Lilja PTO Newsletter (11/15/21) - UPDATED

Please see below for an update to the newsletter sent earlier today, with new information about the School Committee vote, and the enrollment projections for each school going into 2025.

Upcoming events

PTO Meeting, Early Release 11/17
Picture Retake Day 11/23
Early Release 11/24
Thanksgiving Break 11/25-26
Scholastic Book Fair 12/1-2

PTO Meeting THIS WEDNESDAY

Please join us this Wednesday 17 November at 7pm on Zoom to hear an update from the principal and the PTO board: https://bentley.zoom.us/j/93687199488

Everyone is welcome, you can be muted and have your camera turned off if you would just like to watch.

School Committee Meeting UPDATED

The Natick School Committee has just voted to proceed with a phased closure of Johnson Elementary, with the final closure occurring in 2025. The latest enrollment plan, which has been confirmed by Superintendent Nolin, adds no extra grade level classes to Lilja. Instead the redistricted students will be evenly distributed over the existing classes.

We are still seeking clarification on whether the preschool classrooms will be moved, and will include an update on this in next week's newsletter.

Superintendent's presentation slides.

Online Agenda
A recording of the meeting will be uploaded here once it is available.

Spiritwear Store

Thank you to those who have already ordered their Lilja spiritwear! These are in stock now with free delivery so you don't have to worry about shipping delays, and they make a great gift for the holidays.

Sweatshirts are available in Charcoal, Light Gray and Navy blue, in Youth S, M, L & XL. Tees are available in Blue, Green, Purple and Red in Youth XS, S, M, L & XL.

Get your Lilja gear today:

liljapto.org/lilja-spirit-gear

Natick Service Council Thanksgiving Drive

We hit our goal! THANK YOU!!!

Just wanted to say a huge thank you to all the Room Parents who helped make this happen and to all the Lilja families who donated to our annual Thanksgiving Drive to benefit the Natick Service Council. You and the other families in your child’s classroom were able to collect enough money to sponsor Natick families in need so they can purchase their own Thanksgiving meal.

Even though we’ve had so much fun in years past collecting food items and delivering the full baskets of all the ingredients for a Turkey dinner to the Natick Service Council, we still came together as a school to support our community during the holidays. And it was another huge success!

Not only did we surpass our goal of $3,300 for sponsoring 1 family of 5 per classroom - that’s 22 large families - like we usually do, but together we collected a total of $3,724.21! The NSC will use this money to help so many families as they support our town’s community members in need over the entire holiday season.

I’m so grateful to be a part of such a wonderful community at Lilja. Thank you again for your generosity and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Laura Viale
Lilja Thanksgiving Drive Coordinator

Holiday Card Partner Programs

Don't forget to order your holiday cards through one of our Partner Programs and help the PTO at the same time. You can either shop through Shutterfly using this link, or order from Minted.com and enter code FUNDRAISELILJA at checkout.

Scholastic Book Fair Dec 1-2

Get set for the biggest literacy event of the Lilja school year! The Book Fair will be held at the Lilja Library from 2-8pm on Wed 1 and Thu 2 December. Look out for a flyer coming home with your child soon with a coloring page that they can return to their teacher for a chance to win a prize. Classroom teachers will also have a special wish box if you would like to help purchase a book for your child's class.

Lost & Found Reminder

Please remind your child to check the Lost & Found shelves near the cafeteria, or have a look at the virtual Lost & Found. All items not claimed by vacation weeks will be bagged up and put in the white donation bins by the carpark.

NPS Covid-19 vaccine clinics

Thank you to everyone who attended the clinics at Kennedy Middle School this past weekend. Nearly 2,000 kids got their Covid 19 vaccination over the two days, and some of them even met Spider-Man and Moana!

Our Yearbook Coordinator Shahnaz Islam would love to collect photos of Lilja students at this (or any) Covid 19 vaccine clinic to include in the yearbook.

To submit a photo, please use this form.

Square One Art

Square1 Art is a fundraiser project for our school through which you can order items such as mugs, drink bottles and holiday ornaments with your child's artwork on it. It's a great gift for loved ones, and helps Lilja at the same time. Order soon to ensure your item will be received in time for the holidays.

To search for your child's artwork and start your order, use this link: https://shop.square1art.com/Shop/artwork/Search

Staff Spotlight: Christie Ingoldsby

What do you do at Lilja?
Administrative Assistant to the Principal

Can you tell us about your family?
I live in Millis with my husband, Pat, and my two kids, Braden and Ashlyn. Braden is in 7th grade, and Ashlyn is in 4th grade. We also have a black lab named Buster!

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
When I'm not at work, I'm usually at my kids sporting events. I also love watching the Bruins, going for walks with my dog, and spending time with family and friends.

You get one song to listen to for the rest of your life, what is it?
Right now I would say "All Too Well" by Taylor Swift!

Finish this sentence: I can't live without…
My morning coffee.

If you weren't at Lilja, what would you be doing?
Probably working with animals in some capacity. I'm a huge animal lover.

Talk to usWhether you're a new or returning family, we would love to hear from you! If you have any questions, ideas or suggestions, or want to help us out, please contact us at pto@liljapto.org. For PTO updates outside of this newsletter, visit our website or find us on Facebook. For the latest Lilja School Newsletter from the Principal, click here. If you have received this email in error, i.e. you no longer have children attending Lilja, please contact us at pto@liljapto.org and we can remove you from the mailing list.