JFK PTO Update – June 26, 2017

 

School's out for Summer!

 

 

 

The JFK PTO would like to thank all of our families and friends who gave their time and resources this school year!  With your financial donations, we were able to fund 20 Teacher Grants! These made possible things like the Traveling Science Program, 7^th grade podcasts, the Axis International Dance Troupe performance, and the purchase of document cameras for classrooms, to name only a few. These grants allow teachers to greatly enhance the middle school experience for our students through fun activities and dynamic programming, and the students and teachers thank you sincerely for your generous support.

Also, a special thanks to those of you who donated your time to organize, chaperone, or attend one of our many events and programs. Because of your involvement, we were able to sponsor events like the book fair, the electronics recycling event, two teacher appreciation days, the 8th grade picnic, 6th and 7th grade dances, and other community-building events for students, staff, and families. Your time and energy makes these great events happen. We quite literally couldn't do it without you.

 

The PTO would also like to thank our dedicated outgoing 8th grade PTO board members Libby Arny, Sheryl Civjan, Sharon Kubin, and Lauren Rollins for all their hard work and service. In addition, we wish to thank Rebecca Busansky, Lisa Clauson, Darla Gormley, Phil Mathews and Cyndi Stein for their service. We also extend special appreciation to our teacher representative Andrea James and her substitute, Michael Murphy, and to Principal Lesley Wilson for their help and support of our PTO.

 

Many of our officers will be leaving next year or stepping down after several years of service. We are looking for new parents and guardians to serve on the PTO and to shape its direction going forward. We have a very strong foundation and wish to continue supporting our students and teachers through active parent engagement. Currently, we are seeking a Treasurer, Secretary, and Communications/Social Media Chair. If you are interested in assisting us in any capacity, or would like more information about any of the available positions, please contact us at jfkmspto@gmail.com. 

 

One last thing… We have launched a NEW JFK PTO Facebook Page! Please follow us for updates. 

 

https://www.facebook.com/jfkmspto/

 

All of the information in this email is also viewable on our blog at any time at the link below. Please subscribe and follow for all the latest JFK news and buzz.

 

Need to leave this list?

If your child is graduating from JFK and you no longer wish to receive these updates, please email us at jfkmspto@gmail.com.  We do not have any way to know who is staying and who is not – so let us know!  (I've you've already emailed us, your name will be removed after this last post).

 

Important Dates:

 

August 22^nd – Transperformance Concert (Pines Theater, Look Park)

August 30^th – First day of school 2017-2018

Sept. 5^th – First JFK PTO Meeting, 6 pm at JFK

JFK PTO Update – June 13, 2017

 

Can you scoop?  SIX MORE Ice Cream Social Volunteers Needed:

 

Please help with the easiest and most enjoyable task of the year – six more scoopers, servers, and cleanup crew volunteers are still needed to help with the annual ice cream social on Thursday, June 15^th between 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.  Shifts from 8:30-10:30 and 10:30-12:30 would be great; but even an hour would help!  Please email Libby at libbyca51@yahoo.com.  Special thanks to Herrell's for supporting this fun event!

 

Reminder:  Honor Thy Teacher:

 

Has a JFK teacher or staff member made a difference in your student's life this year?  Thank them by making a gift to the 2017 HONOR THY TEACHER campaign. Your gift honors a professional at our school, and will provide tangible support in JFK classrooms.  To donate online, please visit https://www.razoo.com/story/Parent-Teacher-Organization-Of-John-F-Kennedy-Middle-School.  Or, you can access the donation form HERE (or in Spanish, click HERE).  Drop your completed form at JFK with your check, or mail to the address on the form, by June 19th.  Donations will support the JFK PTO's grants for teachers. Questions? Email lisa.clauson21@gmail.com. Thank you!

 

Need to leave this list?

If your child is graduating from JFK and you no longer wish to receive these updates, please email us at jfkmspto@gmail.com.  We do not have any way to know who is staying and who is not – so let us know!

 

Important Dates:

 

June 15^th – Ice Cream Social

June 19^th – 8^th Grade Visit to NHS

June 26^th – Last day of school!

August 22^nd – Transperformance Concert (Pines Theater, Look Park)

August 30^th – First day of School 2017-2018

 

JFK PTO Update – June 7, 2017

 

Ice Cream Social Volunteers Needed:

 

Scoopers, servers, and cleanup crew volunteers are needed to help with the annual ice cream social on June 15^th between 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.  Shifts from 8:30-10:30 and 10:30-12:30 would be great; but even an hour would help!  Please email Libby at libbyca51@yahoo.com.  Special thanks to Herrell's for supporting this fun event!

 

Honor Thy Teacher:

 

Has a JFK teacher or staff member made a difference in your student's life this year?  Thank them by making a gift to the 2017 HONOR THY TEACHER campaign. Your gift honors a professional at our school, and will provide tangible support in JFK classrooms.  To donate online, please visit https://www.razoo.com/story/Parent-Teacher-Organization-Of-John-F-Kennedy-Middle-School.  Or, you can access the donation form HERE (or in Spanish, click HERE).  Drop your completed form at JFK with your check, or mail to the address on the form, by June 19th.  Donations will support the JFK PTO's grants for teachers. Questions? Email lisa.clauson21@gmail.com. Thank you!

 

PTO Board Openings for Next Year:

 

Several board members from this year's PTO will be graduating along with their 8^th graders, and this leaves a spot for YOU to join the PTO.  The JFK PTO is an active group with a successful fundraising operation, which funds projects, equipment, and supplies for teachers across grade levels at JFK.  All officer positions are open (President or Co-Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, and Communications Chair).  For more information please email jfkmspto@gmail.com.

 

The Northampton Education Foundation Showcase

 

Friday, June 9 (During Northampton's Arts Night Out)

5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at Click Workspace, 9 ½ Market Street

 

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 2017 Showcase will feature various projects, including:

 

·         3-D Printing (NHS)

·         Red-backed Salamander Study (Leeds)

·         Enchanted Circle Theater Residency with students in the Language Learning

·         Disabilities Program (all elementary schools)

·         Folk Tales and Puppets (Bridge Street)

·         Garden Club (Smith Voke)

·         Schools Summer Reading Program (Ryan Road and Leeds)

·         Florence Heights Community Engagement (Ryan Road)

·         Sojourner Truth's Florence: A Walking Tour (Bridge Street, Jackson Street, Leeds, NHS)

 

NHS Teen Advocacy Group Exhibit:

 

The Northampton Prevention Coalition is proud to announce the latest photo voice exhibit of the NHS Teen Advocacy Group. Through interviews, photographs, and portraits, we share the immigration experiences of American immigrants, refugees, and citizens. We explore the significance of Northampton's designation as a sanctuary city with advocates and public officials and the impact of local and national policy on our documented and undocumented community members. June 2-30, Hosmer Gallery – Forbes Library.

 

FREE Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) Workshops:

 

DATE: Saturday June 10, 2017 8:00am - 4:00pm 

LOCATION: Deliso Conference Center, Mercy Medical Center 271 Carew Street, Springfield, MA

or

DATE: Friday, July 7, 2017 from 8:00am to 4:00pm 

LOCATION: Clinical Support Options 8 Atwood Drive, Northampton, MA

 

REGISTER AT: www.collaborative.org/YMHFA

 

A young person you know could be experiencing a mental health or substance use problem. Learn an action plan to help. Anyone 18 or older can take ​

Youth Mental Health First Aid, but it is recommended for those who regularly have contact with young people ages 12-18 - teachers, coaches, social workers, faith leaders and other caring citizens.  This event is provided free of cost by the Coalition of Western Massachusetts Hospitals.

 

Need to leave this list?

If your child is graduating from JFK and you no longer wish to receive these updates, please email us at jfkmspto@gmail.com.  We do not have any way to know who is staying and who is not – so let us know!

 

Important Dates:

 

June 7^th – JFK 8^th Grade Picnic (during school hours)

June 8^th – Chorus Concert

June 15^th – Ice Cream Social

June 19^th – 8^th Grade Visit to NHS

June 26^th – Last day of school!

August 22^nd – Transperformance Concert (Pines Theater, Look Park)

August 30^th – First day of School 2017-2018

 

JFK PTO Update – May 4, 2017

 

Thank You!  You raised almost $3,000!

Thank you to every donor who supported JFK School on Valley Gives day – you helped us to beat last year's total and exceed our goal – we raised $2975 for our Making Middle School mobile campaign for JFK field trips.

 

Teacher and Staff Appreciation Day – Food and Volunteers Needed:

The teacher & staff appreciation brunch will be Wednesday, May 10^th from 7-11 a.m.  Donations of brunch foods and drinks are needed (monetary donations also accepted), and we need a couple of volunteers to help with setup, serving, and cleanup.  Please use the following link to sign up:

 

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050f49acad29a31-teacher

 

Free Book Fair for Summer Reading- Book Donations Needed:

Each June the JSS PTO holds a FREE Book Fair so that all students can start their summer with books in hand. Students will go with their teacher and classmates and selects at least one book (perhaps more depending on how many books we receive) for FREE.

 

How can you help? We need your donations of gently used children's books. You can bring them in or send them with you child and leave them in the JFK school lobby (there is a marked bin for them). Please donate only books appropriate for K-5 reading. We can always use more advanced reading material for our 4th and 5th graders.

 

If you have books that you'd like to offload that are not appropriate or in good enough condition for our fair, please consider donating them to other organizations or recycling them. If you have any questions, please contact Gavin Grant atjacksonstreetpto@gmail.com or Elizabeth Horn at elhorn@mindspring.com. Thank you!

 

PTO Board Openings for Next Year:

Several board members from this year's PTO will be graduating along with their 8^th graders, and this leaves a spot for YOU to join the PTO.  The JFK PTO is an active group with a successful fundraising operation in the works, which funds projects, equipment, and supplies for teachers across grade levels at JFK.  We'll be posting details on open positions soon.

 

Donate your plants and your time to the 21st Annual SOS Plant and Garden Sale!

 

The Northampton Education Foundation's SOS Plant and Garden Sale is Saturday, May 13, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at Smith Vocational High School.

 

If you have perennials to divide or plants you are removing from your garden, please pot them up and take them to Smith Vocational School on Friday May 12, from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Plants can also be dropped off at 12 Forbes Ave. in Northampton from April 25-May 10.

 

Plants should be potted early and well watered so that they look great on the day of the sale. Volunteers are available to provide pots, help with digging, dividing and potting, and to pick up potted plants. Contact Robin Freedenfeld (rfstudios@aol.com) to make arrangements.

 

We also need volunteers to collect and organize donated plants on Friday May 12 and to work at the event on May 13. A little bit of your time will have a great impact. Last year the event raised $10,000 for the SOS Book Fund, which provides books to all of the Northampton Public Schools.

 

The Plant Sale includes a wide range of plants, including annuals and perennials, vegetable starters, herbs, hanging plants, trees, and shrubs, as well as organic lawn and garden products and compost.

 

Summer Teen Programs at Parks & Recreation:

 

Looking for summer activities for your middle school student? Northampton Parks & Recreation will be offering various programs for Summer 2017! Teen Expeditions is for any 7th, 8th, 9th, or 10th grader and is 5 full days of adventure. Explore the link on our page for more information about this program and other day or sports programs we offer! 

 

Coming up this Spring, May 14th, is our yearly trip to Fenway Park to see the Red Sox take on the Tampa Bay Rays! More information is available at the office or at our link online. Trip tickets are already available for this family fun event!

 

Important Dates:

 

May 10^th – Teacher appreciation day

May 25^th – JFK Day of Service

June 6^th – Chorus Concert

June 7^th – 8^th grade picnic

June 15^th – Ice cream social

June 26^th – Last day of school!