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JFK Middle School Oct/Nov Newsletter
Published on Oct 13, 2009 14:17
JohnF.KennedyMiddle School
155 Raffia Road
Enfield, CT 06082
OCTOBER /NOVEMBER 2009
IN THE MIDDLE
From the Principal’s desk…..
We want to stay in touch with you!
To conserve paper and reduce mailing costs, we mail our newsletter home quarterly instead of monthly. We will still produce monthly updates, but will send them to you via e-mail if you like. We will also post the monthly updates on our website. To make this work, we need your help. Many of you have access to e-mail and the Internet. To receive an automatic monthly update, e-mail me at [email protected] with your name, your child’s name and homeroom together with the e-mail address to which you want us to send the update. This same information is posted on our website. If you don’t have e-mail, but have access to the Internet, go to www.enfieldschools.org and select JFK from “Our Schools.” The newsletters and monthly updates will be posted to the site. Additionally, teaching staff and administrators can communicate with you via e-mail. E-mail addresses are posted on the website along with staff voice-mail numbers. Our hope is that we will be able to maximize the use of available technology to better communicate with you and at the same time economize. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
I’m happy to report we’ve had a great first month of school. Your children have come in cooperative and polite and appear to have adjusted well to JFK. We are all actively engaged in the academic program as well as the activities, sports and clubs sponsored by the school and our very involved and dedicated staff. Quarter 1 progress reports come out the week of Oct 13th I hope the positive feeling of the first month bodes well for the rest of the year. Keep doing what you are doing - it’s working! If you have questions or concerns, please contact us.
JFK After School Opening on October 19th
I have been contacted by many students and parents questioning when JFK After School will begin again. I’m pleased to announce that, although all funding has not yet been secured, JFK After School will open with a variety of activities on October 19th.
JFK After School is open to all JFK students, and will operate Monday through Thursday from 2:35 to 6:00 PM. This year, Fridays will be left open for a variety of activities including, extra ice time, bowling, dances, family activities, and field trips. Mr. Rhein JFK site director, is looking for a team of students who are interested in helping to design the Friday programs. Transportation may also be available by January, if parents express a need. Many JFK After School activities are offered at no cost, however, some activities do have a minimum fee to participate.
Popular returning activities include: Ice Time, Music Video Production in Studio Dynamix, JFK Newspaper, Oven Masters, and Wii Sports. JFK After School will also be offering “Homework—Make the Grade”, a structured homework block led by certified teachers.
New to JFK After School this year is a pilot project that will give students an opportunity to investigate new career options. With funding from MassMutual, the JFK “SkillCenter” will introduce students to a variety of skills—carpentry, electrical, plumbing and masonry work. Students enrolled in the “SkillCenter” will acquire basic skills using power tools, learn blueprint readings, and use computer skills related to trades. In a series of workshops taught by experienced trades people, students will test their skills by building a virtual room—right in JFK! In Studio Dynamix, students will also learn filming, editing techniques, and use their new skills to create videos about the SkillCenter. Many other activities, including homework help, are led by JFK teachers from 2:35 – 3:10. These activities include the Community Service Club, Photography, Color Guard, Tennis, Chess, Friend’s Club, and so many more. A late bus, for students who only want to participate in Block “A” activities, is provided on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at 3:15 PM.
Also new this year, I will be asking all parents who wish to have their children participate in any JFK After School activity to register. This will allow me to better account for all students who stay after school. Initially, we will have your youngster sign in to whatever activity they join. Within a short time we hope to have it automated. By registering your child online, we will be able to keep a good record of who is in the building for added security. It will also help teachers and staff prepare attendance rosters for their activities.
The October through February 2010 JFK After School catalog, registration information, and listings of all clubs, is available online at: http://jfkmiddle.sharpschool.com. More information about JFK After School can also be found at [email protected], by emailing [email protected]or calling the ERfC Office 860-253-9935.
From the Guidance Office
Nancy Nealon, Director of Guidance
JFKSchool Counselors
The JFK Counselors are an involved and enthusiastic group. There are four counselors in the Kennedy Guidance Department.
Counselors are assigned to teams within their wings as follows:
Karen Fitzpatrick Red House Keane Team (8)
Nalbandian Team (7)
Kim Jackle White House Cepelak Team (8)
Scordato Team (8)
SED students
Melanie Kulpeksa Blue House Garvey Team (7)
Hargraves Team (7)
Barnes Team (8)
Nancy Nealon Red House Griffin Team (7)
Department Chairperson
Guidance Secretaries: Barbara Grinuk – 763-8871
Susan Hayden – 763-8876
Counselors interact with their students in a number of ways:
Counselors present developmental guidance lessons within the classroom on a number of topics; time management, organization, study skills, conflict resolution, and career choice.
Counselors meet with students in small groups to discuss their academic progress and program.
Counselors meet with students individually to address a number of transition issues; peer relations, attendance, grades, school clubs and activities.
Counselors meet with the academic teams daily. Parents are encouraged to call their child’s counselor to schedule meetings with team teachers or to discuss any concerns they may have.
Agenda Planners were given to all students the first week of school and you are encouraged to review this book with your student every day. This is an excellent organizational tool that will help students develop effective study habits. Teachers post assignments in the agendas. If you look in the back of the planner you can see that there is a place for your student to list the phone numbers of classmates who can be called when they are absent and need to get the homework assignments. IF A STUDENT IS OUT LONGER THAN 3 DAYS, you may call the Guidance Office at 763-8876 and request homework. We will gatherthe homework and it will be available for pickup at the Guidance office after 2:00 p.m. the next day.
School can be more than studying and homework. Please encourage your child to join one of the many clubs and activities JFK has to offer this fall. This will maximize their JFK experience and help them make new friends.
If this is your first experience with a middle school student in your home, we have an excellent ParentResourceCenter in the library. Here you will find many books to help you understand the day-to-day changes in behavior of a young adolescent.
FROM OUR NURSES
…MRS. ROMANO AND MRS. STACK
763-8887
Scoliosis screening
The State of Connecticut Law requires scoliosis screening of all 7th & 8th grade students. These screenings are done by the JFK nurses during Physical Education (October/March). Any student who is not enrolled in P.E. will be screened in the spring in the nurses’ office. Referral letters for students with known scoliosis will be mailed home in October so the doctor can reevaluate the student.
Hearing Screening
The State of Connecticut Law requires 8th graders to be screened for hearing. The screening will be in November in the nurses’ office. Referral letters for students with known hearing problems will be mailed home in November.
Any questions or problems please call 763-8880 between 7:30 A.M. and 2:45 P.M.
FYI
from the nurses
HEALTH ROOM PRACTICES
A student is ALWAYS sent home from school for the following conditions:
· Temperature of 100 or higher
· active vomiting or diarrhea
· suspected contagious diseases : conjunctivitis(pink eye), chicken pox, strep throat, scarlet fever, head lice, impetigo, scabies, ring worm, undiagnosed suspicious rash
If a student complains of a headache or stomach ache (with none of the above), they will rest for 15 minutes and return to class.
If a student complains of headache or stomachache because he/she did not eat breakfast, a cereal bar will be offered.
If a student returns several times or requests the phone, a call will be made to a parent or guardian.
If a student does not feel well enough to participate in Physical Education (with none of the above), the nurse can sign the student out ONCE. The student will make-up the class after school when feeling better. If the student does not participate in other PE classes, a doctor’s note is required for a medical excuse.
If a student has an injury or disability that impacts the school day (i.e. cast, crutches, brace or limited walking or carrying etc.) a doctor’s note is required with specific limitations and length of disabilities.
If a student has a physical injury that prevents participation in PE, the doctor’s note serves as a medical excuse and does not affect the grade.
If a student has an injury, he/she is to report to the nurses’ office on the first day back. The nurses’ issue the passes, set up the buddy, etc. All injured students must be on record in the nurses’ office in case of emergency.
As always, in middle school, the above guidelines are subject to change with every situation.
Choosing Healthy Snacks
Many children arrive home from school and head straight to the refrigerator for a snack. There is nothing wrong with moderate snacking, since youngsters have high levels of activity and may need more calories than three meals a day provide to meet their energy needs. For many children - particularly those who are quite physically active - snacks can help round out their nutritional requirements and provide as much as one fourth of their calories. In general, occasional snacks will not ruin their appetites for regular meals, as long as the snack is not eaten shortly before they sit down to lunch or dinner. Snacks are another opportunity for parents to provide healthy food choices to their children while reinforcing good eating habits - learning to get hungry, rather than eating to feel full all the time.
When snacking, children often reach for the closest food at hand. If your cupboard has cookies in it, then that is probably what your child will eat. However, if there are healthier items in the refrigerator or on the kitchen table, your youngster will become accustomed to snacking on these foods. The healthiest and simplest choices are fruits and raw vegetables, which require little if any preparation. Encourage your child to make healthy snacks a habit by keeping fruit and cut vegetables (carrots, cucumbers, celery, peppers, broccoli) handy.
Healthy Snacks for Any Mood
Your child's snacking moods may vary, but he can still consistently maintain healthy snacking habits.
Thirsty! Cold skim or low-fat milk, mineral water with lime, chilled vegetable juice, fruit juice (apple, grape, grapefruit, orange, pineapple, raspberry).
Smooth! Yogurt, banana, papaya, mango, custard, cottage cheese, "fruit smoothie." ("Fruit smoothie" recipe: Blend one cup of skim milk, three ice cubes, your favorite fresh fruit, and a dash of vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a blender.)
Crunchy! Raw vegetables (asparagus, bell pepper, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, zucchini), apples, corn on the cob, unbuttered popcorn, puffed-rice cakes, wheat crackers.
Juicy! Fresh fruit (berries, cantaloupe, grapes, grapefruit, kiwi, nectarine, orange, peach, plum, watermelon, frozen juice pops, tomato, pear).
Fun! Fruit, frozen grapes, frozen bananas.
Really hungry! Hard-boiled eggs, granola, sandwich, cereal with milk, bran muffin, peanut butter (on crackers or bread), nuts, cheese.
String Orchestras
Welcome to a new year! Both seventh and eighth grade string orchestras are up and running! Please order your musician their supplies as soon as possible:
Shoulder rest
Round rosin
Essential Elements for Strings 2000
Book 1 for seventh graders
Book 2 for eighth graders
Our first concert will be on December 17th at 7:00 P.M.
As always, please call with any questions or concerns: 860-763-8855 extension 760-6737.
“Cash on Account” in JFK Cafeteria
CASH ON ACCOUNT – a “Cash Account” is created by making a payment of a certain dollar amount ($5.00, $10.00, $15.00, etc.) to the cafeteria. These funds are then available to your child when purchasing lunch or a la carte items in the cafeteria. There are no limitations as to what may be purchased or how many purchases can be made. The account balance simply decreases as purchasing takes place.
A DETAILED STUDENT ACCOUNT ACTIVITY AND/OR BALANCE WILL BE PROVIDED UPON REQUEST.
EASY WAYS TO HELP SUPPORT JFK
All of these programs are at no cost to you and will help our students immensely!
Take Charge of Education Program
JFK received a $297.16 donation from the Target Store for the Take Charge of Education Program. Since 1997 Target has donated to JFK $1,749.22. Through Take Charge of Education, families, teachers and members of the community have an easy way to raise money for their school. When they sign up and designate an eligible K-12 school, Target donates up to 1% of every purchase they make with their REDcard (Target Visa Credit Card, Target Credit Card or Target Check Card) to that school. Take Charge of Education dollars are donated to schools twice a year. Over the past 11 years, schools have used the funds for whatever they’ve needed, whether it was books, field trips, new technology or supplies. Take Charge of Education is part of Target’s broad commitment to education and is designed to enhance educational efforts for children in communities across the country.
JFK is registered in the Boxtops for Education Program. You’re probably familiar with this process from your years in elementary school. Just look for the “Boxtops for Education” symbol on boxes of General Mills cereals and other related products, clip it off, send it in to school. Students can deposit them in a box in the Cafeteria or Library.
Big Y Homework Line is a free service available Monday through Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. by calling 1-800-866-BIGY or on line by logging on to www.bigy.com/homework. The helpline has a team of certified teachers with a variety of classroom experience.
Big Y is again awarding points to our school. This service is also free. Parents sign up at the service deskand for every dollar you spend, the school receives points to use toward the purchase of merchandise.
A+ Bonus Bucks Program
This year Stop & Shop is rolling the A+ Bonus Bucks program throughout the entire company. A+ Bonus Bucks was launched in the fall of 2000, in different regions of the company to make an even easier way to help local schools. To date the program has awarded over $19.4 million in cash to over 3,900 schools. This year will mark the first year that A+ Bonus Bucks was introduced to Stop & Shop's in the State of Connecticut. With everyone's support, Stop & Shop will donate $1 million to community schools this year through the A+ Bonus Buck Program.
A+ Bonus Bucks makes it easy for you to earn valuable cash rewards for school simply by registering your school, and gaining the support from the parents that already shop at Stop & Shop. The 2009-2010 program runs from October 2, 2009 and runs through March 18, 2010. At the conclusion of the program a check will be mailed to each participating school. Once your school receives the check, it's up to the school to decide the best way to use it. It could be used to purchase computers, buy new cheerleading uniforms, band instruments, or other useful educational equipment.
DRIVERS TAKE NOTICE
Visitor Parking
Visitors must enter and exit the parking lot through the far entrance driveway on the White House side. Visitor parking is the entire front row on the White House side. All visitors will enter the building through the main office.
Student Drop Off/Pick up.
A reminder that the only safe place to drop off or pick up your youngster is outside the White House. With 27 buses and almost 872 students, the parking lot can be a dangerous place in the morning and at dismissal. For the safety of your children, we ask you to strictly adhere to our drop off/pick up procedures. Our school resource officer is monitoring the parking lot with us and will be speaking to and/or issuing tickets to those who present a safety risk to our students.
Anyone who drives a motor vehicle on school grounds is reminded of the law regarding PASSING A STANDING SCHOOL BUS. The reason for this reminder is that we are starting to experience infractions of this law at JFKMiddle School by parents dropping off and picking up students. The school has been asked to stress the seriousness of ignoring the flashing red lights of a standing school bus. The possibility of inflicting serious or fatal injury to school age children as a result of these types of incidents cannot be overstated. It is understood that the registered owner may not have been operating the vehicle at the time of the incident. However, as the registered owner, enforcement action may be taken against him/her. This notice is an effort to bring about prevention rather than punishment.
The law states:
The operator of any vehicle or motor vehicle shall immediately bring his vehicle to a stop not less than ten feet from the front when approaching and not less that ten feet from the rear when overtaking or following any registered school bus on any highway or private road or in any parking area or on any school property, when such bus is displaying flashing red signal lights, except at the specific direction of a traffic officer.
For this infraction:
First Offense - $450 fine
Subsequent Offenses - not less than $500 nor more than $1,000 and/or imprisoned not more than 30 days.
LIBRARY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Do you have a desire to get more involved in your child's school? Here is the perfect opportunity.
We are in need of parents to help with ongoing projects. If you have Library background or not, we are interested in having you come in and help. Anytime you can spare would be appreciated.
If you have any questions, please call Suzette or Kathy at 763-8885.
Once again Ms. Siana’s classes will be participating in her Fabulous Furniture Project. She is looking for your help, by donating small tables, night stands, chairs, lamp shades, etc. that you or someone in your family may be throwing out, or that is taking up space in your garage, basement, shed or attic. If you have any items you wish to donate, please contact Ms. Siana by email at [email protected] to arrange for the furniture to be picked up or delivered. Thanks again for your help!!!
FYI
Absence from school
If a student is absent from school, parents are requested to CALL the school (763-8855) to report the absence. Dial 763-8855, then press 1, then 1 again,
then press 1 if homeroom is in the Black or Red wing.
2 if homeroom is in the White wing
3 if homeroom is in the Blue wing
This number can be called 24 hours a day.
This is to be followed with a written excuse to the homeroom teacher. This excuse is to be brought to school the day the student returns to school. The information needed in the excuse is:
Reason for absence
Date or dates of absence
Parent’s signature
Early Dismissal
Dismissal from school can only be authorized by the office. Parents who wish their child to be dismissed should send the student to school with a note stating the time of dismissal. This note should be presented to the Housemaster before homeroom period on the day of dismissal. Parents are to sign out their child in the MAIN OFFICE. For the protection of the student, dismissals are routinely made only to the parent of the student. If there are special circumstances that necessitate someone other than the parent picking up the student, their name should be stated in the dismissal note.
Tardiness
Ensuring that a student arrives at school on time is a parental responsibility. When a student is tardy for school (entering the building after the start of homeroom period), the following action must occur:
· During homeroom period, report directly to the homeroom.
· After homeroom period, report directly to their House office, sign in on the Tardy Book, receive a pass to class and bring a written excuse from home to explain the tardiness.
· Each unexcused tardiness to school may be assigned a demerit.
· Absentees will be checked by phone unless parent notifies JFK in writing in advance.
Purposely staying outside the building or in the corridors will be dealt with as a discipline matter. Excuses written by parents will not be accepted if a student is known by school authorities to have arrived at school on time, but deliberately failed to enter homeroom at the specified time.
BE PREPARED
Please remember to send your child to school with all necessary items.
Examples: Homework, books, binders, lunch money, gym clothes, band instrument, field trip permission slips, etc.
Having to call students from their classes to get these items disrupts both the classes and the office personnel.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Dear Enfield Voter:
Beginning with the November 3, 2009 Municipal Election, the Town of Enfield has established four voting sites, one site for each of the four Town Council Districts. Each of the four sites offers substantial free parking spaces, handicap parking, handicap and senior citizen drop-off adjacent to the entrances of each building, and handicap accessibility within each building. The four sites are designed to accommodate voters with the 21st century optical scan voting system adopted by the State of Connecticut for all cities and towns beginning in 2007. The optical scan voting system, with its system of privacy booths, will accept up to 400 ballots per minute, according to industry specifications. Privacy booths now allow up to 30 voters to vote at any one time, as opposed to just two voters under the old system.
The new optical scan system, coupled with larger voting sites and substantial parking, will enable Enfield residents to vote more quickly and efficiently. The four voting sites are designed to accommodate more voters than ever before, and will encourage more people to vote in the future. The four voting sites are:
Council District I – JFKMiddle School (Gymnasium); (includes the current JFK Middle and former HB Stowe Elementary site)
Council District II – EnfieldHigh School (Cafeteria); (includes the former Town Hall and EnfieldStreetElementary School sites)
Council District III – Fermi High School (Gymnasium);(includes the former Hazardville Elementary and Nathan Hale Elementary School sites)
Council District IV – BarnardElementary School (Multi-Purpose Room); (includes the current Barnard Elementary and former Crandall Elementary and Shaker Pines Fire Station sites)
The map of the four Council Districts with their respective voting sites will be posted on the Town of Enfield website beginning in mid-September. In addition to the map featuring the four voting sites, the Registrar of Voters website is being updated to include a new, easy to use, “where do I vote” feature. The purpose of these new features is to expand voter knowledge about the four Council Districts with their individual voting locations. The Town of Enfield website can be accessed from a home or office computer, as well as the Town’s Library and SeniorCenter.
Carol Censki - Registrar
David Wawer - Registrar
YEARBOOK SALES
Don’t forget to pre-order your yearbook this October 20th -22nd. The price of the yearbook during this pre-sale and until April 30th is $17.00. The price as of May 1st will be $20.00. Payment can be made in cash or by check made out to JFK. Please contact Suzette or Kathy in the library with any questions at 763-8885.
Notes from
JFK Physical Education Department
Part of the JFK Physical Education Department’s policy is the following:
Students are to dress in “JFK uniform with sneakers laced and tied tightly.” The new style sneakers now out on the market without laces are not acceptable. We are concerned about your child’s safety and well being. Please comply with the JFK policy for sneakers in class. We want to prevent injuries and keep your child safe at all times.
Mr.O’Brien, Physical Education Department Chair
JFK Field Hockey Team
Congratulations to the following students who made the field hockey team. Coach Bishop
7th Grade 8th Grade
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Paige Hebert
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Taylor Maier
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Mackenzie Lawler
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Casey LaMotte
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Kelly Dubreuil
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Jocelyn Badeau
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Lindsey Taupier
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Marci Macsata
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Joy L’Ecuyer
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Morganne Pafumi
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Mary Guhne
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Megan Evans
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Kayla Despard
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Jenna Clavette
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Veronica Pike
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Maggie Richards
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Hannah Lempitsky
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Shelby Therrien
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Morgan Lempitsky
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JFK Cross Country Team
Boys Girls
Zach Stolar Sasha McLaughlin
Ben Magnuson Cheyenne Millett
Nick Bialka Taneja Johnson
Brian Couture Katherine Saltzgiver
Dan Salisbury Lauren Izabel
Sean Richards Abby Shaughnessy
Kyle Baker Megan Petrone
William Eastman Kelli Roberts
Garrett Choiniere Lexie Renna
Brian Toohey
Brendan Toohey
Chris Casale
Robert Macon-Wells
Bailey Waterman
Angelo DeGiule
Vincent Farina
Andrew Dumesnil
Jon Mesick
The JFK Cross Country team is twenty-seven strong this year. Due to pay-to-play, no time trails were required. However, each runner is expected to improve their times with hard work and dedication. We are off to a good start so far, and we even have enough Lady Patriots to have a scoring team! (Last year we only had four, and you need five to score in cross country.)
Our season started on September 10th and will conclude on November 7th. Please check out JFK's website for pictures and updates.
Good luck to all runners!
Coach Zawodniak
JFK Girls Soccer Team
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Sydney Anzellotti
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Rachel Bearse
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Riley Branda
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Lauren Cody
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Cali Daly
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Mia Desroches
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Rebecca DiGiacomo
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Sam Dumas
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Ashley Kennedy
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Kaley Kennedy
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Quinn Kosa
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Marina Lajoie
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Christina Leonardo
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Stephanie Malicki
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Samantha Myers
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Jessica Miller
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Julie Rotatori
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Stacie Rotatori
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Kristin Tolo
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Jordyn Walsh
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JFK Boys Soccer Team
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Max Balint
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Alex Brown
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Mike Casey
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Ben Cote
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Tyler Griffin
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Andrew Halgas
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Jeremy Hart
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Zack Isabelle
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Mike Knapp
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Greg Kraucunas
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John LeBlanc
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Kahill Michaud
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Jacob Quinn
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Anthony Romei
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Nick Romei
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Kyle Sayer
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Korey Wells
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BOOKFAIR
November 9, 10, 12, 13
Each year the Reading Department and the Library sponsor a Bookfair.
Each class of Reading and World Language students will be coming to the fair. The bookfair runs from 8:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M. and Thursday evening from 6:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M. during Parent/Teacher conferences.
Each year we ask for volunteers. If there are any parents or grandparents who would be interested in helping out at the bookfair, please call Kathy or Suzette at 763-8885.
Be on the Look Out.
Parent Teacher Conference Night
Conferences will be held Thursday, November 12 & Wednesday, November 18, 2009from 6:30 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. Conferences are by appointment only. Nophone appointments taken. Fill out the form and send it in with your student. Appointments will be on a first come first servedbasis.
Substitute Teachers Needed
Enfield Public Schools is in need of substitute teachers at all grade levels. Applicants with a bachelor’s degree may apply. Pay is $90.00 per full day, $60.00 per half day. Applications and information may be obtained from Jeanette Lamontagne at 253-6539.
STAY IN TOUCH
We have approx. 300 parents signed up to receive emails (newsletters, notices, etc..) from JFK. Would you like to sign up? Send us your email address, your name, your student’s name and homeroom. In the subject area put newsletter and send to [email protected].
Or
Go online at JFK website (www.enfieldschools.org, click on Schools and choose JohnF.KennedyMiddle School). On the left column there is a place to sign up for the JFK email newsletters. Click there and subscribe to the monthly updates.
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