PTO updates

We want your input! The JFK Middle School PTO is planning ahead for next year. Do you have ideas about how we should organize around fundraising next year? Do you just want to come see how you can help? If so, please join us for a planning meeting Tuesday May 26 at 6pm. Please contact Lia McLaughlin (Lia.mclaughlin@yahoo.com) or 413-727-8934 for more information or if you would like to participate. All are invited to come, share refreshments, and discuss strategies for making next year great for JFK teachers and students!

 

A member of the PTO is proposing an amendment to the PTO bylaws. Most of the changes focus on standardizing language and making the bylaws more reflective of the current PTO meetings and activities. One major proposed change it to term limits for Officers. The PTO bylaws, as they stand, require annual elections and do not allow any one parent to hold a position for more than 2 years. The proposed change would maintain the annual election provision, but would expand the term limit so that a parent can hold the same position for up to 3 consecutive years. And, after one year off, a parent would then be eligible to run for a position again, provided the parent still had one or more students in the school. The current by laws and the draft amendment are posted here and on the PTO Blog, and we will be discussing these at the next PTO meeting on Monday, June 1, at 5:30pm in the JFK Middle School Library. The Agenda is also posted on the blog.  Please join us! All are welcome!

 

The PTO Blog is more than you might think. It has regular updates in between email updates, helpful links, easy, at home fundraisers, the JFK school calendar, and now a Google translate button! 

 

District News

 

Bridge Street School Turns 100 Party!

All are invited to a fun-filled afternoon at the Bridge Street School to celebrate the school's 100 Years!  Meet the oldest alumni, take a tour of the school and see what all the classrooms have been working on for this event.  Have some cake and a visit to Historic Northampton just next door.  Friday, May 29 from 3:00-5:00 pm at the school: 2 Parsons Street.  On Facebook: "Bridge Street School 100"

 

The NHS PTO welcomes and encourages JFK 8th grade families to look at the NHS PTO website AND subscribe to our weekly electronic newsletter Hamp Highlights. I have included the link below for the website. Subscribing is very easy, the quick link is located on the PTO website in the right sided column. www.hamphigh-nhspto.org/

 

Annual auditions for the Northampton High School Improv Troupe Funktionlust will be on Wednesday June 10thbetween 5:30-7:00 in the Black Box Theater at NHS. Heidi Hass will have callbacks on Thursday the 11th but if you have a student who can not audition on Weds, he/she is welcome to come on Thursday. 8th graders are encouraged to try out for next year.  The students do not need to prepare anything. I will be asking them to play theater improvisation games with current members of the troupe. Funktionlust is a performing troupe; we meet weekly on Thursdays from 5:30-7:00 in the NHS Black Box theater and perform 6-8 times a year. The members of the troupe need to make a commitment to attending rehearsals otherwise they can not continue in the troupe.  Heidi Hass is happy to answer any questions you or your student may have. Please free to email  Heidi_Haas@comcast.netor call at 584-5562.

Each year the Jackson StreetPTO holds a used book fair for our students. We want our students to start their summer with books in hand, and we purposively hold a used book fair so that our entire student body can take at least one book home (regardless of a family's ability to pay). All of our families donate books that are suitable for K-5 reading, but we often do not have quite enough books for our 4th and 5th graders. If you would like to donate gently used books, particularly those geared towards more advanced readers, please drop them off in bags or boxes in the JSS lobby. We'll collect books through Tuesday, June 16th. If you have any questions, please contact Alison Hopkins at arobertshopkins@gmail.com. Thank you!

 

Attention 8th Grade Boy Soccer Players interested in playing at NHS:

Fall Soccer at NHS  An informational meeting about Boys Soccer at Northampton High School will be held on Monday, June 8, 2015, 6:00 - 7:00 pm, at NHS in the Little Theater.  Players and parents are encouraged to attend. Any questions contact:  Coach Mino Caulton at caulton.mino@gmail.com  or 413.835.5029

Summer Soccer for High School Boys It is time to register for the Northampton Summer Soccer Team.  The summer soccer season is a great way to get ready for the Fall season by keeping skills sharp, developing chemistry with teammates, and keeping (or getting back into) shape.  For incoming Freshman its a great way to transition to the high school game which is much faster and physical than what most players are used to.  John Rockett and Dave Doele will be running the summer program.  If your son is interested in playing, registration is this Wednesday.  Wednesday, May 27 and Thursday, May 28 from 6:00 and 7:30 pm at MacDonald Field (near Safety Village).  Registration forms to fill out will be provided.  In addition, please bring:

a passport-sized photo of your son (1in. x 1in), 

a check for $50, and 

your player's t-shirt size.  

Any questions contact: Dave Doele (413-586-4993) 

or John Rockett (413-519-4330)

 

 

JFK School council minutes are now on the school website: 

http://www.northampton-k12.us/our-schools/jfk-middle-school/jfk-school-council-meeting-minutes

Also, the district calendar for 2015-2016 has been approved; first day of school is September 2. School Calendar

A presentation focusing on "Breaking the Cycle of Worry" is being held at the NHS auditorium on the evening of June 17th from 6:30 to 8:30. Sponsored by the Parent Advisory Council and Student Services of the Northampton Public Schools Everyone is welcome!

Lunch menus available at: Food Services

 

Diversity:

We are working on having the PTO updates translated into Spanish.  If you would like to help, or would like a Spanish copy of the updates, please reply to this email.  

 

Si le gustaria esta carta en Espanol, email jfkmspto@gmail.com

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

Tuesday May 26 Progress Reports go home

 

Wednesday, May 27 6:30 pmScience Fair

 

Monday June 1 PTO Meeting 5:30 JFK Library

 

Wednesday June 10 6:30 Spring Band Concert

 

Thursday June 11 7 pm Choral Concert

 

Thursday June 18 5 pm School Council Meeting

 

Wednesday June 24 Half day, last day of school

 

Tuesday, August 25Transperformance!

 

Wednesday, September 2 First day of School

 

Monday, September 14 5:30 pmPTO Meeti

 

 

Check out our blog: jfkmspto.blogspot.com for easy, at home fundraisers, previous newsletters, upcoming events, and helpful links including the JFK Google calendar!

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Hamp Highlights

The NHS PTO welcomes and encourages JFK 8th grade families to look at the NHS PTO website AND subscribe to our weekly electronic newsletter Hamp Highlights. I have included the link below for the website. 

Subscribing is very easy, the quick link is located on the PTO website in the right sided column. 

www.hamphigh-nhspto.org/

Agenda for June 1 meeting

JFK Middle School PTO

Meeting Agenda

June 1, 2015, 5:30pm

JFK Library

We support our teachers and students through grants to enrich the classroom experience, supporting events to connect the community, and providing information about events at the school.

I. Welcome and Introductions - last meeting of the school year

II. May minutes approval

III. Treasurer's report

         Discuss teacher Stipends

IV. Recommendations from fundraising planning meeting for next year (vote expected)

V.  Proposed Amendment to PTO Bylaws (vote expected)

           

VI.  Elections for Officers for next year - discuss, elections expected 1st meeting next year

VII. PTO letter to 5th graders

VIII. Upcoming Events

8^th Grade picnic -  June 16th with a rain date of June 18th.

Transperformance

Ice Cream Social - June 5th

PTO Get together?

PTO Representative for Sept 2 6^th grade Cookie Social

Family Information Form for JFK Directory

IX. Principal's report

X. Teacher's report

XI. First PTO Meeting next year, Sept 14, 2015 (Sept 7th is Labor Day)

Proposed amendments to PTO bylaws

A member of the PTO is proposing an amendment to the PTO bylaws. Most of the changes focus on standardizing language and making the bylaws more reflective of the current PTO meetings and activities. One major proposed change it to term limits for Officers. The PTO bylaws, as they stand, require annual elections and do not allow any one parent to hold a position for more than 2 years. The proposed change would maintain the annual election provision, but would expand the term limit so that a parent can hold the same position for up to 3 consecutive years. And, after one year off, a parent would then be eligible to run for a position again, provided the parent still had one or more students in the school. The current by laws and the draft amendment are posted here: by-law amendments    and we will be discussing these at the next PTO meeting on Monday, June 1, at 5:30pm in the JFK Middle School Library. Please join us! All are welcome!

School council minutes

Are now on the JFK school website: 

http://www.northampton-k12.us/our-schools/jfk-middle-school/jfk-school-council-meeting-minutes

Also, the calendar for 2015-2016 is approved, first day of school is September 2. 

http://www.northampton-k12.us/Administration/documents-and-forms/school-calendar

Fundraising sub committee meeting

JFK Middle School Parents:

At our last PTO meeting, we discussed the importance of planning ahead for fundraising next year including: total fund raising goal, budgeted amounts for different activities, priorities for funding, and potential fundraisers and associated timing. To help expedite this for our last meeting, we are planning a subcommittee meeting to discuss and create a plan and options which can be presented at the next PTO meeting in June.

Everyone is welcome! We are planning to meet on Tuesday, May 26 at 6pm. Please contact Lia McLaughlin at lia.mclaughlin@yahoo.com or 413-727-8934 if you would like more information or if you are planning to attend. You can also send her any thoughts or suggestions if you are unable to be there. We want to hear from you!

JFK student-faculty basketball game

The JFK student-faculty basketball game was a great success and fun for all. Parents approached me that night and in the community since then to say how much fun they and their kids had.

I'd like to thank everyone who helped make the event happen - the businesses that sponsored the event, the volunteers on the After-School Program Advisory Committee who did hours and hours of work behind the scenes, Ms. Clapp and Ms. Adamoyurka for organizing, Mr. and Ms. McGrath for refereeing, the parents who coached the student teams, and of course the teachers who played and cheered on their colleagues. It was a great night for all and money was raised to keep our After-School Program open to all students regardless of their ability to pay.

Once again, thank you for all you do to make JFK such a positive, enjoyable community.

Sincerely,
Scott Andrew, Associate Principal

Upcoming Events

JFK Student –Faculty Basketball game Tonight!

This fun event is the biggest fundraiser we have for the after school program.  Friday, May 8 at Northampton High School Gymnasium – Come cheer them on!

Doors open at 6:00 p.m.   First game starts at 6:30 p.m.

There will be five games each 10 minutes long.

For all: half-court shot contests ($1.00 per shot) and a 50/50 raffle. Tickets will be $4.00 (available at the door)

 

Community Updates

NEF has its annual. Plant and Garden Market - SOS Book Fund  Saturday, May 9 9am-1pm to raise money for Books for Northampton Public Schools.  Please come!

Annuals - Perennials – Hanging Plants – Terrariums - Herbs –Houseplants – Shrubs - Trees- Birdhouses – Birdbaths - Planters – Compost – Nature Books, Cards, Photos and Clothing – Treasures from local gardens, studios and workshops.

 

 

NHS Updates

Hands on Science Fest at NHS Saturday, May 9 4-5:30, geared to Middle and Elementary school students.  Donations accepted to benefit the InvenTeam trip to EurekaFest at MIT in June.

 

Black Box Theatre presents: This is our Youth The show dates are April 30th, May 1st, 7th, 8th, and 9th, all at 7:30. 

 

Upcoming events

 

JFK

The K-8 Art Department will be putting on our 3rd annual Art Show with the opening reception being Friday May 15 from 4.30-6 @ JFK Middle School. We have approx. 200 pieces from our five K-8 schools being displayed and are very excited. 

 

District Events

How to Help Your Teen Make Healthy Choices: A Taste of Motivational Interviewing with John Brelsford, PHD @ Collaborative for Educational Services  May 16 @ 10:30 am – 2:00 pm northamptonprevents.org/events

 

The Wild Goose Chase to benefit Whole Children will be held at Look Park, from 10AM to 1PM on Sunday, May 17, 2015, and is an inclusive, family event for all ages. Register here

 

Food Services May lunch menu

 

PTO Updates

 

We want your input! The JFK Middle School PTO is planning ahead for next year. Do you have ideas about how we should organize around fundraising next year? Do you just want to come see how you can help? If so, please join us for a planning meeting Wed May 27 at 6pm. Please contact Lia McLaughlin (Lia.mclaughlin@yahoo.com) or 413-727-8934 for more information or if you would like to participate. All are invited to come, share refreshments, and discuss strategies for making next year great for JFK teachers and students!

 

Diversity:

We are working on having the PTO updates translated into Spanish.  If you would like to help, or would like a Spanish copy of the updates, please reply to this email. 

 

Si le gustaria esta carta en Espanol, email jfkmspto@gmail.com

A huge Thank You to all who helped with teacher appreciation day on Tuesday!  We couldn't have done it without you!  If you meant to donate but missed it, you can still send in checks payable to JFK PTO or donate online at JFK PTO Razoo. Money raised will go toward teacher stipends.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Friday May 8 Student Teacher Basketball fundraising Event NHS

Volunteers needed- Please contact Peggy Clapp at pclapp@northampton-k12.us or 413-586-1242

 

Saturday May 9 9-1 Plant and Garden Market - SOS Book Fund

Help wanted – Plant donations, volunteers to set up and work.

 

May 12-19 MCAS details on calendar on blog

 

Thursday May 21 5 pm School Council meeting

 

Monday May 25 Memorial Day- No school

 

Wednesday, May 27 6:30 pm Science Fair

 

Monday June 1 PTO Meeting 5:30 JFK Library

 

Tuesday, August 25 Transperformance!

 

 

Check out our blog: jfkmspto.blogspot.com for easy, at home fundraisers, previous newsletters, upcoming events, and helpful links including the JFK Google calendar!