Perkins Pride

Newsletter to Michael J. Perkins Families May 28, 2014 School Website: http://michaeljperkinsschool.blogspot.com Email: perkins@bostonpublicschools.org

School Uniforms 2014 - 2015

Next year, we will institute a mandatory school uniform program next year. We are excited to distinguish ourselves in style with our new uniform program. Next year, students will wear white polos (with or without logo), white dress shirts, MJP 2013-2014 t-shirts, black pants, slacks, shirts, skorts, jumpers, uniform shorts, MJP sweat suits, black sweaters / sweater vests /vests /cardigans, and black sneakers/dress shoes. Sports Coats/Ties are encouraged but not expected. L & M Bargain Stores, located at will serve our primary uniform supplier. We are grateful to form a partnership with L & M because they serve thousands of other Boston Public School families with quality school uniforms at great prices. We will provide a more comprehensive description of our uniform program in our summer letters to families. We will welcome L & M back to our school campus on June 20th to talk with families about options following our promotion programs. For more information on L & M, please go to their website: http://www.lmbargain.com. We are excited that students, parents, staff, and community partners all provided valuable feedback that supported this decision.

Box Tops Challenge We look forward to crowning a Box Top Challenge Winner and awarding them a PARTY!!!

Did you know that: 1 box top = $0.10

10 box tops = $1.00. 100 box tops = $10.00

1,000 box tops = $100.00 How many box tops would equal $10,000?

Cookie Dough Sale!

Thanks to every family that participated in the Cookie Dough Sale. We raised over $4,000!!! We will deliver cookie dough on June 2nd. Please contact Ms. Correa-Gonzalez for pickup on June 2nd.

June 25th is Our Last Day of School!

Did you know June 24th & 25th are half days? Students will be dismissed at 12:30 both days. Please contact your after school program providers for details on their availability/opening hours.

Why we cannot accept phone calls or verbal messages from children about

changes in how they get home?

One of our top priorities for your child is their safety. We work diligently each day to ensure that your child has a safe and orderly space to learn and thrive. We realize that from time to time transportation issues may come up, families move, or after school care changes occur. When you anticipate that your child will need to be picked up earlier, a change in bus stop is necessary, or you want your child to walk home, we will need a written note from their parent/guardian indicating so. We cannot honor phone calls or messages from children because we can authenticate that the person providing the message is accurate or genuine, even with the best of intentions. Again, if your child requires a change in how they are getting home, please put it in writing and have it sent with your child. You can also fax it to us at 617-635-9774. We will call the parent/guardian who we have on our emergency form to confirm the change. Please know we are doing this because we want to make sure that your child is safe at all times.

MJP School-Wide Yoga Exhibition June 10th 2014

We are excited to invite everyone out for our first ever school wide Yoga Exhibition on June 10th from 8:45 to 9:30 a.m. Every MJP student has experienced yoga and we would like to share how beneficial it can be to our lives. Please bring a towel and join us as we take our “Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds” program to the next level. For more information, please contact Ms. Balaconis, MJP Physical Education teacher.

School Climate Survey for Parents

We want to hear what you think about your child’s school! BPS offers parents the opportunity to fill out a survey every year. Students and teachers also fill out surveys at school. Please let us know what is good, and what needs to be changed or worked on to make your school better. Your feedback is very important. If you would like to participate, please fill out a survey by June 13, 2014. This year we are offering different surveys for parents of students in grades K-5 and grades 6-12. You can fill the surveys out here online, or you can fill out and return the paper form that your child will bring home during the first week of May. Please fill out one survey per child, either online or on paper -- but you don't have to do both. The school with the highest levels of parent responses will take part in a fundraising raffle! Surveys are located at: http://www.bostonpublicschools.org/Domain/737

Looking for Summer Program Options?

BPS Summer Programs http://www.bostonpublicschools.org/Domain/244 Boston Centers for Youth & Families http://www.cityofboston.gov/BCYF/ Tierney Learning Center/South Boston Boys & Girls Club Call Johanna Cullen at 617-516-5447

June 19th 2014 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Joe Moakley Park South Boston, MA

We are looking for volunteers to help lead our relay races, egg drop games, sack races, staff versus students kickball game, basketball, manage food distribution, and general park play. We are also grilling some burgers and hot dogs that day to make it fun. We will need at least 30 parent volunteers to make this a successful event. If you are interested, please complete the attached feedback sheet and/or call the office at 617-635-7750.

Save the Dates

May 19th – June 6th DIBELS Reading Level Testing June 2nd thru 6th BPS End of Year Math/Reading Assessments June 10th MJP Yoga Exhibition Grade 5 Field Trip to Dearborn STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) School, Roxbury, MA 8:45 – 11:45 a.m. June 19th MJP Field Day June 20th Community Day of Scholars & Promotion Ceremonies *Report Cards given at ceremonies.* School-wide Medals Presentation, 8:45 – 10:00 a.m. on MJP Courtyard followed by Classroom Promotion Ceremonies June 23rd Meet & Greet My New Teacher Day 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. June 24thh Half-Day 12:30 p.m. Dismissal June 25th Last Day of School 12:30 p.m. Dismissal

Free Web Resources to Support

Your Child:

First In Math (Math):www.firstinmath.com StarFall (Reading): www.starfall.com MathBreakers (Math): www.mathbreakers.com BBC Science Clips (Science): http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/index_flash.shtml Reading, Writing, Spelling Support http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks2/english

Michael J. Perkins Elementary School Home of Outstanding World Learners & Leaders

May 28th 2014 Feedback Sheet

By returning this sheet, your child will have a chance to win a gift card!!!!

Student Teacher

Parent

Parent’s Phone

School Climate Survey Parents

Each class that has at least 80% turn in rate of parent climate surveys will be invited to participate in the MJP Scooper Bowl in June!

______ Here is my parent survey!

Please send survey back with your child.

Field Day June 19th 2014

(please send donations by

June 16th. Thanks)

_______ Yes, we will participate in Field Day. Please check your contribution(s):

______ We donate time to facilitating games. Game Times 10 – 12. Games: Staff versus students basketball or kickball game, potato sack races, relay races, team pyramid, egg carry race. ______ I/We will supervise a group of students (10 or less) during games/activities. ______ We will donate juice box drinks. ______ We will donate hot dogs (veggie, turkey or beef only). ______ We will donate hamburgers (veggie, turkey or Beef only). ______ We will donate hamburger/hot dog buns. ______ We will donate popsicles. ______ We will donate _________ dollars.

Community Day of Scholars June 20th

School Wide Medal Program 8:45 – 10:00 a.m. on

Playground Classroom Promotion

Programs 10:30 – 12:00

_______ Yes our family will be attending our child’s Promotion Program/Community Day of Scholars on June 20th 2014.

Thanks!