Save The Date
* New *
- February 8, Thursday – Arlington EATS Community Dinner sponsored by the Thompson PTO
- February 12, Monday – 5th grade Museum of Science Traveling Workshop “States of Matter”
- February 14, Wednesday, 7-9PM – PTO Meeting, Parents only
- February 16, Friday – Spirit Day – Mismatch Day
- February 17-25 – No School
- February 20, 21, 22, 23 – Arlington EATS Lunches
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.
Thompson News & Events
Financial Assistance Available
The PTO would like to continue to support families who need assistance for the remainder of the 2017- 2018 school year. To help with this process, if your child/children would like financial assistance for any PTO related programs, please print and fill out the form found here and return it to Ms. Vicki or Karen Donato. All information provided will be kept confidential. It is the mission of the Thomson PTO to ensure that all students have the opportunity to participate alongside their peers in all Thompson events and initiatives. By filling out this form, you are helping the PTO make this possible.
School Yearbook Deadline Extended to February 9th
Did you forget to order a yearbook? Good news!! The Thompson school-wide yearbook ordering has been extended to Friday February 9th – so if ordering one slipped your mind – now’s your second chance!
Please note: with the extended deadline – yearbook personalization is no longer an available option. In addition, extra copies of the yearbook have been ordered in past years and made available for purchase at the end of the year for those who missed the ordering window. That will not be the case this year – the February 9th deadline is the final chance to purchase a 2017-2018 yearbook!
For easy online ordering until Feb. 9th, go to: Coffeepond.com
Under Order Central, select: Yearbooks
Enter School Password: Thompson2018
The price is $13.00
If you have any questions please direct them to: Lisa: lisaslomba@gmail.com
Arlington EATS Community Meal Sponsored by the Thompson PTO
February 8th from 6 -7pm @ Thompson Cafeteria
The Thompson PTO will sponsor the February Community Meal, which will be held on Thursday, February 8th from 6-7pm. Thompson families can participate in this evening of community service by:
- Volunteering to help during the meal. Please sign-up http://www. signupgenius.com/go/ 10c0549a9a62fa4ff2-eats1 to volunteer. Children are welcome to join!
- Making a financial contribution to help put together this event, click https://thompsonschoolpto.org/fundraising/help-the-pto-sponsor-arlington-eats/ to make an online donation or send in your contribution (check or cash) in an envelope marked Thompson PTO/Community Meal in your child’s backpack. Checks should be made out to the Thompson PTO.
Game Night is back!
Friday, March 2, 6 – 8 pm
Have you been purging your house after the New Year?
Well, this is your chance to get rid of all the games and puzzles that your kids have outgrown. Donate them to the PTO to be sold at Game Night. A designated box will be located in the school’s front lobby during the whole month of February. Thanks in advance for your contribution.
Enrichment News: 4th Grade Field Trip to the MFA
Thompson students from 4th grade had a wonderful visit to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. They explored Greek works that highlight Gods and Goddesses from Greek Mythology, including sculptures, bowls and vases.
They learned about the Olympic Games, the armor used in battle and how to identify important characters such as Poseidon, Athena and Zeus. They also participated in a pottery workshop where each student produced a piece inspired by the visit.
This field trip was partially funded by a grant awarded to the Thompson PTO by the Arlington Cultural Council. Thanks for supporting enrichment programs in our community.
Community
Arlington EATS
Come join us for February Vacation Lunches! Tuesday, February 20- Friday, February 23.
- 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
Upcoming School Committee Chats
When: 11 am to 12 noon on Saturday, on the first Saturday of each month
Why: Stop by and say hi to two School Committee members (look for the sign) to answer questions, collect concerns, listen to your ideas, and generally talk about the Arlington Public Schools.
Where:
- March 3 at Whole Foods
- April 7 at Caffe Nero
- May 5 at Whole Foods
- June 2 at Caffe Nero
No appointment necessary, simply stop by!
Sing @ Kickstand Cafe
Family Folk Chorale is putting on a Community Sing on Sunday Feb 11th at 5:00pm at Kickstand Cafe. Musicians will lead us through soul-satisfying popular and folk songs. No experience necessary. It is free and open to all. Kickstand is located at 594 Mass Ave in Arlington Center. See you there!
Menotomy Concert Series Family Concert!
Featuring the Solar Winds Woodwind Quintet
When: Sunday, February 11, 2018, 3 PM
Where: Arlington Town Hall
Free and open to the public
Solar Winds’ family concerts are an ideal way to introduce children to the joy and excitement of live classical performances! Music and storytelling in a fun and informal concert setting.
Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf features the delicate Bird, the fussy Duck, the sly Cat, the stern Grandfather, and Peter.
Mussorgsky’s Ballet of the Chickens in their Shells will delight! Amusing and informative introductions to each of the instruments, interactive musical games, and instrument “Petting Zoos.”
Mindfulness for Parents and their Children
A Presentation By Renowned Author & Psychologist Dr. Christopher Willard
When: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13 AT 6:30 P.M.
Where: Everett High School, Frederick F. Foresteire Center for the Performing Arts
Join author, psychologist and consultant Dr. Christopher Willard for an evening presentation about stress in children’s lives and bringing mindfulness to kids, teens and families. Dr. Willard will be sharing practices for caregivers to use themselves and take home to their families. We will explore the importance of our own practice, starting or deepening your own self-care, as well as fun ways to share with your kids.
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.
Thompson Parent Handbook Volunteer
The PTO is looking for a parent volunteer to put together an updated electronic Parent Handbook. There is a paper version from a few years back that needs updating with current information. This will be the place where parents can find useful information such as drop-off and pick-up procedures, contact information for teachers, field trip information and all the things you wish you knew as a new parent to Thompson. If you’d like to volunteer from the comfort of your own home doing some typing and copying and pasting – this is the project for you.
Interested? Contact: Kate Murphy, thompsonschoolvolunteers@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
Diana Trudell, Co-President
Yael Beals, Vice-President
Danielle Gottesman, Communications Chair
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.
The CDC is reporting an increase in flu activity and predicts there will be weeks more to come. It is not too late to receive the flu vaccine. The Arlington Board of Health still has a supply of both adult and child vaccine. If you are interested in receiving the vaccine please contact Jessica Kerr, Public Health Nurse at 781-316- 3140.
Nurse Christina would appreciate sock donations as many children are coming in from recess with wet feet – thank you!
The Arlington Recreation Department welcomes your preschooler (ages 2.9 – 5 years old) to join us in our licensed preschool program. The program is located at 352 Mass Avenue. Registration opens to NEW families on 2/1/2018. (Registration is currently open for EXISTING families.) Come visit during one of our OPEN HOUSES on January 17 & 18. Click 
