SOARing through the Week at JFK
May 9, 2025
Hello Hawk Families!
We had a wonderful Staff Appreciation Week here at JFK! We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of our families for the incredible outpouring of kindness and generosity. From thoughtful notes and delicious treats to fun surprises and beautiful decorations, your efforts truly made our staff feel seen, valued, and celebrated. A special thank you to our Hawk-mazing PTO for going ABOVE and BEYOND organizing and coordinating such meaningful events throughout the week including breakfast from Simply Scones, lunch from Breakwall, an abundance of snacks, Touch Down Nutrition Teas, ice cream, gift cards, raffles and fun surprise! Wow! Our staff sure felt the love and appreciation this week! We are so lucky to have such a supportive school community! Your recognition and generosity made this week truly special for our teachers and staff! THANK YOU, JFK FAMILIES!
A special thank you as well to our PTO for organizing an amazing Plant Sale—we’re so grateful for their efforts in bringing this fun event to our school!
We’re also excited to share that many of our talented students were honored at the District-Wide Art Show! We are so proud of their creativity and the way they showcased their artistic talents for our community to enjoy. Stop by Parsons to check out the artwork on display!
And finally, a big shout out to our PreK students, who brought smiles to all with their adorable Flower Shop project this week! Their creativity and hard work turned their classroom into a blossoming space filled with joy.
As we head into the weekend, we want to wish all of our JFK moms, grandmoms, and maternal figures a very Happy Mother’s Day! 💐Thank you for being such an important part of our Hawk-mazing school community! 💙
Wishing everyone a fantastic weekend! Remember to take care of yourself, take care of our community and most of all BE KIND!
In partnership,
Amy E. Rizzo
Amy E. Rizzo, Principal
Follow me on X (formerly Twitter) @JFKPrincipalRIz
Important Dates:
May 5th-May 23rd- SBA Testing- Grades 3-5 Testing Calendar
May 10th- MPS Kite Fest at Walnut Beach
May 12th- JFK STEM Night 6:00-7:30pm
May 13th & May 27th- JFK Kindergarten Kickoff for Incoming K Students
May 13th- Mayor’s Youth Award @ Parsons 5pm
May 14th- Early Dismissal for Students (staff professional learning)
May 15th- ALL 4th & 5th Grade JFK Spring Concert @ Law 6:30pm
May 16th- PTO Sponsored All School Assembly- Storyteller Antonia Rocha
May 19th- JFK Respect Star Assembly
May 20th- MPS Literacy Program at JFK Popcorn & PJs
May 23rd- 3rd & 4th Grade Field Trips
May 26th- Memorial Day- No School
May 29th- JFK Field Day (Rain date May 30th)
May 30th- K Celebration 9:30am
June 3rd- JFK Summer Reading Kickoff 2pm
June 4th- PreK Celebrations (AM & PM)
June 5th- 5th Grade Celebration & Clap Out (11am-3pm)
June 9th- Staff v 5th Grade Kickball Game- wear class shirts or JFK gear!
June 9th & 10th- Early Dismissal for students
June 11th- Early Dismissal- Last Day of School!
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Lockdown Drill
Conducting emergency drills (fire, crisis, lockdown, etc.) is one of the most important ways we enhance our preparedness for students and staff during an emergency. Drills allow us to practice what we need to do when an emergency arises in our school.
On Wednesday, JFK School conducted a lockdown drill. This was only a drill and was in accordance with the School Incident Management Protocols established by the district, in partnership with our local first responders. I am pleased to report that the drill was a success. It was efficient and timely. If you have any feedback, please reach out. I want to thank our students and staff for their interest and participation in making our schools a safer place for learning.
📷A Glimpse at the Week:
Click here to view pictures of some of the HAWK-SOME learning and events that happened at JFK this week!
Congratulations to 5th Grade Student, Bella Pecoraro, for receiving the Southern Connecticut Association of Superientent’s Award!
Bella was honored at a luncheon ceremony at La Bella Vista in Waterbury on Friday, May 2nd along with recipients from other school districts. We are so proud of you, Bella! Keep SOARING!
Congratulations to 5th Grader artist, Gabriella Lopez Araujo, for being named a Milford Fire Prevention Poster Contest Winner! Gabby & Miss Benedetti attended a special pizza lunch at the Milford Fire Department today along with other poster contest winners! Way to go, Gabby!
Grades 3-5- Spring Assessments
Please click here to access an important letter from Mr. Steven Autieri regarding student assessments.
JFK’s Assessments will occur during May, starting on Monday, May 5th. Schedule
Students in Grades 3-5 will be assessed through the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA), an individual adaptive computer-based assessment.
Grade 5 students will take the Next Generation Science Standards Assessment (NGSS).
STEM Night- Monday, May 12th!
Invitation for 5th Grade Leadership Volunteers for STEM Night
Parent Volunteers Needed: Sign Up Here
5th Grade Student Leadership - Community Project
Item Drop Off at Morning Arrival
Please remember that only students should enter the front doors at arrival time. If parents or guardians have items to drop off, please speak with a staff member on duty outside for assistance.
Spring Concert
4th & 5th Grade Spring Concert will be held on May 15th 6:30pm at Jonathan Law High School for choir, band and orchestra students.
JFK Kickoff to Kindergarten - May 13th & 27th
For our incoming Kindergarten families who are fully registered or currently in a MPS preschool program, be on the lookout for an email on our Kickoff to Kindergarten school visits in May. If your child is eligible for Kindergarten but you have not yet registered, please click the link to register and be included in this Kickoff to Kindergarten experience
Community Connections Center
As Mother’s Day nears, we celebrate all the amazing women who nurture, guide, and inspire. Thank you for the love and strength you share—Happy Mother’s Day!
In addition, we invite you to check out our latest newsletter for exciting events and local opportunities! Milford Micro Transport is providing an accessible, affordable ride service to get around Milford, and the Wake Up the Green Spring Festival will take place in New Haven on May 10. There are also great activities for families like the Mother’s Day Succulent Plant Gift event in Ansonia and the Free Family Fishing Day at Chatfield Hollow State Park. Be sure to explore these fantastic opportunities to make this spring even more memorable!
For all these and more, check out our CCC Newsletter. And if you're looking for additional community resources, be sure to visit the CCC Website.
Mary-Kate Wiliams & Cara Dascenza
Milford Community Connection Centers
203-882-6094
The CCC honors all family inquiries as private and confidential unless parent permission is given or Connecticut mandated reporting applies
Specialist Spotlight: World Language
¡Hola from Spanish with Señorita Polansky!
I can't believe we are coming close to the end of another amazing year of WL at JFK! I am always so proud to see how much Spanish our students have acquired year after year!
First of all, I want to say ¡MUCHAS GRACIAS! to all of the families who participated in Multicultural Night and came to celebrate the diversity and uniqueness of our very own JFK community! Click HERE to see some more pictures from the night.
Kindergarten is finishing up our unit on "La Familia" (Family) by drawing their family- whoever that may be to them. We will finish the year with one of my favorite units on Food!
1st grade is finishing the year by talking about their pets and different animals. We will compare animals from our community of Milford to different animals around the world in various habitats.
2nd grade is ending the year with a bracket competition voting for their favorite animal of the Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador in South America. We will learn about some of the unique animals found on these islands and vote for our favorite in grade 2!
3rd and 4th graders are finishing up the year by reading short comprehensible Spanish novels. 3rd graders are reading "La perezosa impaciente" and 4th graders are reading "Esmeralda la tortuguita marina".
3-5th graders just finished our "Mania Musical" music competition where we listen to different Spanish songs and learn about the artists who sing them. 3rd and 4th graders ultimately chose "No Puedo" by Paolo Londra as their winner and 5th graders voted for "OMG" by Jose Iglesias "Candelita". Click HERE for a Spotify playlist of all of the songs we listened to this year! Ask your child what their favorite song was!
As always, feel free to contact me at rpolansky@milforded.org. Thank you for your support this year and wishing you all a relaxing and enjoyable summer!
Older, But Important Reminders
Dismissal Reminders:
Please drive slowly and carefully at arrival and dismissal. We have had a few instances recently where cars are pulling out and there have been close calls. Proceed with caution when driving on school grounds.
If you are picking up your child as a walker, please do not enter or park in any of the spaces in the front parking lot. The front lot entrance is exclusively for car pick ups. Thank you!
Smart Watches, I-Phones, and other Personal Devices
Please note the MPS BOE Policy regarding personal technology in our schools:
At the elementary level - No use of a cell phone/smartwatch or other personal communication device will be permitted during school hours. These devices must be turned off or on silent and left in backpacks, stored in a student’s locker/cubbie or other place designated by building administration. MPS Policy
Hawks SOAR Awards - Our JFK Hawks SOAR award is designed to recognize student and staff behaviors and actions that enhance our school community and those individuals who exemplify citizenship within this community beyond the expected norms. When your child comes home with a sticker, please ask them how they SOARED that day!
Attendance Reminder
A reminder that absences should be reported in PowerSchool.
Click HERE for instructions on how to report absences. Be sure to update the date on the top of the form each time you fill it out.
Arrival and Dismissal Information -
Please do not leave students unattended at the school prior to 8:20 am.
Please note that our Walker Pick Up should be utilized for families who are walking to the building. If you are driving to JFK to pick up your child, please use our car pick up procedure. Families of students who are being dismissed as walkers should not be parking in our parking lot and then picking up at the walker door. Doing this interferes with the flow of traffic in our car pick up line. Thank you for adhering to our dismissal procedures.
Parents, please be sure to drive slowly and safely through our parking lot at drop off and pick up times. We understand that mornings can be hectic getting students off to school and adults off to work, but please drive slowly and with caution on our school grounds.
If you are dropping off your child please pull all the way forward in line and remain in the car for safety. If you wish to get out of the car, please park in a designated parking spot and walk your child to the parking lot crosswalk. Mr. Kee will assist your child in crossing safely.
Dismissal Car Tags should be placed on your dashboard/mirror when lining up for pick up. We ask that you please do not line up in the parking lot prior to 3pm.
❤️🩹News from the Nurse
MPS Health Department Guidelines
If clothing is borrowed from the school health office please wash and return :)
If possible, pack a spare set of clothes in your child's backpack. Accidents happen! Students can get wet on the playground or spill on themselves at lunch. It's always helpful to have extra clothing available
~Nurse Jacqueline Campbell
Thank you to our 2024-2025 PTO Board Members for an incredible year! We appreciate all the support you have given to our school community!
President: Stacey Stevens
Co- Vice Presidents: Dana Scoran & Elizabeth Arroyo
Treasurer: Jennifer Conroy
Co-Recording Secretaries: Deanna Machado & Amanda Soda
Correspondence Secretary: Natlie Wicke
Congratulations to the incoming PTO Board Members for the 2025-2026 school year!🥳
President: Stacey Stevens
Co- Vice Presidents: Dana Scoran & Amanda Soda
Treasurer: Stephanie Buehler
Co-Recording Secretaries: Deanna Machado & Katrina Snow
Sign up for Dash for Danni, a 5K to raise money for cancer research. The event is on June 7 and kicks off at Foran High School."
Additional MPS information can be accessed through the district website at www.milforded.org.
JFK: A Community Where
ALL
Learners Soar!