SOARing through the Week at JFK
May 2, 2025
Hello Hawk Families!
What an incredible week we’ve had as we jumped right back into learning after Spring Break! One of the highlights was our amazing Career Day—a huge thank you to the many caring adults who came in to share their professions, offer demonstrations and inspire our students. A special shoutout to our Hawk-some school counselor, Mrs. Swope, for organizing this fantastic event for our school community! It was a day to remember! Be sure to check out the pictures linked below!
We also celebrated one of the most special nights of the year, our JFK Multicultural Night! A huge thank you to Señorita P for all of her hard work in bringing this beautiful evening together, and to the many families who hosted tables, shared food, and to our community partnerships and performers. The diversity of our school is truly one of our greatest strengths, and it was wonderful to celebrate it together. If you missed it this year, be sure to join us next year!
Finally, I want to express my heartfelt thanks for the many kind messages, drawings, and celebrations shared on Principal Appreciation Day. Our JFK community always goes above and beyond, and you truly made me feel special. I am so grateful to lead such an amazing learning community!
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:
May 5th-May 23rd- SBA Testing- Grades 3-5 Testing Calendar
May 5th-9th- Staff Appreciation Week!
May 5th- K Field Trip
May 6th-5th Grade Visit to Middle School
May 6th- District Art Show @ Parsons
May 7th- JFK PTO Meeting Join in Person or via Google Meet
May 9th- JFK Plant Sale
May 10th- MPS Kite Fest at Walnut Beach
May 12th- JFK STEM Night 6:00-7:30pm
May 13th & May 27th- JFK Kindergarten Kickoff for Incoming K Students
May 13th- Mayor’s Youth Award @ Parsons
May 14th- Early Dismissal for Students (staff professional learning)
May 15th- ALL 4th & 5th Grade JFK Spring Concert @ Law
May 16th- PTO Sponsored All School Assembly- Storyteller
May 23rd- 3rd & 4th Grade Field Trips
May 26th- Memorial Day- No School
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!
Grades 3-5- Spring Assessments begin MONDAY!:
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).
STEM Night- Monday, May 12th!
Invitation for 5th Grade Leadership Volunteers for STEM Night
Parent Volunteers Needed: Sign Up Here
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
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.
Spring Concert
4th & 5th Grade Spring Concert will be held on May 15th 6:30pm at Jonathan Law High School for choir, band and orchestra students.
JFK Kickoff to Kindergarten - May 13th & 27th
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
Dear Parents,
We’re excited to share the latest edition of our CCC Newsletter, filled with exciting opportunities for you and your family! From reserving a plot in Milford's Community Garden to joining the fun at the Milford Festival for Mental Health & Tug of War Competition, there's something for everyone. You can also get moving at the Amber Park Fun Run or spend the day outdoors at the No Child Left Inside! Free Fishing Day on May 10 at Chatfield Hollow State Park.
For all these and more, check out our CCC Newsletter. And if you're looking for additional community resources, be sure to visit the CCC Website.
Don't miss out—get involved and stay connected!
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
Did your JFK student come home talking about rubber ducks washing up on beaches? If so, it was probably related to Markus Motum’s book Ducks Overboard!: A True Story of Plastic in Our Oceans. It’s the title that won March Book Madness for both JFK and the entire district, and it will inspire you to reduce plastic use and support organizations that work on ocean conservation. I am not surprised our big-hearted community picked it!
In April, we celebrated School Library Month (thank you for the submissions to the CT Association of School Librarians’ bookmark contest!) and National Poetry Month. Looking to May, some exciting projects include career research for the second graders, a makerspace project for the third graders, and research on the national parks for the fourth graders.
As we begin to wind down the year, please note that the last day for book checkout will be Friday, May 30 and the last day to return books will be Friday, June 6. This is a good time to start looking around the house for books with a library sticker or stamp. Also, our cardboard supply is running a little low. If you have some clean recycling that you would like to donate, please send it with your student. Thank you for your help!
Older, But Important Reminders
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!
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
Our final PTO Meeting of the 24-25 school year will be Wednesday, May 7th!
Thank you PTO for the million ways you support our school community!
Sign up for Dash for Danni, a 5K to raise money for cancer research. The event is on June 7 and kicks off at Foran High School."
Additional MPS information can be accessed through the district website at www.milforded.org.
JFK: A Community Where
ALL
Learners Soar!