PTO Holiday Fundraising Event Nov 21-23
Dear Countryside Families,
Happy November! With school closed on Tuesday for Election Day, we encourage everyone in our school community to make their voices heard by voting. Participating in local elections is a vital way to stay engaged with our community and help shape the future for our children.
In addition, we’re excited to announce our 5th Grade Bake Sale, happening on Election Day! After casting your ballot, please stop by our bake sale table at the front of Countryside to enjoy delicious homemade treats prepared by our students and families. All proceeds will go directly to our 5th Grade Experience Fund, established to create memorable programming for our 5th graders’ final year at Countryside.
Warmly,
Steve, Tera, and Melissa
PTO Co-Presidents
Tuesday, November 4
Election Day, No School
5th Grade Bake Sale, 7:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.
Tuesday, November 11
Veteran’s Day, No School
Thursday, November 13
Picture Day Retake
ELL Potuck, 5:30–7:00 p.m.
Thursday, November 20
PTO Meeting, 7:00 p.m., in Library (*please note rescheduled date for this month)
Wednesday, November 26
Early Release Day, Dismissal at 12:10 p.m.
Thursday, November 27–Friday, November 28
Thanksgiving Break, No School
We are thrilled to report the donations to date total $26,585—89% of our goal! THANK YOU so much! We are truly grateful for Countryside's supportive parent community, and overjoyed at the vital programming this funding will provide to our children."
In hopes of reaching 100% of our goal of $30,000, we extended the campaign an additional week until this Friday, November 7. The cost is $150 per student to run our programs and events for the year. We know how busy parents are and truly appreciate your support. If you’ve been meaning to contribute but haven’t found the time, please consider donating during these extra days.
You can make a donation via Venmo, via PayPal, or with a check addressed to the Countryside PTO.
On Tuesday, November 4, the Countryside 5th Grade Experience Team will host an Election Day Bake Sale. Stop by anytime between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. to buy delicious treats—many homemade by Countryside families. 100% of the proceeds will go directly towards funding memorable 5th grade events such as the yearbook, class T-shirt, end of year Field Day and picnic, class party, graduation ceremony, and more. We truly need and appreciate your support!
If you would like to participate by bringing baked goods or helping to sell them, please sign up: here!
School Picture Retake Day
If you would like to have your child's picture retaken for any reason, Retake Day is on November 13. Please remember to bring back the original prints if you wish to exchange them for a new picture at no additional cost.
ELL Thanksgiving Potluck
The ELL Thanksgiving Potluck will be held on November 13 from 5:30–7:00 p.m. We will celebrate this traditional American holiday with an international twist! Please email Brigid Tsai for more details.
Thank you to all who participated in the Pumpkin Decorating Contest! We were blown away by the creativity and artistic talent of our Countryside families. The winners are:
Leila Costa (Grade 4—Haunted Fairytale Carriage Ride)
Clement Papin (Grade 2—Pikachu)
Clarissa (Grade 4—Anxiety, from Inside Out 2)
Lucas (Grade K—Creeper, from A Minecraft Movie)
Congratulations to the winners of this year’s contest! Please reach out to Denitsa Brown to claim your Yogurt Beach gift card!
For our Countryside families that are impacted by the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits interruption, we encourage you to reach out to our school social worker, Gillian Van Delft (vandelftg@newton.k12.ma.us) as a point of contact and support. Given the fluid nature of the situation, we also encourage folks to continue to follow information shared by the Newton Public Schools district. Above is a snapshot posted by our district including school meals.
If you haven’t yet, please consider taking a moment to save or bookmark the link to our “one stop shop” Countryside PTO website. Within the site, you’ll find a variety of content related to our PTO, including all of our Sunday bi-weekly newsletters and the email blasts.
ASA Holiday Clinics strives to provide a positive yet competitive atmosphere where players can improve their game. Players will be expected to exhibit a strong work ethic and willingness to learn new skills. ASA staff is committed to teaching the game of soccer in an organized and structured environment. You can find information on how to sign up for this No School Soccer Clinic for boys and girls (ages 7–12) here!
Have a child who loves to dance? Check out this fun opportunity being held in November!
The Newton South Dance Team will be hosting Dancing with the Pros—a special fundraiser featuring guest appearances from NFL Cheerleaders and NBA/WNBA dancers! This will be an incredible opportunity for dancers in the community, and all proceeds will support the dance team.
November 7: 5:00–7:00 p.m. (Grades K–5)
November 8: 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. (Grades 6–12)
Registration Fee: $45 per participant; Registration Link: here
Questions? Email rizzaj@newton.k12.ma.us
The 2nd Annual Newton Children’s Book Festival is back for 2025! This is a free event co-organized by the Oak Hill Middle School Librarian, Jean Stehle, where you’ll have the opportunity to meet 60+ children’s book authors and illustrators who will also be on hand to sign books. One of Newton’s local businesses, Newtonville Books, will be book seller at the event. Last year’s inaugural event was highly successful with over 1,000 attendees. More details about Newton Children's Book Festival.
You can find info about upcoming engagement opportunities in and around Newton at NPS Community Notices page.
The annual Newton Turkey Trot will be held on Sunday, November 23! Kick off Thanksgiving week with the Newton Turkey Trot! Join us for a morning full of running, cheering, and community spirit. Kids can take on the 1 mile fun run and all ages are welcome in the 5K. Not a runner? Come volunteer and be part of the fun!
Register or volunteer at newtonturkeytrot.org. Every dollar raised supports the Newton Food Pantry, Centre Street Food Pantry, and Journey Forward.
Newton Community Education is the place for after-school fun this fall! NCE offers clubs and classes designed to help elementary school children discover new passions and make friends outside the classroom. Kids can learn to play chess (beginner through advanced), build and create in Buildwave, learn cheer basics, or take swimming lessons—and that’s just a small sample of the enriching programs NCE offers! Visit our website to explore the full catalog of clubs!
You can find info about upcoming engagement opportunities in and around Newton at NPS Community Notices page here.