Wellington PTO News and Announcements

Opening Remarks

Thank you to everyone who attended our virtual Wellington Story Time!

It was an adorable evening. The children were so excited to read stories with Ms. St Clair, Ms. Vahedi, and Ms. Ebdon. The Wellington Community outdid themselves on Thursday with so many teachers and children dressing as their favorite book characters! We were so disappointed that our Books and Beers event was canceled due to the power outage in the center. Thanks to all of you who shopped online at Belmont Books!

 

IMPORTANT: March Early Release Days Ahead! March 15, 22 and 29 are 11:40 am early dismissal days. No lunch will be served. Please plan accordingly!

 

Notable Mentions

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. 

Pack Assorted Colors for Kids Week. March 6-10. The Wellington School will be participating in a national healthy-eating initiative called P.A.C.K. Week. This is a fun and educational program encouraging kids to eat a wide variety of colorful fruits and vegetables, as each has its own nutritional benefits.  To get the broadest range of nutrients, all colors are important – purple, white, red, yellow, orange and green. Kids love eating the rainbow! 

 

Tanglewood Marionettes performed Perseus & Medusa on Monday for our 4th graders on Monday. They will be back to perform for grades K-3 in the upcoming months.

 

Important Dates:

March 2023

• Mar. 9            P.A.C.K. Yellow / Orange Day
• Mar. 10          P.A.C.K. Green Day
• Mar. 10          Registration Deadline for Science Night (Mar 31)
• Mar. 15          Early Release Day @ 11:40am - No lunch is served.
• Mar. 15          Spring ASE Sneak Peek
• Mar. 17          Teacher Appreciation Breakfast
• Mar. 21          Spring ASE Registration opens at 7am
• 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...

Nicole Dorn our rockstar coordinator for Belmont Books. Her attention to detail is out of this world! And her excitement and enthusiasm for our first ever Books and Beers was infectious. Unfortunately, we could not anticipate the power outage, and the need to cancel at the 11th hour. Thanks to those who shopped online last week. And for your continued support of our local businesses. 

 

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 10th. 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