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Message from the Principal’s Office

MJ Community,

I often say this, but I truly love my job and feel fortunate to work at Martha Jones. This sentiment was reaffirmed on Thursday. As I prepared to write this message, I found myself procrastinating by walking around the building—a habit that often reminds me why I love being here.

The start of each day at our school is marked by morning meetings in every classroom. These gatherings set a positive and welcoming tone, helping students prepare socially and academically for the day ahead. During my walk, I was continually struck by the skill, flexibility, and intentionality our teachers bring to their classrooms.

Each morning meeting I visited was engaging and effective, but what stood out to me was the remarkable range of experiences across the different grade levels in our building. In a Kindergarten classroom, for instance, a student proudly took on their "classroom job" of announcing what day it was yesterday, today, and tomorrow. As they read aloud, it became clear that another student had forgotten to update the days on the chart, which still reflected Wednesday. The teacher gently allowed the moment to unfold, asking the class if anyone noticed anything unusual. The student who had forgotten quickly realized the mistake, corrected it, and moved on. It was a wonderful example of how our students are encouraged to embrace mistakes and recognize the interconnectedness of their roles.

In a fifth-grade classroom, I joined a morning meeting where students were sharing their shoe sizes. The teacher cleverly used this casual conversation to segue into an introduction to graphing fractions, a concept they would delve into later that day. In just five minutes, I witnessed students practicing mathematical habits of mind that will serve them well as they move on to middle and high school.

The thoughtfulness our teachers bring to their work is evident everywhere I look. Their ability to build meaningful connections with students and seize teachable moments is truly inspiring. As a community, we are incredibly fortunate to have such dedicated and skilled professionals shaping our children’s learning experiences.

Matt Kuklentz

Martha Jones School

Principal

updated 1-8-2025

PTO News and Update 

WINTER/SPRING MINI COURSES

The Martha Jones Mini Course Committee has been hard at work to create an exciting mini course lineup for the Winter/Spring months. Mini Courses will start the week of February 3rd and are held directly after school at Martha Jones until 4:25 PM. This session we will be offering Hip Hop, Mini Chefs, Fun and Games, Snapology, Biloball, Talent for a Cause, Yoga, Chess, and Minecraft. Please watch for an email from the PTO with the course descriptions and schedule on Tuesday, January 14th. Official Registration will be sent via email by Mr. K at 7:00 AM on Tuesday,  January 21st. Registration will close on Tuesday, January 28th at 5:00 PM.  In order to make this program a success we do ask for one parent/caregiver volunteer for each day to take attendance and help with dismissal. If you would like to volunteer please reach out to Mjminicourse@gmail.com . We are currently looking for a volunteer for Tuesday, Thursday, and Fridays. If you would like to volunteer, we will guarantee a spot for your student in a course of their choice on the respected day.     

FAMILY BINGO NIGHT

The fifth grade class is proud to host their annual Family Bingo Night on Friday, January 24th from 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM in the Martha Jones cafeteria. This is a free event for all students and families. The PTO will provide light snacks, drinks, and there will be prizes for winners! We hope that you will join us! Please contact Kristen Donahue with questions Kristen.M.Richman@gmail.com. 

VALENTINES DANCE COMMITTEE 

We are so excited to add a school-wide dance for MJ students and families. The dance will be held on February 7, 2025 and we will have a DJ, Photo Booth, food, treats, dancing, and tons of fun! We will be sending more details as the event gets closer but if you are planning on going, this will be for all students and families to dress up and get some great photos and memories. This is the first year for this event and we will need multiple volunteers for planning, setting up, breaking down, and decorating. We would love to see some new faces volunteering even if you are brand new to Martha Jones or have never volunteered for this type of event, that's okay! All ideas and help are welcome! Please reach out to Kristen Donahue with any questions (kristen.m.richman@gmail.com).  Sign up Here!

MJS SOCIAL COMMITTEE 

Our annual, spring social will be here before we know it! This is one of our biggest fundraisers but it is also a great way to have a fun night out (kid-free) with other Martha Jones Parents and Caregivers. It's a time to catch up with families you know and to meet new ones. Book your sitters for April 5, 2025, and be ready for some fun! Because this is one of our most exciting and successful fundraisers, we will need lots of volunteers to help plan, collect auction items, book vendors, set up, and break down. You do not need to be a party planner, we just need people willing to help! But if you are a party planner, or love doing so, please sign up! Please reach out to Kristen Donahue (kristen.m.richman@gmail.com) with any questions. Sign up here!

PTO BOARD MEMBER 25/26

We are currently looking for new board members for the 2025-2026 school year. Each board position serves two school years per term. We currently have 4 open positions next year to fill. If you are interested in being on the PTO board please contact Ally Pavlic (allyson.carney@gmail.com). We would love to hear from you! 

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 SY 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