Cougar Connect

Dear Kennedy Community,

We finished another busy week at Kennedy! Last Wednesday, over 400 people joined us for our trimester Honor Breakfast. We recognized students who earned Principal's Honor Roll, Honor Roll, Excellent Attendance, and students who reclassified as English proficient. Thank you to IHOP for cooking the delicious pancakes and sausage for us!

Yesterday, 78 of our 8th-graders departed from Kennedy and are at Yosemite for the remainder of the week. We wish them a great time!

Focused Interim Assessment Blocks

Continuing this week, our ELA teachers will administer Focused Interim Assessment Blocks in ELA

classes in 6th and 7th-grades. Teachers will review the data from this assessment to determine the next steps for instruction. Parents and guardians are encouraged to view the practice tests on the CAASPP website. Click here.

Please be sure to scroll through the newsletter for additional updates.

Have a great week!

Mrs. Leonardo

The Kennedy Office is open Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Liz Avalos, Office Manager: lmavalos@rcsdk8.net

Maritza Gutierrez, Office Assistant (student records, medical notices): mggutierrez@rcsdk8.net

Jessica Perez, Office Assistant (attendance, independent study): jpperez@rcsdk8.net

DECEMBER

• 8th Grade Yosemite Trip Dec. 8-13
• School Site Council Dec. 18 5:00 p.m. Virtual

• Minimum Day Dec. 20 8:30 a.m.-1:50 p.m.
• Winter Break ~ No School Dec. 23-Jan. 3

Registration for High School Begins in November

⚽Redwood City PRCS Soccer Registration Opens November 18-February 12⚽

Please click here to view our Calendar of Events. Events are subject to change. Please read the Cougar Connect newsletter for changes.

On Wednesday during homeroom, Mrs. Leonardo reviewed San Mateo County Office of Education's Big Five Safety protocol with all staff and students. Then, on Thursday, we received alerts about a tsunami warning!

Please be reminded that Kennedy has a safety plan and we follow SMCOE's Big Five Safety Protocol. In the event that we need to evacuate or put any safety measures in place, you will be notified via text or phone call. Please make sure your phone numbers and emergency contact information for your students are up to date.

Listed below is a link to Kennedy's public safety plan.

Kennedy admin will host an information session for incoming 6th-grade families for the 2025-26 school year on Thursday, December 12 at 6:00 p.m. on Zoom. The link and password is below. The meeting will be recorded.

Zoom Link: https://rcsdk8-net.zoom.us/j/83573931176?pwd=aVyICvAM7rwhRrURyY8FqskUSBwMnG.1

Password: KENNEDY

Let's spread some holiday cheer to our fabulous teachers and staff! Help us create a cookie and baked goods buffet to celebrate them. We'd love to have lots of choices so they can pick their favorites and take them home to enjoy over the winter break. We'll be providing holiday to-go containers. A PTO volunteer will be at morning drop-off from 8:00-8:30 am on Wednesday, 12/18, to help with collection of treats! Please go to the link to sign up!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090E45ACAE2DA3FE3-53816268-holiday#/

The holiday season is here, and we're excited to announce our Holiday Drive to support families in our Cougar Community. Here's how you can get involved:

1. Adopt a Family:

   • Please stop by the Front Office to pick up a tag from our holiday tree.
   • Scan the QR code on the tag to register your family number.

2. Bring Your Gifts:

   • Purchase gifts based on the family info. This is not a wishlist. Each tag provides basic information about the family, such as ages and sizes, to guide your gift choices
   • Return the wrapped gifts to the Kennedy Family Center by December 16th.

3. Gift Card Option:

   • If buying gifts isn’t possible, you can opt to purchase a gift card instead. Every contribution helps bring joy to these families!
   • 
     

Thank you for helping us make the holidays brighter for those in need. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Cynthia Cardona and Maria Segundo in our Kennedy Family Center.

Cynthia C. Cardona

Coordinadora de Escuela Comunitaria | Community School Coordinator

John F. Kennedy Middle School

(650) 482-2409 ext. 3484 | C: (650) 656-0501

Congrats to Nicholas P. in 6th-grade. He and his family were November's Family Challenge winner. Thank you to all the families who participated!

December Family Challenge: This month, we’re encouraging students to participate in our Try Some New Food challenge! Families can cook something new together, or if that’s not an option, explore different flavors by visiting a new restaurant.

RethinkWaste is pleased to announce the winners of its eleventh-annual poster contest! The contest was open to all 3rd through 8th graders attending schools in the agency’s service area. This year’s poster theme was “My Green Routine,” encouraging students to artistically depict their daily actions that make the Earth a better, “greener” place. There were 90 original submissions representing 24 schools and nine Member Agencies. Two of the winners are Kennedy 8th-graders, Tobias and Luna. Congratulations!

8th-graders attended an assembly on Monday, November 25th. We discussed behavior and academic expectations for the remainder of the school year. Students were given a letter and agreement form. The letter and agreement form must be reviewed and signed by a parent, guardian, or caregiver. The form should be turned into homeroom teachers by Thursday, December 5.

8th-grade Letter

Thank you, everyone, for a successful send off! As of Sunday evening, 78 students plus chaperones made it safely to Yosemite. You will receive text messages and a mid-week email. On Friday, you'll receive a text once the buses leave Yosemite and as they get closer to Redwood City.

The District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC) is a group of parents, school staff, and community members who work together to support students learning English. Their main role is to give advice and feedback to the school district about programs and services for English learners.

Here’s how DELAC helps:

1. Improving Programs: They review and suggest ways to make programs for English learners better, so students can succeed in school.
2. Planning and Policies: DELAC helps the district create plans and rules to support English learners, including how to use funding for these programs.
3. Parent Voice: This committee makes sure parents of English learners have a say in decisions that affect their children’s education.

By being part of DELAC, parents can share their ideas, learn about resources, and help shape the future of English learner programs in their district. It’s a great way for families to work together with schools to make a difference!

DELAC Parent Ballot 2024-25

Kennedy uses Treering for our yearbooks. Visit www.treering.com/validate to order your student their yearbook. Yearbooks are $38.29; they will be distributed in June to students.

Kennedy's school passcode is 1015926081674110.

A continued focus this year is reducing our chronic absenteeism rate. We currently have over 120 students who are chronically absent. Our attendance team will identify these students and reach out to families to determine root causes and offer support.

Our school goal is 95-97%% daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly attendance. Students and staff have come up with ideas to promote attendance with incentives for individual students, grade levels, and the entire school.

Attendance Reminders

Students need to be at school every day. If students are ill, parents and caregivers should notify Jessica Perez (jpperez@rcsdk8.net), leave a message on the attendance line voicemail 650-482-2409, or use the School Arrivals app to submit the absence.

Please schedule doctor's appointments after school and vacations during scheduled school vacations.

When your student misses school, they miss valuable instruction. It can be difficult to make up assignments for seven different classes, so students become overwhelmed.

Students need to be on time for school. We will be reaching out to families of students who are late to school to determine what supports are needed to ensure students get to school on time. If you need support, please reach out to us.

Below are some updates from our 7th-grade Grand Canyon field trip team.

• Selected students will be required to pay the first half of the payment by December 13th. Payment details and instructions will be passed out during the student meeting on Friday, November 22nd.
• We are working on making reservations at Havasu Falls and need to be ready to make the payment if reservations are made. If reservations are not available, then your payment will be refunded.
• If you have any questions , please email Maestro Alfredo Oropeza (aoropeza@rcsdk8.net)

Hello, Kennedy Community!

Are you looking for ways to volunteer for our school? This link shows you ALL of the available opportunities throughout the entire year: Volunteer Needs.

Remember that our Direct Drive is going on and our students depend on our community’s financial help to make their middle school experience the best it can be! We suggest a $500 donation per family. Payments can be made manageable by choosing to donate $50 a month throughout the school year! Click here to donate: PTO Direct Drive

Kind regards,

Jess Bryski

KMS PTO President

8TH-GRADE FAMILIES: We have raised almost $10,000, which is still far from our $27,500 goal to cover all of the 8th-grade activities. The Class of 2025 hoodie is included with your contribution - If you have submitted an order for a hoodie, please make sure also to submit your $100! We are at risk of canceling our graduation field trip to Great America if we don’t raise enough funds.

TO CONTRIBUTE ONLINE TO 8TH-GRADE ACTIVITIES:

https://app.99pledges.com/fund/kennedycougarsclassof2025

8TH-GRADE ACTIVITIES CONTRIBUTION INSTRUCTIONS & FORM:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/12HkyLyULf8lgt8O-oH8elnNHDn85toToRaxKxLR9aLg/edit?usp=sharing

• Intramurals Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays at lunch
• Wellness Club 7/8th Grade Lunch Mondays Room 207
• Anime Club 7/8th Grade Lunch Mondays Room 314
  
• Photojournalism Club Mondays Room 532
• Calligraphy/Cursive Writing Club 7/8th Grade Lunch Mondays Room 318

• 6th-Grade Lunch Bunch 6th Grade Lunch Tuesdays and Fridays Room 207
• Chess Club 7/8th Grade Lunch Tuesdays Room 535
• Video Game Club 7/8th Grade Lunch Tuesdays Room 314
  
• GSA Skittles 7/8th Grade Lunch Tuesdays Room 315
  
• Italian Club Tuesdays After School Room 318
• Art Club 6th Grade Lunch Tuesdays Room 104
  
• Art Club 7th/8th Grade Lunch Tuesdays Room 526
• Badminton Club 7th/8th Grade Lunch Tuesdays and Wednesdays in the Gym
• 7/8th-Grade Lunch Bunch Wednesdays Room 207

• Hispanic/Latine Club 7/8th Grade Lunch Wednesdays Room 530

• Book Club in the Kennedy Library Dates/Times TBD
  
• Board Game Club Thursdays in the Kennedy Library
• Origami Club Thursdays 6th Grade lunch in B-8
• Video Game Club 6th Grade Lunch Thursdays Room 102
• Environmental Club 7/8th Grade Lunch Thursdays Room 535

• VinylHeadz (Music Discussion) 7/8th Grade Lunch Fridays Room 528

We encourage every Kennedy student to join and participate in at least one club this school year. Clubs are a great way to make connections, make friends, and create a joyful school environment. Clubs are created by students for students. Students need to find a teacher to advise their club. Clubs generally meet once a week. Students need to listen to the morning announcements for updates.

Students can get help with homework and assignments on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays after school in the Kennedy Library from 3:15-4:15 p.m. If students are enrolled in the Boys and Girls Club after school program, they need to sign in first.

Students must be actively working on assignments. Students should not come to Homework Help to hang out or be off task.

We look forward to helping students succeed!

Students can also get support with Tutor.com. This is a free virtual service available to all students. Students can access Tutor.com through Clever using their Chromebooks. Find the logo that looks like the icon to the left. We will teach students about Tutor.com after Goal-Setting Conferences during homeroom.

Brainfuse is one of the most experienced online tutoring companies in the nation. HelpNow is a unique tutoring, homework help, and studying suite designed to assist patrons of all ages succeed. This is a service provided through Redwood City Public Library. Students can access Brainfuse by finding the Redwood City Public Library icon on Clever on their Chromebook. They should look for the icon like the one pictured on the right.

Boundary Locator

Open Enrollment Transfers

Kennedy High School Information Website

We will host evening events to help Kennedy families with the registration processs. Check back here for updates!

Your students should have homework Monday through Friday. Our English language arts and math teachers will assign homework nightly. Here are the general homework guidelines for each grade level:

6th Grade: 30-45 minutes

7th Grade: 45-60 minutes

8th Grade: 60-75 minutes

These times may vary depending on the assignments and projects, but students should have some math or reading assignment each night. If your student says they do not have homework, please make sure they show you their assignments in Google Classroom. You can also check PowerSchool for grades. If your student says they finished their assignments at school, make them show you their finished work.

If students are finished with their assignments, they can still:

1. Read their independent reading books.

2. Practice reading or math i-Ready or Khan Academy lessons.

3. Review notes from classes to make sure they understand their lessons.

4. Create flashcards for key vocabulary terms and review them.

5. Clean out or organize their backpacks, binders, and folders.

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.

Click to view and save the Kennedy Student & Family Handbook.

We appreciate you thinking of our teachers.

Kennedy's Amazon Wishlist

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.

Website: https://www.rcsdk8.net/kennedy
Location: 2521 Goodwin Avenue, Redwood City, CA, USA
Phone: 650.482.2409
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kennedymiddleschool