JFK Weekly Update

• September 11, 2024: Picture Day
  
• September 18, 2024: Early Release, 12:20 PM Dismissal
• October 3, 2024: No School, Rosh Hashanah
  
• October 14, 2024: Indigenous People's Day
  
• October 23, 2024: Early Release, 12:20 PM Dismissal
  
• October 30, 2024: Picture Retake Day
  
• November 5, 2024: No School
  
• November 11, 2024: No School, Veteran’s Day
  
• November 19, 2024: Evening Parent Conferences
  
• November 20, 2024: Early Release (Conferences), 12:20 Dismissal
  
• November 27, 2024: Early Release (Thanksgiving Break), 12:20 Dismissal
  
• November 28 & 29, 2024: Thanksgiving Break
  
• December 11, 2024: Early Release, 12:20 PM Dismissal
  
• December 12 & 13, 2024: Holiday Shop
  
• December 20, 2024: Early Release (Winter Break), 12:20 DIsmissal
  
• December 23, 20024 - January 1, 2025: No School, Winter Break
  
• January 2, 2025: School Resumes
  

We're excited to enhance our communication with you through Powerschool, our new portal for student information. To access your child's academic progress, attendance records, and more, please visit the PowerSchool Parent/Guardian sign in page. If you need to request your credentials to set up an account for the Powerschool Parent Portal, please submit a request here.

In addition to the portal, we're introducing a convenient text messaging feature to keep you updated on important school announcements. To opt in, simply text Y or yes to 67587.

Thank you for your partnership in your child's education!

The Elementary Handbook contains important information regarding school operations, policies, curriculum, and discipline. Please take a moment to review it.

Please remember that students are not permitted to wear SmartWatches at school and cell phones must be put in their backpacks for the day. We encourage you to send your children without these devices. Please communicate with your classroom teacher, the Nurse and front office if your child needs their device for a medical issue.

An important aspect of our community is keeping children safe during arrival and dismissal. I'd like to share our longstanding protocols and ask you to please comply. School administrators and the School Resource Officer will be working to enforce our procedures for the safety of everyone.

ARRIVAL:

Students arriving by car are dropped off in the parking lot by the playground. Please follow the flow of trafffic to assist us in making morning drop off as smooth as possible.

1. Parking is limited. All students K-5 are encouraged to walk or use the driveline.
   

   
   

2. Do not get out of your car in the driveline to assist your child. A staff member will be there to assist you.
   
   

3. Kids should exit on the passenger side only.
   
   

DISMISSAL:
Students are dismissed beginning at 3:25 PM. Parking is limited. Some suggestions to make the situation less stressful for everyone:

1. Avoid the traffic. You are encouraged to walk or park on streets adjacent to JFK.
   
   

2. Encourage independence. Pick a nearby meeting spot in the neighborhood and have your child walk off campus to meet you.
   
   

3. Avoid the awkwardness. You don’t want a staff member to talk to you about parking in the middle of the lot or in the handicap parking spots -- and we don’t want to talk to you about it. Please park in legal, marked spots only. If none are available please exit the lot and come back in five minutes.

   
   

4. Walkers will be dismissed onto the playground blacktop. An adult will wait with students until 3:40 PM. After that point students will be brought to the front office and a parent will be called.
   

   
   

   Dog's are not allowed on the JFK property while school is in session, including during arrival and dismissal. Simply put, not everyone loves dogs as much as dog owners. In fact, your friendly, bouncy pup might be terrifying to someone who is two and a half feet tall. Dogs are welcome to ride along in the car for carline drop off and pick up. I'd especially ask community members who run their dog on the field (which is not technically allowed) to pick up after their dog so that teachers do not have to add student shoe-washing duty to their list of responsibilities. Thank you in advance.

   
   

   
   

Dear Parents/ Guardians,

Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year! My name is Mr. Sasin and I am the Physical Education Teacher here at the Kennedy School. I look forward to seeing all our returning students as well as meeting our new students soon. The Kennedy Physical Education program will give your child the opportunity to participate in a variety of games, fitness, team-building, gymnastic, and movement activities this year. These activities will help your child gain a broader understanding of physical activity, improve a variety of his/ her individual skills, and encourage participation in movement activities to improve their health and wellness. The following guidelines will help your child have a successful physical education experience:

• Make note of the day that your child has Physical Education. Be sure that your child is dressed appropriately for activity on days that he/ she has physical education class. Tight clothing, blouses, and dresses may be difficult and uncomfortable for vigorous movement and should not be worn. Loose fitting clothing, such as sweat pants, wind pants, shorts, T-shirts, and sweatshirts, is more appropriate for physical education class. Jewelry is discouraged for it may get lost or broken.
• Have your child wear or bring sneakers to school on days of physical education class. DO NOT WEAR CROCS! Boots, sandals, crocs and dress shoes can be difficult to move in and mark up the gym floor. Students consistently not wearing sneakers will not be allowed to participate. Students can switch into sneakers before PE if needed.
• Please, write a note or email the Nurse if your child is unable to participate in physical education class due to illness or injury. In most cases, activities can be modified so every student is able to participate in some way. Knowing about possible accommodations ahead of time allows me to make the best modifications for your child during physical education class. Please email me directly when possible as the nurse is busy and sometimes unable to communicate these situations to me as quickly as she’d like. Some situations may allow for minimal participation as opposed to no participation in the lesson, so please discuss this if you are seeing a doctor for an injury.
• Situations that may affect your child’s performance and/ or behavior during physical education class should also be made known to me as soon as possible. This will help your child have a more successful experience.
• Lastly, students will be graded based on the following expectations: overall effort and attitude during activities, cooperation with others, sportsmanship/ fair play, preparation for class, and understanding of skills and concepts. Please discuss these expectations with your child to ensure him/her the best possible experience in Physical Education.

Following these guidelines will help make the physical education experience a successful one for your child. I look forward to a great year ahead! Any questions or concerns that you might have are welcomed. I can be reached through the main school phone number at (781) 821-5080 ext. 5126 or by email at sasinm@cantonma.org.

Regards,

Mr. Sasin

Physical Educator

The Girls on the Run program is headed back to JFK!

Girls on the Run is a program designed to empower girls in third through fifth grade. It blends physical activity with life skills development, helping girls build confidence, manage emotions, and foster healthy relationships. Through interactive lessons and running practice, participants train for a celebratory 5K race alongside their team. This program offers a supportive environment where girls can discover their strengths and develop a positive self-image.

This program is coordinated by Mrs. Huffstutler, Mrs. Tourgee and Mrs. Eagles.

You can find more information at the link below.

Monthly CAPT Meetings will be the second Tuesday of each moth. Our frst meeting will be Tuesday, September 10th at 7:00 PM in the JFK Library.

To stay up to date, follow CAPT on Facebook and Instagram!

Canton Helpline

Canton Food Pantry

The Food Pantry has moved to 1860 Washington Street (formerly St. Gerard’s).

Canton Farmers Market

The Canton Farmers Market also accepts SNAP and HIP

Canton Holiday Helpers

Quincy Family Resource Center

My Brother's Keeper

How to Get Help | The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Boston

Join the Canton Public School celebrations and highlights by following our social media platforms! #CantonBulldogs #ChampionsofExcellence

Canton Public Schools has a Community Resources and Information Page on its website titled Around Town. This page lists resources and events taking place in our community. To access the information on this webpage, use this link: About/Around Town.

This webpage will be updated periodically.

School Hours: 9:10 AM - 3:25 PM

Adult supervision provided at 8:50 AM for breakfast or morning recess

Breakfast: 8:50 - 9:05 AM
Early Release: 12:20 AM (no lunch served)

Alana Marino, Administrative Assistant

Kathryn Gallahue, Assistant Principal

Email: watsons@cantonma.org
Website: https://www.cantonma.org/kennedy/index
Location: 100 Dedham Street, Canton, MA, USA
Phone: (781) 821-5080
Twitter: @JFKGallahue

Office hours will be 8:30 AM - 3:45 PM.