JFK WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
Week of December 13, 2021
Greetings, JFK Families!
I hope this newsletter finds you winding down a wonderful weekend. I am very much looking forward to returning to the Kennedy tomorrow to get back into the swing of things. I am grateful to the entire community for their hard work during my absence, and most especially to Kate Gallahue and Sarah Shannon. I know they worked hard to oversee the day-to-day and I am lucky that they kept me informed when needed.
We have two short weeks before the Winter Break, and they are sure to bring a great mix of teaching and learning, along with lots of fun. We have a Spirit Week planned for next week, so see below for those details!
As a reminder, there is a town election this Tuesday, so our gym will be in use that day; we will have alternate locations for PE classes and any other activities that typically use that space. Please be sure students have layers, as PE will be outdoors if possible!
I wish you a wonderful week and look forward to reconnecting with you soon.
Check out some recent Instagram photos below! Please follow us on Instagram @jfk_elementary for photos of life at the Kennedy. Please also follow us on Twitter: JFK Elementary School, @JFKGallahue.
Welcome to Our New School Adjustment Counselor, Ms. Melissa Kerner
Staffing Updates
-Special Educator Hilary Binks is on maternity leave; Sammie Kelley (formerly Burt) joins the Special Education team while Hilary is out.
-School Aide Nicole McMahon has been hired as an Educational Assistant and will be working in the early childhood classrooms.
-Educational Assistant Jenn Pellegrine has joined us and is supporting in upper elementary classrooms.
-Educational Assistant Jess Corrielus has decided to leave the Kennedy, and will be deeply missed.
We are actively hiring for any openings and will update you once we have new members of the team!
Upcoming Holiday Spirit Week!
The Kennedy School will celebrate the days prior to the Winter Break with some fun spirit days! All students and staff are encouraged to participate and have some fun. Please see below for the spirit days that are planned...
MONDAY, DECEMBER 20th: Candy Cane Day- Dress in red and white to look like this winter treat!
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21st: Baby, It’s Cold Outside- Bundle up in a festive hat, headband, scarf or socks!
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22nd: Dashing Through the Snow- Wear a cozy, festive sweater!
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23rd: Long Winter’s Nap- Wear your coziest Pajamas!
Reminder: Substitute Teaching Opportunities!
Do you have a college-age child coming home for winter break? If so, would they be interested in subbing for the Canton Public Schools while they are here? Subbing is a great way to keep busy, make money and get real-world work experience. In Canton, we have had great success bringing our own, former students back to help support our students and schools during this busy time year. If your child is interested, please have them fill out this sub application packet and email it to Kim Eardley (eardleyk@cantonma.org) to get the process started. If they fill it out before they get home, the process can begin asap!
Students in their first year of college are able to sub at the elementary and preschool levels only. Students in their second year or beyond can sub at all school levels.
We also welcome other interested and qualified family members to apply to substitute teach!
Community Connections!
The Canton Board of Health in collaboration with the Canton Public Schools Nursing Team have added additional Vaccine Clinics:
Pfizer for 5-11 Year Olds First Dose Clinic
Tuesday, December 14, 2021
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Canton High School Cafeteria
Pre-registration for Pfizer 5-11 Year Old First Dose Clinic is required
https://home.color.com/vaccine/register/canton
Lost & Found
Notes from Nurse Stenmon!
Hello JFK families! I hope you are all well and staying healthy! Just a few quick notes from the Health Office.
Physical Exams: If your child has had a well child physical exam within the past year, please send a copy of their physical form to the Health office. Physicals are required for students in grade K, 4, 7 and 10 but we are happy to accept them every year so we have the most updated information on file for your student. If you are not sure if your child has a recent physical on file, please call or email me and I can let you know.
Health Screenings: Health Screenings and scoliosis screenings (grade 5 only) will be taking place soon. There will be additional information coming to you prior to the screenings dates.
Extra Clothing:It’s always good to have a spare set of clothing available for your child (shirt/ pants/ underwear). Accidents, spills and rips/tears happen and having their own clothing to change into is always helpful!
Winter health tip: DRY SKIN
Dry skin is a common issue this time of year. Frequent hand washing, cold air outside and warm dry air inside can cause our skin, especially our hands, to get very rough and dry. Dry skin can be itchy and may crack and cause open areas that expose it to germs that may cause infections.
How can you prevent dry skin?
Apply moisturiser every day to help soften dry skin. Avoid lotions and moisturizers that contain fragrances or dyes.
Use mild, fragrance-free, moisturizing soap and warm (not hot) water, when washing hands.
Limit showers or baths to no longer than 10 minutes, and use warm (not hot) water.
Manage stress (it can aggravate eczema and other skin conditions).
Use a moisturizer after bathing, while your skin is damp and soft.
Keep skin hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids.
Using a cool mist humidifier can help add moisture to your home’s air and prevent dryness.
Daily Self Health Assessment:
As the winter gears up we know there are many illnesses, colds, viruses and ailments that your student may experience. Please continue to monitor your student(s) for any signs of illness.If your child has any of the following symptoms please contact your school nurse prior to sending your child to school.
❏ Fever (100.0° F or higher), chills, or shaking chills
❏ Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
❏ New loss of taste or smell
❏ Muscle aches or body aches (not due to another cause such as exercise)
❏ Cough (not due to other known causes, such as chronic cough)
when in combination with other symptoms
❏ Sore throat -when in combination with other symptoms
❏ Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea -when in combination with other symptoms
❏ Headache -when in combination with other symptoms
❏ Fatigue -when in combination with other symptoms
❏ Nasal congestion or runny nose -when in combination with other symptoms
PLEASE NOTE: If your child has been identified as a close contact to a positive person and develops ANY symptoms for up to 14 days after exposure, no matter how minor they appear, they should be kept home from school and the Health Office should be notified.
We appreciate your assistance in keeping our students, staff and school safe and healthy!
December PE Notes
In November, students in Grade K-2 worked on a variety of jumping activities to improve balance, strength, and overall coordination. Grades 3-4 worked with Frisbees for a variety of throwing and catching challenges and games. Grade 5 started the PE Central Skill Challenge. 5th grade students will seek to complete as many of the six skill challenges as possible by the end of the year. Challenges include balancing, striking a tennis ball, hula hooping, jumping rope, volleying, and throwing/ catching.
We are looking forward to the grade 5 ice skating trip that is coming up on December 17th. Students will get 2 hours of fitness while working on learning/ enhancing skating skills, leadership skills, understanding differences, and other important social skills. Volunteers must be CORI checked with the main office and will meet us at the rink at 9:20 to help with on-ice skating skills, tying skates, and supervision both on and off of the ice. We are looking forward to a safe and rewarding experience for the students. This will be the Kennedy School’s 1st field trip in 2 years!!!!!
Grade 5 students participating in the “Get Fit” calendar program should hand in their November calendar ASAP. It should have their name on it, be signed by an adult, and have a minimum of 16 days of activity filled in. December calendars are now available in the file outside the gym.
Lastly, Physical Education grades will be out on the next report card. PE is graded on 4 different aspects of our class. The first two aspects are content standards. They are: Demonstrates Age Appropriate Skills and Actively Participates in Physical Education Activities. These standards have to do with how they are participating with the physical activities we worked on the first half of the year. We strive for all students to develop a base level of skills and engage in the activities as much as possible. The other two are standards are 21st Century Skills. They are: Follows Classroom Rules and Procedures and Demonstrates Sportsmanship and Fair Play. These are based more on how students do with their participation in class. It is important that all students develop an awareness of how to move their body and interact with others in an age appropriate way. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about these standards and your child’s progress as it is my goal for all students to meet or exceed these standards by the end of the school year!
November PE Sneaker Award Winners for Excellence in PE
Gold Sneaker- Ms. Gushue’s Class (3rd Grade)
Silver Sneaker- Mr. Houle’s Class (5th Grade)
PE Students of the Week for November
John Ealy (2nd Grade)
Ella Guarnotta (3rd Grade)
Lucy Molitor (4th Grade)
Kevin Gould (5th Grade)
STEAM Connection, Vol. 3 Issue 2
Be sure to check out the CPS STEAM for Students website for more resources and past issues of The STEAM Connection.
Times are Tough...Help is Available
Secret Santa
For help with holiday gifts for children, please contact us directly at secretsantacanton@gmail.com. We interview families in need with children from infancy through middle school. This year due to COVID19 we are trying to provide assistance to all in need. Things will be different but we will do our best to help.
The Canton Area Helpline: 781-828-6666
The Canton Area Helpline is a free telephone service. Leave a message on the answering machine and your call will be returned by a concerned staff member who will discuss your problems with you. All calls are confidential and it is not necessary to give your name, although we hope you will so that we can follow through to be sure you found a satisfactory answer. After you have talked about possible solutions and alternatives, you will be referred to appropriate agencies and/or community resources. Many people in need in Canton do not know where to turn for assistance or what resources are available to them. The Helpline provides a way to connect people with the available resources and services.
The Canton Food Pantry
Our purpose is to provide free food to eligible Canton residents. We serve many individuals and families, on a temporary basis, who have been affected by economic problems. The Food Pantry is operated entirely by volunteers who wish to help their fellow townspeople, by providing a basic human necessity.
Food Donations
Non-perishable food, personal care items, and household products may be left at the Bank of Canton, Canton Co operative Bank, Canton Public Library, Pratt Realtors, HarborOne Bank and Envisionbank (Cobb Corner). Donations of food, including perishable items, may be dropped off at the pantry on Mondays only between 7 - 9 a.m.
Absence Hotline
Daily attendance for all students is a critical element of their learning, though we understand that absences sometimes occur. As a friendly reminder, if your child will be absent from school, please call the JFK Absence Hotline at 781-821-5080, Option 1.
What's Coming Up?
- Friday, December 17 - Report Cards Emailed to Families
- Friday, December 17 - Grade 5 Winter Skate
- Thursday, December 23- Early Release (11:50 dismissal)
- December 23 - January 2 - No School (Winter Break)
- Monday, January 3 - School Resumes
Check Out some Recent Instagram Photos!
Contact Info
John F. Kennedy Elementary School
Kate Gallahue, Team Chair/Administrator
John F. Kennedy Elementary School
Instagram: @jfk_elementary
Twitter: @JFKGallahue
Email: didonnae@cantonma.org
Website: https://www.cantonma.org/kennedy
Location: 100 Dedham Street, Canton, MA, USA
Phone: 781-821-5080
Twitter: @JFKGallahue