Kennedy Update May 2024
A community of belonging, support, and excellence
Hello, Kennedy Families!
It’s hard to believe the end of another school year is upon us. There is so much to celebrate and appreciate about the Kennedy community. As I finish my second year as principal, I continue to be humbled by the opportunity to serve our amazingly brilliant and talented students and the wider community. The relationships that I have developed and continue to foster with families and caregivers are both special and critical to student success. Thank you for all of your support, feedback and partnership this year. I am better because of it.
In addition to celebrations and appreciation, the end of the year also brings transition. Whether that is for seniors getting ready to graduate and heading off to new adventures, students moving to a new community, or staff starting a new chapter, many of us are impacted in some way.
I feel the emotions connected to all of the transitions listed above, but there is one transition that I am really feeling. Next year, Assistant Principal, Kris Krenz, will take her talents to Olson Middle School. It is a big loss for the Kennedy community. Kris has spent the past 18 years serving our students and families in multiple roles, including Activities and Athletic Director and Assistant Principal. She has been a huge source of support and continuity and we will miss her greatly. Please help me wish her the very best in her new role.
A message from Kris: Hello, Families. For professional and personal reasons, I will be transitioning to be an assistant principal at Olson Middle School next school year. The Kennedy community will be greatly missed and I have appreciated the wonderful students and families I have been able to work with over my tenure here. Go Eagles!
I also want to take this opportunity to thank the students in our Green Club, along with their advisors, Mr. Richardson and Mr. Robinson. On Saturday, May 4, 42 new trees were planted on Kennedy’s property and it is all due to the advocacy and work of this group. It is inspiring to see our students invest in their community. Planting trees supports watershed health and water quality, helps to mitigate the impact of climate change and improves air quality. Additionally, tree lined streets have been known to provide a traffic calming effect, which is important for our new drivers!
Families - Thank you for a great year. I wish you each a safe and fun summer. Please reach out to me directly or any member of your student’s support team for support.
In partnership,
Molly Hollenbeck
Principal
952.681.5050
Green Club tree planting team!
Best wishes, Ms. Krenz!
BELONGING
Please remember that daily attendance matters until the very last day of school, not only for academic success, but because school offers an opportunity to develop social and emotional skills such as listening, paying attention, problem-solving and self-regulation, all which are needed to grow and learn.
Showing up matters for R.E.A.L because it is an opportunity to:
Build Routines
Increase Engagement
Provide Access to resources
Support Learning
Routines: Establishing a routine of daily attendance helps reduce stress at home, and supports a habit of attendance that will help your teenager get and keep a job.
Engagement: Being in school helps students to get to know each other and school staff and builds relationships that can motivate participation in learning.
Access to Resources: Schools provide access to valuable resources such as meals, health, mental health supports and fun enrichment activities such as sports, clubs, music, and other programs.
Learning: Students who attend school regularly are more likely to graduate from high school.
SUPPORT
Participating in high school athletics has long-lasting benefits. These include the acceleration of college readiness, enhanced academic success and the improvement of health and wellness. Please talk with your student about their interest in Kennedy athletics. You can find information on the Athletics & Activities page on the Kennedy website.
Fall Sports registration will open in mid-July. Please be on the lookout for a communication coming from the District office with more information.
Until then, please see information below about summer workouts. The summer workout registration process is the same as it is for sports. Click the green tab Registration Instructions to learn more and then click the yellow tab Register Now to complete the summer workout registration process. For more information, please contact Activity & Athletic Director, Jon Anderson at jranders@isd271.org or 952-681-5047.
Summer Workouts:
Registration opens 5/10/24
All students must be registered to participate
Cost is $130 (Families who qualify for Educational Benefits will have reduced fees)
Open to students entering grades 7-12 in the Fall of 2024
Dates 6/3/24 - 8/9/24: Monday - Thursday
Session 1: Football: 8am - 9:15am with football staff
Session 2: All Sports Grades 7, 8, and 9: 3pm - 4pm with Strength Coaches Bobby Fahlin and Sonama Lejeunesse
Session 3: All Sports Grades 10, 11, and 12: 4pm-5pm with Strength Coaches Bobby Fahlin and Sonama Lejeunesse
Students must wear athletic shoes and clothes that are appropriate for workouts. Need help registering? Please contact Lori Esser at lesser@isd271.org.
EXCELLENCE
I hope to see many of you at the Minneapolis Convention Center celebrating our Seniors and all they have accomplished in high school at our graduation ceremony. It takes place on Thursday, May 30 at 7 pm and is absolutely my favorite night of the year. I am so proud of the class of 2024 and know our students are off to do great things in the world! Graduation questions should be directed to Assistant Principal, Katrina Mezera, at kmezera@isd271.org or 952-681-5075.
Students need 65 total credits to graduate. Each class is worth one credit. Each year, a student can earn up to 18 credits. Review your student’s grades with them to understand their current standing in relation to graduation.
9th grade students should have close to 18 credits at the end of their first year of high school
10th grade students - 36 credits
11th grade students - 54 credits
If your student is behind in credits, please contact their counselor to ensure they have a plan to recover their credits and graduate on time.
Summer School information from Assistant Principal, Paul Collier: As we approach the summer break, I want to remind you about our upcoming Summer Credit Recovery Program, scheduled to run from June 10th to June 28th. Be on the lookout for an invite over the next few weeks if you are currently off track for graduation.
The program consists of three sessions, offering the possibility to recover up to three required courses. If you receive an invitation, you are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity.
Should you have any questions or require guidance, please encourage your student to reach out to a counselor or myself (pcollier@isd271.org or 952-681-5046) for further information.
Thank you and we look forward to supporting your academic success this summer!
Paul Collier
Summer School Principal
952-681-5046
Katrina Mezera
Assistant Principal in charge of graduation
952-681-5075
Important Dates to Remember
May 22 - Last day for Seniors on track to graduate
May 27 - No school - Memorial Day
May 29 & May 30 - Trimester 3 Finals Days - school ends at 12:15
May 30 - Last day for all students
May 30 - Graduation at Minneapolis Convention Center - 7:00 p.m.
Weeks of June 10, 17, 24: Summer School Sessions
June 19: Juneteenth - No summer school
Kris Krenz
A-Gue
Paul Collier
Beacon
Katrina Mezera
O-Z
About us
Email: mhollenbeck@isd271.org
Website: https://www.bloomington.k12.mn.us/khs
Phone: 952-681-5000
Facebook: facebook.com/BloomingtonKennedy
Twitter: @JFKEagles