Cougar Connect

Dear Kennedy Community,

Trimester one will end on November 8. Please check PowerSchool to get the most up-to-date information about your student's grades. Students have daily math and reading homework. If students tell you they do not have homework, please ask them to show you their finished assignments. Parents, guardians, and caregivers should check PowerSchool at least once per week to make sure their students are keeping up with assignments. Connect with individual teachers with questions about grades and assignments.

Principal's Coffee

Thank you for joining me for my Principal's Coffee. Here are the slides from the coffee.

Reminders About School Safety

Last week, both Kennedy and McKinley's administrators spent time investigating claims about rumored school violence. Please read the message I emailed all families on October 9; click here. While these claims were rumors, it is important to have conversations with your students about inappropriate jokes and how these threats will be investigated as a threat to our school. Social media is also very harmful to student well-being, so I encourage parents to limit social media access or not allow students to have access to any social media.

Students were also reminded of the following during homeroom last week:

1. Incidents at school must be reported before students leave campus at 3:15 p.m.

2. It is never okay to spread rumors about someone or something. THIS IS HARMFUL.

3. Concerns can be reported in person to an adult in the office, to a teacher, or using the Kennedy Incident Report form.

4. See something at school? SAY something to an adult at school.

5. Hear something at school? REPORT what you heard to an adult at school.

Also, please be reminded that toy weapons and objects resembling weapons are prohibited on school campuses. Please also remember that pocket knives, box cutters, blades, and other sharp objects are prohibited.

Talk to your students. Middle school is a difficult time for many students. They are going through significant changes. Even if it seems as though they do not want or need your support and guidance--they do!

40 Conversation Starters to Ask your Middle School Student

25 Better Ways to Ask Kids About Their School Day

Thank you for your support!

Second Harvest Farmers' Market Food Distribution

Kennedy's food distribution will be held every 3rd Thursday of the month from

2:30-4:00 p.m. on Washington Avenue in the Kennedy blacktop. We will hold a food distribution this Thursday.

GiveThx

This year, we are partnering with GiveThx to improve our school culture and climate. We want to teach students how to show gratitude and thanks to those around them. We will use the GiveThx platform in homeroom. Before using the platform, students will take a short survey in homeroom. Letters about the survey were sent home last week. Please review the letter here. If you would prefer to opt your student out of the survey, please fill out the form and return it by Wednesday, October 16.

Saturday School

Kennedy admin will host Saturday School to provide students with additional targeted support and intervention for any behavior and/or attendance concerns. We will reach out to individual families about October's Saturday School date and time.

Attendance

Students need to be at school every day. If students are ill, parents and caregivers should notify Jessica Perez (jpperez@rcsdk8.net), leave a message on the attendance line voicemail 650-482-2409, or use the School Arrivals app to submit the absence.

Please schedule doctor's appointments after school and vacations during scheduled school vacations.

When your student misses school, they miss valuable instruction. It can be difficult to make up assignments for seven different classes, so students become overwhelmed.

Students need to be on time for school. We will be reaching out to families of students who are late to school to determine what supports are needed to ensure students get to school on time. If you need support, please reach out to us.

Vision Screening

Vision screening will take place on Tuesday, October 15th, 2024, for students in 8th grade, Specialized Learning Center, Resource Learning Center, and any referrals not in these grades, if time allows. Vision screening will be in room 532.

Picture Day Retakes and Makeups

Students can retake their photos on Tuesday, October 15, in the Kennedy Gym. They can take their photos during PE.

Fall Carnival & High School Fair for 8th-Graders

We will have our first fall carnival this Tuesday, October 15, on the Kennedy Blacktop from 5:00-8:00 p.m. We will also have our High School Fair in the Kennedy Gymnasium at the same time! This will be a great time for our community to gather together. We will have food trucks, games and prizes, a pozole bar, and more! A $5 donation is suggested for entrance. Join us!

October 17th Great Shakeout Drill

The Great Shakeout international earthquake drill on Thursday, October 17, at 10:17 a.m. All RCSD schools are required to participate in this drill.

We will drop, cover, and hold on until the drill is over.

PowerSchool Support

Beginning October 7th, we will have PowerSchool support for families provided by our Family Center staff. Learn how to access your student's grades and communicate with their teachers. Sign up by clicking this link.

Request for Recyclables

Our 8th-grade science teacher, Ms. Campagna, needs recyclables for her upcoming science units. This year, students are learning about force and motion, magnetic fields, light waves, and the relationship between the Earth, moon, and the sun. Instead of throwing these items into the recycling or trash bins, Ms. Campagna requests the following:

-- cardboard toilet paper tubes

-- cardboard paper towel tubes

-- cardboard wrapping paper tubes

-- large cardboard boxes

-- tape, ribbon, thread

-- any clean and dry hard plastic containers and lids (peanut butter jars, frosting cans, milk jugs, etc.)

Ms. Campagna is also looking for leftover crafting supplies and any unused balloons, chopsticks, and/or straws. If you have any of these items, please bring them to the office labeled for Ms. Campagna. We will have the items delivered to her classroom.

Parent, Student, & School Compact

Our School Site Council recently reviewed and approved our 2024-25 compact. Please take some time to review the compact with your student. Click here. After reviewing the compact, please complete and submit this form by Friday, November 1.

The Kennedy Office is open Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Liz Avalos, Office Manager: lmavalos@rcsdk8.net

Maritza Gutierrez, Office Assistant (student records, medical notices): mggutierrez@rcsdk8.net

Jessica Perez, Office Assistant (attendance, independent study): jpperez@rcsdk8.net

Have a great week!

Mrs. Leonardo