Fitzy's Flyer
October 27, 2023
Principal Update
Greetings FitzGerald Families!
Thank you for your support of Walking Wednesdays this month and thank you to all PTO volunteers for running this fall community-wide initiative! This week, we had the highest participation rate at 90% of the school! We had seven (7) classes that received the Golden Shoe this week with 100% participation: Mrs. Church, Mrs. Scruggs, Ms. Venuto, Mrs. Frost, Mrs. Ebert, Mrs. O’Brien, Mrs. Zises.
The Fourth Grade Student Council began their work together today, working collaboratively to begin determining some topics of focus for this school year. The Student Council will update the community with more information soon. It was wonderful to hear the conversation between the council members take place and we look forward to meeting with the council regularly this school year.
Please check out the updates below from Mr. Irwin, FitzGerald Music Teacher, as well as information on the Panorama Survey for families, students, and faculty/staff.
Two additional items:
1. We will be holding a Veterans Day assembly this year. If any immediate or extended family members of current students are veterans and would like to join our assembly, please contact Mrs. Santillo by Friday November 3rd for more information.
2. Please see information in the PTO update on an upcoming Blood Drive that the FitzGerald PTO is sponsoring, in memory of two very special FitzGerald community members.
We look forward to seeing everyone again on Monday!
Have a great weekend!
Mrs. Santillo, Principal- jennifersantillo@walthampublicschools.org
Mrs. Lamoly, Assistant Principal- julielamoly@walthampublicschools.org
Panorama Survey Information
Please see an update about Panorama Survey administration here:
Each year, we share a survey about school experience with students, faculty/staff, and parents. Your feedback as family members is very important to us and we appreciate any time that you might be able to take to share with us your thoughts regarding this school year so far. The link for a family feedback survey is here: surveys.panoramaed.com/waltham/fall23family. Please click on "FitzGerald Elementary" for our school's specific survey.
Here is more information on the family survey:
English: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IBMbc7l4T--zUrQ0fq7Lmfw1b6B5d7Nn/view?usp=sharing
Spanish: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PuDoEG46cMbF_v4Uf0N4FOXw60UgDCfN/view?usp=sharing
Portuguese: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hZIIKjLpJT95zD-nFneZ0ssgjSODS4mv/view?usp=sharing
Grades 3-5 students will also be participating in a student survey. More information is coming home today to families of students in Grades 3-5 on this as well.
Lunch Monitor Position Available at FitzGerald!
We are looking for a part time Lunch/Recess Monitor for the lunch and recess periods at FitzGerald!
The daily shift is from 11:00am-1:45pm. The opening is for 5 days a week, but we can discuss availability during the interview process. If you are interested in learning more about this opening, please contact Mrs. Lamoly at julielamoly@walthampublicschools.org or 781-314-5681.
Coffee and Conversation with Mrs. Santillo and Mrs. Lamoly
Mrs. Santillo and Mrs. Lamoly will be hosting a Coffee Talk for parents/guardians in the FitzGerald cafeteria from 8:45-9:15am on Friday November 3rd.
Spanish and Portuguese translation will be available!
Come with questions, or just come enjoy a cup of coffee and/or a breakfast pastry on us! We would love to see you!
SPECIALIST CLASS FEATURED THIS WEEK: Music!
Hello Fitzy Family!
It was great seeing so many of you at Back to School Night a few weeks ago! I hope you all had fun playing the drum with your child(ren) that night!
All students have been working very hard this year on learning or reviewing singing posture, finding their singing voice, and matching pitch. Kindergarten and first grade have done this through singing echo songs and simple songs; second and third grade with song dances, fourth grade has been singing with rounds, and fifth grade with a two part song. They all have also been working on movement activities as well. Kindergarten and first grade have been learning how to have a bubble space and how to move to music and/or move through the room. Grades 2-5 have all been working on folk dancing.
Though the Holiday Season is far off for most, it is not far off for musicians! Every grade has already begun working on their Holiday Concert songs and we will continue to do so until the Holiday Concert is upon us in December. During this time, all grades will be working on learning their songs with correct posture, singing voice, pitches, and lyrics. They will also be working with Mrs. Kelly in drama class to learn choreography for most of the songs as well! I hope you are able to make it to our Holiday Concert!
FitzGerald Holiday Concert
December 15th, 2023
1:00pm - Grades 3-5, Band and Orchestra
2:00pm - Grades K-2
If you would like to contact me, please feel free to reach out to me at CharlesIrwin@walthampublicschool.org.
Mr. Irwin
General Music
Fall Reading Challenge!
Fall Reading Challenge
To inspire your students to read widely and often, we are excited to announce our school-wide reading challenge, which will continue throughout the season.
K-2 Fall Reading Challenge(English)
K-2 Fall Reading Challenge(Spanish)
PTO News
Dear Families,
Thank you to all of our volunteers and donors who helped us keep the Soccer Shack warm and cozy with hot cocoa and snacks this past weekend! We look forward to doing it again in the Spring!
FINAL WEEK: Ghosts have been seen BOOING! around the neighborhood! Don’t worry, they are friendly, but should only be handled by our highly skilled removal technicians. (Last Boo date: 10/30)
Check out more details on our events page here!
ICYMI: FALL NEWSLETTER: Click HERE to read our September/October highlights!
ENRICHMENT: The Enrichment Committee has been working hard to bring some exciting content for our students this year! This month, they have coordinated with the National Theatre to bring Grades K-5 for a performance of Energy Academy: The Power Squad. Ask your child(ren) about it!
PUMPKIN DROP! In the next week or so, all FitzGerald classes will take part in the annual “Pumpkin Drop!” As part of this project, students will work together to build contraptions designed to protect their pumpkin as it plunges from extreme heights! Please save any recyclables that might help protect your pumpkin. Items should be brought into school Monday October 30-November 1st.
PIE TIME!: Let us take the baking off your hands this holiday season. $22 per pie - Orders and Payments must be received by 11/1/23: Order HERE!
BLOOD DRIVE: The FitzGerald PTO is sponsoring a Blood Drive on Wednesday November 15th from 2pm - 7pm in the gym in Memory of Kim Strafford and Tina Pulselli, Two amazing women from the FitzGerald Community who passed away in 2023. Please click HERE to register.
FITZY DRINKWARE: Customizable Drinkware showing your Fitzy Pride. A portion of all sales go to the PTO to support our students. Click HERE to view options and order!
CATALOG SALE: Holiday Catalogs are back! The Catalog Sale will be from 10/23-11/6 so that all orders will arrive before the Holidays!
These amazing events and more would not be possible without the assistance of volunteers! Please consider signing up for one of our many subcommittees below:
⬝ Enrichment ⬝ Fitzy Wear ⬝ Holiday Shopping ⬝ Valentines Day Party ⬝ Field Day ⬝ Fun Run ⬝ Garden ⬝
Send us an email @ FitzgeraldPTO@gmail.com to obtain more information!
*ONGOING AND UPCOMING FUNDRAISERS/EVENTS*
Upcoming 5th Grade Fundraising events:
5th Grade Bake Sale: The 5th grade will be hosting a Bake Sale on Election Day, 11/7/23. Sign up form for donations of baked goods will come out soon! Donations can be dropped off at FitzGerald on Monday and Tuesday Morning (11/6-11/7).
Sip N Script Fundraiser @ City Streets: Join us on Monday, 11/13 from 7-8:30pm for a fundraiser to benefit the 5th grade! Come paint a hostess gift for the upcoming holidays and enjoy some parent socialization. Notices will go out with more detail soon.
We look forward to meeting you and working alongside you to make this the best school year yet!
FitzGerald School PTO
Ongoing FUNDRAISING through BOX TOPS, RAISE RIGHT, MABELS LABELS, FITZY WEAR – Order online 24/7. Delivery takes 10 - 15 business days from date of purchase.
Stay in touch! PTO website – Facebook – Instagram
FitzGerald School Site Council
The FitzGerald School Council is a group that includes parent, staff, and community representatives that discuss items such as budget, School Improvement Plan, etc. Approved meeting minutes are posted in the Fitzy's Flyer office communication.
Next Meeting:
Date: November 14, 2023
Time: 3:15pm
Location: FitzGerald School Library
School Lunch Information
*Breakfast and Lunch are available for free again for all students this school year!
** All students should bring one snack and a water bottle to school each day.
"Fitzy Fridays" at FitzGerald!
Every Friday is "Fitzy Friday" at FitzGerald! Everyone is invited to wear Fitzy Spirit Wear or the colors blue and/or yellow to school, if they would like to!
2023-2024 District Calendars
Upcoming Dates
11/7- No School
11/8- Schedule Change, Friday Schedule
11/10- No School
11/15- Early Release Day, 1:00pm Dismissal, Lunch Served
11/15- PTO Sponsored Blood Drive, 1:00-7:00pm, FitzGerald Gym
11/22- VERY Early Release Day, 11:45am Dismissal, Lunch Served
11/23-11/24- No School, Thanksgiving Recess
12/6- Early Release Day, 1:00pm Dismissal, Lunch Served
12/25-1/1- No School, December Vacation
1/2- School Resumes
1/4- Schedule Change- Monday Schedule
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Sign Up Information for the Waltham Public Schools App
2023-2024 WPS Elementary Student Handbooks
Please see below for electronic copies of the student handbooks for this school year. We appreciate your support in reviewing the handbook contents at home with your child.
Weekly Notices
James FitzGerald Elementary School
Email: jennifersantillo@walthampublicschools.org
Website: https://www.walthampublicschools.org/fitzgerald/
Location: 138 Beal Road, Waltham, MA, USA
Phone: 781-314-5680