In this week’s newsletter:
- [Recap] Multicultural Night
- [Reminder] Be Ahead of the Game Multi-sports and Basketball Clinics TODAY!
- Principal PTO Evening Coffee
- Circle of Support
- FORJ- Meeting TONIGHT and Lantern Festival
- [Upcoming] Halloween Monster Bash
- Flu Clinics- Volunteers Needed
- New Directory
- Volunteer Opportunities
- Upcoming Events
- Quick Links
Thank you for joining us at Multicultural Night
We want to extend a big Tak, Merci, Kiitos, Shukran, Salamat, Kamsahamnida, Arigato, Grazie to all who cooked, prepared, decorated and participated in Multicultural Night.
From the delicacies, to the traditional clothes, to games and music our Williams community was well represented with more than 17 countries represented from all over the world.
Fall Basketball & Multi-sports Clinics start TODAY Wednesday, Oct. 2
A few spots left at the Basketball and Multi-sports evening clinics. Clinics are open to children from ALL schools and will be held in the Williams gym on Wednesday evenings in October & November. Proceeds will benefit our PTO. Click HERE to register for $145!
6 classes on WEDNESDAYS from October 2 – November 13, 2019
6:00-7:00pm: Grades K-2
7:00-8:00pm: Grades 3-5
Principal PTO Evening Coffee Thurs. Oct 10 @ 6:30PM
All parents and caregivers are invited to the Principal PTO Coffee, our first evening coffee conversation,Thursday, October 10th @ 6:30 pm. The topic of the October coffee is school safety. We will be reviewing our school safety information in advance of our Williams School Safety Day, during which all students and staff practice our safety related drills. Hope to see you on October 10th!
Creating a Circle of Support
At Williams it is an important priority that everyone is assured a sense of belonging and feels supported. Throughout our classrooms, teachers are helping students get to know one another and discussions are being had about the role we each play in making Williams a productive and fun place for everyone to learn and grow.
We understand that this support extends outside the school walls with the intricate network of people in our lives; friends, family, caregivers, mentors, spiritual groups and/ or coaches and many more.
They are people we value in our lives who help us achieve our dreams or lend a hand when we are in need. We can count on them to be there for us!
The Williams staff together with the PTO are creating classroom collages that represent this circle of support. We are asking that each student bring in one or two photographs that depict important people in their lives to create a classroom poster that will be displayed.
Who’s in your circle?
FORJ Meeting Tonight & Annual Lantern Festival
Newton FORJ City-wide meeting — Wednesday, October 2, 2019 7:30-9pm, Angier Elementary School
Williams FORJ & Burr FORJ our new annual tradition to come together and enjoy the lantern making festival together.
Saturday, Oct. 19Meet @ 4pm Lantern Making (in the JP Boathouse, $5 suggested donation)Walk @6pm march in the Lantern Festival (costumes recommended but not required)
Newton FORJ Book club HERE
QUESTIONS? contact Alison, Emily and Katie
Click here to learn more about the FORJ Group
Coming Soon- Students favorite Halloween Monster Bash Oct. 25 from 6-8PM
SAVE THE DATE & volunteer for the fun HERE
Shoo the FLU: Get the flu vaccine at school, not the flu!
*4 Parent Volunteers Wanted*
Seasonal flu vaccination clinics will be held during the school day at the Newton Public Schools beginning in late September. Students in Kindergarten through grade 12 may receive vaccine.
The Williams School clinic will be on Tuesday October 22, 2019, 8:30-10:30. Each student to be vaccinated must have a parent/guardian complete two forms:
- Consent/Screening form HERE
- Vaccine administration record/Insurance form.
Forms are available in the school nurse’s office, or may be downloaded at www.newtonma.gov/flu. You may electronically complete the form, print, sign and return. Forms are due to the School Nurse Friday October 18, 2019.
Only the flu shot (no nasal spray) will be offered at school this year. The Vaccine Information Statement about the flu shot and additional information for families including tips on preparing kids for a shot is available at www.newtonma.gov/flu or in the school nurse’s office. There is no cost to receive the vaccine, but insurance information is requested. All students, regardless of insurance status, are invited to receive vaccine with parent permission.
Students are not required to receive flu vaccine; however the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends flu vaccine for all people age 6 months and up. There are many places to get a flu vaccine including at school, your primary health care provider or community clinics. For additional clinic dates for the whole family, visit www.newtonma.gov/flu.
In addition to vaccination, it is important to practice good hand hygiene and cough etiquette by washing hands often; covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the arm; and staying home when sick.
For more flu prevention tips, talk to the school nurse or check out these websites: www.newtonma.gov/flu and www.cdc.gov/flu
New Online Directory
Join our school Directory and find your friends and make new friends at MEMBERSHIP TOOLKIT!
It has some of the same great features of MSA, but has added a few more cool tools to make connecting at Williams even easier.
Register online:
williamsptoauburndale.membershiptoolkit.com
Download the Free App!
Volunteer Opportunities
All parents and guardians of students at Williams School are members of the PTO (Parent Teacher Organization). Parent involvement in the school is a fundamental part of what makes the school experience here so special. There are various volunteer opportunities during school (Art and Library class) and after school as well as vital behind-the-scenes tasks that working parents can do to help. Please click HERE to take a look at our volunteer opportunities and consider signing up!
If you are interested in a position but not sure because you have lingering questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the PTO Presidents.
Upcoming Events
October
Wednesday, 10/2 Fall BAOTG Clinics begin
Wednesday, 10/2 Walk & Bike to School
Wednesday, 10/2 – Citywide FORJ meeting (adults only)
Wednesday, 10/9 – NO SCHOOL, Yom Kippur
Monday, 10/14 – NO SCHOOL, Columbus Day (Indigenous People’s Day)
Tuesday, 10/22 – Flu Clinic 8:30-10:00
Wednesday 10/23 – Citywide FORJ meeting (adults only)
Friday, 10/25 – Halloween Monster Bash
Quick Links
Email Presidents HERE
Williams Parents Facebook Group
Remind App or signing up for text reminders HERE