ALCOTT NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
WECO promotion is still happening at Alcott! WECO Week 3: The WECO menu for week 3 is now available and it looks amazing! Warm up with some veggie chilli, get some sloppy joe sliders for the kids, stock up on some homemade granola bars... don't forget, you can freeze the WECO dinners to save them for later, too! As a reminder, the Alcott PTG has partnered with WECO to help raise funds for Alcott Elementary School. WECO will donate a portion of every meal you enjoy back to the PTG. So far we have had ~111 Alcott families order from WECO over the past two weeks. Every dollar raised goes back into our school community. We estimate that we have raised over $1500 so far, and saved many from the end of day cooking dilemma. Let's try to double our dollars over the next two weeks! Don't miss this opportunity - only 2 weeks left! To participate, just click the link and order as many dinners for next week as you would like. No minimums and no subscriptions.
Step 1: If you haven't done so already, please make sure you first register your email with Alcott https://bit.ly/alcottptg
Step 2: Start ordering your delicious meals! NOTE: if you are new to WECO you will be asked to create a password and enter some contact details. This is just so they can deliver your meals right to your door.
Step 3: Enjoy!
The Alcott Chess Club got off to a wonderful start with a strong group of chess enthusiasts. It's not too late to join and we'll adjust your rate. This is the perfect time to brush up on your chess skills or develop new skills in time for the annual Alcott Chess Tournament, which will begin the week after April vacation. This tournament is designed to be fun for everyone, and everybody comes out a winner. It's a superb event! How can you say 'no'? For you 5th graders, it is your last chance to participate in Alcott Chess, so check it out. If you decide to join, contact Ken Belt at alcottchess@hotmail.com or ring 617-332-4483. The attached flyer has all the details for your warm winter session. Next class is Thursday. See you there!
Alcott Multicultural Night - Are you interested in sharing your family heritage with the Alcott Community this March? Come join us in celebrating what makes our Alcott Community so diverse and strong! We are planning the 2023 Alcott Multicultural Night and are looking for families to participate! Share a favorite dish in the Celebration of Food, make a Family Heritage Display or take part in the Cultural Show with a song or dance performance! Sign up Genius will be sent out through Room Parents so be on the look out! Questions now? Email Megha Mathur and Melissa Karczewski at: mathur2619@gmail.com melissahun@gmail.com.
Please take note that ALL Alcott Families, Concord & Boston, have access to the Family Fund if the need arises. If participation in these events causes financial stress, please reach out to our School Counselor, Rene Kashmiri at rkashmiri@concordps.org to discuss your options.
Alcott Twitter - Follow Alcott on its new Twitter account!
Update on the Middle School Project. The full schedule is here.
Calendar and important dates
***Every Wednesday is now a half-day***
February 20-24: February Recess
CPS/CCRSD 22-23 School Calendar can be found here
IN THE COMMUNITY
Please join WBYC for our Winter Lecture. Be Yourself Through Movement -featuring Dr. Kelly McGonigal Thursday, February 9th from 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm Zoom Webinar - link will be sent to registered guests before the event. Register for this free event at www.williamsbeyourselfchallenge.org. Dr. Kelly McGonigal is a health psychologist and lecturer at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business. As a pioneer in the field of “science-help,” her mission is to translate insights from psychology and neuroscience into practical strategies that support personal well-being and strengthen communities. Kelly's most recent book, The Joy of Movement, illustrates why movement is integral to both our happiness and our humanity. In this special engagement, Kelly will focus on issues important to the WBYC community, including using physical activity as a means to help with mental health challenges, expressing oneself through physical activity, and finding joy and connection in collective movement experiences. This virtual event is free and open to all. We hope parents, caregivers, educators, seniors, and our teens will join in for this important conversation. Register for this free event at www.williamsbeyourselfchallenge.org.
Concord Conservatory’s Summer Piano Camp July 17-21 at Concord Academy—A unique and fun summer experience for pianists 3rd – 12th grade. Concord Conservatory of Music and Concord Academy will offer a weeklong Summer Piano Camp for rising 3rd-12th graders with at least two years of private instruction. Each day the camp will culminate in a performance and talk by a guest artist. Campers will have the opportunity to play for one another in an informal performance class, a masterclass, and in a camp recital. Piano campers will end the week with a greater appreciation of music in a fun and low-stress environment—the perfect combination of music, outdoor fun, swimming, and friends. info@concordconservatory.org/(978) 369-0010.
Art in Action! Welcoming Refugees, Ages 0 - 10, Tuesday, February 21 at 2 PM in the Children's Library at the Main Library. Kids will learn about displaced people around the world and the crises that force them to leave their homes. Afterwards, there will be an art project creating postcards to welcome refugee families to our community and inform them about the area. For every postcard created, the Bezos Family Foundation - sponsors of Students Rebuild - will donate $5 to refugee-aid organizations. No registration required. More info here. Program in partnership with COAR.
Hip Hop Dance Party with West Concord Dance Academy, Ages 0 - 13, Wednesday, February 22 at 3:30 PM in the Goodwin Forum at the Main Library. Join us for a hip hop dance party led by West Concord Dance Academy! Learn some new moves and get your feet moving to the beat! No registration required. More info here.
Concord Free Public Library (Main branch). Board Games - Sunday February 5 from 2 to 4 PM Don't let Winter boredom get you down... Bust that boredom with a cozy afternoon of board games at the Concord Free Public Library (Main branch). Join us Sunday February 5 from 2 to 4 PM where we'll have games for all ages, including children's games in the Children's Wing, Kahoots for tweens and teens in the Teen Lounge, and adult offerings in the Forum. You can also bring your favorite game from home to play. Come for the games, stay for snacks, raffle prizes, and more!
Free Public Speaking & Debate After-School Workshop! Sign up for a free Public Speaking and Debate Workshop on February 9, 12 or 13 (Online), hosted by Lumos Debate! Your child will love Lumos's friendly instructors and fun activities as they learn about: Speaking Confidence, Impromptu Speaking, Debate Fundamentals, Argumentation and Reasoning. Lumos After-School Online Workshop (FREE): Ages: 8-14 years old. Locations: Online, 1-hour workshop, Dates: Choose from Feb 9, 12, or 13, Registration. This workshop is free for all Alcott students. Please make sure to use code ALCOTT when you register to get an 100% discount. Please do not share this code with families that are not from Alcott. Email info@lumosdebate.com or call 781-474-3359 with any questions. Register now at: lumosdebate.com/workshop
Cell Phones & Parenting – Oh My! Feb. 2, 1-2 pm Online We simplify this technology so that you’ll understand recommended safety settings for your child’s Smartphone, allowing them to use the phone safely. Bullying, Cyberbullying & the Effects of the Pandemic on Children Feb. 9 7-8:30 pm Online The focus is on concrete approaches that emphasize ways for parents to improve social skills and reduce screen time. Full information and registration is available at www.concordcarlisleace.org or 978-318-1432.
English Language Learner classes winter session registration open now. CCACE is offering ELL classes at all levels, from beginner to conversation. Classes begin January 30 and run two evenings a week in person at CCHS. Conversation class begins January 25 and runs evenings for eight weeks online. Scholarships are available at all levels. New students should plan to attend an orientation on Wednesday, January 25, 7 pm at CCHS, where they will be tested to determine their level of language ability for appropriate placement. For more information and to register, go online to concordcarlisleace.org/adult-ell or call our office at 978-318-1432. Registration closes February 9, 2023.
All the Letters: Understanding LGBTQIA+ Identities & Experiences with Robyn Ochs is returning to Concord on Wednesday, February 1st, from 6:30 pm - 8 pm at Concord-Carlisle High School. Robyn Ochs has been an advocate for and a member of the LGBTQIA+ community her entire life and has been among the founding members of several social justice groups over her career as an activist, an academic, a Harvard administrator, and the many other hats she has worn. Robyn's presentation for the parent community is titled: All the Letters: Understanding LGBTQIA+ Identities & Experiences -- How are people using and experiencing sexual orientation and gender in 2022? And what do you need to know to be culturally competent in this area? Bring your questions and an open mind. Please RSVP to this event by using the following link, here. If you have questions regarding this event, please contact DEIB Director Mr. Nyamekye at anyamekye@concordps.org.
Please visit this space for updates on sports, music and theater registration dates, seminars, and more events throughout town.
PTG online volunteer information and sign-up: Please visit our website to 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!