Welcome Kit

Welcome to Countryside! We are excited you are here!

✅ TODO Items

Fill out this Welcome New Countryside Families form to connect to the Welcoming Committee, receive support, resources, and a free Countryside t-shirt for your student!
Opt-in to Commnications: Ensure you are opted-in to receive PTO communications via Aspen.
- Unsure how? Contact Emma Ardiff, Countryside Administrative Assistant, for help.

🔗 Useful Links

PTO Website: The PTO site is regularly updated with upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, resources, and newsletter.

Events Page: Calendar of events with information on PTO events.

Countryside PTO Calendar: Subscribe and stay informed of PTO and School events including school holidays and early release days.

Countryside School Website: Find key information about the school including Aspen, ParentSquare, calendars, lunch, the library, and aftercare programs.

NPS calendars: Official district calendars

Lunch Menu: What's lunch for today and the rest of the week

Newton Community Education: Find after school classes offered at various school locations including Countryside.

After Care: There are various aftercare options in Newton (many of which fill up quickly). These are just two popular options, there are others locally.

Countryside Children’s Center (CCC) runs aftercare on-site at Countryside. Please contact CCC directly with any questions.
The JCC nearby offers bus service to their afterschool program, Discovery Club. Please contact the JCC directly with questions.

⁉️ FAQ

What are all these accounts I need?

As a Countryside family, you’ll use a few different platforms. Each one has a specific purpose to help keep you connected and informed.

Aspen is the district’s system for official student records.You can use Aspen to:

Register your child for school
Check grades and report cards
Report and track absences
View other important student information

ParentSquare is where you’ll communicate with your school. Use ParentSquare to:

Message your child’s teachers
Receive updates from your teachers and the principal
Get district‑wide messages from the Superintendent

Membership Toolkit is your central hub for parent‑to‑parent and PTO communication and where to find the online directory for Countryside. It is offered for use in browsers and also via app. Make sure your information is up to date in the Directory on Membership Toolkit to:

Ensure you receive messages from the PTO and Room Parents
Access the online Countryside Student Directory (great for play dates, birthday parties etc.)
View classroom community boards to connect with other families in your classroom

Important Note on Membership Toolkit: Families are added to the directory after receiving classroom assignments and granting PTO permission on the Welcome New Countryside Families form. If you have questions, please contact the PTO Co-Presidents.

How do I use Membership Toolkit?

Membership Toolkit is our essential "all-in-one" hub for parent-to-parent connection and PTO updates. Follow these steps to make sure you are fully connected:

1. Consent and Update Your Profile

Once you consent to being added to the Directory on Membership Toolkit via this Welcome New Countryside Families form, an account will be created for you after your classroom has been assigned. You can log in to Membership Toolkit and ensure your contact information is current every year. The PTO uses this data to send you the newsletter and important updates about school events and community news.

2. Verify Your Classroom Assignment

Once you receive your teacher assignment each year, ensure it is correctly listed in your profile. This "unlocks" your ability to receive specific classroom news from your Room Parents.

3. Explore the Student Directory

Use the directory to find contact details for other families. It’s the go-to tool for planning playdates, sending birthday party invitations, or reaching out to other parents in your grade.

When will I know my child’s classroom and teacher?

September Starts: Assignments are sent at the end of August.

Mid-Year Starts: You will receive your assignment immediately from the Administrative Assistant.

How can I connect with other families before school starts or during the year?

There are several great ways to meet other families before school begins and throughout the year:

🌼 Spring Connections
Join us for our annual Spring Fest celebration to meet other families and the welcoming committee in person. Be sure you are on the Welcome New Countryside Families email list to receive email updates about this event!

🎒 Kindergarten Meetups
Informal playground meetups happen over the summer. Join the welcoming committee email list to stay in the loop!

📚 Grades 1–5 New Families
Starting in grades 1–5? Connect with the Welcoming Committee if you do not hear from us. Email PTO Co-Presidents to be connected and—upon request—we’ll help introduce you to other families in your child’s grade.

🗓️ Mid‑Year Arrivals
If you join during the school year, the Welcoming Committee will connect you with your classroom’s room parents to help you get settled.

📖 Class Lists
You can find class lists and contact information in the Directory in Membership Toolkit.

⚽️ Newton Youth Soccer
Newton Youth Soccer often groups kids by schools and can be a nice way to connect with families before school starts too.

What are room parents?

Each classroom has 2 or 3 room parents who support the teacher with needs during the year, facilitate PTO communication with the classroom, and organize classroom gifts to teachers twice a year.

If you want to volunteer, check the Volunteer Page in September for sign ups or contact the PTO Co-Presidents.

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