Welcome Back!

Hi everyone!  Welcome back to Conant for the 2020-2021 academic school year.

I’d love to pretend that this will be a normal year, but that just isn’t the case. First off, our numbers are fewer this year as a great many Conant families opted for the fully remote learning option. While those families aren’t with us this year, we can carry them in our hearts and look forward to seeing them around school again.

The Conant PTO will also be different this year.  In consultation with Mr. Sugrue, we have agreed to suspend PTO events and activities this year. Without access to the school premises and being required to adhere to social distancing guidelines issued by the state, we simply won’t be able to carry on the wonderful events and activities we’ve hosted in the past.

We will, however, seek to put on events and activities if appropriate. On that note, we’re working on hosting School Picture days, October 1 for the Blue Cohort and October 2 for the Gold cohort. We hope that this event helps families and students feel like this is a more normal year.  Please look out for further details.

Fund-raising will also be suspended this year. Two of our largest fund-raising events, the Craft Fair and Ice Cream Social, are dependent on having access to the school’s premises, without which makes it impossible to host.  The direct appeal will also be suspended as a function of Conant losing a great many families to remote learning as well as an understanding and compassion for those who may be suffering financially during this pandemic.  Fortunately, Mr. Sugrue will not be asking much of the PTO this year; which means our financial burden will be modest.  We will be able to cover such obligations and any spending initiatives out of reserves.

While we won’t be actively fund-raising, I’d be remiss if I didn’t take this opportunity to remind everyone of Amazon Smile (www.smile.amazon.com) where 0.50% of eligible purchases are donated by Amazon to the PTO.  Please consider this option to help support Conant.

Even amid a pandemic, the PTO’s missions (community building and providing funds for non-District spending) haven’t changed.  Though how we go about executing on those missions certainly has changed.  While all events and activities have been suspended, we are eager to explore new ways to engage the Conant Community and keep everyone connected this year.  As always, we welcome new and fresh ideas.  And if this isn’t the time for new and fresh, I don’t know what would be.

Please remember that this is your PTO, too.  I encourage all of you to get involved, in whatever way, shape or form you can.  Everything the PTO does requires volunteers to make it happen.  Please consider getting involved and contribute to our shared experience.

I look forward to serving the Conant Community again this year and trust that we can continue to make Conant special.

Jimmy