Dallin Digest Newsletter

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Teacher Holiday Gifts & The Annual Fund

12/12/2025 5:56 am

As a reminder, You do not need to worry about providing individual gifts for your student's classroom teachers. The PTO coordinates efforts across the school to provide holidays gifts for teachers and staff. Room Reps make gifts feel personal by reaching out to families to provide notes, cards, and crafts. Be on the lookout for communication from your grade's room rep(s).
 
The way we are able to coordinate teacher gifts, and other essential school support, is through generous donations from Dallin families. Please consider donating to the Dallin Annual Fund! 
 
The Dallin PTO is a 501(c)(3) organization, so your donation is tax-deductible. If you'd like to take advantage of employer matching programs, the Dallin PTO Tax ID number is 13-4238630.
 
You can donate through our website or through Venmo. Donations of any amount are appreciated! 
 
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Dallin Culture Festival April 11

12/12/2025 5:54 am

Save the date!  Dallin's annual culture festival will take place on Saturday evening, April 11th.  Start thinking about what food you would like to share from your culture and/or a performance you would like to prepare.  More signup information coming soon.   Questions?  Feel free to reach out to Tamar at tamarbulk@gmail.com

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Teacher Appreciation: Share Some Holiday Sweetness!

12/12/2025 5:52 am

It’s one of the Dallin’s staff's favorite days of the year! Whether homemade or store bought, bring a batch of cookies/dessert to our Teacher Dessert Day. Drop-off is Monday, Dec 22nd at the front of the school at 7:55am. Please label any major allergens (nuts/dairy/gluten). If you’d like to help collect dessert, set up or clean up, please email Frankie at francescoolidge@gmail.com 

 

 

Thank you to the MANY families who donated to the staff bathroom refresh project! We were able to provide new cabinets, stocked with all of the bathroom essentials, for our 3 staff bathrooms. 
 
This project will be ongoing, and you're welcome to provide any of the following items from the Amazon Wish List throughout the year!
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Upcoming events from Dec 12

12/12/2025 5:50 am

November 12 - December 12

Dallin Weeks of Giving Food and supplies drive, lobby

 

Friday, December 19th

Last day for "Dallin Shining Stars Help Others" holiday gift drive

   

Monday December 22

Drop off cookies/desserts for Teacher Dessert Day, 7:55am

 

Wednesday December 24 - Friday January 2

NO SCHOOL -- Winter break

 

January 2026

Dallin Spelling Bee

 

April 11

Dallin Cultural Festival

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Additional Community Events

12/12/2025 5:48 am

Next Saturday, December 13, from 2-5pm the Arlington Heights Community Association (AHCA) will be hosting its fifth annual Heights Holiday Stroll and Tree Lighting.

 

Visitors of all ages are invited to stroll along Mass Avenue from Shattuck Heights Hardware to Maruichi Japanese Food and Deli and view 60+ winter-themed windows painted by Arlington residents in 25 storefronts. Free family fun activities will take place throughout the afternoon, including a Touch-A-Truck at the Heights Bus Depot and many indoor activities, including a Margaret Moody puppet show,  a kids winter craft activity, a photo-op with Santa, and a holiday music performance. Explore the vibrant Heights business community and support our unique variety of local shops and restaurants.  Visit the Chamber website for more info on the Holiday Stroll:

 

https://business.arlcc.org/events/details/arlington-heights-holiday-stroll-4809

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Meet the Staff: 5th grade Para team!

12/5/2025 6:00 am

My name is Evelyn Rocchio, and I’m part of the amazing and super talented fifth-grade team, as well as a proud third and fourth grade Dallin mom! I lead the Cultural Diversity Club as part of our after-school enrichment program, which brings me so much joy. I’m originally from Venezuela, and I love sharing my culture and language with our wonderful community as well as learning from your children.

I work across all three fifth-grade classrooms, supporting students who benefit from extra inclusion support. In my “free” time, I’m pursuing my degree to become a Spanish teacher, I’ll be finishing in March 2026! I’m also an Arlington hockey mom, so you’ll often see me at the rink, saying hello to all the Dallin hockey kids!  I truly love being part of the Dallin community, both as a staff member and as a mom. See you around! 

 

Hi, I’m Ms. Tomaselli and this is my first year at Dallin. I work with all three 5th grade classes and have loved getting to know your children. I have taught kids from preschool through high school and really enjoy working with elementary students. I grew up nearby and have lived in Seattle, Brooklyn and Cambridge. I have two kids and two cats, and like to knit, embroider and crochet. 

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Meet the Staff: 3rd Grade Para team!

12/5/2025 5:58 am

Hi! I’m Ms. S and I am a third grade para. This is my second year at Dallin, last year I was also with third grade. I love working with kids especially in artistic ways. I enjoy helping students and teachers throughout the day! I also have a small art business and love theater. 

 

Hey there! I’m Mr. G and I am on the third grade team at Dallin. This is my first year at Dallin and I am really enjoying getting to know all the students and staff. I love to learn and I have a background in Theatre Education. I enjoy all sorts of creative outlets such as collaging, sewing, writing poetry, and drawing. 

 

Hi! I’m Mrs. Lee and I have a daughter in the 5th grade at Dallin and a son in the 7th grade at Ottoson. After working in administrative jobs for many years in the higher education arena, I was a stay at home mom for 8 years before finding my place here at Dallin! I worked with your current third graders last year as well and have built many strong relationships. It’s a joy to see them grow! 

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PTO Meeting: 12/12 @ 8am

12/5/2025 5:56 am

Please join us on December 12 @ 8am  in the Cafeteria for our December PTO meeting. We will be providing updates on the work that has been done this year through the PTO and taking time to appreciate the volunteers who have supported our students!
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Dallin Weeks of Giving

12/5/2025 5:55 am

We're excited that Dallin's Weeks of Giving has officially started. All donation boxes are in the lobby!

 

Book Drive

We are collecting books for More Than Words. They collect all genres in gently used, good or newer condition. For reference or text books they ask that books be published within the past 5 years.

Arlington Eats Food Drive
We're working with Arlington Eats to provide some of their most needed items. If you'd like to contribute, a box will be available in the front lobby for students and families. The most needed items are:

  • coffee
  • tea
  • canola/vegetable oil
  • soy sauce
  • granola bars

If you'd prefer, you can also order directly from their Amazon Wishlist or provide a monetary donation through their website.


New Sock Donations
Arlington PTOs are all working together to re-supply highly-needed items for the Welcome & Resource Center. At Dallin we will be collecting:

  • New socks of all sizes! (Please leave socks in the packaging.)
  • Grocery store gift cards (Any amount, any local grocery store)

There will be a box in the main entrance of the school where students and families can drop off new socks (in packaging), and gift cards can be left at the front desk in the office.


We will be running these collections from November 12- December 12.

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Building Thinking Classrooms

12/5/2025 5:54 am

Please read this letter from Carolyn Snook, APS Mathematics Coach, about the Building Thinking Classrooms approach to math education.

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From the Gym: Dallin Kids Love Gymnastics!

12/5/2025 5:52 am

For the month of November, Dallin students have been participating in basic gymnastics skills in Physical Education classes. Skills such as rolling, balances, vaulting, swinging, and jumping and landing have been taught. Year over year, as PE teachers, we see the most engagement and a lot of smiles from our students in this content.

 

After the winter break we will use much of the same gymnastics equipment and skills and invite students to try their best in Ninja Warrior Obstacle Courses. Kids tell us that the Ninja Warrior unit is by far their favorite. Please click through for more photos!

 

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Spellbinding News: The Dallin Spelling Bee 

12/5/2025 5:50 am

All Dallin students are invited to participate in the Dallin School Spelling Bee! It's a fantastic chance to test student vocabulary, sharpen spelling skills, and compete to become the Dallin Spelling Bee Champion! Details on the spelling bee will be forthcoming, but sign ups and spelling lists distribution are happening now.

  • Who's Invited: All Dallin students!

  • Sign-Up: To officially enter and receive a list of 450 words for the school bee, please sign up with Ms. M during library visits or email her at mmaldonado@arlington.k12.ma.us

  • Competition Date: Mark your calendars! The Dallin Spelling Bee will be held in January 2026.

  • Maybes Welcomed: You don't have to commit 100% to participating. You can sign up, take a list and study. If you decide to opt out of the formal competition you can let Ms. M. know at any time and she will remove you from the competition list.

  • Student Driven: We want this to be a joyful experience and ask that students take the lead on signing up, studying, and competing. It is ok for families to lend support as study buddies and cheerleaders.

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Teacher Holiday Gifts & The Annual Fund

12/5/2025 5:48 am

As the holiday season approaches, let us take something off your plate! You do not need to worry about providing individual gifts for your student's classroom teachers. The PTO coordinates efforts across the school to provide holidays gifts for teachers and staff. We hope this helps minimize the chaos of a busy time of year. 
 
The way we are able to coordinate teacher gifts as a PTO is through generous donations from Dallin families. So rather than frantically purchasing a ton of gift cards, please consider donating that money to the Dallin Annual Fund! 
 
The Dallin PTO is a 501(c)(3) organization, so your donation is tax-deductible. If you'd like to take advantage of employer matching programs, the Dallin PTO Tax ID number is 13-4238630.
 
You can donate through our website or through Venmo. Donations of any amount are appreciated! 
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Teacher Appreciation Update!

12/5/2025 5:46 am

Our teacher appreciation efforts are underway! We are stocking the teacher's lounge and providing a staff bathroom refresh to our amazing faculty. 
 
We've already completed our teacher's lounge restock by providing new organizers, 400 K-Cups, and 12 varieties of teas.  
Thanks to the many families who have purchased items off the Amazon Wishlist to make these projects possible. There are still a few needed items if you'd like to contribute. 
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Lost and Found Clean Out

12/5/2025 5:44 am

Dallin Families,


The lost and found will be cleaned out before the December break. Over the next 2 weeks please stop by or have your child peruse items. Click through for more photos of current items.

 

Janet Huang

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