PATRIOT POST

Happy New Year! We hope this message finds you ready for the exciting opportunities that January brings. As we step into the second half of the school year, we want to extend a warm welcome back to our students and families.

January is a time for reflection, setting goals, and embracing fresh starts. At Kennedy, we are energized by the possibilities that lie ahead. Thank you for your continued support and partnership. Together, we look forward to a month filled with growth, learning, and shared successes.

Best wishes for a fantastic start to 2024!

Warmly,

Tiffany Hyden & AJ Schultz

Principal and Assistant Principal

iReady Winter Assessment is coming next week! We will begin promptly at 8:00 am each morning so please be sure to have your student on time everyday. We will be chunking each day to a brief 20-30 minutes to help students be successful.

The schedule is as follows:

January 8-12: Reading Assessment

January 16-19: Math Assement

Please see information below to learn more about this district-wide tool:

What is i-Ready?

i-Ready is an online program that will help us determine your child’s strengths and areas for growth, personalize their learning, and monitor their progress throughout the school year. i-Ready allows us to meet your child where they are and provides us with data to inform instruction.

The i-Ready Diagnostic is an adaptive assessment that adjusts its questions based on student responses. Each item a student receives is based on their answer to the previous question. For example, a series of correct answers will result in slightly harder questions, while a series of incorrect answers will yield slightly easier ones. The purpose of this is not to give your child a score or grade but to determine how to best support their learning.

What can I do to help?

To help prepare your child for the i-Ready Diagnostic, encourage them to:

· Get a good night’s sleep and eat a full breakfast the day of the assessment.

· Try their best on each question and try not to rush.

· Try not to worry about questions to which they do not know the answers—remind them that it is expected that they will only get about half of the questions correct.

· Be respectful of other students who take longer to finish.

Please encourage your student to do their best. Your student's teacher can help answer any questions you may have!

It was such a success in the month of November, we will be hosting another No Tardy Party for the month of January. We all need a little grace in transitioning back after break, so we will begin Monday, January 8th and run through the last day of the month, Wednesday, January 31st. Students can earn their way into our No Tardy Party by being on time every day (no tardies) and being a regular attender. We understand that sicknesses and other situations arise, but students must attend consistently without any unexcused absences to be invited. Thank you for your support in getting your child to school on time everyday! Every day and every minute matters!

At Kennedy, a culture of feedback (and really listening!) is one of our most valued strategies to improve outcomes for your student(s). If we don’t know how we’re doing, how can we improve?!

Stay tuned for a survey called YouthTruth. In February, we will be asking for about 20 minutes of your time to complete the online survey that will help us improve school for your student(s). We have asked YouthTruth – a nonprofit organization that supports hundreds of schools and districts across the county – to conduct an anonymous survey on our behalf.

If you do not have access to technology at home, we will have a space for you to complete the survey at school. Please contact your school to reserve a time.

We sincerely thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback. Your response is incredibly valuable to us.

SAVE the DATE- 5th to 6th grade family night @ Hedrick, Wed Jan 31st (previously in May)

5:15-6:00 Lone Pine, Kennedy, & Wilson

There will be a presentation in the gym and the opportunity to tour the building!

Future Dates:

Early February Hedrick Admin & Music department visit 5th graders at elementary schools- (already scheduled)

Months of March & April- 5th grade student field trip to visit Hedrick MS (dates TBD)

1/8-1/12: Winter iReady- Reading testing

1/15: No School MLK, Jr. Day

1/16-1/19: Winter iReady- Math testing

1/25: End of Quarter 2; Star Patriot Awards Assemblies

1/26: Quarter 2 Grading Day (No School)

• School starts at 7:50 am
• Tardies begin at 7:55 am
• This year, upon arrival, gates will open at 7:30 and students will either go into the cafeteria to eat breakfast or to our track to walk the track. Classroom doors will open at 7:50.

• Students who bring a beverage to school in the AM must go to the cafeteria to finish it. All beverages must be finished before going into the classroom.

• Parents Dropping off students- 7:45- in our circle drive. Please use both lanes. We will have staff to assist with students crossing over to the sidewalk. Please do not let students out in the “left” lane where they have to cross the “right” lane until staff are present. The circle drive is continually moving, if you need to come into the office please be sure to park in our parking lot. Please be aware dropping students off too early results in students standing around and waiting.

• Student cell phones must remain in their backpacks in the “silent mode”. Students are NOT to use their cell phone during the school day.

• Student dress- hats and hoods are not permitted indoors

• School ends at 2:35, Kindergarten students 2:30. Wednesday dismissal 1 pm

Email: tiffany.hyden@medford.k12.or.us
Website: https://www.medford.k12.or.us/Domain/15
Location: 2860 North Keeneway Drive, Medford, OR, USA
Phone: (541) 842-3810
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KennedyElementaryMSD

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kennedy_elementarymsd/