Fitzy's Flyer
October 6, 2023
Principal Update
Greetings FitzGerald Families!
We had another wonderful week at FitzGerald School! As we entered the month of October, we began discussing the next core value of the school year: Respect. We define this at FitzGerald School as being polite and courteous to others at all times. We are discussing our core value of the month each morning during morning announcements, as well as in weekly Community Circles.
We also had a great start to Walking Wednesdays this month, with 79% of students in attendance that day participating! Please remember to send your child in with a Walking Wednesday ticket in order to participate. This week's classes that won the Golden Shoe winners were: Mrs. Frost, Mrs. Ebert, and Mrs. Coyne! These classes had the most participation this week. We are looking forward to next week's Walking Wednesday already!
Here are a few updates:
1. MCAS Scores- MCAS scores for students who took the tests last spring will be sent home late next week in student backpacks. We will send home a text message and email to families in Grades 4 and 5 to let you know the day they will be coming home, so you know to look for the scores that day.
2. DESE K-3 Early Literacy Screening Regulations- A letter came home today to all families of students in Grades K-3 about updated Early Literacy Screening regulations from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The letters can also be found on the links below:
English: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Z9C0-mYIB24kCO-9tzXWJL0NAxmvZLli/view?usp=sharing
Spanish: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YertlvhztkAHOtz6y_-OPzNWLWF3j7fk/view?usp=sharing
Portuguese: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dLgEC5d96bSy192IahmTMAm_4OAfn1hH/view?usp=sharing
3. Bus Evacuation Practice- This week, all students participated in a presentation by Officer John (FitzGerald SRO) and Officer Frassica (WPD Safety Officer) about the importance of safety on buses and what to do in the event of an emergency. Students also had the chance to practice how to exit a bus through the emergency door as well. Just like fire drills and ALICE drills, this is a routine safety practice drill done once at the beginning of each school year as well. The students did a great job practicing! Thank you to Officer John and Officer Frassica for helping us learn more about bus safety.
4. 2023-2024 WPS Elementary Student Handbooks- The new 2023-2024 WPS Elementary Student Handbooks are linked to the bottom of the newsletter. Please review the information and follow up with any questions.
With so much information included in the handbook, we want to highlight the policy on electronic equipment (pg. 18 in the handbook) and ask for your help in communicating this with your child. We appreciate your partnership in making sure the students have a focused learning environment each day:
"ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT:
Students are not permitted to bring video games or similar equipment to school. If students bring cell phones, smart watches, or any other communication device, they are to remain turned off and placed in their backpack before leaving the house and remain there during the school day, riding the bus to and from school, and at all times on school property. The first such offense will lead to confiscation of the equipment for the day. Repeat offenses may lead to confiscation until the end of the school year."
Here are some important reminders for next week:
Monday October 9th- No School
Tuesday October 10th- School Resumes- Monday Schedule
Wednesday October 11th- Walking Wednesday
We look forward to seeing everyone again on Tuesday October 10th!
Have a great extended weekend!
Mrs. Santillo, Principal- jennifersantillo@walthampublicschools.org
Mrs. Lamoly, Assistant Principal- julielamoly@walthampublicschools.org
Each week, a different FitzGerald specialist will share an update of what is being worked on across grades. Look here every Friday to see which specialist is being featured! A reminder that our specialists teach subjects such as Art, Physical Education, Music, Drama, Science, Library, etc.
SPECIALIST CLASS FEATURED THIS WEEK: Science!
Greetings FitzGerald Families!
It has been a busy and fun start to the year in the Science classroom! We have reviewed expectations and have started work on our first science units of the year. As the science specialist, I see students in grades 1-5 once a week for 55 minutes. Here’s what to expect your children to be learning in science to start the year at each grade level:
First Grade: We started our year with an introduction to the science classroom. Students practiced using some science tools such as magnifying glasses and rulers. We are now exploring our unit all about sound and light and will learn about the connection between vibration and sound as well as how light reflects off of objects and can travel through objects in different ways.
Second Grade: In second grade, we started our Earth Science unit by studying rivers. We will be learning about how rivers form, where they all end up, and how rivers can shape the land around them. This unit will lead us to learning more about weathering and erosion as well as landslides and canyons.
Third Grade: Students in third grade are also studying Earth Science as we focus on weather and climate. Students have learned about how clouds are formed and are becoming “storm spotters” as we learn about four types of different clouds and how they can help us predict the weather. Students will create climate maps and learn the difference between weather and climate.
Fourth Grade: In 4th grade, our Earth Science unit continues as students have been learning all about volcanoes. They mapped volcanoes and looked for patterns to discover the Ring of Fire and will be testing two different models of lava to discover why some volcanoes have strong violent eruptions while others have calm slow eruptions. This unit will continue as we study changes to land that happen either quickly or slowly over time.
Fifth Grade: To start the year, 5th graders were introduced to some new expectations as we work to help them prepare for the transition to middle school next year. Fifth graders travel with their materials back and forth to the science room and are expected to be prepared each week. We work on learning how to take notes and focusing on key vocabulary as we work through our first unit of the year all about space. Students are reviewing the movement of the earth and how it is connected to day and night and the seasons. We will also study the phases of the moon and gravity on other planets and moons.
It was so great to see so many of you at Back to School Night! 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
The Scholastic Book Fair is Coming- October 23rd-27th!
Hi Fitzy families,
I am happy to announce the return of the annual FitzGerald Book Fair.
When: October 23- 27.
Parents are invited to shop with their children at the Book Fair after school on Thursday, October 26th, 3:00-4:00pm
Where: The FitzGerald Library
What: The book fair is a week-long event that gets kids excited about reading and helps support our school library.
During your child’s scheduled Book Fair time, they will browse the Fair and choose books for their at-home library. In addition, there will also be novelty items available for purchase, such as pencils, journals, and posters. The average cost of a book is between $7 and $15. Novelty items are under $5, and posters are less than $6.
If you are interested in volunteering during the book fair, click here.
How to Prepare:
The easiest payment option for students is to use Scholastic’s online payment system called eWallet. It is simple to use, can be done in advance, and there is no need to print anything on your end. If you decide not to use eWallet, please send your child to school with a check or cash on the day that they visit the Fair.
We are aware that not every family wants to or can make purchases during the fair, but every student will receive a new book.
If you would like to contribute to the fund that helps purchase books for students in need, please click here or email Mrs. McKeever at elizabethmckeever@walthampublicschools.org
For more information: https://bit.ly/Fitzgeraldbookfair
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,
WE NEED YOUR TRUNKS! Trunk or Treat is next week: Friday, October 13th, from 5pm - 7pm at the Fitzgerald Playground and we are looking for more families to decorate a trunk. If you'd like to host a trunk, volunteer or donate, please click the links BELOW! Reminder, this is not a drop off event.
Volunteer/Donate: Sign up here
Reserve a Trunk Spot: 2023 Trunk Registrations
We appreciate all you can do to help us have another fantastic event for our FitzGerald community.
Thank you for volunteering, donating and making it fun!!
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 ⬝ Trunk or Treat ⬝ 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*
SNEAKER DRIVE: The Fitzgerald Sneaker Drive is in effect with GotSneakers! Bring your pre-loved sneakers (only!) to the bin located by the front entrance. You may also send in with your child.
SOCCER SHACK: Join us on Saturday, October 21, 2023, where the Fitzgerald PTO will be selling concessions at the Soccer Shack located at Veteran’s Memorial park from 9am- 4pm. The PTO will be looking for small snack donations as well as volunteers to help throughout the day!
Upcoming 5th Grade Fundraising events:
5th Grade Bake Sale: Keep your eyes peeled for sign up form coming soon!
Sip N Script Fundraiser @ City Streets: Mon, Nov 13th. More details coming 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
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.
Healthy Waltham Food Pantry Dates- October
"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
10/9- No School
10/10- Schedule Change- Monday Schedule
10/11- Walking Wednesday
10/18- Walking Wednesday
10/25- Walking Wednesday
10/25- Early Release Day, 1:00pm Dismissal, Lunch Served
11/7- No School
11/8- Schedule Change, Friday Schedule
11/10- No School
11/15- Early Release Day, 1:00pm Dismissal, Lunch Served
11/22- 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