JFK Elementary School
March 15, 2024
Hawks’ Herald
SOARing through the Week at JFK
Hello, JFK Families!
Happy Friday! Spring is in the air and we are all enjoying the fresh air at outdoor recess this week! Hooray for warmer and longer days! You will notice some pictures of playground fun included at the end of the newsletter. This afternoon we had quite a special event in our school! Our fourth graders shared their energy projects with parents, staff, JFK students, and we even had a few special visitors stop by to check out their work! Special guests included Dr. Cutaia, Mr. Autieri, and former JFK principal, Mr. Brennan! Our students were so proud to share their work with all of the attendees. Thank you to those who came to support them as they explained their thinking, their projects and the models they constructed.
An additional special event that was held this week was the Junior Women’s League District Wide Spelling Bee! Jackson M. represented JFK after winning the 5th grade spelling bee here at JFK. He made it all the way to the fifth round at the district spelling bee! We are so proud of you, Jackson! You did a Hawk-some job!
Our spotlight on ways that you can continue to encourage your learners to make their thinking visible at home this week is to Support Your Child in Arguing Effectively and Persuasively. While it may make you chuckle to think of encouraging your child to effectively argue, the ability to support their ideas or claims with supporting evidence and reasoning is an important skill that all learners need to develop. When your child voices an opinion, provide them space to share their idea and offer them the opportunity to support their idea with concrete reasons. Ask curious questions like “Why do you think that?” or “Can you share why you think that is true?” Listening to their reasoning will support their ability to express their ideas with clarity.
Have a wonderful weekend, JFK! Take care of yourself, our community and most of all BE KIND!
In partnership,
Amy E. Rizzo
Amy E. Rizzo, Principal
Follow me on X (formerly Twitter) @JFKPrincipalRIz
District Spelling Bee Sponsored by the Junior Women’s League
Important Dates & Information:
March 20th, 21st and 22nd - Spring Conferences - Early Dismissal 1:15pm
March 20th-22nd PTO Spring Book Fair!📚
March 27th - Spring Photos & STEM Night 6:00 to 8:00 PM
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 - Conference Site Closes Monday
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!
Tonight is Electrify Our Choir at Parsons!
5 & 7:30pm
Milford's 5th Grade Elementary MIOS (Music in Our Schools) Band Concert to be held on Tuesday, March 26th at Foran HS at 6:30pm. This is a free concert celebrating music performed by our wonderful 5th grade band students across all of our elementary schools in Milford as well as a performance by our newly established elementary honors band composed of the more advanced students in our program.
Save the Date:
Kindergarten Registration for the 2024-2025 School Year
Kindergarten registration is available online for the 2024-2025 school year. Register now. We are planning an event for the spring and you need to be registered to attend.
❤️🩹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 dates, additional food resources and Milford's Public Library (MPL) workshop on how to manage stress.
For Family fun you'll find information for Celtic Music at the MPL Or you can enjoy several beautiful Nature Walks around Milford. 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 5th Grade Team!
Specialist Spotlight - STEM
Hi JFK Families!
It is a very busy time in the STEM lab! We have all of our grades working hard to finish their second unit of the year, and many are looking forward to starting their third unit. Kindergarten has just finished making things move with pushes and pulls, and Grade 1 will be starting a unit on space with a trip to the planetarium in the spring. Grade 2 has just finished a unit on how land changes over time and Grade three will be starting a forces and motion unit very soon. Lastly, our upper grades have finished units on energy and ecosystems and will be starting living things and matter very soon.
Finally, check out this video that is a very relevant science experiment for this time of year!
Thanks,
Zachary Sabo
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.
Sign Up to volunteer at the PTO Book Fair! https://tinyurl.com/yz34j65m
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!