NECP Updates

This was a busy week here at NECP! We are organizing for walking field trip to Jackson Homestead with Historic Newton (more info to come - this will be in November) and getting so excited for Leo and Officer Justin to come visit NECP this coming Wednesday. I am sure there will be many pictures shared!

We had an update to staff regarding from our architects as well as the city of Newton (Buildings Commissioner Josh Morse) and NPS regarding the new building and our move to 687 Watertown Street. I cannot wait to get staff into the building so they can start thinking about their classroom set up. This is a daunting task of moving a whole school but we are up for the challenge! And the new building is going to be just wonderful. I have put a few more pictures for you all below. By the way did you all know that Walnut Park Montessori, right next door, has been letting NECP students try out their playground? It has been wonderful and their teachers and students have been altering their schedules to make sure they come out and play with NECP students. What a wonderful community gesture! We are going to miss our neighbors!

Please read the PTO information found within and consider joining us! We need volunteers and it is a wonderful way to join the NECP community and meet other families!

Lastly, just a reminder as Halloween is approaching - NECP is an inclusive educational environment where all children and families learn with and from each other. All of our students should feel equally able to participate in all of our learning experiences. Halloween is a holiday that not every culture recognizes. This particular holiday can also be frightening to some children. With this in mind, NPS kindly asks students to leave Halloween costumes at home. This is to avoid anything getting lost but to also continue to focus on learning on this day. Classrooms at NECP will celebrate fall during the month with fun fall activities however, parading, costumes, trick or treating and candy will not be at part of the NECP during this specific day. If your family celebrates a certain cultural tradition that you would like to share please reach out to your child's teacher or related service provider and we can arrange parent visits! It is so nice to be able to do this again!!

Have a great weekend! Enjoy the fall like feel this weekend and see you on Monday!

Kathleen

It was so wonderful to be in person for our first PTO Meeting! We will have our next meeting on Thursday, November 10, 2022 at 9:15AM in our cafe. The hybrid model worked well so we will continue this model for our next meetings:

PTO Meeting

Thursday, November 10 · 9:15 – 10:00am

Google Meet joining info

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/bpt-ydrh-sdh

Or dial: ‪(US) +1 240-766-5846‬ PIN: ‪271 920 771‬#

We still need volunteers for the following roles:

• President and Vice President - Work as a team to plan, coordinate, and communicate PTO activities, partnering with teachers, staff, and community to help ensure NECP is inclusive and welcoming to all families. Set priorities for the year and work with the team to develop and adhere to a budget that reflects those priorities. Act as welcoming committee to parents and students. Hold monthly meetings with the Principal and PTO member to discuss ideas, concerns, and upcoming activities.
• Treasurer - The Treasurer is responsible for budgeting and forecasting, monthly financials, disbursement approval, disbursement accounting. The Treasurer ensures accurate and timely financial reporting and proper internal controls to safeguard assets of the PTO. Accounting skills are critical and highly desired.
• Secretary - Record minutes at Board meetings. Type minutes and distribute to Board. Maintain bylaws and understand by-laws to ensure compliance. File Annual Report with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
• Fundraising Chair - Work with PTO leadership to ensure the organization raises sufficient funding to cover annual expenses. Lead planning and execution of the Annual Appeal and yearly auction, including developing all marketing materials, and engage and oversee the Fundraising Committee in planning, executing, and marketing fundraising events (e.g., restaurant nights, auction, etc.).
• Liaison to PTO Council: A PTO member who would be willing to attend PTO Council Meetings. The next meeting will be November 1st, 2022 with a hybrid mode. The PTO Council website contains much more information.
• Liaison to FORJ: FORJ (Families Organizing for Racial Justice) is looking for a liaison for NECP to begin a FORJ presence at NECP. This liaison would organize NECP FORJ meetings, attends PTO meetings, attends district wide FORJ events, supports subcommittees when needed, informs PTO leadership when communications are to be emailed to the community, attends city-wide FORJ meetings, communicates with the PTO Treasurer as needed to adhere to budget.

The PTO is not a position that one person does alone! We are looking for a team! Please volunteer if you have a certain skill set that would make one of these positions easy for you! We also have many former NECP PTO folks that are willing to help!

Room parents:

Right now it seems we have a few classrooms without a room parent and of course if rooms had more than one it would be do helpful! Please let me know if you would like to be a room parent for your child's classroom

Classrooms with NO room parent: Kara Swanson, Stephanie Pickens, Alli Behr

Classrooms with only ONE room parent: Catherine Boudreau, Jen McGarvey, Christina Stagliano, Sarah Lipsitt/Jennifer Leone, Jenna Ethier, Liz Savir

Our other 4 classrooms (Ashley Raven, Melissa Stellato, Evelyn Porter, Michelle Simon) have 2 parents who have volunteered. Thank you!!!

Don't forget - The PTO also has a new ongoing fundraiser with Mabel's Labels. 20% of all sales go back to the PTO! Mabel’s Labels is the best-known brand of durable labels for families, and the line of products features baby bottle labels, allergy and medical alert products, sports labels, household labels and seasonal items. They’re extremely durable, they’re laundry, dishwasher and microwave safe – and they’re 100% guaranteed. https://mabelslabels.com/en_US/about-us/#

Jackie Orleck is our SEPAC representative. Please see the following:

WHAT IS THE SEPAC?

Does your child have an IEP or 504 plan? Are you interested in getting support services for your child? Then you need to know about the Newton Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) at newtonsepac.org.

We are a volunteer organization of parents and guardians of children with special needs from preschool through high school. We run an online forum where families can ask each other about special education programs, issues, policies and resources both within and outside of the public school system. We work directly with the school administration regarding our childrens’ special education through our school liaisons, meetings with the Assistant Superintendent of Student Services and by attending Newton School Committee meetings.

We hold monthly board meetings that are open to all families and interested community members whose dates and Zoom links are listed on our website NewtonSEPAC.org under the "Meetings" tab. In the meantime, you can join our "Newton SEPAC" Google Group by clicking on the link on our website. On this online forum, you can post any questions or concerns about anything related to your child with special needs. We also use this group to publicize local/online presentations and conferences as well as DESE policy updates.

Other ways to contact the SEPAC:

Email: Info@NewtonSEPAC.org

Facebook: Newton Special Education Parents - SEPAC

SEPAC AT NECP

As the SEPAC Liaiso for NECP, you can also contact me directly for more information about the SEPAC or with any questions or concerns about your child: Jackie Orleck (Jacquelyn.orleck@gmail.com)

Did you know that NECP partnered with Story Starters last school year? Story Starters completed a 4-part Professional Development series with NECP staff entitled Building Anti-racist Classrooms.

Story Starters is a Newton-based nonprofit that supports parents and educators in developing children's anti-racist values and inspires racial justice action in homes, schools and communities. Families with children ages 3-8 years old: if you are interested in exploring these strategies and discussions at home, their next Family Conversations Program enrollment begins SOON!!! Check them out!!!

NECP conducts Preschool Developmental Screenings for children ages 3 to 5 years old in an effort to identify children who may have a disability and are in need of special education support. It is designed to review a child’s development and assist in the identification of children who should be referred for further evaluation to determine eligibility for special education services. This is a free and optional service for Newton residents only.

The screenings are conducted monthly in the 2022-2023 school year. If a student is already at NECP they do not need to attend this screening but if you have a friend who is concerned about their child's development, have them reach out to the preschool at 617-559-6050 for a screening

On 7/28/22, universally-free meals for students in Massachusetts was confirmed for the upcoming 2022-2023 school year. While free, this is a different program than last year and food services does need to log who is receiving meals this year.

EVERY WEEK parents must order their student a school lunches via this google form. Parent must do this for the week by 8pm Sunday evening. I have also linked the FD mealplanner at the top of the ordering form or here as well. The NECP menu is now live under Newton Early Childhood. Please remember to do this weekly and if you do forget teachers ask your teacher to get your student a meal for that day (they are sending 4-5 extras bagel meals just in case) and then we will log it separately.

https://volantefarms.com/event/pumpkinfest-2022/

Volante Farms is having their Annual PumpkinFest on Saturday October 29th, 2022. We are so excited to have this event back in person again (woo hoo!). As always, every penny raised goes directly to Newton-based Cradles to Crayons, an incredible local organization that distributes essentials to kids who otherwise wouldn't have access to critical resources. The afternoon of live entertainment and pumpkin carving kicks off at 1pm and continues until 5:30pm. Then at 6pm everyone is invited to partake in our annual Pumpkin Stroll to check out all the lit jack-o-lanterns carved throughout the day.

A $10 admission per person includes performances, snacks and all-you-can-carve pumpkins! Kids under 2 enter free. In an effort to make this our most successful fundraiser to date, we have added a carefully curated silent auction with many local items to bid on. Every penny raised at this event will go straight to Cradles to Crayons!

1. EARLY RELEASE Tuesday, November 8, 2022 (Election day)

2. NO SCHOOL Friday, November 11, 2022 for Veteran's Day

3. NO SCHOOL Wednesday, November 23, 2022 - Friday, November 25, 2022 for Thanksgiving

4. REMINDER - There is no school December 26, 2022 - January 2, 2023 for Holiday Break. FOR OUR PACKING AND MOVING, NECP will also be closed Thursday December 22, 2022 and Friday, December 23, 2022 as well as January 3, 2023 and January 4, 2023. NECP WILL REOPEN ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2023 AT NEW NECP AT 687 WATERTOWN STREET IN NEWTON.

Please make note!

All students will be dismissed at 12:00PM on the following All School Early Release Days:

• Thursday, September 29

• Tuesday, November 8

• Thursday, December 8

• Thursday, February 2

• Thursday, March 23

• Thursday, May 11

Email: browningk@newton.k12.ma.us
Website: www.newton.k12.ma.us/NECP
Location: 150 Jackson Road, Newton, MA, USA
Phone: 617-559-6050
Facebook: facebook.com/NECPNewton
Twitter: @NECP_NPS