Dear Kennedy Community,
We continue with CAASPP testing this week. Our focus will be on math. Thank you for ensuring your students are present and on time each day. Students who have not yet completed the English language arts tests will test on Monday and throughout the rest of the week.
Here are ways you can support your Kennedy student during state testing:
1. Ensure they get a good night's sleep. Lights out by 9:00 p.m.
2. Ensure they are not on cell phones or computers after 9:00 p.m.
3. Make sure they eat a healthy breakfast in the morning before school begins.
4. Make sure they are at school each day on time. School begins at 8:30 a.m.
5. Encourage them to try their best.
Thank You
I appreciate the kind emails and cards received on Principal's Appreciation Day last week. Our PTO also presented me with beautiful flowers. Thank you!
Teachers' Appreciation Week
This week, we honor and celebrate the amazing teachers at Kennedy who show up daily with dedication, creativity, and heart. Their commitment to our students’ growth and well-being makes a lasting difference. Please join me in thanking our teachers for the passion and care they bring to their classrooms each day—our school is stronger because of them!
Attendance Reminders/Truancy Letters
Truancy letters were recently sent to families through our district office. Please note: Truancy letters are sent out based on the number of excused/unexcused absences a student has. Even if your student is sick and their absence is excused, they may receive a truancy letter. Letters may also be sent if students are late/tardy to school each morning.
We are unable to change any attendance records after the week of the absence. If you notice any attendance errors or receive phone calls about an incorrect absence, please call our attendance line and leave a message. Alternatively, you may email our attendance clerk, Jessica: jpperez@rcsdk8.net.
Check Grades
Please log in to PowerSchool this week to check your students' grades and attendance. If you have concerns about your student's grades, please email their teachers. It is expected that all Kennedy teachers update their grade books every two weeks. If there are concerns about attendance errors, please email the teacher and/or our attendance clerk, Jessica: jpperez@rcsdk8.net
Have a great week!
Mrs. Leonardo
- Backpack check-in day is Tuesday, May 13, in the front parking lot of the school.
- Other reminders for backpack check-in: hiking boots must be tied to the outside frame of the backpack, everything must fit inside the backpack, and students will receive their day bag at check-in.
- Please ensure that you have a good pair of hiking boots and start breaking them in. We encourage practice hikes with the backpacks to prepare for the trip.
- Students will meet with Maestro Alfredo a week before the trip departs to ask any lingering questions.
- If you have any questions, please feel free to email Maestro Alfredo at aoropeza@rcsdk8.net.
Dear Kennedy Parents, 👋
As your PTO, we wanted to share some important updates and opportunities to get involved as we support and celebrate our amazing students, staff, and school community.
We Did It—Thank You! 🎭💃🎶
We’re thrilled to share that we’ve reached our $60,000 fundraising goal for the Drama elective program! Thanks to your generosity, Drama, Dance, and our beloved annual musical will all return to Kennedy next year.
The KMS PTO extends our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed to this important cause. Special thanks to our two generous family donors and the Woodside High Drama Boosters, whose matching funds helped us cross the finish line!
Your support means the world to us. Thank you for keeping the arts alive at Kennedy!
🎉 Remember that May 2 - May 9 is TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK! The PTO will provide a pizza lunch for teachers and staff on Wednesday and a sweet treat buffet on Thursday. See below to sign-up to help. Let’s show our teachers how much we love them!
🍬 Teacher Appreciation Sweet Treat Buffet – May 8
Show your gratitude and appreciation for Kennedy teachers by donating something sweet for them to enjoy. The PTO will provide to-go containers for teachers to fill with yummy treats. Sign up to donate a treat HERE!
🏃♂️ Color Run – May 9
Our annual Kennedy FUNdraiser is here! Students raise money, earn raffle entries, and enjoy an afternoon of colorful fun!
Raffle prizes include:
Meta Quest 3S
Beats Wireless Headphones
Amusement park & escape room tickets
Gift cards: GameStop, Nike, Ulta, Doordash, Target, Visa
“Admin for the Day” experience
Volunteers needed to help set up, toss color, and hand out snacks.
Sign up HERE to help
Check your email for your child’s personal fundraising link. Didn’t get it? Email: kennedycolorrun@gmail.com with your student’s name, grade, and preferred email.
Important Dates:
May 9: Color Run event
May 11: Final fundraising deadline. The top two students who collect the most by this date will win Target gift cards.
🎢 8th Grade Great America Trip – May 23
A day of fun and memories!
We need 24 district-cleared chaperones (transportation provided).
Sign up HERE (under the 8th Grade Great America Trip tab)
📅 Final PTO Meeting of the Year – May 27
Everyone is welcome to join us in-person or on Zoom for our last PTO meeting of the school year. Agenda items will include voting on next year’s PTO budget and PTO Executive Committee members. We’ll meet at 7:00PM in Room 101 and online here: Meeting ID: 931 1904 0816; Passcode: Kennedy
🍦Open House & Mural Celebration Ice Cream Social – May 29
Celebrate our students' creativity and tour classrooms!
5:00 Open House; 7:30 Mural Celebration
🕺 8th Grade Graduation Dance – June 6
8th Grade Parents: We need your help to set-up and decorate the gym, donate food and clean up afterwards. Sign up to help HERE!
6th and 7th Grade Parents: We need your help to chaperone the dance and staff the food tables. Sign up HERE to help!
As we head into the final stretch of the school year, we’re filled with gratitude for the incredible support and enthusiasm of our Kennedy community. Whether you’ve donated, volunteered, or cheered from the sidelines, your involvement makes a real difference. Let’s finish the year strong—celebrating our students, showing appreciation to our teachers and staff, and coming together for all the fun and meaningful events ahead. We can’t wait to see you there!
With heartfelt appreciation,
The KMS PTO Leadership Team
Jessica Bryski, PTO President
Aracely Tamayo, PTO Vice-President
Tina Keegan, PTO Co-Treasurer
Steve Osborn, PTO Co-Treasurer
Becky Foutch, PTO Secretary
Carmie Chan, Co-Communications Chair
Krissie Rice, Co-Communications Chair
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 an agreement form. The letter and agreement form must be reviewed and signed by a parent, guardian, or caregiver. The form should be turned in to homeroom teachers by Thursday, December 5.
Families of students who have a cumulative grade point average below 2.0 after trimesters one and two were sent emails and text messages on Sunday, March 30. Kennedy administrators will meet with families and students to make sure they are aware of the next steps for students.
Families of students who have a cumulative grade point average between 2.0 and 2.5 were also sent emails and text messages explaining that their students must continue to do well trimester three.
Visit the Kennedy Outdoor Ed website for more information about the Kennedy Yosemite trip for our rising 8th-grade students: https://www.kennedyoutdoored.org/yosemite/
Email the trip coordinator here: kennedyyosemitetrip@gmail.com
Learn more about the trip and sign up here: click this link.
Click here to read the brochure. A video of the Zoom meeting is below.
Sign up and pay your deposit by June 1, 2025 to go on the trip in October.
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