October News

Oct 4

3 min read

Dear Memorial-Spaulding Families,

Happy October!

There is nothing quite like fall at Memorial-Spaulding—the sound of crunching leaves, the cozy sweaters, and the warmth of our community spirit. It has been a joy seeing everyone settle into the school year with such enthusiasm.

We are thrilled to kick off our upcoming autumn activities, including the much-anticipated Trunk or Treat! We invite you all to sign up and help make this event a spooky success. Let’s celebrate the season and make some wonderful memories together.

Best wishes, Your MS PTO Team

FREE UMass Boston Field Hockey Youth Clinic

Whether your athlete is brand new to field hockey or has years of experience, this free clinic is a great opportunity to get on the turf, learn from college coaches and players, and experience UMass Boston Field Hockey!

📅 Monday, October 12 ⏰ 12:30–1:30 PM 📍 Moakley Park – Saunders Stadium Turf 💙 FREE to attend!

All Experience Levels Welcome!

The new UMass Boston Division III Field Hockey program is excited to host this youth clinic during our inaugural 2026 season!

Our goal is to introduce more young athletes from South Boston and surrounding communities to the sport we love while creating a fun, positive environment for players of all experience levels.

New to field hockey? No problem! We will have sticks available to borrow.

What to Expect

• Field hockey instruction from UMass Boston coaches and players • Skills and fundamental development • Fun, age-appropriate activities • Small-group instruction • A chance to meet members of the UMass Boston Field Hockey program • An opportunity to play on the Saunders Stadium turf

Players who have their own equipment should bring a field hockey stick, shin guards, mouthguard, sneakers, and any other field hockey gear.

Meet Coach Kellie Stigas

The clinic will be led by Kellie Stigas, Head Coach of UMass Boston Field Hockey.

Coach Stigas played collegiate field hockey at Northeastern University and went on to coach as an assistant at several Division I programs throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island before taking on the exciting opportunity to build UMass Boston's new field hockey program.

As a South Boston resident, Coach Stigas is especially excited to connect the program with local families and help grow the sport within the community.

Registration & Cost

There is no cost to attend. As UMass Boston Field Hockey embarks on its inaugural season, small donations are greatly appreciated and will help support the growth of the new program.

Come out, bring a friend, and help us grow the game of field hockey in South Boston and beyond!

For more information, contact Coach Kellie Stigas at Kellie.stigas@umb.edu.

Go Beacons!

The MS PTO Needs Your Help! Did you know that PTO fundraising does more than support the fun, free community events we enjoy throughout the year? It also directly funds educational opportunities for our students, including Creative Arts & Sciences presentations, classroom equipment and materials, books for our children to read, and more. Volunteering with the MSPTO is a great way to give back and get to know this amazing community. Meet other parents, connect with your child’s teachers, and be part of what makes a Memorial-Spaulding childhood so special. There’s a job for everyone—whether you have 10 minutes or 10 hours to give! Check out the opportunities below, and keep an eye on future newsletters as new ways to get involved come up throughout the year. We’d love to have you join us!

BROWSE ROLES HERE

Meet the 2026-7 MSPTO Exec Board

Yan Wong and Alicia O'Brien, Co-Presidents

Sarah Cohen, President Emeritus

Kristen Pontoriero and Lama Moulki, Treasurers

Kim Mak, Secretary

Dar Sandler, Ryan Krupp and Fernanda Walker, ASCA Co-Chairs

Mary Kate O'Malley, CAS Chair

Jess Gashin, SEPAC Chair

Margaret Stefater-Richards, Marketing

(We are still in need of an ELL Chair so please reach out if you are interested or know someone who would be great for the job. This is a low-lift role that is great for someone interested in building community and bringing people together.)