Cougar Connect

Dear Kennedy Community,

Welcome back! I hope you had a relaxing and refreshing spring break! As we return to campus, there's a renewed sense of energy in the air—and we're excited to finish the year strong together.

Listed below are important dates and reminders for the weeks ahead:

Save the Date: Spring Music Concert

Wednesday, April 24th at 6:00 p.m. in the Kennedy Gym. We are in need of volunteers to make the evening a success. Sign up here!

Italian Club Fundraiser: Saturday, April 19

Students in our Italian Club are raising funds for their trip to Italy in June. Italian Club families are hosting a fundraiser this Saturday at the Redwood Shores Sandpiper Room. Tickets are $35. See the details below!

State Testing Begins Tuesday, April 29

We will begin state testing on Tuesday, April 29, and we will finish the reading and math portions of the assessment on Friday, May 9. Our 8th-graders will take the California Science Test the week of May 12th in their science classes. Please add these dates to your calendars. We want to make sure all students are present for this important summative assessment. I will provide families with more details at my Principal's Coffee meeting this Thursday, and I'll add additional updates in each newsletter. We are working to make sure all students have working Chromebooks for this assessment, as it will be completed on the computer.

Support Kennedy: Dine-Out Fundraiser This Week

Help raise money for Kennedy and enjoy a whole day without cooking! Sushi Plus and Corner Table in Woodside Plaza will donate 15% of the proceeds to Kennedy all day, in person or online - Enter Kennedy in the memo section of your order.

order.toasttab.com/online/sushiplus

order.toasttab.com/online/cornertable

Check Grades

Please log on to PowerSchool this week to check your students' grades. If there are concerns about grades, please email your student's teachers. It is expected that all Kennedy teachers update their grade books every two weeks.

Thank You

On Friday, April 4, our 140 7th-graders took a trip to Hillsdale Mall for their PBIS Rewards field trip. We are grateful for the support of our teachers, staff, and parent volunteers who chaperoned students. Thank you, Ms. Laney, Mr. Zinola, Ms. Paz, Ms. Avalos, Ms. Carney, Ms. Saucedo, Mrs. Linares, Mrs. Leslie-Torres, Mrs. Wasilewski, Ms. Roc, Mr. Zuniga, Ms. Lige, Mrs. Meisenheimer, Mr. Araiza, Mrs. Smith, and Ms. Robles. We always need parents and guardians to support us, so sign up to be a volunteer within RCSD: click here.

We also had many parents, teachers, staff, and community members support our second annual Career Day for our 8th-grade students. Thank you to our Community School Coordinator, Cynthia Cardona, for taking charge of this initiative. We appreciate you! Also, thank you for the generous support from our Parent Teacher Organization. Our PTO continues to help Kennedy initiatives by making sure we have the funds to make these events possible for our students. Support our PTO today!

Have a great week!

Mrs. Leonardo

As we continue to build a safe and supportive learning environment for all students, we want to remind everyone of our shared expectations around student behavior. Middle school is a time of growth, and with that comes the need for clear boundaries, consistency, and accountability.

We ask for your partnership in reinforcing the following with your child:

• Respect for others – including peers, staff, and the learning environment.

• Following directions the first time they are given.

• Keeping hands, feet, and objects to themselves at all times.

• Using appropriate language and maintaining a positive attitude.

• Being on time and prepared for class each day.

• Following Kennedy's dress code each day. Click here to review our dress code policy.

• Keep cell phones turned off all day, every day. Click here to review our cell phone policy.

Disruptive behavior, disrespect, or refusal to follow adult directions not only affects a child’s learning but also the learning of others. While we strive to use restorative approaches, there are times when consequences may be necessary to ensure a safe and productive school environment.

We appreciate your continued support and open communication. Together, we can help our students rise to their best selves.

Hello, Kennedy Community!

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

Raise a glass to education at the Redwood City Wine Walk, hosted by the Redwood City Education Foundation and Rotary Club of Redwood City! Join us on Wednesday, May 14, at 5:00 PM for an unforgettable evening of drinks, food, and fun in downtown Redwood City.

Start at the Library and stroll through over 20 local restaurants, bars, and ice cream spots offering exclusive food and drink specials. Stop for a complimentary glass of wine at Sound Union, the event headquarters. Catch up with friends or meet new ones—it’s an evening full of good vibes and local pride, all while supporting local students.

• Check-in opens at 4:30 PM in front of the Redwood City Library
• The first 200 attendees will receive a special Wine Walk glass
• All ages are welcome at select participating restaurants—only adults participating in tastings need a ticket

Tickets + Info: tinyurl.com/RWC-WineWalk-2025