AuthorFest is back for Spring 2022! We are so excited that Underwood and CASC will host these amazing experiences for our students this year. Kindergarten – Science Discovery Museum: Bubbles! May 25– David Zucker: Poetry in Motion; Outside, with 1st grade! April 26 (rain date April 28)– AuthorFest: Emilie Boon (visiting 5/18 instead of 4/12) 1st Grade – Drumlin Farm: Wild Adaptations; late spring; outside (pending)– David Zucker: Poetry in Motion; Outside, with 1st grade! April 26 (rain date April 28) – AuthorFest: Juana Medina, April 12 2nd Grade – Shaw Pong Liu: The Middle Kingdom through Music and Story; Jan-April; virtual (pending)– Joe and Vida Galeota: Day in Ghana; April-June; outside (pending)– AuthorFest: Juana Medina, April 12 3rd Grade– Annawon Weeden: First Light Fun; Outside, May 27– Techsploration: Structures; Outside, June 9– AuthorFest: Grace Lin (virtual), April 12 4th Grade – Science Discovery Center: Rocks and Minerals, May 18– Origamido; virtual, being rescheduled from READ MORE
The Hoot
Community PTO Meeting on 3/8/22
Join the Underwood PTO on Tuesday, March 8th for our virtual community meeting – all are welcome! We’ll be joined by School Psychologist Ms. Carr to explore how we can support our students through the next phase of the pandemic. Please email any questions you’d like Ms. Carr to address to underwoodpto@gmail.com with the subject line “Question for Ms. Carr”. Zoom Meeting Link Meeting ID: 937 335 2198 Passcode: 956516 One tap mobile +13126266799,,9373352198#,,,,*956516# US (Chicago)
NPS K-12 – Mask Optional – March 8, 2022
Dear NPS Families, Tonight, the Newton School Committee voted to revise the mask policy in the Newton Public Schools. Beginning tomorrow, March 8, 2022, masks will be OPTIONAL in our K-12 school buildings. In this new mask-optional environment, we will emphasize personal choice and responsibility around masking. There will be many reasons students and staff continue to wear masks. There will be reasons students and staff decide not to wear a mask. All decisions will be supported and we will ask our school communities to be respectful of others’ individual choices. Please note, masks will still be required in the following circumstances: People returning from COVID infection on days 6-10 (CDC requires 10 days of masking, regardless of vaccination status) In nursing/health offices Newton Early Childhood Program (NECP) Certain school environments (assemblies, field trips, music class) – please continue to READ MORE
Online Auction 2022
The 2022 Underwood Online Auction begins Wednesday, March 9th at 8 am at https://www.biddingowl.com/underwoodpto! Bidding will close Tuesday, March 15th at 10 pm. Please share our auction with friends and family, not only in Newton but all over the area – the Underwood Online Auction features tickets for museums and experiences all over Massachusetts and beyond! Details about our auction process are below and we are always available to answer questions at underwoodpto@gmail.com. All proceeds benefit the Underwood PTO. Thank you for your support! Happy bidding! – “Underwood Only!” and “Teacher Parties!” items and events may only be purchased by members of the Underwood community. “Underwood Only!” and “Teacher Parties!” events are non-refundable but can be transferred to another member of the Underwood community if authorized by the event host. For “Underwood Only!” and “Teacher Parties!” events there is no physical item to pick up and winners will be contacted via email READ MORE
Owl of the Month – Leo Curry
1. What is your name? Leo Daniel Curry2. What is your role at Underwood? Senior/Head custodian 3. Where did you grow up? Lived in Canton in my early childhood then moved to Newton in the late 90s.4. What is your favorite Underwood tradition?I am still very new and there hasn’t been a whole lot going on because of covid restrictions. but I very much so look forward to the spring carnival and have already promised that I will volunteer to go in the dunk tank 🙂 also the 5th grade vs staff sporting event sounds like a blast! 5. Do you have a favorite Fall activity? Warm apple pie with vanilla iced cream 🙂 6. Please share one piece of advice with the Underwood community: “If you want light to come into your life, you need to stand where it is shining. When it rains, look for rainbows. when READ MORE
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 nonperishable 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 March, 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. March Donations Kindergarten – Chicken (canned 12.5oz) READ MORE
From the Desk of The Co-Presidents
Dear Underwood Families, We can’t believe February will be over when we return from next week’s school break and that it is time to put March events on your calendar! In addition to the community meetings highlighted below, we are excited for the return of the 2022 Underwood Online Auction! Bidding will be open from Wednesday, March 9th – Tuesday, March 15th! You can preview the current items at https://www.biddingowl.com/underwoodpto – new items are still being added each day! Not only are we offering gift cards, vouchers, and discounts for local restaurants, camps, classes, and museums, we have several fun Underwood parties, playdates, and the beloved TEACHER PARTIES that you and your children won’t want to miss. Thank you to all the generous local businesses who donated, members of the Underwood community who offered services and events, and to our READ MORE
Community Conversation: How to talk to your kids about racism
PLEASE JOIN UNDERWOOD PRINCIPAL, DR.SUZIE TALUKDAR, FOR A PRESENTATION OVERZOOM ON TUESDAY FEBRUARY 8, 2022 AT 7PM One of the challenges facing parents in today’s world is the struggle to raise race-conscious children. In this session, we will talk about how can we start a conversation with our children about race and racism. Register: https://bit.ly/community_2022Questions about the event? Contact: Gretchen Weismann g_weismann@yahoo.com
2022 Online Auction: March 9-14th Community items needed!
The Underwood Online Auction is back! Bidding will open at 8am on Wednesday, March 9th and close at 10pm on Monday, March 14th. In addition to generous donations from favorite businesses in our community, we also feature Underwood-only events donated by families and teachers. Do you have a professional skill or secret talent you can share with the Underwood community? Would you be willing to host a playdate or party to support the auction? Please email us at underwoodpto@gmail.com and we can help with the specifics of your event – you can specify date, time, number of spots, and grade level! Submissions are due by February 15th. Some examples include: Ice Cream Sundaes and Movie Playdate Backyard BBQ – Adults only! Arcade Playdate Wine or beer tasting – Adults only! Cookie Decorating Party Popsicles and Water Balloons Playdate Online Auction READ MORE
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 READ MORE
From the Desk of Principal Talukdar, January 2022
Dear Underwood Families, Can you believe that Monday, January 31 marks the 90th day of school and is this year’s date for our “Halfway Day” celebration? In the past, students have chosen to celebrate halves in some of the following ways: Wearing two different shoes Wearing half of their hair in a ponytail or braid Spiking up or styling half of their hair Rolling up one sleeve or pant leg Decorating half of an old shirt. Although none of this is required, these are just some ways to mark this momentous occasion and have some fun with each other. All are welcome to join in if interested. As February approaches, we take time to reflect on two important occasions, Lunar New Year and Black History Month, both beginning this year on February 1. Lunar New year is the observance of READ MORE
Owl of the Month – Stacey Mann
1. What is your name? Stacey Faneuil Mann 2. What is your role at Underwood? Literacy coach…I work with students and teachers in grades K-5. 3. Where did you grow up? I grew up in Newton, actually right up the street on the corner of Park and Cotton! I am a Ward school, Bigelow and Newton North High School graduate myself! I love how this keeps me grounded and invested in our learning at an even deeper level. 4. What is your favorite Underwood tradition? Hmmm…this is a tough one as we have so many wonderful traditions here. But, I really love our March Book Madness celebration. I love seeing the students’ reactions to which books win every week and celebrating the final winner! 5. Do you have a favorite Fall activity? I am a huge NE Patriots fan, so my favorite fall READ MORE