JFK Weekly Update
Week of 5/30
Kennedy School
Hi Kennedy Students, Parents, and Families!
Wishing you all a Happy Memorial Day Weekend, and unofficial kick-off to summer! I hope the long weekend gives everyone a chance to unwind and enjoy time with those closest to you. While enjoying the weekend, please be sure to take a moment of reflection in honor of the purpose of the holiday, and we are grateful for all of our active and former members of the armed forces, and honor and remember those that paid the ultimate sacrifice.
With the warm weather, there will be lots of outdoor activities; please be sure students are dressed accordingly and bring a water bottle to school.
Please enjoy some of this weeks' Kennedy highlights through the pictures below...
A Good Week at the JFK
As everyone knows, our nation experienced another senseless and horrific event earlier this week with the school shooting in Texas. As a follow-up to my message from Wednesday, we have had a good week here at the JFK School. Our staff engaged students in high quality instruction and learning opportunities, we had students attend regularly scheduled field trips, and we had families visit the building to engage in the learning experiences of students.
I wanted to again share the two resources below, should anyone find them helpful in navigating
conversations with your child. As always, continue to reach out to school staff if we can assist in any way.
Talking to Kids About Current Events
Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers
Summer Reading Information
Please take a moment to review the note below from Pre-K-5 Humanities Coordinator, Mrs. Abrams, with information regarding summer reading.
Hi Canton families,
Here you will find a letter that explains our Elementary Summer Reading Program. Our program works in conjunction with the program offered through the Canton Public Library.
Also, here is a video that teachers will share with students to remind them about the importance of summer reading and to tell them about some of the fun happening this summer at the Canton Public Library.
If you are looking for book suggestions, please reach out to the wonderful librarians who are excited to recommend some of their favorite books by age group. Our goal is for families to read as much as they can, whenever they can, and wherever they can!
We can't wait to hear all about your summer reading plans!
Jackie Abrams
Pre-K-5 Humanities Coordinator
News from Nurse Stenmon
Tips for helping to Manage Seasonal Allergies:
Spring has sprung!.... And so have the pollen levels!
If your student(s) suffer from seasonal allergies they are likely feeling the effects of the increased pollen levels right now. Here are some suggestions on helping to manage their seasonal allergy issues:
Take your medication regularly.
Allergy medication works best when taken consistently and before your symptoms start. It can take up to 2 weeks of taking your allergy medication to feel the full relief of allergy symptoms.Allergy medication should be given at home and is not available in the school health office.
Using a cold compress on the eyes can help reduce swelling and itching and prevent your child from rubbing eyes and causing increased redness and irritation.
Some common symptoms of seasonal allergies include:
Runny nose and nasal congestion.
Watery, itchy, red eyes (allergic conjunctivitis)
Sneezing.
Cough.
Itchy nose, roof of mouth or throat.
Swollen, blue-colored skin under the eyes (allergic shiners)
Postnasal drip.
Fatigue.
**Some allergy symptoms are also consistent with Covid symptoms. If you have these symptoms please do not assume they are just allergies and check for Covid as well.**
Shower after coming in from playing or being outside and change your clothes
Removing pollen from your body, especially your hands and face is very important when coming inside. Changing your clothing will also prevent you from spreading pollen throughout the house.
Minimize indoor pollen by keeping windows closed
Use air conditioners if possible
Monitor the weather
Be aware of when pollen levels are high and if possible adjust plans or activities accordingly.
If you have any additional questions or concerns please reach out to your child’s physician
for additional advice and guidance. ~Nurse Stenmon
5th Grade Student Council News
Our amazing students decided to have a food drive for the Canton Food Pantry. We have started collecting non-perishable items this week. Plastic bins are located in the front lobby.
We will be collecting items through Friday, June 3rd.
News from Ms. Sasin
June 3rd- JFK Olympics (Field Day) all morning (rain date:6/7)
June 10th- 5th Grade Unity Day at GMS (rain date: 6/14)
Gym Shorts
The Kennedy Olympics will be taking place on Friday, June 3rd (Rain Date- June 7th). The patriotic theme of the event will be the same as in the past. Students will be participating in many fun events trying to earn points for their team (either red, white, or blue) in an attempt to be the team that wins the “Kennedy Cup”. Please be sure that your child comes to school wearing as much of his/ her teams’ color as possible. Also, all students should wear sneakers, stay hydrated with water, wear a hat or sunglasses (if needed), wear sunscreen, and bring their best effort sportsmanship, and a positive attitude! I’m hopeful that the weather will cooperate and we will have a terrific school-wide event for our students. Volunteers should arrive at the back field no later than 8:30 that morning for an informational meeting and to get organized before the event starts.
Grades 4/5 finished our annual FitnessGram tests. This is a group of 4 challenges that tests the students’ cardiovascular endurance, flexibility, upper body strength, and abdominal strength. A Fitness Scorecard with their results and some information about each test was sent home. Please review the information, celebrate successes, and help to offer ways for the students to improve their fitness. Speaking of fitness, we recently held our annual 5th Grade mile. We had a lot of students finish the mile with little to no walking. The top 4 finishers were: Boys: Cam Lyons (6:17), Nathan Chabot (6:42), Luke Chin (6:43) and Emilio Barnard (6:46) Girls: Rae Marvin (7:32), Natalie Erickson (8:24), and Evelyn McCulley/ Sydney Merchant (8:40). Congratulations to all that finished!
Grade 5 students are reminded that they have Unity Day on Friday, June 10th. Students will be walking to the Galvin Middle School to participate in a fun field day with the 5th graders from the Hansen School and the Luce School. They will also have a cookout there and tours of the school. It is a great way to introduce them to the school and meet new friends as most will go there next year. This is a great event that the Canton Wellness Department has been doing for over 12 years and is always a very positive and fun experience for our outgoing 5th Graders. We have not been able to do it the past two years due to COVID so it is great to have it back this year!
I wish all of the Kennedy Families a fun and healthy summer!
Monthly PE Sneaker Award Winners for Excellence in PE
Gold Sneaker-
Tie, Mrs. Gillon’s Class (4th Grade) and Mrs. Sylvia’s Class (3rd Grade)
Silver Sneaker-
Tie, Mr. Houle’s Class (5th Grade) and Mrs. Griffin’s Class (5th Grade)
The Sneaker Award Champion this year is Mrs. Sylvia’s 3rd Grade Class with 5 Total Sneaker Awards!!!!
PE Star Students of the Week for May
Teddy Rooney (1st Grade)
John Fitzgerald (3rd Grade)
Sofia Pareja (4th Grade)
Graham Wachtendonk (5th Grade)
2022 - 2023 KENNEDY SCHOOL HOURS
As you may know, every two years, one of the Canton elementary schools shifts to a later schedule for a two-year period. Next year, the Kennedy will remain as we have with the same hours as this year while the Hansen transitions to the "late" elementary school. The Kennedy will follow as the "late" school, for school years 2024-25 and 2025-26.
CAPT CORNER
JFK Year End Party Volunteers!
JFK Year End Party Volunteers
Please sign up below to volunteer at the JFK End of Year Party. We need volunteers to help set up, clean up and...
REMINDER: CAPE's Honor Thy Teacher Campaign
Honor Thy Teacher
A donation to CAPE's Honor Thy Teacher program is a wonderful way to recognize a specific teacher, staff person or administrator who has helped make a student's school year brighter. All donations support CAPE grants.
There are so many people in our schools who have a positive impact on our children every day. We are happy to honor them!
Visit CAPE to learn more or make a donation.
Community Connections!
Canton Public Schools has a new Community Resources and Information Page on its website titled Around Town. This page lists resources that are available in our community for families and students. Information on this page will be updated periodically.
This site can be reached at this link: About/Around Town.
Kennedy Building Administration Information
We also wanted to communicate the plan for supporting you and the JFK community for the next five weeks. To provide consistency for staff and families, Kate Gallahue will be the main point of contact in the building and a central office administrator will be at the JFK to support her and the building through June 21. The schedule for support will be as follows:
- May 30 - June 3: Dianna Mullen
- June 6 - June 10: Sarah Shannon
- June 13 - June 17: Dianna Mullen
- June 21: Sarah Shannon
If Ms. Shannon or Ms. Mullen cannot be in the building, we will ensure that another person is available to support any immediate needs.
Please reach out with any questions. We are looking forward to a great end to the school year!
Thank you,
Derek Folan
Superintendent
Sarah Shannon
Assistant Superintendent
What's Coming Up?
- Monday, May 30 - No School (Memorial Day)
- Tuesday, May 31 - Grade 5 Field Trip to Freedom Trail
- Tuesday, May 31- Grade 3 Colonial Trade
- Wednesday June 1st -Grade 3 Colonial Trade
- Friday June 3 - Field Day/Early Dismissal @11:50