Parent and Community Update

As part of the new Benchmark curriculum, second grade students at Bancroft are examining elements of plot in stories. They are exploring the challenges faced by their favorite characters and learning how to express their opinions through writing and evaluating how these characters handle difficult situations. In addition to analyzing familiar tales, students are also discovering stories from other cultures. They are comparing international versions of well-known stories to ones they've heard before such as Cinderella!

Here are just a few of the stories students are exploring:

• “The Rough-Face Girl” by Rafe Martin
• “Bigfoot Cinderella” by Tony Johnston
• “Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters” by Steptoe
• “Yeh-Shen” by Ai-Ling Louie

On Saturday, November 2, Greenwood Elementary students and families came out to support the Mushroom Cap runners. Volunteers staffed multiple stations along the route, offering cups of water to help keep the runners hydrated. Each station featured a unique theme, with Greenwood’s inspired by the popular movie Inside Out. Everyone had a great time lending a helping hand and showing their support for the Kennett community.

Members of the KCSD Administration joined several hundred runners from across the area to support the Run2Shine Mushroom Cap Half-Marathon and 5 mile race. This annual event brings over 3,000 people to Kennett Square, celebrating not only running, but also the town's iconic mushrooms, health, community, and charitable giving. To date, Run2Shine has raised $69,500 for local charitable organizations that support Chester County residents through advocacy, education, health initiatives, and assistance for families in need.

KCSD met runners at the finish line with personalized protein bars and handed out commemorative stickers. Many Kennett High School students volunteered to support the race, while others took to the course and ran! The first-place finisher in the 5-mile race completed the course in under 28 minutes, while the first-place half-marathon runner finished in 1 hour, 17 minutes, and 6 seconds. It was a great day of community, competition, and giving back!

At New Garden Elementary, Mrs. Griffith’s third-grade class was awarded a Kennett Education Foundation (KEF) Grant for Morning STEM Bins. These bins, filled with materials like Legos, Magna-Tiles, gears, building tools, and logic games, encourage peer-to-peer collaboration before the school day begins. Each morning, students work together in their table groups to explore and create with the items in their bins. Thanks to this hands-on, interactive start to the day, these third graders are making discoveries and learning independently before formal lessons even begin. A big thank you to KEF for their generous support!

Middle school U.S. History students participated in a demonstration by Continental Soldier re-enactor Dan Murphy as part of their American Revolution unit. Dan Murphy, the nephew of 8th-grade History teacher Mr. Kevin Murphy, gave students a firsthand look at what it was like to be a soldier in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.

Six Kennett High School students received financial awards, and a monetary contribution was made to the KHS Hermanitas Scholarship Fund, which supports students in their academic pursuits. These awards were part of the Community Skills Initiative AI Skill-A-Thon held in October.

The free online program, offered in partnership with the United Way of Southern Chester County and Microsoft, is designed to help students, professionals, and job seekers explore the rapidly evolving field of Artificial Intelligence. Participants learn about AI's applications across various industries and how it can enhance their career prospects. Learn more about this fantastic honor at our website.

Parents, community members and staff cheered on the Ches-Mont Champion Girls Field Hockey team on Election Day morning as they boarded their bus for the PIAA 2A state competition. Their support helped fuel Kennett High School's victory over Bishop Carroll (at Cardinal O'Hara in Springfield), with Kennett defeating the Patriots 3-0 in the final minutes of the game.

With this win, Kennett advances to Saturday's quarterfinals, where they will face Elizabethtown, who defeated District 1 champion Gwynedd Mercy 2-0. The game will take place at Exeter at 3 p.m. We are proud of our athletes and thrilled to see them advance in the state competition!

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 Comprehensive Education Plan, which is due to the Pennsylvania Department of Education in 2025. Stay tuned for more information.

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 help 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 will be 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. Look for invitations to participate in focus groups, and be prepared to receive survey questions designed to help us develop communication plans and platforms that best serve our community. More information will be shared across the District soon.

Winter break is just around the corner, and there’s still time to shop for holiday gifts! The Kennett Spirit Store offers a variety of options for students, staff, and alumni across the district and community. Proceeds from the store benefit the Kennett High School Football Program and our students. Please share the link with anyone who may be interested! There are four design options to choose from.

The store will close on November 20th—no exceptions or extensions!

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.

KHS students are working very hard to raise money to offset the prom ticket price for all KHS kids.

• Get a premium wash at Go Green using the code 54726 in November and a share of the proceeds goes to the juniors.
• Lily’s will donate 15% of each check on 11/21 if the diner writes Kennett 2026 on the bill.

Thanks for supporting them!

See the flyer. In Kennett on November 20 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. at 521 S. Walnut Street, Kennett Square.