondness for chatting and getting to know people!
Ms. Cori Smith – Music
I’m excited to be at Thompson this year! I’ve been teaching music at Ottoson for the past fourteen years. I’m very happy to share my love of this subject with all the incredible Thompson students! I live in town, and have two boys, grades 5 and 2.
Lauren D’Intino – Grade 5
I’m so excited to be joining the Thompson Team this year! I graduated from Stonehill College in 2017 with a degree in Elementary Education and Psychology and spent the last year working at a nonprofit in Woonsocket, RI as a School Age SIte Coordinator. A fun fact about me is that I love traveling and have been to 8 different countries. I’m looking forward to fifth grade – it’s a great year!
Brittany Orlandi – Social Worker
I am thrilled to join the Thompson School community as your second social worker. I grew up in Arlington and later attended Georgetown University, where I graduated with a BA in Sociology and minor in African American Studies. I worked as a paralegal at a Big Law firm for a few years before getting my master’s degree in Social Work. Previously, I worked in the Lynn Public Schools. When I am not working, you can find me reading, playing tennis, or volunteering with Arlington EATS. I look forward to working with Thompson students and their families!
Melissa Thomas – Teaching Assistant
I’m so excited to be a TA at Thompson this year! I was lucky enough to go to Thompson when I was a kid and am so glad to be back. I am also a recent graduate of Lesley University with a degree in Elementary Education. I can’t wait to see what exciting things this school year brings!
Immei Wong – Music
“I have been teaching violin and orchestra since I graduated from Boston Conservatory a few years ago. I have always wanted to teach young children, so I am very excited to start teaching general music in Thompson this year! Besides my teaching, I am also an active performer, playing with a few community orchestras. When I am not making music, I love to do ballroom dancing!”
Jamie Webster – Library
Greetings! As the new teaching assistant in the library, I look forward to working with, getting to know, and reading with all the students at Thompson School this year. Before moving to Arlington four years ago for my husband’s job, I taught creative movement and modern dance as a teaching artist in public schools and after school programs in and around Knoxville, TN. for eighteen years. I also substituted in my family’s local school district for grades K-12, often for “specials” teachers (music, art, PE, and library).
When we moved to MA., I took the opportunity to fulfill a many-years-long pipe dream — I went to seminary. In May of 2017, I graduated from Boston University with a Masters of Divinity, and I accepted a position as pastor of a church in Medford. I learned so much and loved my time in seminary and as pastor, but I really missed teaching– so here I am! I look forward to meeting you soon.
Thompson News & Events
Curriculum Night: Monday, September 17th
6:30-7:10 PM Classroom Presentations Grades 3-5
7:15-7:35 PM Meet and Greet in Gym with Specialists
7:40-8:20 PM Classroom Presentations Grades K-2
This is an opportunity for parents to meet their child’s teacher and to hear more about what is being taught this year. Classroom presentations begin promptly at 6:30 and 7:40 PM.
Spirit Day, Thompson Pride
Friday, September 28th
Start the new school year off by showing your Thompson Pride! Wear a pineapple, spirit wear or kindergartners, use your new bag!
Green Team
Come to our Green Team meeting next Friday September 21st at 2:35 pm in Ms. Dichter’s classroom, room 210. Grade 3-5 students, Grade K-2 students with an adult, parents and community members are welcome to attend Green Team meetings.
We will be brainstorming for this school year.
Please fill out the doodle pool if you and/or your student can attend the Green Team meeting.
There are many ways to get involved in our Thompson Green Team efforts!
Green Team has been involved in various ways at Thompson.
All school events: Zero Waste Days and Assemblies, Earth Week, Community Sing of One Day, Trashformation Maker Space at Science Explo.
Classroom projects and curriculum: Trash clean up days-2nd graders. Zero Waste and This is the Last Straw Campaigns with 5th grade cohort.
After School Club on 1st and 3rd Fridays
School Garden
Community Service
Drama Project-Ecosystem Superheroes and Supervillains
Green Team Mission Statement: The Thompson Green Team cares about the earth, the environment, all people and all living creatures. The Green Team aims to empower and support students and the broader Thompson community to take action to preserve our environment and create a just and life sustaining society. Guided by student interest, ideas, and energy, the Green Team provides opportunities and coordinates activities that will have a meaningful and positive impact.
Please remember to use the Amazon link on the PTO Website for your back-to-school shopping!
Volunteer
Welcome Back Breakfast for Staff
To welcome back our tremendous Thompson Staff, the PTO is planning an appreciation breakfast on Tues, Oct 2nd at 7:45am. We need help with set-up, clean-up and with donations of breakfast items. Sign up here.
Room Parents play an important role at Thompson! One to two volunteer Room Parents collaborate to support each class teacher and specialist. Room Parents may be called up to: communicate important class and PTO information to families, organize supplies for special class projects, organize class celebrations, recruit volunteers and organize class gifts for the teacher. The role does not require you to be present at school during school hours.
If you would like to volunteer to be a Room Parent or have any questions about Room Parents, please contact Christy Murphy-Macinta, cembc99@yahoo.com
Volunteer Survey
We are looking for parents to help during the 2018 – 2019 school year for roles large and small. If you are just a little bit interested, please check off the position(s) in this survey. This simply shows your interest, it doesn’t commit you to the position! The PTO board will correspond and/or meet with interested parents.
Join us for the Annual Movie Night at Waldo Park on Saturday, September 22nd. The film will be Sing. It’ll be preceded by a couple of young-kid friendly short films. Bring a blanket to sit on the hill and a picnic dinner if you’d like. . Around 6:45 pm, we’ll show the short films, and around 7:00, we’ll start the feature. We’ll also have refreshments on sale to raise funds for Park maintenance and future events. Waldo Park is located at the end of Waldo Road, off Cleveland Street, between Mass Ave and Broadway.
Touch a Truck
DeVito Funeral Home is proud to sponsor a free “Touch a Truck” event in Arlington on Sunday October 21st from 1-4pm at the St. Camillus Church parking lot. We will have fire trucks, police cars, ambulances, dump trucks, excavation equipment, bobcats, oil trucks, paving equipment and more!! Take your turn sitting in the front seat of all of these awesome trucks and seeing how they operate up close. This is going to be a great event for children of all ages and will be held rain or shine.
Paint the Town Green
Celebrate Arlington’s Path to a Sustainable Future
Sunday, September 23, 2018 – 3-5 p
Arlington Town Hall, 730 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA
Green Teams will be recognized at this event.
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.
Arlington Community Card
Spirit Day, Thompson Pride
We are looking for parents to help during the 2018 – 2019 school year for roles large and small. If you are just a little bit interested, please check off the position(s) in this survey. This simply shows your interest, it doesn’t commit you to the position! The PTO board will correspond and/or meet with interested parents.
Touch a Truck
