5th Grade at Countryside is a special time. The 5th Grade Experience is a year-long program of events and activities designed to help our children prepare for their upcoming transition to middle school. The overriding goal is to help all students feel a stronger sense of belonging and connectedness before they leave Countryside.

The 5th Grade Experience is run entirely by parent volunteers! Please email coordinators listed below to offer help for each activity.

2024-2025 Chairs: 5GEchairs@countrysidepto.org

  • Barbara Mauger
  • Jess Lourie
  • Sangeeta Jathar

The Chairs are responsible for scheduling and coordination of the events, communicating with the PTO, teachers and staff and providing information and support to all other parent volunteers.

Events & Activities:

Photographer/archivist: to take photos at events throughout the year and share them with coordinators of yearbook and graduation slideshow.

Class T-Shirt: A custom designed shirt just for the Countryside Class of 2024!

Election Day Bake Sale: One of several fundraisers to help offset costs for the year’s activities. 

Community Service: Class projects to benefit the school/community and stretch our children’s thinking beyond their traditional classroom lessons. Past projects have included food drives, school supply donations, collections to support victims of natural disasters. (Prior Year Contact: Maegan Spontak).

Class Party: Past events have been held at various venues around Newton and usually involve a fun theme, music, games, and snacks.

Field Day/Picnic: Takes place in May/June, separate from the whole school Field Day. A fun day offsite of games and activities meant to build camaraderie.

Yearbook: The kids will cherish this great memento to capture this year’s graduating class and school memories. (Prior Year Contact: Christy DeSmith). 

Slideshow: A video montage of photos from our kids’ years at Countryside to show at graduation.

Graduation Reception: A special day in June for the kids to celebrate their accomplishments. Following a ceremony with diplomas, a reception for 5th graders and their families will be held.

Please contact the chairs if you can help!

Funding The 5th Grade Experience – Donate Now!

The PTO will be providing some funding for the 5th Grade Experience. However, in order to offer all of the special events, yearbook, and class t-shirt, we depend on additional donations from you. A $65.00 donation per fifth grade student is requested. Please contribute as much as you are able (every dollar helps). All students, regardless of ability to contribute, will be included in all activities. Please submit your 5th grade donation by November 30th.

If paying by cash, please send it to school with the form below in an envelope marked for the 5th grade fund.

Checks should be made out to “Countryside Elementary PTO” with “5th Grade” as the subject line and sent to school with your child in an envelope addressed to “PTO/5th Grade.”

Venmo payments can be made to @Countryside-PTO. Again, note “5th Grade Experience”.

If paying by PayPal, use the link below:

Important Note: This is not in lieu of the annual fund. This is specifically for 5th grade activities. Throughout the year, you may receive requests as well for donations of food for 5th grade activities. Our goal, however, is to keep to this monetary donation request only. Please be assured that all of our 5th graders are encouraged and invited to participate in all of the class activities regardless of their ability to make a donation.