School News and Announcements

 

Dear KT Murphy Community, December 6, 2024

We look forward to seeing all of our parents and families for parent teacher conferences next week.  Please make sure to check your child’s report card for your confirmed conference time.  Report cards are not printed.  Directions for how to access the report cards on the PowerSchool Parent Portal are below.  While you are here for your conference, please check the lost and found for any of your child’s clothing items.  There are many lost items that would love to be returned to their owners.  The Thanksgiving holiday weekend ushered in colder weather that has us all bundling up in coats, hats, scarves and gloves on our way to and from school and work. If your family—or a family you know—needs support obtaining winter outerwear and accessories, contact your school’s parent facilitator for a list of agencies that can provide assistance.   We do go outside in cooler weather for recess.  

Parent Meeting with Ms. Beco- 12/9, 9-10 am

Come join as a community of KT Murphy parents.  Ms. Beco has coordinated with the United Parents and Students Program to share ways to be involved in your child’s education.  Please come to meet other parents, get your questions answered and discuss important information.

See the flyer at this link:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BZ5tm6KWSriAIfIMRaw9JUQAN8ZPbkNl/view?usp=sharing

Report Cards and Conferences

Report cards are released today, December 6th.  Conferences are held next week.  You may find your conference date and time on the comments section of your child’s report card.  Please contact your teacher if you need a virtual conference or are not able to make the time indicated.  Make sure to stop by the book fair while you are here for conferences!

Do you need help accessing your child’s report card?

Powerschool Parent Portal is where the report card is housed.  Stamford Public Schools does not print out report cards.  Instead, the Parent Portal allows parents/guardians to view the report card on any device (Ipad, computer and/or phone).

The link for Parent Portal can be found on the District's homepage or here.  Watch a short video on how to navigate the Parent Portal and how to see the report card.  Video in Spanish.  If you would like to view slides of the presentation you can directions in these slides or slides in Spanish.  

Stay Healthy

This time of the year is when we often see an uptick in various illnesses.  I am including some helpful information(ENGLISH, SPANISH) about how to stay healthy during these winter months as well as throughout the year.  

Additionally please click the following links to find more information and guidance for when your child may become sick and when they can return to school(ENGLISH, SPANISH).

This time of year is busy and exciting with continued learning and fun events both at home and in school.  We don’t want any students to miss out during this eventful season.

Winter Weather Attire

As the weather becomes colder, please remember to send students to school with coats, hats and gloves.  We will continue to have recess and PE outdoors when weather and ground conditions permit, so we ask your help to make sure students have the appropriate winter attire.  

Important Dates:

Below are some reminders for important dates in December.  Please mark your calendars now.  You will receive more information for PTO and other events.

 

• December 9-13 Book Fair
• December 9 Parent Meeting with Ms. Beco 9:00-10:00 am
• December 10 5th Grade Concert- 6:00 pm
• December 11, 12, 13 Early Release- 1:25 pm- Conferences
• December 20 All School Morning Meeting- 9:00-9:30
• December 20 School Spirit Pajama Day
• December 20 Early Release- 1:25 pm
• December 21-January 1 Winter Break!
• January 2 Return to School!

We look forward to having everyone back this week, with big smiles!  Please also see the Superintendent’s communication at the Stamford Public Schools website linked here for more district-wide reminders and information.  

Have a wonderful weekend!

Jaimie Fisco

Principal

KT Murphy Elementary School

New emails!

jfisco@stamfordpublicschools.org

jfisco@stamfordps.org

 

 

 

 

Dear KT Murphy Community, November 26, 2024

On behalf of Mr. Fox and Myself, we would like to take a moment to express our appreciation and let you all know how thankful we are for the wonderful community at KT Murphy.  We are thankful everyday for our teachers, staff, students and families.  Please take this opportunity to recharge and refresh with your family.  Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate.  We will see everyone on December 2.

Attendance

I want to take a minute to thank our students and their families who do their best to show up to class every day even when it isn’t easy, as well as our teachers who have gone above and beyond to help make school a welcoming learning environment where students can thrive.  Please see the attached letters in English and Spanish for more detailed information with tips about staying healthy this holiday season.  As always, please notify the office or teacher if your child needs to be out.

Strive for 5 Attendance Campaign

SPS, the City of Stamford, and community partners are launching Strive for 5, a campaign to promote regular school attendance. Students who attend school regularly earn better grades and are more likely to reach academic goals at every grade level. Despite this, chronic absenteeism remains a problem in Stamford and many districts throughout Connecticut and the U.S. Strive for 5 is a call to action for students to miss no more than five days of school each year. Learn more about Strive for 5 here.  

 

Important Dates:

Below are some reminders for important dates in December.  Please mark your calendars now.  You will receive more information for PTO and other events.

 

• November 28-29  Thanksgiving Break
• December 2 Return to School
• December 9-13 Book Fair
• December 10 5th Grade Concert- 6:00 pm
• December 11, 12, 13 Early Release- 1:25 pm- Conferences
• December 20 All School Morning Meeting- 9:00-9:30
• December 20 School Spirit Pajama Day
• December 20 Early Release- 1:25 pm
• December 21-January 1 Winter Break!

We look forward to having everyone back this week, with big smiles!  Please also see the Superintendent’s communication at the Stamford Public Schools website linked here for more district-wide reminders and information.  

Have a wonderful weekend!

Jaimie Fisco

Principal

KT Murphy Elementary School

New emails!

jfisco@stamfordpublicschools.org

jfisco@stamfordps.org

 

 

 

Dear KT Murphy Community, November 15, 2024

Fall weather has finally arrived.  Please make sure you send your child with layers.   All classes go outside for Physical education or recess daily as long as it is not raining.  Also, some classrooms tend to get warm, so it's helpful if students are able to add or remove layers.  I was lucky enough to be able to spend the entire 1st day with our 5th graders who attended Outdoor Classroom in Lakeside, CT.  This has been a yearly tradition for KT Murphy 5th graders for many years.  We spent the entire day in nature, enjoyed community building activities and learned about conservation of the environment we and our animal friends live in.  It was amazing to see the beaver lodges and the impact of the current drought on their pond and the streams that usually lead there.  I hope the students come home and share all of their new knowledge with their families.  Please ask them!

Strive for 5 Attendance Campaign

SPS, the City of Stamford, and community partners are launching Strive for 5, a campaign to promote regular school attendance. Students who attend school regularly earn better grades and are more likely to reach academic goals at every grade level. Despite this, chronic absenteeism remains a problem in Stamford and many districts throughout Connecticut and the U.S. Strive for 5 is a call to action for students to miss no more than five days of school each year. Learn more about Strive for 5 here.  

Filling in the Blanks Mobile Food Pantry 

The Filling in the Blanks Mobile Food Pantry will continue to be in Stamford on the third Saturday of each month. That means the mobile pantry will be in the parking lot behind Cloonan Middle School on Saturday, November 16.   

 Cafe con la Super is Monday, November 18

Please join us in person at the Stamford Government Center on Monday, November 18 at 6:30 pm for Cafe con la Super, our monthly Spanish language community conversation. This month, we will be sharing what families need to know about vaping, which is one of the most common forms of substance use among teens and young adults. Our guest presenters will be Ingrid Gillespie, Director of Prevention for Liberation Programs, and SPS Associate Superintendent for Middle Schools Matt Laskowski. Please register to let us know you will attend. 

Ferguson Library Events

There are some fun events being offered by the Ferguson Library.  See the links for more details.

Robotics Club,  Holiday Musical,  The Nutcracker

Important Dates:

Below are some reminders for important dates in November and December.  Please mark your calendars now.  You will receive more information for PTO and other events.

 

• November 22  Lyman Orchard Pie Fundraiser Pickup
• November 22  Family Dinner and Movie Night
• November 27  School Spirit Day-Sports!

All School Morning Meeting- 9:00-9:30

Early Release- 1:25 pm

• November 28-29  Thanksgiving Break
• December 9-13 Book Fair
• December 10 5th Grade Concert- 6:00 pm
• December 11, 12, 13 Early Release- 1:25 pm- Conferences
• December 20 All School Morning Meeting- 9:00-9:30
• December 20 School Spirit Pajama Day
• December 20 Early Release- 1:25 pm
• December 21-January 1 Winter Break!

We look forward to having everyone back this week, with big smiles!  Please also see the Superintendent’s communication at the Stamford Public Schools website linked here for more district-wide reminders and information.  

Have a wonderful weekend!

Jaimie Fisco

Principal

KT Murphy Elementary School

New emails!

jfisco@stamfordpublicschools.org

jfisco@stamfordps.org

 

 

 

Dear KT Murphy Community, November 1, 2024

The beautiful weather continues and our students and teachers are enjoying every minute of being outside.  Next week our 5th graders will be going to Outdoor Classroom for their 5th grade trip Wednesday-Friday.  It looks like the weather will be a bit chillier, but still in the 50’s.  They are looking forward to an awesome 3 days.

No School for Students on Monday - Veterans Day

 There is no school for students on Monday, November 11th due to Veterans Day.  Thank you to those who have served our country or continue to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces.  Please join the SPS community for the annual Stamford Veterans Day Parade on Sunday, November 10 at 12 pm. I will be there along with many of our school marching bands, music teachers, and administrators. The parade begins at Stamford Police Headquarters and travels down Bedford Street to Veterans Memorial Park. This is a wonderful opportunity for families to show our veterans how much we appreciate them.

Parent Meet and Greet

Please join Ms. Beco, Mrs. Houser along with Saint Joseph Parenting Center on November 15, at 9:30 for a meet and greet and information session.  Click for SPANISH and ENGLISH flyers.  

Strive for 5 Attendance Campaign

SPS, the City of Stamford, and community partners are launching Strive for 5, a campaign to promote regular school attendance. Students who attend school regularly earn better grades and are more likely to reach academic goals at every grade level. Despite this, chronic absenteeism remains a problem in Stamford and many districts throughout Connecticut and the U.S. Strive for 5 is a call to action for students to miss no more than five days of school each year. Learn more about Strive for 5 here.  

 

Filling in the Blanks Mobile Food Pantry 

 

The Filling in the Blanks Mobile Food Pantry will continue to be in Stamford on the third Saturday of each month. That means the mobile pantry will be in the parking lot behind Cloonan Middle School on Saturday, November 16.   

 

Meeting for Families of Students with Special Needs is November 13 

The Stamford Coalition of Parents Expecting Success (SCOPES) will host its next meeting on Wednesday, November 13 at 6 pm at AITE. Attendees will learn about the differences between individualized education plans (IEPs) and 504 plans. The guest speaker will be Laura Knapp from the Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center, Inc. (CPAC).

 The November SCOPES meeting will be presented with simultaneous Spanish and Haitian Creole interpretation. Please register to let us know you will attend. 

 Cafe con la Super is Monday, November 18

Please join us in person at the Stamford Government Center on Monday, November 18 at 6:30 pm for Cafe con la Super, our monthly Spanish language community conversation. This month, we will be sharing what families need to know about vaping, which is one of the most common forms of substance use among teens and young adults. Our guest presenters will be Ingrid Gillespie, Director of Prevention for Liberation Programs, and SPS Associate Superintendent for Middle Schools Matt Laskowski. Please register to let us know you will attend. 

 Important Dates:

 

Below are some reminders for important dates in November.  Please mark your calendars now.  You will receive more information for PTO and other events.

 

• November 11  NO SCHOOL- Veterans Day
• November 13-15 5th Grade Outdoor Classroom Trip
• November 15 Parent Meeting with Ms. Beco, Ms. Houser 

and St. Joseph Parenting Center

• November 22  Lyman Orchard Pie Fundraiser Pickup
• November 22  Family Dinner and Movie Night
• November 27  School Spirit Day-Sports!

All School Morning Meeting- 9:00-9:30

Early Release- 1:25 pm

• November 28-29  Thanksgiving Break

We look forward to having everyone back this week, with big smiles!  Please also see the Superintendent’s communication at the Stamford Public Schools website linked here for more district-wide reminders and information.  

Have a wonderful weekend!

Jaimie Fisco

Principal

KT Murphy Elementary School

New emails!

jfisco@stamfordpublicschools.org

jfisco@stamfordps.org

 

 

 

Dear KT Murphy Community, November 1, 2024

It is hard to believe November is already here!  Wishing a joyous and prosperous Diwali to those who celebrate!  We have our food drive beginning monday.  It will be a fun competition this year amongst the grade levels.  There will be 4 teams.  Grades K and 1, Grades 2 and 3, Grades 4 and 5 and Staff.  Please help us fill our bins!

Election Day Bake Sale Help Needed!

We can still use some help at our election day bake sale.  There are time slots we need coverage at the sale as well as many opportunities for donations.   We are hoping this will be a great fundraiser to help support future programming for students at KT Murphy.  These fundraisers and events can only be successful with parent support.  Click the link for the sign up genius:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050A4BA5AB22A46-52401691-2024/37251009#/

No School for Students on Tuesday 

 There is no school for students on Tuesday, November 5 due to Election Day. 

Scofield Magnet Information Session

Next week, Scofield Magnet Middle will host information sessions for families as follows: 

Thursday, November 7 at 10 am and 6 pm 

Opt-In for Texts from SPS!

SPS will begin offering emergency text notifications via SchoolMessenger later this month. You must opt-in to receive text messages. Text “Y” or “YES” to 67587. By opting in to receive text messages via SchoolMessenger, important notifications about school closings/delays and other time-sensitive information will go right to your mobile phone.

Stamford Public Schools Welcome Center 

The SPS Welcome Center is scheduled to open to the public on Monday, November 18. The SPS Welcome Center will be a one-stop destination for school and community resources, multilingual learner screenings, healthcare services via the Family Centers School Based Health Center, and more. Beginning with the 2025-26 school year, the Welcome Center will also manage new student registration services. 

The Office of Family & Community Engagement, led by Juan Pazmino, will manage and staff the Welcome Center, which is located at Cloonan Middle School at 11 W. North Street. 

We will be hosting tours of the new Welcome Center the week of November 18. Look for information about dates and times in the November 8 weekly message. A formal ribbon cutting ceremony with the Mayor and our community partners will take place in January. 

Strive for 5 Attendance Campaign

SPS, the City of Stamford, and community partners are launching Strive for 5, a campaign to promote regular school attendance. Students who attend school regularly earn better grades and are more likely to reach academic goals at every grade level. Despite this, chronic absenteeism remains a problem in Stamford and many districts throughout Connecticut and the U.S. Strive for 5 is a call to action for students to miss no more than five days of school each year. Learn more about Strive for 5 here.  

 

Important Dates:

Below are some reminders for important dates in October and November.  Please mark your calendars now.  You will receive more information for PTO and other events.

• November 4-18 Thanksgiving Food Drive
• November 5  NO SCHOOL- Election Day
• November 8  Photo Make-up Day
• November 8  4th Grade Mill River Field Trip
• November 11  NO SCHOOL- Veterans Day
• November 13-15 5th Grade Outdoor Classroom Trip
• November 22  Lyman Orchard Pie Fundraiser Pickup
• November 22  Family Dinner and Movie Night
• November 27  School Spirit Day-Sports!

All School Morning Meeting- 9:00-9:30

Early Release- 1:25 pm

• November 28-29  Thanksgiving Break

We look forward to having everyone back this week, with big smiles!  Please also see the Superintendent’s communication at the Stamford Public Schools website linked here for more district-wide reminders and information.  

Have a wonderful weekend!

Jaimie Fisco

Principal

KT Murphy Elementary School

New emails!

jfisco@stamfordpublicschools.org

jfisco@stamfordps.org