From Wellesley Green Schools, "be greener" this year

Happy 2013 from Wellesley Green Schools

Here is a great first step to reach your "be greener" resolution this year.

Once you have done this, go on to the next step listed here.

Change LIGHT BULBS

FACTS:

• The incandescent light bulb (circa 1800's) gets so hot because it turns most of the electricity you pay for into heat.
• Modern light bulbs turn your money into light, not wasted heat.
• Changing an old incandescent for a compact fluorescent (CFL) or LED light bulb will save you money and reduce your carbon footprint.

ACTION: 

Change 5 incandescent light bulbs to energy efficient CFL or LED bulbs.

What's your green play of the day?

www.SustainableWellesley.com

Wellesley Youth Commission Summer Program - LOTTERY APPLICATION DEADLINE JANUARY 31st at 4:00 p.m.

The Wellesley Youth Commission is now accepting applications for its' three summer programs: 

1. Fire Rescuers, 
2. Youth Academy and 
3. Wellesley Media Corporation.  

Each of these programs offer an opportunity for Wellesley youth, entering grades 6-8^th in the fall of 2013, to experience valuable aspects of the Wellesley community. Applications may be found on the Youth Commission website by clicking here. 


Thank you,
Maura B. Renzella, 
Youth Director-Wellesley Youth Commission
525 Washington Street
Wellesley, MA 02482
781-446-6274 Extension 2256
mrenzella@wellesleyma.gov

SPECIAL FLASH - SPRAGUE SKI TRIP - BOOK NOW!

Sprague School Annual Ski Trip

Waterville Valley 

February 1-3rd

Discounted lift tickets...

download ticket form - click here

                           

Family dinner Saturday night...

email Andrea Giroux

at andrea.giroux@yahoo.com 

for reservations, $15 child & $38

adult and mail your check 

to Andrea Giroux, 20 Atwood St.

Rooms still

 available so Book NOW!!

Ski Weekend Headquarters: 

The Golden Eagle Lodge  

www.goldeneaglelodge.com.

***Don’t forget to ask for your Sprague discounted room rate when booking your reservation!***

See you at the cocktail party Friday night Golden Eagle lodge room #404 any time after 7pm

Wesllesy PAC Meeting - Tuesday, Jan 15 at 7:00 PM

Wellesley PAC Meeting

When:      Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Time:       7:00 PM

Where:     Wellesley Middle School Library

Topic:       Linda Waters, Director of Student Services, will discuss the budget and how it effects

                 SPED programming. Linda will present right at 7PM as she has to attend the School

                 Committee meeting that evening as well.

The Wellesley Parent Advisory Council (PAC) is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization of parents and caregivers of children with disabilities in preschool, elementary, middle, high and private schools who meet to learn more about special education in Wellesley. We sponsor workshops, informational meetings, discussion groups, legislative lobbying efforts and a variety of other activities to help improve our children’s education.

Have you missed Sprague Announcements throughout the year or need a way to easily search them?

Sprague Announcements which comes to you via email on Sunday and Wednesday mornings are posted on the PTO website's blog the day before.  We use an auto feed service to send the announcements to you from the blog.  

You can catch up on the ones you've missed or need to review again without having to search past emails.  Simply go to the Sprague Website home page www.spragueschool.org - you'll find the announcements directly below the calendar with the most recent publication listed first.

You can easily search key words in the search box.  Have you seen the cookie walk video?  It's adorable - type 'cookie walk video' in the search box for easy access or just scroll down.  

You can also bookmark the announcement blog itself at http://spraguepto.blogspot.com/

Happy Reading!

Sprague PTO

TOPSoccer pilots 'special needs' program with Wellesley United at Sprague

Enabling ‘special needs’ athletes to enjoy the beautiful game!

Open House – Jan 17, 2013 – 3.15 PM to 4.30 PM
SPRAGUE  ELEMENTARY  SCHOOL - LIBRARY

TOPSoccer: The Outreach Program for Soccer is a community-based soccer program for children ages 4 – 16 with physical and/or intellectual disabilities. 

TOPSoccer provides ‘special needs’ athletes the opportunity to play soccer in a safe and fun environment.

Wellesley United Soccer Club has kindly agreed to sponsor TOPSoccer, and we plan to launch this program starting in late April 2013. TOPSoccer will be piloted at Sprague Elementary School,  afterschool for 6 – 7 Fridays. Sessions will run 75 – 90 minutes by student volunteers, backed by parent advisors. A core team of volunteers has already been formed, and are working on program details.

Program details and information will be shared during this Open House. We hope to meet interested ‘special needs’ families and volunteers during this Open House session.  We are initially targeting elementary school-age children this Spring for anyone who lives in Wellesley, but hope to make this an integral part of Wellesley United Soccer Club.  

If you have any questions, please contact us:

Darrien Tan (WHS 2015                                     Cean & Patrick Tan
Program Founder & Director                             Parent Sponsors & Advisors
darrien88@gmail.com                                            ptan@prysm.com
(Mobile): 781-879-3040                                     (P-Mobile): 978-618-3959
                                                                               (C-Mobile): 781-879-3038

Community Event featuring Award Winning Author, Sailor, and Teacher - Neal Petersen - Sat., Jan 26th 10-11AM

A Path in The Woods Foundation & Thrive Wellesley 

Present a Special Community Event with Neal Petersen 

In Life, There are No Barriers, Only Solutions

Saturday January 26, 2013 – 10:00AM-11:00AM

Katherine L. Babson, Jr. Auditorium

Wellesley High School - 50 Rice Street, Wellesley, MA

A book signing and sharing of ideas will take place after

Neal’s talk in the Wilbury Crockett Library

Neal will share his life lessons and story of hope & resiliency, including:
☼ The importance of realizing goals through perseverance and passion.
☼ Choosing conquest over adversity, never give up!
☼ The power of positive attitude and how if affects one’s performance.
☼ With choices there are consequences – choose wisely.
☼ Change – adapt to wind shifts and stormy seas by knowing when to alter course.


Neal Petersen overcame a childhood disability, poverty and apartheid to become the first sailor of African descent to complete the world’s premier solo sailing event.  Petersen sailed for 195 days to complete the 27,000-mile “Around Alone,” the longest race for individuals in any sport, in 1999. His 2004 autobiography, “Journey of a Hope Merchant: From Apartheid to the Elite World of Solo Yacht Racing,” won the National Outdoor Book Award in 2005. The book includes a harrowing account of his passage around South America’s Cape Horn. Petersen’s 1994 book, “No Barriers,” describes how he built a yacht and sailed it from South Africa to Europe using a sextant rather than a compass. A PBS documentary about Petersen is also titled “No Barriers.” Petersen’s No Barriers Education Foundation, based in Charleston, S.C., works with elementary schools to teach children “to believe in themselves,” set goals, and understand that education can help dreams come true.

Thrive Wellesley’s mission is to engage parents, students, community, business and religious leaders, senior citizens and others in the Wellesley community to create the opportunities and culture that enable every child to develop their innate gifts and thrive in life. We invite everyone in our community to bring his/her ideas to the discussions as we move beyond myths, build on Wellesley’s strengths, and put all our youth on a path to lifetime well being. This year we hope to expand opportunities for every student in sports programs and creative-arts activities.

Thrive Wellesley Advisors; Ellen Gibbs▪David Lussier▪Terry Cunningham▪Tom Harrington▪David Chapin▪Ilissa Povich▪Lesley Robertson▪Maura Renzella ▪Christian Milde▪Teresita Ramos▪Evan Rosenberg▪Christine Duvivier▪Gary McCabe▪Jim Brommers Bergquist▪Fred Wright

Welcome Back Sprague - Happy New Year!

What's happening this week at Sprague and looking ahead at next week -

Tuesday, January 8

8:30am

 Walk to School

8:45am

 PTO Board Meeting (Note: there will not be a PTO Coffee meeting before the board mtng.)

Monday, January 14

7:00pm

 PTO Evening Fireside Chat with Dr. Goodwin (Note: this will be our monthly PTO meeting.)       Special presentation on proposed expansion of 1:1 Technology Pilot Program by Rob Ford       Sprague Library - Childcare services available see below.

Tuesday, January 15

7:00pm

 WPAC Meeting - Wellesley Middle School Library

For those interested in childcare services for the January 14th, Fireside Chat, please email Jean Walsh at walsh70@aol.com by Monday, January 7th. 

(We need a minimum of 10 reservations to offer services.)  

1:1 Technology Pilot Program Proposed Expansion to ALL WPS 5th Grade Classrooms

In the fall of 2011, the district embarked on a 1:1 tablet pilot at the Schofield School. During the 2011-2012 school year, a tablet was assigned to each student in the pilot, and use of this technology was integrated into all aspects of the classroom curriculum. The results of this pilot were positive and the district is proposing an expansion of the pilot program to all 5th grade classrooms in the district for the 2013-2014 school year. Parents would have the option of either enrolling an existing iPad in the program or obtaining one through a "lease-to-own" option.

We encourage parents to learn more about the results of the Schofield pilot and the proposed expansion by visiting the WPS 1:1 Technology Pilot Program webpage (https://sites.google.com/a/apps.wellesley.k12.ma.us/wps-1-1-technology-pilot-program/) and by attending an informational meeting below.

Upcoming Meetings

In addition to recent presentations to the School Committee, Academic Council,  the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council, and the Wellesley Education Foundation,  we are working with the Elementary school PTOs to schedule a series of meetings.  We hope you are able to join us at your school's meeting, or at our parent forum  on January 10th. Date                      Time  Meeting 1/10                 8:45am Upham PTO 1/10  7:00pm Parent Forum in the Wakelin Room Wellesley Free Library 1/11  8:45am Schofield PTO 1/14  7:00pm Sprague PTO 1/15 7:30pm Fiske PTO 1/16 8:45am Hunnewell PTO 1/18 8:45am Bates PTO TBD* TBD* Hardy PTO * Awaiting confirmation of date and time for the Hardy PTO meeting. Thank you! Rob Ford Director of Technology Wellesley Public Schools 781-446-6210 x4522 rob_ford@wellesley.k12.ma.us

Problem with Ski Trip Reservations/Sign Up Instructions

Problem with reservation list - sorry:-)

If you have already signed up for the Sprague Ski Trip to Waterville Valley, NH scheduled during the weekend of Feb. 1st - 3rd, please contact Andrea Giroux at andrea.giroux@yahoo.com ASAP to confirm your reservation with her.  Your initial emails were deleted when Andrea's email was recently hacked by spammers.  Thank you!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To Sign Up for the Ski Trip - act quickly while rooms are still available.  

When:  Friday, Feb 1 - Sunday, Feb 3

Where:  Waterville Valley, New Hampshire

Skiing, Snowboarding, Fireworks

Family Dinner with Kids Entertainment!

Discounted Lodging, Passes, Rentals, Daycare and more!

Sprague Ski Trip - Sign Up Instructions - Click Here

Questions? Please contact…

Andrea Giroux at Andrea.giroux@yahoo.com

Everyone Welcome!  Spread the Word!

We Can’t wait to shred with Sprague!!

Sprague Basketball Game - Thursday, Feb. 7th at WMS -

Photo provided by Sprague Yearbook Committee 2012

CALLING ALL...

KINDERGARTNERS

1ST GRADERS

2ND GRADERS

3RD GRADERS

4TH GRADERS

5TH GRADERS

PARENTS 

TEACHERS/STAFF

HAVE SOME FUN & CHEER ON THE 5TH GRADERS & TEACHERS/STAFF 

WHO WILL COMPETE IN THE 3RD ANNUAL SPRAGUE BASKETBALL GAME.

Thursday, Feb. 7th, Wellesley Middle School

           6:00pm - Doors Open 

    6:30pm - Tip Off

     8:00pm - Closing

Pizza, refreshments and raffle tickets will be sold during event.

5TH GRADE STUDENT PRACTICE SCHEDULE

ALL 5th graders regardless of skill level are encouraged to play in the event.  We'll be sharpening our skills as a team - working together on the following dates led by Charmaine Hartnett - although we're looking for a parent coach!

Sprague Gym

Wed., Jan 23rd, 12:15-1:15pm

Wed., Jan 30th, 12:15-1:15pm

Wed., Feb. 6th, 12:15-1:15pm

LEAD A COMMITTEE FOR THE EVENT

PARENTS - WE NEED YOU!

T-Shirt Design Chair:  (Immediate Help Needed)

• Either organize a t-shirt design contest among 5th graders or design one yourself. 
• A t-shirt supplier is on file who we've used in the past.

Photo provided by Sprague Yearbook Committee 2012

Concession Stand Chair:

• Organize pizza, water and refreshments to be served starting at 6:00pm.
• Names of suppliers are in the file from previous years.

5th Grade Basketball Coach:

• Coach the team on game night.
• Attend the Wednesday practice sessions listed above.

To lead a committee contact Charmaine at charmainehartnett@hotmail.com 

A volunteer sign up to help out during the event will be available in mid-January.

-- Thank you, Charmaine Hartnett, 5th Grade vs. Staff Basketball Chair

Watch Sprague Cookie Walk Video - Produced by the Wellesley Community Channel

Sprague Cookie Walk Video - Click here to watch 

Thank you to our Cookie Walk chairs, Andrea Doglioli and Katy Comstock for their leadership and dedication to our most successful Cookie Walk to date.