The Thursday OwL
The Alcott ptg weekly email
November 13, 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 PTG President
I hope many of you enjoyed the chance to visit Alcott this week for teacher conferences. It's always a treat to step inside the classrooms and see what a vibrant, joyful, and enriching environment all of the teachers and administrators have created for our children. I feel truly grateful for all that they do.
During conferences your child's teacher likely mentioned the new literacy curriculum being used in classrooms across the district this year. If you'd like to learn more about that curriculum, please join us this evening at our PTG Open Meeting. Three times a year, the PTG hosts an open meeting where all parents and guardians are welcome to attend. This year, with the help of our fantastic PTG Vice President, Sarah Driscoll, we are revamping these meetings. Tonight's meeting will include a presentation from literacy specialist and Alcott parent Katie Carr about our new EL curriculum, an update on what the PTG is working on, and then a chance for you to offer your feedback on what is (and what isn't) working when it comes to the PTG and your family. We truly want your feedback, so I hope to see lots of new faces tonight. As an added bonus we have snacks and you can probably get out of bedtime!
PTG Open Meeting: Tonight, 11/13 from 6:30-8:00pm (Alcott Library)
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Alcott Spirit Wear Makes Great Holiday Gifts!
Check out Alcott’s webstore to order attire and gear for the whole family ahead of the holidays, or email Rebecca Muse-Orlinoff at mo.rebecca@gmail.com for in-stock items available for pick up locally (including fleece blankets, PJ pants, hats, and keychains)! Proceeds support the Alcott PTG!
Did you know? Select Spirit Wear items are created by students and young adults from the CCHS Pathways and Launch programs at Concord PossAbilities. The Alcott PTG is proud to partner with this incredible organization!
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From the Nurse’s Office
Please find information here about a Mass General Brigham for Children Food Allergy Buddies Program called The Food Allergy Adventure: Build, Discover and Create.
Find the November Nurse’s note here.
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Alcott Annual Appeal
It's here!! 2025 November Month of Giving! Our 2025-2026 school year has gotten off to a great start! So far, we have had a wonderful movie night, a successful student picture day, our annual Fall Fest, and several in-class enrichment programs. Still to come, we have many of our favorite annual traditions, including multicultural night, math night, and the parent social. These school community events are directly supported by your essential contributions to the Alcott Annual Appeal. The Annual Appeal is the PTG’s largest fundraiser and accounts for 40% percent of our annual budget. In this November month of giving, we are reaching out to ask for your support. A little goes a long way, and any amount of support is appreciated! Last year, 50% of our families contributed to the Annual Appeal. We are hopeful that this year's participation rate will be even higher!
Here are 3 easy ways to make your donation:
* Mail a check to Alcott, payable to “Alcott PTG” with “Annual Appeal” in the memo. *Make your payment HERE *Use this QR CODE, which links to the Alcott Annual Appeal website.
Please “Give a Hoot” and donate today. We are so thankful for all of your support! - Allison Flynn and Rebecca Redington, Co-Fundraising Chairs, Alcott Elementary School
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UMass vs. BC Hockey Alcott Fundraiser
The details are:
Friday, December 5th @ 7:15 PM
Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell
Boston College Eagles @ UML River Hawks
Purchase tickets here. Come support as $5 of every ticket sold will be donated back to the Alcott Community! Get your tickets now, as this is a popular game and will sell out!
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Alcott Variety Show
The Alcott Variety Show will showcase on November 20, 2025!
The Alcott School Variety Show is a family-friendly evening that showcases the awesome talents of our Alcott students (and sometimes teachers!) This is meant to be a fun, supportive night, with no competition involved.
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First Grade Events
Adults-Only Social: Thursday, 11/20 at 6pm (Revolution Hall in Lexington)
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Donation Opportunities
Turkey Trot: Click here.
Annual Appeal: Click here.
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Volunteer Opportunities
November Composting at Lunch: Sign up here. Feel free to come often!
Calendar and Important Dates
Every Wednesday is a Half Day
November 13 - PTG Open meeting 6:30pm in the Alcott Library
November 14 - Crazy Sock Spirit Day
November 20 - First Grade Adult Social (6pm)
November 20 - Alcott Variety Show (6pm)
November 27 - 30 - Thanksgiving Recess
December 23 - Half Day
December 24 - January 4 - Winter Recess
January 5 - Classes Resume
In the Community
Donate Your Extra Halloween Candy for Veterans!
Cub Scout Pack 133 is collecting Halloween candy for Soldiers’ Angels Treats for Troops, a program that sends sweet treats and gratitude to our veterans and deployed service members. If your family has extra candy after Halloween, please consider donating it to brighten a veteran’s day! Bring your candy donations to the Concord Scout House on Wednesday, November 19th, from 6:30–7:30 p.m.
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Jumpstart your Holiday Season with "The Nutcracker" Ballet!
Commonwealth Ballet Company's “The Nutcracker” returns for 9 upcoming performances November 28-30 and December 19-21 at nearby Regis College in Weston. Click HERE for all the details, including a sensory- and family-friendly matinee on November 28. In addition, the Sugar Plum Fairy is hosting a tea on December 13 at Acton School of Ballet (click HERE) and members of "The Nutcracker" cast are doing a library reading tour at various local libraries (click HERE). With professional-level dancing, gorgeous costumes and stunning sets, CBC has enchanted families for 28 years with this timeless story.
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IMSCC Music Lessons - New Session Starts in January!
Enrollment for new students opens on December 1 for the Winter-Spring session of private and group lessons, January to June 2025.
Private lessons available for all band and orchestra instruments including upright bass; also, voice, piano, guitar, electric bass and ukulele.
Group lessons for 4th and 5th graders available for many band and orchestra instruments.
Visit the website for more information; email Laryssa Doohovskoy with questions at ldoohovskoy@concordcarlisle.org.
Fall private lesson registration is ongoing - click here to inquire about November-December lessons.
Look for another announcement soon with links to register for Winter-Spring session private lessons!
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Safe Cycling in Concord
"Can Bicycling Be a Normal Mode of Travel in Concord? Here’s How." Thursday, November 20, 6:30 PM at the Concord Main Library, 129 Main Street. Mass cycling – meaning lots of people riding for everyday transportation – is critical to public health, climate, safety, and livability goals. Hundreds of kids riding to the high school and middle school; hundreds of commuters riding to the train station; thousands more doing errands and going on recreational rides. Mass cycling can only be achieved by “low-stress connectivity” – meaning people have a bike route with little traffic stress from home to their destinations.
We’ll describe what low-stress connectivity looks like and how it is measured, so that it can become a goal for a community like Concord. We’ll describe some innovative road designs for creating low-stress bike infrastructure without road widening, including flexpost-protected bike lanes, advisory lanes, and sidepaths. Sponsored by Mothers Out Front and Bike-to-School Concord. Please see the library event calendar at cfpl.info/events for more information and registration.
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Sip, Sweat & Shop to Support Out Students!
From November 13-23, eight local businesses will donate a percentage of all purchases to the Concord Education Fund, which provides teacher grants for innovative programs that enrich learning for students in the Concord-Carlisle school district - programs that go beyond what school budgets can cover. It's an easy way to support our teachers and students - just shop, eat, or work out locally! See more details here.
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Helping Teens (and Parents) Thrive in the Digital Age
The second event in the Growing Up Well community event series, The Anxious Generation: Supporting Teens in a Tech-Driven World, is on November 19. Join us for a reception starting at 6pm, followed by a panel discussion from 6:30-7:30pm, where an interactive panel of experts explores how smartphones and social media are reshaping childhood—and what families and communities can do to reclaim balance. This event is free, but registration is required.
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SEPAC Summer Camp Info Night
Come learn from camp directors how their camp can support your child. This event will be held on December 1 from 6-7:30pm at the Concord Main Library. Camps attending include Concord Rec, Emerson Umbrella, Good Pickin’ Farm, Drumlin Farm, Fuse, Timbernook, and Aspire. www.concordsepac.com
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SEPAC Coffee Chat and November Board Meeting
SEPAC Coffee Chat: November 19th 9-11am at Saltbox Kitchen. 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 be available to answer questions and chat.
November Board Meeting: Feel free to join our November board meeting to hear the latest updates and exciting news from the School Committee, Dr. Hunter and the SEPAC President. This month's meeting is on 11/24 at 7:30pm. Zoom link to follow.
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SEPAC Office Hours Change
Normally office hours are held on the 2nd Tuesday of the month from 11-12:30 in the Main Library in the cafe area. Due to the Veteran's Day Holiday, the office hours will be held on 11/18 at 11am.