Category: News

When: Friday, May 19th 6:30-8:30pmWhere: Underwood GymWho: All Underwood Families! Join us for the return of the famous Gillette Stadium Announcer Mike Rileyas he brings a new level of entertainment with a family-friendly music bingo and dance party night! Name that tune meets dance party USA! Participation of all ages is encouraged. Learn more and RVSP: bit.ly/UWD-Bingo

we have several openings for PTO board members next year, including Co-President, Treasurer, Communications VP, Newsletter Chair, and Community Building VP. Treasurer (One Open Role) One-year term.  Communications (Two Open Roles) One-year terms.  Newsletter Chair  Communications VP Community Building (Two Open Roles) One-year terms. This position oversees a variety of programs and activities to build bridges among all families within the Underwood community, including helping Underwood’s Boston families feel welcome. The VP of Community Building recruits volunteers and organizes various family events throughout the year to help families connect to each other. Co-President (One Open Role)Two-year Term The Co-Presidents oversee all PTO Board and Committee responsibilities, including but not limited to: You can find out more here. We are looking to fill these positions by June, so if you have any interest please reach out to underwoodpto@gmail.com. We are always happy to hear from you!

Dear Underwood Families, This morning, Interim Superintendent Kathleen Smith shared the first draft of the budget for the 2023-24 school year. This budget was formed after months of consultation, feedback, and review by principals, department heads, and central staff. No proposal to reduce services and staff was taken lightly. However, with a nearly $5 million budget shortfall, we were forced to look at reductions across the district. Here are the budget documents: As you will see in the slide presentation, the district is experiencing significant financial pressure. Increasing student needs, dramatic increases in operating costs, ongoing use of one-time funds, and the failed operational override are all contributing to our budget challenges. You will see specific reductions in elementary education. For Underwood School in SY2023-24, we anticipate the following as of right now: This initial budget presentation is the start of READ MORE

Our annual online auction to benefit the Underwood Community kicks off on Wednesday, March 29th and features amazing items from local businesses, Underwood Families, and our teachers and staff!

We know everyone can’t join the live meeting this Thursday from 7-8pm at Underwood. If you have a question you’d like us to ask Acting Superintendent Kathleen Smith, J.D. and Newton School Committee members please enter it below.  If you have more than one question please submit this form multiple times. Thank you! We will do our best to ask all questions submitted and report back with answers provided at the meeting.  Submit your questions here.

When: Thursday, March 9, 2023 – 6:45-8:15pmWhere: The Underwood GymCost: FREEAges: 5+ Drop your Underwood kids off for a fun FREE pizza party during the Superintendent/School committee meeting on Thursday, March 9th! The Underwood PTO will provide pizza, fruit, drinks, and treats for the kids. There will also be a free raffle of Underwood Swag and some fun surprises! UASP teachers are providing the childcare in the Underwood Gym! Sign up here: bit.ly/UWD-KidsNightOut Please note: this is being offered only as a childcare option for parents and guardians attending the important Superintendent/School committee meeting that night. Please consider utilizing this free care option and attending the meeting to show your support! MEETING INFORMATION Join Dr. Talukdar, Dr. Kathleen Smith, Interim Superintendent, School Committee members, and the Underwood PTO for this important IN-PERSON meeting. This is your chance to ask questions and READ MORE

Get your limited edition Underwood snow hat!  You can pay via Venmo, Paypal or a check dropped off at the Underwood office. Each hat/cap/visor costs $10.  Once we have received your payment we will contact you directly to arrange delivery. ORDER YOURS HERE

Bidding will open at 8am on Wednesday, March 29th and close at 10pm on Tuesday, April 4th. In addition to generous donations from favorite businesses in our community, we also feature Underwood-only events donated by families and teachers. Do you have a professional skill or secret talent you can share with the Underwood community? Would you be willing to host a playdate or party to support the auction? Some examples include: Please email us at underwoodpto@gmail.com and we can help with the specifics of your event – you can specify date, time, number of spots, and grade level! Submissions are due by March 15th.

The Underwood Spring Carnival is a highlight of the year – and it takes a whole lot of work! The 2023 Spring Carnival will take place on Friday, June 2nd! Carnival planning is underway and we can’t wait for this year’s event! We are now recruiting Carnival Captains for exciting activities like Sand Art, Snow Cones, Face Painting and More!  Learn more and sign up here. 

You are invited to join members of the Underwood community on February 16th at 7pm as we examine systems of advantages and disadvantages based on race, and discuss how we can strive to become antiracists.  Presented by Suzie Talukdar, Ed.D., Underwood Principal and Amy Behrens, M.Ed., Families Organized for Racial Justice Co-Founder & Advisor, Parent Coach & Social Justice Educator

Dear Underwood Families, Welcome to February.  We would like to begin this letter by reiterating Dr. Talukdar’s comments about the distressing news lately including the release of the video of Tyre Nichol’s killing and the mass shooting in Monterey Park on the eve of the Lunar New Year.  The Underwood PTO supports the mission of building a community of respect and empathy at our school based on awareness, understanding, and celebration of our individual differences and similarities.  Dr. Talukdar will be presenting at our virtual event on February 16, 2023 at 7pm: Community Conversations at Underwood: Let’s Talk About Race (Advantages & Disadvantages).  We encourage you to attend and bring your questions. Since our last letter to you in early December, the Underwood PTO has been working toward our goal of building community and supporting one another.  Returning to December, we are READ MORE

Dear Underwood Families: Recently, I have felt deeply saddened by yet another heartbreaking tragedy in our nation. As you are likely all too aware, the video of Tyre Nichol’s killing was made public this past weekend. Tyre Nichols was severely beaten by police officers after a traffic stop and died three days afterwards from the injuries he sustained. The week before, the nation also experienced heartbreak following news of yet another mass shooting during a celebration in California on the eve of Lunar New Year– a holiday celebrated by over 1.5 billion people across the globe that signals a new beginning for many, mainly focused around good fortune, happiness and health. The constant violence we encounter through the news and media images can take a heavy toll on all of us, and I recognize it has the potential to show READ MORE