Archie T. Morrison PTO

February Newsletter

Mar 06, 2004

High Touch ?– High Tech ?– The PTO sponsored High Touch-High Tech in February for all grades at a cost of $2,547. We received more than 170 thank-you notes and drawings from students from various classes. We appreciated receiving the letters! We thoroughly enjoyed reading all of them! The notes are posted on the PTO bulletin board located across from the office. Check them out!

Seminars presented by South Shore Mental Health - The PTO hosted a second seminar presented by South Shore Mental Health on Wednesday, February 4th. The topic was ?“Behavior Management?”. Our speaker was Dr. Alan Jacobson, Psy. D., a Licensed Psychologist and Certified School Psychologist. The presentation was an overview of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
We would like to sponsor at least one more seminar this spring. If you have any suggestions for a topic please let us know! Thank you to Mrs. Kane, our school psychologist, for coordinating the seminars for us with S.S.M.H.!

Family Fun Nights ?– The PTO sponsored a ?“Sweet-Art?” Valentines social for 2nd and 3rd graders on February 13th. The children made a Valentine?’s Day craft and decorated cupcakes. Many of the students also had their faces painted. Admission was a small item for Sunny Shaw?’s Clothes Closet. The purpose of these socials is to bring children and their families together to mingle and have fun!
Fifty students (33%) attended the social with their friends and families for a total of 119 people in all! Thank you to everyone who contributed to the party! Thank you to Ms. Lauria?’s class for the handmade decorations. We collected five boxes of items for the Clothes Closet! We?’d also like to thank Dependable Cleaners for their donation of coat hangers, Friendly?’s Restaurant in Quincy for the jimmies and White?’s Bakery for the frosting. A special thanks goes to our Hospitality Chair, Amy Carnicelli who organized the event.

There's nothing greater in the world than when somebody on the team does something good, and everybody gathers around to pat him on the back. ~ Billy Martin ~

Box Tops for Education - Nicki Shaban, our Box Top Coordinator, reports that more than 7,000 box tops have been collected to date. We are two-thirds of the way to our goal of 10,000 ($1,000). Morrison can also earn extra bonus box tops if you?’ll join the Box Tops Booster Club online at boxtops4education.com before 3/31/04.
Please send your BOX TOPS for EDUCATION in to school as soon as possible! The MARCH 26th deadline is fast approaching. Please remember to label the box tops with your child?’s name before you send them in. You will be entered in the raffle to win a handmade basket filled with box top products. One family and one staff member will each win a basket! Children whose families have sent in more than 100 box tops before the deadline will also be invited to an ice cream party in April. Please keep collecting!

Labels for Education ?– Janice Weinbrecht & Kelly Marcinkowski, our Cambell?’s Labels coordinators, recently sent home a reminder notice describing the program and the eligible products. Labels for education is an easy and fun way to earn free educational merchandise for the school.
Morrison may also be eligible to receive up to 2,000 bonus labels for participating in community volunteer projects. The Coats for Kids collection, the can drive for the Braintree Food Pantry and the clothes drive for the Clothes Closet qualifies us for an additional 500 labels each!
If you would like more information about the program and the items we can earn for the school please visit labelsforeducation.com. Thank you for your participation!

Upcoming Events:

Cultural Arts ?–
The Kindergarten Cultural Arts program has been finalized. Both Sparky Puppets and Storyteller Ben Tousley will perform for all four classes in March.
All Grades will be enjoying Brian Gilles on March 11th. This cultural art program is being paid for by a grant received from the Mass Lottery.
The 5th Grade?’s cultural art program, Bay Colony is scheduled for March 26th.

Please ask your children about their programs!

Our PTO Cultural Arts Committee Chair, Heidi Coughlin will be finishing her term at the end of this school year. If you are interested it being part of the Cultural Arts Committee please let us know! Heidi would be happy to explain what the position entails and help transition a new committee in for next year. Thank you Heidi for all of your hard work and commitment!

You tell me and I forget. You teach me and I remember. You involve me and I learn.
~ Ben Franklin ~

Spring Fundraiser ?– The Spring Fundraiser will begin on March 1st and conclude on March 12th. A brochure will be sent home through the backpacks this Friday. We will be selling Yankee Candles & Spring Flower Bulbs. The PTO will earn a 40% profit. Please make checks payable to the Morrison PTO. Our goal is $4,000. Delivery will be in time for Mother's Day! As always in lieu of participation, donations to the PTO are always welcome. Thank you for your continued support!

Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goals.
~ unknown ~

PTO Meeting ?– The March PTO meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 9th at 7:00pm in the cafetorium. The agenda will be sent home through the backpacks a few days before the meeting. We hope to see you there!

5th Grade Week Update - The next 5th Grade Yearbook Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, MARCH 16th at 7:00pm in the media center. Please plan on attending!

Family Fun Nights ?– The PTO will be sponsoring a Candy Bar B-I-N-G-O night for all 4th & 5th grade students on Friday, March 19th from 6:30 - 8:00 pm in the cafetorium. King size M&M-Mars candy bars have been donated by our crossing guard Marge O?’Brien. The Baker family has donated a 5lb ?“World?’s Largest?” Hershey?’s chocolate bar as a grand prize. Admission is a non-perishable food item to be donated to the Braintree Food Pantry overseen by the Marge Crispin Social Services Center, 100 Pond St., an organization close to Marge O?’Brien?’s heart. Thank you Marge! More information will be coming up through PACE. We ask that an adult accompany all children. Please mark your calendars!

Spring Fling ?– The Spring Fling (Beach Theme) is scheduled for Friday, April 2nd at the Emerald Hall, 120 Bay State Drive in Braintree from approximately 6:00PM ?– 10:00 PM. There will be a grade split (K - 2 and 3 ?– 5). Siblings currently attending Morrison are welcome to both sessions and will not be secluded. Preschool age siblings are always welcome.
There will be a DJ, numerous raffle items and 50/50 cash raffles. If you would like to donate a raffle item please contact Colleen McDonnell @ 848-6816 or cmcdon@beld.net by Friday, March 26th.
There will also be an opportunity to place orders for Morrison Apparel during the dance. Sample T-shirts and sweatshirts will be on hand. More information will be forthcoming through PACE. We hope you will plan on joining us!

Life Touch Family Portraits ?– The PTO is working with Life Touch Portrait Studios to offer family portraits to Morrison families. The pictures will be taken on a Friday and Saturday at the school in the near future. Multiple packages will be available. One suggested package included 2 ?– 8x10s, 2 ?– 5x7s, 2 ?– 3x5s and 4 ?– 2x3s at a cost of $42.00. A package including an 11x14 portrait will also be offered. Thank you to Julie McKinney for working with Life Touch! More details will be coming soon!

Nothing you do for children is ever wasted. They seem not to notice us, hovering, averting our eyes, and they seldom offer thanks, but what we do for them is never wasted. ~ Garrison Keillor ~