JFK PTO Update –
September 13, 2019
IMPORTANT DATES:
September 18 - No School (PD Day)
September 19 - JFK Open House and School Council Election
October 4 - Half Day
December 9-13 - Scholastic Book Fair in the JFK Library (Save the
Dates!)
JFK Open House
The JFK Open House
will be held at 6:30pm on Thursday, September 19. Stop by our PTO table to say
hi and get your Florence Savings Bank Customer Choice ballot and some school
spirit wear (t-shirts $12 and sweatshirts $20). The JFK Library will be collecting
donations if you’d like to donate the purchase of a book for the library in honor
of someone.
Call for JFK School
Council Parent Representatives (Grades 6 or 7)
The School Council is
an advisory group co-chaired by Principal Wilson and a parent/guardian. Members
include parents, guardians, community members, and teachers. The council meets
monthly to discuss ways to strengthen JFK, exchange ideas, and share school
information. Dates for each meeting are posted on the school calendar. The
council meets the third Thursday of the month unless the day is a vacation or
non-school day. In that case, the meeting is the following Thursday. The
responsibilities of the School Council (as outlined by the Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education) are to:
- Adopt educational goals for the school that are consistent with local and educational policies and statewide student performance standards
- Identify the educational needs of students attending the school
- Review the annual school budget
- Help formulate a School Improvement Plan
We are able to have
two new parent/guardian members on the JFK School Council this year. The new
members must have a student in grades 6 or 7 based on the parents currently on
the council. Parents and guardians of students in grade 6 or 7 should email jfkmspto@gmail.com if they are willing
to serve on School Council. Include a brief bio statement. Deadline is
September 18. If we have more than two parents interested, the PTO is
responsible for running an election at the Open House and the bio statements
will be shared so that parents can choose candidates. Email if you have any
questions.
School Picture Day: Volunteers Needed!
We are seeking one more volunteer for JFK's upcoming School
Picture Day on Thursday, September 26 between the hours of 8-11am. This task
involves directing students in lines to the photographers and helping maintain
the traffic flow in the room. You can sign up for 1-hour shifts but feel free
to stay if you can help for longer. Any help is always greatly appreciated!
Sign up to volunteer here.
JFK PTO Electronics
Recycling and Clothing Collection Fundraiser
On Saturday, October 5, from 9am-12pm the JFK PTO will be hosting
an Electronics Recycling and Clothing Collection Fundraiser in the parking
circle at school (100 Bridge Road). Stop by with your old electronics and
clothing and help us raise funds for student activities. Please note that this
is a family-friendly volunteer opportunity!
Sign up here to help our team
recycle and raise funds for our community: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040949AEAA2BA75-electronics
Our PTO Survey
We want as many parents as possible to participate in PTO. Thanks
for taking a minute to give us your feedback! Click here to respond.
Northampton Prevention Coalition Parent Survey
From NPC: Parents and Guardians of students in grades 6-12. Take
our short 5 minutes survey and be entered to win a $100 Visa gift card. Your
info is important and essential: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2019BPS
JFK PTO Meeting in the JFK Library
Our next JFK PTO Meeting will be held in the JFK Library on
Tuesday, October 1 from 6-7pm. Join us as we plan for a great year at JFK.
Specifically, we need volunteers for fall fundraising such as our electronics
recycling event, annual appeal, new calendar art contest, and our December book
fair. If you can’t attend the meeting but can help via email, sign up at the
link below: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040949AEAA2BA75-jfkmspto
We’re looking for volunteers! Do you have a great idea for JFK? Come meet faculty and staff at
our PTO meetings and let us know. Email us at jfkmspto@gmail.com. In general, PTO meetings are held the first Tuesday of the month
from 6-7pm, but in November, because of Election Day, we’ll meet on Wednesday,
November 6.
Boxtops for Education Has a New App!
Box Tops is going digital! Don't miss out on earnings for our
school – make sure you've got the new Box Tops mobile app on your phone. For
more info, click here: https://www.boxtops4education.com/en/How%20To%20Earn
But, we’ll still be
collecting Boxtops the old fashioned way, too. Send in your Boxtops with your
student to the JFK main office. The deadline for fall Boxtops funds is October
25. Online we are: JOHN F KENNEDY MIDDLE SCHOOL| School ID: 573700.
Easy Ways to Support JFK All Year Long
- Link to JFK MS PTO through Amazon Smile and donate to Parent-Teacher Organization of John F Kennedy Middle School Inc.
- Be sure to vote for us in the Florence Savings Bank Customers’ Choice Awards.
- Donate online. Watch for our fall annual appeal coming soon!
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Grow Food Northampton Farm to School Updates
- Grow Food Northampton, in partnership with Northampton Public Schools, was awarded a 2-year USDA grant to support our farm to school efforts! It provides funds for equipment and training for NPS Food Service, cooking programs and field trips, expansion of programming into the middle and high schools, season extension for school gardens, and coordination of this network of stakeholders. Check out this recent article in the Gazette about the grant.
- A team from NPS will be attending the MA Farm to School Institute in October. We will use the input gathered at the April Summit to develop an action plan for the upcoming school year.
- Further funding for school gardens and Grow Food Kids programs has been secured from the District budget, a grant from the NEF, and State funding, thanks to Rep. Sabadosa and Sen. Comerford.
League of Women Voters
Book Fair (September 14)
The League of Women
Voters of the Northampton Area will be hosting a book sale at Smith Voke from
9am-4pm. More info here: http://lwvnorthamptonarea.org/
Northampton Area Pediatrics Free Workshop (September 15)
From 4-5:30pm. Free and open to the public. Catherine Bartlett, MD will share important information
about childhood safety, including tips on car seats and choking. https://www.facebook.com/events/867564130303802/
Northampton Prevention Coalition Health Expo (October 2)
Food- Prizes- Interactive Displays- Scavenger Hunt- ADULTS ONLY!!
Northampton works very hard to support youth in achieving their goals and
values all efforts to reduce barriers to their success. In support of this
work, the Northampton Prevention Coalition is hosting a Health Expo focused on
how Northampton adults can all work together to reduce youth substance use.
This eye-opening expo will both inform and instill hope on all of the ways we
can come together to keep youth happy, safe, and reaching without the
detrimental impact of drugs or alcohol. https://www.facebook.com/events/472116280301354/
Child Safety in Today’s World (10/2, 10/22 or 11/7)
Facilitated by Jackie Humphreys, LICSW & Joanne Leonard, CSEC
Coordinator of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Franklin County and North
Quabbin, Inc. Register with Joanne Leonard at 413-475-3401 or Jleonard@cacfranklinnq.org. This event is free, made possible by a grant from
the Bete Family Foundation. For more info, see the flyer here.
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Volunteer with us!
Sign up here if you can help the JFK PTO this year:
