Friday, March 13, 2020

JFK PTO Update – March 13, 2020


JFK PTO Update – March 13, 2020
 

Dear JFK Families,

At the request of NPS, we’d like to share with you the letter from NPS on actions in response to COVID-19 and to remind you of the various postponements and cancellations of community events. Please check online for the latest updates.

Health Info Letter on COVID-19 (Updated 3/10/20) 
Read more from NPS online 

IMPORTANT DATES 
TODAY! March 13 - Half Day (Early Release)
March 15 - JFK Spring Antique Show to Benefit JFK Afterschool (Postponed)
March 20 - Seventh Grade Dance (Postponed)

Calling All 8th Graders! Baby Pix Due for Yearbook (TODAY!)
The JFK yearbook, which our wonderful art faculty member Michelle Mallory is helping to coordinate, will have a section in the book featuring baby pictures of our 8th grade students. Families can email a photo or send one in with their child. Deadline is Friday, March 13. Emailing is preferred: mmallory@northampton-k12.us 

Request for Extra Paint from the Art Department
The JFK art department would gladly take partial containers of latex house paint - any color - but especially shades of white!

JFK Afterschool Spring Antique Show (Postponed)
The spring antique show to benefit the JFK Afterschool Program has been postponed.

Seventh Grade Dance on March 20 (Postponed)
Please stay tuned for further info about events.

The JFK Yearbook Is On Sale (Order by March 29)
The 2020 JFK Yearbook is on sale for $27. To place an order, send a cash or check made out to JFK Middle School in an envelope to school with your student’s name and homeroom number and “yearbook” in the memo line. Online, go to www.coffeepond.com and click “place an order” then “yearbook”. Order before 3/29 as the price increases to $29 after that. The last day to order is 4/26.

JFK Student named Poetry Finalist
Diana Ajjan, 7th grade English teacher here at JFK Middle School, inspired her students by combining a study of Greek Mythology with a ROW field trip to the Mill River. She submitted a batch of wonderfully diverse poems to the annual ROW contest and Trey Rivera was chosen as a Poetry Finalist. Read the poem here.

JFK 7th Graders win PLTW Mass STEM Hub Challenge

2019 Official Accountability Report - Northampton
As noted in the 2/27/20 edition of JFK News that went home with students, the School Report Card is available online. 2020 MCAS Testing will take place between the dates of April 1-May 22.

Need Help with Aspen?
Cynthia Kelley is the Aspen coordinator for NPS. Learn more about how to contact her here: http://www.northamptonschools.org/profile/cynthia-kelley/ 

Health Screenings for 8th Grade
During the month of March, the JFK nursing staff will be providing interview-based screening for 8th grade students about the use of alcohol and marijuana. SBIRT screening sessions will be included with the regular 8th grade health screenings (hearing, vision & scoliosis). They will be brief (5-10 minutes) and be conducted confidentially in private, one-on-one sessions. A copy of the screening tool was mailed home on 2/14/20 to parents/guardians for their review. Results of the SBIRT screening will not be included in your student’s school record and parents will be notified if a student is referred to Guidance for further intervention. 

You have the right to opt your child out of these screenings. Contact the JFK School Nurse, Karen Schiaffo, RN at 587-1488 or at kschiaffo@northampton-k12.us if you wish to do so. Please indicate if you prefer that your child not participate in SBIRT, hearing, vision, scoliosis or all of the screenings. Additionally, students may choose not to answer any of the SBIRT screening questions as it is voluntary. 

JFK Silverware Drive
JFK is organizing a silverware collection to reduce plastic use. You can donate your extra items in the JFK office any time during the school year. 

JFK April PTO Online Meeting (4/7/20)
PTO meetings are usually held the first Tuesday of the month from 6-7pm. Our next meeting is scheduled for April 7 in the JFK library. If you can’t join us for meetings, but still want to help us organize teacher appreciation events, please email us at jfkmspto@gmail.com. Stay tuned for info on how to meet with us online if an in-person meeting is not possible. 

5 Easy Ways to Support JFK MS PTO
·       Donate online. Your donations are tax-deductible and help fund special programs at JFK. We accept donations year-round!
·       Link to JFK MS PTO through Amazon Smile and donate to Parent-Teacher Organization of John F Kennedy Middle School Inc. Click here for instructions on how to use the app.
·       Send in your Boxtops with your student to the JFK office. We can accept Boxtop donations year-round as long as they are not expired. Online we are: JOHN F KENNEDY MIDDLE SCHOOL| School ID: 573700. 
·       Register your Stop and Shop card to benefit JFK Middle School using ID#05378. Call 1-877-275-2758 to register or log on to www.stopandshop.com
·       Be sure to vote for us in the Florence Savings Bank Customers’ Choice Awards of 2020. This year we’re hoping to get above 50 votes to receive support for our programs.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

The Sound of Music: Postponed
The NHS Musical, The Sound of Music has been postponed. More information to come.

Second Annual Farm to School Summit: Postponed 
The 2nd annual Northampton Public Schools' Farm to School Summit at the Smith College Campus Center has been postponed. http://www.northamptonschools.org/farm-to-school/ 

The Northampton Education Foundation Spelling Bee: Postponed
The NEF is postponing its beloved annual event, the Adult Spelling Bee, scheduled for March 25, until this fall. More information will follow. Go to the NEF website if you’d like to sponsor a team.   

April 1, 2020 Census Count: Everyone Counts
In mid March households will receive materials from the U.S. Census Bureau in the mail. Responding online is the preferred method. It’s your choice: you can respond securely online, by mail, or by phone. By law, your responses cannot be used against you. Your census responses are safe and secure. http://lwvnorthamptonarea.org/event/april-1-2020-census-count-everyone-counts/ 
 
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Si desea recibir esta información en español, envíenos un mensaje a jfkmspto@gmail.com.