Welcome!
Lincoln-Eliot Elementary School
Parent - Teacher Organization (PTO)
January 2023
Meeting
Tonight’s Agenda - 6:30 -7:30 p.m.
Principal’s Update: January
At Lincoln-Eliot, �we celebrate our diversity and work together to learn, grow, succeed and become our best selves.
Teacher’s Update: January
December/January Highlights
Book Fair
L-E CAS Update
CAS Grade-Level Volunteers
Kindergarten: Lindsey Graf
First Grade: Kate Takayoshi
Second Grade: Amy Haffermehl
Third Grade: Jenny Rosenthal
Fourth Grade: Jo Griffiths
Fifth Grade: Tui Sutherland
Experience to Date:
January:
A performance of The Snowflake Man by Puppet Kabob for Grade Three - individual class workshops to make desktop puppet theatres.
Booked Programming:
February 9th: Sheryl Faye presents historical women for Grade Four (Ruth Bader Ginsburg)
April 6th: Hands on Nature (insect program for Grade One)
April 10th: Potato Hill Poetry (poetry workshop for Grade Four with Andy Greene)
June 8th: Wingmasters: World of Owls for Grade Five
Upcoming Programming in the works:
Annawon Weedon, First Light Fun (historical information about Wampanoag people and their culture for Grade Three)
Grace Lin (Newbery and Caldecott honoree author/illustrator)--school-wide author experience likely coming May 30th & 31st
Upcoming Events- help needed!
Fun Run - Shadow the Fun Run team: May 8th-May 16th
Science Fair - Calling all scientists, engineers and friends!
Families Organizing for Racial Justice (FORJ) is a group of diverse Newton families helping our children learn about issues of power and inequality and how to stand up for racial justice. We seek to generate understanding and curiosity about differences in our society, and to work together towards racial equity.
Check out resources to listen, watch and read: https://www.forj.org/resources
Discussing recent acts of violence with our children (from National Association of School Psychologists):
Remain calm, reassuring, and maintain as normal a routine as possible.
Additionally, make time to talk about what happened, and during this discussion;
February is Black History Month - Teachers hosting visits by members of our community.
Check out the new sculpture on Boston Common, “The Embrace”. Visit the Black Heritage Trail and check out Boston Black Restaurant Challenge: https://bostonblackrestaurants.com/.
Story Starters Registration is Open - 8-week Family Conversations program designed for parents who want to start and strengthen conversations about race with their 3- to 8-year-olds. Story Starters gives families age-appropriate tools and skills to have meaningful conversations about race and racism. Story Starters families learn from educators, racial justice advocates, and each other. Begins Feb 12th online & in-person. https://www.story-starters.org/program
FORJ Update
How You Can Help!
2021-22 Fundraising Progress
Total: $6378
Bank Balance: $41,110
Newton Override
What is an Override? Massachusetts has a limit on the revenue a municipality can raise from property taxes. Towns can only exceed this limit if a majority of the voters agree to “override” the limit.
Budget Process- Two budgets will be developed
● Both budgets include a baseline addition of $9.2M, a 3.5% increase
Budget #1 - Override Approved by the Voters
● Includes additional $4.5 million for NPS operating budget
● Budget gap remains, but is smaller. Will likely require some additional fee revenue, reductions and/or risk assumptions.
Budget #2 - Override Not Approved by the Voters
● Significant budget gap exists, which will require extensive reductions to educational services and infrastructure
Reductions if Override does NOT pass
VOTE: March 14, 2023
Resources for Keeping Connected
lepto.org
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>> facebook.com/LincolnEliotPTO
>> home of our School Directory
>> our PTO website
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>> @Lincoln_Eliot_Newton
Open Floor / Discussion
Thank you for coming out!