Cougar Connect

Dear Kennedy Community,

We finally have a full week of school--no super-minimum days and no holidays! This week we have a PTO meeting on Tuesday, and my Principal's Coffee meeting has been rescheduled to this Thursday.

This week we are participating in The Great Kindness Challenge. Our Student Council has prepared a focus for each day for students and staff to participate in. I've included more details below.

Last week we had 10 5th-grade students come to Kennedy to shadow a 6th-grade student. We haven't had shadowing opportunities since 2019, so it was nice to bring this back to Kennedy. Incoming 5th-grade families can read my Kennedy presentation and information about school tours by clicking this link. While our shadowing dates are now at capacity, interested families can call the Kennedy office and be added to the waitlist. I hope to allow 5th-graders to shadow after spring break and our state testing.

Speaking of testing…

MIRA
This week our 8th-graders will take the MIRA math assessment in their 8th-grade math classes on Wednesday or Thursday. This assessment will require students to use a computer. Please make sure your student charges their laptop on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. This assessment will be used to determine whether students need additional math support in 9th grade. All students must take this assessment. IEP and 504 accommodations will be followed.

Tutoring 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 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.

Kara Grief Group

Kara, a local non-profit grief support agency, and Kennedy Middle School will be partnering to provide a peer support grief group for students who have experienced the death of a family member or close friend. The group will provide a safe and supportive environment for students to connect with peers in similar situations, understand their grief process, and develop skills and tools for coping. The group will meet for 9 to 10 sessions, once a week on Wednesdays, starting January 25, 2024 from 12:50-1:50. For more information and to refer your student, please contact Kathryn Lige, our lead mental health counselor: klige@rcsdk8.net

Social Media

Here's my monthly social media reminder--don't forget to have conversations about social media with your students. Make sure you know what social media accounts they are using. Please make sure they do not have multiple accounts. A concern at middle schools across the nation is students creating anonymous accounts on TikTok and Instagram to make fun of peers or spread rumors. Click here to learn how to view whether your student has more than one Instagram account. Here is a similar video for TikTok.

Support Kennedy at Redwood City BBQ

We have a dine-out event at Redwood City BBQ on January 25. I've included a flyer below. Spread the word!

Reminders for 8th-grade Families

• If you have not yet finished your Online Registration for Sequoia Union High School District, the deadline is February 1. Please make this a priority. The registration process is quite long. If you need support, please schedule an appointment with Maria Segundo, our Kennedy Family Center administrative assistant: msegundo@rcsdk8.net or 650-482-2409 extension 3471. Please make sure you bring all of the documents listed here. Your future ninth-graders will be unable to get their schedules until the online registration is finished. bit.ly/SUHSD-OLR

• 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. We will contact families this week if we do not have this signed form on file. 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.

Student Clubs Meeting This Week

• Intramural Basketball begins this week on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays.

• Cursive Writing Club Monday during 7th/8th grade lunch in room 316

• Math Homework Support after school on Mondays and Wednesdays in room 534

• Book Club after school on Tuesday in the library

• 6th-Grade Student Council Reps Tuesday at lunch in room 103

• Italian Club Tuesday after school in room 318

• Makerspace and Robotics Club Tuesday during 6th-grade lunch in room 104

• Wellness Club Tuesday 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.

• 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

• Photography Club Thursday during 6th-grade lunch in room 425

• 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

• Cooking Club Friday after school in room 107. Cooking Club is full. We will announce our next sessions in March.

I hope you have a great week; don’t forget to spread kindness!

Mrs. Leonardo

The Havasupai Reservation announced on the 28th of December that they will increase their prices by 20% this year. Due to this unforeseen price increase, we have to increase our fee to $50 dollars per student. We know that this is a financial burden, but there aren't any other options if we want to continue offering this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

We are still waiting to confirm reservations, but we are optimistic that we will hear back from the Havasupai reservations before February. Once we confirm reservations you all will receive information on how to submit your payment via Zelle.

Finally, if all goes according to plan, we plan on having a Mandatory Meeting on Tuesday the 27th of February to go over the trip and to distribute hiking backpacks.

Please email Maestro Alfredo (aoropeza@rcsdk8.net) if you have any questions.

The Great Kindness Challenge is this week. There are many ways students and staff can be kind this week:

- Complete acts of kindness every day. Listen to the daily announcements to get tips and ideas on how to be kind.

Monday: Gratitude/Thankful Day

Tuesday: Compliment Day
Wednesday: Show Your Kindness
Thursday: Kind to your Environment
Friday: Acts of Random Kindness

- Help the school show the community Kennedy Cougars are kind by helping to decorate the fence with the words Be Kind.

- Catch others being kind and pass along a "Got Caught Being Kind" card. Complete acts of kindness and maybe someone will pass a card to you!

- Be kind to animals by donating to the Peninsula Humane Society in your 2nd or 3rd period class.

January rehearsals will be Wednesdays from 3:30pm-6:30pm in the drama room (room 417).

There will be rehearsal on Saturday, January 20th with Ms. Rosenbloom from 9am-4pm.

Not all students will be called for the entirety of any rehearsal. Ms. Rosenbloom will email more details to families.

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.

The Kennedy school calendar is now on the PTO website and has been updated with school events and activities for the year! You can add it to your personal calendar by going to https://kennedycougarspto.org/calendar and clicking the +Google Calendar button on the bottom right of the calendar.

Hello, Kennedy Community!

The PTO is excited to welcome you all to 2024!

Please join us for our monthly PTO meeting on Tuesday, January 23, from 7:00-8:30 pm via Zoom.

Topics will include a mid-year budget review, updates from committees, and exciting news about progress on a school-wide mural project!

Here is the link:

https://zoom.us/j/98592373018?pwd=QzVaaUk1Nzkwa3o2aThSSXdrcVEwZz09

Meeting ID: 985 9237 3018

Password: Kennedy

Everyone is invited. Remember that your voice matters in our community and we want to hear from you!

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

Russ Nuffer of GrowFit MultiSports Camps in Redwood City has agreed to donate 5% of registration fees for camps back to our KMS PTO. This is an on-going offer throughout the school year using the code.

GrowFit is located at Sports House in Redwood City. Check out the winter camps available for students by clicking here. This is a great offer, so don't miss out!

The 2024 Bay Area Pathways Academy™ (BAPA) Spring Break and Summer Program is now open for registration! BAPA is an in-person comprehensive academic, enrichment and fitness summer program for students entering grades 6 to 9, with some new options for younger students (clink on BAPA Jr for more info).

Academic classes are taught by credentialed teachers using a Project Based Learning (PBL) approach that incorporates interactive learning activities designed to make learning enjoyable, while enrichment and fitness classes are taught by instructors.

Register before April 22nd to receive early bird pricing. Visit our website for more information.

NEW CAMPS FOR 2024

• BAPA Spring Camp (11- 14 years old): Your child can choose from our BAPA Spring Break ART CAMP or CODING CAMP during the weeks of 4/1 to 4/5 or 4/8 to 4/12 from 9am to 1pm.
• BAPA Summer Coding Academy (11-14 years old): Three 2-week half day sessions from 9am to 1pm. Session 1: 6/17-6/28. Session 2: 7/8-7/19. Session 3: 7/22-8/2.
• BAPA Jr. Summer Camp (6-7 & 8-10 years old): Three 2-week half day sessions from 9am to 1pm. Session 1: 6/17-6/28. Session 2: 7/8-7/19. Session 3: 7/22-8/2.
• Online STEAM Courses (8-14 years old)

Please check the High School Shadow Programs & Informational Event Links document.

• TIDE and Woodside posted their shadowing request links.
• Carlmont posted links for campus tours and the Chat with a Carlmont Student event.
• Sequoia will open the shadowing request link on 9/13/23.
• Menlo-Atherton will open the shadowing request link within the next ten days.

High School Information Website

The Online Registration (OLR) process is required for all students enrolling at SUHSD (even if you have already completed it for an older sibling). OLR opens annually on October 15 and closes on February 1. Learn more here: bit.ly/SUHSD-OLR

Padres de Kennedy 2023 WhatsApp Group

If you prefer to receive information in Spanish and by text, click on the link to join the Kennedy Family Center's WhatsApp group “Padres de Kennedy 2023"! You will receive updated Kennedy Middle School information in Spanish and reminders of our school events.

https://chat.whatsapp.com/KOQ9MIJsmY9DDyFX8FFord

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

We now look forward to soccer in the spring! Registration will open on Monday, November 20 and run through Wednesday, February 14. We highly encourage players to register early and online! Here is the link to online registration - Online Registration - Redwood City After School Sports Soccer

Parents can also go to our website to find additional information and download forms - Redwood City After School Sports (teamsideline.com)

Book Club has started! We meet on Tuesdays after school. 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.

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.

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.

Thank you to the Selah Mapes for purchasing pipe cleaners for the STEAM program!

Kennedy's Amazon Wishlist

January

• Martin Luther King Jr. Day ~ No School Jan 15
• PTO Meeting Jan 23 Zoom 7:05-8:30 pm
• Principal's Coffee Jan 25 8:45-9:45 am
• Site Council Jan 30 Zoom 3:30-4:30 pm
• ELAC Jan 31 Zoom 4:00-5:00 pm
• 8th Grade Activities Parent Meeting Jan 30 Zoom 7:00-8:00 pm
• High School Placement testing for 8th grade happens in the month of January; dates to be determined.

Click here to view the most up-to-date version of the Kennedy Calendar of Events.

With a commitment to excellence, Kennedy Middle School engages, encourages, and empowers students in challenging and creative learning opportunities while preparing them for their futures in high school and beyond.

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