Friday, May 3, 2019

JFK PTO Update – May 3, 2019


JFK PTO Update – May 3, 2019
 
Important Dates:
May 5 - Teacher Appreciation Week Fundraising Begins!
May 7-24 - MCAS Testing
May 7 - JFK PTO Meeting
May 8 - Teacher Appreciation Brunch - Volunteers Needed!
May 9 - NPS School Committee Meeting
May 15 - Health Advisory Council Meeting
May 17 - Half Day - Early Dismissal
May 19 - Eighth Grade Mayor’s Dance

It’s starting! THE 2019 JFK PTO TEACHER APPRECIATION CAMPAIGN
Has a JFK teacher or staff member made a difference in your student’s life? Thank a teacher by contributing to this year’s TEACHER APPRECIATION campaign.

Your year-end donation will help address the needs of JFK teachers by adding to the JFK PTO teacher grant fund. JFK PTO teacher grants fund staff requests for equipment, school supplies, field trips, and more. Did you know that we had more requests for funding this year than we could afford to fund? Express your appreciation of a teacher’s commitment to your student(s) and help us ensure future funding for more teacher grants.

HOW TO DONATE:
  • Look for a letter that came home with your student.
  • Send in your completed form and a check made out to JFK PTO with your student to school, or, return the form by mail. You can donate online through Mighty Cause: https://tinyurl.com/y529vnzp
  • The teacher(s) you choose to honor will receive a special note of thanks from the JFK PTO acknowledging their important contribution to the school. You can also enclose a special message with your donation form.
  • Teacher Appreciation Week is May 5-10. Donate now through the end of the school year!

Here is what one teacher said about the JFK PTO teacher grants funded with your donations: Thank you so much! Please know how much I appreciate the PTO's efforts to raise funds that support student learning. The grants have provided such valuable opportunities for our students throughout this year!

Donate today through Mighty Cause: https://tinyurl.com/y529vnzp and help us help our teachers!
 
Teacher Appreciation Brunch -- Volunteers and Bakers Still Needed!
Teacher Appreciation Week is here! We can still use more volunteers to donate food or drinks. The brunch date is this Wednesday, May 8. Sign up to volunteer at this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040949aeaa2ba75-20193

And don’t forget, on May 8, we also recognize our school nurses by celebrating National School Nurse Day as a way to foster a better understanding of the role of school nurses in the educational setting.
 
May MCAS Schedule
May 7-8 - Grade 8 Math
May 9-10 - Grade 6 and 7 Math
May 14-15 - Grade 8 Science and Technology
May 12-24 - Make up testing

JFK PTO Meeting (Tuesday, May 7 at 6pm in the JFK Library)
Our next PTO meeting will take place Tuesday, May 7 at 6pm in the JFK Library. There are only 2 meetings left this year! Help us to plan our eighth grade picnic and to transition to a new PTO president. Bring questions and ideas!

Eighth Grade Mayor’s Dance Ticket Sale Info
The Northampton Parks & Recreation is once again sponsoring the annual Parks & Recreation Mayor's Dance. This dance is offered to JFK Middle School 8th grade students only. The dance will be held on Sunday, May 19 from 6pm to 9pm. A fun time with music, munchies to snack on, and a photo booth! Tickets will be sold during 8th grade lunch on Wednesday, May 15, and Thursday, May 16. Additionally, tickets will be sold after school dismissal on Friday, May 17 until 4:30pm. To purchase a ticket, students will need to bring $20 (cash/check) and the signed parent/guardian form that was sent to the household. Any questions please contact the Parks & Rec office at recreation@northamptonma.gov or call 413-587-1040.

Want to Learn More about the Farm to School Summit?
On Saturday April 6, over 50 Northampton teachers, parents, residents, local leaders and legislators spent the morning talking about how to strengthen the connections between the city’s schools and healthy local food, farms, and gardens. Read the Grow Food Northampton summary here. To keep the momentum going and continue the conversation in an informal way, there will be an opportunity to gather in late May/early June. Contact Grow Food Northampton to get involved.

Eighth Grade Picnic Volunteers Needed
The Eighth Grade Picnic in the Look Park Pines Theater will be held on Monday, June 3 (with a June 4 rain date). We are seeking volunteers to help during the picnic. Send us an email at jfkmspto@gmail.com! More picnic details coming soon.

Step up to Volunteer with the JFK PTO in 2020
This year is the last year for our amazing PTO President. The PTO needs volunteers to carry on the great work we do. With the limited resources of public school budgets, a PTO can make a significant impact in funding gaps to enrich our students’ middle school educational experience. The JFK PTO is highly organized and ready to go; we just need parents willing to set aside an hour a month to keep events happening and approve teacher grant requests. Please send us an email and let us know you can help: jfkmspto@gmail.com

Did you see the news? Friday, June 14 is the last day of school (half day). Wednesday, August 28 is the first day of school for the new year. And that’s when we’ll need lots of new PTO volunteers! Email us to get involved in your student’s education.

JFK Yearbook Orders
The JFK Yearbook is available for year-end purchase for $29 through June 1. Send in cash or check payable to JFK in an envelope with your student’s name and homeroom number.

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

Northampton Area Pediatrics Parenting Workshop (May 5)
Free parenting workshop on Sunday, May 5 from 4-5:30pm: "Raising Digital Kids: How to Manage Screens in your Family with More Cooperation and Less Yelling" with Sharon Saline, Psy.D. RSVP by calling (413) 517-2226 or contactus@napeds.com.

Eat for Education (May 7)
Eat for Education! On Tuesday, May 7, restaurants in Northampton and Florence will give 10% of their day’s take to the Northampton High School PTO. Eat out for breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner, support local restaurants, and support the PTO! Participating restaurants are Bela, Bombay Royale, Bueno Y Sano, Cooper’s Corner Deli, Eastside Grill, Florence Pie Bar, Freckled Fox Café, GoBerry, Herrell’s, Homestead, India House, Jake’s, Joe’s Café, Local Burger, Osaka, Paul & Elizabeth’s, Pizza Amore, Roberto’s, Sierra Grille, State Street Deli, Sylvester’s, Taipei & Tokyo, Thai Garden.

Northampton Public Schools’ K-8 Art Show (May 10-31)
The art teachers from the elementary schools and the middle school cordially invite students and their families to JFK Middle School on Friday, May 10 from 4-6pm for an art opening reception. The exhibition will host a sampling of original artwork by local students. There will be light refreshments served by the Jackson Street PTO. Please join us for this wonderful event!

22nd Annual Northampton Education Foundation Plant Sale (May 11)
The Northampton Education Foundation needs your plants! If you’re digging up or separating plants this spring, donate them to the NEF plant sale. You can drop them at Smith Vocational High School (80 Locust Street, Northampton) on Friday, May 10, from 4-7pm or contact Francie Lin at francie.m.lin@gmail.com for an alternative drop off.

The 22nd Annual Plant Sale is Saturday, May 11, 9am-1pm, at Smith Voke. It includes a wide range of plants, including annuals and perennials, vegetable starters, herbs, hanging plants, trees, and shrubs, as well as organic lawn and garden products and compost. Shoppers can buy treasures from local artisans, including handcrafted garden furniture donated by local woodworkers. The event also includes a raffle to win a handmade quilt and garden furniture made by Smith Vocational woodworking students. Last year’s Plant Sale raised over $10,000 for books for the Northampton Public Schools and Smith Voke. You’ll find more information on the NEF website.

Bicycle Rodeo at JFK (May 11)
Northampton Police Dept and local bicycle groups will provide various activities with the goal of teaching safety bike-riding skills to children. Two sessions 10am-12pm and 12-2pm. Suitable for ages 4-10. More info here.     
                   
2019 Northampton Public Arts Festival (May 11-12)
The Northampton Public Arts Festival is a unique two-day event aimed at promoting public arts through live mural painting and street art workshops for youth. The festival will bring local and nationally recognized street artists and muralists to convene and create beautiful public art for the city of Northampton and the Pioneer Valley. For more info, visit:

Northampton Parks & Recreation & Sugarloaf Youth Track League
The Northampton Parks & Recreation Department and The Sugarloaf Mountain Athletic Club are sponsoring the Sugarloaf Youth Track League for youth entering grades 2 through 9. Children of all abilities are invited to participate and will be placed on one of six teams. Meets take place at Northampton High School Track beginning at 5pm on the following nights: Fridays, June 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29. Team assignment is Wednesday, May 29. For further information call the Recreation Department at 587-1040 or visit:

Teen Expeditions Summer Day Camp
Northampton Parks & Recreation has your summer plans for your JFK Middle School Student! Enroll in Teen Expeditions, for kids entering grades 7-10, for any one week session beginning June 24 all the way through August 9. This unique day camp program is our adventure based trip camp! Each day is filled with exciting experiences. Your teen might be hiking around the Pioneer Valley, swimming at a beach, biking along the Norwottuck Rail Trail, reaching great heights at a ropes course, exploring Brownstone Adventure Park (a water based adventure park), and much more! Experienced staff lead our unique trips & adventures. Find information about our programs at this link:

Counselor In Training Program
The Northampton Parks & Recreation has a unique opportunity to offer to teens between ages 14 & 15 or entering grades 9 & 10. Potential Counselor in Trainings (CIT) will have the opportunity to interact with campers, lead activities, receive hands on experience, and develop some real-life skills. There are three 2-week sessions offered for both Safety Village and Camp Kidzone. Deadline to apply is Monday, May 20. More information about the program can be found at this link: http://www.northamptonma.gov/882/Counselor-In-Training-Program

Summer Sports Skills & Drills Programs
Northampton Parks & Recreation is offering half day, week long skills and drills programs this summer. Young athletes will be able to sharpen their skills and develop their play in various sports. Contact the office at 587-1040, or visit the website www.northamptonma.gov/recreation for more details:
  • Soccer Skills & Drills: Grades 2-7, June 24-38, Director: Brad McGrath
  • Girls Basketball Skills & Drills: Grades 4–8, July 8–13, Director: Perry Messer, Head Basketball Coach @ Northampton High
  • Joe Mantegna Basketball: Grades 2-8, July 29-August 1, Director: Joseph Mantegna Jr., Head Basketball Coach @ Blair Academy, NJ
  • Coed Lacrosse Skills & Drills: Grades 1-8, July 15-19, Director: RJ Dawson, Coaches Boys Lacrosse @ Saint Andrew’s School, FL
  • Junior Tennis Skills & Drills: Ages 8-14, Weekly Sessions in June-August, Instructor: Ryan Paquette

Summer Specialty Day Programs
Northampton Parks & Recreation is once again offering different half day programs this summer for a unique and creative experience. Contact the office at 587-1040, or visit the website www.northamptonma.gov/recreation for more details:
  • Incrediflix: Ages 7-13, led by Incrediflix Instructors. Participants will storyboard, design, and shoot their own film! Week 1: July 8-12, Green Screen LEGO Flix &/or Animation Flix. Week 2: July 29-August 2, Action Movie Flix &/or Minecraft Movie Flix.
  • Art-Ventures for Kids: Ages 5-12, led by Art-Ventures Instructors. Participants will create their own 2D and 3D art. One week only, August 12-August 16, Fairies & Dragons.
  • Homeslice Puppetry: Ages 8-12, led by the very own Homeslice, a professional puppet builder. Participants will learn about a different style of puppetry, develop new skills, and create take home puppets. One week only, June 24-28, The Puppet Show &/or Crank it Up!

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