Distressed that 25 percent of the country's World War I draftees were illiterate and 9 percent were physically unfit, representatives of the National Education Association (NEA) and the American Legion met in 1919 to seek ways to generate public support for education.

The conventions of both organizations subsequently adopted resolutions to support a national effort to raise public awareness regarding the importance of education. In 1921, the NEA Representative Assembly in Des Moines, Iowa, called for the designation of one week each year to spotlight education. In its resolution, the NEA called for: “An educational week ... observed in all communities annually for the purpose of informing the public of the accomplishments and needs of the public schools and to secure the cooperation and support of the public in meeting those needs.”

The first American Education Week was observed December 4-10, 1921, with the NEA and American Legion as the cosponsors. A year later, the then U.S. Office of Education joined the effort as a cosponsor, and the PTA followed in 1938.

In addition to the U.S. Department of Education, more than a dozen national organizations cosponsor American Education Week across the United States.

American Education Week is always celebrated the week prior to Thanksgiving.

Bancroft hosted their annual Guest Reader Event on November 21, 2024. Guest readers from the community and the district came to Bancroft to engage with each classroom and share a book! This event is an annual tradition (paused during the “COVID years”) to celebrate American Education Week. The week’s events included a schoolwide SSR, Number Day, Read Me Day, Guest reader event and a Door Tour! Be sure to ask your child which book was featured on their classroom door and what other amazing doors they saw during the Door Tour!

As noted in the White House Proclamation on American Education Week, "we celebrate the power and promise of our Nation's public education system, which has empowered so many students to realize their full potential regardless of their zip code. We show gratitude for educators and staff, who ensure that our schools are filled with hope and possibilities". Students in Mr. Hess's STEM class experimented with a different kind of power this week, when grade 4 students experimented with potential and kinetic energy by making rubber band powered cars!

To celebrate American Education week, students at New Garden put on their thinking caps for Monday's Hat Day. Tuesday and Wednesday, students celebrated writing and numbers. On Thursday, each grade wore a special color for “Learning Colors our World.” On the last day of American Education Week, students showed off their New Garden spirit by wearing blue and white.

In honor of American Education Week, students at Mary D. Lang Kindergarten Center enjoyed school-wide Spirit Days! It was "hats off" to education on Monday, with students donning their favorite hats. On Tuesday, the entire building dressed for success. Wednesday was a day filled with reading. Students wore shirts with words on them and brought their favorite book to share. On Thursday, students and teachers celebrated math by wearing shirts with numbers. Today, students celebrated their love for MDL and KCSD by wearing school colors. It was a wonderful way to lead into the Thanksgiving week -- grateful for learning and school!

The Kennett Middle School Student Council is running a canned food drive through Thanksgiving Break. Donation boxes are set up in the 8th grade wing. Students should bring their donations to the A-wing. Closer to Thanksgiving, KMS Student Council Advisor, Miss Pizzini, will take all donations to the Kennett Food Cupboard and the Chester County Food Bank.

The most needed items include:

• White rice
• Canned pinto/black beans
• Pasta
• Canned tomatoes/sauce
• Canned corn or mixed vegetables
• Canned fruit
• Peanut butter
• Canned chicken/tuna
• Jelly
• Cereal
• Ramen noodles

Students take the stage on Friday and Saturday this weekend for a production of the original Broadway play Wait Until Dark by Frank Knott. The play premiered in 1966 starring Lee Remick and Robert Duvall. A modern revival hit Broadway in 1998 starring Marisa Tomei and Quentin Tarantino. In 1967, the movie featuring Audrey Hepburn and Alan Arkin earned Hepburn an Oscar and a Golden Globe nomination. The play is a suspenseful and frightening portrayal of crime and misunderstanding that impacts an unsuspecting family. Be sure to join our talented students as they showcase how public education brings the arts alive to the community. Tickets are available online at the link below or by scanning the QR code.

Megan Greener, special education teacher and club advisor for the Humanitarian/Mini-THON club advisor at the high school, welcomes all Kennett families to contribute to a special effort to help fill stockings for children affected by Hurricane Helene. The organization they are working with serves 1,000 children in Asheville, NC, and surrounding areas.

It's easy to help! Simply donate $5 toward the effort, and the club will send you a personalized letter and "nice certificate" mailed from Santa himself! Letters are available in English or Spanish.

Another way to support the cause, is to purchase gifts for the stockings via an Amazon Gift List Link below.

Under a break in the clouds, the Kennett Consolidated School District (KCSD) officially kicked off construction of the highly anticipated new Greenwood Elementary School with a groundbreaking ceremony attended by school district leaders, local officials, and students. This event marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Greenwood Elementary, one of two schools currently under construction. Both schools are scheduled to open in the summer of 2026, serving the communities in the Borough of Kennett Square, New Garden Township, Kennett Township, and a portion of East Marlborough Township. Read more about this wonderful day at our website.

You can also watch the entire ceremony at our YouTube channel.

After completing the final focus groups with students at Kennett Middle School, the team is now preparing a survey for KCSD staff, families, and community members. The results of this survey will help inform Dr. Rizzo Saunders' entry plan as well as the Kennett Consolidated Strategic Plan, which is due to the Pennsylvania Department of Education in 2025. Stay tuned for more information.

Want to give kudos to a special KCSD teacher or staff member? Has someone gone above and beyond, expressed kindness and compassion in a difficult situation, or made our school environments feel safe and welcoming? It doesn't matter how big or small, let’s give thanks and celebrate these achievements! By submitting an easy web form, you can honor anyone you feel has made an impact in our schools. Kennett Education Foundation (KEF) will honor the teacher/staff member on your behalf through the KEF Kudos program. It only takes a few minutes to give thanks to those who give so much to our kids!

Since the program launched in early 2024, they've honored 130 KCSD staff members with a KEF Kudos. They've received submissions from students to teachers, from parents to staff members, and from staff members to staff members. We know great things happen every day in KCSD. Show your appreciation today using the button below.

Thank you to the KCSD Teachers and Staff who contributed to the annual KEF Payroll Deduction Campaign. These donations help raise money for Kennett Education Foundation (KEF) to provide grants and scholarship programs for our school district. As a thank you to all those who donate, KEF gifted Amazon gift card raffle prizes to 3 donors! Winners this year are:

• $100 - Jennifer Schmalzbach of KHS STEM
• $50 - Sarah Hannagan of New Garden Elementary
• $50 - Lauren Ferguson of KHS English

The Chester County Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with the Chester County District Attorney’s Office and the Department of Emergency Services, is hosting “Think Before You Post: Protecting Your Digital Footprint.” This is an information seminar designed for middle and high school students as well as their parents. The seminar, which will be held on Friday, December 13 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in Courtroom No. 1 of the Chester County Justice Center, focuses on educating families about online safety and the long-term effects of one’s digital presence. Those who would like to attend can register at the link below. A recording of the event will be made available on Facebook.

FMFCU is excited to announce the 2024-2025 Classroom Mini Grants and Excellence in Teaching Awards. Do you know a teacher in Chester County who could use a mini grant to benefit the students in their classroom? Do you know an outstanding educator in Chester County who you’d like to recognize for their hard work and dedication to their craft? Chester County has so many amazing educators. Why not look to recognize them today!

The Chester County Intermediate Unit is conducting a communication audit to gather input from board members, staff, administrators, families, and community members. The feedback collected will help shape future communication strategies for the Kennett Consolidated School District. This week, staff, parents and guardians, and taxpayers participated in virtual focus groups! Look for additional survey opportunities coming soon.

Looking for the perfect meaningful and inspired Kennett gift? Powerbeads by Jen and the Kennett Basketball Boosters have teamed up once again to create three custom Kennett-inspired gemstone bracelets. Click the link below for more details on how you can support the boys’ and girls’ basketball programs.

Print out this flyer and show it to your server anytime on Monday, December 2. The folks at Grain KSQ will donate 20% of your food check to Kennett High School Class of 2026.