From the Desk of the PTO Co-Presidents

Dear Underwood Families,

The last month has been challenging for all of us, but we are so grateful that the Underwood community continues to navigate the changing Covid landscape with such compassion, patience, and courtesy for others. Thank you to our incredible teachers and staff for continuing to make this a great year for our children and pitching in when colleagues are absent. While the next couple of months will be quiet in terms of in-person events, it will make it that much sweeter when we gather this spring outdoors as a community!

The Underwood Spring Carnival is COMING BACK on June 3rd, 2022! 

The Spring Carnival is a beloved Underwood tradition and the favorite event of the year for many kids and parents alike, featuring inflatables, games, music, food, and a teacher dunk tank! Thank you to everyone who has already stepped up to be a Carnival Captain. The Carnival is entirely organized and staffed by parent volunteers and we will be asking parents to sign up for a one-hour volunteer shift as the day gets closer. Thank you in advance for pitching in to make this event a success!

Underwood Virtual Event: An Underwood Community Conversation – Feb 8th @ 7pm

Save the date for what we hope will be the first in a series of events: An Underwood Community Conversation featuring Dr. Talukdar at 7pm on Tuesday, February 8th. One of the challenges facing parents in today’s world is the struggle to raise race-conscious children. Issues of racism and inequality show up in the news and in life on a daily basis, on both a national and a local level. How can we start a conversation with our children about race and racism? Stay tuned for zoom link and more info!

Save the Date: Virtual Listening Session – March 17th @ 7pm

Superintendent Fleishman and School Committee Members are holding a series of virtual Listening Sessions to connect with each school community in the coming weeks, and will be visiting with Underwood on Thursday, March 17th at 7pm. Interpretation for this meeting can be available. Please complete this Google form at least three days before the meeting if you require interpretation: https://forms.gle/daA8qQjm61BJDocD7

All our best,

Amy Davis and Laura Goldworm

PTO Co-Presidents

underwoodpto@gmail.com

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FUEL Program Ongoing Food Donations 

The Underwood PTO collects food donations on an ongoing basis to benefit the FUEL Program, which distributes a weekly bag of food to Newton families, including those in the Underwood community. We invite Underwood families to support our neighbors and fellow Newton residents by contributing non perishable items for distribution. Click here to find the list of accepted items (please do not drop off any items not listed)

Parent volunteers Nicole Peterson and Diane Martel collect donations of the above items at 34 Eldredge Street (blue house directly across the street from the school) or 14 Shornecliffe Road on the front porch. For the month of January and February we are encouraging each grade to bring a specific item to ensure a variety of donations – see below. Please direct any questions to Nicole at nmprairie@gmail.com.