No Walk to School Day, May 1st!!!!!!!

No Walk to School Day on May 1st. Although we love the outdoors and all green methods of transportation, we want to point out that today's Winthrop Sun Transcript printed a press release from last year!

Below is a message from the Winthrop Sun Transcript:

In this week’s Winthrop Sun Transcript a story appeared about a Walk
to School happening on May 1.  According to last year’s organizer of
the Walk to School, Dawn Sullivan, this walk was not scheduled and is
not happening on May 1.

We apologize for any inconvenience that this article would be causing
and we again want to bring this mistake to the attention of all
parents at the William Gorman Fort Banks School.

The Gorman Fortbanks PTO apologizes for any confusion or inconvenience this causes families. In the meantime, we suggest the Transcript editors leave time travel to Marty McFly and H.G. Wells.

Mulchomania 2013

We'll put up a more formal post later. But the outpouring of community spirit has been immense. We were offered bobcats, landscaping equipment and full blown dump trucks! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Photos can be seen here on our Facebook page.

Digging the Playground is Now Sunday

Our Digging the Playground event is now Sunday! Due to the forecast of rain tomorrow, Friday, April 12th, our community mulch removal party affectionately known as "Mulchomania," is now going to be on Sunday, April 14th from 12 to 4pm. Please spread the word! We MUST move all the mulch in order for our new playground surface to be installed!

April is Autism Awareness Month

April is National Autism Awareness Month

Educate yourself:

• What is autism?
• 1 in 88 children are affected by autism.
• Where should I start if I think my child has autism?
• Is autism genetic? How do you get autism? 
• How should I talk or interact with someone with autism?
• What Massachusetts education supports are available for my child if he has autism?
• Is there a local autism support center for my family?

PTO Meeting Agenda for 4/10

Gorman Fort Banks PTO

Meeting Agenda for April 10, 2013 at 6:30 pm
Click here to download the print version

·       Welcome

·       Introduction of the Executive Board

·       Principal’s Report (Mrs. Pearson)

·       Treasurer’s Report (Dawn Sullivan)

·       PTO Events Update

o   Playground Surfacing Update – Mulch removal is 4/12 at 4pm. Bring shovels, rakes and wheelbarrows

o   Possible events: Free Outdoor Movie Night in June, Ice Cream Social during last week of school? Please step up and offer to chair a committee.

o   Summer reading program is about to launch.

o   Kindergarten Social is Sunday, August 18^th from 2 – 4 pm

§  We need volunteers and “veteran” parents to attend to help answer incoming student family’s questions.

·       Fundraising Efforts

o   Spring Clothes Drive brought in $875 (Linda Straccia)

o   Calendar fundraiser has now gone out, return April 30 (Dawn Sullivan). Calendar winners will be announced on our blog, Facebook and Twitter pages

o   Gorman Giving to benefit Cradles to Crayons (Jodi Rice)

o   Book Fair at Open House

·       General Business

o   Bookflix Renewal $900 – VOTE

o   Tadpoles for 1^st grade curriculum $80 - Vote

o   Executive Board 2013-2014 – We have seats to fill (Alicyn Thompson)

·       Volunteer Update (Mariana Babine)

o   Drop-off a.k.a. The Loop (Carolyn Gagnon/Linda Straccia)

o   Absence Hotline and Room Parents (Linda Straccia)

o   Library (Dawn Hurley)

o   Recess and lunch (Marci Campo)

·       Affiliate Programs

o   Stop & Shop A+ Rewards

o   Target RedCard (see the blog)

o   Labels for Education

o   Recycle Rewards rrewards.com

·       In School Enrichment Activities (Linda Straccia)

o   April Activity

o   May Activity

·       Open Forum

 

Digging the Playground

The Final Phase of the Playground is Happening and We Could Use Your Help*

During April Vacation the outer playground at the Gorman/Ft Banks School will be surfaced.  Currently, the area is filled with mulch, which needs to be removed to allow for the surfacing. 

We are looking for volunteers to help us move the mulch. 

Bring your shovels, rakes and wheel barrels!

Pizza and drinks will be available for all volunteers.

Friday, April 12, 2013 4:30 pm until dark 
Cancelled due to forcasted rain!

(Rain date: Sunday April 14, 2013 12 to 4 pm)

Community hours are available for volunteers in need of hours!

For information contact Dawn Manning at kmanningfamily@comcast.net or (617) 846-8989

Rain date information will be posted at http://fortbankspto.blogspot.com , Facebook.com/fortbankspto, Twitter.com/fortbankspto

*Please note the playground will be closed at the close of school on Friday April 12, 2013 and will reopen on Monday April 22, 2013.  We apologize for any inconveniences this may cause.