Greetings FitzGerald Families!

Please see below for this week's updates:

October/November Student Birthday Celebration:

Students whose birthdays are in October and November celebrated with Mrs. Santillo this week with a fun game of freeze dance and some birthday prizes! Happy birthday!

FitzGerald Multicultural Event:

You are cordially invited to the FitzGerald Multicultural Event, sponsored by the FitzGerald Equity Team, to celebrate all of the many wonderful cultures within our FitzGerald School family! We hope that you can join us!

When: Friday November 15th, 2024

Time: 6:00-7:30pm

Where: FitzGerald Cafeteria

This is a free event.

Veterans Day Observance:

As we honor Veterans Day on Monday November 11th, we want to thank all veterans, near and far, as well as those that are actively on duty, for their courage, dedication, and sacrifice. This past Wednesday, we discussed Veterans Day as a school community through assemblies that took place during each lunch block. We are also currently still running the Hats and Gloves Donation Drive for local veterans through November 12th and all donations will be delivered to the local Waltham Veterans Association office next week.

Upcoming Dates for Next Week:

Monday November 11th- No School for Veterans Day observance

Tuesday November 12th- Last Day for Hat and Gloves Drive for Local Veterans

Wednesday November 13th- Early Release Day, 1:00pm Dismissal, Parent Conferences

Wednesday November 13th- "Dessert and Dialogue" virtual office hours with Mrs. Santillo, 7:00-7:30pm. Link will be sent next week.

Have a wonderful, long weekend! We'll see everyone on Tuesday November 12th!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Santillo, Principal- jennifersantillo@walthampublicschools.org

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

Principal Coffee Talk times have traditionally been offered once monthly in the morning for the last several years at FitzGerald. This is a monthly 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 informal conversation times at different times of day, so that there are more options available for those that would like to join.

We will be holding a virtual "Dessert and Dialogue" time on Wednesday November 13th from 7:00-7:30pm. There is no formal agenda for this time. This is a time that any family member can jump on and ask any questions about FitzGerald School. A virtual link will be shared next week.

Next month, we will host a "Coffee Talk" time. It will be on Thursday December 12th from 8:45-9:15am. This will be in the cafeteria, with a virtual option to join also.

This Drama update is about connection, collaboration and community.

Thanks to our unbelievably amazing PTO, and our continued relationship with the Theatre Education Department at Emerson College, ALL of our 3rd and 4th graders (and teachers!) attended The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane at Emerson Stage this week! Michaela Barczak, who was our Drama Teacher for the end of last year, is currently completing her MA in Theatre Ed at Emerson and was the Education Director for the performance! Our students were thrilled to see her running the student matinees! The play, based on the Kate DiCamillo book, explores the themes of love and loss and how to keep moving forward when times are tough. While the story includes some sad and difficult situations, I believe that theatre can be a safe and powerful way to build empathy for those facing adversity. In addition, the diverse cast enabled our students to see many reflections of themselves, and others in our community, up on stage. As I write this, the student reviews to date have proven that big connections were made. Thank you again to Dan Stafford and the PTO team for your generosity and for supporting this exceptional opportunity for our kids.

Starting next week, my annual collaboration with Mr. Irwin begins as I work to support the beautiful singing in the Winter Concert with choreography! As I tell the students, the focus should be on their singing voices, but in our MA Theatre Arts Standards, we explore Movement Elements and Choreography, and I am grateful to Mr. Irwin to have this opportunity to make connections between their voices and meaning in movement. (Also it’s just a whole lot of fun!)

Please always feel welcome to reach out to me at KateKelly@WalthamPublicSchools.org. I continue to be so grateful to be a part of our FitzGerald community.

Warmly,

Kate Kelly

Drama Specialist

Fitzy Book Fair Coming Soon!

The Scholastic Book Fair is just one month away! This annual event gets students excited about reading and every item purchased benefits our school library program. It will take place on Monday, December 9th through Friday, December 13th.

Click here for more detailed information.

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*: Wednesday November 13, 2024

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!

Tuesday November 5th- No School, Professional Day

Monday November 11th- No School, Veterans Day

Wednesday November 13th- Early Release Day, 1:00pm, Parent Conferences

Wednesday November 13th- Virtual School Council Meeting, 6:00pm

Wednesday November 13th- "Dessert and Dialogue" with Mrs. Santillo and Mrs. Lamoly- Virtual Principal Office Hours- 7:00-7:30pom

Friday November 15th- Multicultural Event 6:00-7:30pm (more information coming home soon)

Tuesday November 19th - Retake Picture Day

Wednesday November 27th- Half Day, 11:45am Dismissal, Lunch Will Be Served

Thursday November 28th- Friday November 29th- No School, Thanksgiving Break

Wednesday December 11th- Early Release Day, 1:00pm Dismissal

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