JFK Weekly Update
March 12, 2023
Raise Craze is back! The fundraiser will run March 13th - 24th. During the two weeks, students pay it forward by completing Acts of Kindness for others. The end of the two week period results with pig races, which I hear is very exciting! A flyer was sent home with students on Friday. There is also a flyer linked below.
On Friday we had our all school meeting and celebrated how lucky we are to be a part of a wonderful and diverse community. We greeted each other in Arabic, Spanish, French, Polish, Russian and Chinese. It was wonderful to hear students speak in the languages that represent our community.
Sincerely,
Saundra Watson, M.Ed
JFK Principal
All School Meeting
All School Meeting
All School Meeting
A Few Updates
The Student Council members, with the help of votes from third, fourth and fifth graders, made a decision to support The Make a Wish Foundation. As a community we will be collecting coins to raise money for the foundation. Yesterday, Council members dropped off a container in each classroom to collect coins. The coin drive will run through the month of March. Send your coins in, no paper money please.
It's time for Canton Writes! Canton Writes is a town wide writing contest, sponsored by the Friends of the Canton Library. This is a great opportunity for students to share their voices in an authentic way. This year there are age groups for K-2, 3-5, middle school, high school, and adults. Information will be displayed in the library and Maura will start to spread the word. Entries are due April 12th. If you could find some time this month to talk this up to classes, that would be really helpful. We know we have some talented writers in our schools and hope to see their incredible work published in Canton Writes! Information docs about this year's contest are below.
Fourth Grade Book Reviews
Fourth Grade Book Reviews
Third Grade Idioms
MS. Eaton's ART News
Exciting things have been happening in the art room! First, I am happy to share that Mysia Trojnor-Barron, a Master’s Degree candidate at Massachusetts College of Art, is student teaching this spring.
I am also happy to share that Artists in Bloom is back! Please see flyer below.
This special exhibit features children’s artwork and floral interpretations designed by the Canton Garden Club. The following students will have work on display:
Grade 1: Jordan Leung, Samantha Holtzman, Jackson Morley, Ryan Kafka, Lola Morle
Grade 2: Rose Martinek, Madeleine McMahon, Craig MacDonald Jr, Avery Banda
Grade 3: Joey Lourenco, John Ealy, Emily Joyce, Briana Yarosh
Grade 4: Ryan Crowe, Dylan Maurer, Leo Wilson, Ava Desantis
Grade 5: Ahmed Abdelaal, Eva Gefteas, Eddie Sykes, Gabby Yandek
Here’s a little snapshot of things we’ve been working on:
Kindergarten: Primary Color Mixing
Grade 1: Artist Charles McGee, line and pattern
Grade 2: Artist Georgia O’Keeffe
Grade 3: Observational drawing and printmaking
Grade 4: Artist Wayne Thiebaud, shading and highlighting
Grade 5: Value, shape and form
Curious George & Friends Visit Kindergarten
Curious George & Friends Visit Kindergarten
Curious George & Friends Visit Kindergarten
Curious George & Friends Visit Kindergarten
Curious George & Friends Visit Kindergarten
Curious George & Friends Visit Kindergarten
Gym Shorts
As a reminder, please be sure that your child is prepared to move with sneakers on the day they have Physical Education. Boots are not ideal for movement and can scuff up the floor. If the weather is not great and they need to wear boots, please send a pair of sneakers in your child’s bag so they are prepared for PE class. Thanks for your attention to this.
SAVE THE DATE: The Kennedy Olympics (AKA- Field Day) will be on Friday, June 2nd (Rain Date 6/5). There will be an online signup for volunteers in next months newsletter. Please consider volunteering as there will be many activities offered for the students to participate in. Should be fun for both students and parents.
JFK Health Update
Miss O'Sullivan created a GoogleSite for JFK Health. Her website shares information about the district's Wellness mission, National Health Education Standards, topics covered in each grade level, and some student work and action photos. The JFK Health GoogleSite is the following link: https://sites.google.com/cantonma.org/jfkhealth/home
March STEM Connection
The March issue of the STEAM Connection is now available! This newsletter provides fun information, resources, and activities to engage families in conversations about Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math at home. This month's focus is on measurement. Be sure to check out the CPS STEAM for Students website for more resources and past issues of The STEAM Connection.
A Note from the Humanities Coordinator
Hi CPS families,
We often hear questions about how families can help support students at home. One of the themes my colleagues and I are noticing relates to vocabulary knowledge. Students are coming to school knowing the meaning of fewer words than ever before. Students will often ask the meanings of words we assumed they already knew. We are making adjustments to our instructional practices to do more with vocabulary development, but it got me thinking.
I started reflecting on my own children and what might account for this overall decrease in vocabulary knowledge. I wonder about the shift in children now watching more You Tube videos than television shows. I wonder about how much we all use technology in our daily lives, and how that might reduce the opportunities for rich conversation and vocabulary building. We may never know the root cause, but we have some tips for how to work on this important skill at home.
- Use sophisticated vocabulary at home when you are talking to children. Hope that they ask you what that word means. If they don't, draw their attention by asking, "Do you know what motivated means?"
- When children talk to you, say something back to them and insert a word that will make what they said richer and deepen their understanding. For example, "Oh, you had a substitute today? Hmm, did the class take advantage of that situation?" "Taking advantage means the class used an opportunity to be extra silly because they know your teacher wasn't in."
- Read aloud to children and stop at words that you think they might not know. Ask them about the word and then explain the word's meaning.
- Think aloud as you move through the world with children. Talk to them and with them. While you are waiting at a doctor or dentist appointment say, "This office is sterile." "I wonder if this clipboard has been disinfected." "Look at that intricate design on the wall."
Building vocabulary is all about exposure and conversation about words. The more you can play with language, the better!
You might also want to check out this article from Reading Rockets:
Tips for Building Vocabulary at Home
Jaclyn Abrams
Pre-K to 5 Humanities Coordinator
Canton Public Schools
960 Washington Street, Canton MA 02021
Little League Registration
Registration for Spring 2023 Canton Little League Baseball & Softball - Canton, MA is now open! See below website for details.
Summer Programs
Attendance
As you know, school attendance is a key factor in student success. Whether excused or unexcused, frequent absences can lead to academic difficulties and can negatively impact social-emotional development. Students who regularly attend school are more likely to read well by the end of elementary school, pass important courses in the upper grades, and stay on track for graduation. We ask that families set expectations for good attendance and monitor their children's absences. Students who accumulate at least 3 absences will receive an attendance letter. This letter, in accordance with our elementary school handbook, is to inform you that your child has accumulated at least 3 absences this school year. Of course, some students have been absent because of illness and those families should be especially cautious about any other unnecessary absences for the remainder of the year.
Recess
Winter is here! We believe that students should get outside as much as possible to get fresh air and exercise. Please send your student to school with the appropriate clothing for the weather- sweatshirts, jackets, hats, gloves, mittens and scarves. If those items are in backpacks they are easily accessible if students get cold.
Spare Clothing
Having some spare clothing at school is a good idea. We see food and drink spills, wet clothing from playing on the wet playground equipment as well as bathroom accidents. There is a limited amount of spare clothing available in the health office so it may be a good idea to put an extra outfit in a labeled zip lock bag to leave in backpacks or cubbies for emergencies.
What's Coming Up?
March 14, 2023: Grade 1 & 2 Eversource Activity (9-11)
- March 17, 2023: Harney Academy Irish Dance Assembly 10:15
- March 23, 2023: Grade 2 Science Guy Assembly (9-11)
- March 24, 2023: CAPE SPelling Bee, 6:00PM
- March 31, 2023: Early Release, Conferences
- April 3 & 5, 2023: Grade 4 ELA MCAS
- April 4 & 6, 2023: Grade 3 ELA MCAS
- April 11 & 13, 2023: Grade 5 ELA MCAS
- April 17-21, 2023: Vacation Week
MCAS Testing Schedule
Around Town
Canton Public Schools has a Community Resources and Information Page on its website titled Around Town. This page lists resources and events taking place in our community. To access the information on this webpage, use this link: About/Around Town.
- CDEI 2023 Black History Month Celebration - RESCHEDULED - Tuesday, March 14, 2023, 7:00 pm at the Canton Public Library
- St. Gerards Reuse Committee Public Workshop
- Brookwood Community Farm Community Supported Agriculture
This webpage will be updated periodically.
Morning Recess
Morning recess is a great way for students to socialize and burn some energy before the day begins. If your student is coming to morning recess they are to be dropped off at the gate and they will walk themselves to their designated spots, which are listed below. There are plenty of adults outside supervising so family members do not need to walk students to their spots.
K: Playground
1 & 2: Basketball court
3: Courtyard
4: Blacktop behind basketball court
5: Blacktop by the recess door
School Info.
School Hours: 8:40 - 2:55; Adult supervision provided at 8:20 for breakfast or morning recess.
Breakfast: 8:20-8:35
Early Release: 11:50 (no lunch served)
JFK Bus Routes:
John F. Kennedy Elementary School
Cathy Spera, Administrative Assistant
Kathryn Gallahue, Special Education Team Chair
Email: watsons@cantonma.org
Website: https://www.cantonma.org/kennedy/index
Location: 100 Dedham Street, Canton, MA, USA
Phone: (781) 821-5080
Twitter: @JFKGallahue