Wellington PTO News and Announcements

Opening Remarks

Welcome back! We hope that everyone enjoyed the Winter Recess. We have an exciting week of events for our Celebration of Reading! 

 

Notable Mentions

Join us for a Celebration of Reading on March 1st and March 2nd, including:

• Wed, March 1st: Kick-off with a Virtual Wellington Storytime with Mystery Guest Readers, 7pm to 7:30pm. Zoom link available here.
• Thursday, March 2nd: A Celebration of Reading!
  • Dress up as your favorite story book character during the school day.
  • Shop at Belmont Books all day and help raise money for the Wellington; 20% from all proceeds will go to the Wellington PTO
  • Stop by our first “Books and Beers” FUNdraiser at Belmont Books and Trinktisch from 6:30pm to 9:30pm

 

PTO Spring Appreciation Breakfast! 

Friday, March 17th 8:00 - 8:30am (item drop-off) 10:30am (serving start time)The PTO hosts appreciation events throughout the school year, and once again, we'd love your help! Let's show our appreciation for all that the Wellington teachers and staff do for our children with an early spring event.  Please consider sharing a special baked item or a favorite cultural dish! The PTO receives many words and notes of thanks as these quarterly events are a highlight of the school year. We typically serve around 100 teachers and staff, so your support is greatly appreciated! Sign-up Here!

Science Night - Calling all 3rd and 4th grade Scientists!

Science Night is coming on Friday, March 31st.  Gather some friends, form a team, and learn more here. The registration deadline is extended to Friday March 10th - Register your students here! Questions or comments, contact: WellingtonScienceNight@gmail.com This year, the theme of Science Night will be Outer Space. We will have DIY telescope kits and kaleidoscope puzzles for kids to enjoy. 

 

Important Dates:

March 2023

• Mar. 1            Virtual Wellington Storytime with Mystery Guest Readers 7 - 7:30pm
• Mar. 2            Read Across America Celebration: Dress as your favorite book character day during the school day.
• Mar. 2            Books & Beers @ Belmont Books & Trinktisch 6:30 - 9:30 pm. Secure your sitters!
• Mar. 10          Registration Deadline for Science Night (Mar 31)
• Mar. 15          Early Release Day @ 11:40am - No lunch is served.
• Mar. 17          Teacher Appreciation Breakfast
• Mar. 22          Early Release Day @ 11:40am - No lunch is served.
• Mar. 26          Wellington Skate Day @ Warrior Ice Arena 11am - 12:30pm
• Mar. 29          Early Release Day @ 11:40am - No lunch is served. 
• Mar. 31          Science Night for 3rd and 4th graders 6:45pm - 7:45pm

 

Thank You To...

Our amazing Wellington community members for showing their school spirit and making this adorable handmade Whaley keychain which is proudly on display on Principal Paisner’s door!

 

DEI Corner

Educate Yourself: Mapping Inequality 

• Read the Introduction page at this link about “Redlining”: https://dsl.richmond.edu/panorama/redlining/#loc=12/42.373/-71.174&city=belmont-ma&area=A1&adviewer=sidebar . 
• Search for your former and current neighborhoods. Some questions to consider:
  • How might the government grade your neighborhood now vs. when you grew up? 
  • How has that affected your worldview? 
  • How does Belmont's redlining history impact the worldview and structures of our schools and local government? 
  • How have certain people benefitted from this practice, and how have others suffered?  

 

Open Positions:

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

• Now Hiring! We’re looking to fill a PTO Board position, VP of Community Events ASAP - you’ll liaise with our event chairs on beloved traditions including: Skate Night, Science Night, Multicultural Night, Fall Picnic, Movie Night & BINGO! 
   
• 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 on May 5th. 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

 

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