Kennedy Middle School Update

• OCT. 9TH - Jr. Key Club Meeting in GAC at 2:45pm

• OCT. 21ST - School Picture Retake Day

• OCT. 23RD - KMS Evening Conferences 3:30 PM - 7:30 PM (online signup open on October 11th)

• OCT. 25TH - NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS (Professional Development for Teachers)

Those first few weeks back to school can bring on nerves about new classrooms and huge adjustments to routine. Being at school each day can help ensure the year starts strong for your child!

Did you know??

• Student success can be directly related to attendance and the working relationship between home and school.

• Missing school often can be a sign that a student is losing interest, struggling with school work, dealing with peer issues, or facing some other difficulty.

• By 9th grade, attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than 8th grade test scores.

• Missing 10%, or 2 days a month, over the course of the school year, can affect a student’s academic success.

What you can do..

• Talk to your child about the importance of showing up to school every day!

• Help your child maintain daily routines, such as finishing homework and getting a good night’s sleep.

• Remind your child to follow up with teachers regarding missed instruction and work when returning from any absences.

• Encourage your child to join meaningful after-school activities, including sports and clubs. The KMS Website lists all the activities and athletics available to our students.

• Seek help from teachers, student services, or administrative staff if you need support.

Academic and Career Planning (ACP) is a process all students engage in from 6th grade through 12th grade. ACP allows students to thoughtfully develop their post-secondary plans through lessons around employability skills, interest exploration, goal setting, and so much more. Starting this year in Advisory (Hour 9), all students will engage in these lessons through Xello. Below is a calendar of the lessons that will take place at each grade level.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Mrs. Fischer (6-12 Dean of Students & ACP Coordinator) at afischer@gsdwi.org.

• The Cross Country season is in full swing! Practice for Cross Country runs from 3-4:30pm every day.
• Girls Basketball is also gearing up this month with practices after school daily from 3pm-4:30pm.
• Future City meets Tuesday and Thursdays after school in room G119
• Key Club meets on Wednesday, October 9th in the GAC at 2:45 - 3:45

Interested in Future City Club? Click on this LINK to fill out the Google Form!

Wisconsin HOSA was founded in 1978, just two years after National HOSA was established. Since it began, Wisconsin HOSA has attracted many devoted students interested in the healthcare field. Wisconsin HOSA currently maintains an affiliated membership of over 3,590 students from 125 different chapters. Let's continue with this great legacy of Wisconsin HOSA State Association receiving a Gold level Standards of Excellence. Please see the HOSA website for more details!

If interested, please send Mrs. Stigler an email. The first meeting is Tuesday, October 15 from 3:00-3:30 in room B-5.

Math Counts will begin soon! Students, if you're interested in participating, stop by and see Mrs. Szuminski in 8th grade. You can also email her (pszuminski@gsdwi.org) to let her know that you are interested. In your email, let her know if Mondays or Wednesdays work better for you!

Math is great!

The next Key Club meeting is on Wednesday, October 9th in the GAC from 2:45 - 3:45. Everyone is welcome and you do not have to sign up in advance!

Additionally, Jr. Key Club is sponsoring a food drive to support our local food pantry at St. Gabriel & St. Boniface, now through October 9th.

6th Grade – Cereal & Granola Bars
7th Grade – Hamburger Helper and Box of Pasta
8th Grade – Spaghetti O’s & Mac & Cheese

All donations should be dropped in boxes, located in the student’s Advisory classrooms. Please make sure to check the expiration dates on your food items, all should be marked for 2025 and beyond!

The advisory with the MOST items, will get an ice-cream party!!

If you have questions, please see Ms. Topitzes, Mrs. Czerwinski or Mrs. Betanzos.

Thank you for your support!
Jr. Key Club

Join us in earning cash for our school by using the Box Tops app. It’s an easy way to make a difference. All you have to do is buy Box Tops participating products (like Cheerios!) and scan your grocery receipt. Box Tops are worth $.10 each and they add up fast! Twice a year, our school receives a check to help pay for whatever we need - equipment, supplies or experiences the kids love!

Use this referral code VE2H9125 when you sign up and you’ll get 25 Bonus Box Tops when you scan your first receipt now through 05/31/2025, while supplies last! Download the Box Tops for Education app here: https://btfe.smart.link/c2jjdifkw?referral_code=VE2H9125

• Responsible care of Chromebooks is an integral part of life at KMS. Please ensure students are plugging their Chromebooks in to charge overnight and bringing them fully charged to school each morning. This will help set everyone up for success each and every day at KMS!
• Having issues with Skyward? Parents and students can now use the email skywardsupport@gsdwi.org for any issues related to Skyward access or login, etc... These emails go straight to our Skyward-knowledgeable staff!

Welcome to the 2024-25 School Year! See below for helpful attendance information:

• School starts at 7:20AM, please make sure to email kmsoffice@gsdwi.org when your student is going to be absent for the whole day, part of the day, or will not be at school by 7:20AM.

• If they are leaving school early, prior to 9AM, send your student to the office with a signed note.

NEW PROCEDURE FOR ABSENCES OF 3+ DAYS

• When a student is going to be absent from school for three (3) or more days, a pre-arranged absence form needs to be filled out and signed by the parent/guardian. This form can be found on the KMS website. Scroll to the bottom of the KMS home page, and click on click here for attendance and absences, and under going to be gone longer? you will find the link to the pre-arranged absence form. Notification of pre-arranged absences needs to be submitted in writing.

Click HERE for KMS attendance information.

Students who are attending after school sporting events, without a parent, need to report to the designated location immediately after school. Students are encouraged to quietly work on homework or other academic tasks during this time. If students have completed all their school work they are allowed to quietly socialize with their peers. If students do not want to stay after school but would still like to attend the sporting event, they will need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

During the sporting event, students are expected to sit in the student section which is supervised by KMS staff. Students will not be allowed to sit in other areas of the gym unless they are accompanied by an adult. Spectators are not allowed to sit on the players side of the gym. If a student is attending a sporting event with an adult that is not their guardian or parent, that individual is responsible for supervising that student during the event.

Cell Phone Use - We are aware that students will need access to their cell phones during these events for a variety of reasons including but not limited communication with parents when they are to be picked up, change in plans, and or for emergencies. Students' cell phones should be stored in their backpacks, which will be placed next to the bleachers, and if they need to use them they will be allowed to with the supervision of a KMS staff member. Students are allowed to come to the Gold Office throughout the day to contact parents so that plans can be made or clarified. If students are not following cell phone expectations or using their cell phones in inappropriate ways, KMS supervisors do have the right to confiscate the phones and give them to parents when the student is picked up. Students who are not following expectations for after school sporting events will meet with KMS administrators and their participation in future sporting events will be discussed.

Students who receive school-based consequences (such as an in-school suspension) during the day may not be allowed to attend after school events for that day.

Please be kind and efficient while dropping off your child in the morning. There are two locations for drop off in the AM. You can drop off your child in the Main Office loop (south side) or the Student Services loop (west side). Here are a few reminders when dropping off students:

• You may not stop or park in the Main Office loop or Student Services loop between the times of 6:45am - 7:20am and 2:43pm - 3:00pm. If you want to stop or park, please use the south parking lot.
• When dropping off students, please pull all the way through the loop (by the bike rack) before dropping off.
• Remind your child to be ready to exit the car upon drop off so other families are not waiting too long.

As always, be kind and courteous, thank you!

Principal: Jessica Gieryn

Assistant Principal: Brandon Kohl

Website: https://www.gsdwi.org/o/kennedy
Location: N118 W15860 Williams Drive Germantown, Wisconsin 53022
Phone: 262-253-3450
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KennedyGSDWI