JFK PTO Update – June 3, 2018
Important Dates:
June 5 - JFK MS Chorus Concert
June 6 - JFK MS Band Concert
June 10 - Last Call for Yearkbooks
(all cash or check orders due)
June 11 - Eighth Grade Picnic
(rain date June 13)
June 12 - JFK Day of Service (rain
date June 13)
June 20 - Last Day of School (Half
Day)
Upcoming End-of-Year Concerts
Congrats to our JFK students
participating in their end-of-year concerts next week. A special shout out to
the JFK MS jazz band who received high praise in the Gazette letters to the editor for their May 19 concert at the
Academy of Music. Listeners were “gobsmacked” by their talent! To volunteer to
help at the JFK Band Concert on June 6, please sign up at the link here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090845a5ac2ba02-jfkband1
The Eighth Grade Picnic is June
11 (It’s not too late to volunteer!)
WHAT?? Lots of fun including a DJ,
Photo Booth, T-shirt signing, games and food will be provided. WHEN?? Monday,
June 11 during school hours. RAIN DATE: Wednesday, June 13. WHERE?? Look Park –
Pines Theater. Everybody’s chipping in to help our 8th graders mark the
completion of their middle school years! Use this form to let us know how you can help. Please send donations (any
amount is greatly appreciated) with this form. Checks are payable to JFK PTO
and be sure to write 8th Grade Picnic in the memo line. Volunteers are needed
from 10am to 2:30pm. Volunteers must be CORI checked in advance through the main office at JFK.
The Annual JFK Day of Service
is coming up on June 12 (Rain Date June 13)
All students and staff will be
participating in morning community service activities that range from working
in the elementary schools, landscaping in Look Park, pulling invasive plants
from Fitzgerald Lake, building bird houses, and more. Stay tuned for e-mails
requesting much needed items you can donate to this event.
We
currently are seeking the following items in order to assemble pet toys. Please
bring donations to the front office.
- bags of brightly colored socks (ladies or kids)
- bags of feathers
- t-shirts
- tennis balls
- yarn
- fabric (for beds)
- fiberfill
Staying in touch with health
issues via the Health Advisory Council
The mission of the Health Advisory
Committee of the Northampton Public Schools is to promote and support a healthy
lifestyle for our community’s children across the spectrum of physical, mental
and emotional health by identifying needs and priorities for our children’s
health and well-being and by providing a link between the schools, the
community and parents in support of the message that: Healthier children are
better able to learn. The Health Advisory Committee meets quarterly during the
school year and advises school administration, the Superintendent and the
School Committee on issues surrounding the health and safety of the school
community. If you’d like to join, be added to our email list or want to view
meetings, please contact the Director of Health Services, Health Education and
Safety: Karen Jarvis-Vance at kjarvisvance@northampton-k12.us. The first meeting of the 2018-2019 school year will be
September 26 at 3:30pm at JFK Middle School.
Call for New PTO Officers and
Member Volunteers
The PTO will be seeking a new
president next year and more PTO members to help with events. A new secretary
to take minutes and assist with the agenda at our monthly meetings is also
needed. Email jfkmspto@gmail.com and lend your expertise to our school.
Ways to Support JFK: Amazon and
Box Tops
Do your Amazon shopping at smile.amazon.com/ch/54-2157090 and Amazon donates to the Parent-Teacher Organization of
John F Kennedy Middle School Inc. Box Tops for Education are always welcome for drop off in the school office. We thank you for
your support! Your shopping makes a difference.
Mark Your Calendars!
Thursday, June 14 is the next
School Committee Meeting at 7:15pm in the Mark E. Warner Community Room at JFK
Middle School. The public is welcome to attend all meetings, and are welcome to
speak in the Public Session of the full Committee meetings.
Thursday, August 30 is the First
Day of School for 2018-2019. For more dates, see the Northampton Public Schools
Calendar online: http://www.northamptonschools.org/district-calendar/
Supporting JFK Teachers through
Teacher Grants
The JFK PTO continues to help
teachers with classroom initiatives using your generous donations. On Tuesday,
May 29 the JFK MS PTO funded a salsa dancing working for about 260 of our
students. The students had a great time learning basic salsa steps and practicing
them with authentic salsa music. It was a fantastic connection between language
and culture. If you are interested in helping with the teacher grant committee,
send an email to jfkmspto@gmail.com.
Upcoming Community Events:
Youth Substance Use Prevention
in Challenging Times on Tuesday, June 5 at 6:15pm
Karen Jarvis-Vance, program
director for the Northampton Prevention Coalition, will lead a presentation on
what the new laws on marijuana might mean for families with teens. Research and
ideas on how to support your child to make healthy choices will be part of the
discussion. The presentation will take place right before the JFK Chorus
Concert at Northampton High School’s Little Theatre.
Northampton Education
Foundation Showcase on Friday, June 8 from 6-7:30pm
Please join us at the Northampton
Education Foundation Showcase during Northampton’s Arts Night Out at the
Center for the Arts at 33 Hawley Street (Northampton Community Arts Trust
building). Enter at lower level, off parking lot. Refreshments included.
Celebrate with us as we showcase the projects that Northampton’s public school
teachers and students create with NEF grants and thank the donors who
contribute to our exciting programs. The 2018 Showcase will feature various
projects, including: Scholastic Arts and Writing (JFK) and Working to Eliminate
Racism (JFK). The Northampton Education Foundation funds projects and programs
that expand educational opportunities, foster creativity, and enhance academic
experiences in Northampton's public schools. NEF also works to broaden
community support for our public schools.
Circus
Smirkus is coming to town
July 31-August 1
North Star is proudly bringing
Circus Smirkus back to the Pioneer Valley this summer! Circus Smirkus (the
premier traveling youth circus similar to Cirque du Soleil, but with children
performing), is coming to Northampton, Massachusetts, Tuesday July 31 and
Wednesday August 1 for four shows. This year will be an all new show, with a
Vaudeville theme. Show times are 1pm and 6pm on Tuesday, July 31 and Wednesday,
August 1 under a Big Top tent on a field at the Three County Fairgrounds.
Standard prices for adult tickets (ages 13 and older) are $22, children (ages
2–12) are $18, while lap children under 2 are free. Group rate discounts of
$2/ticket ($20/adult and $16/child) for groups of 15 or more are available. By
doing a group rate, you will also save a $3/ticket online fee for a total
savings of $5/person. If anyone is interested in coordinating a group rate
ticket sale for JFK, email us at the PTO and we will get you more info.
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