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Martha Jones Core Values
Be Kind. Be Curious. Be Courageous.
Welcome to the Martha Jones School. We want students at the Martha Jones School to Be Kind to themselves and to others; We hope that they will Be Curious about learning and the world and people around them; and we ask that they Be Courageous when called upon to do the right thing, to stand up for themselves and others, to take risks and be adventurous, even when it is hard and to not be afraid to fail. I am delighted to welcome you to Martha Jones.
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Message from the Principal’s Office
MJ Community,
Over the coming weeks the classroom teachers, special education teachers, specialists, school psychologist, and I will begin the process of class placement for August 2025. During the placement process, it is important for us to consider all relevant information. We review information about each child’s academic, social, and personal characteristics and use that information when making placement decisions. Our primary goal is to assign each child to a classroom in which they can develop academically and socially.
If you have information about your child’s learning needs that you would like to share, please send me your input via email (mkuklentz@westwood.k12.ma.us) and your child’s classroom teacher by Tuesday, April 29, 2025. Although you may have discussed class placement with your child’s teacher, special educator or Ms. MaryKate Stimpson during conferences and meetings, all requests must be sent to me. Parent letters received will be compiled into a document separate from the final lists and distributed to the placement team members for consideration. Please note that letters and emails are not kept from previous years since children change and grow, and we make decisions based on current information.
If you are the parent of multiples (twins, triplets, etc), you may specify whether you want your children placed in the same class or different classes. Also, please know that if you have more than one child in your family, there is a chance that they will not have the same teachers as their siblings.
Westwood Public Schools does not allow parents to request their children’s teachers; therefore, requests for specific teachers will not be accepted or considered. The process is both thoughtful and thorough. As Principal, I approve the final placement decision. The staff and I appreciate your cooperation and support as we begin this process.
Finally, there is no requirement to submit a placement letter.
Please contact me if you have any questions about the process. Thank you for your continued support.
Matt
PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES
The Springtime Parent Teacher Conferences are coming up on April 30 in the afternoon of a short Wednesday and that evening. Be on the lookout for signups from teachers.
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION
Please see the letter from Assistant Superintendent Ahearn with key dates for registration.
MJ Specific Dates:
Incoming Kindergarten Family Information Night (Adult Only Meeting) - Thursday May 22, 2025 at 7:00pm
Kindergarten Screening - Monday, June 9, 2025
MCAS
We will be conducting the MCAS testing on the following dates:
April 8 and April 10 - ELA (Gr. 3, 4, 5)
May 13 and May 15- Math (Gr. 3, 4, 5)
May 19 and May 20 - STE (Gr. 5 only)
Each year, I have parents ask what they can do to best prepare their children. I think it's important to not do anything different. I encourage parents to prioritize good sleep and good nutrition. If your children express worry about the MCAS; tell the students that they have been well prepared.
Finally, when students take the MCAS the following items are not allowed on their person: phones and smartwatches. Please have students keep them at home.
Pay online at myschoolbucks.com
Lunch is free for the 2024 - 2025 School Year.
Information to Apply for Free & Reduced Meals (or other fee reduction opportunities) for the 2024 - 2025 School Year:
updated 4-30-2025
EOY EVENTS & DATES TO REMEMBER
TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK - May 5 - 9
PTO MEETING - MAY 6 at 7:00PM
FIELD DAY - MAY 30
FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT MAY 30
5th GRADE END OF YEAR PARTY - JUNE 4
INTERNATIONAL NIGHT CELEBRATION
Save the date! Our International Night Celebration will take place on Friday, May 16th 6:00-8:00pm and you're invited! Join us for a night of fun, food, and festivities as we celebrate the diverse cultures that make our school community so special. From exciting performances to delicious international cuisine, there's something for everyone to enjoy. So mark your calendars and get ready for a memorable evening of togetherness and global exploration.
BIRTHDAY BOOKS & LIBRARY VOLUNTEERS
Participate in the PTO Birthday Book Program! Ms. Swinning has selected some fantastic books that students have requested, but the Martha Jones library does not currently have. During their birthday month, participating children are invited to the library to pick a brand new book from this collection. A bookplate commemorating your child’s birthday will be placed inside the front cover and they will be the very first student to borrow this book! Once they’ve finished reading it, the book will be returned to the library’s collection, where it can be enjoyed for years to come. The cost of this program is $15 per student.
Please consider signing up for a library volunteer spot for your student's class. Each week, every classroom has one library spot you can volunteer for. Please see the link below to sign up. You will see a calendar with all of the teacher's names in either Grey or Blue. Blue means the spot is open and grey means that someone is already volunteering for that spot. Once you sign up, you'll see a little human icon next to the slot. In the event you sign up and cannot attend, please try and cancel within 24 hours so someone else can fill that spot. To cancel, click the icon next to your slot and "unclick" the person who is volunteering, and hit save. Sign up for Library Here!
ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION DRIVE
We aim to raise $7,500 from our annual PTO drive and are halfway to this goal! Every donation, no matter the amount, is appreciated and important in helping us continue to fund enrichment and community activities. Please consider making a contribution today! As a reminder, we also have a Corporate Match option. Many Employers offer matching donations because MJS PTO is a qualified 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
WEBSITE & DIRECTORY INFORMATION
The Martha Jones PTO is a non-profit organization that takes great pride in supporting our teachers and students. We do this by offering valuable programs, organizing exciting events, and providing essential resources that enhance the educational experience of every student.
Log in or register on the PTO website to stay updated on all PTO events, receive important PTO emails, and stay connected with Room Parent communications. You will also be able to update your information, contribute to our Annual Contribution Drive, purchase Birthday Books, and volunteer for various PTO committees or in the Library! Many of our committees are still looking for volunteers. Sign-up today!
MARTHA JONES PTO FACEBOOK GROUP AND INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT 
Join the Facebook group and follow us on Instagram to get the latest PTO news and updates delivered right to your news feed! Join our Facebook group or follow us on Instagram @marthajonespto.
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Martha Jones PTO Meeting Dates 2024-2025
September 24 , 2024 7pm
November 19, 2024, 7pm
March 4, 2025, 7pm
May 6, 2025, 7pm
PTO CONTACT FOR EVENTS, NOTICES:
If you have an event or notice for our PTO update, please email it to:
PTO Co-Secretary - Priscilla Stephan, Jenn Katsilieris
Martha Jones PTO Board 2024-2025
Kristen Donahue, Co-President
Ally Pavlic, Co-President
Kristen Gautreau, Co-Treasurer
Abbe Lynch, Co-Treasurer
Priscilla Stephen, Co-Secretary
Jenn Katsilieris, Co-Secretary
Katie Collins, Co-Social Media
Priya Sharma, Co-Social Media
