JFK PTO Update – March 1, 2019
Important
Dates:
March 7 -
Grade 5 Parent / Guardian Transition Evening at JFK
March 10 - JFK
Antique Show to benefit JFK Afterschool Programs
March 12 &
13 - JFK Band Concerts at JFK
March 14 - NPS School Committee
Meeting
March 15 -
Half Day / Early Dismissal
March 19 - NEW
DATE! JFK PTO Meeting (6-7pm)
March 22 - 7th
Grade Dance (6:30-8PM)
READY, SET, GLOW! 6th & 7th Grade Dances
The 6th grade
dance is tonight! Friday, March 1.
Here is the
info:
- All tickets
must have been purchased before the dance. No tickets will be sold at
the door.
-
Parents/guardians must pick up their students at 8pm sharp. Pickup and drop off
will take place at the cafeteria door.
It’s never too
late to volunteer! Sign up to decorate, chaperone, or clean up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040949AEAA2BA75-20191
See our great
black and neon flyer here: 6th Grade Dance
Flyer
The 7th grade
dance will take place on Friday, March 22. We will need ticket sellers that
week at school and dance volunteers. Sign up using the link below.
JFK Antique
Show on March 10 -- Volunteers and Bakers needed!
The JFK
Afterschool Program is having a fundraiser for the After School Program on
Sunday, March 10 from 10am to 3pm. We need volunteers to work 2 hour shifts at
the bake sale table. We also need bakers to donate baked goods! All kinds of
items needed, just no nuts. To volunteer, email Peggy Clapp at: pclapp@northampton-k12.us
Our next
PTO Meeting is Tuesday, March 19 (NEW DATE!)
With so many activities
at the start of March, we have decided to move our monthly meeting to Tuesday,
March 19 from 6-7:30pm in the JFK Library. We usually meet the first Tuesday of
the month, but in April we will meet on Tuesday, April 9 to accomodate a
special guest speaker on vaping. Join us to help plan for upcoming 7th grade
dance, teacher grant requests, and spring events. All are welcome.
Congratulations
JFK Teachers!
The
Northampton Public Schools is proud to announce the 2019 Pioneer Valley
Excellence in Teaching Award Winners:
Kaitlyn Myers
– (NEW) JFK Grade 6 Science Teacher
Claire
Williams – JFK Band Teacher
Jeromie Whalen
– NHS Technology Teacher
Leslie Stein –
BSS Grade 5 Special Education Teacher
2019
Prevention Needs Assessment
Every two
years SPIFFY (the strategic planning initiative for families and youth) teams
with the Northampton Prevention Coalition and the Northampton Public Schools to
survey all 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students. The purpose of the survey is to
gather information needed to plan important prevention and intervention
programs to combat such problems as substance use, bullying, and dating
violence in schools and communities. The survey yields data on student
behaviors, risk factors, protective factors, and students' perceptions of these
risk and protective factors. This data not only informs programming but
provides NPS, SPIFFY, and NPC with the information it needs to apply for grants
to fund such programs. JFK 8th grade students will take the survey on March 13;
NHS 10th and 12th graders on March 12; SVAHS 10th and 12th graders on April 3.
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.
Shop and
Raise Funds for JFK
We collect Boxtops for
Education all
year long; your student can drop them off in the JFK office. Support JFK at
Stop and Shop by using the link here. Big Y Express: https://www.bigy.com/rs/educationexpress. Or link to JFK MS PTO through Amazon Smile and donate to Parent-Teacher
Organization of John F Kennedy Middle School Inc.
COMMUNITY
EVENTS
TOMORROW!
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.
SUNDAY!
REAL (Racial Equity and Learning) “Reading into Diversity”
REAL (Racial
Equity and Learning) Northampton (realnorthampton.com) invites people in the
NPS community to a gathering led by local educator and social justice advocate
Alice Levine, who is currently working with Northampton’s elementary school
librarians to implement the NEF grant–funded “Reading into Diversity” program. Please
join us on Sunday, March 3 from 4-5:30pm, at 24 Hayes Avenue in Northampton.
Children are welcome. The program’s facilitators intend to use literature to
help NPS students, staff, and parents/caregivers develop a more nuanced
understanding of the perspectives of peers and neighbors from a diversity of
backgrounds. Levine has put together an extensive list of books, a number of
which will be purchased for the local elementary schools, that enable all of
our district’s students, including students of the global majority, to see
themselves reflected in our libraries, classrooms, and curricula. Facilitators
will also provide teachers, library staff, and parents/caregivers with
strategies for engaging kids in conversations about topics raised in/by the
selected books. At this meeting, Levine will share more information about the
program, pass around some sample books, and gather feedback about the
bibliographies she has created.
Northampton
High School Presents “Grease!”
The NHS
musical is back this year and celebrating the 40th anniversary of Grease! March
14-16 at 7pm. Matinee Saturday, March 16 at 2pm. More info here: https://hamphigh-nhspto.org/ TICKETS At the door: students and
staff: $5, general admission:$15, senior citizens: $10. OR find online at https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3608578
Host
Japanese Students for a Weekend
Northampton HS
and the International Language Institute have partnered with GPI US, a Japanese
student exchange organization, to create a one-week study program for Meisei
H.S. students during their school break. The students will be visiting ILI
& Northampton High School this spring. Any Pioneer Valley families can
apply. Needed: Families to host these students for 3 nights, March 15–18.
Double (or single) placements for 26 students. Who: 14 boys and 12 girls, ages
15 and 16. For more information, click on the flyer here.
Calling all
6th-8th graders, the Heart & Sole Community Team is happening for a second
season
Smith College
is hosting any girl in 6th-8th grade to be part of Girls on the Run's
Heart & Sole program. Practices are Tuesday and Friday from 3:30-5pm starting the week
of March 11 and ending with our GOTR5K on June 2. Practices will be held down
at the Smith College athletic fields. Space is limited, only 10 spots
available. Register today!
Save the
Date: Northampton Farm to School Summit
The first
annual Northampton Farm to School Summit on Saturday, April 6 from 9am to 1pm
will bring together stakeholders and enthusiasts interested in connecting kids
to healthy food and local farms in the school environment. At this gathering we
will come together to learn about current successes and challenges, gather
input, and create a unified vision for how to take this work forward. Childcare
and lunch will be provided, and teachers will receive a stipend for attending.
Registration is free. Please see this Eventbrite link to sign up and attend: https://northamptonfarmtoschoolsummit.eventbrite.com
Amherst
Leisure Services Community Theater Presents Auditions for Missoula Children’s
Theatre’s THE PIED PIPER!
Auditions will
be held for the Missoula Children’s Theatre musical production of THE PIED
PIPER Monday, March 4 at the Amherst Middle School Cafeteria from 4:15-6:15pm.
All those auditioning should arrive at 4pm and plan to stay for the full two
hours. Some of those cast in the show will be asked to stay for a rehearsal
immediately following the auditions. Students from K-12 are encouraged to
audition. Assistant Directors will also be cast to aid in rehearsals throughout
the week, and to take on essential backstage responsibilities. There are 50-60
roles available, with parts in every age group. There is a $55 Registration Fee
due at the audition for all those who are cast—additional siblings $30 (fee
waivers are available). THE PIED PIPER will be presented on Saturday, March 9
at 1:30pm and 4pm at the Amherst Middle School Auditorium. Tickets are $8 for
adults and $5 for students under 18 and seniors. For more information, visit: https://alsct.org/childrens_theater/index.html
The 19th
Annual Northampton Adult Spelling Bee, March 27 at JFK
Doors Open:
5PM. Spelling Bee: 6PM. The Spelling Bee is one of the ways NEF raises money to support Small Grants
for Teachers and raises awareness of their mission. Last year, 21 grants across
school and grade levels totaled almost $50,000. It is also good fun, a great
way to dress up, and participate in our community. Prizes are awarded for
spelling, costume, and humor. Teams are 3 people, usually in costume, with a
catchy 🐝 related name. We encourage you to invite your friends and family to
come and cheer for your team! Great dinner options are available at “Le
Beestro” (by Cooper’s Corners). Dinner begins at 5pm (bring cash!). There will
also be baked goods for sale, and Herrell’s ice cream! Team Registration is now
open! Click Here!
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our JFK PTO Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/jfkmspto/
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