Hello JFK Families,
I hope everyone had a great snow day yesterday!
This newsletter has a lot of new information and some key reminders, so please make sure you check it out! One important reminder is the PTO sponsored FREE Virtual Family Game Night is tonight!! This event is a ton of fun, and all family members can participate - Just a reminder, you have to be registered ahead of time. Thank you to our PTO for organizing!! https://jfkpto2022.eventbrite.com/
See you all at the event tonight!!
Have a great weekend!
Mr. Brennan
Arrival/Dismissal
These are just friendly reminders about drop off and pick up procedures. If you arrive early in the morning before school begins, please pull up as far as possible to help with the flow of traffic. Please also make sure you are creating two lines in the outer parking lot as you are waiting to enter the drop off lane. This will help limit the traffic backing up onto West Ave. Also, if you are picking up your children early and a line has already started in the outer parking lot, please enter the school’s parking lot through the bus entrance (opposite the car pick up entrance) and proceed to the front of the school. Please unload and load your children from the car as quickly and safely as possible. Safety is always our number one priority!! Thank you for all your efforts to make these two times run smoothly!!
Vaccine Clinics
The district, in partnership with Griffin hospital, has scheduled a series of vaccination clinics for our students aged 5 - 11 at our elementary schools during the week of Jan 31- Feb 4 and during the week of Feb. 21- Feb. 25. JFK clinics have been scheduled for Feb. 3rd and Feb. 24th from 4:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. Students can attend any clinic (Full Schedule below). Please click HERE for more information.
Voluntary COVID Testing for Students
All students eligible regardless of vaccination status - More information can be found here
ASAP!'s Celebration of Young Game Designers (grades 3-12)
This opportunity promotes creative thinking, problem-solving, writing, storytelling, visual arts while showing students the process of video game development. Top selected students will work virtually with professional video game developers to bring their video game to life! The deadline is Feb. 1st, 2022. Please see the flyer for more information.
Important Dates:
Wednesday, January 26th: Early Dismissal for Teacher Professional Learning. Students dismissed at 1:25
Friday, February 18th and Monday, February 21st: No School Winter Recess
Wednesday, February 23rd: Early Dismissal for Teacher Professional Learning. Students dismissed at 1:25
Older but still relevant News
Attendance
If your child is out don’t forget to complete the form on PowerSchool and send a follow up note, email or doctor note to excuse the absence.
Masks
Students were sent home with three disposable 3 ply masks earlier this week. We have not acquired viable child size N95 masks. Using the 3-ply mask is optional (wearing a mask is still state-mandated in all Connecticut public schools).
COVID Vaccine upload
Parents may voluntarily provide a copy of their child’s COVID immunization card now by uploading it using our secure form here. This information will only be accessible by school nurses and school administration solely for the purpose of contact tracing and quarantining.
Water Bottles Reminder
Please remember to send in a reusable water bottle with your child. They have access to our water stations and can refill as necessary throughout the day.
District Communications
District Communications - Please take a moment to review:
Dr. Cutaia’s Update from Jan 7th
Dr. Cutaia’s Update from Jan 5th
Dr. Cutaia’s Update from Jan 1st.
Specialist Spotlight - Media Center
Happy 2022 to all of our JFK families! We have been easing into new topics for the new year in the Library Media Center. The older students have been sharing their favorite books with each other in the form of book talks. After writing short descriptions of the books, the students have the option of presenting in front of the class or recording a video to persuade others to read their picks. It has been so nice to hear from all of the students! The 2nd graders are learning how to navigate the features of Google Drawings -- and, in the process, other Google tools, as well. Finally, the youngest students are reading different works by author and illustrator Leo Lionni. They are identifying different parts of the story and connecting how his different works are alike. As always, please reach out if you have any questions or concerns!
PTO News
Important Dates
Friday, January 21st - Virtual Family Game Night (it’s free!)
Wednesday, February 2nd - PTO Meeting
Friday, February 4th - National Wear Red Day
PTO News
Tonight’s Family Game Night!
If you registered for tonight’s FREE Family Game Night, your bingo cards will be mailed by 6:30pm to the email address you provided during registration. Can’t wait to see you there!
Welcome Author Janet Lawler for a K-2 Special Event!
To celebrate World Read Aloud Day on February 2nd, we are excited to announce that children’s book author (and MIlford native!), Janet Lawler, will be conducting a virtual presentation with our K-2 students on “The Lifecycle of a Picture Book.” We’re thrilled to share Ms. Lawler’s work with our kids, and can’t wait for her presentation! (Stay tuned for more information on a special presentation being planned for our 3-5 kids later in the spring...)
Join Us on 2/2 for our February PTO Meeting!
Our next PTO meeting is on Weds, February 2nd. If you’re wondering what’s in store for the rest of the year, this is a great chance to come hear about all the fun we have planned! Meetings are at 7pm in the JFK cafeteria. See you there!
Spirit Wear Store is stocked!
We have updated our JFK PTO store with some stock items from our recent spirit wear sale. Ordered items will be sent home from school with your student or you can arrange for alternate pickup. We have adult and youth size t shirts, baseball tees, baseball hats, masks, bows and even a few hoodies!
https://john-f-kennedy-elem-pto.square.site/
Spirit Fridays
Our “first fridays” spirit days will continue through the end of the year. Here’s the schedule through June:
Friday, February 4, 2022 - National Wear Red Day
Friday, March 4, 2022 - Tie Dye Day
Friday, April 1, 2022 - Mismatch day
Thursday, April 14, 2022 - Hat day
Friday, May 6, 2022 - Dress like a teacher for Teacher Appreciation Week
Friday, May 27, 2022 - Red, white and blue day!
Friday, June 3, 2022 - Crazy sock day
Look at just a few pictures of the great learning that happened at JFK this week!
