Cougar Connect
Week of April 22, 2024
Principal's Message
Dear Kennedy Community,
Three hundred of our Kennedy Cougars look forward to sharing their hard work at this weekend's Addams Family Young@Part musical! If you still need to purchase your tickets, please make sure to get your ticket before our weekend performances! I've included details below, but feel free to click this link (http://kennedydrama.ticketleap.com/addams/)and purchase your tickets now. I'm looking forward to this fantastic event!
State Testing (CAASPP/SBAC) Begins April 30
State testing begins the week of April 29 (next week). Your student must be present at school every day during testing. Students will take the state test in the morning and we will have a modified schedule. Please schedule all appointments after school hours. We want every Kennedy student to be present for this important test. Here is our modified schedule. We will inform students about this schedule this week and next Monday.
Students need fully charged Chromebooks, so please make sure they charge their Chromebooks each night and bring their Chromebooks to school each day. We will have our RCSD tech support on hand this week to identify computer issues and fix students' computers.
Here are more important details for this week:
Best of Bay Area 2024
Kennedy Middle School was nominated for a Best of 2024 award in the middle school category. Take a look at the ballot, and cast your vote here!
Panorama Survey
This is an important time of year for all schools in our district. In the fall, you supported Kennedy by taking the fall Panorama Survey. Now, I need your support with completing the spring survey. The results of the survey allow our School Site Council, ELAC, and admin teams to figure out what we are doing well as a school and what areas we need to improve upon. Please take some time this week to take the survey. The survey should take 15 to 20 minutes to complete, and the survey window closes this Friday, April 26. Your responses are anonymous.
Family Survey Link: https://surveys.panoramaed.com/redwood/spring24family/surveys
Kennedy Color Run
The Kennedy Color Run is back! This is a great opportunity for our students to have fun while also allowing us to fundraise for our school. Please be sure to read all of the details about the Color Run below. The donation link can be found here: https://app.99pledges.com/fund/kennedycolorrun2024
Principal's Coffee Updates
Here are the Google Slides from last week's Principal's Coffee.
Earth Day 2024
We invite our Kennedy Cougars to sign our Earth Day pledge at lunch on Monday. By signing the pledge, we are committing to live a more environmentally friendly life. Students can select a reusable water bottle or a packet of flower seeds to plant after signing the pledge. Thank you to Ms. Paz, Ms. De Guzman, Mr. Rosaros, and Mr. Llanza for coming to Kennedy over the weekend to prepare for our Earth Day event! Our Environmental Club will encourage students to sign the pledge outside room 534 on Monday.
Spirit Week
This week we invite our Kennedy students and staff to participate in Spirit Week. Thank you to our Student Council for taking the lead on this event.
Monday: Disney Day
Tuesday: Sunglasses & Hat Day
Wednesday: Birthstone Color Day
Thursday: Dress Like Your Future Career Day
Friday: Pajamas & Crocs Day
March Mammal Madness Results
All of our 6th graders participated in March Mammal Madness this year!
What is March Mammal Madness? It is a bracket-style tournament pitting 64 animals and plants against each other and created by Katie Hinde at Arizona State University. Results are given throughout March, with winners of each match being decided by science and a little bit of random chance.
Students were each assigned one of the 64 contestants to research and create a hype poster. The hype posters were posted in a common area and students used these posters to help decide who would beat who in the tournament. Many students debated what attributes each species had and the habitats the species lived in to determine who would win. They kept track of how many predictions they correctly made and earned points.
At the end of the month, many students did better than the teachers! The top three students were awarded a trophy, iced animal crackers, and lots of Cougar Cash! Seven honorable mention students were also awarded iced animal crackers and Cougar Cash.
Top 3 students:
Kaydan C.
Asli E.P.
Layla K.
Honorable Mentions:
Giuliana Z., Sjohna T., Hazel D.A., Alaina L., Mariana O.D., Jude L., and Raphael H.
Music Students Performed at Great America
We are thrilled to announce the outstanding achievements of our music ensembles at the recent Great America Music Festival on Saturday, April 20! The Advanced Band has been awarded the prestigious "Excellent" rating in the Concert Band Division I. AA, securing second place. At the same time, the Symphonic Orchestra received an "Excellent" rating in the String Orchestra Division I. AA, earning third place. These accomplishments are a testament to our students’ and Mr. Balogh's dedication! Congratulations!
Spring Musical: The Addams Family Young@Part:
You can purchase tickets to our spring musical, The Addams Family Young@Part! Wednesday Addams has grown up and fallen in love with a young man from a respectable family whom her parents have never met. Now, Gomez Addams must do something he’s never done before– keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend and his parents. Our students have been working diligently to bring us a wonderful performance. The shows will be on Friday, April 26, 2024, @ 7 pm, Saturday, April 27, 2024, @ 3 pm, Saturday, April 27, 2024, @ 7 pm, and Sunday, April 28, 2024, @ 1:30 pm. Tickets will sell out, so don't delay.
Get your tickets now and share the link with friends and family (http://kennedydrama.ticketleap.com/addams/)
In order to choose your own seats you must make your purchase on a desktop. If you purchase tickets on a phone, it will assign you the best available seats
Performances will be April 26-28, 2024 at the McKinley Auditorium
Advertise a business in our program
Last year, over 700 attendees saw ads in our program. Program Ad donations provide support for the drama program. Direct your favorite businesses to this form to submit the details for your ad. Payment is through the Kennedy PTO store. Thank you for your support!
SBAC Bootcamp
Kennedy's SBAC Bootcamp will be held this Saturday, April 27 from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. Invitations were emailed and sent by text message to families last week.
The purpose of this Saturday session is to review our state test with students and give them additional support they may need to achieve grade-level success on this year's state test.
Mrs. Pilkenton and I will teach 6th-grade students, Ms. Le and Ms. Coyle will teach 7th-grade students, and Ms. Hernandez and Ms. Cullum will teach 8th-grade students.
This is a great opportunity for your students, and I am excited to start this initiative at Kennedy this school year.
Middle School Bilingual Attainment Award
Our 8th-grade Spanish and Mandarin Immersion students will have the opportunity to earn the Middle School Bilingual Attainment Award.
The RCSD Middle School Bilingual Attainment Award is designed to set a standard for high-level biliteracy attainment for our Multilingual Learners. It will be awarded at the end of eighth grade during our promotion ceremony with the hope that students will continue their language study at the high school level. Below are the RCSD criteria:
Attain age-appropriate proficiency in English Language Arts on the state testing system (CAASPP/SBAC) or local assessments (iReady). Students must be at grade level or above in iReady reading.
Demonstrate proficiency in the target measured by i-Ready (test will be taken in May with more details to follow). Students must meet at least 6th-grade level in the target language to qualify.
Meet the criteria for Redesignated Fluent English Proficient (RFEP) for students who are English learners (if applicable).
Create and deliver an oral presentation in the target language identifying the importance of cultural understanding and explaining why being culturally respectful is a benefit in the 21st Century.
Maestro Alfredo and Cao Laoshi will administer the oral presentations and reading assessments. We will notify families about the date.
If you are interested in having your student participate, please fill out this Google Form by April 26th, 2024. Google Form: click here.
Yearbook Update
Kennedy uses Treering to create and sell our yearbooks.
Yearbooks can be purchased online by clicking this link.
If you are asked for a school code, please use Kennedy's code: 1015926081674110.
The yearbook price before taxes is $38.29.
Yearbooks will ship to Kennedy. We will then distribute the yearbooks to students in late May or the first week of June.
Tutoring and Academic Support Opportunities
Students can get drop-in math support on Mondays and Wednesdays with Ms. Le, Mrs. Figueroa, and Ms. Paz in room 533.
Students can reach out to individual teachers to schedule a time to meet during teacher office hours.
Students with IEPs and identified learning disabilities can get targeted intervention and support from
College Advising Prep (CAP). Please reach out to Michelle Fryer Phan for additional information at mfryerphan@rcsdk8.net.
We also partner with Healthy Cities Tutoring. Students can get individual support from a volunteer once a week. Please contact our Kennedy Family Center for more information about Healthy Cities Tutoring kennedyfc@rcsdk8.net.
Missing Assignment Study Hall (MASH) is held after school once per week in the Kennedy Library for any student who is currently earning an overall D+, D, D-, or F in any class. We will have time dedicated to support students with missing assignments, test corrections, essays, etc. Our Kennedy admin team will support students during this time. Students will meet in the library after school from 3:15 to 4:15 pm.
Reminders for 8th-grade Families
Our next event for 8th-graders is the annual trip to Great America. Students must have a cumulative 2.0 GPA and no behavior problems to attend this field trip. Kennedy staff will accompany students on the trip. We plan to leave Kennedy at 9:00 and return by 5:00 pm. We will have more details to send home by the second week of May.
Join us in the Kennedy Library at 5:30 pm to hear about summer opportunities for your future 9th-grader. Check out the flyer below for more details.
Please be reminded that your 8th-grade students were given a letter in November that explained Kennedy's expectations for students to participate in 8th-grade activities and the promotion ceremony. The letter was supposed to be read by students and their families. Then, a signed acknowledgment form was to be submitted by December 1. 8th-Grade Letter
Our 8th-grade Promotion Ceremony is Tuesday, June 11, 2024, at 6:00 pm on the Kennedy field.
A cumulative GPA of 2.0 is required to participate in all 8th-grade activities and the ceremony. Please be sure to check your student's grades each week.
Please refer to this newsletter with information from the 8th-grade information night.
Student Clubs Meeting This Week
Math Homework Support after school on Mondays and Wednesdays in room 534
Volleyball Intramurals begin on Tuesday.
Book Club cancelled this week
Writing Club during 7th/8th grade lunch in room 318
6th-Grade Gaming Club Monday at lunch in room 102
6th-Grade Student Council Reps Tuesday at lunch in room 103
Italian Club after school in room 318 on Tuesday
Makerspace and Robotics Club Tuesday during 6th-grade lunch in room 104
Wellness Club Tuesday during 7th/8th grade lunch in room 636
7th & 8th-Grade Lunch Bunch Wednesday during 7th/8th grade lunch in room 636
K-Pop Club Wednesday during 7th/8th grade lunch in room 208
Rock Band Club after school on Wednesday in room 314
Chess Club Wednesday during 6th-grade lunch in the library
D&D Wednesday during 6th-grade lunch in room 102
Missing Assignment Study Hall cancelled this week.
7th-Grade Executive Council Thursday at lunch in room 314
Art Club Thursday during 7th/8th grade lunch in room 527
Jazz Club Thursday morning before school in room 312
GSA Kennedy Skittles Thursday during 7th/8th grade lunch in room 315
GSA Kennedy Skittles Thursday during 6th-grade lunch in room 102
Chess Club Thursday during 7th/8th grade lunch in the library
K-Pop Club Thursday at 6th-grade lunch in room B-9
6th-Grade Lunch Bunch Friday during 6th-grade lunch in room B-6
Environmental Club Friday during 7th/8th grade lunch in room 535
Anime Club Friday during 6th-grade lunch in room B-7
Have a great week!
Mrs. Leonardo
Kennedy Color Run
Fundraising for the Kennedy Color Run starts today! You should have already received an email with a link to your student’s personal fundraising page. You can also find it by searching for your student’s name on our main fundraising page: https://app.99pledges.com/fund/kennedycolorrun2024.
Share the link to your student’s personal fundraising page with friends and family because students will receive 1 ticket for every $25 raised from now through May 5. Students can enter these tickets into the prize draw of their choice at the Color Run on May 10. This is the only way to earn raffle tickets!! We’ve got some awesome prizes this year:
MacBook Air Laptop (Apple M2 Chip, 8 GB) & 3 years Applecare+ coverage
Apple iPad (9th Generation, 10.2 inch screen, 64 GB) & 2 years Applecare+ coverage
Nintendo Switch OLED (The Legend of Zelda theme) & The Legend of Zelda Games (Tears of the Kingdom & Breath of the Wild)
Beats Studio Pro Wireless Bluetooth Headphones
$50 Cinemark gift card (x2)
$50 Pizza My Heart gift card (x2)
$25 Pizza My Heart gift card & $25 Starbucks gift card
$50 Starbucks gift card
$100 Target gift card
$100 Amazon gift card
$100 Visa gift card
$100 GameStop gift card
Admin for the Day
New this year: guaranteed prizes for hitting fundraising goals!
Every grade that hits their combined grade-level goal of $8,500 will be able to wear Crocs to school.
Every student who raises at least $250 will get In-N-Out delivered to the school for lunch.
Every student who raises at least $500 will also get an ice cream party at school.
The dates for all of these will be announced.
Fundraising will continue through May 12. The top 2 students who raise the most by then will also get prizes: $100 Amazon gift card for 1st / $50 Amazon gift card for 2nd!
For more information, to sign up to volunteer, and to see a highlight video from last year’s Color Run, please visit: https://kennedycougarspto.org/color-run.
March Mammal Madness
Music Students Perform at Great Amercia
Kennedy Students Celebrate National Arab American Month
Each day students have learned facts and information about Arab Americans and their contribution to America. On Friday, Kennedy students and staff got to learn how to write their names in Arabic. Sami A., Michael K., Manawel L., and Marcel K. led this event. Thank you!
Parent Engagment Opportunities
Who Should Attend:
Parents, guardians, and caring adults of children in any age group
Location:
Flex Room
Taft Elementary School
903 Tenth Avenue
Redwood City, CA 94063
Sign up here:
Cost: Free
Workshop Series Funded by:
Taft Elementary School
Contact: 408-351-6482 or
These workshops will also be presented in Spanish.
7th-Grade Grand Canyon Trip Updates
There are no important updates as of now. However, if you have any questions about payment, please email Maestro Alfredo: aoropeza@rcsdk8.net.
For Payments By Check:
- Make your check payable to JFKMSEEF.
- Write your child’s name in the memo line and “GCT”
- Hand deliver the check to JFKMSEEF, 1943 Kentucky Ave., Redwood City, CA 94061 OR
- Drop in the JFKMSEEF Dropbox in the Kennedy School office.
For Payments By ZELLE:
Make payment to John F Kennedy Middle School Expeditionary Education Foundation (or JFKMSEEF) as a recipient. Our account uses our email
address: kennedygrandcanyon@gmail.com PLEASE NOTE YOUR CHILD’S FIRST AND LAST NAMES IN THE MEMO.
Please review the information and email Maestro Alfredo (aoropeza@rcsdk8.net) if you have any questions or concerns.
Cell Phone Reminders
Cell phones are to be turned off and placed in backpacks from the time students get on campus until they exit the campus. If you need to get a hold of your student, please avoid texting or calling during the school day. Please call the office and let us know you would like to speak to your student and we can have them come to the office and call you directly.
We have too many students using and accessing their cell phones during the school day in order to use social media. This is a waste of instructional time.
If your student is caught using their cell phone during the school day, they will be required to check their phone in and out of the office before and after school each day.
We need your continued support with this rule, so we thank you in advance for your help.
PTO Calendar
PTO Corner
Hello, Kennedy Community!
Our April PTO meeting has been moved to Tuesday, 4/30, from 7:00-8:30 pm in the KMS Library. All parents are automatically members of the PTO and we’d love to have you join us! Our meeting topics will include a discussion of the 2024-25 school year PTO budget recommendations, information about new murals and updates from elective committee representatives.
As we get closer to the end of this school year, keep those donations coming! Remember no amount is too small and all funds directly support KMS students, faculty, and staff. If you are able, DONATE HERE! Donate – KMS PTO
Don’t forget to follow the KMS PTO on Instagram and Facebook, @KennedyCougarsPTO.
Check out www.kennedycougarspto.org for more info.
Kind regards,
Jess Bryski
Donate to Kennedy
Join WhatsApp
Kennedy Family Center Updates
Click here to listen to this month's podcast for April.
April's Family Challenge: Celebrate Earth Day together by participating in activities that promote sustainability and appreciation for our plant. Take a picture of your family riding bikes, recycling, composting, picking up trash, using reusable water bottles, or reusing items. Then, email the photo to kennedyfc@rcsdk8.net.
Padres de Kennedy 2023 WhatsApp Group
Cynthia Cardona, Community School Coordinator ccardona@rcsdk8.net
Maria Segundo, Admin Assistant msegundo@rcsdk8.net
Kathryn Lige, Lead Mental Health Counselor klige@rcsdk8.net
Contact the Kennedy Family Center by phone: (650) 482-2110
Sports Updates
Soccer Games
Wednesday, April 24 4:15 pm: Kennedy Gold vs. Roy Cloud @ Kennedy Field
Girls' Soccer Game:
Monday, April 22 4:45 pm: Kennedy vs. KIPP @ Kennedy Field
Go, Kennedy Cougars! Game Schedule
Library Updates
What's Happening in the Kennedy Library?
Book Club meets on Mondays after school until the Addams Family Musical is finished. If you are interested in joining, come by the library to sign up or sign up here.
Get more details from Ms. Cooper and the awesome Kennedy Library by visiting the Kennedy Library Website.
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. Students received planners during the fourth week of school, and included in the planner is the student handbook.
Click to view and save the Kennedy Student & Family Handbook.
Kennedy's Amazon Wishlist
We are incredibly grateful for your support! Thank you!
Our wishlist contains items requested by teachers at Kennedy. It now contains items we need for our STEAM and art electives.
Upcoming Events
APRIL
*CAASPP/SBAC Testing Begins This Month!
- Summer Opportunities for 8th-Graders April 25 Library 6:00-7:00 pm
- Addams Family Musical April 26 MIT Auditorium 7:00pm
- Addams Family Musical April 27 MIT Auditorium 3:00 & 7:00 pm
- Addams Family Musical April 28 MIT Auditorium 1:30pm
- PTO Meeting April 30 Library 7:05-8:30 pm
State Testing Window Opens April 29-May 17
Click here to view the most up-to-date version of the Kennedy Calendar of Events.
Open House has been changed from Tuesday, April 2 to Wednesday, May 29. This has been updated on the Calendar of Events.
Kennedy Middle School
Email: cleonardo@rcsdk8.net
Website: https://kennedy.rcsdk8.net
Location: 2521 Goodwin Avenue, Redwood City, CA, USA
Phone: 650.482.2409
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kennedymiddleschool