JFK Elementary School
January 12, 2024
Hawks’ Herald
SOARing through the Week at JFK
Hello JFK Families!
It was great to have an (almost) full week back together! It’s been a wonderful week to be in classrooms and see students excited about their learning. One of the things I appreciate so much about our JFK learners is their enthusiasm for sharing their ideas and successes in the classroom.
Below I’ve included a photograph of a Hawk-mazing wall display created by a 5th grade student and Mrs. Koosa. All JFK students and staff contributed a “Bright & Kind Wish for the New Year” on a colored light bulb. It is inspiring to see how our students are caring about others and the world around them. This display is just one more way that we are promoting kindness in our community! If you are in the building, please take a moment to check it out!
Have a wonderful long weekend, Hawk families!
In partnership,
Amy E. Rizzo
Amy E. Rizzo, Principal
Follow me on X (formerly Twitter) @JFKPrincipalRIz
Important Dates & Information:
January 15th - No School (MLK)
January 16th - 4th Grade Band/Strings Informance @ 6:30pm
January 20th - PTO Skate Night 3:50-5:50pm
January 24th - Early Dismissal @ 1:25 PM
❄️ In the case of inclement weather please check the MPS website and your email for delays, cancellations, or early dismissals.
School Counselor Notes
Are your kids on their phone too much? Are they having trouble with friends? Are you worried about their stress level? Please see the attached flier to find out more information about an exciting learning opportunity for families on January 25 at West Shore.
Kindergarten Registration for the 2024-2025 School Year
The December assessment appointment window is closed for those families that have requested a waiver for their child to enter into Kindergarten for the 2024 - 2025 school year. If you requested a waiver, but did not have the opportunity to schedule a December appointment, you will receive a communication in the near future to make an appointment for the next Kindergarten Waiver assessment. The online Kindergarten registration will remain open, if you have not had the opportunity to register, please do so.
Morning Snack/Breakfast
The cafeteria does not serve breakfast on delayed opening days. Please be sure your child has breakfast before coming to school. On delayed opening days lunch is served at the regular times.
K & 2 - 11:10-11:40
1 & 4 - 11:45-12:15
2 & 5 - 12:20-12:50
🍎January Elementary Lunch Menu
❤️🩹News from the Nurse
Hello families!
With cold/flu season upon us please remember to be diligent with handwashing and notify the school nurse of any communicable illnesses. There is a copy of the illness guidelines on the MPS JFK website under the nurse's office tab.
Reminder - all PreK students need a flu shot by the end of the year.
Remember to make sure your student has a winter coat for outdoor recess.
With the weather changing a lot of children have been getting very chapped lips, send in chapstick if possible.
The school health office will be continuing to conduct hearing and vision screenings.
Change of Clothes - If your child comes home with clothing from the Nurse’s Office, please wash the item and return it to school as soon as possible so it is available for other children when needed. We do encourage parents of our students to pack a change of clothes in their child’s backpack.
Community Connections News
This week's CCC News contains information and links for a mix of resources & fun seasonal activities. Among the community services you will find links for the CT FoodShare's Mobile Pantry, and Access Health's Open Enrollment Fair. The Child Development program at Jonathan Law High School has some available spots in their program starting in the second semester.
For Family fun you'll find information about TEAM's Martin Luther King Celebration and The Everwonder Museum.
Because of inclement weather the PDS's SPARKLER ``Ring in the New Year" Family Night was moved to Tuesday, Jan. 30th from 5:00pm-7:30pm Contact the MFRC today for registration information by calling Kathy or Judy at 203-783-3626.
Remember that the CCC Website is updated with links to community resources.
To locate the CCC’s web page go to Milford’s main page and click on the Menu tab & scroll down under district Information to find the Community Connections Centers!
Have a great week!
Mary-Kathryn Williams, Coordinator
Milford Community Connection Centers
203-882-6094
Learn more about our Hawksome PreK Teachers,
Mrs. LeBlanc and Ms. DeGiovanni
Specialist Spotlight - Media
Happy 2024! The Media Center page on the JFK website is live! On the landing page, there is a link to our online catalog, Destiny. If you ever want to see what is currently checked out to your child, you can log in using their Destiny account (sign in with Google) and look under “My Info.” Please poke around the page and let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
The Kindergarten students had some excitement in the new year; they received their school Chromebooks! We are having fresh conversations about being safe online and keeping the device safe, too. Additionally, we are practicing logging in, navigating to the sites that the class is using, and getting familiar with the trackpad and keyboard. Please have the Chromebooks in school and fully charged for library days!
Before the holiday recess, all of the grade levels acquired some background knowledge about coding. They practiced coding on websites like Code.org and Kodable, as well as using robots like the Bee-bots, Dash robots, and Ozobots. While our students will still be coding in the library from time to time, the focus is shifting to our next topic, research. We will be reading informational texts and looking for main ideas, supporting details, and several text features, as well as representing our new learning using various forms of media.
News from the JFK PTO
Be sure to check out the Newsletter from the JFK PTO this week that includes important information on upcoming events, programming and fundraisers! When you support the PTO you are directly supporting our school community.
A Glimpse at the Week
Click here to view pictures of some of the HAWK-SOME learning and events that happened at JFK this week!
News Around the District
MPS PreSchool and Kindergarten Event
See the attached flier for registration and program information for January 30th from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. Any questions call Pumpkin Delight School.
Room 17 and the Milford Arts Council
Room 17 and the Milford Arts Council have designed an event to showcase that Math is EVERYWHERE! Children (“artists”) in grades K-12 can use various media (Music, Digital Media, Dance, Photography, Painting Sculpting..etc.) to create a piece and share how they incorporated math.
Artists will be invited to The MAC on March 24th, 2024 to share their creation with our community and their family members. Judges will be visiting all artists and selecting finalists and winners. Prizes will be awarded. New this year, we will have CASH prizes for our grades 6-12 winner(s)! Finalists and winners will have their work displayed at The Walnut Beach Coffee House for a period of time after the event. Last year we received news coverage as well!
We would appreciate it if you could share this opportunity with your teachers and school communities. See attached flier to display in Art Rooms, included in weekly Upcoming Milford Events and school newsletters!
Click here for submission details and deadlines or visit www.room17math.com/MACshow.
Interested in judging, sponsoring or donating to our event? Email MACshow@room17math.com.
We encourage EVERYONE to save the date and stop by to support youth education and the arts! See attached photos and a few submissions from last year!
~The Room 17 Team and The Milford Arts Council
Room 17, Inc. is a women-run nonprofit organization with a mission to spread the joy of mathematics through engaging experiences, in order to eliminate math phobia. We are deeply passionate about teaching and learning mathematics, encouraging everyone to see math all around them, and creating a community of confident mathematicians.
JFK: A Community Where ALL Learners SOAR!