Lilja PTO Newsletter (12/20/21)
Upcoming events
School-wide Pyjama Day 12/23
Winter Vacation 12/24 to 1/2
Early Release 1/12
MLK Jr Day, No School 1/17
Thank You Lilja Staff!
As a show of appreciation to all the amazing staff at Lilja, the PTO put on a winter-themed breakfast spread for them this morning. Everyone also received a gift card as a thank you for all their hard work over the past year. We hope they get a well deserved chance to relax with their families this winter break!
Thank you to the PTO members who put this together, and to all the generous families at Lilja for your donations to our efforts throughout the year.
Cub Scouts
The Cub Scouts program is open to students of all genders grades K-4, and is a wonderful opportunity for kids to build character, leadership, and important life skills in the great outdoors.
Cub Scout Pack 22 is open to students at Lilja and includes approximately three activities per month. Some upcoming highlights for 2022 include campfires, hiking outings, outdoor programs at the New England Base Camp, a Rainforest Reptile program, an overnight trip, and the annual Pinewood Derby.
For more information, please email Pack 22 committee chair Erin at erinmlee14@gmail.com.
Celtics Night
The PTO has been given the opportunity to purchase tickets to the below Celtics games as a fundraiser. If you are interested, please complete this survey and we will be in touch with more details in the new year. This is NOT a commitment to purchase, we are only gauging interest for now. All games are at 7:30pm in the TD Garden.
Friday, Jan 21 - Celtics vs Portland Trail Blazers
Monday, Jan 31 - Celtics vs Miami Heat
Friday, Feb 11 - Celtics vs Denver Nuggets
Thursday, Mar 3 - Celtics vs Memphis Grizzlies
Covid Procedures
As per last Friday's NPS blast, pooled testing is occurring at Lilja this week, however everyone is urged to remain vigilant over winter break. School offices and buildings are closed until school resumes, and nurses will not be able to assist with contact tracing or advising families about their COVID related questions over break. Use your doctor or local health department for assistance.
A reminder of the daily Covid-19 screening checklist before your child returns to school.
Daily Covid-19 Screening Checklist
Temp > 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit, chills, or shaking chills
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
New loss of taste or smell
Muscle aches or body aches
Cough (not due to other known causes, such as chronic cough)
Sore Throat when in combination with other symptoms
Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea when in combination with other symptoms
Headache when in combination with other symptoms
Fatigue when in combination with other symptoms
Nasal congestion or runny nose (not allergy related) when in combination with other symptoms
VACCINATED individuals experiencing the above symptoms in bold must submit a PCR test result to the nurse in order to return to school.
UNVACCINATED individuals experiencing any of the above symptoms must submit a PCR test result to the nurse in order to return to school.
Rapid Molecular tests are also accepted for a return to school, these are available at AFC Urgent Care Natick, or may also be available at your pediatrician's office. Free PCR tests are available at Project Beacon Framingham, or the drive-thru testing site at the Ashland MBTA station. You can also find more testing sites at mass.gov/covid-19-testing.
Remember, just like in days prior to Covid-19, if a student or staff member is too ill to attend school (excessive coughing, severe cold symptoms, vomiting and diarrhea, etc.) they should stay home even if a Covid test is negative. For more information click here.
Ongoing Partner Programs & Fundraisers
Minted (use code FUNDRAISELILJA to get a 20% discount and donate)
Amazon Smile (search for Lilja Elementary PTO to automatically donate)
Lost & Found
This week is YOUR LAST CHANCE to retrieve items from the Lost & Found before it is cleared out.
By the end of day Thursday 12/23 everything on these shelves will be bagged and put in the donation bins, regardless of how long it's been there.
Unfortunately it is not feasible for staff to keep items on the shelves indefinitely, or to separate out what has or hasn't been there for weeks.
Please make sure all items sent to school are named, this will mean lost items are more likely to be returned to your child. Almost all of the items on these shelves are unnamed.
Check the virtual Lost & Found and if you see an item you would like to recover, ask your child to do so quickly or contact the front office for help. This week the virtual L&F photos should be updated tomorrow (12/21).
Staff Spotlight: Kristin Kelly
What do you do at Lilja?
First Grade Teacher
Can you tell us about your family?
I am the youngest of three girls! My two older sisters Kara and Kaitie live close by and we spend a lot of time together. I also enjoy spending time with My parents, Kevin and Joanne. (Pictured from left to right: Joanne, Kristin, Kaitie, Kara, Kevin)
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I love to cook and try out new recipes! I also enjoy taking walks with friends, and trying out different restaurants around the city.
You get one song to listen to for the rest of your life, what is it?
September by Earth Wind and Fire
Finish this sentence: I can't live without...
Coffee!!
What's a surprising fact about you?
I started my education career in working in higher education, and ended up in early childhood education!
If you weren't at Lilja, what would you be doing?
In a perfect (and COVID-free) world, I would love to travel and do some volunteer work in developing countries whose education systems need support.
Talk to us
Whether you're a new or returning family, we would love to hear from you! If you have any questions, ideas or suggestions, relevant news for this newsletter, 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.