
Cougar Connect
Week of January 27, 2025
Principal's Message
Dear Kennedy Community,
This week, we are participating in The Great Kindness Challenge! I want Kennedy students to understand kindness is more than a simple act—it's a powerful way to build empathy, strengthen connections, and create a school culture where everyone feels valued. Throughout the week, our students will participate in activities that inspire them to show kindness in big and small ways, both at school and in our community.
As parents and guardians, you play an essential role in reinforcing these values at home. Take a moment this week to ask your child about their acts of kindness, share your own, or even brainstorm ways your family can spread kindness together. A simple conversation or family activity can make a lasting impact and show our students that kindness starts with all of us.
Here is how Kennedy will participate in The Great Kindness Challenge this week:
Monday: Students can go to the Kindness Station at lunch and pick up a Kindness Bingo sheet and a Be Kind button.
Tuesday: Students can go to the Kindness Station at lunch and write words of kindness and affirmation to peers and staff.
Wednesday: Students can go to the Kindness Station at lunch and paint rocks with positive statements. The rocks will be placed in areas around campus.
Thursday: Students can visit the Kindness Station to get a bracelet or sticker.
Friday: "Be a Team Player for Kindness." Students and Staff wear sports jerseys or shirts promoting kindness.
Students can visit the Kindness Station and take photos at the photo booth.
Let’s work together to create a ripple effect of kindness that goes far beyond this week. Thank you for partnering with us to make Kennedy a kinder, more compassionate place for everyone.
RCEF Equity Summit
Join the Redwood City Education Foundation for the 3rd RCEF Equity Summit: Building Resilience in Our Students. On February 6 from 2–5 PM at CZI Community Space in Redwood City, children and their guardians will explore resilience and discover strategies to tackle challenges. Through interactive activities, we’ll examine how resilience is fostered in schools and how we can support students facing adversity. Sign up here: tinyurl.com/equitysummit2025
PTO Meeting: Tuesday, January 28
Everyone is invited to our next PTO meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 28 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. in Kennedy Room 101. The meeting will also take place via Zoom at this link: https://zoom.us/j/93119040816?pwd=aq7QW86bXugaq08Dswoavf3wTxcd0M.1 Meeting ID: 931 1904 0816; Passcode: Kennedy
Topics will include committee updates, discussion and vote on proposed budget amendments. Your voice matters. Please join us!
English Learner Advisory Committee Meeting: Wednesday, January 29
If your student is currently an English learner enrolled in ELD classes, please join us on Tuesday evening for our ELAC meeting. This is an important meeting for families to learn about the upcoming ELPAC assessment and how we can work together to ensure all EL students are reclassified before they are promoted to 9th grade.
Complete Online Registration for Sequoia Union High School District
We have 125 8th-grade families who have not yet completed online registration for SUHSD. The deadline is February 1. It is important to complete the registration process. Failure to complete this important step will result in students not being able to select their high school classes.
Please call or email Cynthia Cardona, our Community School Coordinator, if you have questions or need support: ccardona@rcsdk8.net or (650) 482-2409 ext. 3484
Be Here, Be Amazing!
In addition to continuing to improve in English and math, attendance is also an area of focus for Kennedy. We aim to decrease chronic absenteeism and increase student attendance (95% daily attendance or higher). The first step is to ensure all students and families know the importance of attendance and why school attendance matters.
Please schedule vacations during scheduled school breaks.
Schedule medical appointments after school.
Reach out to the Kennedy administration if students do not want to attend school due to emotional factors.
Notify our attendance clerk about absences.
When absent, students are still responsible for missed assignments and work. We understand that students at the elementary school level may not have to make up for work when absent. At the middle school level, students must connect with each of their teachers upon their return to get missed assignments. Those assignments must be finished and submitted by the required deadlines.
Have a great week!
Mrs. Leonardo
RCEF Equity Summit
California Healthy Kids Survey
The California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS) is an anonymous, confidential survey of school climate and safety, student wellness, and youth resiliency. It enables schools and communities to collect and analyze data regarding local youth health risks and behaviors, school connectedness, school climate, protective factors, and school violence. This survey will help our district determine services to address the needs of our students.
The CHKS survey will be administered to all 7th and 8th-grade students in the Redwood City School District during February. All students will participate in the survey unless you opt for your child not to participate. If you do not want your child to participate please complete the form at this link by January 31st and turn it in to the office. Paper copies are available in the office upon request.
You may view the survey here: https://www.rcsdk8.net/our-programs-and-services/health-and-wellness/climate-survey.
When Does My Student Stay Home from School?
If your child has one of the following symptoms and is unable to participate meaningfully in school, they should be kept at home:
Diarrhea and/or vomiting in the past 24 hours
A fever of 100 or greater in the past 24 hours
headache, fever or chills, cough
shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
sore throat, congestion
nausea or vomiting, fatigue (tiredness)
muscle or body aches
Careful attention to hand washing at home and at school is the single most important measure to decrease the spread of any infection or illness. Hand sanitizers may also be helpful when soap and water are not available.
Be sure to call the school office when illness (or any other reason) necessitates your child being kept home.
Thank you for your cooperation and support in our effort to keep all of our students healthy. Should you have any questions, feel free to contact our school nurse, Lisa Cox lcox@rcsdk8.net.
ELAC Wednesday, January 29th
Attendance Wars Update
1st- Olinares 98.81%
2nd - Le 98.21%
3rd- Paz 98.19%
Make sure you're here every day and on time!
Math Intervention Interest Form
Ms. Hernandez will hold math intervention after school on Mondays and Wednesdays beginning in February for students who are one to two grade levels below in math. Students must be willing to stay after school from 3:15-4:15 p.m. Students must have their own transportation after school.
Sign up if you are interested in learning more about math intervention. Signing up does not mean that your student has been accepted into the class. We will review their math skills, speak to their math teacher, and make a decision about enrollment.
Click here to sign up.
Thank you!
Kennedy Office Contact Information
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
Calendar of Events
JANUARY
- PTO Meeting Jan. 28 Library/Zoom 7:00-8:30 p.m.
- SSC Meeting Jan. 29 Google Meet 5:00-6:00 p.m.
Please click here to view our Calendar of Events. Events are subject to change. Please read the Cougar Connect newsletter for changes.
PTO Corner
Hello, Kennedy Community!
Everyone is invited to our January PTO meeting this Tuesday, Jan. 28 from 7:00-8:30pm in Kennedy Room 101. The meeting will also take place via Zoom at this link: https://zoom.us/j/93119040816?pwd=aq7QW86bXugaq08Dswoavf3wTxcd0M.1 Meeting ID: 931 1904 0816; Passcode: Kennedy
Topics will include committee updates, discussion and vote on proposed budget amendments. Your voice matters. Please join us!
Are you looking for ways to volunteer for our school? This link shows you ALL of the available opportunities throughout the entire year: Volunteer Needs.
Remember that our Direct Drive is going on and our students depend on our community’s financial help to make their middle school experience the best it can be! We suggest a $500 donation per family. Payments can be made manageable by choosing to donate $50 a month throughout the school year! Click here to donate: PTO Direct Drive
Kind regards,
Jess Bryski
KMS PTO President
Math Kangaroo Sign Up
Dear Kennedy Students and Families,
We invite you to register for a friendly Math Olympiad at Kennedy!
Deadline to Register: January 31st
Cost: $9
Date of Olympiad: March 20th
Time: 5:30pm
Location: Kennedy Library
Test Format:
75 Minute multiple choice test
24 Questions for students in agrades 1 to 4
30 Questions for students in grades 5 to 12
Practice Materials: https://mathkr es angaroo.org/mks/practice/
How to Register:
Register for Math Kangaroo: https://mathkangaroo.oasis-lms.com/Catalog/CatalogueMain
Scroll down left-side menu
Click on “By Invitation”
Enter Invitation Code: CAREDWO0008001@2025MK
Add each student participating
Pay $9 enrollment fee
Questions? Email coordinator, Meghan.Oreillygreen@gmail.com
8th-Grade Reminders
8th-graders attended an assembly on Monday, November 25th. We discussed behavior and academic expectations for the remainder of the school year. Students were given a letter and agreement form. The letter and agreement form must be reviewed and signed by a parent, guardian, or caregiver. The form should be turned into homeroom teachers by Thursday, December 5.
Exciting News: Mural Painting Underway!
You may have noticed the vibrant new entrance mural at Kennedy! Designed by acclaimed local artist Jose Castro with creative input from students in Ms. Segal's art classes, the mural painting is nearing completion. Be sure to follow along here for updates!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/R5FPfVEyGku2DLRX8
At more than twice the original planned size and at no additional cost to the PTO, Jose Castro has helped the students fill the entire wall. Let's show him some extra appreciation! Send a donation via his Venmo account at @cassdroeee.
A special thank you to Hassett Hardware in Woodside Plaza, the Redwood City Arts Commission, and the Kennedy PTO for their generous support in making this project possible.
Community donations are also still welcome to further enhance this exciting endeavor—contribute to the PTO Mural Fund to support this initiative. Together, we can make this project a lasting symbol of creativity and community!
Photos of the Week
Order a Kennedy Yearbook
Kennedy uses Treering for our yearbooks. Visit www.treering.com/validate to order your student their yearbook. Yearbooks are $38.29; they will be distributed in June to students.
Kennedy's school passcode is 1015926081674110.
Tackling Chronic Absenteeism
A continued focus this year is reducing our chronic absenteeism rate. We currently have over 120 students who are chronically absent. Our attendance team will identify these students and reach out to families to determine root causes and offer support.
Our school goal is 95-97%% daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly attendance. Students and staff have come up with ideas to promote attendance with incentives for individual students, grade levels, and the entire school.
Attendance Reminders
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.
Grand Canyon Updates
Below are some updates from our 7th-grade Grand Canyon field trip team.
- Selected students will be required to pay the first half of the payment by December 13th. Payment details and instructions will be passed out during the student meeting on Friday, November 22nd.
- We are working on making reservations at Havasu Falls and need to be ready to make the payment if reservations are made. If reservations are not available, then your payment will be refunded.
- If you have any questions , please email Maestro Alfredo Oropeza (aoropeza@rcsdk8.net)
8th-Grade Updates
TO CONTRIBUTE ONLINE TO 8TH-GRADE ACTIVITIES:
https://app.99pledges.com/fund/kennedycougarsclassof2025
8TH-GRADE ACTIVITIES CONTRIBUTION INSTRUCTIONS & FORM:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/12HkyLyULf8lgt8O-oH8elnNHDn85toToRaxKxLR9aLg/edit?usp=sharing
Clubs at Kennedy
- Intramurals Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays at lunch
- Wellness Club 7/8th Grade Lunch Mondays Room 207
- Anime Club 7/8th Grade Lunch Mondays Room 314
- Photojournalism Club Mondays Room 532
- Calligraphy/Cursive Writing Club 7/8th Grade Lunch Mondays Room 318
- 6th-Grade Lunch Bunch 6th Grade Lunch Tuesdays and Fridays Room 207
- Chess Club 7/8th Grade Lunch Tuesdays Room 535
- Video Game Club 7/8th Grade Lunch Tuesdays Room 314
- GSA Skittles 7/8th Grade Lunch Tuesdays Room 315
- Italian Club Tuesdays After School Room 318
- Art Club 6th Grade Lunch Tuesdays Room 104
- Art Club 7th/8th Grade Lunch Tuesdays Room 526
- Badminton Club 7th/8th Grade Lunch Tuesdays and Wednesdays in the Gym
- 7/8th-Grade Lunch Bunch Wednesdays Room 207
Hispanic/Latine Club 7/8th Grade Lunch Wednesdays Room 530
- Book Club in the Kennedy Library Dates/Times TBD
- Board Game Club Thursdays in the Kennedy Library
- Origami Club Thursdays 6th Grade lunch in B-8
- Video Game Club 6th Grade Lunch Thursdays Room 102
- Environmental Club 7/8th Grade Lunch Thursdays Room 535
VinylHeadz (Music Discussion) 7/8th Grade Lunch Fridays Room 528
We encourage every Kennedy student to join and participate in at least one club this school year. Clubs are a great way to make connections, make friends, and create a joyful school environment. Clubs are created by students for students. Students need to find a teacher to advise their club. Clubs generally meet once a week. Students need to listen to the morning announcements for updates.
Homework Help: Mondays, Tuesdays, & Wednesdays
Students can get help with homework and assignments on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays after school in the Kennedy Library from 3:15-4:15 p.m. If students are enrolled in the Boys and Girls Club after school program, they need to sign in first.
Students must be actively working on assignments. Students should not come to Homework Help to hang out or be off task.
We look forward to helping students succeed!
Tutor.com Support
Students can also get support with Tutor.com. This is a free virtual service available to all students. Students can access Tutor.com through Clever using their Chromebooks. Find the logo that looks like the icon to the left. We will teach students about Tutor.com after Goal-Setting Conferences during homeroom.
Homework Support: Brain Fuse & Redwood City Public Library
Brainfuse is one of the most experienced online tutoring companies in the nation. HelpNow is a unique tutoring, homework help, and studying suite designed to assist patrons of all ages succeed. This is a service provided through Redwood City Public Library. Students can access Brainfuse by finding the Redwood City Public Library icon on Clever on their Chromebook. They should look for the icon like the one pictured on the right.
High School Information for 8th-Graders
Open Enrollment and Address Verification for SUHSD Now OPEN
Kennedy High School Information Website
We will host evening events to help Kennedy families with the registration processs. Check back here for updates!
Homework Reminders
Your students should have homework Monday through Friday. Our English language arts and math teachers will assign homework nightly. Here are the general homework guidelines for each grade level:
6th Grade: 30-45 minutes
7th Grade: 45-60 minutes
8th Grade: 60-75 minutes
These times may vary depending on the assignments and projects, but students should have some math or reading assignment each night. If your student says they do not have homework, please make sure they show you their assignments in Google Classroom. You can also check PowerSchool for grades. If your student says they finished their assignments at school, make them show you their finished work.
If students are finished with their assignments, they can still:
Read their independent reading books.
Practice reading or math i-Ready or Khan Academy lessons.
Review notes from classes to make sure they understand their lessons.
Create flashcards for key vocabulary terms and review them.
Clean out or organize their backpacks, binders, and folders.
Student & Family Handbook
In order to make our handbook for students and families more accessible, we have digitized it. Please know that the information in the handbook will be continually updated to ensure families are informed.
Click to view and save the Kennedy Student & Family Handbook.
Kennedy's Amazon Wishlist
Kennedy Middle School
Website: https://www.rcsdk8.net/kennedy
Location: 2521 Goodwin Avenue, Redwood City, CA, USA
Phone: 650.482.2409
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kennedymiddleschool