Friday, December 21, 2018

JFK PTO Update – December 21, 2018


JFK PTO Update – December 21, 2018


Important Dates:
December 24 - January 1 - Winter Break
December 31 - Deadline to vote for JFK PTO at Florence Bank
January 2 - Back to School
January 8 - JFK PTO Meeting in JFK Library (6-7:30pm)
January 21 - MLK Day - No School
January 25 - Teacher Work Day - No School

Thanks for your Dessert Donations 🍰🍬🍮🥧🍧🍩🍪!
We’d like to give a big thank you to everyone who donated desserts for the  annual Open House for Faculty and Staff this past week. It was a lovely event very much appreciated by all our staff who work hard every day to educate and care for our students at JFK.

Vote for JFK PTO in Florence Savings Bank Customer Choice Awards by December 31
If you are a Florence Bank customer, vote for the JFK Middle School PTO as your favorite non-profit organization. Last year Florence Savings Bank donated $880 to JFK PTO, and we are grateful. Be sure to vote here before December 31st: https://www.florencebank.com/vote

Thanks to all who Make it Count 💯%!
As our year comes to a close, so too does our annual Make it Count fundraiser, where 100% of every dollar donated by JFK families and friends directly benefits our JFK students. If you want to make a tax-deductible donation before the end of 2018, click on our link to donate. Every dollar helps create unique programs at JFK and so far we have raised $8780! https://tinyurl.com/JFK-Make-It-Count-2018

The 2019 JFK Yearbook is available now for $27. Price increases to $29 on April 1. Order online at www.coffeepond.com or send in cash or check payable to JFK in an envelope with your student’s name and homeroom number.

Our next PTO Meeting is Tuesday, January 8 (6-7:30pm)
The JFK PTO meets the first Tuesday of the month from 6-7:30pm in the JFK Library. Join us to help plan for the new year, including upcoming 6th and 7th grade school dances, teacher grants, and teacher appreciation events. All are welcome.

You can Shop and Support JFK!
You can support JFK at Stop and Shop by clicking here. Big Y Express can be found at this link: https://www.bigy.com/rs/educationexpress. Be sure to share your Boxtops for Education with us by having your student drop them off in the JFK office. And be sure to link to JFK MS PTO through Amazon Smile and AmazonSmile donates to Parent-Teacher Organization of John F Kennedy Middle School Inc. We appreciate your support.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Massachusetts loves its public schools and colleges, but too many students are being left behind by inadequate state support. The MTA and it coalition partners are launching an ambitious campaign to win the funding that our students, educators, and communities deserve by May 1, 2019. Come to a Community Forum on Wednesday, January 9, 2019 from 6 to 7:30pm in the Community Room at Eastworks in Easthampton (116 Pleasant Street). We will discuss what it would mean to fully fund our school districts and colleges and how much is owed to YOUR city, town and/or campus. You will learn when and how this funding crisis began, and most importantly, what we can do about it now to invest in the schools and colleges our communities deserve. Free childcare and pizza dinner is available, bring your whole family. Meet your neighbors, your local educators and leaders, and your elected officials. Together, we can align public funding so our schools can continue to do work we are all proud of. To learn more, contact Brett Costello at bcostello@massteacher.org or visit:

On Monday, December 31, the Northampton Arts Council and PeoplesBank welcome you to the 34th edition of our city-wide New Year’s Eve party. Since 1985, First Night Northampton has filled the Paradise City with a 12-hour, family-friendly festival of the arts culminating in a traditional ball-raising from the roof of the Hotel Northampton. The NHS Improv Troupe Funktionlust has been performing at First Night for over 12 years. This year they hit the big time, with two afternoon slots! 2 shows: 2:00-2:45pm and 3:00-3:45pm in Smith College Hallie Flanagan Theater in Mendenhall, 122 Green Street, Northampton. The Northamptones will be performing at the Academy of Music at 7pm and 8pm.

Resource For Massachusetts Parents Who Need Help
The Grayken Center for Addiction at Boston Medical Center and the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids launched this hotline specifically for the parents of youth and young adults in New England. This is not a referral service, but rather a resource for parents who would like support and guidance. We offer:
  • A dedicated phone and text Helpline for Massachusetts families (call 844-319-5999 or text HOPEMA to 55753), where parents can connect with master’s level specialists and be referred to parent coaches, who will listen to their challenges and help them develop an action plan toward their child’s recovery
  • A website at: www.graykenaddictionsupport.org  
  • Facebook messaging with parents who need it on the Partnership page: https://www.facebook.com/partnershipdrugfree/



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Si desea recibir esta información en español, envíenos un mensaje a jfkmspto@gmail.com.