Welcome to the JFK Middle School PTO!

Our Mission: We support our teachers and students through grants to enrich the classroom experience, support events connecting to the community, and provide information about school events.

·         PTO Website:  We maintain a website which contains useful links for navigating JFK, a Google calendar, and news updates. Bookmark on your computer: jfkmspto.blogspot.com

·         PTO Meetings and Volunteer Opportunities:  The next PTO meeting is Monday, Oct. 3rd at 6:00 in the JFK Library.

We understand that not everyone can make PTO meetings however there are additional opportunities to volunteer:
Ÿ Baking for Teacher Appreciation Days and other events Ÿ Book Fair
Ÿ Communications (newsletters, directory, website) Ÿ Dances
Ÿ Electronic Recycling Ÿ Fundraising (Annual appeal, Catalog sales)
Ÿ Ice cream social Ÿ School Photo Day Ÿ PTO Board Ÿ School store Ÿ

Teacher Appreciation Days Ÿ Teacher Grants Ÿ and more!

Ÿ Afterschool program fundraising (Holiday fair, Student-Faculty basketball)

To volunteer and keep up with what is going on, subscribe to our JFK News emails at: jfkmspto@gmail.com

·         Florence Bank Customers!

Please complete this Customer Choice Community Grant form and return to JFK, your local Florence Bank, or vote online at florencesavings.com.  Be sure to vote before December 31!

News and Upcoming Events:

Electronics Recycling Event: Saturday, October 15^th from 9 am to 12 pm at JFK. Get ready to clean out your old electronics for a cause, and keep them out of the landfill.  Watch for details to follow on items we can accept.  2-3 volunteers are needed for this event – please contact Lisa McCutcheon at djmccutcheon@comcast.net.

JFK School Council Open Seats

The JFK School Council is hoping to add two new members this year. The
council is an advisory group to the Principal with responsibilities that include helping with the budget, identifying needs of students and the school community, and developing the School Improvement Plan. The group includes teachers, parents, and a community member. The council meets on the third Thursday of the month from 5 - 6:30. Please notify the JFK Main Office by September 27th if you are interested. An election will take place at Open House if necessary to fill the seats.

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!

Northampton Prevention Coalition Event:

A Taste of Motivational Interviewing @ Northampton Survival Center

Oct 30th @ 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

This brief Motivational Interviewing (MI) training for parents of teens/tweens teaches MI as a goal-directed, youth-centered conversation style for eliciting behavioral change by helping your child to explore and resolve ambivalence. Lunch will be provided.  RSVP to alennox@northampton-k12.us or 413-587-1365.  Top of Formhttp://northamptonprevents.org/events/

NEF Event:

Mark your calendar for the Northampton Education Foundation's 25^th Anniversary celebration ADULT RE-PROM on Saturday, November 12 and the Cancer Connection Thrift Shop's PROM DRESS & SUIT SALE on Saturday, October 1.  The Northampton Education Foundation (NEF) is a non-profit organization created to fund projects and programs that expand educational opportunities, foster creativity, and enhance academic experiences in Northampton's public schools. 

The Cancer Connection Thrift Shop has a terrific selection of fancy and fab prom dresses, suits, shoes, costume jewelry, accessories, and more.  Or stop by before October 1 if you have dresses or suits to donate.

Prom Dress & Suit Sale 
Saturday, October 1 - 4:00-6:00 pm (special extended hours)

Cancer Connection Thrift Shop, 375 South St., Northampton, MA -587-9999. Light refreshments. Proceeds from the sale benefit Cancer Connection, Inc.

NEF's 25^th Anniversary Adult Re-Prom

Then, don't miss NEF's 25^th Anniversary "Adult ReProm" on Saturday, November 12 at the Florence VFW.  Dance to the Mike Hooker Experience, enjoy light hors d'oeuvres from Seth Mias Catering and mix and mingle with friends at this 21+ event.  Cash Bar.  Attire is tuxedos to tennis shoes – anything goes.  Tickets are now on sale at www.nefreprom.brownpapertickets.com. Get your tickets early, space is limited!

Saturday, November 12, 7:30-11:00 pm Florence VFW, 18 Meadow Street, Florence.  Tickets $25-$50-$75 www.nefreprom.brownpapertickets.com

Transperformance

http://northamptonartscouncil.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=17bb46fe24861f137663b3d8d&id=e9c4a38e13&e=b960943429

PTO updates

School updates:

 

The Science Fair will be on Thursday, June 2, 2016 from 6:00-7:30. Thank you Ms. Parrott!

 

7^th grade dance will be Friday, June 10^th 6:30-8:30 pm, tickets must be purchased in advance, they will be sold at lunch a few days prior for $5.  Snacks, drinks and photo booth will be sold at the dance,  more info here     We are looking for volunteers to bake goodies.  We are also looking for five - six chaperons (photo booth, food/activity ticket sales, etc..)  

 

JFK Day of Service was Thursday, May 26^th.    The school was buzzing with great projects, congratulations to the many teams that contributed to our community!  Thank you to Ms. Mallory who led a team painting the Transperformance sets, helping to raise money, which the PTO uses to fund enrichment for our school!

 

Yearbooks can still be reserved; they will be passed out the last day of school.  There are less than 100 left, which can be purchased for $27.  Parents can send a check made out to JFK Middle School OR Cash with their child's name and homeroom on the envelope and put it in Todd DiGeronimo's mailbox for deposit, until they are gone!

 

The 4th Annual K-8 Art Show at JFK will stay up until June 10^th.

 

PTO updates:

 

Last PTO meeting of the year is Monday, June 6^th, 6 pm, in the JFK Library.  All parents and guardians of current and incoming middle school students are welcome, see  flyer here

A Grand Merci to Mme. James, who is the Teacher Representative, and whose wisdom, grace and elegance are appreciated!

 

Volunteers needed for the Ice Cream Social, happening during lunches on Monday, June 13. Sign up genius here, you need to have current CORI. Thank you!

 

 

8th grade Upcoming Events:

 

A Midsummer Night's Dream will be presented Friday, June 10^th 8:15 am.   

 

The annual 8th Grade Picnic at Look Park is coming up on Thursday June 16th

A flyer came home last week about this fun and exciting event to mark the completion of our children's middle school years. Please consider donating to this event, any amount would be greatly appreciated!! Make checks payable to JFK PTO and be sure to write 8th grade picnic in memo line. We also need volunteers to help at the food table and chaperoning. Any question please contact Darla Gormley.  Thank you in advance!!  

Picnic donation / volunteer forms !  

 

 

Community:

 

Happier FAMILY Comedy Show on June 16 at 4pm at The Community Room (Suite 160, 116 Pleasant St) at Eastworks in Easthampton. Tickets: $5/Kids, $10/Adults, $30/Family Max.

 

 

 

Upcoming Events

 

May 30 No School Memorial Day

June 2 Science Fair 6:30 pm

June 6 6 pm PTO Meeting JFK Library

June 8 Band Concert Academy of Music 

June 10 8:15am A Midsummer Night Dream

June 10 6:30-8:30 7^th grade Dance

June 13 Ice Cream Social

June 16 8^th Grade Picnic

June 21 Last day of school, half day

 

Aug 23 Transperformance

Sept 6 First day of School

 

Communications Chair is graduating in June!  We need you to continue this outreach.   Volunteer(s) needed to take over email list and website - make it what you want it to be, on your time, at home.  Reply to Tina at this email. 

 

 

Need to find out about school lunches? Want to do some easy, at home fundraising for JFK PTO?  Need more information about JFK? Links, calendar and PTO meeting minutes are at jfkmspto.blogspot.com.   jfk school council meeting minutes are posted on the website. 

 

Public Forum

Come learn about the ballot campaign to oppose more charter schools and preserve our public education June 22, 5:30 - 7:00 pm, JFK Middle School Cafeteria Pizza and child care available This November, voters will face a ballot question to increase the number of charter schools in Massachusetts.  Its passage would seriously undermine funding for our public schools here in Northampton and across the Commonwealth.  Statewide organizing is underway now to defeat it.  Privately funded, out-of-state, pro-charter school proponents plan to funnel millions into the effort to pass the ballot question.  This issue goes to the heart of public education, and all that it means for our children, our community and our democracy.   Come learn how and why and what you can do about it:   Wednesday, June 22 5:30 - 7:00 pm JFK Middle School Cafeteria Pizza and child care available   Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz and MTA President Barbara Madeloni will provide information and insight.  Come learn about what's at stake for all of us.  Our schools need you!   Please reply to this email if you plan to attend (and for child care and pizza planning, let us know your children count, too).  We hope to see you there!

Yes!Northampton  •  PO Box 1595  •  Northampton, MA 01061