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Information and Resources for Parents During Teacher Strike
Dear Lincoln Eliot parent community. Like you, we are distraught at the news about the Newton Public School teacher strike today, scrambling to find accommodations for our children and ways to engage with the issues. Please see below for resources and other helpful information.
Parent Resources
Food
See below for complete information from NPS. Grab N Go lunches will be available for family pickup. Our nearest pickup point is Newton North (457 Walnut Dr.) – Tiger Drive, and food is available from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
If you need food, and are unable to get to North in order to pick it up: please reach out to us for assistance: franklinptonewton@gmail.com
Childcare Options in Newton
Boys and Girls Club
From the John M Barry Boys & Girls Club of Newton ( 675 Watertown St, Newton, MA 02460 )
“In the event of a work stoppage, free drop-in hours beginning at 9 AM are offered to John M. Barry Boys & Girls Club Members without advanced registration. Entry will be granted until full capacity of the facility is reached. Children must bring a bag lunch, healthy snacks, water, and sneakers.”
Newton Parks and Rec
Newton Parks and Rec is offering a $65 per day of gap programming at the Newton Lower Falls Community Center: 545 Grove Street 02462.
Registration link: Newton Parks, Recreation and Culture: January Gap Programing
YMCA
The West Suburban YMCA OST Program will hold a Snow Day/Closure Day Camp. We will offer this camp for children in grades K-8 operating from 8:30AM-4:00PM. Registration is available through the link below. The program will group children by grade and will feature a variety of sports, art, educational and recreational activities throughout the day. Families will be asked to provide a water bottle, two snacks and a lunch for your child. Please also have your child wear sneakers for ease of access during the program.
School Holidays & Vacation Weeks | West Suburban YMCA
The West Suburban YMCA in Newton, MA offers programs for students on school holidays, vacation week and snow days.
How Can Parents Help?
Helping other parents:
If you can host playdates/study sessions/community and mutal-aid childcare, reach out to your networks. Check the Lincoln Eliot directory, or email room parents or the PTO if you need connections.
Helping teachers:
The PTO board will meet today and discuss ways in which we can help the teachers. Please stay tuned for an update. In the meantime, one simple thing you can do is follow this link to send a letter to elected officials and representatives. It will take two minutes of your time. The link will provide a draft letter that you can edit as you choose before sending.
The Role of the PTO
The purpose of the Lincoln Eliot PTO is to facilitate communication and cooperation among parents, guardians, teachers, administrators, and staff in order to benefit all children at the school.
The PTO exists to support parents.
If there’s something we can do to help that we haven’t covered in this message, please let us know: president@lepto.org
The PTO exists to support teachers.
In this moment, as our teachers embark on a strike, our role is to provide support and a voice for unity in our school community. This is an unprecedented moment for them as much as for us. We can engage with teachers, understand their perspectives, show kindness to them, and organize to connect with elected officials.
What Does A Strike Mean?
From https://www.newton.k12.ma.us/
Closures and Cancellations
If a strike occurs, school will be canceled, all buildings will be closed, and all school-related events and activities will be postponed until the strike ends. As with any emergency school closure, the day(s) will be made up at the end of the school year.
Please see below:
- School is closed. Treat this just like a snow day. School is not in session. This includes our specialized programs (Central and Community Connections)
- There is no before school or after school care. The early morning care program is closed. After school care programs that operate in school buildings are closed.
- All Newton Public School preschools are closed, including NECP, Newton South Preschool, and Newton North Plowshares
- No regular yellow bus transportation
- No van transportation
- No METCO transportation
- No athletic competitions (home and away) or practices. No intramurals or club sports.
- No fine arts events, performances, or practices (plays, band, orchestra, performances, clubs, music lessons).
- No weekend, daytime or overnight trips for scheduled competitions or events
- No school-related events or activities (school dance, socials, forums)
- No Newton Community Education programs
Access to School Buildings
- If there is a strike, all buildings will be closed. You will not be able to access anything in the school (snow gear, musical instruments, water bottles, etc.)
- If your student has medication or health supplies in the building that you must access, please email your school principal and they will connect you to our city health services director.
Food Service
Newton Public Schools will offer Grab and Go meals, similar to what we did during COVID. The meal will include three days of breakfast and lunch. Please note the dates and locations of pick ups below:
Dates (strike may not continue, but planning is in place)
- Friday January 19, 2024 (3 day breakfast and lunch)
- Monday, January 22, 2024 (3 day breakfast and lunch)
- Thursday, January 25, 2024 (4 day breakfast and lunch)
Location and time
- Newton North (457 Walnut Dr.) – Tiger Drive 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
- Newton South (140 Brandeis Rd.) – Wheeler entrance 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
- METCO Headquarters (for Boston Families) – 11 Roxbury Street, Boston, MA 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Operations to Continue
- Outside, non-NPS-based groups who have rented school buildings will be able to hold evening events and activities.
- Events and activities that take place on school field space operated by Newton Parks and Recreation and other organizations will continue. All school-based athletics and events are canceled.
- Private School Transportation to private schools in Newton will continue.
- Transportation for students placed in out-of-district schools will continue.
Lincoln Eliot 2024 Winter Dance Party!
We need a few volunteers for this event, please sign up here.
Mark your calendars for a Lincoln-Eliot Winter Dance Party on Thursday, February 1 from 6-8pm. In addition to a DJ and dancing, we’ll have LE’s favorite D&A pizza for sale + a chocolate fundraiser from World’s Finest Chocolates. (Ethical Chocolate you can learn more about here: https://www.slavefreechocolate.org/ethical-chocolate-companies).
We need a few volunteers for this event, please sign up here.
Update on teacher contract negotiations: your support is CRITICAL
Our teachers work tirelessly for our students day in and day out. Unfortunately, they have done so this year- which we are nearly halfway through – without a contract. They are working under the terms of the previous contract, which was ratified pre-covid, during a very different world. The system of government in Newton effectively puts the mayor in charge of all funding decisions, including funding for the schools, and for the teacher contract. To continue our advocacy, we would like to get a group of Lincoln-Eliot parents together to meet with the mayor in person. If you are interested, please contact ronda.billings@gmail.com and theresa.proia@gmail.com.
To learn more about these advocacy efforts, please visit https://www.pecnewton.com/. You can learn about different ways to get involved (joining meetings, contacting elected officials, putting up a blue lawn sign…etc)
You can find the slide presentation from the recent PEC meeting and the video on the PEC website. The slides should have all the information you need to start taking meaningful actions.
The consensus among teachers and involved parents is that the best way to support proper funding of the school system – including a fair contract for educators, getting the schools fully staffed, and necessary upkeep of the facilities – is to show the mayor, through our physical presence, that this is what we, the people of Newton want.
Please join us and other parents and guardians at the BE THE CHANGE Rally: Wednesday, January 17th outside of City Hall from 9-9:30am. We are inviting all NPS schools and the community to attend so please reach out to your friends and neighbors and encourage them to come also. We need many people to attend to send a clear message of support for our teachers. Bring signs. Wear blue. Carpool with friends. City Hall is located at 1000 Commonwealth Avenue, Newton. Across the street from the Library.
Sign up here
You can also help recruit new people to “Line the Halls” at 100 Walnut Street from 6:15-6:30pm on the Monday nights when School Committee meetings are held and consider making Public Comment, either in person or via Zoom. January 22 is the next meeting (also Feb. 5 & March 4). Commenting takes no more than 3 minutes in the range of 6:30-7:00pm, and signing up is easy.
Encourage neighbors to visit https://www.pecnewton.com/ and sign up for PEC’s communications.
Lincoln Eliot Spiritwear Store is now open!
Want some cool new swag to show your support for our community? Visit the LE store, where you can find sweaters, shirts, and other amazing gear. Let’s shop!
Safe Routes to School Design Contest
Start the new year off with creativity by participating in our annual Yard Sign Design Contest! The contest, entering its eighth year, kicks off today.
This year’s theme is:
BUS STOP SAFETY.
You can find more details in this page. Let’s get drawing!
Correction: PTO meeting is Thursday *December* 14, at 7pm
I am terribly sorry for sending out the wrong date yesterday — and for this extra message. You can join the PTO meeting tomorrow, Thursday December 14 at 7pm through this link:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/95067647738?pwd=OStBcmVUT3R1U1N0QWV4RlhlV0hqUT09
Meeting ID: 950 6764 7738
Passcode: f6h5Y3
One tap mobile
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Dial by your location
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Meeting ID: 950 6764 7738
Passcode: 600533
Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/klfAtQLgu
PTO Meeting – Thursday, November 14 at 7PM
As a reminder, our next PTO meeting will take place this Thursday, November 14, at 7pm. This will be a virtual meeting. We look forward to engaging with you then.
Add your voice to the redesign of Washington St!
Newton residents, visitors and businesses, please add your voice to help redesign Washington Street! The City is improving a mile long stretch of Washington between West Newton and Newtonville, and we want your feedback.Please visit NewtonMA.gov/WashingtonStreet to learn about this long-term pilot project and…Watch the November 30 public meeting
Thank you, and please contact WashingtonStreet@NewtonMA.gov with any comments or questions.————-
Yogurt Beach 5th Grade Fundraiser
Quick reminder that the 5th grade Yogurt Beach fundraiser is this Wednesday, December 13th!
Go any time on the 13th and say “Lincoln-Eliot’ when paying for your delicious frozen yogurt. A percentage of the cost of your order will go back towards the 5th grade year book, graduation and field trip! See attached flyer for more details.
This is a great opportunity to treat yourself and help support our graduating 5th graders!
Thank you,
5th Grade familiesYogurt Beach Fundraiser Dec 13th 2023