November Family Newsletter
John F. Kennedy Elementary School
What's Happening This Month:
Can you believe it is November already? Our students are becoming very comfortable with school routines and schedules. Each day as students enter the building they are smiling and ready to learn - and we at JFK are so proud of all that they are accomplishing! We thank you for encouraging your child(ren)'s independence as they enter the building each day. Please remember to say goodbye in your vehicle or at the front door and let them spread their wings and fly! Additional help from faculty and staff members is always available in the cafeteria during breakfast and at lockers in the morning. We appreciate your support in helping to keep our hallways safe.
November will be yet another busy month at JFK! When you are in the building, be sure to take a look at the student work displayed in the hallways. The students are very proud of all of their hard work!
We hope to see many of you at our Parent Teacher Conferences on Tuesday, November 12th, Wednesday, November 13th, and Thursday, November 14th. This is an important time to get to know your child's teacher, and learn about what your child is doing in school.
Students will dismiss early on parent teacher conference days as follows:
Tuesday, November 12th: 1:00 pm dismissal
Wednesday, November 13th: 1:00 pm dismissal
Thursday, November 14th: 11:00 am dismissal
Please be reminded that school is closed on Friday, November 8th (staff development day) and Monday, November 11th (Veterans Day). In addition, school will be closed for Thanksgiving recess on November 27th, 28th, and 29th. Students will return to school on Monday, December 2nd from Thanksgiving recess.
We will celebrate Veterans Day this month with our annual Veterans Day Ceremony on Thursday, November 7th at 9:00 am. This is a very special event, and a great way for our students to show gratitude for the brave men and women who have served our country.
Attendance Initiative
Our students have been doing a great job attending school each day this school year! Our first attendance incentive will take place this month, celebrating the classroom at each grade level with the fewest absences for the first five weeks of school with a trip to the movies! We can't wait to see which classrooms do the best at attending school every day for our next six week incentive!
Positivity Project
During the month of November, students at JFK will dive deeper into the Other People Matter Mindset, exploring the character strengths of bravery and gratitude.
Bravery means you act with mental, moral, or physical strength even when you know things are difficult or scary. Bravery refers to voluntary (not coerced) action in the face of a dangerous circumstance. This strength involves judgement; the brave person must have an understanding of the risks and consequences involved in acting. According to Socrates and Plato, forethought separates acts of valor from acts of rashness. This means that bravery isn’t simply fearlessness, but instead the overcoming of fear.
Gratitude means you are aware of and thankful for good things that happen. Gratitude is the quality of feelings and expressing thankfulness and appreciation. It is an affirmation that there is goodness in other people and the world and that we have received that goodness. People with the strength of gratitude have a readiness to show appreciation for kindness and also to return kindness. A leading expert, Robert Emmons, calls gratitude a “relationship-strengthening emotion because it requires us to see how we’ve been supported and affirmed by other people.”
K-Kids
Our Kiwanis K-Kids will be holding a supply drive for the Ogdensburg Neighborhood Center during the month of November. Beginning on Monday, November 4th through Wednesday, November 13th, we will collect canned or non-perishable food goods and healthcare items in each classroom. We would love your support as we work to support the Ogdensburg Neighborhood Center!
We look forward to seeing you this November at JFK!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Frank
Principal, UPK-2
Mrs. Bouchard
Principal, 3-6
Evan White
Music
Mrs. Bouchard
Evan White is the musician for the month of November! Evan is a blast to have in music class and always puts a smile on everyone's face. He loves to sing our Veterans Day songs loud and proud. He does a great job listening and participating in class. Keep up the good work, Evan!
Colbie Frank
Music
Mrs. Bouchard
Colbie Frank (Grace 6 with Mrs. Baxter) is the musician of the month for November! Colbie comes into the music room ready to work with a smile on her face. She is kind and helpful to her peers and a joy to teach. Colbie is such a wonderful asset to JFK's music department! Way to go, Colbie!
Alice Wells
Library
Ms. Seymour
Kind, cheerful, and helpful are just a few words that describe Alice (Grade 4 with Mrs. Mousaw). She enjoys participating in library class, and always comes prepared to enjoy the activities. Great job, Alice!
Scarlett LeClair
Instrumental Music
Mr. McAfee
Scarlett (Grade 6 with Mrs. Weston) is always an excited and willing member of the Kennedy band. Whether she is bringing the music up front in the flute section or providing a spark of fun and energy from the back, we can always count on Scarlett to make band a great time! Thank you Scarlett!
Maggie Mathews
Instrumental Music
Mr. McAfee
Maggie (Grade 6 with Mrs. Weston) is ready to take over my position as band teacher when I retire. I can always look forward to counting on Maggie when the band needs a push in the right direction from the percussion section, or if I just need a helper to keep me organized on a busy day for the band! Thank you Maggie!
Ryker Ashley
Physical Education
Mr. Vernsey
Ryker (Kindergarten with Mr. Doyle) is the PE student of the month. Ryker is always smiling and having fun in PE class. He always enjoys whatever we are playing in PE and plays with his classmates. Keep up the good work Ryker!
Leah Huntley
Physical Education
Mr. Vernsey
Leah (Grade 5 with Mrs. Doyle) is the PE student of the month. Leah is a natural athlete in PE and helps out her classmates if needed. Leah had a great soccer session in PE class and was a leader on her team. Keep up the good work Leah!
Mya Maroney
Physical Education
Mrs. Halladay
Mya Maroney (Grade 6 with Mrs. Mathews) is the PE student of the month. I would say that Mya is a true competitor. She thrives on competing against the best athletes. Most students want to be on the best team. Mya wants to push herself to compete against the best. This quality will help Mya grow and develop her skills more rapidly. Her drive is unmatched. It is a true pleasure to have Mya in class. The sky is the limit!
Kane Williams
Physical Education
Mrs. Halladay
Kane Williams (Grade 2 with Mrs. Williams) is the PE student of the month. Kane possesses a true athletic ability. Not only is he a great athlete but also a good sport. Kane does not get caught up in the drama that competition can create. Kane just wants to have fun and play. He is a great teammate and friend to everyone. Way to go Kane! Keep up the good work.
Jennifer Tran
Art
Mrs. Willmart
Jennifer (Grade 3 with Mrs. Robb) is very creative and she is always creating beautiful works of art! She is a kind friend and she is always willing to help her classmates, offering words of encouragement along the way. Awesome job Jennifer!
Kathy Tran
Art
Mrs. Willmart
Kathy (Kindergarten with Mr. Doyle) comes into art class excited to begin working! She is very creative and makes amazing drawings from her imagination! Kathy is a kind friend and she is a hard worker, trying her best and adding her own details to her work! Great job Kathy!
Easton Graveline
Art
Ms. Huto
Easton (Grade 4 with Mrs. Mousaw) has really put great effort into his artwork this year. He has gone over and above the required assignments, and has shown me what he is really capable of. I am proud of him, and cannot wait to see what he does the rest of this year! Thank you, Easton!
Gratitude is something that often comes to mind and is celebrated in November. We are so grateful to have each and every one of you as our students. This can also be a busy time of year so don't forget to practice mindfulness, use all your tools to keep calm and practice self care. We wanted to share with you a few fun, fall activities that can help you focus on gratitude and mindfulness. We hope you enjoy them and are here for you if we can do anything to help!
Mrs. McNichol (UPK-2 Counselor)
(315) 393-4264 x32068
Ms. Bateman (3-6 Counselor)
(315) 393-4264 x32868
Mrs. Misty Fishel (School Social Worker)
(315) 393-4264 x33033
WHEN TO KEEP A CHILD HOME WITH ILLNESS
It can be hard to know when to send children to school if they tell you that they do not feel well. Usually, the best place for them is in school, but there are some times when keeping them home to rest or call for an appointment with your health care provider is recommended.
Please keep your child home and/or contact your child’s doctor for:
- Fever greater than 100.4° (taken by mouth)
- Vomiting and/or diarrhea within the last 24 hours
- Severe sore throat along with fever and feeling ill for more than 48 hours, or after exposure to Strep throat infection
- Honey-crusted sores around the nose or mouth or rash on other body parts
- Large amounts of mucous (liquid) from their nose, with face pain or headache
- Severe ear pain or fluid coming from the ear
- Severe headache, especially with a fever
If your child has a fever, it is not a good idea to give them medicine like Tylenol or Advil and send
them to school because as soon as the medicine wears off, the fever may return and you will be
called to come and pick up your child.
Please keep children home for 24 hours after the fever ends or they have completed 24 hours
of medication if prescribed by your health care provider.
If you find your child is frequently asking to stay home from school, if they are falling behind or
appear anxious about school, or if there does not appear to be any physical symptoms, contact
your school nurse, school counselors, and your health care provider to discuss your concerns.
Remind children to throw away used tissues, cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze, keep
their hands away from their face, and to wash hands often with soap and warm water. It will help keep everyone healthy!
Sincerely,
Paige Thornhill, RN, BSN
Adriana Whitmarsh, RN, BSN
