Thompson School News : December 11, 2017

In This Issue

  • Save the Date | School Calendar
  • PTO Update
  • Thompson News and Events
  • Community
  • Volunteer Opportunities
  • Connect with Us

Save The Date

* New *

  • December 12 – Early Release at 11:15 (No lunch)
  • December 11-15 –Book Fair
  • December 12 – Literacy Night, 6 -7.30pm
  • December 13 – Helena’s Hang with Friends & Light Refreshments, 7-9pm
  • December 13 – Spirit Day, Favorite Book Character Day
  • December 13 5-7 PM – Flu Vaccination Clinic @ Arlington Senior Center
  • December 14 – Arlington EATS Community Dinner
  • December 15 – Treble Chorus Concert @ Town Hall
  • December 15, 8:15 – 10:00 AM – PTO Meeting in the Cafeteria
  • December 22 – Spirit Day, Wear Pajamas to 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.

PTO Update

Presents 00

The Holiday Season is here! Shop through these partners AND help the Thompson PTO.

Helena's 00Helena’s – Wednesday, December 13th. All day 10% of sales go to Thompson PTO, when you present our Holiday flier. Look for it in backpacks soon. Light refreshments and a fun chance to get together with friends between 7 and 9 pm.

Maxima 00Maxima’s – Are you aware that anytime you make a purchase and mention Thompson School, a percentage of your purchase goes to us? More on the My School program here.More on the My School program here.

Community Card 2017 2018Looking for stocking stuffers? Teachers, coaches or babysitter’s gifts? Buy an Arlington Community Card.

Support PTO

The Amazon Associate Program brought in $1,160 between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day last year. That is money that we earn when YOU go about your regular Amazon shopping after clicking the Amazon banner on the Thompson PTO website.

ShopStopAndShop

Stop & Shop A+ School Rewards is a fundraising program that earns us hundreds of dollars a year, and cost you nothing! To participate, just add Thompson’s school ID number (#07331) to your Stop & Shop rewards card through their website.

Once Thompson is added to your card, all you have to do is scan your Stop & Shop card when you are checking out. Tell your family and friends to follow these directions too! Thanks for your support!

Highlight

 

Thompson News & Events

Thompson Drama Project

Theater 00

Hello Third, Fourth, and Fifth grade parents, It’s time to sign up for the Thompson Drama Project. Our three wonderful directors, Maf, Gaggi, and Ziza, will be back for another year! Our 3 plays will begin rehearsals the week of January 8. Auditions will be on Thursday Jan 4th and Friday Jan 5th after school in the Music Room. All actors who audition will receive a part – the auditions are for casting purposes. To sign your child up for an audition slot – click here. Prior to the audition, you must fill out a registration form for your child – click here. Please be sure to read the Ground Rules – click here. Mark your calendars – performances will be April 5th and 6th! Please let us know if you have any questions at thompsondramaproject1@gmail.com.

Lise White and Karen Roth LoRusso

📖 December 11 – 15 is Literacy Week at Thompson! 📖

The Book Fair

The Book Rack 00We are excited to work with the Book Rack again for this year’s Book Fair. During the school day, students will be able to browse and fill out wish lists. Sale hours will be held after school on the following days:

  • Monday: 2:30 – 3:30 pm
  • Tuesday: 11:30 – 3:30 pm (due to parent-teacher conferences)
    5:30 – 8:00 pm (also Literacy Night)
  • Wednesday: 2:30- 3:30 pm
  • Thursday: 2:30 – 3:30 pm
    5:30 – 8:00 pm (due to parent-teacher conferences)
  • Friday: 2:30 – 3:30 pm

Community Card Update

Community Card 2017 2018Family Sales concluded on Friday December 8th. Please remember to turn in all of your earnings + any unsold cards THIS WEEK to: Ashley Lorenz, Gaggi DeStefanis, Shannon LeMay Finn, or Vicki Rose. Not to worry if you weren’t able to sell all (or any) cards. We will continue to market the card via social media and posters around town, while supplies last.

On that note, we still only have a few hundred cards left for sale. As always, tell folks to get them while they last! Cards can be purchased anytime at The Book Rack, Menotomy Beer and Wine, or www.arlingtoncommunitycard.org.

@ArlCommCard

Follow us at @ArlCommCard on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and like/comment on any posts that inspire you. Follow us at @ArlCommCard on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and like/comment on any posts that inspire you.

Any questions? Contact ashley.e.lorenz@gmail.com

Literacy Night – December 12th

Literacy Night 2017 11 a

Literacy Night will showcase graphic novels created by Thompson students. This project is open to all grades and abilities. Your child can partner up with a friend, or be author and illustrator of a story they’re longing to tell. The drawings can be monochromatic or in color, the comics can be in the form of booklets or pamphlets. The only rule is to run with it and have fun! The deadline for submissions is December 8th at the latest. Please drop off at the front office. Each child will receive 1 raffle ticket for their submission.

For activity details, learn more here.

Arlington EATS

Arlington EATSJoin us at the table for our next Community Dinner on December 14!

When we say please join us at the table, we mean just that. No matter your circumstances, you are part of our community and we TRULY want to share a meal with you. If you are hesitant to join us because you are not currently experiencing financial hardship, consider offsetting the cost of your meal with a small donation to Arlington EATS. But whether you choose to donate or not, you ARE welcome and we would love to have you with us.

Join us at the table:

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: sarah@arlington-eats.org

Spirit Wear Update

Thank you for making Thompson’s 2nd Spirit Wear sale such a big success! We received 195 orders, which is more than we expected. More notably, we received $1088 in Sponsorship! With these generous donations, the PTO was able to meet the needs of every single student who requested financial assistance, which still left us with a surplus of $346. This money will be earmarked for other school events, such as the upcoming Book Fair, and used specifically to provide financial assistance for those families in need.

Watch out for your Spirit Wear orders in the next week or two. Again, thank you all for your participation!

If you have any questions please reach out to Judy Hu (hudyju@gmail.com) or Melissa Crowley (melish26@yahoo.com), your Spirit Co-Chairs.

Arabiqa

Thompson students got a taste of Arabic music on Friday when Karim Nagi came to present his Arabiqa program. Karim demonstrated several instruments, including the duff (Arabic round drum), riqq (Arabic tambourine), buzuk (Arabic guitar), segat (Arabic brass castanets), and the darbuka (Arabic goblet drum). Students in grades 3-5 also got to see (and try to dance) some Arabic dances! A number of students at Thompson have families that hail from the Arabic world, and we are glad everyone had a chance to learn more about their culture.Arabiqa 2017 11 00Arabiqa 2017 11 01Arabiqa 2017 11 02Arabiqa 2017 11 03

Additional Media

  • https://twitter.com/ThompsonK102/status/936712699966242816
  • https://twitter.com/ThompsonK102/status/936708967941763073

Community

Flu Vaccination Clinic

Flu ShotArlington Board of Health will be holding a flu clinic for Arlington residents on Wednesday, December 13, 2017 from 5:00-7:00 pm at the Arlington Senior Center located at 27 Maple Street. Both children and adults will have the opportunity to be vaccinated. Participants must being their insurance cards with them. Residents that do not have insurance will still be able to be vaccinated. If you have any questions please contact Jessica Kerr, Public Health Nurse, at 781-316-3140.

Volunteer Opportunities

The Thompson PTO has many volunteer needs both small and big. If you’re looking for a way to give back to Thompson, here’s a list of ways you can help.

Book Fair & Literacy Night (Dec. 11th-15th)

Have just a short amount of time to give? Sign-Up for a shift at the Book Fair or help out on Literacy Night (Dec. 12th)

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090f49adad2aa0f49-thompson6

Amazon Coordinator

The PTO needs someone to help promote the PTO/Amazon fundraising link. Thompson School earns 4-10% back on purchases made through the Thompson/Amazon page but shoppers must use the link on the PTO website.

Interested in helping get the word out?

Contact: Kate Murphy at thompsonschoolvolunteers@gmail.com

Winter Parent’s Party – Jan 27th

Interested in helping with planning the Winter Parent’s Party?

The party is moving venues this year, and as always there are many tasks (both large and small) that the planning committee needs help with, from running errands for supplies in the weeks approaching to helping set up on the day of the event.

Contact: Kate Murphy at thompsonschoolvolunteers@gmail.com

Calling All Science Enthusiasts: Science Explo March 17th

Are you a professional in a scientific field or just a lover of all things science related? We need volunteers to set up and run interactive tables at the Explo in March! Let us know if you’re interested. Contact: Yael Beals at yael.beals@gmail.com.

Help Throughout the Year

To check all current volunteer opportunities: http://tinyurl.com/ThompsonPTOVolunteers

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)
Judy 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.

Thompson School News : November 6, 2017

In This Issue

  • Save the Date | School Calendar
  • PTO Update
  • Thompson News and Events
  • Volunteer Opportunities
  • Community News and Events
  • PTO Fundraising
  • Connect with Us

Save The Date

  • 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, Veterans Day
  • November 13, 5-9 pm – Otto Fundraising Night
  • November 17 – Spirit Day – Harvest Day
  • November 18 – Boys in Motion 5K
  • November 22 – Early dismissal 12:00 pm
  • November 23 and 24 – No school, Thanksgiving Break
  • November 27 – Picture retake day

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.

PTO Update

We are happy to announce our Room Parents for the school year.  Thanks in advance to all of them for volunteering their time to help us connect with each class’ specific needs.  If you as a parent have a question or suggestion and are not sure who to approach, room parents are there to help you.

Kindergarten Team

  • Mrs. Abbot – Amy Yeagar amy.yeager@corentus.com Amy Mulholland ncprez1@yahoo.com
  • Mrs. Giovannini – Anna Panszczyk mara.vatz@gmail.com Fiona Ehring fionaehring@gmail.com
  • Mrs. Melnik – Mara Vatz mara.vatz@gmail.com Emily Gauthier emczar00@hotmail.com
  • Mrs. Joseph – Lani Obermayer lsharac@gmail.com Christina Murphy Christina_Murphy@hks.harvard.edu

1st Grade Team

  • Mrs. Frost – Shannon LeMay Finn sklemayfinn@gmail.com
  • Mrs. Givens-Lamothe – Kate Joyce Murphy katejoycemurphy71@gmail.com Jaime Viteri jaimecviteri@gmail.com
  • Mrs. Caplin – Danielle Gottesman dbirdie@gmail.com
  • Mrs. Coveno – Shannon Hancock shancock429@gmail.com

2nd Grade Team

  • Ms. Dichter – Nicole Flory drflory@drflory.com Sonia Valada svalada@outlook.com
  • Ms. Orlando – Takako Sugihara takako.sugihara@gmail.com Mahabi Mistry/Tom Travison madhabi@gmail.com
  • Ms. O’Mahoney – Karen Roth LoRusso krroth@yahoo.com Meridale Baggett meridale.baggett@gmail.com
  • Mrs. Bassham – Keryn Shaffner kerynshaffner@gmail.com

3rd Grade Team

  • Mrs. McKenney – Amy Mulholland ncprez1@yahoo.com Allison Manheim Caplin armanheim@yahoo.com
  • Ms. Fassel – Danielle Gottesman dbirdie@gmail.com Sarah Gupta sarahruth16@gmail.com
  • Ms. Ferola – Liz Spingler lizspingler@yahoo.com
    Nandana Mewada nmewada@gmail.com Susan Zwick suezwick@hotmail.com
  • Ms. Foley – Lori Lennon lorilennon@gmail.com

4th Grade Team

  • Mrs. Jette – Fiona Ehring fionaehring@gmail.com Sara Wilkinson swilkie49@hotmail.com
  • Mrs. Brogna – Maja Fiket fi.maja@gmail.com fi.maja@gmail.com Jacqueline Chakrabarty jchakrabarty@mac.com
  • Mrs. Armstrong – Nicole Flory drflory@drflory.com Don Mei meifamily@3b9.com

5th Grade Team

  • Mr. Allen – Christa Kelleher christakel@verizon.net
  • Mrs. Leigh – Liz Spingler lizspingler@yahoo.com
  • Mr. Guidoboni – Shannon LeMay Finn sklemayfinn@gmail.com Dory Higgins dorys01@gmail.com
  • Ms. Daley – Kristin Clark kreekle@yahoo.com Amy Yellin ascreamin@yahoo.com

Thompson News & Events

Community Card

Fall Family Sales

Community Card 2017 2018

76 cards sold by Thompson families to-date. That’s another $760 for Thompson Enrichment, woohoo! November is our last big push, and with the holidays approaching, it’s the perfect time to use the “makes for great gifts or stocking stuffers!” pitch when chatting up the card. Can people still buy the card at Book Rack, Menotomy Beer & Wine, or at www.arlingtoncommunitycard.org? You bet, but they don’t always remember to do it and that’s one more day they miss out on these great deals! Our goal is to provide as many ways as possible for people to get hold of a card. No sales skills required either – you’ll be surprised how comfortably a simple “hey do you have a Community Card yet?” gets the conversation going.

Fall Family Sales continue through December 8th, to sell cards (even 3 is fine!)), fill out this form.

Other Ways to Help Boost Card Marketing Efforts
  • 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

Flu ShotThe 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.

Volunteer Opportunities

The Thompson PTO is always in need of helping hands for all sorts of tasks.

Thompson Night at Otto Pizza – November 13th

Sign-Up Here to help represent Thompson School at an information table and sell Community Cards: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090f49adad2aa0f49-thompson5

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.

Amazon Coordinator

The PTO needs someone to help promote the PTO/Amazon fundraising link. Thompson School earns 4-10% back on purchases made through the Thompson/Amazon page but shoppers must use the link on the PTO website. Interested in helping get the word out? Contact: Kate at thompsonschoolvolunteers@gmail.com

Community Card Sales

Community Card seeks a volunteer to do a small data entry project, using google sheets. Can be done on your own time. Email ashley.e.lorenz@gmail.com.

Other Current Volunteer Opportunities

http://tinyurl.com/ThompsonPTOVolunteers

Community News & Events

The Privates Rule

The Privates RuleJoin Dr. Nora Shine, child psychologist, at Ottoson Middle School on November 7th in a warm and engaging talk about keeping children safe from sexual abuse. “The Privates Rule” teaches empowerment, sexual abuse information and strategies. This talk will show a framework for integrating abuse prevention into good parenting and teaching practices by calming and confidently addressing concerns. You will learn how to recognize adult behavior that should raise concern and you will leave feeling informed, empowered, and eager to use strategies outlined in her presentation.

Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive

Happy ThanksgivingThe Board of Youth Services (BYS) is once again organizing the Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive to provide Thanksgiving food and food staples to families in need during this time of year. Families with school-aged children in Arlington are welcome to participate. If you would like to receive extra food for the holiday please use following link to register: http://bit.ly/2yrxaRv If you have trouble with this link you may email: bys.arlington@gmail.com The deadline for signing up is Friday, November 10th. Sign up today. The BYS is also coordinating a gift card drive, and it is our hope to distribute grocery store gift cards to each of the families who have signed up to receive food. Distribution of gift cards will take place on Monday 11/20 and Tuesday 11/21. We will contact registered families via email by Friday 11/17 to confirm the location and time of gift card distribution. Food will be distributed on Saturday, November 18th from 9:30am – 3:30pm at the Arlington Food Pantry,117 Broadway. If you have any questions please contact the Arlington Board of Youth Services at: bys.arlington@gmail.com.

Regent Theatre

Regent TheatreLots of Family Fun coming up at the Regent Theatre in Nov & Dec. Karen K and the Jitterbugs, Allistair Moock, Singalong Mary Poppins (a perennial favorite) even a stage production of Charlie Brown Christmas! $2 off per ticket with your Community Card. See the full list of Family offerings here: http://regenttheatre.com/tickets_events/category/family

 

PTO Fundraising

 

Amazon

Support PTO

Shopping at Amazon.com? Click the Amazon link from the Thompson PTO website and a share of your purchase will help the Thompson PTO.

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.