MacArthur Notes
September 15, 2023
Principals' Update
Greetings MacArthur Families,
Happy Friday! We. have made it through our first full week of the school year! These first weeks are all about building stamina for learning. In our travels throughout the building this week, we saw students engaged in a variety of learning tasks and the focus and energy for learning has been noted. We look forward to seeing this stamina grow as the year progresses.
Thank you to all who joined Tuesday night's PTO Meeting or Wednesday's Principals' Forum. We look forward to these opportunities to come together and share all of the amazing things that are happening at MacArthur School each month. Both meetings are scheduled to be virtual once again this year to provide the greatest amount of flexibility for community members to attend. Our next Principals' Forum is Wednesday, October 11th. The link will be included as the date approaches. Our next PTO Meeting is Tuesday, November 14th.
We are so excited for next week's Back to School Night! We are extremely appreciative of the PTO for combining this event with our Ice Cream Social. The new format of Back to School Night incorporates both students and families. Click here for times and details. Students will have the opportunity to visit their classrooms and show their family members around with grade level activities planned. We are shifting the model this year to welcome as many families as possible and reduce the barrier of finding childcare for this event. Teachers will still share information with families about the school year, but we are shifting away from formal presentations for this evening. Families can come stop by for a few minutes throughout the evening in their child's classroom, sign up for a conference, before traveling to visit specialists and support staff. Staff members will be available in the office to complete CORI forms. Please bring your driver's license or passport to complete your CORI.
Students and staff participated in their first of quarterly fire drills today. These important safety protocols provide students and staff the opportunity to practice what to do in an emergency and bring normalcy to the process. Safety will always be our top priority at MacArthur School. Thank you for your positive communication with your children regarding these drills. In the months ahead, we will share more about ALICE, our lockdown protocol, to ensure families are aware of this important safety procedure as well. Please reach out to kevinkmiec@walthampublicshools.org or roberthowes@walthampublicschools.org with any questions.
The PTO is running a Sign Up Challenge for the PTO Online Directory. Register online at the website linked here to sign up. This allows you access to the contact information of your children's classmates etc. The class with the highest percentage of sign ups by 9/27 receives an extra recess with Mr. Howes and Mr. Kmiec on 9/29. Families are encouraged to sign up for the PTO online directory by registering at membership toolkit. https://macarthurpto.membershiptoolkit.com/
Finally, today kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month! This special month honors those with cultural roots in Central and South America. It begins today with the Independence Day of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua and runs through October 15th.
Wishing all MacArthur community members who are celebrating the new year this weekend, Shanah Tovah!
In Partnership,
Mr. Kmiec and Mr. Howes
Lunch Menu
Healthy Waltham Food Pantry
MacArthur Spotlight - September
PTO Weekly Notes
Welcome to our Kindergarten families! A few updates for all of our families this week.
Thank you to everyone who joined us at our first PTO meeting this past Tuesday! We look forward to seeing you all at our next meeting in November.
- Our first Spiritwear sale of the year is up and running! Please place your orders by 9/20 https://macarthur-fall23.itemorder.com/shop/home/
- Our Ice Cream Social has been postponed to next week. We hope to see everyone for the joint Back to School Night and Ice Cream Social on Wednesday 9/20. Students and families are welcome.
- Charleston Wrap fundraiser information went out earlier this week. Please consider sharing with family and friends! There are some great gifts you can purchase for the holidays.
- Save the Date! Our Trunk or Treat event will be held on Friday, October 20th. Sign up to volunteer on our website!
- Sign Up Challenge: Thank you to those of you who have signed up for our website. The grade that gets the most sign ups by September 27th will win extra recess on September 29th! A reminder that this is where you can sign up for the PTO Directory. https://macarthurpto.membershiptoolkit.com/
Support Waltham Children and Families: Be a Short Term Caregiver
The Department of Children and Families (DCF) is seeking to keep Waltham children in their
schools and communities. We want to ensure that when DCF assumes care and custody of
a child, that child is able to remain in their school, with their friends and the adults that
support them. In order to accomplish this, DCF is looking for Waltham parents who
would consider becoming a short-term caregiver for a student in need at their child’s
school. Please complete this brief survey if you are interested in participating or learning more.
MacArthur Elementary School
Absence Line - (781) 314-5722
Email: kevinkmiec@walthampublicschools.org
Website: walthampublicschools.org/macarthur
Location: 494 Lincoln Street, Waltham, MA, USA
Phone: 781-314-5721