Wellington PTO News and Announcements

Opening Remarks

Now Hiring! We’re looking for a Community Events co-chair ASAP - you’ll liaise with our event chairs on beloved traditions including: Skate Night, Science Night, Multicultural Night, Fall Picnic, Movie Night & BINGO! 

Wellington Carnival at Wellington is back! We need a lot of help to organize this fun day. And have four critical open positions - see below for details.

Notable Mentions

• Safe Schools Webinar Supporting and Affirming Transgender and Gender Expansive Students in our families and classrooms - Join tonight, Wednesday, February 1st at 7:00pm. We invite you to login to this virtual forum for the BPS community facilitated by Safe Schools Program for LGBTQ+ Students in Massachusetts.

• The Belmont Public Schools Integrated Preschool Program is hosting an Open House for Fall 2023 at the Wellington School on February 3, 2023 from 1:30 - 2:30pm. Interested families with children ages 3-5 are welcome to attend to learn more about our program.  Please reserve your spot by emailing Patty Toohig Nardone at ptoohignardone@belmontschools.net.

• When is $10 worth $500??? WHEN YOU PLAY THE PTO'S SUPERBOWL SQUARES! Each square is just $10 and there's $500 up for grabs. Buy as many squares as you like and share it with everyone you know.
  • You can choose your square(s) by clicking on this link and using the short code to access our pool: SUPERWELL. Squares need to be requested and payments need to be made before the game begins in order to qualify. You can click here to make your payment to the Wellington PTO.

Important Dates:

February 2023

• Feb. 1           Safe Schools Parent Webinar @ 7:00pm via Zoom
• Feb. 3           Belmont Public Schools Integrated Preschool Program Open House 1:30 - 2:30pm 
• Feb. 12         Super Bowl Squares Fundraiser
• Feb. 16         Meet with Superintendent Phelan 6:30pm - 8:30pm (Wellington Cafeteria)  Save-the-Date, immediately following the presentation: Extend your sitters and meet-up with other Wellington parents and guardians at Trinktisch in Belmont Center for a fun evening!
• Feb. 20-24    February Recess

Thank You To...

Patrick and Gary, our devoted Wellington custodians - and all of our supporting staff members - who work tirelessly to ensure that our school is ready for learning, day in and day out! 

DEI Corner

Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements and contributions by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. Also known as African American History Month, the event grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. Since 1976, every U.S. President has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating Black History. Here are some Black History Month programs and events in Boston:

• A Fascinating Rhythm: Drumming Workshop with Cornell Coley. Join arts educator and percussionist Cornell Coley for an interactive drumming performance and workshop for ages 6-12! Celebrate Black History Month with this program on Saturday, February 25 at 3:30pm - 4:30pm in the Children's Library's Rey Room at Central Library in Copley Square. For more information, email Ashley Runnels: arunnels@bpl.org  

• Join Wee the People in the Born on the Water program. Retrace the journey, survival, and triumph of the first African Americans. Inspired by the award-winning New York Times 1619 Project, this program features a reading of the children’s book Born on the Water, a craft activity, and a look at the underwater world of the Smithsonian’s Slave Wrecks Project, whose divers search to rescue stories of shipwrecks from the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Friday, February 24, 2023 1:00pm - 2:00pm at Boston Public Library Brighton: 40 Academy Hill Rd, Brighton MA. For more information, email Allie Hahn: ahahn@bpl.org. 

If you are interested in these events and are unable to make the dates listed above, please visit the Boston Public Library Events Page to view alternative dates and library locations throughout Black History Month.  

Open Positions:

If you are interested in volunteering, please fill out the Wellington PTO Volunteer Interest Form 2022-23!

• Join our Carnival Team - Cotton Candy! Bounce houses! Face Painting! The Wellington Spring Carnival is our biggest event of the year, planned for June 3rd. We are looking for four leads to run event teams: Volunteer Coordinator (oversee all volunteers leading up to and on day-of-event), Operations Coordinator (setup / breakdown, custodial support, etc), Vendor Coordinator (food trucks, bounce houses), and Marketing Coordinator (communications and raffle). Contact wellingtonptofundraising@gmail.com if you are interested.

• We have a need for one more Co-Chair for this year’s Multicultural Night (Spring 2023). Help organize one of the most engaging community events at Wellington by using your skills to select a theme, find cultural entertainment, organize student sign-ups for their chosen countries, and coordinate volunteers as needed. This event showcases and celebrates the diversity of our school community - please help make it a success again this school year! We have held this event for many years so there is a playbook to help guide the new co-chairs, and as always you will have the PTO board’s support! If you are interested, please contact wellingtonptopresidents@gmail.com 

• ASE is hiring for our Winter and Spring, 7 Week session! Interested in teaching a one hour class? We can’t offer this popular program without instructors. Parents / Guardians have taught classes in running, meditation, languages, and LEGO just to name a few! Have an idea? We’d love to hear from you! ase.wellington@gmail.com

 

Reminders:

• Please remember to be considerate when parking around Wellington and do not block the crosswalks or the driveways of our neighbors. There is no active pick up. Please do not pull into the parking lot or driveway at dismissal to retrieve your child.

• Please help make field trips, in-school enrichment programs and teacher appreciation events (and more!) possible this year by making an annual donation to the PTO. Every dollar you give supports Wellington students, teachers and our community, and it's tax deductible.
  • Pay online via credit card
  • Send a check payable to Wellington PTO (Memo: “Annual Fund” and your child’s name) and return to school in their Communications Folder OR mail to: Wellington School, ATTN: Wellington PTO, 121 Orchard Street, Belmont, MA 02478

• Amazon Smile How-To: If you shop on Amazon (and who doesn’t!) AmazonSmile is an easy way to support PTO - just set it and forget it! 
  • Here is an online tutorial for setting up via your iPhone
  • or on your browser
  • or step by step instructions
  • Don’t forget to update your app to the AmazonSmile App, and your bookmark to the Amazon Smile storefront. Search “Wellington PTO Inc” to find our charity.

 

Audrey Miller & Lindsay Kalmakis
Wellington PTO Co-Presidents
wellingtonptopresidents@gmail.com