True to Life Conversations: December 1
Tobin/VLUS, G&P, Haggerty Triad:
True to Life Conversations – Social Identity and Intersectionality
Part 2: Wednesday, December 1 | 7-8:30PM
True to Life Conversations will host a two-part community conversation on Zoom about identity. It would be great if you could attend both, but we welcome you at either gathering as well. This conversation is intended for community members of Graham & Parks, Tobin, Haggerty, and Vassal Lane Upper School (the VLUS Triad). 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 is required. Register here >>
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.
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. If you have any questions, please ask Zakkiyya.
 Good Morning ChatJoin your Tobin Family Liaison Zakkiyya Witherspoon for a Good Morning Chat on Tuesday, December 7 at 8:15AM!
See flyer >>
Tobin Snapshots
Teachers and students decorate Nurse Toya Scott’s office with cards and other creative sentiment to show how much they appreciate her hard work and dedication for keeping everyone at school safe. Etta (a fourth grader) said, “I care about our nurse and she is a big part of our community.” Children from the levels took part in the effort.
Friends of Tobin Meeting: December 2
Dear Tobin Parents,
You are invited to join the Friends of Tobin virtual monthly meeting taking place this Thursday, December 2 from 7-8PM. We meet virtually on the first Thursday of each month. We are always looking for new voices - even if you have never attended an FOT meeting or event, you are always welcome to join our meetings!
Date: Thursday, 12/2
Time: 7-8PM
Join meeting >>
Hope to see you this Thursday at 7PM on Google Meet!
Friends of Tobin
Tobin Snapshots
Go Back in Time with Just One Little Thing
Imagine what the world was like a couple hundred years ago. No cars, no technology. Very different from the 21st century. Have you ever thought what It would be like to live in that time with horses and oxen and wagons all that is still around but it is a little uncommon. Back to the cars and horses a couple of weeks ago 4th graders of room 123 (Ms. Stacey DeSimone's class) was walking down maple street. When they saw a hook on the curb. It was rusted and looked like It had been there for a long time. Miss Stacey said that she had parked right in front of this interesting object. And since, the fourth graders were reading books set in the time of the Oregon trail and they were very interested in what they had found. We all thought It was for horses to be parked. That was because back in the olden days there were no cars so most people got around with horses and oxen. This object was here for a long time probably from the 1800 hundreds. There is a piece of our history. We all thought that It was for horses to be parked. That was because back in the olden days there were no cars so most people got around with horses and oxen. This object was here for a long time probably from the 1800 hundreds. There is a piece of our story that you can find almost anywhere if you just look closely at your surroundings.
Updated Bus Tracker
Our Edulog bus tracker system has a new app!
With the new Edulog Parent Portal app you can:
--See the location information for your child’s bus
--Receive notifications as the bus approaches the bus stop
--Receive time-sensitive messages from the Transportation Department
Scan the QR Code above to download the NEW app and create a NEW account.
More info >>
VLUS Triad White Caregivers Working Toward Anti-Racism
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)
ELA/Literacy Bulletin!
Here's this month's literacy bulletin, which includes a link to our department's priorities, helpful resources, recommended reads, interesting podcasts, and a spotlight on students and staff.
Read more >>
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
S 6/7 Royal and navy blue London Fog winter coat
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
Boys size s 8 Hunter green zip coat
4t pink cat and jack long sleeve tee
Size 11/12 ZABA winter coat black white gray
Size 8 Royal blue Ll Bean zip up hood fleece sweater
Avengers bath towel
Dinosaur baseball cap
Pink fleece hat
Clear gray eye glasses found on the Green Frog Bus
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 >>
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 >>
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