Greetings FitzGerald Families!

Grades 2-5 report cards are coming home today. Please check your child's backpack for this when they arrive home. Grades K and 1 report cards will go home in February.

Thank you to Mrs. McKeever and the many family volunteers that helped with the Scholastic Book Fair! The money raised helps to go towards new books for our school's library. We appreciate everyone's support!

Information went home today on the free before school movement program happening in January. A copy of this notice is linked below. Thank you to the many family members who have volunteered to help Mrs. Santillo with this program! Sign ups are first come, first serve with limited spots available. Registration forms are due back by Friday December 20th.

We are very excited for the Winter Music Concert coming up on Monday December 16th. Families are invited to attend. Grades 3-5 will be at 1:00pm. Grades K-2 will be at 2:00pm. Doors will not open until 10 minutes before each show. Please plan extra time to arrive, as the traffic/parking around the school will be very busy. We are looking forward to another great show!

Thank you for your partnership and collaboration! Have a wonderful weekend!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Santillo, Principal- jennifersantillo@walthampublicschools.org

Mrs. Lamoly, Assistant Principal- julielamoly@walthampublicschools.org

Hi FitzGerald Families!

In December the students worked on creating beautiful decorations for the winter concert. The fifth graders created 3D snowflakes and the fourth created 2D snowflakes. Third graders created the paper wreaths and second graders are creating realistic evergreen branches that will be our winter trees. The First graders created paper snowpeople and the Kindergarteners used their fine motor skills to create a patterned paper chain.

It's almost Square1 art time! Over the Winter break I’m asking students in grades 3-5 to be drawing up some ideas for their Square 1 art project. I will be sending paper home with them, however, any blank 9x9 square paper will work. This is just to get some ideas down on paper. Their ideas only need to be a contour drawing, not a full color image. Grades 3-5 have the ability to choose what they would like to do for their Square 1 art project. However, it can not be copyright images or traced images. They can look at a picture and draw from it, They can use Art Hub for Kids too. Kindergarten, first and second graders will be doing a directive art lesson in the classroom with me. The students look forward every year to doing Square 1 Art. This is a fundraiser for our school and order forms will be sent home sometime in April. All orders placed will be sent directly to your home. If you have a former graduate from FitzGerald that would like to do Square 1 Art at home, please have them or yourself contact me. I can be contacted at: Sandrawalsh@walthampublicschools.org.

I hope that everyone has a wonderful holiday season and I look forward to 2025!

Mrs. Walsh

Visual Art Specialist

What are Principal Coffee Talks?

Principal Coffee Talk times have traditionally been offered once monthly for the last several years at FitzGerald. This is an informal conversation time where family members can connect with Mrs. Santillo and/or Mrs. Lamoly and ask any questions about FitzGerald School that they may have. This year, we are going to try to hold these monthly informal conversation times at different times of day, so that there are more options available for those that would like to join.

Next Coffee Talk Time:

Date: Thursday January 16th, 2025

Time: 5:30-6:00pm

Location: This will be a virtual meeting. A virtual link will be sent out that day.

The FitzGerald School Council is an advisory group for the Principal that includes parent, staff, and community representatives. The council discusses items such as budget, School Improvement Plan, etc. Approved meeting minutes are posted in the Fitzy's Flyer office communication.

Please see below for the agenda from October's School Council Meeting and the approved meeting minutes from the last school meeting in June.

Next Virtual Meeting*: January 9, 2025

Time: 6:00-6:45pm

*Please reach out to Mrs. Santillo if you would like the meeting link.

*Breakfast and Lunch are available for free for all students this school year!

** All students should bring one snack and a water bottle to school each day.

Every Friday is "Fitzy Friday" at FitzGerald! Everyone is invited to wear Fitzy Spirit Wear or the colors blue and/or yellow to school, if they would like to!

Friday December 13th- Grades 2-5 Report Cards Go Home

Monday December 16th- K-5 Winter Concert- 1:00pm Grades 3-5, 2:00pm Grades K-2 (Family is invited to attend)

Monday 12/23- Wednesday January 1st- No School, December Break

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Clever is an app we use at school that makes it easy for students to access many online learning programs and resources with their Waltham Public Schools Google account. Students can also access Clever at home on a personal device. Click HERE for directions.

Email: jennifersantillo@walthampublicschools.org
Website: https://www.walthampublicschools.org/o/fitzgerald
Location: 138 Beal Road, Waltham, MA, USA
Phone: 781-314-5680