Annual report 2018–2019 | 19
PTO Highlights The efforts of our Parent-Teacher Organizations play a crucial role in supporting expanded educational opportunities for our students. We would like to thank our volunteers for their hard work. Some of the selected results of these efforts include:
Acton-Boxborough Regional School Committee
Two new members joined the School Committee this year.
ABRHS/RJ Grey PTSO • Funded extended hours at the high school library • Special project grants supported – At RJ Grey: a new student lounge – At ABRHS: Student Leadership work- shops, Window Seat Art and Literacy magazine, World Language week • Hosted guest speakers, forums, dances for 6th, 7th and 8th graders • Sponsored the INTERFACE Mental Health & Wellness Referral Service at both schools • Provided student directories at both schools • Provided senior scholarships Blanchard PTF • Sponsored Drums Alive aerobic drumming classes • Co-sponsored, with the Gates PTO, speaker Ruby Bridges to share her experience as the first African-American student to integrate an elementary school in the South • Organized the Fall Festival back to school event and the Spring Field Day with enter- tainer Rob Surette and his Amazing Hero Art Conant PTO • Held the annual Conant Artisan & Crafts Fair, with over 100 vendors • Hosted the traditional Festival of Cultures • Partnered with the Silver Unicorn bookstore for both the school-wide book fair and Book Night Douglas PTO • Sponsored the Boosterthon Fun Run • Hosted the Festival of Cultures • Held the 20th Spring Social and Auction for parents and guardians at the Thoreau Club
Gates PTO • Held the Back-to-School Fun Run
• Sponsored events including a Culture Showcase, a visit from Civil Rights icon Ruby Bridges (with the Blanchard PTF), and African story teller Valarie Tutson • Hosted a performance by a capella group Ball in the House McCarthy-Towne PTSO • Participated in a Parents’ Forum to let families experience the Art Integration program firsthand • Held the annual Spring Auction • Hosted the annual book fair (with the Silver Unicorn bookstore) and Family Field Day in June Merriam PTO • Hosted community events including summer playdates for incoming kindergartners, a welcome back picnic for the entire commu- nity, and a staff versus parents basketball game in December • Sponsored events throughout the year including the Fall Fair, a Fun Run/Walk, and three themed community days for all students (this year’s theme was water) • Held the annual camp fair and camp fair auction Carol Huebner Preschool PTO • Sponsored in-school events including: – Michelle’s Menagerie Bird Show – Terry the Inventor’s interactive show
John Petersen, PhD , and his wife, Cheryl, have lived in Acton for more than 30 years. Erika AB ’15 and Jack AB ‘18, their children, have lived in Acton their whole lives and were educated in the Acton-Boxborough schools. John is a chemist by training and has worked in leadership roles spanning pharmaceutical research and operations. John majored in chemistry as an undergraduate at MIT and earned his PhD in chemistry from the University of California Berkeley. John served as a volunteer and co-chair for A-B Parent Involvement Project (ABPIP) STEM, an organization encouraging com- munity involvement in STEM Education K-12. John continues to serve as part of the adult committee for Acton Scout Troops 12 and 32. John previously served on the A-B School Committee (2009–2012) prior to full (K-6) regionalization of ABRSD. During this service, he was the SC representative to the health insurance trust. John believes that school committee policies should recognize the differences between students and the diversity of their families. SC policies should provide teachers and administrators with the flexibility to create unique educa - tional experiences responsive to individual student needs.
Nora Shine, PhD , and her family recently moved to Boxborough, and she has found that this community shares many of her personal values, including love of learning, connection to nature, and building community. Nora is a parent of two children at Blanchard Elementary, and is a licensed psychologist working with children and teens. While earning an MSEd from UPenn, a PhD from Boston College, and completing doctoral clinical training through Harvard Medical School, she became skilled in both producing and consuming research in the fields of education and the social sciences. Nora hopes to bring her knowledge and experience to bear as she joins this leader- ship team and begins working together with the members of the Acton-Boxborough community toward the goals of academic achievement, equity, and healthy success for all of our students.
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