Sprague Gingerbread House & Winter Greens - thank you!

Thank you to the Brown family for sharing this gorgeous gingerbread house of Sprague school.  It will be on display this week in the front office lobby.  

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Thank you to Sprague parent, Colleen Conroy for "Sprucing up Sprague," with her beautiful winter greens creations.  

Happy Holidays from the Sprague PTO!

Support Newtown through community outreach or a direct donation - thank you!

PLEASE HELP WELLESLEY SEND OUR LOVE AND SPIRIT TO NEWTOWN, CONNECTICUT BY DROPPING OFF CHILDREN’S GIFTS AND TOYS TO:

The Wellesley Community Center

219 Washington Street, Wellesley

by NOON on FRIDAY DECEMBER 21ST

(for delivery to Newtown on Saturday).

Any questions please email Sue Hartigan or Antonia

Perry at newfriendsfornewtown@gmail.com

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Visit the Newtown Public School District Website for direct ways to help 

Sandy Hook School

http://www.newtown.k12.ct.us/

Creative Arts and Sciences News

Creative Arts and Sciences 

Ask your fourth grader about…Origamido. On Monday, Dec. 17th origami master Michael LaFosse conducted origami workshops in the fourth grade classrooms.

Origami dragonfly and frog designed and folded by Michael LaFosse.

Photo by Richard L. Alexander, copyright 1994.

Ask your kindergartener about...Tanglewood Marionettes. On Monday, Dec. 17^th kindergarten students learned about puppetry and enjoyed a performance of Cinderella.

Photo courtesy of Tanglewood Marionettes

These programs are sponsored by the PTO/Creative Arts and Sciences.

From Wellesley Green Schools: Holiday Ideas

Holiday ideas that are not only good for the planet, but start nice holiday conversations as well:

- Children: Teach generosity vs. consumerism

- Shopping:  Plan trips so you can combine errands to save gas and reduce impulse buys. Also, bring your own bags and decline wrapping paper offers.  Check out consignment stores and used book shops for gifts and gifts made from renewable materials.

- Gift giving:  Try making a gift or giving of yourself with a gift certificate; perhaps even a charitable contribution for a cause that is meaningful to the recipient would be ideal.

- Wrapping: Reuse gift wrap and gift bags or wrap in old art projects, wallpaper, fabric, calendars, newspapers, magazines, etc. Try old cards and cut them up for name tags. If you do buy wrapping paper buy it with a high percentage of recycled content. 

- Entertaining: Buy locally and sustainably grown foods. Try not to over buy so as to have to throw out food at the end of a celebration and avoid disposables. Consider composting.

- Holiday cards: Send electronic holiday cards or cards made from recycled paper.

- Decorations: Use what you have and make new ones with materials you have around your home.

- Lights: use LED holiday lights, smaller displays and turn lights off overnight to lower energy use.

Happy Holidays From Wellesley Green Schools!

Check out Wellesley Recreation - Individual day programs over winter break available

Visit Links Below for Wellesley Recreation

Winter 2013 Registration Information

Winter 2013 Youth Program & Skiing  Information
this link includes December & February break programs

Winter 2013 Adult Program Information
many new programs available

2013 Summer Camp Information
summer camp registration begins Jan. 8, 2012 

School Committee Meeting Updates

Dr. David Lussier spoke at the Sprague PTO Coffee on Wednesday to share his vision for Wellesley Public Schools. For more information about what's happening within the Wellesley Public Schools you may be interested in the following:

Next School Committee Meeting is 12/18/12  – Town Hall – FY14 Budget 7:30 pm
Parents are invited to come!

SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING UPDATE:  December 11, 2012 
• Principal Dr. Andrew Keough presented the WHS 2012-13 School Improvement 
Plan and reported on his October trip to Finland as part of a Massachusetts educational 
delegation.
• Dr. Keough and Guidance Director Julie Trask provided an overview of the latest SAT 
scores:   http://www.wellesley.k12.ma.us/schoolcom/pdfs/SATPresentation121112.pdf
• Technology Director Rob Ford, Schofield Educator Anthony Moretti, and Instructional 
Technology Specialist Brian Allieri presented their findings on the Grade 5 1:1 iPad Pilot 
Program at Schofield School: 
http://www.wellesley.k12.ma.us/schoolcom/pdfs/SC_OnetoOnePilotUpdate_12112012.pdf
• Supt. Dr. David Lussier provided updates on the Strategic Plan development process and 
plans for the Population and Enrollment Study
• School Committee Chair Diane Campbell provided a progress report from the School 
Facilities Master Plan (SFMP) Task Force: 
http://www.wellesley.k12.ma.us/schoolcom/pdfs/SFMPProgressReport.pdf
http://www.wellesley.k12.ma.us/schoolcom/pdfs/SFMPProgressReportPresentation.pdf

Happy Holidays from Sprague PTO

picturesofwinter.net

Have a wonderful and safe holiday season!  

Last day of school before break - Friday, December 21st.

School re-opens on Wednesday, January 2nd, 2013.

Sprague Announcements will resume on Sunday, January 6th.

Thank you for all of your support throughout the year!

Message from Cookie Walk Chairs

WE DID IT!  We raised over $9,600 for our beloved school!

A HUGE THANK YOU to the entire Sprague Community without whose collective effort we wouldn’t have such a successful Cookie Walk.

• Many Thanks to our GENEROUS CONTRIBUTORS for raffle items, all of  our fabulous BAKERS and to OUR GREAT VOLUNTEERS-
• Becca Cahaly for her leadership organizing the Raffle
• Yolanda Tong for her support in getting ready communications and processing presale tickets with Lin Boegholm
• Michelle Heath for organizing wrapping
• Elizabeth Young, Maura Miele and Janae Goodall for taking care of decorations and signs
• Catherine Mirick and DD Marcoux for their ideas and support
• Lori Goldenthal for handling volunteers
• Andrea Giroux, Jean Walsh, Anne-Marie Hayden, Wendy Garber, Charmaine Hartnett, Jessica Fixler, Phyllis Theermann, Jen Vernazza, Jill Fischmann, Jeni Dymek, Elise Rodino, Suzanne Fletcher, Colette Aufranc, Christine Peloquin, Karen Kahrl, Angie Gakidis, Carla Panell and Caryn Park for their dedication 
• our PTO Treasurer Shaune Marie Berg

Special thanks to Dr. Goodwin for his support and leadership and all the Sprague faculty and staff for their support and enthusiasm.

Congratulations to all KIDS for winning the EXTRA RECESS!

We wish all of you Happy Holidays,

Katy Comstock and Andrea Doglioli

Reminder PTO Coffee - Wed. Dec. 12th - Meet Superintendent, Dr. David Lussier

Just a friendly reminder that we will be having a PTO Coffee and speaker event in the cafeteria directly after the Walk to School today.

Superintendent, Dr. David Lussier will be a our guest speaker.  Come hear from Dr. Lussier and learn about his vision for Wellesley Public Schools.

SPRAGUE STUDENTS EXERCISE THEIR "WRITE" TO STOP CLIMATE CHANGE

FEEL FREE TO TRY THIS AT HOME

More than 100 climate change letters were mailed this week to our elected officials from Sprague Elementary School students. 

Kindergartners all the way up to 5^th grade students voluntarily gave up recesses and put pencil and crayon to paper to share their ideas and reasons why the Earth was important to them and why our Senators, President and First Lady should make environmental issues a top priority.  Topics ranged from Hurricane Sandy, to protecting our oceans and the air we breath, as well as the earth we grow our food from.

“Please save trees as I like to climb on them,” wrote a second grade student. 

“I like to swim with the healthy fish in a clean ocean on Cape Cod, please make laws to keep it that way,” wrote one 3^rd girl.

Older students wrote specifically about their concerns in regards to global warming, while others shared ideas on energy efficiency and renewable energy.

Championed by Principal Dr. Stephen Goodwin and lead by parent volunteers, this was an empowering writing, civil and environmental science exercise that families could try at home

Many thanks to Anng Kenny, Leslie Tellalian, Ingrid Bergquist,  Jennett Murphy, Eunice Groark, Laura Brown-MacKinnon, Danae Foley, Angie Gakidis, Jenn Caiazzo and Phyllis Theermann.

Sprague 7th Annual Cookie Walk - Reminders & New Raffle Items

It is finally here! 
Cookie Walk is this Thursday 12/13 from 2:30 to 5 PM.

We are almost there but we still need cookies so if you haven’t done so please delight us with your favorite recipe.  Click here to sign up.  

Reminders:

ü Wrap up your cookies festively in bundles of 6 and label the type of cookies. Or just note the type and we will wrap them for you for a $5 flat fee.

ü 8:10-8:45 am Thursday- Drop off cookies in car line.

ü 3:45 pm  Don’t miss the live performance of Linx Dance Team.

ü4:30 pm  Raffle winners will be announced.  You can still buy Raffle tickets at the Cookie Walk. Check our 2 added items.

Added Items:

Item #1 Signed Football - Rob Nincovich #50
Donated by the Walsh Family

Item #2  Sophia Necklace from Stella & Dot

    Donated by Kristen Weiss

    

We hope to see you all and thank you for your support.

If you have any questions please contact us,

Andrea Doglioli aaodoglioli@hotmail.com or

Katy Comstock katycom@comcast.net

What's Happening at Sprague. Week of Dec. 9th, 2012

Wednesday, December 12

8:30am

 PTO Coffee & Announcements

8:30am

 Walk to School

9:00am

 PTO Speaker Event for Parents  -- Dr. Lussier, WPS Superintendent 

10:00am

 PTO Board Meeting - canceled

Thursday, December 13

2:30pm

 Cookie Walk - Andrea Doglioli and Katy Comstock chairs

Friday, December 14

2:30pm

 Cookie Walk Snow Date - Andrea Doglioli and Katy Comstock chairs

Thank you to Yolanda Tong for chairing the Original Works Art Fundraiser.  Yolanda held workshops with our young artists and managed the entire ordering process including the publicity:-)  Great job!
Thank you to those who participated.

Please Bake for Cookie Walk

Check out these websites for ideas:  Just a Pinch Recipes and Food and Wine.
We appreciate ANY amount you can bake!!  Click and sign up to bake here.

We need volunteers to help that day, click and sign up to help here.

Original Works - Thank You for Your Orders!

Much appreciation to the families who ordered!  Sprague earned $868.

Any families wishing to order more items, please contact Yolanda Tong bytong@verizon.net by Wednesday, December 12 for more info.

We would appreciate any feedback on this fundraiser, whether you ordered or not, for future consideration.  Email bytong@verizon.net.

Red Apple Gift Program

Honor someone special in your

child's school with a

Wellesley Education Foundation

Red Apple Gift

https://wellesleyeducationfoundation.org/redappleprogram.php

We’ve come a long way since schooling was voluntary and teachers were paid in foodstuffs!  However, thanks to Wellesley Education Foundation, the 19^th Century New England tradition of giving an apple to one’s teacher is alive and well in Wellesley and updated for the 21^st Century. 

Throughout the year you can thank your child’s homeroom teacher, specialist, aide or other staff members with a donation to Wellesley Education Foundation (WEF).  The Red Apple Program is a meaningful way for parents and students to show their appreciation to a teacher or staff member through a gift to WEF in the staff member’s name. All funds raised are used immediately for educator grants that enrich learning experiences for Wellesley Public School students. 

By aggregating funds from town-wide donors, WEF is able to help make large grants that foster community-wide improvements to education.  WEF fills the role of making larger grants, complementing the individual fundraising efforts of each PTO. Last year, WEF funded grants totaling over $150,000 thanks to the generosity of Wellesley donors. (For a detailed description of 2011-12 grants, please visit:  https://wellesleyeducationfoundation.org/impact.php)

When you participate, your honoree(s) will receive a Red Apple thank you e-card that includes your child’s name (but not the amount of your gift). You may also choose to print out a Red Apple thank you card for your son or daughter to deliver personally to his or her teacher(s).

To make a Red Apple gift or to learn more, visit: https://wellesleyeducationfoundation.org/redappleprogram.php

Thank you for your generous support, and enjoy the holidays! 

Cookie Walk Participation Update

 

We are almost there!!  One more push to reach our goal and earn that Extra Recess!  We need COOKIES!  Please sign up here to bake or email aaodoglioli@hotmail.com.

 

The Raffle Presale is over, but you can still buy tickets at the Cookie Walk this Thursday December 13^th.  Come check out 2 new items added to the Raffle:

• Item #21 - Stella and Dot Sophia Bib Necklace

• Item #22 - Autographed Football by Patriot Player

Winners will be announced at the 4:30 pm raffle drawing.

 

Thank you in advance for your support.

If you have any questions please contact us,

Andrea Doglioli at aaodoglioli@hotmail.com or

Katy Comstock at katycom@comcast.net

Gift Giving Guidelines for Sprague Teachers/Staff - (PTO will no longer be coordinating group gifts.)

PTO Gift Giving Guidelines for Sprague Teachers/Staff 2012-2013

Teachers/staff may accept a gift of no more than $49.99 per calendar year on behalf of an individual student. More detailed information can be found at  http://www.mass.gov/ethics/gifts-to-public-school-teachers-and-staff.html

The PTO and Room Parents will no longer be coordinating group gifts for teachers/staff because in many cases we would exceed the $150 limit placed by the state with our collections.  

The following COMPLETE list of Sprague Staff was updated on 11/29/12 and is provided for your convenience.  Remember, gift giving is optional.  Thank you, Sprague PTO

Class	Lead	Aide
KKB	Katherine Bender	Ellen Settimelli
KGG	Genie Gledhill	None
KSG	Sara Goudreault	Sarah Knight	Melissa Snow
1LB	Louisa Blumenthal	Beth Martin
1DG	Dara Gaul	None
1KL	Karen Lindquist	Louise Herzog
2KC	Kim Casalena	Jacquelyn Decker
2CR	Kenneth Craig	None
2KF	Kristan Fiore	None
2LM	Lisa Mortarelli	Ashlee Coelho, Michelle Solek
3JB	Jayne Byrne	Paul Johnson
3JL	Jen Lundbohn	Jacqueline DiModica
3AR	Alee Rogers	Karen McVay
4TD	Taryn Drake	Pam Simonetti
4JH	Jill Heckman	Nancy Taverna
4MH	Moe Henzel	Delia Jodrie
5EB	Ellen Banthin	Neil Donohue
5BH	Bevin Hale	Alison Malcom	Nicole Tarczanin
5HH	Heather Heon	None
Art	Jen Stabnick
Library	Ellen Mandell	Anne Allieri
Music	Brian Hagar-Mckee	Donna Chaff
P.E.	Margaret Flitsch
Special Education	Aimee Worsham (Gr 2-5), Patti Weismer (K-Gr1)		Rose McQuillan
Physical Therapy	Beth Quinty
OT	Margo Zelermyer, Kate Dienel, Mary Rosen
Learning Center	Susan Hanno, Jamie Morrison, Kati Okoshi, Susan O'Day
Literacy	Christina Cooney, Amy Curry, Amy Galanes, Marcie Mann
Speech	Alyson Lajeunesse, Shanna Macauda
Psychologist	Elana Wolkoff
Office	Lennie Becker, Cheryl Moy, Lisa Licata
Nurse	Sharon Kahn, Marianne Maclean
Custodial	Scott Grady, Rob Carter, Jack Glorioso
Lunch	Jill Webb
Crossing Guard	Barbara Dutile
Math	Chelsea Bailow	Jennifer MacPherson
Technology	Jackie Hoglund	Leslie Hunter