We hope you enjoyed last week's Back to School Picnic! Thanks so much to Kindergarten/1st grade parent Molly Sandrof for taking on the organization and prep for our first big event of the year. Thanks also to all of the family members who volunteered setting up tables, figuring out the sound system, handing out pizza, scooping Del's, and cleaning up afterwards. It really does take a village!
Speaking of our community, we would love to see you at our first PTO meeting of the school year. Please join us TONIGHT, Tuesday, September 17 from 7 - 8 pm over zoom. All are welcome! Agenda items include:
Update from Mr. Ahmadi
Finance/Fundraising Update
Enrichment update
Room Parents Info
Fall Fest (we need another co-chair to ensure the tradition continues)
Finally, make sure you check out the information below about how to set your Powerschool preferences for whether you would like your information included in the Family Directory.
Volunteering as a Room Parent is a great way to support Peirce teachers and get to know other families!
Sign up here - https://tinyurl.com/PeirceRoomParents2024
Kindergarten:
Lamont - needs 1
1st Grade:
Mitri - needs 2
2nd Grade:
Clark - needs 1
3rd Grade:
Bone - needs 1
S-G - needs 1
4th Grade:
Hayes - needs 1
Stocker - needs 1
5th Grade:
Dooley - needs 1
Picture Day is Thursday, September 26!
Help keep picture day running smoothly by directing classes into the correct lines, reading student names to the photographers, and helping kids make sure their appearance is picture-ready. We will be on the Park Ave side of the school.
Sign up to volunteer here.
This year we are moving to Power School for our school directory. This means you will not have to opt in to the directory every fall. You will remain listed as long as your kid is a Peirce student, unless you choose to opt out. You can find detailed instructions about how to opt in to the directory here. Many of you may already have clicked the option to opt in when you registered you student with APS, but this is the first year the Family Directory will be activated for Peirce. If you have any trouble with your Power School account, you can contact Molly Sanford in the Peirce office - msanford@arlington.k12.ma.us.
Picture day is coming! Coffee Pond Photography will be at school to take individual and class photos on Thursday, September 26. All students will be photographed during the school day.
Order online and you won't have to worry about sending in the paper order form.
A portion of the profits from all orders submitted before picture day go to the Peirce PTO to support our mission.
Pictures not in the budget this year? Coffee Pond provides scholarship packages at no cost to families or the school. Families that are interested in a scholarship package can reach out confidentially to our school social worker, Hannah Borden, at hborden@arlington.k12.ma.us.
Every student will receive a free class picture, whether they order photos or not.
Do you love crisp fall leaves and the smell of a fresh cider donut?
We need one additional volunteer to make the Fall Festival happen this year! You will work with seasoned PTO member Megan Fitzpatrick and a team of volunteers to make this tradition continue. Without a co-chair we will not be able to have the Fall Festival happen.
Email peirceschool.pto@gmail.com with questions or to sign up!
The Peirce Snack Program, supported by Arlington EATS, provides snacks to any child who needs one (for any reason) so there is no stigma attached to getting a snack at school. Snacks are available in the classrooms and in the main office.
Support The Snack Program: If you have the ability, please consider supporting our snack program by donating snacks. Over the last year demand for snacks has increased significantly while donations have declined. You can purchase off the Amazon wish list or by donating snacks or money directly. Donations are welcome throughout the school year.
Check out lots of classic and new items - from sweatshirts and t-shirts to mugs and water bottles at our online store here.
When you make your purchase you will have multiple shipping options in a dropdown menu. You can either pay for shipping direct to your home, or the PTO will absorb the shipping cost and have a bulk order shipped to the school for pickup available at the beginning of November. If you would like to be a part of the Fall bulk order, you MUST place your order by September 30. This is a hard deadline set by our vendor. If you miss that deadline, the store will still be open year round, but you will need to pay for shipping.
The PTO Spirit Wear store is primarily designed to enhance school spirit, rather than serving as a significant fundraiser. While it generates some funds, its main goal is to cover the costs of production and our ability to offer these items to teachers and staff at cost.
Tuesday, September 17th, 8:00-9:00pm | Zoom link
(Meeting ID: 897 6742 5632)
[IMPORTANT: Interest in the topic is the only prerequisite for attending! You need not have a child receiving special education services]
What is SEPAC? The Arlington Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) is a volunteer group of parents, guardians, and caregivers that works to build a supportive community inclusive of all students, caregivers, educators, and stakeholders. It provides families with training and resources and collaborates directly with district administrators and the Arlington School Committee to promote effective family-district communications and appropriate service delivery and accommodations to students with disabilities. Learn more
Please join us for our bi-weekly regular meetings held in person at the District Offices in the School Committee Room located at 14 Mill Brook Drive Arlington and online via Zoom or on ACMi at 6:30PM on the following dates:
- Thursday, September 19, 5:00 PM - Arlington School Committee - Community Relations Subcommittee Meeting - Remote
- Thursday, September 26, 6:30 PM - Regular School Committee Meeting - Hybrid
- Thursday, October 10, 6:30 PM - Regular School Committee Meeting - Hybrid
All members of the school district community have the opportunity to address the School Committee on issues that affect the school district and are within the scope of the Committee's responsibilities during the Public Comment portion of the School Committee Meeting and/or through written correspondence to the Members. For full school committee calendar and more information please visit the School Committee Website. If you have any questions please contact Liz Diggins via email ediggins@arlington.k12.ma.us.
For the most up to date calendar of subcommittee meetings you can look here.
The LGBTQIA+ Rainbow Leadership Task Force, in partnership with district elementary Rainbow Alliances, middle school QSAs, and the Arlington High School GSA, will host a special gathering on the front lawn of Arlington High School. This event is all about celebrating inclusion, belonging, and building community!
Enjoy music, pizza for purchase, and a group art activity while connecting with other students and families across the district.
All are welcome!
WHEN: Saturday, September 28th, 12-2pm
WHERE: Arlington High School (Front Lawn)
Register to attend, volunteer, or pre-order pizza HERE
A percentage of the proceeds from the event will be donated to support ongoing events and initiatives which are focused on providing LGBTQIA+ students and allies with safe spaces to connect and discuss and celebrate LGBTQIA+ identities and experiences.
Arlington Education Foundation will have a fundraising day with WIcked Bagels the weekend of September 28 & 29
Who: WICKED BAGEL
When: BOTH weekend days of Sept 28th and 29th
Time: 7am-2pm
What: Buy One Dozen Bagels and 50% of proceeds goes to Arlington Education Foundation (they freeze amazingly!)
HOW: ONLINE ORDERS ONLY: WickedBagelArlingtonEd Fundraiser
PROMO CODE: ARLINGTONED
Get ready to buy a dozen bagels and 50% of the proceeds go to Arlington Education Foundation, which in turn supports Arlington Public Schools, MA!
If you've been thinking about trying lacrosse for the first time, come join us for a free clinic.
All are welcome, sticks will be provided. Come for one or both sessions!
September 29 & October 6 (Robbins Farm)
K - Grade 3 (3-4PM)
Grades 4-8 (4:15 - 5:30PM)
Enjoy live music, more than 200 booths for arts and crafts, non-profit and local business displays, as well as an enormous assortment of enticing food.
Town Day takes place on Massachusetts Ave. from Pleasant Street to Mill Street. There are booths offering craft exhibits, bake sales, educational displays, raffles, club membership information, games, food vendors, and/or other such “fair type” activities.
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
Fireworks
Fireworks by Pyrotecnico Fireworks, Inc. will begin at 7:30p.m. over Spy Pond. There are NO organized or planned activities around this event, just fireworks. Parking in the area is very limited and walking is encouraged.
Walter V. Moynihan Town Day Run
Arlington Recreation is excited to announce that we will be holding its annual Town Day Road Race at the Arlington Reservoir Beach. Three laps around the Res followed by events at the Res, including DJ, bounce house, food, beer tent, and more. Co-sponsored by Arlington Recreation, Arlington Boys & Girls Club, and Arlington Fidelity House with all net proceeds going to youth programming. Learn more and register.
AFD Touch-a-Truck and Smoke House, Jaws of Life Demos
Behind the library.
Arlington Fire Fighters will provide fire safety demonstrations from behind the library. Metro Fire SAFE’s Smoke House, a 3-room trailer designed to teach children about fire hazards in the home. Jaws of Life demonstrations and touch-a-truck opportunities are also planned.
APD Family Services Team and K9 Eiko Demos
APD booth at Mass and Robbins library.
Arlington police will be providing public safety information and discussion at their booth on Mass Ave. at the Robbins Library entrance throughout Town Day. The Family Services Team will be on hand to provide assistance on a wide range of topics. K9 Officer Michael Hogan along with the APD's K9 Eiko will be conducting demonstrations in the Robbins Library parking lot.
Free Drinking Water at Town Day - BYO Water Bottle!
Saturday, September 28, 9:00am -1:00pm
Rain date, Sunday, September 29, 9:00am -1:00pm
Spooky witches, glowing jack-o-lanterns, and scary ghosts will come alive as Arlington residents
decorate 60+ designated storefront windows in 25 Heights businesses on Saturday, September 28, 9:00am
to 1:00pm. Rain date, Sunday, September 29, 9:00am to 1:00pm. Paint a window by yourself or grab your
friend or parent and paint one window together. All windows must have a family friendly Halloween
theme.
Registration: Saturday, September 7, through Saturday, September 21 (two weeks)
Only online Registration.
Entries are accepted on a first come-first served basis. Space is guaranteed to the first 62 entries.
Registration site closes when all slots are filled. No confirmation will be sent.