NECP Updates
School year 2022-2023: May 5, 2023, Newsletter #31
GOOD AFTERNOON NECP FAMILIES!
Have you checked out the WECO menu yet? If you sign up on NECP's special landing page you will be the first to know when the menu drops as the choices can go quickly! It just dropped on Wednesday and I have already ordered! I cannot wait to not have to grocery shop!
Just a reminder that next week is staff appreciation week. With the help of the PTO we are looking to collect snacks, drinks, etc... for the teachers to put in the staff lounge for the entire week. Here is a note from the PTO, "Help us keep our beloved NECP Staff fueled with snacks in honor of Appreciation Week! We have 90 staff members, so don't be shy! Please sign up for a snack here (or you can venmo Yael @Yael-Mito (and the last 4 digits of her phone number are 0076) and she will do a Costco run). You can start bringing snacks today and then throughout the week of the 8th. We will have boxes at the doors for you to leave off your donation. Please note that all snacks must be individually packaged, and due to food allergies, we cannot accept homemade goodies." Thank you! -NECP PTO
Next week is also our last early release Thursday for the 22-23 school year. It is on Thursday, May 11, 2023. NECP will release at 12:00 on this day.
Have a great weekend!
Kathleen
P.S. Highlighted below is also information on the next round of Story Starters registration. Story Starters is a Newton based non-profit with a program designed for parents who want to start and strengthen conversations about race with their young children. NECP paired with Story Starters last school year for professional development for our staff. Please consider joining their fall cohort!
P.P.S. Classrooms are always in need of tissues and wipes too!
WECO FUNDRAISER
The PTO is pairing again with WECO! For all meals purchased NECP PTO will receive 10%! See the information and check out this informational video!
- WECO will put out a menu each Wednesday afternoon for you to order for the following week. This is not a subscription service....you look at the menu and order what looks great to you!
- We will do this for 4 Weeks! The week of May 8th through the week of May 29th (the first menu drop on 5/3 and the last menu drop on 5/24). Start thinking about NOT making dinner!!!
- Delivery can be scheduled Sundays through Fridays
- WECO's delivery area is multi-state so if an out of state family member is in their catchment area they can also support the NECP PTO
- If you know of someone who already orders with WECO share our landing page so that we can get 10% of their purchase too!
- Get the menu @bit.ly/necp-pto
A Message about WECO from Yael
Hi NECP Families!
Some of you may remember our fundraising partnership with WECO Hospitality from last year... We are excited to share that it's BACK and FOUR WEEKS LONG this year! WECO Hospitality is a daily dinner service that delivers chef-prepared, handcrafted dinners, locally made from fresh and ethically-sourced ingredients. They send their menus out the Wednesday before each week, and YOU decide what and how much to order. No minimums, no subscriptions.
My family loves the WECO model because it helps with menu planning for the week, allows us to only choose meals that look good to us, and relieves some of the work-- who doesn't like having someone else make dinner?! Even better still, their pricing model is based on the cost of the ingredients, and you get to choose what to contribute to overhead.
AND: during the next four weeks, May 5th through June 1st, 10% of all orders placed with our link goes back to the NECP PTO!! Our school's PTO is in a rebuilding year, and every dollar raised through this fundraiser (and others!) goes towards crucial enrichment activities for our kids, teacher appreciation, and community building activities.
So, join me in supporting our school AND skipping out on making dinner every night!
Yael Mito
Longtime NECP Parent
NECP PTO Volunteer
NECP PTO
Our next PTO meeting will be on Thursday, May 18, 2023 at 9:15. We will again do a coffee and snack meeting in person! We are planning for teacher appreciation week (week of May 8th), the end of the year celebration, and the start of thinking about fundraising again, to support our enrichment activities! Let's work together to make this a reality!
If you would complete this PTO Google form for the PTO to have parent contacts, it would be much appreciated.
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/#
Extended School Year Community Peer Application
Please find our community peer application below for current or incoming NECP families! This was sent to NECP families prior but I wanted to attach it here as well. Our students who are accessing ESY through the special education process/IEP need not apply.
Newton Police Department
The Newton Police recently came to NECP to do a presentation to staff for safety in our new building. During that time and with NECP informing them of our student population they asked us to let families know of this document, where families can alert the police to any students with disabilities within the home. This helps the police officers to be more aware of how best to help a student if necessary.
Did you also know that the Newton Police Department also recently introduced their new NPD Autism Awareness Shields? It is a seatbelt cover to help first responders easily identify someone who may be non-verbal, unable to recognize danger or unable to ask for help. Pick up a seatbelt cover at Police Headquarters, 1321 Washington Street or at the Mayor’s Office in City Hall, 1000 Commonwealth Ave.
Story Starters
Story Starters is enrolling families with children ages 3-8 to participate in our upcoming Fall program. Our eight-week Family Conversations Program is designed for parents who want to start and strengthen conversations about race with their young children. Story Starters gives families age-appropriate tools and skills to have meaningful conversations about race and racism. Story Starters families learn from educators, racial justice advocates, and each other.
Our program provides families with:
A bundle of 6 books tailored to your children's ages
5 caregiver guides full of research, resources, and family activities to support and deepen family race conversations
4 curated book lists to support further exploration and conversation
3 in-person family events and 2 virtual caregiver workshops
A vibrant community of families seeking to make an impact in their homes and beyond
The program kickoff is October 1 from 3:00-4:30pm. For additional program dates and details, visit: www.story-starters.org/program.
*Now through May 31, sign up with a friend and save 20%. Use promo code BUDDIES when registering.
Food Allergen - Important Notification!
Please review this Food Allergen Notification Letter for important information on the notification process for allergens in meals served here in the Newton Public Schools. Clear communication is critical to us as we know the seriousness of food allergies for some of our students.
All ingredients for every meal served can be found on the FDMealPlanner website. If your student has a food allergy, we strongly encourage you to check the top nine allergen list and the full ingredient list as close to the day of the meal as possible. It is important to note that food vendors may change ingredients throughout the year.
SCHOOL LUNCH - DON'T FORGET TO ORDER!!!
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. Parents must order their student a school lunches via this google form 8pm Sunday evening for that next week. 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 extra bagel meals just in case) and then we will log it separately.
UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER
1. Memorial Day - May 29, 2023
2. Last day of school for NECP - Tuesday, June 20th, 2023
2022-2023 EARLY RELEASE DAYS
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
CONTACT/FOLLOW NECP
Email: browningk@newton.k12.ma.us
Website: www.newton.k12.ma.us/NECP
Location: 687 Watertown Street Newton, MA, 02460, USA
Phone: 617-559-6050
Facebook: facebook.com/NECPNewton
Twitter: @NECP_NPS