Freeman-Kennedy

Dear Freeman-Kennedy Families,

We had an amazing first week back at school! It was wonderful to see our students excited to return, meet their teachers, and reconnect with friends.

As a school community, one of our primary goals this year is to continue strengthen our school climate by reinforcing consistent behavior expectations across all areas of the Freeman-Kennedy School. These areas include the classrooms, hallways, cafeteria, restrooms, buses, and playground. Today, we kicked off the school year with a school-wide assembly to review these shared expectations. Throughout our school, you will see the acronym S.O.A.R. prominently displayed. S.O.A.R. stands for Safety, Ownership, Acceptance, and Respect—four key values that represent our school-wide expectations. This year, our focus is on modeling, teaching, reinforcing, and celebrating what it means to S.O.A.R. in every environment within our school.

Students will have the opportunity to earn “feathers” both individually and as a class by demonstrating expected behaviors. These feathers contribute towards school-wide goals, such as earning monthly spirit days and special assemblies.

The Freeman-Kennedy Falcons are:

• Focused
• Achievers
• Leaders
• Capable
• Open-Minded
• Noble
• Successful

During the assembly, we also introduced a school-wide pledge, highlighting what it means to be a F/K Falcon: As a member of the Freeman-Kennedy School, I will be a SOARING Falcon by ensuring SAFETY, showing OWNERSHIP and ACCEPTANCE of myself and others, and being a RESPECTFUL member of our school community.

This week, we ask all families to partner with us by reviewing the school-wide expectations and discussing what it means to be a Freeman-Kennedy Falcon. Please sign the pledge with your child and return it to school by Monday, September 9, 2024.

We are looking forward to an amazing school year!

Sincerely,

Lisa Altham-Hickey, Principal

Adam Tarczuk, Assistant Principal

We are excited to announce the launch of our new ELA curriculum, HMH Into Reading, at Freeman-Kennedy School! This research-based program provides comprehensive coverage of all components of reading and writing, ensuring a robust literacy foundation for our students. Each month, you will receive a newsletter outlining what your child is learning at their grade level, so you can stay informed and engaged in their progress. We look forward to a fantastic year of growth and learning with this new program!

Dear Freeman-Kennedy Families,

At Norfolk Public Schools, we place a strong emphasis on explicitly teaching and integrating key skills that strengthen our students' social-emotional development. At Freeman-Kennedy School, we use a research-based curriculum called Second Step to teach these essential skills. Lessons are introduced on Mondays and reinforced throughout the week. Next Monday, we will kick the school year off by focusing on growth mindset and goal setting.

Throughout the school year, our students will learn how to set and work toward goals, manage strong emotions, build friendships, and demonstrate empathy for others. Each month, we will provide a newsletter highlighting the overarching topic for each grade level, so you know what your child is learning and practicing.

We encourage you to use the family newsletter to ask your child questions about what they are learning and explore ways to practice these skills at home.

Sincerely,
Lisa Altham-Hickey
Principal

This year we are sending our Annual School Privacy and Permission Forms electronically. Your students school ID is required to complete the information.

These materials provide information about our school resources, policies and procedures.

Please review and sign the forms by Friday, September 6th.

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Freeman-Kennedy School is off to a great start for the 24-25 school year. Students and staff are settling into their routines and excited about the new learning opportunities that lie ahead. We are delighted to welcome our parents/guardians back to school for the upcoming Open House evenings in a few weeks. Below you will find a schedule for each Open House evening. Please note that these nights are only for parents/guardians.

This year, Mr. Tarczuk and I will kick off the Open House evenings with a parent presentation in the gymnasium followed by teacher presentations in classrooms. As a reminder, Open House evenings are an opportunity for parents/guardians to meet the classroom teacher, become familiar with classroom routines and expectations, and learn about the curriculum standards in your child’s specific grade. Please note that this is not a time for you to have a parent-teacher conference with your child’s teacher. The Freeman-Kennedy staff is happy to communicate with you if you have a question or concern through email or a phone call.

Freeman-Kennedy Open House Schedule 2024

Thursday, September 19, 2024 - GRADES 3 & 4

• Parent Presentation- Gymnasium 6:00 - 6:40 p.m.

• Teacher Presentation - Classrooms 6:45 - 7:15 p.m.

Wednesday, September 25, 2024 - GRADES 5 & 6

• Parent Presentation- Gymnasium 6:00 - 6:40 p.m.

• Teacher Presentation - Classrooms 6:45 - 7:15 p.m.

We look forward to seeing everyone in a few weeks!

Sincerely,

Lisa Altham-Hickey, Principal

Adam Tarczuk, Assistant Principal

Optional donations of School Supplies will be accepted in FK front office during the Open House. Donated supplies will be given to each Team Leaders of each grade level and distributed throughout the year.

- Pencils (pre-sharpened)

- Glue Sticks

- Dry Erase Low Odor Markers

- Crayola 16 pack crayons

- Crayola Classic Markers

-mini bags of chocolates, starbursts etc.

*Teachers walk through the main office daily and greatly appreciate a chocolate treat.

2 -No School - Labor Day

Please have your child bring their completed picture form to school on picture day, Friday, September 6th. Families may bring a check payable to O'Connor Studio or pay ahead of time online using access code 22024FI.

Financial help is available for families in need. Please email the school Principal Mrs. Altham-Hickey at althamhickey@norfolk.k12.ma.us

Julia Lavoie

jlavoie@norfolk.k12.ma.us

Please remember to use School Dismissal Manager to communicate:

1. Report student absences and late arrivals

2. Schedule early departures from school

For help Installing & Using the App please click to watch the “Parent App Installation Instructions Video” on how to install the application to your mobile device.

When creating an exception for the current day, please note that the cut-off time is 1:50 p.m. on regular days and 10:50 a.m. on early release days. After the cut-off time, you will need to call the school office to make any changes for the current day.

Please be aware that all students in the Norfolk Public Schools have the option of accessing school transportation and have an assigned bus number and route. In order to ensure the safety of all students, we can not accommodate requests for students to ride the bus home with friends or take an alternate bus.

Attention local businesses! Our PTO Business Sponsorship Program is now open for the 2024-2025 school year, but the deadline is tomorrow, 9/5. We offer various sponsorship levels to suit different business needs and budgets. Please note: this is the ONLY time this year we will be asking for business sponsorship (with the exception of the Growing Together joint event with SEPAC in the spring). Please sign up here.

Our next PTO meeting is scheduled for 9/11 at 7pm in the Freeman-Kennedy cafeteria. All parents and caregivers are welcome and encouraged to attend. We hope to see you there!

We welcome any parents and caregivers who are interested in volunteering for school events, lunch, recess, library, etc. to please complete our volunteer sign-up form. It takes a village, and we appreciate any time you can give.

We are grateful to partner with Kate Carlson Photography for a Winter Photoshoot Fundraiser. Check family photos off your to-do list while supporting our schools! Spots are limited, sign up today!

Please communicate by 9:30 AM through one of the options below:

• School Dismissal Manager is the most efficient way to communicate with the main office and your child's teacher for dismissals, late arrivals and absences.
• You may also email fkoffice@norfolk.k12.ma.us or call (508) 528-1266 and leave a message. Please make sure to state the reason for your child's absence or late arrival.

Arrival: 8:35-8:45 AM

Students are considered tardy after 8:45 AM. Students then must be signed in by an adult in the main.

Early Release Dismissal: 12:00 PM

Dismissal: 3:00 PM

Students that attend SACC and that are marked off for the carline are dismissed first. We then begin to dismiss students based on bus arrival. Walkers and bike riders are dismissed last at 3:20 PM.