SOARing through the Week at JFK
April 17, 2025
Hello Hawk Families!
We are thrilled to share some exciting news that fills us with pride and gratitude! Each year, Milford Public Schools provides an opportunity to recognize individuals who go above and beyond to make our school communities special places to learn and grow. This year our Hawk-mazing JFK “Of the Year” honorees are nothing short of extraordinary!
Please join us in congratulating our JFK Teacher of the Year: Ms. Tara Truscello, JFK Para Educator of the Year: Mrs. Colleen Gambardella, and our JFK Parent (duo!) of the Year: Tom & Jen Conroy! These remarkable members of our community have made significant contributions to our school culture and embody our JFK spirit. We are so grateful for their positive impact! Be sure to extend your thanks and congratulations if you see them!
This week we also held our annual “Books for Break” event. Students enjoyed shopping for a few books each to take home to read over break. A special thank you to those of you who donated gently used books and to our Hawksome literacy coaches Mrs. DePuma and Mrs. Rosengrant for organizing this reading event. Please encourage your students to keep up the great reading over Spring Break!
Wishing everyone a fantastic weekend! Remember to take care of yourself, take care of our community and most of all BE KIND!
In partnership,
Amy E. Rizzo
Amy E. Rizzo, Principal
Follow me on X (formerly Twitter) @JFKPrincipalRIz
Important Dates:
April 17th- JFK Wears Blue for Autism Awareness!
April 18th- No School- Good Friday
April 21-25th- No School- MPS Spring Recess
April 29th- JFK Career Day & Spirit Day: Dress Up for Your Dream Job!
April 29th- MPS Family Literacy Night
April 30th- Early Dismissal for students- Staff Professional Learning
May 1st- JFK Multicultural Night
May 1st- 2nd Grade Field Trip
May 1st- 5th Grade Field Trip
May 2nd- 1st Grade Field Trip
May 5th-May 23rd- SBA Testing- Grades 3-5
May 5th- K Field Trip
May 6th-5th Grade Visit to Middle School
May 7th- JFK PTO Meeting
May 9th- JFK Plant Sale
May 12th- JFK STEM Night
May 15th- ALL 4th & 5th Grade JFK Spring Concert
May 23rd- 3rd & 4th Grade Field Trip
May 29th- JFK Field Day (Rain date May 30th)
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📷A Glimpse at the Week:
Click here to view pictures of some of the HAWK-SOME learning and events that happened at JFK this week!
Family Input for Class Placement for 2025-2026
If you wish to provide us with information regarding your child's class placement for the 25-26 school year, please access this Family Input for Class Placement Form
5th Grade Families- Middle School Placement and Course Selection:
5th-grade families should have received an email regarding middle school placement for next year. Please contact the main office with any questions. Be on the lookout for additional emails about grade 6 course selection.
Grades 3-5- Spring Assessments:
Please click here to access an important letter from Mr. Steven Autieri regarding student assessments.
JFK’s Assessments will occur during May, starting on Monday, May 5th. Schedule
Students in Grades 3-5 will be assessed through the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA), an individual adaptive computer-based assessment.
Grade 5 students will take the Next Generation Science Standards Assessment (NGSS).
Summer Enrichment The Milford Public Schools is excited to offer a summer enrichment experience for elementary school learners. Please click here to access more information about this opportunity.
Item Drop Off at Morning Arrival
Please remember that only students should enter the front doors at arrival time. If parents or guardians have items to drop off, please speak with a staff member on duty outside for assistance.
We would like to invite MPS elementary parents, guardians, and community members to participate in our fourth annual JFK Career Day! Our JFK Career Day & Dress as Your Dream Job is scheduled for April 29th. We are planning on inviting community members into our building to share with our students about their careers. Please come share about your career with our students. Know some people with cool jobs, feel free to invite them! More information can be found here.
Save the Date!
4th & 5th Grade Spring Concert will be held on May 15th for choir, band and orchestra students.
Kickoff to Kindergarten
For our incoming Kindergarten families who are fully registered or currently in a MPS preschool program, be on the lookout for an email on our Kickoff to Kindergarten school visits in May. If your child is eligible for Kindergarten but you have not yet registered, please click the link to register and be included in this Kickoff to Kindergarten experience
Community Connections Center
Parents, we invite you to check out our weekly CCC Newsletter for fun and interesting places to visit with your family! If you're looking for ideas over spring break, visit the CCC webpage and click on the link titled "Activities for Everyone"—you'll find lots of options for all ages.
One highlight is the Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk, CT, hosting its Egg-straordinary Egg-stravaganza on Saturday, April 19, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Enjoy egg hunts, hands-on activities, and a full day of fun! Learn more at www.steppingstonesmuseum.org/eggs.
Also, don’t miss the Time Travelers KidStudio, a creative space for kids up to age 12 to explore local history and make crafts. Guided activities happen every Wednesday and Saturday!
And if you’re looking ahead to summer, check out Camp Happiness—a Milford Recreation camp for residents with special needs. Open to children with an IEP entering kindergarten through 6th grade, the camp runs for six one-week sessions at Foran High School
Wishing you all a joyful, restful, and fun-filled spring break!
Mary-Kate Wiliams & Cara Dascenza
Milford Community Connection Centers
203-882-6094
The CCC honors all family inquiries as private and confidential unless parent permission is given or Connecticut mandated reporting applies
Specialist Spotlight: Art
Celebrations in Art:
We are thrilled to share some wonderful activities our students have been engaged in this past few weeks:
Kindergarten: Students are working on beautiful watercolor springtime animals, bringing color and creativity to their learning!
First Grade: Just finished making ant-sized pictures featuring bugs, plants, and magnifying glasses—an imaginative exploration of the tiny world around us!
Second Grade: Delving into the world of Andy Warhol and POP art, students are creating their own vibrant masterpieces! We JUST started - so no pics yet!
Third Grade: Crafting tree houses from wood and cardboard pieces, our third graders are showcasing their engineering skills and creativity!
Fourth Grade: Recently completed a sun and moon oil pastel project, highlighting their artistic talents and understanding of celestial themes.
Fifth Grade: Rolling into spring with their collage roller skates, students are blending art with fun in a unique way!
Important Announcements:
District Art Show: Be on the lookout for an email regarding your child's artwork being showcased at the District Art Show at Parson's! We are excited to share more details soon, so stay tuned!
Keep creating!
Ms. Benedetti
Older, But Important Reminders
Early Spring Attire -Layers are helpful with the changing weather conditions!
Whenever the weather permits, our students have outdoor recess. Please ensure that your child has proper attire to stay warm when they are outside.
Dismissal Reminders:
Please drive slowly and carefully at arrival and dismissal. We have had a few instances recently where cars are pulling out and there have been close calls. Proceed with caution when driving on school grounds.
If you are picking up your child as a walker, please do not enter or park in any of the spaces in the front parking lot. The front lot entrance is exclusively for car pick ups. Thank you!
Please label your child’s sweatshirts, jackets, lunch bag, and water bottles.
It’s Spring Cleaning Time!
We will be donating any items still left in the Lost and Found!
Smart Watches, I-Phones, and other Personal Devices
Please note the MPS BOE Policy regarding personal technology in our schools:
At the elementary level - No use of a cell phone/smartwatch or other personal communication device will be permitted during school hours. These devices must be turned off or on silent and left in backpacks, stored in a student’s locker/cubbie or other place designated by building administration. MPS Policy
Hawks SOAR Awards - Our JFK Hawks SOAR award is designed to recognize student and staff behaviors and actions that enhance our school community and those individuals who exemplify citizenship within this community beyond the expected norms. When your child comes home with a sticker, please ask them how they SOARED that day!
Attendance Reminder
A reminder that absences should be reported in PowerSchool.
Click HERE for instructions on how to report absences. Be sure to update the date on the top of the form each time you fill it out.
Arrival and Dismissal Information -
Please do not leave students unattended at the school prior to 8:20 am.
Please note that our Walker Pick Up should be utilized for families who are walking to the building. If you are driving to JFK to pick up your child, please use our car pick up procedure. Families of students who are being dismissed as walkers should not be parking in our parking lot and then picking up at the walker door. Doing this interferes with the flow of traffic in our car pick up line. Thank you for adhering to our dismissal procedures.
Parents, please be sure to drive slowly and safely through our parking lot at drop off and pick up times. We understand that mornings can be hectic getting students off to school and adults off to work, but please drive slowly and with caution on our school grounds.
If you are dropping off your child please pull all the way forward in line and remain in the car for safety. If you wish to get out of the car, please park in a designated parking spot and walk your child to the parking lot crosswalk. Mr. Kee will assist your child in crossing safely.
Dismissal Car Tags should be placed on your dashboard/mirror when lining up for pick up. We ask that you please do not line up in the parking lot prior to 3pm.
❤️🩹News from the Nurse
MPS Health Department Guidelines
If clothing is borrowed from the school health office please wash and return :)
If possible, pack a spare set of clothes in your child's backpack. Accidents happen! Students can get wet on the playground or spill on themselves at lunch. It's always helpful to have extra clothing available
~Nurse Jacqueline Campbell
Join the JFK PTO
It’s never too late and our PTO supports so many of our wonderful school community events. Your membership matters! https://john-f-kennedy-elem-pto.square.site/
Additional MPS information can be accessed through the district website at www.milforded.org.
JFK: A Community Where
ALL
Learners Soar!