Dear HPS Families and Friends,

As we enter this holiday season, we celebrate and give thanks for the rich diversity in our community and wish you, and your family and loved ones, much abundance and happiness! However you choose to celebrate and give thanks, we, the PTO are so very thankful for the bigheartedness of our community. We especially want to recognize and share our gratitude for your donations to our Keep What You Love annual fund campaign. You exceeded our initial fundraising goal of $5000! Because of you, we have been able to fund the following:

Culture Connection at all schools (enrichment assemblies)
Classroom needs for 73 teachers
Insurance that allows us to hold events and offer Ski Club
Supplies for the health offices at all schools
Parent 2 Parent requests (supplies for HPS families in need via the school counselor’s offices)
And more to come!

Today is GivingTuesday, a crucial day for non-profits worldwide. As year-end approaches, if charitable giving is part of your holiday plans or tax planning, the Keep What You Love annual fund donation campaign is still open and is the best way to support our students and teachers at this time of year. We would be delighted to recognize your generous holiday spirit on our donor recognition website. If you prefer to send a check rather than donate online, please mail it to our address below. Thank you for your support!

Holliston PTO

PO Box 6411

Holliston, MA 01746

If you would like to join the giving movement by volunteering, please visit our website’s volunteer webpage for a current list of various short-term and long-term opportunities you can explore at any time. We especially need help on the hospitality committee for PD days.

Warmly,

Your Holliston PTO Board,

Barbara, Beth, Stacey, Evie, Michele, May & Sarah

Featured News

Spiritwear Pick-Up Information

If you ordered Spiritwear from our Spirit Shop last month, you should have received an email from our Fundraising Team with order pick-up details: Spirit Wear pick up will be held at the Gilman Room at the Holliston Public Library. The Gilman Room is the room located on the lower level of the Holliston Public Library. The times are:

Saturday 12/14 from 10am-11:30am
Monday 12/16 from 3:30pm-6:30pm
Tuesday 12/17 from 2:00pm-4:30pm

New PTO Business-Matching Program

Building upon our impressive response to our Keep What You Love annual fund campaign led by our families, we have contacted many area businesses to launch a business matching program. Our hope is that with their help, we can grow your $5,500 to $10,000 by the end of the year. So far, our community of businesses has helped us raise $675 towards that goal!

A huge thank you to Stucchi Landscape and Design, BDR Automotive, Chesmore Funeral Home, and The Candy Cottage for leading the way. Please thank them for supporting our students and teachers the next time you stop in!

If you own a business or know a business that may want to support our schools, please help us by forwarding them this business-giving link we created specifically for them.

25% Discount at Minted.com Today Dec 3 - Dec 4 ONLY with code FUNDRAISEHOLLISTON

Get your holiday cards 25% off today until 12/4 at 11:59pm. If you miss the discount, you can still take advantage of a 20% discount at Minted.com with code FUNDRAISEHOLLISTON year-round. Minted will donate 15% of the purchase to the PTO!

Ski/Snowboard Club Updates

Online registration closed December 1 but if you would like to participate please e-mail hollistonskiclub@gmail.com with any questions.

Elementary News

Plea for Placentino Culture Connection Volunteer:

Help! We are looking for a volunteer to help Placentino with bringing in assemblies/programs. This volunteer will work with Mrs. Cordero and teacher leaders to coordinate 2-3 programs per year. Mrs. Cordero and teachers will share programs of interest to them, or you can generate ideas to share with them, as well. Email hollistonpto.elementary@gmail.com for more information or to volunteer.

Placentino School Picture Retake Volunteer Sign-Up

Placentino’s Picture Retake Day will be on Thursday, December 5 and we are looking for a couple volunteers to assist!

Our Elementary Read-a-Thon: FALL into Reading has been a smashing success!

Thank you to all the students who read SO much and filled 2,316 bookmarks, to the teachers who encourage and inspire them, and to all the families who read with the kids and donated to our fundraiser, exceeding our goal of $3500 and raising nearly $4,000!

Our Overall Winners for the Month-Long Read-a-Thon were:

PreK/K: Mme. McGovern’s Classe

1: Mrs. Garvin’s Class

2: Ms. Ritucci’s Class

3: Mrs. O’Rielly’s Class

4: Mme. Zenowich’s Classe

5. Mrs. DeRoy and Mrs. Dennison’s Team

Congratulations and thank you for your hard work!

Next Meeting: Wednesday, December 11 at 6:30pm on Zoom

Join the Elementary Administration and PTO for our next monthly meeting which will be held on Zoom in the evening. Agenda to follow. Registration is required - click the image to register and meeting login info will be sent.

RAMS News

Volunteers Needed for the RAMS All-School Party on Dec 13!

The dance will be held Friday, December 13, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Volunteers are needed to staff the dance and sell tickets. Tickets are $15 and are being sold online or during lunch from December 9 to December 13. No tickets will be sold at the door.

Mark Your Calendar: The next RAMS PTO Meeting with the Administration will be held on Wednesday, December 18, at 8:15 a.m. in the Teacher's Dining room. We will discuss upcoming events, programs, and volunteer opportunities.

Save the Date: Friday, January 10: 7th Grade Middle of the Middle Inside Out Dance Party

HHS News

Every Wednesday afternoon from 3:00-4:15p, students have an opportunity to study or work on projects in the High School Library. This provides students a quiet and safe place to get homework done prior to extracurricular athletics etc. We are looking for parents and caregivers to chaperone. Must have an active CORI. More dates will be added for Semester 2.

Sophomores- get ready for a December 6 Movie Night!

Tickets are $15 and will be sold at the door. The Class Officers are looking for monetary donations from parents to help purchase food & drink for the event so admission proceeds can be put towards renting the Spring Semi-formal event space. If you would like to donate to movie night refreshments or towards the cost of semi formal space, please click here.