Greetings MacArthur Families,
Happy Friday! Thank you to all who were able to attend our Back to School Night! We are so energized each year by the enthusiasm of our students and families to share in the MacArthur experience. We are still collecting data from the event, but we are proud to share that once again about 80% of families attended this special event. We recognize that week nights fill up with extra curricular activities and we are so thankful that families prioritized taking a few minutes during this open house event to stop by for a visit.
Today: Thank you to all who joined for our monthly virtual Principals' Forum. We shared an update on our 2025 MCAS data, our new School Improvement Plan, reviewed upcoming events, and heard feedback from participants on their Back to School Night experience. Next month, we are scheduled to review Parent Square, our new district communication tool, on Friday, 11/21 at 9am. Link will be provided later in the month.
Next Week: Early Release on Wednesday for Parent/Caregiver Conferences. Dismissal is at 1pm and lunch will be served. If you are interested in a conference, please contact your child's teacher.
Friday, October 24th is our PTO Trunk or Treat event. Please see the message below from the PTO to learn more about this special community event. If you need financial assistance for your family to attend, please email kevinkmiec@walthampublicschools.org with the title PTO EVENT.
Later this Month: In preparation for Halloween Day 10/31, this is a reminder that MacArthur commemorates 10/31 as a traditional learning day for our students. Students who celebrate are encouraged to enjoy their costumes at night and not dress up during the school day. We also ask that students keep any candy collected during their trick or treating at home, as we have several students with severe food allergies and we want to limit exposure to potential allergens. Thank you for your support in this area.
Please note: Certain grade levels have scheduled traditions that are commemorated on or around this day. For example, 5th grade students are participating in a curricular activity where the students have written two voice poems where costumes are a part of the presentation. Our 2nd graders are also planning for their traditional Storybook Pumpkin Patch.
Next Month: Save the Date: Our annual Multicultural Festival is fast approaching! Thursday, November 20th from 3:45pm - 5:30pm. Stay tuned for more information.
Finally, we continue to recognize the challenges facing local families with food insecurity. This Waltham Food Resource Guide is available on the Watch CDC website supports the sharing of available food resources. I will continue to update families on Fridays, but the resource can be found directly on the Watch CDC website. Update: 10/13 - 10/19 and Spanish 13/10 - 19/10
As we head into the weekend, we send our best wishes for a joyful Diwali celebration on Monday, October 20th to all who are celebrating!
Wishing you and your family a wonderful long weekend! Enjoy the fall weather!
In Partnership,
Mr. Kmiec and Mr. Howes
