Fitzy's Flyer
September 15, 2023
Principal Update
Greetings FitzGerald Families!
We had another fantastic week at FitzGerald School!
We are excited to share more information about the upcoming Back to School Night coming up on Wednesday September 27th, from 6:30-8:00pm. This year, we will be altering the structure of the evening quite a bit!
The FitzGerald School Back to School night is going to be a family event. Your child(ren) will be your "tour guide" for the evening, traveling around the building by following the clues that will lead you to each location. After completing each step on the adventure, the pages you complete will be collected in the school lobby to help with some raffle prize announcements during the next day's morning announcements! It is going to be a fun community event!
In order to help alleviate traffic congestion around the school, as well as making sure each stop along the way around the school that evening is available for everyone to enjoy, we are asking (if possible) for the following visiting schedule that evening:
6:30-7:15pm- Families with a last name starting with A-M
7:15-8:00pm- Families with a last name starting with N-Z
*If you are unable to come at the time in which this schedule is assigning you, feel free to come at the time that works best.
This night will be interactive, informative, and a great way to bring us all together as one school! We hope to see you there!
Thank you for your continued partnership. Have a wonderful weekend!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Santillo, Principal- jennifersantillo@walthampublicschools.org
Mrs. Lamoly, Assistant Principal- julielamoly@walthampublicschools.org
Specialist Spotlight!
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: Music!
Hello FitzGerald Family!
It has been great seeing everyone again for the start of the school year and it has been wonderful to meet and teach the Kindergarten class! The beginning of the school year in music finds us reviewing expectations and routines as well as the following content related topics:
Grade K - At the beginning of kindergarten, we spend time becoming aware of the different sounds our voice can make (Ex. whisper voice, calling voice, speaking voice, squeaky voice, singing voice.) We also spend time learning how our bodies move by moving to music, keeping steady beats in our hands and feet, and doing various other rhymes and action songs that involve movement.
Grade 1 - In first grade, we review the many sounds we can make with our voices as we are singing call and response songs, echo songs, and simple songs. We also review how to keep a beat and move musically as we move to music and sing action songs.
Grade 2 - In second grade, we review the concepts of a singing voice and matching pitch while we learn how to sing together and in groups. We will learn the difference between a steady beat and a rhythm while we sing songs, speak rhymes, and play games. Second graders also begin to learn how to folk dance in music class.
Grade 3 - At the beginning of third grade we review skills from previous years (singing voice, matching pitch, keeping a beat, folk dancing, etc.) Towards the end of September we will begin learning how to play the recorder with proper posture, gentle breath, and covered holes.
Grade 4 - Like the other grades, fourth grade will review previous skills learned (singing voice, matching pitch, keeping a beat, folk dancing, music vocabulary etc.) We are also learning how to sing songs in a round where the same song in sung but at different times by different groups.
Grade 5 - In fifth grade, in addition to each class's music class, the whole grade meets together once a week for 30 minutes for chorus. They are learning ensemble building skills and are getting used to being in an ensemble with many musicians. And believe it or not, we have already begun to learn songs for the Holiday Concert in December! December might be a long way out, but for a musician, the preparations already need to begin!
I’m looking forward to seeing everyone on back to school night on September 27th! If you would like to contact me, please feel free to reach out to me at CharlesIrwin@walthampublicschool.org.
Mr. Irwin
General Music
PTO News
PTO News
Happy Friday Fitzy Families!
This week, the PTO hosted its first meeting of the school year in which we discussed the Fundraising goal for this year ($36,100), various new fundraising programs, upcoming activities and the many ways that you can volunteer, help and donate! We thank all who joined us in person and virtually!
LET’S GET SPOOKY!
We are kicking off the Spooky season with some amazing events starting with a visit from some friendly ghosts!
BOOING! is back for Halloween! From October 1st through October 31st, be on the lookout for some ghosts coming to haunt your front lawn. More info to come soon!
TRUNK OR TREAT - Friday, October 13th - 5-7pm
We are excited to bring back Trunk or Treat and are looking for your support to make it a successful event. More information will be coming home with students soon, however, Volunteer Opportunities are open for sign-up now!
Please click on the following link to access the sign-up sheet: volunteersignup.org/XTDP7
We appreciate all you can do to help us have another fantastic event for our FitzGerald community.
Thank you for volunteering!
PUMPKIN DROP:
We will be closing out the spooky season in Early November with one of our favorite Enrichment activities! More details to follow.
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!
*FUNDRAISER ALERT*
SNEAKER DRIVE: The Fitzgerald Sneaker Drive is in effect! Starting Monday, 9/18/23, there will be a bin located by the front entrance where you may recycle your pre-loved sneakers (only!) for a good cause! The bin will remain there for 1 Month.
SOCCER SHACK: Join us on Saturday, 10/21/23, 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! Email us for more information.
RAISERIGHT: Our newest fundraiser is the best yet! As we continue to roll this out, the PTO will be updating you on how to make the best out of your RaiseRight, finding something for everyone! This week’s best deals include: DoorDash (8%), Shutterfly (12%) & Gap (14%).
We look forward to meeting you and working alongside you to make this the best school year yet!
Ann Tierney & Diana Lehmann
FitzGerald School PTO Co-Presidents
School Lunch Information
*Breakfast and Lunch will also be available for free again in 2023-2024!
** 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
9/25- No School, Yom Kippur
9/26- Schedule Change- Monday Schedule
9/27- Early Release Day, 1:00pm, Lunch will be served
9/27- Back to School Night at FitzGerald, 6:30-8:00pm- More information to come in next week's Fitzy's Flyer!
10/3- Picture Day
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2022-2023 Elementary Student Handbooks (2023-2024 Coming Soon)
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