SOARing through the Week at JFK
January 3, 2025
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday break. It has been a joy to return to school and reconnect with our staff and students over the past two days. Many of our students have shared their hopes and dreams for 2025, and we are excited to support them in reaching their goals!
This mini-edition of the Hawks’ Herald includes important reminders and dates for upcoming events. Please take a few moments to review it.
Wishing you a Happy and Healthy New Year! Remember to 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
Important Dates:
January 8th- Early Dismissal- Staff Professional Learning
January 8th- JFK January PTO Meeting Virtual Link
January 10th- JFK Spirit Day! Winter White Out! (wear white)
January 11th- MPS Community Conversation- Long Range Planning
*January 15th- 4th & 5th Grade Band and Strings Concert
January 20th- No School - MLK Day
January 21st- PTO Sponsored Programming- Sky Dome
January 22nd- Early Dismissal- Staff Professional Learning
February 5th- Early Dismissal- Staff Professional Learning
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Upcoming Fire Drill: JFK will be conducting a fire drill next week. Conducting emergency drills (fire, crisis, lockdown, etc.) is one of the most important ways we enhance our preparedness for students and staff during an emergency. Drills allow us to practice what we need to do when an emergency arises in our school.
❄️JFK Community: Winter Traditions❄️- We need your help to build our display of family winter traditions. It’s not too late to participate in this great family project!
Winter officially began on December 21, 2024, and ends on March 20, 2025. There are MANY winter holidays, events, and traditions that families take part in from December to March to celebrate winter. We want to learn more about our JFK family traditions and ways you spend time during winter!
All JFK families are invited to share a winter tradition or winter holiday tradition with our school community by completing this Google Slide template. The template includes a space for your family name, a picture, and a brief description of your family tradition. Families are welcome to submit more than one slide.
Slides can be returned as soon as they are completed. Share your slide(s) with Mrs. Koosa (dkoosa@milforded.org) or print your slide at home and return it to the Main Office. Hard copies can be sent home by request. Please contact your classroom teacher or Mrs. Koosa if you have any questions.
Slides will be displayed in our school hallway for our community to see throughout the winter season.
Band & Strings Winter Concert Information
Attention all 4th and 5th Grade instrumental music students and families (Band and Strings)
Our 4th and 5th Grade Band and Strings Winter Concert will be held on
Wednesday, January 15th 2025 at 6:30 PM in the Parsons Complex Auditorium
This concert will feature band and string students performing from Mathewson, Meadowside, JFK, and Pumpkin Delight Elementary Schools.
Students are requested to wear a white or light top and black or dark bottoms
and report to the Parsons Complex by 5:45 PM to set up
Any questions, please reach out to Mr. Boots.
Have a safe and happy holiday season
Reminders!
Winter Attire
Whenever the weather permits, our students have outdoor recess. Please ensure that your child has proper attire to stay warm when they are outside. We recommend a warm winter coat, hat, and gloves. If you need assistance please reach out to our school Social Worker, Mrs. Dougherty.
Return Library Books
Please return any JFK library books your student has finished reading. We have many popular books checked out that other students are waiting to read!
Please label your child’s sweatshirts, jackets, lunch bag, and water bottles. Our Lost and Found continues to grow! Please have your child check the lost and found email Mrs. Koosa (dkoosa@milforded.org) or your child’s classroom teacher if any of these items belong to your family.
Hawks SOAR Awards - Our JFK Hawks SOAR award is designed to recognize student and staff behaviors and actions that enhance our school community and those individuals who exemplify citizenship within this community beyond the expected norms. When your child comes home with a sticker, please ask them how they SOARED that day!
Attendance Reminder
A reminder that absences should be reported in PowerSchool.
Click HERE for instructions on how to report absences. Be sure to update the date on the top of the form each time you fill it out.
Arrival and Dismissal Information -
Please do not leave students unattended at the school prior to 8:20 am.
Please note that our Walker Pick Up should be utilized for families who are walking to the building. If you are driving to JFK to pick up your child, please use our car pick up procedure. Families of students who are being dismissed as walkers should not be parking in our parking lot and then picking up at the walker door. Doing this interferes with the flow of traffic in our car pick up line. Thank you for adhering to our dismissal procedures.
Parents, please be sure to drive slowly and safely through our parking lot at drop off and pick up times. We understand that mornings can be hectic getting students off to school and adults off to work, but please drive slowly and with caution on our school grounds.
If you are dropping off your child please pull all the way forward in line and remain in the car for safety. If you wish to get out of the car, please park in a designated parking spot and walk your child to the parking lot crosswalk. Mr. Kee will assist your child in crossing safely.
Dismissal Car Tags should be placed on your dashboard/mirror when lining up for pick up. We ask that you please do not line up in the parking lot prior to 3pm.
❤️🩹News from the Nurse
MPS Health Department Guidelines
With the weather getting colder please make sure your child has appropriate outdoor clothing for recess. Additionally, we have many students with very chapped lips as the weather is getting colder. Please provide chapstick for your child as needed.
If clothing is borrowed from the school health office please wash and return :)
If possible, pack a spare set of clothes in your child's backpack. Accidents happen! Students can get wet on the playground or spill on themselves at lunch. It's always helpful to have extra clothing available
~Nurse Jacqueline Campbell
Community Connections Center
Happy New Year! Welcome back to School!
This week's CCC News contains information and & a fun activity. Featured this week : CT FoodShare, Eli Whitney Museum, Model Trains and a New Year SPARKLER family activity.
Find these in our CCC Newsletter. Looking for other community resources, visit the CCC Website.
Have a great weekend!
Mary-Kate Williams & Cara Dascenzo
Milford Community Connection Centers
203-882-6094
The CCC honors all family inquiries as private and confidential unless parent permission is given or Connecticut mandated reporting applies
Community Conversations Letter
Join the JFK PTO! It’s not too late and our PTO supports so many of our wonderful school community events. Your membership matters!
We welcome and encourage everyone to join the JFK PTO. Membership is simple and in no way commits you to volunteer and/or attend meetings (although we would love to have you). Simply click the link below and submit your dues/donation. Don't forget to fill out the membership form as well. Once both steps are complete you are able to join our PTO Membership page which has all upcoming events and updates! https://john-f-kennedy-elem-pto.square.site/
Additional MPS information can be accessed through the district website at www.milforded.org.
JFK: A Community Where
ALL
Learners SOAR!