JFK PTO Update – December 6th, 2016

 

Bad Rap Contest and Book Launch Party:

Do you have a son or daughter who won't stop talking?  Or likes to rhyme?  Or likes rap, or just likes comedy?  Then you need to take them to Northampton's first-ever Bad Rap Contest at the Parlor Room on Masonic Street, on Friday, December 9.

 

The event is organized by Henry Reade, a former JFK student who is releasing his first novel, called The Pencil Bandits.  In it one character thinks he's a rapper, but isn't very good at it.  Henry thought it'd be fun at his book launch party to let anyone who wants to get up on stage and try their hand at rap, rhyme, or whatever they like, with no pressure to be good.  It's hosted by NHS student Zion Barbour, aka Zodd the M.C., who will provide the beats.  The winners will be decided by the audience.  And to make sure it's friendly to middle-school kids, there's an under-15 division.  Prizes include a bag of money worth over $50, iTunes gift cards, and copies of Henry's book.  There will also be dramatic readings, snacks, and Henry signing copies of his Pencil Bandits book.

 

This is also part of a fun, family-friendly event going on that night in downtown Northampton called the Holiday Stroll.  Main Street will be blocked off to traffic from 5 to 8 pm so folks can stroll around enjoying the entertainment, hay rides, and make s'mores over a bonfire in front of Thornes.

 

The First Ever Bad Rap Contest and Book Launch Party is at the Parlor Room, 32 Masonic Street, Friday, December 9th from 6 to 8.  It's free, and ten percent of the proceeds will go to the JFK PTO. For more information call 587-0713 or visit pencilbandits.com.  CLICK HERE for flyer.

 

Holiday Bakers Needed!

JFK PTO is seeking dessert donations for the Teacher and Staff Holiday Open House on Monday, December 19^th.  Bakers can drop off desserts on the morning of the 19^th in the JFK office.  Please use the following link to sign up.  Thank you!

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0b48abab2aa5fb6-teacher

 

JFK School Store – the kids are waiting!  We Need You!

The JFK School Store sells things kids love for school – cool pencils, erasers, pens, paper, bookmarks, sharpeners, folders, rulers, stickers, little toys, magnets, and more.  This year, we do not have a coordinator so the store has not been running – and the kids are anxious for it to start up.  Can you help by coordinating volunteers or by working a regular or occasional shift during lunch 10:30-11:45 any day of the week?  It is fun, easy, and you may even get to say hello to your kid as they go to lunch or come by to shop.  Please email jfkmspto@gmail.com.  

 

Northampton Parks & Recreation After School Ski Program:

Northampton Parks & Recreation will once again be running our After School Ski program at Berkshire East for students in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade. The program will run for four weeks on Wednesdays starting January 11th and ending February 1st. From beginners to experienced skiers or snowboarders, this convenient bus trip departing and arriving at JFK will be a great time! Feel free check out this link for more information or contact Rebecca Learnard at the Parks & Recreation office at rlearnard@northamptonma.gov or call 413-587-1040. Registration has already started!

 

NEF Seeks Development Coordinator:

The Northampton Education Foundation is seeking a part-time coordinator to work with its Development Committee. Please see posting CLICK HERE. Applications are due December 23, 2016, and the committee hopes to hire for the position in January.

 

Letter to Parents from the Tobacco Free Community Partnership for Hampshire and Franklin Counties:

Please CLICK HERE for a letter on tobacco products and health issues for children and adolescents from the Hampshire Council of Government's Tobacco Free Community Partnership for Hampshire and Franklin Counties.

 

Stop & Shop Support for JFK:

Please support our school by directing your Stop and Shop points to JFK.  It does not cost anything extra for you – just shop as you normally do. So easy.  (This does not affect gas points or any other S&S promotion.)  Please note that you must sign up each year and choose your schools to support.

Sign up online at:

http://stopandshop.com/aplus/register-card/

Just enter ALL 13 numbers on the back and the first three letters of your LAST name.  JFK School ID:  05378 (it's listed under Florence, MA)

 

Upcoming JFK Events:

December 7, District Two Hour Delay – Professional Development

December 23-January 2, Holiday Recess – No School

JFK PTO Update – November 15th, 2016

Scholastic Book Fair - November 28 - December 2:

Mark your calendars for the upcoming 2016 JFK Scholastic Book Fair!

The fair will take place November 28 through December 2. We will be open from 7:30am to 3:00pm every day with a special evening event on Thursday December 1^st (see below for information on the vendor/craft fair and bake sale the same evening). 

 

Our students love buying and reading new books. Plus, proceeds from sales go directly towards building the JFK Library collection for our students and teachers. The more books we sell the more our library grows! 

 

If you are interested in volunteering for the Book Fair we need your help as a cashier during business hours. Volunteering for this event is an easy fun way to help get books into the hands of our students and teachers. Please click on the link below to sign up for a shift.

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090b4eadad23abfa7-2016

It's not just our students who buy books at the Scholastic Book Fair. Did you know you can purchase books for teachers too? Select a title from a teacher's wish list and your purchase will include a name plate inside the book. It's a great way for teachers to get even more books into their classrooms.

Thanks for your support. Hope to see you at JFK Scholastic Book Fair.

NOTE:  If you plan to volunteer please remember you need to have a current CORI, you can check the JFK front office or VINS if you need to apply.  It last for 3 years, and is needed for any in school or field trip volunteering.  

 

Vendor/Craft Show - December 1^st:

The Vendor/Craft show will be held on Thursday December 1st from 6pm till 8pm. Bakers are needed for a bake sale that evening.  Please contact Jennifer Hayden at 413-824-9998.

 

7^th Grade Dance – Friday, November 18^th:

7th Grade dance is this coming Friday, November 18th 2016, from 6:30 – 8:30pm.  We need more parents to help chaperone!! As of right now we only have 3 parents, in order to go ahead with the dance we need at least 7/8 parents to help out. We must have appropriate supervision for the dance.

If you'd like to chaperone, please email Darla at joedargorm@gmail.com. In order to volunteer/chaperone you must be CORI checked by the Northampton Public schools.

Selling tickets to the dance!

Students, please bring $5.00 to school to purchase a ticket, on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday (November 16^th, 17^th and 18^th) at lunch time.

No tickets will be sold at the door.

Along with the photo booth there will be snacks and drinks for the students to purchase at the dance.

PLEASE NOTE: All students must stay at the dance; once you leave you may NOT return back to the dance.  Please make sure you have a ride home by 8:30pm.

 

 

Health Office News:  Annual Health Screenings

Starting mid-November, the JFK nursing staff will be conducting annual health screenings for 6th and 7th grade students.  Letters will go home in backpack mail on November 3rd.  

 

These screenings consist of checking backs for 6th graders and checking backs, heights and weights for 7th graders.  If you child has any unusual findings, you will be notified.  Otherwise, do not expect to hear from the Health Office.  If your child has had a physical within the last 6 months and the provider has documented these exams, your student can be excused from the screening.  Please provide a copy of this physical as soon as possible.  

 

You also have the right to opt your child out of this screening.  If you prefer to do this, please contact Karen Schiaffo, JFK School Nurse via phone- 587-1488, fax-587-1566 or email @ kschiaffo@northampton-k12.us.

 

Northampton Prevention Coaltion Parent Cafes – Nov. 21^st and 28th

JFK parents and caregivers are invited to join us on Mondays, November 21st and 28^th 6-7:30 pm for a pizza dinner and conversation on the topic of talking to our kids about healthy relationships. These cafes are relaxed affairs where parents and caregivers can gather to talk about their hopes and concerns about raising kids who respect themselves and others. Staff from the Northampton Prevention Coalition will facilitate the conversation. In Room 112 at JFK.  Childcare Available. Event is FREE. RSVP required to arrange childcare; contact Ananda Lennox at alennox@northmapton-k12.us 

Click for details.

 

JFK School Store – the kids are waiting!  We Need You!

The JFK School Store sells things kids love for school – cool pencils, erasers, pens, paper, bookmarks, sharpeners, folders, rulers, stickers, little toys, magnets, and more.  This year, we do not have a coordinator so the store has not been running – and the kids are anxious for it to start up.  Can you help by coordinating volunteers or by working a regular or occasional shift during lunch 10:30-11:45 any day of the week?  It is fun, easy, and you may even get to say hello to your kid as they go to lunch or come by to shop.  Please email jfkmspto@gmail.com.  

 

Stop & Shop Support for JFK:

Please support our school by directing your Stop and Shop points to JFK.  It does not cost anything extra for you – just shop as you normally do. So easy.  (This does not affect gas points or any other S&S promotion.)  Please note that you must sign up each year and choose your schools to support.

 

Sign up online at:

http://stopandshop.com/aplus/register-card/

Just enter ALL 13 numbers on the back and the first three letters of your LAST name.  JFK School ID:  05378 (it's listed under Florence, MA)

 

Blue and Yellow HAMP Scarves & Texting Gloves at Cedar Chest:

Buy a HAMP scarf or texting gloves for $10 with 100% of the proceeds going to the NHS and JFK PTO's and Northampton Athletic Booster Club.  Only at Cedar Chest!  Click here for pics of these great items!

 

Upcoming JFK Events:

November 28^th - December 2^nd - Book Fair

December 1^st Craft/Vendor Fair 

November 23^rd – Half Day, Thanksgiving Holiday

November 24-25 – Thanksgiving Holiday, No School

 

JFK PTO Update – November 2nd, 2016

 

Can you help?  Election Day Bake Sale – November 8^th at JFK

The JFK PTO will host a bake sale on Election Day, November 8^th at JFK.  We need your help!  Please use the following link to sign up for to volunteer or to bake.  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050F49ACAD29A31-election

Baked items can be dropped off on Monday the 7^th by 4 pm in the office, or brought to the sale in the morning by 8 a.m.  If you forget to sign up, come on by anyway and bring what you can!  Questions?  Email Molly at mollybb@comcast.net.  Thank you!

 

Scholastic Book Fair - November 28 - December 2:

More details coming soon.  If you are interested in volunteering to assist at the Book Fair please contact Cyndi Stein at cyndistein@me.com.

 

Health Office News:  Annual Health Screenings

Starting mid-November, the JFK nursing staff will be conducting annual health screenings for 6th and 7th grade students.  Letters will go home in backpack mail on November 3rd.  

 

These screenings consist of checking backs for 6th graders and checking backs, heights and weights for 7th graders.  If you child has any unusual findings, you will be notified.  Otherwise, do not expect to hear from the Health Office.  If your child has had a physical within the last 6 months and the provider has documented these exams, your student can be excused from the screening.  Please provide a copy of this physical as soon as possible.  

 

You also have the right to opt your child out of this screening.  If you prefer to do this, please contact Karen Schiaffo, JFK School Nurse via phone- 587-1488, fax-587-1566 or email @ kschiaffo@northampton-k12.us.

 

Can you help?  JFK School Store – the kids are waiting!

The JFK School Store sells things kids love for school – cool pencils, erasers, pens, paper, bookmarks, sharpeners, folders, rulers, stickers, little toys, magnets, and more.  This year, we do not have a coordinator so the store has not been running – and the kids are anxious for it to start up.  Can you help by coordinating volunteers or by working a regular or occasional shift during lunch 10:30-11:45 any day of the week?  It is fun, easy, and you may even get to say hello to your kid as they go to lunch or come by to shop.  Please email jfkmspto@gmail.com.  

 

Stop & Shop Support for JFK:

Please support our school by directing your Stop and Shop points to JFK.  It does not cost anything extra for you – just shop as you normally do. So easy.  (This does not affect gas points or any other S&S promotion.)  Please note that you must sign up each year and choose your schools to support.

 

Sign up online at:

http://stopandshop.com/aplus/register-card/

Just enter ALL 13 numbers on the back and the first three letters of your LAST name.  JFK School ID:  05378 (it's listed under Florence, MA)

 

Blue and Yellow HAMP Scarves & Texting Gloves at Cedar Chest:

Buy a HAMP scarf or texting gloves for $10 with 100% of the proceeds going to the NHS and JFK PTO's and Northampton Athletic Booster Club.  Only at Cedar Chest!  Click here for pics of these great items!

 

Special Thanks:

Thank you to all who helped with the electronics recycling day – we raised over $2000. The PTO would like to thank Lisa McCutcheon for chairing this event, along with: Scott Biddell, Phil Mathews, Heidi and Dave Renauld, Randy Sherman, David McCutcheon and 7^th grader Jackson Greene).

 

Upcoming JFK Events:

Next PTO Meeting:  Monday, November 7th at 6 pm at JFK

No School – Election Day/Professional Dev. Day – Tuesday, November 8^th

PTO Bake Sale – Election Day – Tuesday, November 8^th

No School – Veterans' Day – Friday, November 11^th

Book Fair – November 28^th - December 2^nd