January, 2017
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  Laura Accettella,  Michelle Paterniti,  Deirdre Anderson, Leah Falconeiri,  and all of the parents who volunteered at the Get Smart About Art event, and to Amy Voloshko for her work with the Birthday Books program.   Special thanks to Mrs. Hanseth and Mrs. Vernon for their contributions to this month's edition.  We hope you enjoy it!
Out and About
Cafeteria Tours (Kindergarten)
East School Kitchen Manager Megan O'Hara led each Kindergarten class in a special "behind the scenes" tour of the cafeteria. The goal of the tours was to connect the cafeteria staff's role in working hard to provide students with healthy lunches to fuel their day. There will be follow up discussions about how healthy food will help students do their best in school, in sports, and to grow and stay strong. 
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Harvard's Museum of Natural History (Grade 3)
Grade 3 visited the Harvard Museum of Natural History and had fun exploring Harvard's various galleries and collections which are focused on the fields of zoology, botany and geology.  Students also visited a minerals lab where they examined an array of minerals in a lab-like setting under the direction of an expert from the museum. Using scientific tests and while carefully observing properties such as color, hardness and magnetism, students practiced identifying common minerals the way geologists do.
Enrichment

Get Smart About Art
Get Smart About Art, a series of in-class workshops in which a particular artist and corresponding style is introduced and a follow up art project is completed by each class, kicked off this month.  In each grade, two coordinators organize each workshop and each session includes a parent volunteer presenter and several parent volunteer art project assistants. The program culminates with an Art Show and Film Festival in June.
Gift Idea
 
Birthday Books
Run solely by parent volunteers, this PTO program allows families to donate books to the East School library in honor of a child's birthday, a special teacher or the memory of a loved one. Close to their birthday, the librarian invites the child to the library to select and check out a new book. Families are asked to complete the bookplate and return it to the library.   Forms are available on the PTO website, http://www.east-pto.com/birthday-books.html.
Getting To Know . . .
Dana Hanseth (3rd Grade Teacher)
Q:  What do you enjoy most about teaching?
A:   Teaching is similar to being  a coach - I guess like a learning coach. The cohesiveness of our classroom "team" fulfills me in ways that I don't get to experience in other parts of my life. We all have something to add and it's so fun to see 23 different personalities come together and bond.

Q:  If you weren't teaching, what would you like to be doing?
A:   Oh boy! If I wasn't teaching, I would like to get involved with a group I just read about called Back on My Feet. This group works with individuals who are homeless or who are at risk for becoming homeless and uses running to strengthen them and teach them to work towards accomplishing goals. It also involves giving them access to classes for literacy, job skills, and finance. I would also be volunteering in my own kids' classrooms!

Q:   What is your favorite family tradition?
A:    My favorite family tradition is our ski trips most weekends in the winter! I always come home feeling so satisfied and refreshed!

Q:  What would people be most surprised to learn about you?
A:   I cut my own hair! For the past two years I have been cutting it!! Maybe this could be what I do if I wasn't teaching?!?
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 kcronin99@comcast.net or Sarah D'Souza at sarahjdsouza@yahoo.com.