Cabot Contact Info
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Main Office: 559-9400CASP: 964-2749
Gym: 559-9407
Food Service
In-house: 559-9412
Ed Center: 559-9015
Inclusion Facilitator: 559-9409
Nurse: 559-9404
Library: 559-9406
Psych/Social Worker: 559-9405 Call Back/ Safe Arrival: 559-9390
(Call by 8:20 to report tardiness and absences)
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| Next Jabber
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Submissions for the next edition of the Jabberwock are due at 5 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday of each month. Please email your contributions to us at jabbereditor@gmail.com or place a hard copy of your message in the Jabberwock mailbox in the main office.
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| Calendar |
December 2009
Dec 15, 2009 CASP musical (k-grade 4) 7:00-8:00 PM
Dec. 22, 2009 Affinity Group meets at 12:30 PM
Dec 24, 2009 Vacation, NO SCHOOL
Dec 25, 2009 Christmas Day
Dec 26, 2009 Kwanzaa
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PTO Pen
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Donations needed for Campaign for Cabot
Join the ten percent of Cabot families who've donated to the
Campaign for Cabot by making your donation here or responding to the letter in
your mailbox. Donations are urgently needed to make possible this year's
planned PTO activities in support of teachers and staff. Thanks to Julie
Bourgoin and her team of volunteers--Crystal Lyons, Michelle Markert, Jasna
Pecnik, Lori Seuch, Andrea Steenstrup, and Teresa Tocher--for taking time out of their busy weekend to get the mailing
out the door.
Teachers/staff to start holidays with thanks
Acknowledgment Committee co-chairs Sharon Dwyer and Ayako
Samuels will provide food in the teachers' room next week in order to kick off
the holidays with gratitude from the PTO.
Vaccinations go smoothly
Thanks to help from volunteers Faith Witte and KB Spector and a long day for
energetic Ms. Kerrigan, school nurse, H1N1 vaccinations went smoothly last Friday.
Art display case installed in lobby
Have you seen the new art display case in the Cabot lobby,
currently filled with wonderful sculptures inspired by the fifth grade circus?
The case is a gift from last year's fifth grade class and this year's fifth
grade class, supplemented by money brought in by last year's Artwork for
Education fundraiser. Special thanks to Mary Kathryn Fallon, Archana Vahalia,
and Ms. Straight for completing this wonderful project.
Social Action helps others
The Social Action committee under the leadership of Suzy
Enyeart and Jen Abbott has been busy helping those in need with a gift drive to
benefit Second Step and prior to that a food drive. In addition, they are
working hard to reunite orphaned clothing in the lost and found box in the
Cabot lobby with its rightful owners. Be sure to look for your student's
clothing before it is donated!
Evening PTO meeting held in November
A small but dedicated group of parents gathered for an evening
PTO meeting last month. Highlights were a visit by Norm Shore of Newton Schools
Foundation to discuss NSF's vision of installing interactive white boards in
schools beginning this year and a presentation about Eco Teams. Minutes of the
meeting are available at www.cabotpto.org.
Join the fun work of the PTO!
Thanks to the many parents and guardians who've jumped in to
further the work of the PTO this year, especially you brave newcomers. It's the
hard-working PTO officers AND the chairs of our thirty-plus committees AND the
ready-to-help-as-needed parents and guardians who make our jobs satisfying and
fun. If you haven't rolled up your sleeves this fall, we'll have many more
opportunities to do so in 2010. We look forward to working with you!
Sally Brickell
Brickland6@rcn.com
PTO co-president
Lori Knowles
Loriknowlespto@gmail.com
PTO co-president
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| From the Nurse |
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Frequent hand washing helps prevent everything from the
common cold or stomach bug to influenza, including H1N1 flu. School nurses have
been teaching good hand hygiene at school. Parents can help by reinforcing
these important messages at home.
Wash your hands by rubbing them vigorously with soap and
water for 20 seconds. Kids can practice this timing by singing "Happy Birthday"
twice. When soap and water are not available, use waterless hand
sanitizer. Squirt into your hands and rub them together until it is dry.
Sanitizer should not be used when hands are visibly dirty. Hand washing should
occur then. Wash your hands often, especially after using the restroom
and before eating. Practice coughing or sneezing into your sleeve (elbow or
upper arm) instead of your hands. This prevents spreading those germs when we
touch things with our hands. Avoid touching your face to prevent introducing germs into
your body through your nose and mouth.
For more information about hand washing, visit http://www.cdc.gov/Features/HandWashing/
Karen Kerrigan, RN 617-559-9404
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Volunteers Needed
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Do you like to dance? A great
10-15 hour Cabot PTO volunteer opportunity! Do you like to dance, make iTunes
play lists, and throw a good party? Join new parent Daniela Boerboom and help run the upcoming
Cabot Family Dance. Since most of the building blocks are already in place, this
is mainly a coordinating role, in consultation with parent volunteers who have
helped out in the past. Can you help?
Do you like to garden?
We
are looking for a few individuals to work in Cabot Community Park. This beautiful outdoor classroom is a peaceful place to learn, reflect and
relax. The park was opened two years ago thanks to years of effort by faculty and parents. We obtained
the granite seating, had the area landscaped ( by a Cabot parent), and obtained
the Chinese lantern. Thanks to the hard work of many others, including current co-chairs Margaret Lyons and Chris Kjellson, there is also a grant for landscape
design. To turn this garden into a learning, living
classroom, we need help with maintenance and sustainability. We also need help coordinating the curriculum- and
non-curriculum-based plantings. Can you help?
Do you walk to school?
Walking
to school is good for the environment and students' health. We need someone to chair
the Safe Routes to School Committee, supported by the
Federal Safe Routes to School Program, which provides materials and ideas to
increase the awareness and number of walkers at a school. The City of
Newton is so committed to safe walking practices that a Safe Routes
Task Force has been established to support individual schools and
share best practices. The committee chair will be responsible for
running two walk-to-school days each year, writing
occasional blurbs in the Jabberwock, and creatively raising awareness about the benefits of
walking to school. Can you help?
Are you interested in
promoting awareness about differences?
Cabot
needs classroom volunteers to help present Understanding our
Differences programs for a few dates this year. Coordinators spend 4 - 6 hours on prep time and
presentation. Day-of volunteers spend 2 hours. Established in 1978 by parents of children with disabilities, Understanding Our
Differences is a disability awareness program for the Newton elementary
schools. The program is committed to building an inclusive,
accepting community for every child. Today six instructional units provide
specific information and experiential learning activities related to
* Blindness and Visual Impairment
* Deafness and Hard of Hearing
* Developmental Disabilities
* Learning Disabilities
* Physical Disabilities
* Chronic Medical Conditions of Asthma, Diabetes
and Epilepsy/Seizure Disorders
The curriculum combines interactive learning about disabilities with an
emphasis on understanding and respect. It is constantly updated to reflect the
latest medical information. The core message that every person is unique,
that information about differences lessens discomfort, and that by bringing our
shared human characteristics to light, we can counter attitudes that divide our
communities. Can you help?
Do you like to promote community values
and respect?
Help bring
Cabot School's core values to life. You can help make the values of
Life-long learning, Respect for Self and Others, and Commitment to School and
Community part of the way we in the Cabot community conduct ourselves. This
committee of parents and faculty meets with the principal to identify ways to
reinforce Cabot's core values.
Do you enjoy
thanking people for their hard work?
Sharon Dwyer and Ayako Samuels, co-chairs of the Acknowledgment Committee, need volunteers to
help us show our teachers and staff how appreciated they are. The
biggest job this committee does is host a luncheon for the
faculty in May, but they also show appreciation by giving flowers
after concerts, providing light snacks several times a year, and the like.
Can you help?
For
next year, we are going to need a new PTO Treasurer,
volunteers to run the School Store and the Call Back committees, plus many
more. If any of the above committees, or any of our 38 committees (check
them out at http://www.cabotpto.org/about_us.htm) interest
you, please let us know. We'd love to hear from you. Please contact
either your PTO co-presidents, Sally Brickell at brickland6@rcn.com
or Lori Knowles at loriknowlespto@gmail.com, or contact Mary Kathryn
Fallon at marykathf@aol.com.
Thanks!!
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Campaign for Cabot
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Watch your mailbox for a letter about this year's Campaign for Cabot.
This annual fundraiser is the
largest source of funding for the PTO and was initiated at the suggestion of
many parents who preferred making a donation to engaging in numerous
and time-consuming PTO fundraising events. Please make your donation online and honor a special teacher
and/or staff member if you wish. Matching gifts are also welcome and are a great way to
maximize your gift.
Any questions, contact Julie Bourgoin at
jbourgoin@comcast.net.
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| Cabot Announcements |
| Cabot lunches are going green on Wednesdays!
Did you know that a typical American school kid generates 67
pounds of lunch waste per school year? That's more than 18,000 pounds
yearly for the average-sized elementary school. If every American child
attending a public elementary school packed a waste-free lunch, 1.2 billion
pounds of lunch waste would be diverted from landfills each year.
Cabot School is introducing "Green Lunch Wednesdays."
Wear something green and pack a waste-free lunch!
Here are some ideas on how to do it. -
Avoid
plastic bags, wraps, aluminum foil, and prepackaged foods
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Use sturdy containers, which prevent "squishing"
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Write your child's name on containers before they leave the
house
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Re-sealable containers make it easy for children to save
uneaten food for an after-school snack
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Use a reusable drink bottle (consider a made-to-last water
bottle instead of refilling single-use bottles)
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Use a cloth napkin instead of paper
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Pack reusable utensils instead of disposables
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Purchase lunch foods in larger containers instead of
single-serve packages.
It is EASY once you make it part of your daily routine.
If you are interested in purchasing green products which
promote a waste-free lunch, checkout the following sites:
Jodi Vito (JodiVito@verizon.net) and Leticia Meza-Riedewald (Leriedewald@gmail.com), co-chairs, Green Committee
Join the movement!
REDUCE / REUSE / RECYCLE
School Council Report for December
At its monthly meeting on December 1, the School Council
addressed a broad range of issues affecting the Cabot community. The
centerpiece of the meeting was a presentation and discussion led by Mr. Swaim
regarding the Newton Public School Strategic Plan, which is focused on how best
to provide students' core knowledge and skills in a 21st century context, including
21st century "habits of mind." Mr. Swaim also discussed the related Cabot
School Improvement Plan, which is currently under development and is expected
to be reviewed at an upcoming School Council meeting. The Council also
received an update from the PTO on the Campaign for Cabot progress (please
donate!), and discussed the Newton Schools Foundation request for funding to
install "smart" white boards in Newton schools (Cabot 5th grade teachers will
be receiving a demo). Other topics addressed included the status of the
Newton School Superintendent search, the new approaches used to organize the
recent Autumnfest and Circus activities to reduce crowding, and student
pledges as part of the Steps to Respect program.
The School Council meets on the first Tuesday of every month
and is made up of the Mr. Swaim, parents, teachers, and community
members. The meetings are open to the public and all are welcome to
attend.
Gift Wrap - Top 5 Sellers
Congratulations to the following five for selling the most gift wrap this year:
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Forrest Kaplan
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Henry and Charlie Johnson
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Teddy Robertson
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Sophia Vito
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Calvin Milley
Again, thank you to everyone who participated in the gift wrap fundraiser.
Cabot directory updates
If you are ordered a directory but did not receive one,
please email Marya Van't Hul at mvhul@comcast.net.
If you have any changes/edits for your directory entry, send them to Cathy
DeVoe at cathydevoe@rcn.com. If you didn't receive a directory, there
are still a few left. Cost is $25 for PTO dues, which includes a free
directory.
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Newton Public Schools Announcements
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Out-of-District Policy
Statement
Out-of-District placements
for students who wish to attend a school in Newton other than his/her district
school are limited. Such placements
are made on a space available basis only.
Newton families, as well as members of Units A, B, C, D, E, NESA,
Custodians and Boston parents of students in the METCO Program, should call the
Elementary Education Office (grades K - 5) at 617-559-6105 or the Deputy
Superintendent's Office (grades 6 - 12) at 617-559-6115 for information. Students who receive acceptance for
Out-of-District placement must remain in the school selected for the duration
of the school year.
Applications for the
following school year must be submitted on forms which will be available
beginning November 2 in the Elementary Education Office (grades K - 5), Room
218, or the Deputy Superintendent's Office (grades 6 - 12), Room 214, at the
Education Center.
If necessary, a lottery will
be implemented to determine the order in which placements will be made. Completed applications, signed by the
in-district principal, can be submitted no earlier than January 4, 2010 and no
later than March 31, 2010.
Applications submitted after March 31, 2010 will not be included in the
lottery.
Class size in a given grade,
in a given year, in a specific school, may preclude any placements including
siblings.
Parents will be responsible
for transportation.
Tuition Free Enrollment is
limited to the per pupil cost of regular education.
Help earn money to support building 21st Century Classrooms
while you shop online!
Shop at the same websites you know and trust. Pay the
exact same price you normally would and eScrip will contribute up to 16% of
your purchase to the Newton Schools Foundation. All you need to do is
register now and download "Autoearn" to accrue donations automatically.
Log on to www.newtonschoolsfoundation.org and
simply click on the eScrip Online Mall logo Go to "sign up" and follow the instructions
Designate Newton Schools Foundation to receive your contributions
by entering Group ID 500023242 or enter Newton Schools Foundation
Download "Autoearn" to accrue contributions automatically
Parent Education and Outreach
Dear Parents of elementary school students,
It is my role as Parent Education and Outreach Specialist of
The Newton Partnership to put together free parenting education offerings
appropriate and compelling for parents/guardians of elementary students
throughout Newton. These workshops will be held between January and June
2010. I would truly love your advice!
To expedite hearing your reactions, I have put together a
very brief survey. Please take a moment to fill it out so I can offer programs you
Feel free to contact me via email or phone with further
comments or questions.
Thanks,
Nancy
Nancy Holczer, LICSW
The Newton Partnership
Parent Education and Outreach Specialist
Job Opening at Newton Community Ed
Newton Community Education (NCE), a self-sustaining arm of
the Newton Public Schools, is looking for an experienced and talented Adult
Program Coordinator. Responsibilities include planning, organizing, and
administering curriculum. The right individual will create new classes and
workshops and monitor ongoing classes in approximately half of our adult
programs. Will also be responsible for NCE public relations efforts, support
with day-to-day office administration tasks, and some evening program coverage.
Qualifications: Must be a college graduate with good writing
and editing skills (a short writing test will be administered to interviewees).
Ability to work alone and also thrive in a team environment is essential.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and FileMaker Pro is required. A
background or strong interest in public relations/marketing is strongly
desired. Lots of energy and a sense of humor a must.
Application Deadline December 15, 2009
If interested, please apply
on-line via
via the NPS website: www.newton.k12.ma.us
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| Classifieds
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 Senior at Newton South High School offering affordable tutoring services in math.
If your child is struggling in math, or if they need to be challenged,
I'd be happy to tutor them. I'm a student with excellent grades in
math and a perfect score on the SAT math section. I can tutor any
level from basic arithmetic all the way up to calculus. I can work
with students at all different skill levels. I tutor ages 5-17. Can
tutor at your home or in public place. Available weekdays after 3pm
and weekends all day. Contact Ben at 617-259-0377 or at ben29@rcn.com if you're interested.
The Newton Recreation Department presents: Not So Basic Training:
"New Year, New You Boot Camp Workout"
January 5th - February 27th
Tues & Thurs 6am - 6:45am
Indoors at "the hut" at Newton Center Playground
69 Tyler Terrace
$240 for 2 sessions per week
$375 for 3 sessions per week
Join between now and December 31st and save
$30 on 2 sessions per week
and $50 on 3 sessions per week
Instructor: Gregg Smith, CSCS
www.greggsmithfitness.com
For information and registration contact:
Gregg Smith (617) 968-5539 or gregg@greggsmithfitness.com
All That Jazz Dance Studio
is pleased to announce that we are having
new classes starting up in January! ·Tuesdays 4:00-5:00- Creative
Movement/Tap, ages 2-4 ·Fridays 12:30-1:30- Adult Hip Hop
·Sundays 2:00-3:00- Tap Workshop, ages 8-11 ·Sundays 3:00-4:00-
Lyrical Hip Hop Workshop, ages 12 and up ·Sundays 4:00-5:00- Boys
and Girls BreakDance/Hip Hop, ages 6-8. Please call Miss Deb Lifson Vogel at 617-641-0784 or email missdeb@allthatjazznewton.com to register! All That Jazz Dance Studio, 232 California St. in Newton. www.allthatjazznewton.com.
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
Giroux Bros. Martial Arts offers more than
just kicking and punching. Call today to see the benefits that many other
Cabot families have found with our programs. We offer age specific
lessons from 4 year olds to classes for Mom's and Dad's. Take
advantage of our Enrollment Special for Cabot families. For a limited
time we're offering a one month trial membership for $109. Add up
to 2 family members for free (uniform not included). Call 617-641-2992
TODAY or visit us on the web at www.GirouxBros.com to schedule your first FREE
introductory lesson.
Cambridge Fencing Center
Cambridge Fencing Center, the newly-opened fencing club has been designed to
create opportunities for men, women, and children of all ages to learn an excellent
Olympic sport. Fencing classes, practices and individual lessons will be led by
a renowned set of coaches with international experience including the Head
Coaches of MIT and Harvard
University. Please look at our website www.cambridgefencingcenter.com
and start your adventure with this fascinating activity today!
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Community Announcements
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For information on the following topics please see today's Community Bulletin Board, sponsored by the Cabot PTO. It will be sent in a separate email.
- community meetings
- local activities for kids
- local events
- community resources
- other community announcements
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