Hello Cabot families,

I am excited to get started with another great year at Cabot School.  While the past three years had a variety of challenges, I am both hopeful and confident that this year will feel more like normal.  While we have all experienced various challenges the past three years, we have proven that our work together yields great excitement and energy for your children.  The most important thing for us at Cabot is to ensure your children have the most positive school experience we can provide through creating high quality learning experiences.  

This year we will have a continued focus on our work related to Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and strengthening our teaching practices for all students.  Cabot’s diverse population includes students of many races, different languages spoken, varied learning styles, numerous cultural backgrounds, personally chosen gender identities, socio-economic differences, multiple health needs, and more.  Each of your children's unique characteristics is what helps make Cabot a special place.  It’s our pleasure to do whatever is needed to make each individual child feel valued and supported.

Cabot is expected to be the largest elementary school in Newton this upcoming school year with over 400 students.  Due to this increased number of students we are excited to welcome .5 assistant principal, Lisa Addleman.  Lisa will also be a .5 literacy interventionist.  In her role as an assistant principal, Lisa and I will work in tandem to support the entire Cabot community.  Rather than dividing up the work we will work together, allowing both of us to be available for staff, students, and families.  Please feel free to reach out to either one of us if you have comments or questions where we can be of assistance.

In addition, we added a fourth kindergarten class.  When I met with incoming kindergarten families in March, I was confident that we would have three classes.  I was clearly mistaken.  Since March we have increased the number of kindergarten students creating four classes with almost 20 students in each.  

I have included a FAQ document here that has some additional information about Cabot.  Much of this information is not new for our returning families, but you may find it to be a helpful resource.  The document provides general information including phone numbers, notifying the office about absences and dismissal, building security, and more.

Once you know your child’s teacher (8/26) please complete this form by Monday, September 5 so we know your child’s dismissal plan each day.  We create dismissal lists and bus lists for staff based on your responses.

The state approved the continuation of free lunches for this upcoming school year for those students that would like to eat school lunch vs. bringing lunch from home.  Please refer to the previous message from NPS for additional information.

Arrival Dismissal information is here.  Please arrive by 8:10 AM as students will be led inside by their teachers as close to that time as possible.  Grades K-2 will meet on the playground side of the school and grades 3-5 will be near the flagpole.  Please be aware that buses are sometimes late the first week picking up students in the morning and dropping off students in the afternoon.

We will host an open house on Thursday, September 1 from 2:00 - 2:30 for Cabot parents and students to come into Cabot School.  At that time you can visit your child’s classroom, meet the teacher, and have a brief visit with friends.  

Here is an introduction of the new professional teaching staff coming to Cabot this year.

Lisa Addlman - .5 Assistant Principal and .5 Literacy Intervention

I live in West Roxbury with my husband and children, both of whom attend Newton Public Schools (one at Brown, one at Angier).  I grew up in the Finger Lakes region, near Hall, NY.  For that reason, I love wide open spaces, rolling fields, and the smell of freshly cut grass.  This is my 23rd year in education, and my 16th year as an NPS educator.  For the past 4 years, I was the Assistant Principal/Interventionist at Mason-Rice and for 11 years prior to that, I was at Ward, mostly as a fifth grade classroom teacher.  I started my career teaching Kindergarten/Preschool at The Learning Center for the Deaf in Framingham, MA before coming to Newton to briefly work at Day Middle School in the EDCO Program for the Deaf just before transitioning to Ward.  This summer, we spent a few weeks visiting my family on Keuka Lake, my happy place.  Highlights included slow mornings with coffee on the porch, kayaking with my daughters, swimming, and a mini soccer game in the yard with our extended family.  Other than that, my summer was full of sneaking in times to read books (for pleasure and work, but mostly pleasure!) and tackle a few diy home improvement projects, especially while our kids were at camp for 2 weeks.  I feel fortunate for the opportunity to join the Cabot community and to experience a more personal understanding of all of the wonderful things I've heard. While I'm excited for the return to school and diving into meaningful work around teaching and learning, I am most looking forward to visiting classrooms and getting to know students and teachers on an individual basis. 

Diangha Lamery - New Kindergarten teacher

Hi! My name is Diangha Lamery and I’m from Malden, Massachusetts but I currently live in Westwood, Massachusetts with my family. I have my master’s degree in Education, and I’ve served as lead teacher in an extended program and kindergarten at urban schools. I love spending time with my family! Whether it’s at home with my husband and four year old son or at my parents’ home in Malden along with siblings, and extended family members. The love of family is truly irreplaceable. I am looking forward to meeting all my beautiful students and their families as well as forming strong relationships with all of you! I’m especially excited to work alongside you as every one of you achieve your goals! Let’s have an amazing year together!

Ashley Shaughnessy - STRIDE program teacher

Hello, my name is Ashley Shaughnessy and I am excited to be joining the community at Cabot Elementary School.  I am originally from Watertown Massachusetts and have worked for the New England Center for Children (NECC) for the past 14 years. During my time at NECC, I worked on residential teams, taught in various public school districts throughout New England, and I also taught and lived in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.  I have really enjoyed being back in Massachusetts closer to friends and family over the past year. I love to travel and explore new cultures and countries, I'm an avid reader, and love to cook.  I cannot wait to meet everyone and to build relationships with staff and families! 

Fallyn Buckley - .4 SEL coach 

Hi! My name is Fallyn (Smith) Buckley.  I’m originally from Canton, MA and currently live in Cambridge.  I moved from San Francisco this summer with my husband, Conor, and our dog, Lyra.  For the past nine years, I was an elementary school counselor for Burlingame School District where I helped spearhead their SEL program.  This summer I’ve been enjoying spending time with my family as well as a vacation to Aruba.  I’m excited about my new position as an SEL Coach and being part of the Cabot community!

Please be aware of important dates for this upcoming school year:

Friday, August 26                Classroom teacher assignments available to families on ASPEN - email notification will be sent*

Monday, August 29th          Meeting for new 1st - 5th grade parents in the cafeteria (an e-mail invitation will be sent to families as a reminder)

Thursday, September 1      Open House - Cabot parents and students may visit school/classrooms 2:00 - 2:30 PM

Tuesday, September 6        First Day for students

Friday, September 16         PTO Supper

Monday, September 19      PTO Supper rain date

Monday, September 26     No School - Rosh Hashanah holiday

Wednesday, September 28

                                           Back To School Night - parent only event (flier will be coming soon)

Thursday, September 29 Early release day students - 12:10 dismissal

Friday, September 30      CASP - Movie Night for all families

Wednesday, October 5   No School - Yom Kippur holiday

Enjoy the remaining summer days and I look forward to seeing you and your children soon.  

Thank you,

Eric Sprung

Principal Cabot School

*Note about teacher assignments

Classroom teacher assignments will be published in Aspen on Friday, August 26th.  As you know, the placement process is complex and involves a variety of staff members as we consider a wide number of factors and needs.  If you provided feedback about your child’s placement, please be assured that your comments and concerns were reviewed and considered by the teams and me as we engaged in our process.   It is important to note that no changes will be made to teacher assignments.  While requests for changes have not been common here, it feels important to acknowledge that sometimes children (or parents!) may be disappointed, for example, when they are assigned to a classroom separate from a good friend or do not receive the teacher they had hoped for. In such circumstances, we recommend that you acknowledge the disappointment, yet convey your confidence in your child’s ability to have a great year just the same. Your positive attitude and enthusiasm for the year ahead sends important cues to your child and we appreciate your assistance in helping every one of our students to have the best start to the year!

As you may recall from last year, we are not able to provide class list information until all parents/guardians have the opportunity to annually review their privacy settings in Aspen to indicate whether or not we have permission to publish their child’s name on class lists.  For more information about Aspen, you can visit this link.