September 15, 2024

BATES BLAST

Thank you to the Laliberte Family for throwing an amazing 5th grade social this weekend. (We are still looking for hosts in grades 3 & 4. Joint hosting, potluck, patios, and driveways are encouraged!)

Here's what you need to know for the week.

Back to School Night – Thursday, September 19

A great opportunity for parents and caregivers to meet your child’s teacher and learn about the upcoming year. Please note the schedule below, depending on grade(s), you may not need to attend the entire time. If you're unable to attend, please contact your child’s teacher about the information shared.

Schedule:

6:30–7:00 PM: K-2 Classroom Visits
7:00–7:30 PM: K-5 Principal Greeting in the Gym
7:30–8:00 PM: 3-5 Classroom Visits

Wednesday - Wear your Bates Shirt!

Please remind your children to wear their Bates shirt to school on Wednesday for the community meeting! (Fun fact: Did you know the new family swag and Bates shirts are brought to you by our PTO?)

All-Parent PTO Meetings

Thanks to your feedback, we set the schedule for the All-Parent PTO Meetings for the entire year, including a mix of evening zoom and daytime hybrid meetings (zoom and in-person). Final meeting time will be determined by attendance and participation at the first two meetings.

All-Parent PTO Meetings for the 2024-25 Year (all on subscription calendar):

Tuesday, 10/22, 7:30PM, Zoom
Tuesday, 1/7, 8:30AM Coffee, 8:45AM Meeting, Bates Library & Zoom
Thursday, 4/10, Time/Location TBD

Directory Update:

Need contact information for that life-saving carpool or much requested playdate? The 2024-25 Directory should be live early next week. Stay tuned for more information!

Thank you to all who donated to the Annual Appeal! We are at 29% participation.

We look forward to seeing each of you on Thursday!

Jess Pratt + Nicole Schmidt

Co-Presidents, Bates School PTO 2024-25

batesptomail@gmail.com

KEY DATES

9/19 Back to School Night
9/26 2nd Grade Social
9/27 1st Grade Social
10/3 Rosh Hashanah (no school)
10/5 Pumpkin Fair
10/8 Picture Day
10/14 Indigenous Peoples Day (no school)
10/18 Movie Night
10/22 All Parent PTO Meeting
10/24 Kindergarten Social
12/5 Jingle Jam (K-2)

Printable Calendar

rev. 9.8.24

VOLUNTEER + GET INVOLVED

GRADE SOCIAL HOSTS

Third and fourth grade parents, please keep the tradition alive! Now’s your chance to shine: step up, throw an epic party, and create some unforgettable memories. Take it from the fifth-grade parents—in a year or two, you'll still be reminiscing about these nights! Email batesPTOevents@gmail.com.

K-2: Just a friendly reminder that a fun night is on the horizon. Mark your calendars!

GRADE 2: 9/26, 6:30PM KING FAMILY

GRADE 1: 9/27, 7PM PINGPANK FAMILY

GRADE K: 10/24, 7PM LAUFER FAMILY

PUMPKIN FAIR 2024 - OCTOBER 5, 12-4PM

We're just three weeks away from the 2024 Pumpkin Fair - make sure it's on your calendar! It’s going to be an amazing event, and we need all hands on deck to make it a success. Each family is asked to sign up for at least one two-hour volunteer shift.

KEY ROLES NEEDED!

We still need leads for the Haunted House and Prize Table — arguably the two areas the kids love the most!

If you can take on one of these roles, please email Janet Griffin.

Volunteer Sign-Up

BE A MONSTER (Sponsor)

A Pumpkin Fair Monster Sponsorship is a $100 cash donation (we happily accept more!) and is reserved for our Bates families. All Monster Sponsors are recognized in the weekly Bates Blast. By becoming a Monster Sponsor, you help cover key costs of the fair, including the pumpkin patch, haunted house, rides, and more.

Learn more + make a Monster Donation!

A big thank you to our incredible sponsors listed below!

Gold Sponsors

Happy Pumpkin Sponsors

COMMUNITY NEWS

Wellesley Youth Basketball Association

Wellesley's Youth Basketball Association offers programs for players grades K - 12. Additional program details available online (click the links below):

Mini Raiders (Grades K & 1) Saturdays 12/7/24 - 2/8/2025; fee $180
Hoops League (Grades 2 + 3) Saturdays (Grade 3) or Sundays (Grade 2) from 12/7/24 - 3/22/25; fee $240
Hoops League (Grades 4-9) One weeknight practice and Saturday games. 1/18/24 - 3/8/25). Fee: $275.

Wellesley Town Meeting

The Town of Wellesley is seeking a Town Meeting Member for Precinct A due to a vacancy. The nominee must be a registered voter in Precinct A. Please visit Wellesley’s Town Meeting website and view the Town Precinct Map online for more information.

The elected individual will serve until the Town Election on March 4, 2025, and must attend the Special Town Meeting from October 21-23, 2024 (last day if needed).

Email Town Clerk K.C. Kato

Nominations are due September 16 at 4 pm.

Wellesley Green Schools Meeting

Wellesley Green Schools is collaborative group of caregivers, students and staff working together to reduce Wellesley schools' ecological footprint and to inspire students to create a healthy sustainable world.

Kick off Meeting

Thursday September 19, 10 am

Wellesley Free Library Commons Area

Share what is important to you/your school community this academic year. To make a difference, we need your help! Whether you have a child who just started school or your kids have graduated, if you can spare an extra hour each week, we’d love to work with you. As our mission suggests, WGS’s strength comes from us coming together to share ideas and leverage our collective knowledge!

2024-25 Meeting Dates

9/19
11/14
1/16
3/13
5/15

A Conversation with School Committee Members

Bates parents and caregivers are invited to a virtual meeting with two members of the School Committee for an informal discussion and Q&A regarding current Committee activities. Principal Jolley and Superintendent David Lussier will also attend.

The School Committee consists of five elected members serving 3-year terms. In addition to supporting the core values, vision and mission of the Wellesley Public Schools, the Committee’s responsibilities are to develop and manage school policies; support the allocation of resources by overseeing budget and facilities; hire and review the superintendent of schools; and advocate for the school district.

Thursday, September 26

9-10 am

Join the Meeting via Zoom Meeting Link