Kids Heart Challenge - A Note from Mrs. Carter, PE/Health Teacher
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Our school is proud to continue partnering with the American Heart Association on the Kids Heart Challenge, a program to help raise awareness and educate our students & their families on heart health. By participating in Kids Heart Challenge, your students will learn about taking care of their own hearts and participate in cardio-pumping challenges. They will also have the option to raise funds that help kids with special hearts and make all communities healthier. Students will be coming home with the envelopes soon and the fundraising piece is optional. All students will participate in the cardio challenges during PE class. Donations are due back anytime on or before February 16, 2024. My hope is that most families will be able to do the online/app fundraising this year rather than handling money and envelopes. The process only takes a few minutes and the directions are included on the envelope that will come home. Looking forward to raising funds again for kids with special hearts, our students get excited every year for this program.
Thank you in advance for your support and please contact me with any questions.
Mrs. Carter
YMCA Programming - A Note from the Y
Please see the attached flyers, below, for some upcoming programs that are a part of the YMCA’s expanding efforts in the area of emotional well-being and mental health education. We look forward to working with partners such as yourself at bringing new opportunities to your school/community/organization in 2024.
Parent Support Network: A new partnership between the Hockomock YMCA and Purposeful Connections being offered at our Bernon Family Branch beginning 1/31. This program is open to members & non members of our Y in any community
Mindfulness for Kids: Facilitated by Mindful Kids, children will learn the basics of mindfulness while having fun. They will practice utilizing mindfulness skills by engaging in a variety of interactive activities that incorporate movement, games, music & art.
SAS Resource Calendar: A monthly offering of programs, resources and ways that our Y can support all community members.
Please contact BrynneK@hockymca.org with any questions!
Parent Learning Series
The Hockomock Area YMCA is partnering with Michelle Gaudet of Purposeful Connections to provide a 6-session learning series for parents and caregivers of children ages 4 to 8 years of age experiencing social challenges in the home and in the community. Please see the flyer below for more information. To Register, go to: https://bit.ly/HockYMCAMentalHealth
Counselors' Corner
Executive function is a set of mental skills that include working memory, flexible thinking, and self-control. We use these skills every day to learn, work, and manage daily life. Trouble with executive function can make it hard to focus, follow directions, and handle emotions, among other things.
Some people describe executive function as “the management system of the brain.” That’s because the skills involved let us set goals, plan, and get things done. There are three main areas of executive function: working memory, cognitive flexibility (also called flexible thinking), and inhibitory control (which includes self-control).
Executive function is responsible for many skills, including:
- Paying attention
- Organizing, planning, and prioritizing
- Starting tasks and staying focused on them to completion
- Understanding different points of view
- Regulating emotions
- Self-monitoring (keeping track of what you’re doing)
Executive function skills usually develop quickly in early childhood and into the teen years but they keep developing into the mid 20s. For more information from our counselors, please see the link below!
SEPAC WorkShops
Please see the information, below, or visit https://www.franklinsepac.org/ for more information!
Neuropsychological Evaluations 101
What is a Neuropsychological Evaluation &
What can I Expect from it?
Date: 2/8/2023
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Virtual/Zoom
Click here to Register:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMrcuqvpjkrEt0M0iJrxhiIWFqzvZqaFojI
This presentation will explain what a neuropsychological evaluation is, including common referral questions, the evaluation process, and the types of activities involved. The differences between hospital-based and clinic-based assessments will be discussed, including what clients should look for when choosing an evaluator. The presenter will seek to explain the most important outcomes of an evaluation, including a comprehensive, individualized report that can be a vehicle to getting the appropriate supports for a student who is struggling academically, emotionally, socially, or developmentally.
Presenter:
Dr. Erin Gibbons, NESCA
Nurses' Notes
IMPORTANT! If you have not already done so, please be sure to fill out an Emergency Form for your child(ren)! This information is an important part of keeping our students safe!
PCC News
PCC NEWS
Red Sox Day- order by 1/29/24
Jefferson Day at the Red Sox is on May 11, 2024– TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW! Please see order form HERE. Ticket sales are open through Monday, January 29 - we have a short order window, so get yours while you can! Thank you to Emily Danis for organizing this fun day for families!
Jefferwear- Available Now
Back by popular demand, Jefferwear is now available for purchase. Place your orders HERE! Store will close 2/1/24. Thank you to Kari Seletz for organizing!
Spring Carnival- VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Believe it or not, planning has started for our biggest event of the year and we’re in need of VOLUNTEERS- thank you to Katie Boyce for chairing this event! If you’d like to help plan and make Spring Carnival happen, please email KBoycePCC@gmail.com and mark your calendars for the next planning meeting on 2/8/24.
Author Visit
Today, local author Susan Tan visited Jefferson. Susan is the APALA Honor Award winning author of the Cilla Lee-Jenkins series, the Pets Rule! series, and Ghosts, Toast, and Other Hazards. Be sure to ask your student about her fun presentation! Thank you to Kari Seletz for organizing this event for our Jefferson students!
Bottles and Cans
Thank you to Lauren Kloos and the Bottles and Cans Committee for braving the cold this winter! Don’t forget to save all of your bottles and cans (NO GLASS PLEASE) for our next collection next Friday, February 2.
Box Tops for Education
Download the Box Tops for Education app and start scanning those receipts and to earn money for Jefferson! Thank you to Suzanne Flynn for coordinating. Click here to learn more.
Open PCC Meetings- virtual 1/31/24
Please mark your calendars for the next meeting on January 31. We will be hosting the meeting virtually this month— be on the lookout for the link! Have a discussion topic you’d like to submit? Please email JeffersonPCCFranklin@gmail.com with “January PCC Meeting” in the subject line.
Yearbook
Please send pictures to JeffersonLabsYearbook@gmail.com for our yearbook! School activities and events, fun candids, mystery reader pictures - send it all. And keep taking/sending throughout the year . . . Thank you! Also, did you know you can already purchase the yearbook for this year? Visit HERE and use Jefferson School Yearbook ID: 3750124
PCC Communications
Before we can share all of our exciting news and events with you via email, we need your permission. Please click HERE to opt in to communications. Your private information WILL NOT be shared, sold, or available to anyone besides the PCC Board and Committee Chairs, as appropriate.
Get Involved!
Speaking of volunteers, Jefferson PCC is completely volunteer-run. In order to continue to offer all of the great events and activities scheduled each year, we need your help. Even if you only have a few minutes each month, there is a way for you to help! We have a variety of fun committees to choose from, so please indicate your interest HERE. The Committee Chair will be in touch via email with more information.
Stay in Touch!
Feel free to reach out to the PCC at JeffersonPCCFranklin@gmail.com with any questions. Check out our Facebook page (www.Facebook.com/JeffersonPCC) and website (https://sites.google.com/view/franklinjeffersonpcc) to find out about upcoming events and activities!
As many of you know, the PCC, or Parent Communication Council, is a group of parent volunteers that work with the staff and administration of the school to enrich students' educational experience. This is done through fundraisers, events, and activities. The PCC fully funds field trips for every student at Jefferson, holds Book Fairs, hosts Cultural Enrichment Assemblies for the children, and sponsors the Artist in Residence Program each year.
Contact Us
Mrs. Wasik, Principal
Mrs. Murray, Assistant Principal
Mrs. Tolonen, Secretary
Website: https://www.franklinps.net/jefferson-elementary-school
Location: 628 Washington St, Franklin, MA 02038
Phone: (508) 541-2140
Twitter: @JeffersonLabs