JFK PTO Update – March 8, 2019
Important
Dates:
SUNDAY! March
10 - JFK Antique Show to benefit JFK Afterschool
March 12 &
13 - JFK Band Concerts at JFK (don't forget to volunteer)
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)
April 9 - Save
the Date: Special JFK PTO Meeting
READY, SET, GLOW! And Volunteer for the 7th Grade Dance!
Thank you to everyone who volunteered for the 6th grade dance. We couldn’t have done without you! Now, we go back to the future once again: The 7th grade dance will take place on Friday, March 22. We will need ticket sellers that week during 7th grade lunch and dance volunteers to chaperone, decorate, and help clean up. Sign up using this totally radical link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040949AEAA2BA75-20192
An important
note: If you plan to donate snacks for the 7th grade dance, NO NUTS, PLEASE.
This includes peanut butter crackers, granola bars with nuts or any other
nut-based product. Things like single serving chips, popcorns, pretzels, etc.
would be great. Northampton Health Department requires us to only serve
individually pre-packaged store bought items. Thanks so much for your support!
JFK Antique
Show this Sunday, 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. Join
us to help plan for upcoming 7th grade dance, teacher grant requests, and
spring events. All are welcome.
The JFK
Health Office Needs Snacks!
It is common
for students to gravitate toward the nurse when they are hungry because they
have missed breakfast or lunch or are extra hungry. So far this year, the JFK
Health Office has seen over 250 students for this sole reason. Please consider
donating single-serving individually-wrapped snacks
(e.g., pretzels, popcorn or goldfish--NOTHING WITH NUTS, PLEASE) to our JFK Health
Office. Studies document the negative effects of hunger on children’s academic
performance and behavior in school. Let’s partner with JFK and support our
students with healthy snacks! Please drop off or have your student drop off
your donation in the JFK office and label the snacks: “For the JFK Health
Office.”
Florence
Savings Bank Community Grants
Thank you all
who voted for JFK PTO as part of the Florence Savings Bank Community Grants.
This year we increased our grant award to $1052. These dollars go to help our
teachers host special activities via teacher grants, so thanks! Want to vote
for us again this year? Click here: https://www.florencebank.com/vote
First View
Budget
Helpful
Links for 8th Grade Families
Next week 8th
graders will be receiving their course selection sheets as well as guidance
from counselors from Northampton High School. Below is a link to
an extremely helpful document called "Program of Studies for Northampton High
School 2019-2020." This is a comprehensive guide to course selection and
assists families in mapping out students’ years at NHS. It's packed full of
helpful information:
More
information can also be located on the Guidance page of the NHS website.
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
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
THE PIED
PIPER Performance
What do you do
when your town is overrun by rats? You call THE PIED PIPER! On Saturday, March
9, take a trip to Hamelin Town with the Missoula Children's Theatre, as over 50
local students present THE PIED PIPER, an original musical adaptation of this
classic tale. This original musical production is part of the Missoula
Children's Theatre's unique international touring project and is presented
locally by Amherst Leisure Services Community Theater. Tickets are $8/adults
and $5/children and seniors, and are available at the door. For more
information, see www.alsct.org, or call 413-461-6722. Two one-hour shows at Amherst Regional
Middle School on
Saturday, March 9 at 1:30 and 4pm.
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 -- 2 More Families Needed
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
HS 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!
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!
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
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