JFK Middle School

This form is intended to confirm which style of learning your SECONDARY student is intending to do as we move to a hybrid model.

Weekly Caregiver Update – April 5, 2021

Greetings ,

Please take a few moments to read the following information. There are some very important updates and reminders.

School Pictures

School picture days are being held April 13-15. Please be on the lookout for paperwork from your student.

From REAL Northampton

Two Opportunities to attend “Growing Anti-Racist Children” workshop April 27 & May 8. Note that this isn’t a series; there are two discrete options available.

April 27: https://www.facebook.com/events/295212851948655

May 8: https://www.facebook.com/events/1202139107214677

Caregiver Town Hall

On April 14th, from 6-7pm, there will be a Caregiver Town Hall to review our return on April 28. Be on the lookout for more information here.

JFK PTO Meeting April 6th

Time: Apr 6, 2021 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85823876997?pwd=Q0RFaHNXbk5tb2pzdVoxL0RBNHBhUT09

Meeting ID: 858 2387 6997

Passcode: PTO

One tap mobile

+13017158592,,85823876997# US (Washington DC)

Masks

Please review this document and this message from Superintendent Provost.

“Masking is an important component of our strategy to stop the spread of the coronavirus. We have updated the COVID-19 section of the district website with reference material that can serve as a refresher on how to properly wear and adjust masks.” In particular I want to point out this information:

The Northampton Public Schools has a face mask policy that does not allow the use of masks with valves or bandanas or neck gaiters in our school buildings.

English

Spanish

Thank you for trusting us with your students. Have a great weekend!

Building Closed to Public

While JFK is opening to hybrid students, it remains closed to caregivers and the public.

Daily Checklist

Please use this checklist every day. If students have even one symptom we ask that they remain home and contact your healthcare provider. This precaution is in place to protect everyone and will help prevent returning to a pause.

English

Spanish

No Home Laptops

Students should bring their school issued laptop and charger to school. There should be no students bringing a non-school issued laptop to JFK. We will work to provide laptops to students who do not have a laptop assigned to them.

Emergency Covid Funds Available from your PTO!

WeAreCommunity, the joint PTO and REAL fundraiser for all Northampton public schools, has raised money for staff and family needs related to Covid. Let us know how we can help you!

If you need help, please reach out to your PTO or Principal Caldwell at the emails below – or let your teacher or counselor know to reach out to us.

All requests will be considered and will be kept confidential.

PTO: jfkmspto@gmail.com

Principal Caldwell: dcaldwell@northampton-k12.us

Water Bottles

As we shift to hybrid we want to remind families that students can have water bottles at school. We do not want students drinking with their mouth directly from the water fountains.

Art Supplies-

Hybrid 6th grade students will be receiving an email from Art Teachers with a list of supplies needed. While the school does have some supplies, we are limited because we can’t have students share supplies. Therefore families are being asked to purchase some supplies for your student(s). If you are unable to get the supplies, please just let us know and we can provide them.

#WeAreCommunity

We are thrilled to say that WeAreCommunity, the all-PTO and REAL fundraiser for all Northampton public schools, has raised more than $33,000 to date!

Our goal is $50,000 by the end of December,

WeAreCommunity is here to help – with basic needs (perhaps gift cards for gas, clothing, food, toiletries?), tools for remote learning, Comcast bills, holiday-related wishes, and more.

Everything is confidential – principals, counselors or staff can contact their PTO to access funds from WeAreCommunity.

charity.gofundme.com/wearecommunity-fund

Band instruments

Will not be allowed on busses or in classrooms during hybrid learning, at this time.

Question about DESE 35 Hours mandate

There was a question during the town hall about the DESE mandate for 35 hours of synchronous learning averaged over two weeks. I did not do a great job of answering the question and wanted to share a visual and breakdown of the time.

Mr. Caldwell’s message to the school community on Confederate Flags.

My Message to Students about the Confederate Flag.

–

Desmond Caldwell

Principal, JFK Middle School

Director, Escuela Intermedia JFK

Important Dates

April 13-15 School Picture Days

April 13 – End of the third marking period

April 14 – Caregiver Town Hall 6-7pm (more info soon)

April 19-23 Spring Vacation

April 28 – In-person Students Return!

May 10-14 Husky Spirit Week

Is your chromebook in need of repair?

This Thursday, April 2, Jim Bates from the IT Department will be at 42 Gothic St Northampton MA to do chromebook repairs. If you have a student who needs this, please share that information with the student.

The student must bring his/her chromebook AND charger. He/She should email jbates@northampton-k12.us to coordinate a time so that the door can be opened and the student can place it in the lobby and get a temporary chromebook on loan.

We may have a “repair form” available to fill out as well.

Wondering how to get into your class Meet or Zoom? Follow these steps:

The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Untitled from Desmond Caldwell on Vimeo.

Our middle school is dedicated to fostering high academic achievement and equal access to education in a positive learning environment. Organized on the middle school model, it focuses on the needs and characteristics of young adolescents. An instructional team system is used to provide a smaller learning environment for students, support the practice of interdisciplinary instruction, and build community within and outside of our building. An advisory program brings together students and adults three days a week in small groups, building peer and mentor relationships. A wonderful after-school program provides students with enrichment and academic support. The middle school community is proud of the work of the student Civil Rights Team, Students of Color Alliance, and Gay Straight Alliance. Our dedicated, student-focused, and creative teachers and staff are at the center of our commitment to the success of our students.

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Stand Up JFK

Dear JFK Community,

We have had caregivers reach out to request more information about the Stand Up JFK lessons our community engaged with this spring.

As educators and caregivers, we understand that people must first have a deep understanding of a problem before they can feel empowered to effect change. Through their coursework and Stand Up JFK, our students have had the opportunity to engage in learning and discussions about the history of race and the impact of racism in our country. This shared learning and work is never complete. To that end, we want to offer the content of the lessons for families who would like a more clear understanding of Stand Up JFK.

The series of lessons were created in collaboration with our SOCA (Students of Color Alliance) and the School Council with the goal of being accessible and inclusive.

The lessons have been made available on our website and our Facebook page.

LINK to JFK Facebook

Thank you to Mareatha Wallace, SOCA, and the school council for their work on the Stand Up JFK lessons.

Thank you to Gilana Chelimsky for the Google Slides, and appreciation to the faculty and staff for facilitating the learning and discussion.

Take good care and be well,

Lesley Wilson, Jenni Manfredi, and Vinnie Napoli

Stand Up JFK Lessons

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6

Day 7 Day 8 Day 9 Day 10 Day 11

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We miss you all so much!

How much? Well, maybe this little video will remind you all how much we care and miss you.

REAL (Racial Equity and Learning)

hopes to connect with you this school year!

The overarching goals of REAL are to promote learning and dialogue within the Northampton public school community about the origins and functioning of systemic racism; inte

grate anti-racist perspectives into district culture, curriculum, and district and school activities; and build the knowledge and self-reflection required to work together to interrupt and dismantle racism in our society and our schools and to teach our children how to do this alongside us now and in the future.

Participation is flexible: some members have not been to a meeting, while others are regular attendees. Our first meeting is this Sunday, October 6, 5:00-6:30 – please join us! All are always welcome, including children.

Our website provides more information: https://realnorthampton.com/

Please contact one of the school reps, if you are interested in joining our list serve, coming to a meeting, or learning more about REAL:

Bridge Street Elementary School— Annie Salsich, salsichannie@gmail.com
Jackson Street Elementary School— Jenny Bender, jenny.bender@comcast.net
Leeds Elementary School— Kristen Elde, elde.kristen@gmail.com
RK Finn Ryan Road School— Lindsay Koshgarian, lkoshgarian@gmail.com
JFK Middle School— Noel Raley, noelraley@yahoo.com
Northampton High School— Jen Berneche, jenberneche@gmail.com

JFK Hybrid Model Questionnaire