Welcome (Back) to Sprague!

Welcome (Back) to Sprague!

For all the returning families, the PTO would like to extend a warm welcome back. To all the new families joining us this school year - Welcome, we're very excited to meet you!

This year we also welcome Susan Snyder, our new principal, to the community. Ms. Snyder has had a busy summer preparing for the start of school. After talking with her quite a few times, I believe she will do a fabulous job of both supporting everything we love about Sprague and working to enhance the experience for all. This year the top priority of the PTO will be to support Ms. Snyder as she learns about us. We want to ensure her first year is a wonderful experience for her, the teachers, the parents, and most all, the students.

You should have received a packet in the mail during the summer from the PTO, which included multiple forms and a welcome letter from Ms. Snyder. If you have not already done so, please return the completed forms to the front office of Sprague as soon as possible. Jean Walsh and her team of volunteers did a fabulous job updating the forms, organizing them, and stuffing envelopes. Thank you, Jean, for taking on this task over the summer! Your effort helped ensure we will start the year off on the right foot.

Michelle Walsh is working to organize host families for all the new families into Sprague. New families have been joining Sprague up until last week, so there will be many new faces for us to reach out to. Please send her an email if you would like to volunteer as a host family to a new student in your grade level. This entails reaching out to the new family, answering any questions, and organizing a play date for the kids. Also, you should plan to attend the New Family Picnic on September 9 at 6p. Thank you, Michelle, for all your effort to provide a warm Sprague welcome!

Karyn DeVito and Andrea Scampini have been busy organizing the social events to kick off the new year. They have planned many exciting events to ensure you and your child's first day is special. For kindergarten and new students, this begins with a Popsicle play date on Tuesday, August 26th at 3p. For returning families, there will be a parent coffee set up by the front entrance of the school on August 27th at 8:30a. On the first day of kindergarten, Tuesday, September 2nd there will also be a parent welcome coffee set up by the front entrance at the start of school. We know how it feels to see those doors close once your kindergartner has entered the classroom, so please plan to share some coffee and treats with us. All PTO board members are encouraged to attend both welcome coffees so that families can meet you. Thank you Karyn and Andrea for organizing these events!

The last piece of business is the position of Vice President. It remains vacant... I would love to have at least one willing, if not two, parents volunteer. If you are interested please send me an email, or approach me on the playground to talk about it. If nobody raises their hand then I will be forced to invoke Bylaw 45-B2.C, which says I can pull a name out of a hat. Okay, I made that up. However, it is important to have continuity from one year to the next and the role of VP is the main position to ensure that the PTO remains strong from year to year. So please consider the role.

Again, welcome everyone and we look forward to refreshing friendships, making new ones, and enhancing our children's education throughout the school year.

Warm Regards,
Matthew McKay
Sprague PTO President

P.S. A reminder that Wednesday, August 27th will be a half day.

Upcoming dates

Tuesday, August 26th
Noon: PTO sponsored teacher/ staff luncheon
2pm: Kindergarten students/ parents classroom visits
3pm: popsicle playdate for kindergarten and new students at the playground, school tours with Ms. Snyder, Sprague Principal

Wednesday, August 27th
1st day of school, parent coffee on playground

Monday, September 2nd
1st Full day of Kindergarten, parent coffee on playground

Teacher / Staff Appreciation Luncheon

Please join us this Tuesday, August 26, 12 noon, in kicking off the school year and providing lunch for our hard working teachers and staff! Our main dish will be catered but we are looking for donations of sides, salads, desserts, drinks and supplies! Offerings to be dropped off by 11:30am to the front office the day of the luncheon.

To volunteer please click HERE.

For questions, contact Becca Cahaly (rebecca@tellalian.com) or Angie Hemmerle (angshemme@yahoo.com). Thank you!

Wellesley scouts

Sign up for Cub Scouts, Webelos, Boy Scouts, co-ed Venture Crew, Daisies, Brownies, Junior, Cadette, Senior or Ambassador Girl Scouts all at one convenient location at the Wellesley Scout Roundup.

Try out cool Scout STEM projects like soda bottle rockets and a hovercraft. Learn about our outdoor adventures and check out our tent and mock campfire. The Roundup will be held Thursday, September 4, 2014 from 7-8:30 at the Wellesley Community Center, 219 Washington St (intersection of Rt. 16 and ramp for Rt. 9 (W).

Girls in Kindergarten through grade 12 and boys in first grade to age 18 are eligible for Scouting. High school boys and girls are welcome to join the co-ed Venturing program sponsored by the Boy Scouts of America.

Wellesley Scout sign-up by September 4, 2014. For further information on programming for boys and co-ed Venture Crew, contact Stephen Scherrer (Cubmaster@Pack135BSA.org) or for girls, contact Laura Foody (wellesleygs@gmail.com).

Join Cub scouts

Calling All Boys Grade 1-5

 3 Ways to join Pack 140:

• All-Scout Sign-up-  Thursday Sept. 4th, 7 PM-8:30 PM                         At the Wellesley Community Center - 219 Washington St., where Rt. 9 meets Washington, next to the Wellesley Hills Congregational Church. Sign up for Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts or Venturing.

• First Cub Scout Pack 140 Meeting – Mon. Sept. 8th, 6:30 PM-8:00 PM Also at Wellesley Community Center, 219 Washington St. This is specifically for Cub Scout sign up.
• Email: pack140recruiting@gmail.com

Just for Fun & Information:

• Soda Mentos Geysers!   Tues. Sept. 2,,  3 PM at Sprague playground
• Model Rocket Launch!    Sat. Sept. 6,     5 PM at Sprague fields

Upcoming Dates

Monday, June 16th:  8:45 - 11:30 am
Sprague Field Day

Wednesday, June 18th:  8:15-8:45 am
Sprague Volunteer Tea/Coffee Appreciation Event
FULL DAY OF SCHOOL (Dismissal at 3:05 pm)

Thursday, June 19th:  9:00 am
5th Grade Farewell Assembly

Friday, June 20th
LAST DAY OF SCHOOL (Dismissal at 12 pm)

Thank You from Remember Me! Books

Thank you to all the Sprague families for their amazing and generous support of books to the Sprague Library.  As you may know, the Sprague Library is entirely self-funded.  Thanks to your donations we are able to fill gaps in their collection.

Thanks to the following Sprague families for their recent donation of books:
Monsen, Bubeck, Leibman, Sullivan, Shultz, and Leone

Sprague PTO 2014-15

The oversight of the PTO is largely complete for 2014-15. Thank-you to everyone who has stepped up and taken on a leadership role for next year. The PTO has very strong individuals running many of the programs and events next year. With the strength of involvement, the PTO is exploring a few new initiatives for next year. 

Of course we are always looking for more people to help out! The more people involved, the more enjoyable the experience for everyone as you can make new friends and learn from one another. So please let us know if you are interested.

We are still looking for the following:
(1) Vice President(s) - One or two people can fill the role.
(2) Walk to School - Once a month commitment
(3) Grade-specific help in various programs and events

If you are interested in helping out the PTO next year, please look over the oversight document and send Matthew McKay an email.

On Tuesday June 10, a welcome letter was distributed to all who attended the final PTO meeting of the school year. During the meeting the Sprague PTO Board for 2014-15 was voted in. The current structure of the PTO Oversight was presented and discussed.

There was also a general meeting to discuss the tentative schedule and plans for next year. Incoming principal Ms. Susan Snyder attended the meetings, enabling a productive dialogue about next year.

Thank-you again! Enjoy the summer and we look forward to seeing you at the start of school!

Letter to Families with Incoming Kindergarten Students (from Dr. Lussier)

Please click HERE to see the full letter sent to all families of children who will begin kindergarten this Fall in the Wellesley Public Schools.  Highlights include:

• Parent forum hosted by Dr. Lussier next Thursday, June 19th @ 7 pm in Sprague Cafeteria for parents of all incoming kindergarten students.
  
• MID AUGUST:  Kindergarten teacher placement letters mailed.  Letters from teachers are mailed to your child, including a 30-minute assigned time to meet with teacher during the days August 27-29th.  

• Wednesday, August 27 - Friday, August 29th:  Kindergarteners will only attend school during their assigned 30 minute teacher meeting that week.

• Tuesday, September 2nd:  Full day kindergarten begins for all students. 

Sign Up to be Family Farmers in the Sprague Garden this summer!

The Sprague Garden needs you!  If you would like to sign up your family to be Family Farmers one of the weeks below, please email phyllis@theermann.com and indicate Family Name and week you would like to sign up.

What is a Family Farmer?
Family Farmers are responsible for watering the garden three times during the assigned week, weeding and picking crops - and enjoying them!

Thanks!

Weeks available:
June 30th
July 7th

Sprague Summer Reading List

Thanks to our Sprague library staff for providing parents with our Summer Reading List for our children.  To see the complete list, click HERE.

Around Town

Add your Teacher to the WEF Honor Roll with a RED APPLE!

IT'S NOT TOO LATE!!  Honor your teacher and/or staff member with a RED APPLE donation and support innovation and new initiatives in our schools TODAY!  Click HERE to donate.  Honorees will receive immediate notification of your gift!  Give now! 

North Forty Public Forum

WHAT:  Join the North 40 Steering Committee for a public forum/update

WHEN:  Wednesday June 18th, 7-9 pm

WHERE:  Wellesley Free Library

Agenda for the meeting is to update residents on the Town's efforts to investigate acquisition; to envision the many municipal uses the site may accommodate; to gather residents' ideas for the use of the site (whether for municipal or other purposes); and to answer questions and concerns.

ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE WELLESLEY EDUCATION FOUNDATION:

 

It has been a privilege for WEF to fund and participate in the WPS strategic planning process, working alongside Dr. Lussier, the Strategic Planning Advisory Committee, and many others within the community.  As Dr. Lussier recently announced, WPS' Strategic Plan for 2013-2019 is now available!  This publication represents the culmination of a year-long collaborative process involving educators, staff, parents, students, and other members of the Wellesley community.  To learn more about WPS' strategic planning process and the exciting path forward as mapped out by the strategic plan, please click here. 

If you have not yet supported WEF through a Red Apple Donation or an Annual Fund contribution, please click here.  WEF's fiscal year ends June 30, 2014.  Thank you for your critical support of WEF this year!