PTO Raise Craze Fundraiser & Family Service Night Recap - Amazing Success!!!

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Raise Craze Recap:

February 14th marked the final day of our 2-week Raise Craze fundraiser, and what a success it has been! Thanks to your unwavering support, we didn't just meet our $30,000 goal; we soared past it by raising an astonishing $51,000 across the district, completing 2,200 Acts of Kindness along the way!

With our annual PTO budget ranging between $70,000 and $75,000, this overwhelming support and generosity has solidified the funding we need to maintain the programs that our students and staff rely on.

YOU did this! Thank you for being a part of this incredible achievement!

Check out the leaderboard for detailed stats!

Family Service Night Recap:

A key part of this fundraiser was the Family Service Night, which gave families the opportunity to connect and create while serving local non-profit organizations. 

THANK YOU to all the families who showed up on February 4th, rolled up your sleeves, and poured their hearts into serving and spreading kindness. Your efforts made a meaningful impact in our community! 

  • Dozens of letters were written to our police, Fire/EMS, Veterans, and teachers. 83 beautiful suncatchers are ready to give to residents at Cole Court. 50 birthday bags were prepped for Pantry Shef patrons. Dozens of calming fidgets were made to be donated to the police department. Knowledge was built around kindness to ourselves and to our earth. A quilt was created to remind us to remain kind, and much more!

  • THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS: Your enthusiasm from start to finish kept us energized and inspired to make this event as special as possible for the families in our community. We appreciate your tireless service to our community day in and out.

    • Baypath Humane Society of Hopkinton, Inc.

    • Holliston Community Farm

    • Holliston Newcomers & Neighbors

    • Holliston Outdoor Learning Alliance

    • Holliston Pantry Shelf

    • Holliston Parks & Recreation

    • Holliston Public Library

    • Holliston SEPAC

    • Holliston Youth and Family Services

    • HDAAC-Holliston Drug & Alcohol Awareness Coalition

    • Holliston Senior Center

  • THANK YOU TO OUR MATERIALS SPONSORS:

  • THANK YOU TO OUR HIGH SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS

Looking forward to next year!

Community Event with Speak Sobriety - March 26, 6:30-8PM @ HHS

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The PTO, in partnership with Holliston Youth & Family Services, Holliston Drug & Alcohol Coalition (HDAAC), Holliston Police and Fire Departments, and the Town of Holliston, is offering a special presentation with Stephen Hill, a nationally renowned speaker on mental health promotion and substance use prevention. Click here to read more. Stephen is truly inspiring and has a comeback story that everyone must hear! (Earlier in the day he will be speaking to our high school students; he is also engaging surrounding school communities the same week.) Stephen is the founder of Speak Sobriety, a father, and young person in recovery (12 years and counting); bestselling author, recovery coach, and a defense attorney. He has presented in front of thousands of people for over 1,000 schools and coalitions across the country, sharing his cautionary tale of addiction to recovery and beyond.

Districtwide Family Service Night - February 4, 6-7:30pm, HHS Cafeteria

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Who: Holliston Students & Families

Date: Tuesday, Feb 4th

Location: Holliston High School Cafeteria

Time: 6-7:30 pm

Cost: Free! If you can, bring along a can of dog food, cat food, or people food for our Baypath Humane Society and Holliston Pantry Shelf donation bins

GET READY FOR AN ENGAGING NIGHT FILLED WITH ACTIVITIES FOR ALL AGES!

We've gathered an incredible group of community partners, all ready to help us give back, spread kindness, and make a difference—together! Join us for an evening of hands-on service projects that will touch lives in our local community. Bring your family, bring your friends, and bring your big hearts!

SERVICE PROJECTS:

Create Kindness Rocks to spread around Holliston School grounds with the Holliston Outdoor Learning Alliance.

Assemble Birthday Bags with the Holliston Pantry Shelf to help families in need celebrate their special day.

Craft Blankets and Tug Toys for shelter animals with Baypath Humane Society.

Design Quilt Squares with Becky from Studio on the Hill to be part of a beautiful Kindness Quilt for our schools.

Write Letters of Gratitude with the PTO to honor our local heroes, including police, fire/EMS, and veterans.

Make Beaded Suncatchers with Pamela from A Soul Spirit Studio to bring joy to residents at Cole Court

Learn More about Composting and being kind to the earth with Holliston Community Farm

Help Holliston Newcomers & Neighbors create a kids’ guide to “The Best of Holliston,” highlighting our town’s top spots to help welcome new students.

Burns some energy with Kindness Games with our friends from Parks & Rec!

Sign appreciation cards for our Holliston Teachers & Staff

Make fidget toys to donate to the Holliston Police Department with Holliston SEPAC

Learn to be kind to YOURSELF with our friends from Holliston Youth & Family Services & HDAAC SEPAC

Color kindness pictures with our friends from the Holliston Public Library.

SEE YOU THERE!

 

PTO Business-Matching Program

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Building upon our impressive response to our Keep What You Love annual fund campaign led by our families, we have contacted many area businesses to launch a business matching program. Our hope is that with their help, we can grow your $5,500 to $10,000 by the end of the year. So far, our community of businesses has helped us raise $675 towards that goal! A huge thank you to Stucchi Landscape and Design, BDR Automotive, Chesmore Funeral Home, and The Candy Cottage for leading the way.  Please thank them for supporting our students and teachers the next time you stop in! If you own a business or know a business that may want to support our schools, please help us by forwarding them this business-giving link we created specifically for them. Thank you for your help!

Spiritwear Pick-Up Information

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Thank you for supporting your Holliston PTO by purchasing spirit wear. The spirit wear sale helps us show Holliston pride around our great town! Also, it is one of the ways that helps the Holliston PTO to continue to support the Holliston School System. 

There will be 3 different opportunities to pick up your spirit wear. Spirit Wear pick up will be held at the Gilman Room at the Holliston Public Library downtown. The Gilman Room is the room located on the lower level of the Holliston Public Library. 

The times are: 

  • Saturday 12/14 from 10:am-11:30am 

  • Monday 12/16 from 3:30pm-6:30pm

  • Tuesday 12/17 from 2:00pm-4:30pm

Thank you again! Email pto.funds.holliston@gmail.com with any questions.

Elementary Readathon (Oct 21-Nov 14): Fall Into Reading

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The Elementary Read-a-Thon has moved to the fall and begins on October 21st. Our young readers have been busy building their reading stamina during the first month of school, and they can keep building up their reading habits by coloring in their bookmarks each time they read, with top-reading classes each week earning the coveted Golden Pumpkin Trophy! Stay tuned for more info later this month & look out for readathon bookmarks in your student’s folder.

Yearbook Reminders & Deadlines for Seniors

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Here we go Senior Parents!!!

Hello everyone!

It is hard to believe that we are already planning for the HHS 2024-2025 Yearbook! As we know many seniors like to purchase a yearbook, we wanted to make you aware that sales for the 2024-2025 yearbook go live on Thursday 8/1/2024. At that time, yearbooks will be $65.00 and prices will increase on 10/1/2023 and again on 2/28/2025. We wanted to make sure seniors/parents/guardians know and get their books purchased early at the discounted price. Last year, the books sold out and some people were not able to purchase a book, so the earlier you buy the better!

You can purchase the yearbook at www.yearbookforever.com (search for Holliston High School). If you need financial assistance, please contact administration and they will contact the yearbook advisor (Ms. Victoria Roy)

Additionally, for seniors here are some important dates for the yearbook:

Senior pictures are due Friday 10/25/2024 NO EXCEPTIONS

If you take pictures with Henry Studios, they will send us your photo

Otherwise, please email your senior photo to yearbook@holliston.k12.ma.us

Photos should be 4” by 5” @ 300dpi jpg format

Senior Baby photos due by Friday 11/8/2024

Please email to yearbook@holliston.k12.ma.us with the subject “STUDENT NAME- baby picture”

Family and Business Ads → if you would like to purchase an ad for the yearbook please see the pricing below. All ads can be created at www.yearbookforever.com

Pricing:

Personal/Family Ad (for seniors)

Full page

$230

1/2 page

$165

1/4 page

$80

1/8 page

$40

Business Ad:

Full page

$250

1/2 page

$185

1/4 page

$60

1/8 page

$40

Please reach out with any questions. We are looking forward to creating a great yearbook!

The HHS Yearbook Staff

Senior Night Dates for Fall Athletics

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Senior Night Dates for Fall Athletics:

Panther Fans- “Senior Night” for Fall athletics is upon us. Let’s fill the stands and celebrate our teams!! Dates/times/locations below. Congratulations Class of 2025!!

  • Wednesday, 10/9/24, 3:45pm Boys & Girls XC vs Hopkinton (Sr. Day) HHS XC Course

  • Thursday, 10/10/24, 7pm Football (Cheer) vs Dedham (Sr. Day) HHS Kamitian Field

  • Tuesday, 10/15/24, 5:15pm Volleyball vs Nashoba (Sr. Day) HHS Rowles Field House

  • Monday, 10/21/24, 6:15pm Field Hockey vs Ashland (Sr. Day) HHS Kamitian Field

  • Thursday, 10/24/24, 6:15pm Boys Soccer vs Ashland (Sr. Day) HHS Kamitian Field

  • Tuesday, 10/29/24, 6:30pm Girls Soccer vs Norwood (Sr. Day) HHS Kamitian Field

  • Wednesday, 11/6/24, 3:45pm Unified Basketball vs Ashland (Sr. Day)

Save the Date! The Holliston PTO Ski and Snowboard Program will open registration on November 1st, 2024!

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Save the Date! The Holliston PTO Ski and Snowboard Program will open registration on November 1st, 2024! Do not miss this opportunity to get your student on skis for the first time or improve their skills.

Miller 4th & 5th grade students will be bussed to Nashoba for 5 weeks on Fridays starting January 3rd, 2025

RAMS  students will go to Nashoba for 5 weeks on Thursdays starting January 2nd, 2025.

High School students will go to Watchusett on Sundays for six weeks (starting week TBD, likely 1/7/25)

We will be recruiting chaperones for these trips during registration— ski for free with a valid CORI!

Please contact hollistonskiclub@gmail.com with any questions!

Outdoor Learning Alliance Back to School 2024 Updates!

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Can you smell the back-to-school flowers? The Outdoor Learning Alliance (OLA) sure can! OLA is a subgroup of the PTO committed to providing spaces for our students and staff to take a break from the fluorescent lights and classroom walls. These spaces provide a blank educational canvas for any teacher to use while rejuvenating everyone’s minds with nature. This week, OLA has been hard at work in a few outdoor learning areas at Placentino and RAMS.

At Placentino, the courtyard vegetable beds are ready to be planted by students, the weeds are gone, and the flowers are tucked in with a fresh layer of mulch. Some of the students even helped to decorate a newly donated birdhouse to add to the collection. Oh, and did we mention the smell of flowers? That would probably be the new colorful planters which now greet students and staff every morning at Placentino and Miller.

Meanwhile, RAMS has their Outdoor Learning Area Project in full-swing. Beds have been dug and filled, and the picnic tables (AKA Adult Legos) have been assembled and placed. This will surely be a cool place to read a book or witness some abscission!

If doing all of this sounds like fun, then please do not hesitate to get involved with OLA here.

If you prefer to keep the dirt from under your fingernails then we would greatly appreciate donations here or via Venmo @HollistonPTO (OLA in the comments). Our funds are used for projects such as these as well as wish-list supplies for teachers wishing to use it in their curriculum.

Lastly, if you happen to come into any of these schools for Back to School Night then please do check these projects out!