JFK Elementary School
March 8, 2024
Hawks’ Herald
SOARing through the Week at JFK
Hello, JFK Families!
We had a Hawk-mazing time during Read Across America week at JFK! Throughout the week our learners engaged in many literacy focused activities. On Monday the PTO sponsored a visit for PK-2 and 3-5 students with children’s author Alicia Klepeis. The students enjoyed this experience and got to learn first-hand about the writing process by an author who has written over 190 books! Thank you, JFK PTO! Additionally, each day this week many students and staff participated in reading inspired dress days (check out the fun photos in the folder linked at the end of the newsletter!), students contributed to creating a rainbow reading chain of books they’ve read, Mrs. Rizzo and Mrs. Koosa shared new read alouds (click to listen at home!) and within their classrooms students engaged in many learning activities meant to further inspire their love of reading. One of the biggest highlights of the week was that each student got to decorate a canvas tote bag and select a book to take home! Today all students visited our JFK “Books for Break” collection and they were thrilled to go shopping! Thank you PTO for the canvas bags and thank you to all of you who generously donated books to our Books for Break program. It was wonderful to see the students so excited about selecting a new book to take home to read. Be sure to ask your child to share their book with you. I want to extend a very special thank you to our Hawk-some literacy coaches, Mrs. DePuma and Mrs. Rosengrant, for their hard work in putting together an extra special Read Across America Week! They support our literacy work everyday at JFK and we are so grateful for them!
This week I’d also like to take a moment to spotlight another way you can continue to encourage your learners to make their thinking visible at home. This week our focus is particularly important: Focus on the Learning Over the Work. Often we as adults focus on the output, task, or getting the work done rather than the actual process of learning. Be mindful of asking your child about what they are learning or what they think their teacher wants them to be learning from the work they are doing rather than what they are “doing.” Prioritizing learning over work completion places value on the process of learning and makes the work more meaningful.
I want to remind all of our families of our upcoming Spring Conferences. We hope that you will schedule a conference with your child’s teachers. (Info included in this newsletter). Our PTO will be holding our Spring Book Fair in the Media Center during conference days.
Have a wonderful weekend, JFK! It’s starting to feel like spring in the air! As always, take care of yourselves, our community, and most of all BE KIND!
In partnership,
Amy E. Rizzo
Amy E. Rizzo, Principal
Follow me on X (formerly Twitter) @JFKPrincipalRIz
All School Read Alouds 2024 for Read Across America Week- Click to listen:
Important Dates & Information:
March 13th - Early Release Day - 1:25 PM
PTO Meeting @ 6:30 PM In Person or Join Virtually
March 20th, 21st and 22nd - Spring Conferences - Early Dismissal 1:15pm
March 27th - Spring Photos
March 29-April 5- Spring Recess
❄️ In the case of inclement weather please check the MPS website and your email for delays, cancellations, or early dismissals.
Spring Conference Information
Greetings, MPS Families!
We are pleased to announce our Spring 2024 Elementary Conference Schedule:
Wednesday, March 20th 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Thursday, March 21st 1:45-3:45 p.m.
Friday, March 22nd 1:45-3:45 p.m.
*Please note that we will have a modified early dismissal time on the conference days to accommodate the conference schedule. Therefore, students will be dismissed on March 20th, March 21st, and March 22nd at 1:15pm.
Parents/guardians will once again have the opportunity to select a conference time through My Conference Time. All conferences will be in person unless a parent/guardian requests a Google Meet link directly from the teacher. Spring conference sign up information will be live on our school website from Friday, March 4th, at 9:00 a.m. through Monday, March 18th, at 12:00 p.m. If you prefer a virtual session, please contact the teacher to request a Google Meet link to conduct your conference virtually after you have confirmed your conference time through My Conference Time Online Scheduler. We are looking forward to meeting with you to discuss your child’s learning!
Kindergarten Registration for the 2024-2025 School Year
Kindergarten registration is available online for the 2024-2025 school year.
❤️🩹News from the Nurse
Hello families!
With cold/flu season upon us please remember to be diligent with handwashing. There is a copy of the illness guidelines on the MPS JFK website under the nurse's office tab.
Remember to make sure your student has a winter coat for outdoor recess.
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. 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 activities. Among the community services you will find links for "Foodshare Mobile Pantry date and additional food resources. Milford's St.Patrick Day Parade and swim classes at Milford's Park & Recreation Department.
For Family fun you'll find information for New Haven's "Family Fun Zone" event on March 10th. Or you can visit Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens to see all of the amazing wild birds.
There is also information about other summer camps.
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 Hawk-some 4th Grade Team!
Specialist Spotlight -
National Reading Month - Media Center News from Mrs. Soder
March is National Reading Month, and to celebrate, all of the elementary library classes in Milford are reading the same books. It is part of a unit we call “Book Madness.” Similar to the NCAA tournament, each grade level votes for a favorite picture book. The chosen books “battle” new books in the next round. After three rounds, a winner is named for the school, and ultimately, a book is crowned the winner for the district! In addition to the great books, the students appreciate the complementary activities that match the titles. Just look at the amazing tower built by Ms. Stuart’s class when told to “reach for the sky!”
I hope to see many of you at the upcoming conferences and the Spring book fair!
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.
Spring Chess Club!!
Get ready for the return of our exciting after-school chess program! We're thrilled to offer your child another chance to be coached in the game of chess by a local resident and Chess Olympiad participant. Our program caters to children at every level, from novice to seasoned players. We aim to equip your child with the fundamentals of chess and foster lifelong strategic thinking abilities. This after-school chess program provides a convenient platform for your child to strengthen friendships, both new and existing, while having fun and acquiring a valuable skill. Any new children who are beginners will get the beginner training, while those who already got the beginner training and come again will receive more advanced training.
Don't miss out on securing a spot for your child in our sought-after program. The program will run Fridays April 12-May 31st from 3:25-4:45 and the price is $240. Spaces are limited. Register here: https://keap.page/fu903/after-school-chess-program-apr-2024.html
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!
JFK: A Community Where
ALL
Learners SOAR!