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Fitzy's Flyer

January 3, 2025

Fitzy's FlyerJanuary 3, 2025

Principal Update

Greetings FitzGerald Families!


Happy New Year! We hope that everyone enjoyed a wonderful December vacation.


Albeit a very short school week, it sure was great seeing everyone again and getting back to a regular routine!


Weekly Update:


1. January Core Value- Every morning, we discuss the core value of the month during the morning announcements. We also emphasize the core values in classroom Community Circles and during Social Emotional Learning lessons. This month, we will be talking about the core value of Empathy. At FitzGerald, we say that this means to put yourself in someone else's shoes, understanding how actions and words can hurt someone's feelings, and being kind to a friend that is hurt or sad.


Here are the core values discussed over the course of the year, which align to our School Mission and Vision Statement:


P- Positive Attitude (September)

R- Respect (October)

I- Integrity (November)

D- Determination (December)

E- Empathy (January)


P- Personal Ownership (February)

R- Role Model (March)

I- Individuality (April)

D- Dignity (May)

E- Excellence (June)



2. FitzGerald BINGO Night- Friday January 24, 2025 from 6pm-7:30pm we will be playing BINGO at FitzGerald! Join the FitzGerald Equity Team as they host a free, fun family event. There will be lots of laughs, winners and special prizes. Tell your friends and let's make it a night to remember!


3. FitzGerald Before School Movement Program- The FitzGerald Before School Movement program begins on Monday January 6th. Parents/guardians of students that signed up for the program received an email yesterday. At this time, registration for the program is closed. Any students that sign up at this time will be placed on the waitlist. Drop off for this free before school program is at 7:45am at the parking lot entrance door.


4. FitzGerald PTO Meeting Next Week- The next PTO Meeting is on Wednesday January 8th at 6:30pm. The location is in the FitzGerald cafeteria. We will have a livestream link running virtually as well. Childcare and Spanish translation will also be available. We hope to see you there!


Thank you for your partnership and collaboration!


Sincerely,

Mrs. Santillo, Principal- jennifersantillo@walthampublicschools.org

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

Principal Coffee Talks

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.

PTO News

Volunteer Help


The Harlem Wizards game is approaching fast (see below about tickets!) with an opportunity for you to volunteer! If you’d like to help FitzGerald receive a portion of ticket sales, please add your name to this volunteer list by Monday, January 6th. (It will be free for you to attend but the organizers do recommend any children attend with another chaperone/adult)


EVENTS

You know what a new year brings? NEW EVENTS!!! Get ready for a fun new year with many events in our Fitzy Community.


Winter events: ❤️ Valentine’s Party (February); Sip and Script- TBD

Spring events: Pickleball Tourney; Fitzy Fun Run- May, Field day- June


If you are interested in volunteering please contact the FitzGeraldPTO@gmail.com or FrancescaRpto@gmail.com


FUNDRAISING - A new year needs new volunteers!
✋ Reach out to FitzGeraldPTO@gmail.com if you are interested in volunteering with fundraising and events, and if you have any new ideas for us to raise money for our school. A fresh set of eyes is always welcomed!


🏒 Bentley Hockey tickets - Jan 17/18 group ticket sales were extended through today! Order your tickets NOW through the link above - friends and family are welcome to join in and cheer on the falcons too. New this year, Bentley’s ‘Waltham Weekend’ has extended to their men’s and women’s basketball games - (same order form).


🏀 Join the Waltham Hawkstars and come watch some of your favorite teachers take on the Harlem Wizards on Friday, January 31st! Buy your tickets HERE


👕 Fitzy Gear - new cozy pom hat now available just in time for the cooler temps! If there are other items you’d like to see in the store, let us know at FitzGeraldPTO@gmail.com


🍴 Restaurant Nights

  • Jan 13th - Shopper’s Cafe: Join our next restaurant night to not only support the FitzGerald PTO, but to support our very own Fitzy family, the LaCava’s, with girls in K and 3rd at FitzGerald!! We are so grateful for their partnership for these events and are excited to bring Fitzy fams to their family’s restaurant.

  • Feb - coming soon…

  • Mar 11th - City Streets


💸 Ongoing Fundraisers
Each of these partnerships offers a percentage of your purchase back to our PTO!!

  • Raise Right - It’s a gift card fundraiser with some of the largest returns to the school and it’s easy to use! Download the app today and use FitzGerald’s Enrollment Code - 1B5L864C89184

  • Mabel’s Labels - Customizable, durable, and WASHABLE labels to put on clothing, water bottles, and school gear

  • Box Tops is now digital - simply scan receipts / email digital receipts to earn cash back. Check it out and select FitzGerald


💵 Interested in an “UN”fundraiser? There is nothing to buy or sell, it is a simple open donation where 100% of your contribution goes directly to the FitzGerald PTO to help us meet our annual goal! You may Venmo @FitzGerald-PTO and tag it as “un-fundraiser”


FIFTH GRADE

Be on the lookout for permission slips for 2 upcoming field trips happening in January. Please be sure you have a CORI completed if you plan to chaperone and/or volunteer in any school related activities. If you have not already submitted your photo consent form (English/Spanish), please do so as soon as possible. We need this for the 5th Grade Yearbook. Should you have any questions, please send an email to FifthGradeFitzPTO@gmail.com. Have a great weekend!

Ann Tierney & Diana Lehmann

Parent Directory is available if you'd like to contact classmates! Be sure to submit your own information so that others may reach you too. (Contact information is only available for families who have provided it)


Stay in touch! PTO website – Facebook – Instagram

FitzGerald School Site Council

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 November's School Council Meeting and the approved meeting minutes from the last school meeting in October.


Next Virtual Meeting*: January 9, 2025

Time: 6:00-6:45pm

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

School Lunch Information

*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.

FitzGerald School Vision, Mission, and Core Values

"Fitzy Fridays" at FitzGerald!

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!

2024-2025 District Calendars

Upcoming Dates

Monday January 6th- Start of FitzGerald Before School Movement Program

Wednesday January 8th- PTO Meeting, 6:30pm, FitzGerald Cafeteria

Thursday January 16th- Virtual Principal Coffee Talk, 5:30-6:00pm (link will be sent out that day)

Monday January 20th- No School

Wednesday January 22nd- Early Release Day, 1:00pm

Friday January 24th- FitzGerald BINGO Night- 6:00-7:30pm- SAVE THE DATE!

Wednesday January 29th- Early Release Day, 1:00pm

Friday January 31st- Harlem Wizards Game, 7:00pm

February 17th- February 21st- February Vacation





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Weekly Notices

The Harlem Wizards Are Coming Back to Waltham!

Game Time: Friday January 31st at 7:00pm

See the links below for more information on the event and ticket sales...

WPS Elementary School Handbooks 2024-2025

Information About the Clever App

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.

Sign Up Information for the Waltham Public Schools App

Jennifer Santillo
Jennifer is using Smore to create beautiful newsletters