ALCOTT NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

OPEN FALL PTG MEETING: NOVEMBER 19th at 9.30am, VOTING IN BY-LAW CHANGES AND NEW BOARD POSITIONS: Please join us on Zoom for our open fall meeting, where we will require votes to update our by-laws and formally vote in our new Board to comply with the by-law reorganization. The Zoom link for the PTG meeting is listed below. The amendment must be passed by vote with the presence of a quorum, so if you only attend one meeting this year, please help us by making THIS ONE! The purpose of the by-law changes are first, to make sure we are complying with our State non-profit legal requirements but moreover, to create a more open and organized PTG that will enable people to get involved in a more streamlined and efficient way. We are including, for the first time, Alcott Administration on the Board, a Faculty Representative, a President, Vice President, Treasurer and Clerk, as well as enumerated voting Board Chair positions that represent the larger work we do: Communications, Enrichment, Events, Executive, Fundraising, METCO and School Community Chairs. While we also hope to have monthly Board meetings, we are prioritizing community involvement by having three public and open meetings annually in the Fall, Winter and Spring, some day and some evening, where important mission issues are set forth, voting takes place, and all voices are included. Thanks to the addition of video conferencing in all of our lives, our goal will be to make these three open meeting accessible by Zoom, Google Hangout, or like video conferencing going forward so that all parents, Concord and Boston, working from home or away from home, can attend if they chose. The rest of the provisions are legal updates for 501(c)(3)s, and for our insurance. Prior to the vote, please go to our website to view the proposed changes HERE and the formalized 2020-2021 slate, HERE. The 2021-2022 slate will be voted on in Spring 2021, and at all Spring open meetings going forward. Have questions prior to the meeting? Please contact krissytyson@gmail.com, regarding by-law changes, and hsk617@gmail.com, regarding questions about the slate.

Alcott PTG is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Alcott PTG Open Meeting - November

Time: Nov 19, 2020 09:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

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Meeting ID: 826 6229 3087
Passcode: 324067
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PTG Highlights: PTG Meeting, Annual Appeal, Alcott Store Open, PAL, Cultural Kaleidoscope, PJ Collection, SEPAC News, Happening at Alcott

PTG Meeting - February 10 @ 7:30pm: Join us in the Alcott Faculty Lounge February 10 @ 7:30pm for a special PTG meeting with guest Bryce MacKnight, Director of Food and Nutrition. We're excited to have Bryce share information about school lunches and incorporating the student garden!

ANNUAL APPEAL: SHOW YOUR LOVE for Alcott this Valentine’s Day by contributing to our annual appea! The PTG will spend over $135 per student this year to provide valuable enhancements to their school experience. Our parent volunteers put in countless hours to provide fundraising events throughout the year that provide the majority of our funds. The appeal campaign supplements those efforts with a goal to raise $15,000 from our community. We are asking you to help us achieve our target through your gift today! Donate here via Paypal or credit card. You can also send cash or a check (payable to “Alcott PTG” with “annual appeal” in memo) back to school with your child in a sealed envelope. 🖤Donate $100 or more and get an Alcott Magnet and Alcott Owl Sticker! 🖤

Alcott Throwback Hoodys and Sweatpants on Sale! Support the Alcott PTG and show your Alcott School Spirit! Be on the lookout for handouts in your child's backpack this Friday! Hoodys and Sweatpants on sale (sample sizes in the office for students to try on). Online school store will be open Feb 7- 24. No extra sizes will be ordered so be sure to get the order in on time. Orders will be delivered the 3rd week in March. Not to be missed! Alcott Wear Shop

Parent at Lunch - spots still open for PAL 2/28: Each month parents have the opportunity to join their child (or children) at lunch! The next PAL is February 28th. Sign up at: PAL Sign-Up

Kaleidoscope, March 15th, 2020! With the representation from around the world, we are super excited to have a CULTURAL SHOW COMPONENT to showcase the heritage that we all feel proud of. The performance length will depend on how many families participate. Plan for 2-3 minutes. If you are interested, please sign up here or contact us at alcottmulticultural@gmail.comor mathur2619@gmail.com for any questions.

Meet and Greet Kaleidoscope Event on February 10th at 6.30 p.m: The committee is hosting a meet and greet on February 10th at 6.30 pm in the Alcott Faculty Lounge to introduce themselves and answer any questions you may have. Please feel free to bring your children in case. We look forward to meeting all the volunteers who will make this event a success!! Please RSVP to alcottmulticultural@gmail.com if you plan to attend.

Collecting New Pajamas for area children in need: A collection box will be in the Alcott lobby near the office through March 6th. Please consider donating a pair of children's pajamas in any size (baby to big kid). Pajamas must be new. All donations will be distributed directly to area children in low income and homeless situations through Cradles to Crayons. Consider having your children help choose the pajamas. Thank you!

SEPAC February Board Meeting: Please join our next Board Meeting, Wednesday, 12th February from 7:00 - 9:00 pm at Learning Commons, Concord-Carlisle High School, 500 Walden St. Members of the Board will be available from 6:30 pm if anyone has any questions or anything they would like to discuss outside the public meeting. Superintendent Laurie Hunter, Director of Student Services Ruth Grube and Cynthia Rainey from the Joint School Committee will share information on next year’s budgets for both Concord Public Schools and the Concord-Carlisle Regional School District. Laurie and Ruth will also share an overview of the new CMS building project and answer any questions you may have about the planning for Special Education in the new Middle School. If you have any questions, please email us at concordsepac@gmail.com. For more information about SEPAC, visit our website at www.concordsepac.org.

Basic Rights in Special Education - Understanding the IEP: Hosted by the Acton-Boxborough, Concord/Concord-Carlisle, Maynard, and Sudbury Special Education Parent Advisory Councils with support from our school districts. Tuesday, February 11th from 7:00 – 9:00 pm at the Sudbury Senior Center, 40 Fairbank Rd, Sudbury. Presented by Faith Morgan-Gaines, Federation for Children with Special Needs. This workshop will provide an understanding of the Individual Educational Plan (IEP); why it is important, how it is developed, what information belongs in each section, what types of services are included, measurable goals, what to do when you receive a proposed IEP and the process for resolving disputes. 

Happening at Alcott:

Feb 10: PTG Meeting, 7:30pm, Alcott Faculty Lounge
Feb 11: METCO Late Bus (Bowling Playdate)
Feb 11: Progress Reports Published to Aspen Portal
Feb 14: School Spirit Day - Alcott Red Day
Feb 17-21: No School - February Break
Feb 28: PAL
Mar 10: METCO Late Bus
Mar 11: PTG Meeting, 9:30am, Alcott Faculty Lounge
Mar 13: School Spirit Day - Favorite Team Apparel Day
Mar 15: Cultural Kaleidoscope
Mar 27: Alcott Math Night
Apr 1: No School - School Conferences

PTG Highlights: Evening PTG Meeting 2/10, New Family Coffee 1/31, Inclusive CMS, Math Night 3/27, Cultural Kaleidoscope 3/15, Lost & Found donation 2/3, Happening at Alcott

PTG Meeting - February 10 @ 7:30pm: Join us in the Alcott Faculty Lounge February 10 @ 7:30pm for a special PTG meeting with guest Bryce MacKnight, Director of Food and Nutrition. We're excited to have Bryce share information about school lunches and incorporating the student garden!

New Family Coffee, Friday, January 31, 9:30-11: Are you new or feeling new to Alcott? Do you have questions about the school or Concord, in general? Want to reconnect with people you met at the new family events in the fall? Please join us for a mid-year New Family Coffee on January 31st at the Tyson residence at 204 Hubbard St. Feel free to drop in anytime between 9:30 and 11am. We look forward to seeing you! If you have any questions, feel free to contact Sorrel Sammons at sorrelsammons@hotmail.com.

CMS - We Need Your Help to Build an Inclusive Middle School: Thursday 30th January (today!) from 1:30 - 3:00 pm in Conference Room 4, Ripley Building, Meriam Road. SMMA, the architects and project managers, will present an overview of the project and Superintendent Laurie Hunter and Ruth Grube, Director of Student Services, will be present to hear from the SEPAC community. If you have any questions or would like to give us your input; please email us at concordsepac@gmail.com.

Save the date! Math Night 2020: Friday, March 27th 6-8PM. Family Math night intended for ALL Alcott grade levels including *new* this year - game table for younger children! Prizes & Raffles. Sponsored by the Alcott PTG. Also: Seeking a volunteer to help procure & sell snacks! Email Aiyana @ mikeaiyana@mac.com if you’re interested.

Cultural Kaleidoscope, March 15th, 2020! We are so excited that Alcott’s many cultural identities will be showcased at the Kaleidoscope! The response has been HUGE with over 20 countries confirmed. Since the last update that was sent out, we have added the State of Maryland, Brazil, Italy, Greece and Japan. We would love for parents to think about showcasing a cultural aspect from their country and when you do, sign up here. Please feel free to  contact us at alcottmulticultural@gmail.com or mathur2619@gmail.com for any questions.

The ALCOTT LOST & FOUND is overflowing with coats, hoodies, gloves, water bottles, lunch bags and other belongings. Please have your student check for any missing items. Also, please label your items with a complete last name (BLACK OR SILVER SHARPIES work well); labeled items will be returned to the student’s classrooms.  ***The Lost & Found will be cleared on Monday February 3rd, so please retrieve any belongings before then.***  If you have any questions, please email alcottlostandfound@gmail.com.


HAPPENING AT ALCOTT

Jan 31: New Family Coffee
Jan 31: PAL
Feb 10: PTG Meeting, 7:30pm, Alcott Faculty Lounge
Feb 11: METCO Late Bus (Bowling Playdate)
Feb 11: Progress Reports Published to Aspen Portal
Feb 14: School Spirit Day - Alcott Red Day
Feb 17-21: No School - February Break
Feb 28: PAL
Mar 27: Alcott Math Night