JFK Weekly Update
April 7, 2024
Hello!
We had a great and smooth start to MCAS testing! Our 3rd, 4th and 5th graders worked hard over the past two weeks completing ELA MCAS. A huge thank you and excellent job to Grades K-2 and Specialists for their flexibility on schedules and keeping our testing environments quiet! Make-ups for students in Grades 3-5 will take place on Tuesday, April 9th and Wednesday, April 10th. If needed, additional communication will be sent from students' homeroom teachers.
April 7th - 13th is National School Library Week! The theme for National Library Week 2024 is "Ready, Set, Library," illustrating the idea that in our always-online world, libraries give us a green light to something truly special: a place to connect with others, learn new skills, and focus on what matters most. It is a week to highlight the valuable role libraries, librarians, and library workers play in transforming lives and strengthening our communities. Happy reading!
Everyone is excited about the upcoming solar eclipse! This once-in-a-generation celestial experience takes place on Monday afternoon. I'm excited to share that we'll be providing eclipse viewing glasses to all JFK students and staff. Students will be able to take the glasses home and keep them. Please refer to the letter sent from Sarah Shannon, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning, with a link to an article that outlines medical guidance to safely view the eclipse.
Sincerely,
Saundra Watson, M.Ed
JFK Principal
*Snow Day/School Year Calendar Update: As a result of the snow day on Tuesday, Feb. 13, the last day of school is currently Friday, June 14. This will be an early release day for grades 1-5. Kindergarten's last day is now Monday, June 10. This will be a full day of school.
*JFK will be the "late" school beginning the 2024-2025 school year. The student school day will be 9:10 AM - 3:25 PM.
Transportation Department
We have received a notification from First Student regarding possible delays to Monday's routes due to a construction site. The Route 24 bridge underpass at Canton Street will be closed from 5 PM on Friday, April 5 to 4 PM on Monday, April 8.
What's Coming Up
- April 8-12, 2004: Raise Craze
- April 15 - 19, 2024: No School, Spring Break
- April 26, 2024: Early Release, 11:50 AM Dismissal
- May 6 & 7, 2024: Grade 3 Math MCAS
- May 8 & 9, 2024: Grade 5 Math MCAS
- Ma 10, 2024: Early Release, 11:50 Dismissal
- May 13 & 14, 2024: Grade 4 Math MCAS
- May 15 & 16: Grade 5 Science MCAS
- May 24, 2024: Grade 5 Unity Day
- May 27, 2024: No School, Memorial Day
- May 31, 2024: Field Day
Mrs. Griffin's recess walking club
Mrs. Dixon's kindergarten students show Mrs. Gallahue some love during Assistant Principal Week
Schwa Day
April 7th is National Schwa Day! National Schwa Day is an opportunity to recognize and appreciate this unique aspect of English pronunciation. It's a day to have fun with language and explore the schwa's role in our everyday reading and speech. After all, who wouldn't want to celebrate something that adds a touch of relaxation to our literacy adventures? Ask your student what they know about schwa.
There is a free toolkit with so many fantastic ideas. You can also find the link here.
Lost & Found
Donating at April break.
DEI Committee Website & Letter
The following is an update about some of the initiatives the John F. Kennedy Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (JFK DEI) committee is currently working on.
The committee is working to create opportunities to offer additional cultural events at the JFK. These could be events for the whole community or within individual classes or grades. And this is where you can join in and have a major impact on our community.
We invite all families to share elements of your student’s or your family’s life in the classroom or in the school as a whole. You can share cultural celebrations and/or elements of your student’s life and open up new experiences for the whole class.
Parents and their students sharing elements of their lives is how the fourth grade was introduced to Braille and several classrooms and grades were introduced to Lunar New Year celebrations. When our students share elements of their lives and cultures that not everyone is exposed to, we all learn more about the world, and build excitement and empathy for other people and cultures. The more we know about each other, the more equitable and inclusive our community will be!
We are planning on creating a cultural heritage spirit week, in conjunction with the cultural heritage spirit week at the Galvin Middle School, in May. Please keep an eye out for additional communication about how we plan to celebrate with our community.
If you would like to learn more about visiting classrooms to share, or support your student sharing, more about your family, please visit the JFK DEI Hub. Here you can find ways to get involved in efforts to sustain the JFK’s supportive community, have access to resources and newsletters, and learn more about the DEI committee’s efforts to make the JFK open and welcoming to all.
The more your family can share with us, the better the whole community becomes!
Sincerely,
DEI Committee
P.S. If you are looking for additional ways to support JFK’s efforts to maintain an inclusive community, please consider joining the JFK DEI Committee.
Raise Craze
Raise Craze starts on April 8! Registration information was sent home last week. Let's continue to make our school a better place by providing helpful and enriching benefits to our students & families, but that takes money! We’ve chosen Raise Craze to help with these needs because it keeps kindness and inclusivity at the center, while allowing our school to keep 90% PLUS! WooHoo!
CPACSS Information
1. Canton Parent Advisory Council Student Services Meeting CPACSS
"Come be a part of the SEPAC Community, where we can share resources, ideas and form relationships with other parents to support one another."
Monday April 8, 2024 at 7 - 8 pm
Virtual Meeting
Time zone: America/New York
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: Google Meet Video Link
2. Canton Parent Advisory Council Student Services presents:
Practical Strategies to Boost Executive Functioning Skills
Speaker: Sarah Ward, an internationally recognized expert in executive functioning skills.
Title I Survey
Did your child receive Title 1 intervention in reading or math this year? If so, we would appreciate your feedback on this brief survey: 2023-24 Parent/Guardian Survey.
Book Fair
CPS Device Policy
Reminder: The Canton Elementary schools are Away-For-the-Day schools. All cell phones and other electronic devices, including but not limited to cell phones, music players, smart devices (including smartwatches), airpods, video-game systems, laser pointers, voice or video recorders, must be off and in backpacks, unless authorized to be used for medical situations. Students will be reminded to put devices away. If the rule is ignored the device will be confiscated. Students are not allowed to take pictures or video or audio record students or staff when on school property, inclusive of the bus. Cell phones will be confiscated, and parents/guardians will be notified if that occurs. If an issue persists, parents/guardians may be required to pick the device up from the school. Thank you for your help enforcing this rule.
CAPT Corner
(1) Join the JFK CAPT and community for a night of fun at Fenway Park! Red Sox Night is 5/31/24 at 7:10 pm (Detroit Tigers vs. Boston Red Sox). Complete the order form HERE and return the form to your student's teacher in an envelope labeled "JFK Red Sox Night"
(2) Join us for our next CAPT meeting, on April 9th in the JFK Library. To stay up to date follow us on Facebook and Instagram!
GYM Shorts
The Fun and Fitness Walk is BACK! It will be held on Thursday April 25th at 7:45 am. It is a voluntary 1 mile walk through the Cedarcrest neighborhood at your own pace. I invite family and friends of the Kennedy community to come and enjoy a morning walk. There is no cost, but we will accept food donations for the CANTON FOOD PANTRY if you’d like to bring something. Please plan on arriving at the basketball courts between 7:45-8:00 to walk the course. There will be signs posted to follow along the course. All students must be accompanied by an adult to ensure their safety. There will be participation certificates and CAPT will provide water for every finisher. Come and join us for some morning exercise with friends and family!
Field Day Info
The Kennedy Olympics (a.k.a. Field Day) is quickly approaching! The entire school will be divided into 3 teams. The teams will represent the 3 colors of the flag. Teachers will soon be notifying students of their team color if they have not already done so. On Olympic Day, students should wear clothing that identifies them with their team (i.e. red team wears red, blue team wears blue, white team wears white.). The three teams will compete in a variety of events and gain points based on their participation. At the end of the day, all the points will be added up. The team with the most points will win the prestigious Kennedy Cup. Last year, the RED Team came away with the cup!
Although the teams are competing for the Kennedy Cup, it is not the primary focus of the day. The objective is to have the children actively participate in a variety of fitness events and to have fun doing it with their classmates! The students have worked hard this year and this is an opportunity for them to display their skills. The event setup lends itself to maximum participation by all students. They will be encouraged to complete each event as many times as possible. They will earn at least 1 point for their team every time they participate. All students will receive a participation ribbon and snack from CAPT at the end of the day. The date of the event is Friday, May 31st. The rain date is Monday, June 3rd. So, please mark your calendars!
*All Grades will participate from approximately 9:00-11:40
Volunteers will need to arrive by 8:30
Lastly, each classroom will need a few volunteers to ensure a successful event. Volunteers will stay with their child’s grade level for grade 3-5 students and take turns helping at just 1 event for grade K-2 students. If you are interested in helping, please go to this link to sign up: https://volunteersignup.org/FFYE4. All volunteers must be CORI checked with the main office. WE NEED VOLUNTEERS, so please consider helping us out. Thanks for your time, and I look forward to another fun and exciting Kennedy Olympics!
Canton Writes
Canton Writes is a town-wide writing contest, sponsored by Friends of the Canton Public Library and the Canton Citizen. 2024 marks the 15th consecutive year of this terrific program! The Canton Writes program kicks off in early February each year.
Last year, there were 97 contributing authors: 49 elementary school, 9 middle school, 8 high school, and 31 adult participants. We are hoping that with your help in promoting this program we will see even more students participate this year!
All authors must be Canton residents and may submit a short story, poem, or non-fiction/memoir and are entered into one of four age groups: elementary school, middle school, high school, and adult.
First, second, and third-place prizes are awarded for each age group and genre. Winners are notified by email and announced in the Canton Citizen in May. All winners will have the opportunity to read their work to an audience at an awards night. Winning entries are also printed in the Canton Citizen and in a printed book (which may be purchased for a nominal fee). Canton Writes is a great community program that encourages young authors. They get to see their work published!
MCAS DAtes
Please mark your calendars with the following spring MCAS testing dates. We have restricted testing windows so if there will be an absence during the time your student will be taking MCAS please let the classroom teacher know as soon as possible so we can account for make-up testing.
Grade 3
-May 6 & 7: Math
Grade 4
-May 13 & 14: Math
Grade 5
-May 8 & 9: Math
-May 15 & 16: Science
Family Resources
The Food Pantry has moved to 1860 Washington Street (formerly St. Gerard’s).
The Canton Farmers Market also accepts SNAP and HIP
Things You May Want To Come Back To
The recording of Wayfinder Parent/Guardian Information Session can be accessed here. Additional information can be found at the Wayfinder Parent Information Hub.
Elementary Curriculum Overviews: Curriculum Overviews.
We ask that all parents and guardians please take a moment to review our Home School Compact.
UFLI Home Practice Pages and a youtube video that helps explain what to do to can be accessed at the preceeding link. Click the following link to find a copy of UFLI Parent Letter, which tells more about the phonics program.
Health Office Newsletter Feedback Form
Important Safety Reminders
One of the things we do before the start of every school year is to review the opening school protocols with members of the Fire and Police Departments. I am sharing three key updates that will impact those in our community.
Locked Doors -- As school employees we will continue to be vigilant about keeping exterior doors closed and locked at all times.
Buzz In -- When we buzz in a visitor, we will say, "Welcome to JFK. What is your name and how can we help you?" If the office staff has any concerns about the visitor, they will not let them in.
School Grounds --School campuses are closed to the general public during school hours (including playgrounds, fields, basketball courts, walkways near and around our buildings). There are signs on the basketball and playground fences. If a non-school person is on the grounds during the school day they will be asked to leave.
If you have any questions regarding safety, please contact me.
Arrival & Dismissal Procedures
Arrival:
Students should go to the grade level area. The faculty will be holding colorful signs with each grade level for the next week. Given the short amount of time and various student arrivals we are asking for students to not play with equipment (i.e. soccer balls, tennis balls) so it is a safe AM recess.
- Do not get out of the car, school staff are there to help students who arrive via the car line.
- If possible, put car seats on the passenger side of the backseat. That makes for an easy exit.
Dismissal:
Walkers will exit the main gate or basketball gate.
- Car Pick up students will be met at the main gate and walked to car.
- When driving through the parking lot to enter and exit, please be aware of others walking. Do not drive close to the cones and roped off area.
Bus students will go to the appropriate bus area.
*Please alert the classroom teacher and main office if a dismissal plan changes.
Please be mindful of the following practices in order for us to have a safe parking lot.
In the morning:
-Enter the lot at a slower pace and stay to the right.
-Be cognizant of the cones. There have been many instances where cones have been clipped or run over and dragged underneath a car.
-Watch for families walking through the parking lot on the side closest to the building.
In the afternoon:
-Enter the lot at a slow pace and stay to the right only. Exit on the side of the parking lot by the building.
-If you see a spot on the side of the lot by the building please stay to the right and go all the way around.
-Watch for families walking through the parking lot.
-Do not park in a handicapped spot if you do not have a handicapped parking permit.
We realize everyone is trying to drop off and pick up in a timely manner, but it is important that unsafe situations are not created. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Join the Canton Public School celebrations and highlights by following our social media platforms! #CantonBulldogs #ChampionsofExcellence
CORI Forms & Fingerprinting
-Fingerprinting IS required if you are interested in volunteering with direct and unmomitored interactions with students. This includes chaperoning field trips.
-Fingerprinting is NOT required if you are volunteering under supervision of a school staff member. This includes room parents, guest speakers and volunteers at field day events.
*They can take awhile to porcess so please fill them out early so they have enough time to be returned prior to a field trip.
-Please provide a copy of your fingerprinting receipt to the school office, or send them an email to marinoa@cantonma.org to let us know you completed fingerprinting.
A Few Reminders
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.
*If your family chooses to go on vacation during the school year teachers will not be expected to provide work to be completed while your student is away.
Extra 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 is a good idea to put an extra outfit in a labeled zip lock bag to leave in backpacks or cubbies for emergencies. We highly recommend it for K-2 students.
Around Town Events
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.
- Canton Writes
- CDEI Event - March 27 - Open Mic Night
This webpage will be updated periodically.
School Info.
School Hours: 8:40 AM - 2:55 PM
Adult supervision provided at 8:20 AM for breakfast or morning recess
Breakfast: 8:20-8:35
Early Release: 11:50 AM (no lunch served)
John F. Kennedy Elementary School
Alana Marino, Administrative Assistant
Kathryn Gallahue, Assistant Principal
Email: watsons@cantonma.org
Website: https://www.cantonma.org/kennedy/index
Location: 100 Dedham Street, Canton, MA, USA
Phone: (781) 821-5080
Twitter: @JFKGallahue
*JFK will be the "late" school beginning the 2024-2025 school year. The student school day will be 9:10 AM - 3:25 PM. Early Dismissal will be 12:20 PM. Office hours will be 8:30 AM - 3:45 PM.