Hello Underwood Community!! Happy June! We hope you all enjoyed the long (rainy) weekend! The good news is that sun is in the upcoming forecast!! PTO Community Virtual Meeting Tonight 6/1 7:30pm Tonight is our final general PTO meeting of the year. We will be voting on the PTO board for next year. Please join us to get your voice heard! Please join us at the following Zoom link: Zoom Meeting Link Meeting ID: 937 335 2198 (Passcode: 956516) One tap mobile: +13126266799,,9373352198#,,,,*956516#Upcoming Events! Friday, June 4th 7-9pm: We Are “Back” Yard Concert for Adults Have you registered yet?! This is going to be the most fun you’ve had since the Covid lockdown. Underwood parent and amazing singer/songwriter Will Dailey. Join us in a BYOB back yard bash hosted by the Goldworms and Luethys in their connected properties. No sitter? No problem! The West Suburban YMCA READ MORE
The Hoot
June Social Events!
Hello Underwood Community!! It is hard to believe that June starts next week and summer is around the corner. What a year it has been! We’re really excited to close out the school year with two great community events. One just for us grown ups, and one for all! Friday, June 4th 7-9pm: We Are “Back” Yard Concert for Adults Grown ups let loose to the live music from Underwood parent and amazing singer/songwriter Will Dailey. Join us in a BYOB back yard bash (come on, we’ve earned this!) hosted by the Goldworms and Luethys in their connected properties. No sitter? No problem! The West Suburban YMCA is offering childcare, $30/child from 6-9 pm. Check out more event and childcare details here. Friday, June 11th 5-8pm: Spring Fling for Underwood Families Join us to celebrate the end of a roller coaster of a school year with the outdoor READ MORE
Spring Fling – June 11th
Let’s Celebrate the End of the School Year! With our full scale Underwood Spring Carnival on hold for a second year, join us for a Spring Fling outdoors at Underwood Playground on Friday, June 11th from 5-8pm to celebrate the end of the school year with the Underwood community! The PTO will be providing a children’s DJ, Bubble Barge, and lawn games for entertainment. Pizza by the slice and ice cream truck available for dessert! We hope to see you there! Click here to let us know you’re coming!
We Are “Back” Yard Concert – June 4th
Events Are BACK! Join us for a We are “Back”yard Concert featuring award-winning singer/songwriter (and parent of Underwood 3rd grader, Tallulah) Will Dailey. The concert will be hosted by the Goldworms and Luethys from 7-9pm on Friday, June 4th with a suggestion donation to the PTO of $20 per person. We are looking forward to this adult night out and have arranged Kids Night Out childcare with the WSYMCA – see below. Please register as space is limited due to COVID gathering limits! BYOB & masks! Registrants will receive the concert address via email. Suggested PTO Donation This concert ticket has a suggested donation of $20 per person, with 100% of donations going to the Underwood PTO. Donations can be made via:Venmo – @underwoodpto / John PapoutsisPaypal – https://www.underwoodschoolpto.org/fundraising/donate/Check – https://www.underwoodschoolpto.org/fundraising/donate/ WSYMCA Kids Night Out West Suburban YMCA will READ MORE
Kindergarten Info Night Presentation – May 17, 2021
Welcome to Our Incoming Kindergarten Families! Thank you for joining us for Virtual Kindergarten Information Night on May 17th! Principal Talukdar’s presentation is below for those who couldn’t make it. Kindergarten Visit Day will be held Wednesday, May 26, 2021 from 1:30pm-2:30pm at Underwood.The Kindergarten team and supporting staff will host a visit day for students only, which will offer an opportunity for children to “practice” being a kindergartener. While students are in the classrooms, parents and caregivers will remain outside of the school in the tent area to make connections with other Underwood families. Click here for Principal Talukdar’s Info Night Presentation
K-2 Creative Arts & Sciences: Kemp Harris!
Kemp Harris is Coming to Underwood (Virtually!) on May 26th The Underwood PTO is bringing Kemp Harris to virtually visit Underwood’s K-2 students (in-person and DLA) on Wednesday, May 26th as the spring Creative Arts and Science enrichment program! Storyteller Kemp Harris brings his experience as composer, musician, children’s author, actor and teacher to the classroom. His storytelling program includes developmentally appropriate stories that incorporate music and audience participation. He enjoys keeping the oral tradition of “telling” alive. Stories range from traditional tales, African folk tales and original stories. A former Newton Public School teacher, Mr. Harris taught Kindergarten and 1st grades for 38 years. He wrote the children’s book/song, “Snow” and has performed as a storyteller and musician at festivals, schools and libraries across the country, performing on stage with Taj Mahal, Gil Scott-Heron and blues artist, Koko Taylor. READ MORE
Letter from the PTO Presidents – May 2021
Note: This newsletter will be published monthly throughout the school year, for a total of 8 issues. It will include columns as they are submitted by Underwood Principal Suzie Talukdar, PTO Co-Presidents Amy Davis and Laura Goldworm, and the school staff. It will also include a school calendar, and school and district-wide news. Please visit underwoodschoolpto.org to keep up with the latest news. For questions, email underwoodpto@gmail.com. Letter From the PTO Presidents Dear Underwood Families, We are in the home stretch of the school year and with vaccine rates in Newton soaring and spring weather in full swing, we are excited to have a whole slate of outdoor events planned to celebrate the end of this wild school year. There is lots to tell you about, so we will get right to it! Naco Taco/Ice Cream Truck Night – May 18th Join us for Taco READ MORE
5th Grade Kickball Fundraiser – May 21st
5th Graders vs. Teachers! This year we will be replacing our Annual 5th Grade Basketball Game with a Kickball Game between the 5th Graders and the Teachers of Underwood. The Kickball Fundraiser will be held at the Underwood Field on Friday, May 21st at 3pm. Students and families from all grades are welcome. Tickets are $5 per person and all proceeds benefit the 5th Grade Moving On Ceremony and events. Order your tickets here by Monday, May 17th! Tickets can be picked up on the Black Top on Tuesday, May 18th and Wednesday, May 19th immediately after school. Snacks and refreshments will be sold during the game and can be paid through Venmo or Cash. Thank you for supporting our 5th Grade!
Virtual Bingo Night – April 9th!
Join the Underwood community for a Virtual Bingo Night on Friday, April 9th at 6:30pm! Bingo Night is presented by the 5th Grade Graduation Committee and all proceeds will go towards the 5th grade graduation. There will be 6 Bingo rounds and the winner of each round will be awarded a $5 Gift Card from one of these nearby favorites: JP Licks, Learning Express, Yogurt Beach and Target. Each Bingo Sheet has 6 Bingo Playing Cards. You can play one card each round or play all the cards on your sheet in any round you choose. One Bingo Sheet is $5 and each additional Bingo Sheet is $3 each or you can purchase a Bingo Booklet (6 Bingo Sheets=36 Cards) for $15. We will then conclude the night with a few raffles with the potential to win bigger prizes. Your raffle number will be found on your READ MORE
FORJ Solidarity and Support
We are sharing the following resources and upcoming community events on behalf of Families Organizing for Racial Justice (FORJ) in light of this week’s tragic events in Georgia. As Dr. Talukdar wrote in this month’s Newsletter, the Underwood community must do all that we can to support our community members of Asian descent, and continue to strive to achieve an Underwood community that is anti-racist. Underwood PTO Dear Asian American Pacific Islanders Communities, We stand in solidarity with you. We create spaces for the AAPI community to voice fears, grievances and hopes. We reflect deeply on how we can do our best to dismantle racism, sexism and colonialism. We advocate to see that AAPI history and contributions are always taught in our schools. We deconstruct our own bias so that we don’t perceive others through stereotypes. We do not tolerate hate and continually look for ways to impede its progress. We work READ MORE
Whoo(Pie) We Love our Teachers!
Hello Underwood Families! We’re so excited for the Whoo(pie) Wagon food truck to visit Underwood on Wednesday 3/24 for Teacher Appreciation Week! Not only are we purchasing the amazing delicious treats for our teachers, we’re also extending the opportunity for families to purchase as well. 10% of all proceeds will support the Underwood community via the PTO. Orders can be placed anytime before 9am on 3/24 and picked up between 12:45-2:15 that afternoon: https://www.bestfoodtrucks.com/boston-food-trucks/the-whoo-pie-wagon/the-whoo-pie-wagon/61946 Sweet Sixteen Challenge: Word on the street is that the Whoo(pie) Wagon whoopie pies are so good that you might want to order one of each. It is hard to say which is the best, so in the spirit of March Madness, we’re setting up a SWEET SIXTEEN challenge! Challenge participation – first round deadline 3/18: Go the entry form and choose one flavor for each of the 8 brackets in Round 1 (you’ll definitely READ MORE
Winter Walk and Roll
Winter Walk & Roll Week, February 8-12, 2021 Newton is celebrating Winter Walk & Roll Week Feb 8-12. Participate in a way that works for your family – walk to school, to a park, or around your neighborhood or house. Other ways to participate Decorate a paper boot and hang it in your window. Look for other boots on your walks. Play Winter Walk BINGO from Massachusetts Safe Routes to School or “I Spy”. Practice Walking like a Penguin, https://youtu.be/LHaWGibGwyk Tips for Winter Walking Allow for extra time to get to your destination. Slow down and watch for ice. Wear sturdy shoes or boots. Remember your hat, gloves and mask to stay cozy. Dress in bright colors and add something reflective to be seen by drivers. Walk like a penguin. Arms out for balance, feet apart with READ MORE