The Thursday OwL
The Alcott ptg weekly email
September 11, 2025
The PTG provides information and support to the Alcott community and raises funds to help make our school the best it can be.
News and Announcements
Message from the President
With chilly mornings waiting for the bus and weekends spent on the sports fields, it's really starting to feel like fall in Concord. I hope your families have settled into the school routine and everyone is enjoying new teachers and new friends. Fall is a busy season for the PTG with lots of community events and chances to volunteer. Stay tuned to the Owl and our Instagram page for info on Fall Fest, Movie Night, Bike to School and other fun events. Also be sure to read the emails from your Room Parents. These PTG volunteers work closely with your children's teachers to stock classrooms, plan craft parties and class playdates, and provide a crucial communication link between teachers and parents. I am so appreciative of the hard work they put in all year long. As always, please feel free to reach out with any questions or suggestions. And I'll see you all at Back to School night!
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Back to School Night
Back to School Night offers parents and guardians the chance to meet their child's teacher, learn about the upcoming school year, hear from your PTG Room parents, and connect with other Alcott families. The schedule for the evening is organized by grade level and is listed below. Please note this event is for parents and guardians only.
5:30-6:00 - 2nd and 3rd Grade
6:00-6:30 - K and 1st Grade
6:30-7:00 - Special education and Specialists (in cafe)
7:00-7:30 - 4th and 5th Grade
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Alcott Picture Day
Calling All Picture Day Volunteers! Alcott School Picture Day is scheduled for Wednesday, September 17th. Volunteers are needed to help make the morning a success. Please Click Here to sign up.
The picture online order portal is open, and students will also receive paper ordering forms closer to Picture Day. Orders can be placed online or via paper order form with cash/checks. An ordering guide is attached here.
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Community Coffee Chat on Friday 9/12
Join other Alcott parents and guardians for an informal meet up on Friday 9/12 from 9-10AM at the Alcott playground picnic tables. Feeling overwhelmed by September? Confused about all the back to school activities? Just have an hour and want to meet some friendly faces? Bring a morning beverage of choice and come for a chat! Hosted by PTG Community & Philanthropy Chair Liz Gibbs.
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METCO Family Friends Fall Picnic
Come enjoy a lovely autumn Saturday out at the annual METCO Family Friends Fall Picnic on September 20 from 1-3pm at Hunt Almont Park. Please RSVP HERE, we hope you’ll join us! If you would like to contribute a potluck item, please sign up HERE.
Are you interested in forming new friendships and creating a special family partnership? Do you want to help build a stronger Alcott community? METCO Family Friends (MFF) might be for you! MFF matches up Concord resident students with Boston resident students. MFF families share a lot of fun together during the school year in after school activities and playdates; we'd love for you to be part of it. If you are interested in being a buddy family, or learning more about the program, please click this form today and tell us more about yourself!
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Community Coffee Chat on Friday 9/12
Join other Alcott parents and guardians for an informal meet up on Friday 9/12 from 9-10AM at the Alcott playground picnic tables. Feeling overwhelmed by September? Confused about all the back to school activities? Just have an hour and want to meet some friendly faces? Bring a morning beverage of choice and come for a chat! Hosted by PTG Community & Philanthropy Chair Liz Gibbs.
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Sign Up to Keep the Library Running Smoothly!
Pop into the library once a week to help Mrs. O'Rourke check in and shelve books from 8:50-9:15am. If you are interested and can commit to a weekly slot, please email korourke@concordps.org and let Mrs. O'Rourke know what day you are available. Thanks for your support!
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Join the PTG!
Want to make a difference at Alcott? Curious about how the PTG programs and events come together? Join a committee on the PTG! The time commitment is manageable and the rewards are great. Email ptgalcott@gmail.com for more information.
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Calendar and Important Dates
Every Wednesday is a Half Day
September 12 - Community Coffee Morning (9-10:00am)
September 17 - Alcott Picture Day
September 18 - Back to School Evening
September 20 - METCO Family Friends Fall Picnic
In the Community
Concord 4th Grade Girl Scout Troop!
Girl Scout Troop 64170 for 4rd Grade Alcott Girls is welcoming new members! Join us for many fun activities this fall including a camping trip, STEM projects, leadership development, and more. Meetings are once or twice a month on Sunday late afternoons. Please reach out to Troop Leaders Melissa Schoenfeld and Jessica Cloutier-Plasse at meliss923@gmail.com or 617-699-2004 to learn more!
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SunDay Celebration
Join us for SunDay, a celebration of Solar Power and Concord's transition to clean affordable energy! Sunday, September 21, 2025 from 2-4pm; First Parish Church Lawn, 20 Lexington Road, Concord. Help create a community quilt mural, play innovative games about climate concepts, learn about money saving clean energy opportunities, learn about global and local progress towards clean energy, and join in with a fun sing along! Learn more and design your own SUN art at www.sunday.earth !
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THE MIGHTY MOOSE 5K WALK/RUN
5K Run/Walk held in memory of Jenna Swaim, a loving mother and wife who lost her courageous four year battle to ovarian cancer on July 3, 2018. She was 43 years old. The name of the event is inspired by Jenna’s Alaskan roots, love for fun, and strength! All funds raised will support research led by Dr. Kevin Elias to develop an early detection test for ovarian cancer - when it is most treatable.
When: Sunday September 28th @ 8:30 AM.
Kids race just before @ 7:45 AM
Where: Concord Carlisle High School
How: Race Packet Pickup Saturday September 27th between 9 AM - 2:30 PM @ CCHS
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SEPAC PLAYDATE
Saturday, Sept. 20th, Rideout Playground, 61 Laws Brook Rd, Concord. Join us for an informal meetup to have fun and make new connections!
K and 1st: 10-11 am
2nd and 3'd: 1lam-12pm
4th and 5th: 12-1pm
Middle School: 1-2pm
Rain date: Sat. Sept. 27th
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Kicks for Cancer is on September 27th!
Please save the date for this year’s Kicks for Cancer event at Concord-Carlisle High School (CCHS) on September 27! Kicks brings the community together to raise funds to advance research at Dana Farber focused on the early detection of ovarian cancer. [Information about the event’s history and fundraising impact are attached here.] Details about the event, the schedule and how to purchase Kicks lawn signs or gear are available at www.kicksforcancer.org.
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Public Health Survey
The Concord Health Division is seeking your input. Community members of Concord are invited to take this anonymous survey that will assist the Concord Behavioral Health Collaborative in making decisions to spend the remaining opioid settlement funds. The data collected in this survey will allow your voice to be heard in this process. Your participation is important and appreciated. To take the survey please click this link: https://forms.gle/dVJzuSyEupYvNRJQ9
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Garden Club of Concord Seeks Grant Proposals
The Garden Club of Concord is soliciting proposals from local organizations seeking funding for gardening-related community projects. Our club is dedicated to the preservation, restoration and development of gardens and the natural environment in the Concord community. Over the years, we have made a significant impact on the community through our grants program. These grants are totally funded with profits from the club’s annual plant sale in May. The club’s grant program has not only helped organizations in Concord but has also helped to promote horticulture and environmental conservation, making the town a better place for all.
Past grants have funded planting projects at The Old Manse, The Umbrella Arts Center, Gaining Ground, Concord Council on Aging, Minuteman Arc, Northeastern Correctional Center, CCHS Sustainable Club, and the Concord Land Trust.
To request a grant application or for more information contact Sarah MacEachern at smaceachern@comcast.net or visit our website: www.gardenclubofconcord.org. The deadline for applications is October 16, 2025.
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SEPAC Welcome Back Coffee
Please join us September 19th @Rideout Park-61 Lawsbrook Rd-Concord. 9am. Please join us for a casual conversation. Get to know other parents and caregivers with students who also have learning differences. SEPAC board members will also be available to answer questions and chat. You can find more information on our website and on social media about other events. http://www.concordsepac.org
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Fuel the Music: Every Bite Helps Our CMS Musicians Reach Disney!
On Tuesday, September 16th, 4–10pm, West Village Tavern is giving back! 10% of all food sales (including dine-in, takeout, and Concord Pie Co.) will directly support Concord Middle School’s Honors Music Ensembles as they prepare for their exciting Disney performance trip. Bring your family, enjoy a meal, and know you’re fueling the music dreams of our talented young musicians.
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IMSCC Music Lessons - Registration for the Fall Session is OPEN!
We welcome new students of all ages to register for one-on-one music lessons with the Instrumental Music School of Carlisle and Concord's expert instructors. A 16-week session begins in September. Lessons are available for all band and orchestra instruments, voice, piano, guitar, bass, and ukulele. After school lessons are offered at CCHS and the Carlisle School. Small group lessons are available for 4th and 5th graders. New Students, please fill out an inquiry form here. Small Group Lessons information is available here. Want to learn more about IMSCC? Visit this link. If you have any questions, please reach out to IMSCC Program Coordinator, Laryssa Doohovskoy, at ldoohovskoy@concordcarlisle.org.
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SEPAC Office Hours
Office hours are an opportunity to talk in person to help answer any special education questions and get parent to parent support. SEPAC office hours will be held on the second Tuesday of each month 11am-12:30pm.
Join the Alcott PTG
Discover all the ways both working and non-working parents and guardians are needed to support our wonderful staff, students, and families. Have something to offer that you don’t see listed there? There’s a place for you to submit that info as well! We hope to hear from you!
Alcott PTG, 93 Laurel St, Concord, MA 01742, USA
