October, 2016
The East PTO Digest is a monthly recap of all the great activities, events, and initiatives the PTO sponsors - thanks to your Annual Appeal contributions. A big thank you to PTO volunteers  Jen Doan and all of the parents who volunteered for the Halloween Bash,  Deirdre Anderson, Karen Deane, and Laura Accettella and all of the grade level enrichment coordinators for the amazing field trips and enrichment activities this month, and to our contributing photographers: Zoe Pirnie, Laura Accettella, Allison Koskinas, LouLou Healey and Kate Mozinski.  Special thanks to Mrs. Lucas for her participation in this month's edition.  We hope you enjoy it!
Events




Halloween Bash
East PTO hosted the annual Halloween Bash. Students in costumes filled the East cafeteria, danced, played games and enjoyed pizza with their friends and families.
Enrichment


Pop Up Explorers
The first ever POP UP Explorers at East was a huge success.  Planned around Early Release Day, this month's enrichment activity was taught by Inventor Mentor Terry Murray who led the students through exploration stations designed to spark interest in STEM as they designed, built and tested air rockets, water rockets and air zookas. 3D chalk and mechanical bubble wand stations completed the afternoon. 
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Animal Adaptations Presentation - 5th Grade
Sponsored by the PTO, the 5th graders at East enjoyed a visit by the Museum of Science. In this presentation, students expanded their understanding of biological adaptations by observing both skulls and live animals. They saw live animals from different groups, placed the animals in their correct classes, and learned about specific adaptations each has developed. 
Out and About
JFK Presidential Library and Museum - 4th Grade
The 4th graders at East took a trip to the JFK Library and Museum in Boston.  Perfectly timed with the 2016 Presidential Election, the students learned about the election process as well as the life of President John F. Kennedy. 
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Bog Hollow Farm - 2nd Grade
The 2nd graders at East traveled to Bog Hollow Farm in Kingston where they learned about cranberry farming, discovered the wildlife that lives around our state's bogs, and experienced the cranberry harvest.
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Hornstra Farm - 1st Grade
The 1st graders at East traveled for the first time to Hornstra Farm in Norwell where they learned about cows up close in the dairy barn, then visited the milking room.
Getting To Know . . .
Laurie Lucas (Kindergarten Teacher)
Q:  What do you enjoy most about teaching?
A:   The thing that I enjoy most about teaching is that no two days are the same.  Every day brings new opportunities and possibilities for the students, the school, and myself. It's never dull and almost always amusing in some way!  

Q:  If you weren't teaching, what would you like to be doing?
A:   If I wasn't teaching, I would love to be snuggling with newborns.  I've always wanted to be a volunteer "baby cuddler" at a hospital.  Infancy is such an important part of life and having that contact early in a child's development impacts them for the rest of their lives.

Q:   What is your favorite way to spend your weekends?
A:    My favorite weekend activity is cooking with my children and having movie night.

Q:  What would people be most surprised to learn about you?
A:   The thing that people are usually most surprised to find out about me is that I was a foreign exchange student in Argentina.  I completed my Junior and Senior year of high school at the same time and went for a year to Argentina through Rotary Club International.  It was an amazing experience and I am still in contact with many of the people I met while I was there.
We Need You!
When parents get involved, kids do better! Click here to visit the East PTO website and sign up for one day events or ongoing committees! 

Give once. Your kids benefit all year long. All of the PTO field trips, events and programs are funded by your generous contributions!

STAY CONNECTED:      
For questions, or if you have content you'd like to share for an upcoming Digest, please contact Kathie Cronin at [email protected] or Sarah D'Souza at [email protected].