Fitzy's Flyer
November 17, 2023
Principal Update
Greetings FitzGerald Families!
This has been a very fun and busy week at FitzGerald!
On Monday, we honored veterans within the FitzGerald community and Waltham community, with a wonderful assembly! Each grade level shared in this special time through poems, sharing of history, etc. We also discussed the core value of integrity and how veterans represent integrity in so many ways. Lastly, we talked about World Kindness Day and began the FitzGerald Kindness Quilt project as a school. Thank you to everyone who has sent in a quilt square so far! Our community-wide quilt looks fabulous and is hanging in our school lobby!
Congratulations to the cast and crew of the FitzGerald School Musical, Beauty and the Beast, which
had a fantastic opening night and a great in-school show today. Another in school show will be taking place on Tuesday for the second half of the school, as well as one more evening performance tonight. Thank you to the students who have worked so hard to prepare for the musical, as well as Ms. Grimes (Director), Ms. Racine, Ms. Logue, and Ms. Bolduc for all they have done to make this a great show! A huge thank you as well to the PTO who have helped to fund this opportunity for us, and have volunteered in many ways!
As we all start to gear up for the holiday season ahead, we want to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to experience special moments with family. If anyone would benefit from financial assistance this holiday season, with either purchasing a meal, or supporting the purchase of gifts, please reach out to Mrs. Santillo (Principal) or Ms. Bernard (School Adjustment Counselor) for more information. All inquiries will be confidential.
Please note that Wednesday November 22nd is a VERY Early Release Day. Students will be dismissed at 11:45am. Lunch will be served.
There will be no school on Thursday November 23rd or Friday November 24th for Thanksgiving break.
We look forward to seeing everyone again next week!
Have a great weekend!
Mrs. Santillo, Principal- jennifersantillo@walthampublicschools.org
Mrs. Lamoly, Assistant Principal- julielamoly@walthampublicschools.org
FitzGerald BINGO Night! December 1st, 6:00pm
We hope you are able to join us for a fun family BINGO night at FitzGerald on Friday December 1st from 6:00-8:00pm. Admission is free! Please complete the form sent home (also attached here) to RSVP. The RSVP date has been extended to Tuesday November 28th.
Specialist Spotlight: Science with Mrs. White!
Greetings FitzGerald Families!
We have been busy in the science classroom these last two months! The students have been working hard and learning many new things each week that I hope they are sharing with you. As we enter these next couple of months, here is what we have coming up in each grade level.
First Grade: We will be wrapping up our unit on light and sound. We have worked hard to learn some new vocabulary words such as transparent, translucent, and opaque. Please ask your child about these words! Our next unit of study will be life science with a focus on animal adaptations.
Second Grade: In second grade, students have learned a lot about rivers and erosion. We recently completed a lesson on flash floods which included the skill of mapping and evidence collection to correctly identify Flash Flood Alley in Texas. In the coming months, we will conclude our Earth Science unit by studying canyons and landslides.
Third Grade: Students in third grade are continuing their study of the weather by learning how to read thermometers correctly and to understand what different temperatures mean in terms of how hot or cold the air will feel. In the coming months, we will create climate maps to show where different climate zones are located on Earth. This unit is a great opportunity to talk with your child about the weather each morning as they get ready for school so they can be an active participant in figuring out what to wear based on the temperature it will be that day.
Fourth Grade: In 4th grade, students have learned a great deal about types of volcanoes, where volcanoes can be found on earth, and the process of weathering, which we modeled doing an experiment with sugar cubes to represent rocks. As our Earth Science unit continues, students will learn about how scientists can identify the relative age of fossils based on the layer of rock where they are discovered and we will review the causes of landslides and their ability to cause sudden changes to Earth’s surface.
Fifth Grade: 5th graders are wrapping up their Space Science unit and will be moving into our next unit of study all about water on Earth. We will start by learning about the relative amounts of salt water, fresh water, and frozen fresh water on Earth and will use this information to gain a greater understanding of how valuable fresh water is as a resource on our planet. In the coming months, students will review the steps of the water cycle and will complete an engineering project which incorporates designing, creating, and testing water filters.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns or you would like to send in a mystery picture for your child, you can reach me at: jenniferwhite@walthampublicschools.org
Mrs. White
Science Specialist
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
Thank you to everyone who was able to join Mrs. Santillo and Mrs. Lamoly today for Coffee Talk time! The group had coffee, bagels, and pastries and enjoyed conversation together about FitzGerald School!
We will be hosting a Coffee Talk monthly this year for parents/guardians in the FitzGerald cafeteria.
The next Coffee Talk will be from 8:45-9:15am on Friday December 8th.
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!
Library Guest Reader Program
I am happy to announce the return of the Fitzy Library guest reader program. All caregivers are welcome to come visit the library and read a story to their students' class during their scheduled library time. If you would like to be a guest reader, please email Ms. McKeever: elizabethmckeever@walthampublicschools.org
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,
Words cannot express how amazed we were in the support of our Blood Drive for the Pulselli/Strafford families. We were able to get every slot filled in addition to several walk-ins throughout the day! A huge THANK YOU to the American Red Cross, all of our donors and Waltham Warriors for baking and providing snacks and drinks during our drive.
PIZZI PIES: Pies will be delivered to the school on Tuesday, November 21st. You may pick up your order at the school from 2pm - 3:30pm. If you cannot pick up at that time, please have someone else pick up on your behalf. If other accommodations are needed, please contact the PTO asap at fitzgeraldpto@gmail.com. Pies MUST be picked up Tuesday as we do not have the space to keep them overnight.
The 5th Grade will be selling flowers tonight for our talented performers - Stop by the concession stand to purchase your bouquet!
HOLIDAY SHOPPING 2023-PTO STYLE
NEED GIFT CARDS? RaiseRight’s 2023 Holiday Guide is HERE with over 750 brands available! Purchase what you need AND help the PTO along the way where a percentage of your purchase amount goes towards our fundraising goal! You can click HERE to sign up.
FITZYWEAR: Get ready to show that Fitzy Pride with our FREE SHIPPING (ENDS SUNDAY!) event from our school store! From now until Nov 19th, all orders will ship FREE to the school. Click HERE to access the store!
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!
HOLIDAY SHOP: Our Holiday Shop is happening in early December. Students will have the opportunity to purchase items ranging from $1 - $5. We will be looking for volunteers to help assist with set-up, cashiers, wrapping and clean up. If you are interested in signing up early to help with this event, please send an email to FitzGeraldPTO@gmail.com.
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*
The 6th Annual Fitzy 5k Fun Run is coming up this Spring with a tentative race date of May 30th, 2024. We are looking to form a committee to look at the current race route and start planning the event.
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: December 12, 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
11/22- 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
12/15- Winter Concert/ Grades 3-5 at 1:00pm, Grades K-2 at 2:00pm
12/25-1/1- No School, December Vacation
1/2- School Resumes
1/4- Schedule Change- Monday Schedule
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Information About the Clever App
Clever is an app we use at school that makes it easy for students to access many online learning programs and resources with their Waltham Public Schools Google account. Students can also access Clever at home on a personal device. Click HERE for directions.
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