Greetings Jacques Families,

February is here, and with it comes a busy and exciting month at Jacques Memorial School! From special events and activities to important academic milestones, there are plenty of opportunities to stay connected and engaged with our school community. We encourage you to check our calendar, participate when you can, and support our students as they learn and grow.

I urge you to make every effort to attend the Budget Deliberative Session on Thursday, February 6th, from 7:00–10:00 PM, and cast your vote during Town/School District Voting on Tuesday, March 11th. Your voice is essential in these forums, as the decisions made will influence your child’s educational experience and the resources available to our schools.

Read on for important updates and upcoming events!

100th Day of School Celebration:  We are excited to celebrate a special milestone, the 100th Day of School! On Friday, February 7th, our first graders and kindergarteners will participate in fun, hands-on math activities designed to develop their understanding of the number 100.  To add to the fun, we invite our kindergarten students to dress up as if they were 100 years old! Let’s get creative and have some fun imagining what it might be like to be a centenarian!

This celebration is a wonderful way to recognize our students’ hard work and growth—after all, they are 100 days smarter!

Mid-Year Benchmarking Report: At Jacques Memorial School, we are committed to monitoring and supporting our students’ academic growth throughout the year. To achieve this, we conduct academic benchmarking three times annually. These assessments provide valuable insights into how well students respond to instruction and help identify areas for improvement. 

This week you will receive a report regarding your child’s performance on our benchmark assessments. These reports provide valuable insights into your child's academic progress and highlight areas of strength as well as growth opportunities. We encourage you to review these results and discuss them with your child. If you have any questions or would like assistance in understanding the reports, please do not hesitate to contact your child's teacher or our main office. Together, we can support your child's ongoing success.

Kindergarten Registration Kickoff:  Looking for the class of 2038!  Kindergarten registration for the 2025-26 school year will begin on Thursday, March 13th in the JMS Multipurpose room from 5:30-7:00 pm.  To register your child for kindergarten your child must be 5 years old by September 30th, 2025.  The following registration requirements must be provided:

• Proof of residency - 2 documents ( ie.  property tax bill, current utility bill, purchase/sales agreement, Rental/lease agreement, etc.)

• Original Birth Certificate (with raised seal - we will keep a copy for our records) 

• Updated physical and immunization records

• Custody/Parenting plan (if applicable)

Parents and Guardians can begin the enrollment process online beginning February 14th, 2025. Click the link below:

https://www.milfordk12.org/apps/pages/Register-for-School

MES PTO Meeting:  Join us TONIGHT, February 5th, 2025  for the February MES PTO Meeting at 6:30 PM in the  JMS Library!

This is your chance to connect, share ideas, and make a difference in our school community! Plus, you won’t want to miss important updates and discussions. Let’s come together to support our students—see you there!  

If you can’t attend in person you can also participate remotely.  Click the Zoom Link below!

Join Zoom Meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81854326928?pwd=CS6W3ZPOUw62LJtuBCIjFhrpK0riot.1

Meeting ID: 818 5432 6928

Passcode: 4XxB1B

MES PTO Update - Readathon!: It's time for the Milford Elementary School Read-A-Thon! Our school Read-A-Thon begins on Friday, February 7th,  2025, and will be a fun and exciting event.We understand that your time is valuable. We also know that providing the best education for your child is important. That's why we encourage everyone to activate their student's Read-A-Thon account as soon as possible. The instructions are straightforward, making it quick and hassle-free, and it should take less than 5 minutes of your time. 

This account will serve as a hub for recording and monitoring your child's progress as a Reader in the event, and for you to share their Read-A-Thon message with friends and family. Use the link below to activate your student's Reader account:
https://www.read-a-thon.com/readers/r/ZlcVCP/1 

We’re thrilled to announce some exciting changes to this year’s Read-a-thon rewards to give more kids the chance to win!

🌟 Big Rewards:

• Winning Grade: Sponsored by Sundae Drive, the grade with the highest overall performance will celebrate with an Ice Cream Party!
• Top Reader/Fundraiser: Earn a thrilling Fire/Police Ride to School!
• Top Reading Minutes Class (per grade): Celebrate with a Pizza Party sponsored by Milanos!
• Whole School Goal: If we meet our school-wide goal, everyone will enjoy Extra Recess!

🌟 Weekly Participation Prizes:

• Each class will draw one name from their participating students every week. Winners can pick a prize from the Treasure Chest in the office!
• The Treasure Chest will only be available for prize collection on Fridays at 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM.

Let’s make this Read-a-thon a huge success! Keep reading and fundraising for a chance to win these fantastic prizes. Thank you so much for your participation and support. Together, we can make this Read-A-Thon an amazing experience for our young readers! 

MES PTO Globetrotter Fundraiser: The MES PTO is hosting an exciting fundraiser at the Harlem Globetrotters game on Tuesday, February 11th, at 7 PM at the Tsongas Center in Lowell, MA! 

Not only will you experience jaw-dropping trick shots and incredible basketball fun, but $5 from every ticket sold goes directly to support MES PTO! 

Grab your tickets now and be part of the action!
Tickets can be purchased at this link: https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/Milfordelementary5   

Let’s pack the stands for a great cause! See you there! 

Ivy the Determined Dog: We also have an exciting event coming up! To cap off our Read Across America celebration week, we will be welcoming Ivy The Determined Dog to JMS on Friday, February 21st. Ivy will be sharing an inspiring message on overcoming adversity and persistence. If you’d like to purchase a copy of the book, an order form will be sent home with your child and is also attached to this email.

Please find attached to this email several district approved flyers from our community partners including, CAST and the MES PTO.

As we move through this busy month, we appreciate your partnership in ensuring students arrive on time each day, ready to learn. Punctuality sets the tone for a successful day! Additionally, please review our delayed opening procedures to stay informed in case of inclement weather. If you are not receiving an automated phone call from the school district please let us know.  You can also check local media outlets to help stay informed. During a 2 hour delayed opening, our doors open at 10:15 and the school day starts at 10:25.  

Your support in keeping our school community safe and running smoothly is greatly appreciated.

Tim O’Connell

Principal

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