Originally delivered on 11/21/2025 4:01 pm

SUBJECT: PTO November Newsletter

Orono PTO Newsletter
Included in this Issue:

Happy Happenings: Fall Class Parties, Book Fair, Author Visit-Dr. Katie Phillips

Help Needed: Run-A-Thon Sponsors, Conference Meals, Great Cookie Grab, New Feedback Form

Coming Up: Kindergarten Families: Sustainable Safari Bob! 1st-3rd  Grade Families: Winter STEM Parties

The Happy Happenings
Fall Class Parties

Huge thanks to our amazing room reps for throwing such fantastic fall parties! From creative crafts and hallway relays to the glow-in-the-dark cursive station, every detail made it unforgettable. And an extra shout-out to all parents who contributed to the class party fund—your generosity makes these celebrations possible. We’re so grateful for this wonderful community!

BOOK FAIR!

Lettuce celebrate an un-beet-lievable Book Fair Week! Students turnip every day with excitement, our shelves were packed with great reads, and the whole event was squash-buckling fun. Thank you for helping our school grow a garden full of book-loving readers! 🌽📚

Author Visit

PTO funds provide students with the chance to visit with local authors. On Nov. 5, Dr. Katie Phillips – author, professor, and Orono mom – spoke to grades 2–5 about her Native American roots and life as an author. Students asked thoughtful questions and loved her visit—thank you, Dr. Phillips!

Do you have a pumpkin in your pocket?

While our students enjoyed their fall parties, staff jumped into the festive fun with a spirited round of Pumpkin in My Pocket!  It was the perfect way to keep the celebration going for our amazing team! 🎃

Help Needed
Run-A-Thon Sponsors!

📣 Attention local businesses—this is your chance to shine!
Partner with Orono PTO and put your name front and center on the running route and official Run-A-Thon shirts, seen by hundreds of families across the community. Your sponsorship directly supports our students while giving your business valuable visibility and goodwill.

We want to make this year’s PTO Run-A-Thon the biggest and best yet—and we’d love to have YOU on our team. Know another business that would love to support local schools? Spread the word! 🏃‍♀️📣

👉 Join us by signing up here: 

https://tinyurl.com/OronoFunRun

Conference Meals Help?

PTO funds provide conference meals for our hardworking teachers and staff as they stay late to give individualized feedback to students.

Our amazing volunteers have already planned each meal, but we need your help with the following. Email us at oronomnpto@gmail.com.

  • 11/24: 3:30-4pm set up or 5:30-6pm take down
  • 11/25: 11:30am-12:00pm set up or 1:00-1:30pm take down
The Great Cookie Grab!

🍪Let’s sprinkle some extra joy on our amazing Schumann and Intermediate School teachers and staff this holiday season! Whip up your favorite cookies, bars, or festive goodies and help us fill the staff lounges with a winter wonderland of treats!🍪

We’re looking for volunteers to:
• Bake and bring irresistible goodies
• Collect treats during morning drop-off
• Set up & clean up the magical cookie spreads in the lounges

Ready to volunteer to share some sweetness?
Sign up here: https://bit.ly/49uPZW9

Submit Your Feedback to the PTO!

We loved seeing new faces and hearing feedback from our guests at the first open PTO Board meeting on October 10. Based on their input, we’re adding this form to our website where you can submit ideas and general feedback. Check the Orono PTO website for details and watch our socials for more opportunities to attend open meetings in the new year!

Coming up!
Sustainable Safari Bob!

Thanks to generous donations to the party fund, we're thrilled to welcomeSustainable Safari Bob to visit our kindergartners in January! His engaging hands-on animal program will bring learning to life as students explore wildlife and conservation in a fun and memorable way. 🦔 

Winter STEM Parties

🧪 Fun, hands-on activities and seasonal science are on the way for our first, second, and third graders; so keep an eye out for details about Winter STEM parties from your room reps. )These science soirées are made possible by contributions to the party fund. 🔬 

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