Saturday, January 26, 2019

JFK PTO Update – January 25, 2019


JFK PTO Update – January 25, 2019
 
Important Dates:
February 5 - JFK PTO Meeting
February 6 - Health Advisory Council at JFK (New Date!)
February 8 - Stand Up JFK
February 14 - NPS School Committee Meeting at JFK
February 18-22 - No School - Winter Recess
March 1 & 22 - 6th & 7th Grade Dances

Teacher Appreciation Lunch was Amazing Thanks to You!
Big thanks to everyone for all your delicious donations and contributions to this year’s Teacher Appreciation Lunch. Our teachers and staff were extremely appreciative for the incredible spread of food this year. We have such a generous community and everyone contributing made this event a success. If you need to pick up casserole dishes, crock pots or containers, they are waiting for you in the front office at JFK. Thanks again, everyone!

FY20 School Budget Survey Needs Your Participation!
You can find the survey by CLICKING HERE. The budget meetings are happening now, so the sooner the better for filling it out.

Our next PTO Meeting is Tuesday, February 5 (6-7:30pm)
The JFK PTO meets the first Tuesday of the month from 6-7:30pm in the JFK Library. Join us to help plan for upcoming 6th and 7th grade school dances in March and teacher grant requests. All are welcome!

Stand Up JFK Day (February 8)
For the second year, our JFK School Council and Student of Color Alliance (SOCA) are hosting a celebration of diversity and tolerance at JFK. Please access the link below for more information on the JFK website: http://www.northamptonschools.org/project/stand-up-jfk/

Seeking Parent Volunteers to assist with 6th & 7th Grade Dances!
This year the 6th & 7th grade dances will be held March 1 and March 22 and the theme chosen by the Student Council is “The 80’s”! We will need parent/guardian volunteers as chaperones, to donate snacks, and to help decorate and clean up after the dances. Stayed tuned for our sign up sheet. We find it works best if you volunteer to work at the dance your child is NOT attending (crazy, right?). If you can help in advance with 80’s dance designs and logistics, contact the PTO at jfkmspto@gmail.com.

Do you have a great idea for our public schools?
Learn about the Northampton Education Foundation, which provides grants for teacher-initiated projects and programs that expand educational opportunities, foster creativity, and enhance academic experiences in Northampton’s public schools. The NEF’s 13th annual Request for Proposals for NEF Endowment Fund Grants is now open. Please click on the link below to learn more. https://northamptoneducation.org/endowment-grants/

Time to Gather Your Boxtops
Be sure to share your Boxtops for Education with JFK by having your student drop them off in the JFK office. Our next Boxtops deadline is March 1. You can also support JFK at Stop and Shop by using the link here. Big Y Express can be found at this link: https://www.bigy.com/rs/educationexpress. And you can link to JFK MS PTO through Amazon Smile and donate to Parent-Teacher Organization of John F Kennedy Middle School Inc.

Amazon Smile Promotion
Through January 31, 2019, AmazonSmile will donate 15% the purchase price of new print magazine subscriptions. Visit https://smile.amazon.com/b?node=18541223011 for details.

HEALTH OFFICE NEWS: Eighth Grade Health Screenings
Eighth grade Health Screenings are taking place this year beginning on January 17. We will be doing postural, hearing, and vision screenings as well as SBIRT screening. SBIRT is a screening tool used to assess alcohol and marijuana use. Its goal is to provide some education to students in efforts to prevent substance use or intervene early on. The sessions are conducted privately and confidentially and last approximately 5 minutes. Please refer to your mailing for further details. If students have had a physical within the last 6 months, please send in PCP paperwork and we won't screen your student for scoliosis, hearing, and vision if your provider has documented those findings. Parents can opt out of any or all screenings by putting the request in writing or by contacting the nurse at 587-1488 or kschiaffo@northampton-k12.us

JFK Yearbook Orders
The 2019 JFK Yearbook is available to order now for $27. Order online at www.coffeepond.com or send in cash or check payable to JFK in an envelope with your student’s name and homeroom number. Price increases to $29 on April 1.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Sunday, January 27 from 3-5pm in the JFK Community Room. Food and childcare provided! Snow date is February 10. Come together and build community through sharing something about your experience of race and racism in the Northampton Public School Community. Trained facilitators will create the space for everyone who wants to share. Everybody is welcome – students (6th grade and up), staff, teachers, caregivers and all identities. Participants are invited to stay after the event to formally record and submit a story to the REAL collection. REAL (Racial Equity And Learning) Northampton is funded by the Northampton Education Foundation and is comprised of teachers, staff, students, and family members across the district. The overall mission of REAL is to support and strengthen our school community by developing an intentionally anti-racist culture.

NHS Improv Funktionlust Shows
 (Friday, February 8 at 
7pm)
The NHS Improv troupe, Funktionlust, will next perform their unpredictable show combining family-friendly hilarity and spontaneous story-making on Friday, February 8 in the NHS Black Box theater. Showtime is 7-8:30p,; doors open at 6:45pm. Please arrive early since space is limited. The cost will be $5. Refreshments will be available at nominal prices. Funktionlust has also been invited to perform at Northampton’s Sunday Afternoon Live, part of the Four Sunday in February Series on Sunday, February 24 at the Academy of Music. For more information: https://aomtheatre.ticketfly.com/event/1806543-sunday-afternoon-live-arts-northampton/

Save the Date: 14th Annual VINS Dog Show (March 2, 12-3pm)
Northampton High School Gym. Snow date is Sunday, March 3. FREE ENTRY! Only Dogs Pay! Registration is required for dogs: $8 if received by February 28 and $12 at the door (donations accepted). $5 Non-competing dogs. For more info, see the flyer here. Hosted by Volunteers in Northampton Schools, Inc.

 

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Si desea recibir esta información en español, envíenos un mensaje a jfkmspto@gmail.com.