Cougar Connect

Dear Kennedy Community,

Listed below are important updates for the week ahead. As always, Kennedy has many events happening. In addition to Physical Fitness and ELPAC testing beginning this week, we also plan to recognize students at our Honor Breakfast on Thursday. Plus, we have PTO, School Site Council, and ELAC meetings this week.

No School Friday, March 29

Please be advised that there will be no school for RCSD staff and students on Friday, March 29.

Open House Changed from April 2 to May 29

Please note the change for Kennedy's Open House. We have moved our Open House to Wednesday, May 29 from 6:00 to 7:30 pm. More details to follow in May.

Sports Basement x Kennedy Middle School

Sports Basement in Redwood City will be offering a 20% discount when you mention Kennedy Middle School from March 24-31. The discount is not valid on trips, rentals, or bicycles. This offer is valid in-store and online. If you can't visit the store, you can shop online and use this code: 2050011535785. Please review the flyer below for additional information.

ELPAC Testing

If your student currently has an English Language Development class, they will take the ELPAC assessment beginning Monday, March 25 in their ELD classes. Our goal is for our multilingual learners who have not been reclassified as English proficient to reclassify before they get to high school.

We will send out important reminders to families this week to make sure we have your support as your students take this important test.

Please make sure:

• your student is at school and on time each day.

• your student brings a fully charged Chromebook to school each day.

• your student goes to bed by 9:00 pm each night.

• your student turns off all technology (cell phones, video games, laptops, tablets) 30 minutes to one hour before going to sleep.

• your student eats breakfast before coming to school. If your family needs support with providing healthy breakfast items for your family, please contact our Kennedy Family Center kennedyfc@rcsdk8.net. We also understand some families are observing Ramadan, so students will not be eating breakfast. We will reach out to families directly to find out how we can support students during this time.

• you encourage your student to take this assessment seriously and try their best.

Physical Fitness Test for 7th-Grade Students

Seventh graders in Mr. Murillo and Mr. Vozaites's PE classes will participate in the California State Physical Fitness test. The testing window will open on March 25. Our goal is to assess every Kennedy seventh grader by Friday, April 5.

The Physical Fitness test (PFT) is required by the California Department of Education and administered to every 5th and 7th-grade student.

Fitness areas to be tested:

Aerobic Capacity - Pacer, One-Mile Run, OR Walk Test

Abdominal Strengths and Endurance: Curl-Up

Trunk Extensor Strength and Flexibility: Trunk Lift

Upper body Strength and Flexibility - Push-up, Modified Pull-Up, OR Flexed-Arm Hang

Flexibility - Back-Saver Sit and Reach OR Shoulder Stretch

PTO in-person Meeting on Tuesday, March 26

Join our PTO on Tuesday in the Kennedy Library. Read the PTO corner for more details.

School Site Council Meeting on Wednesday, March 27

School Site Council will meet at 4:00 pm on Wednesday, March 27. I will present my proposed budget and Measure U application to our School Site Council for their feedback and approval. Then, we will review our SPSA goals and determine our site's needs. Here is our proposed agenda.

English Learner Advisory Committee on Thursday, March 28

Our ELAC will meet on Thursday, March 28 at 5:00 pm. We want to hear your input about supports you want to see for your students during the 2024-25 school year. The meeting link will be sent via text message on Thursday morning.

TUPE Anti-Vaping Assembly for 7th and 8th-Grades

The TUPE program provides funding from Prop 99 and Prop 56 tobacco tax dollars for tobacco prevention education. Our Kennedy Wellness Club (advised by our lead mental health counselor, Kathryn Lige) has already participated in a field trip with the San Mateo County Office of Education. This month, our seventh and eighth-grade students will participate in a musical assembly. The assembly will be on Monday, March 25 during 6th and 7th-periods. Thank you to Mrs. Kerri for encouraging this event.

Trimester Two Honor Breakfast Thursday, March 28

We will recognize honor roll recipients for trimester two on Thursday, March 28 beginning at 7:15 am. Breakfast will be served by IHOP. Students can bring one guest. Invitations were sent home on Friday of last week to students who earned a 3.75 or higher grade point average for trimester two.

Middle School Bilingual Attainment Award

Our 8th-grade Spanish and Mandarin Immersion students will have the opportunity to earn the Middle School Bilingual Attainment Award.

The RCSD Middle School Bilingual Attainment Award is designed to set a standard for high-level biliteracy attainment for our Multilingual Learners. It will be awarded at the end of eighth grade during our promotion ceremony with the hope that students will continue their language study at the high school level. Below are the RCSD criteria:

• Attain age-appropriate proficiency in English Language Arts on the state testing system (CAASPP/SBAC) or local assessments (iReady). Students must be at grade level or above in iReady reading.

• Demonstrate proficiency in the target measured by i-Ready (test will be taken in May with more details to follow). Students must meet at least 6th-grade level in the target language to qualify.

• Meet the criteria for Redesignated Fluent English Proficient (RFEP) for students who are English learners (if applicable).

• Create and deliver an oral presentation in the target language identifying the importance of cultural understanding and explaining why being culturally respectful is a benefit in the 21st Century.

Maestro Alfredo and Cao Laoshi will administer the oral presentations and reading assessments. We will notify families about the date.

If you are interested in having your student participate, please fill out this Google Form by April 26th, 2024. Google Form: click here.

Yearbook Update

• Kennedy uses Treering to create and sell our yearbooks.

• Yearbooks can be purchased online by clicking this link.

• If you are asked for a school code, please use Kennedy's code: 1015926081674110.

• The yearbook price before taxes is $38.29.

• Yearbooks will ship to Kennedy. We will then distribute the yearbooks to students in late May or the first week of June.

• If you want to create a custom page for your student, custom pages are due by April 11, 2024. You can use this link to learn how to create a custom page.

8th-Grade Baby Photos

• We would like to include baby photos of our 8th-graders in the yearbook.

• Parents and guardians can upload baby photos directly to TreeRing following the instructions here.

• You can also send your photo via email to Mr. Apodaca: papodaca@rcsdk8.net.

• Baby photos should be of good quality (not blurry or out of focus).

• The photo should only feature the 8th-grade student.

• The student should be four years old or younger in the photo.

• The deadline for all 8th-grade baby photo submissions is Friday, March 29.

• The yearbook will only include 8th-grade baby photos.

Tutoring and Academic Support 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 at 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.

Missing Assignment Study Hall (MASH) will be held this Thursday after school in the Kennedy Library for any student who is currently earning an overall D+, D, D-, or F in any class. We will have time dedicated to support students with missing assignments, test corrections, essays, etc. Our Kennedy admin team will support students during this time. Students will meet in the library after school from 1:50 to 3:15 pm.

Reminders for 8th-grade Families

• Elective course sheets for SUHSD are now past due. Students should turn in their signed forms to the office as soon as possible.

• 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. 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.

• Please refer to this newsletter with information from the 8th-grade information night.

Student Clubs Meeting This Week

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

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

• Book Club after school on Monday

• Writing Club during 7th/8th grade lunch in room 318

• 6th-Grade Gaming Club Monday at lunch in room 102

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

• Italian Club after school in room 318 on Tuesday

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

• Wellness Club Tuesday during 7th/8th grade lunch in room 636

• 7th & 8th-Grade Lunch Bunch Wednesday 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

• 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

• Missing Assignment Study Hall after school in the Kennedy Library.

• 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 canceled Friday after school in room 107.

Have a great week!

Mrs. Leonardo

Hello, Kennedy Community!

Our March PTO meeting is this Tuesday, 3/26, from 7:00-8:30 pm. We will meet in-person in the KMS Library. All parents are automatically members of the PTO and we’d love to have you join us! Our meeting topics will include updates about upcoming events happening in our Drama, Music, and Art programs and a basic budget overview.

As we head toward spring and the final trimester of this school year, keep those donations coming! Remember no amount is too small and all funds directly support KMS students, faculty, and staff. If you are able, DONATE HERE! Donate – KMS PTO

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