True to Life Conversations Presents a Social Identity Workshop

What is True to Life Conversations?
We are a group of caregivers and staff from Tobin Montessori, Graham & Parks, Haggerty and Vassal Lane Upper School that wanted to come together and begin to have some really impactful conversations.

November 16 | 7-8:30PM 
True to Life Conversations will host a two part community conversation about identity. What are the most important aspects of your identity? How does it feel when those around you do not allow you to choose what is an “important” part of your identity?   This will include self-reflection activities and a whole group discussion. **Pre-registration by 5pm on November 15 is required** Here is the registration link so that we may prepare the breakout groups. 

What are “Personal and Social Identities''?
In this activity, participants will reflect on and discuss the facets of their identity that are most important to them. This activity will help participants get to know each other better and allow participants to express important parts of their identities that may otherwise not be known. Participants will also be asked to reflect on the value of their identities by considering which of those is most and least important to them and why that may be. Participants can expect to better understand how the world around them does or does not allow them to choose which pieces of their identity are most important.

Register to attend >>

Ways to Get Involved at Tobin 

There are many ways for families to get involved at Tobin! Getting involved as a Room Parent or on one of the committees is a great way to meet new families and support the school.

Learn more >>

Tobin Snapshots: Adaptive PE 

Students in Room 25A enjoy bouncing and scootering around the gym during Adaptive Physical Education!

VLUS Triad White Caregivers Working Toward Anti-Racism

Hello G&P, Haggerty, Tobin, and VLUS Families,

Please join a monthly affinity group for VLUS Triad White Caregivers Working Toward Anti-Racism.

The affinity group will read and discuss various texts throughout the year in order to address our own unconscious biases and to take an active role in fighting white supremacy in our schools, communities, and ourselves. 

There will be reading to complete before each session, and families are strongly encouraged to make a commitment to attend as many sessions as possible.

Session 2: Thursday December 2, 2021, 6:45-8PM
Topic: How can we identify and challenge implicit bias in our own lives?
Text (Read BEFORE the session): Bias Isn’t Just A Police Problem, It’s a Preschool Problem
Facilitator: Sarah Foleno, VLUS Literacy Coach
Zoom Link: Join here >> 
(Meeting ID: 856 8909 2336; Passcode: eQJ4Av)

Tobin Snapshots: Ms. Brittany's Room 

These kiddos are working on the continent of Africa and hundreds work in math.

Snow Pants & Snow Boots
Donation Drive

Help keep a child warm this winter by donating gently used, or new, snow pants and snow boots.

Here is what we need:
Snow Pants - all child sizes (except toddler sizes)
Snow Boots - all child sizes (except toddler sizes)

Thankfully, our school already has a supply of other types of cold-weather winter gear. Therefore, please ONLY donate snow pants and/or snow boots.

Parents can simply hand these items to Zakkiyya during morning drop-off or during afternoon pick-up. If your child is a bus rider, parents can send these items in with their child. Students can give the items to Zakkiyya or place them in a donation box located outside of Zakkiyya's office.

Check the Lost & Found

Help us reunite lost items with their owners. You can help by labeling all of your children’s items. This includes water bottles, sweatshirts, jackets, gloves, and anything that can be separated from your child. Please look at the pictures and list below – if you see any clothing items that look familiar, send the family liaison an email with your child’s name and a description of the item, and Zakkiyya will try to get the two back together again.

S 6/7 gray GAP zip sweat shirt
M 7/8 gray long sleeve tee
S 4/6y red t- rex hoodie
S 4/5 navy crewcuts zip up sweatshirt with hood
M 5/6 blk/red NBA zip up sweatshirt
XS 5/6 Free Country vest
S 6/7 Royal and navy blue London Fog winter coat
Medium green striped urban pipeline longline tee
small copper key blue girls sweater
6/7 girls Nike white/ gray/pink wind breaker zip jacket
Large 9/10 gray Nantucket zip hoodie
Size 6 navy blue Jack Thomas zip sweater
Size 6 black and red zip hoodie
XL 16 navy with yellow stripe cat and jack zip hoodie
Size 12 navy and gray RBX zip hoodie
Size 8 navy snap button with Corduroy collar crew cuts
Boys size s 8 Hunter green zip coat 
4t pink cat and jack long sleeve tee
Girls size 4 cream colored knitted sweater with hood
Avengers bath towel
Navy winter gloves
Blk thermoflask water bottle
Clear gray eye glasses found on the Green Frog Bus

JK / Kindergarten Lottery
Sibling Search

Dear Tobin Families:

Do you have a younger child who is ready to start school in Cambridge in September 2022? Every year, Cambridge Public Schools holds the Junior Kindergarten and Kindergarten Lottery in January.  Junior Kindergarten age eligible children are born between September 1, 2017 – March 31, 2018 and Kindergarten age eligible children are born between September 1, 2016 – August 31, 2017. 
  
If you currently have an older child attending this school in grades JK-4, you can receive “Sibling Bonus Points” but only if you apply during the January 2022 JK/K Lottery. JK/K families are asked to notify their school liaison by signing up their JK/K eligible child via the Google survey form below. This will help us identify who our sibling families are and to make sure we receive your application! Please notify me, your family liaison by Wednesday, January 12th if you wish to be counted in the sibling search. If you miss the sibling search deadline, you can still register through the SRC webpage.

Online registration for the JK/K Lottery will be open from January 3-31st! Registration ends promptly at 4pm on Monday, January 31st online and in person. You can access the online registration system by going directly to www.bit.ly/cpslottery or www.cpsd.us. If you need a paper application please contact me and I can send you a PDF of the application packet; however, you must email the registration forms along with the required documents directly to the SRC at [email protected] by the 4pm deadline on January 31st. (Note: Applications for Tobin Montessori 3-year-olds were accepted during the October lottery)

Sincerely, 
Zakkiyya Witherspoon, Family Liaison
 
Fill out Google survey form here >>

Tobin Family Resources

Here's a handy flyer of resources for families.

See flyer >> 

Healthy Snack of the Week

Cheesy Broccoli! Broccoli florets topped with shredded cheddar cheese (microwaved to melt and soften). Tip: Instead of broccoli, try cauliflower or black beans and tomatoes!

Tobin Events & Reminders

In Our District & Community