community news (english/fam)

National Teacher Day is May 6, 2025, and National Teacher Appreciation Week is May 5–9, 2025. At KCSD, we take this week to appreciate all of our educators, nurses, counselors, administrators and those who contribute to supporting our students each day. Thank you to our committed community of educators and those who offer support to enable our students to get to their schools comfortably, feel safe, welcomed, and well in their schools, and find joy in connecting with and learning about our world. We appreciate you!

As PSSA testing ends, some of our older students will begin their Keystone and/or AP Exams. Students must take the Keystone Exams for purposes of federal accountability and are end-of-course assessments designed to assess proficiency in the subject areas of Algebra I, Literature, and Biology. Various modules of Keystone exams are administered from May 12 - 19 with make up exams through May 23. Middle School Keystone exams for Algebra are May 14 and May 15.

Advanced Placement exams for grades 9 - 12 are May 5 - 16 and are given to those students who opted into taking them after completing their AP courses at the high school. For more information about testing, go to our website under teaching and learning.

More than 130 families registered to experience Mary D. Lang Kindergarten Center on Thursday, May 1, 2025 together and meet their new principal, teachers, and other administrators. Several stations featuring food services, classrooms, and creative and outdoor play gave the class of 2038 opportunities to feel comfortable and meet their future classmates. All of our Kennett Mascots greeted the students and offered photos to remember. Volunteers from the high school including band members, soccer players, cheer leaders, and national honor society students entertained, supported, and welcomed the guests. A special video welcome and even special gifts were also shared. We are excited to welcome our new class of students who will be starting in August!

Sweet music streams through the air from Mr. Maximos Mossaidis’s music class. Case in point, students in Mrs. Decker’s 5th grade class have been learning the technique of mallet playing. Students have been learning different rhythm concepts along with coordination, as they play a song together. Furthermore, students in Mrs. Gallis’s 2nd grade class have been playing boomwhackers. Students have been learning warm up techniques for instruments, playing in time, and working together to make music.

Greenwood Elementary second grade students had the opportunity to explore real-world environmental science thanks to a visit from representatives of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). Ms. Sarah and Mr. Jared joined second-grade classrooms to support their study of watersheds, erosion, stormwater runoff, and strategies to protect local waterways.

Following an engaging introduction to Pennsylvania’s watershed systems, students participated in a hands-on activity using the Enviroscape model. Through interactive demonstrations, they explored how runoff affects our environment and tested various solutions to reduce pollution and keep our waterways clean.

Do you like action, adventure, and all things warm? If the answer is yes, then we have the show for you! Kennett Middle School will be performing Frozen Jr. on Friday, May 9th and Saturday, May 10th. The show begins at 7pm on Friday and there are two shows on Saturday, 1pm and 7pm at KMS. Adult tickets are $6 and student tickets are $4, payable by cash or check at the door. Support this great group who have been rehearsing for months.

The middle school chorus joined Kennett family and friends at the Phillies game on Sunday, May 4 for a rainy, extra-inning game full of home runs and exciting plays. While the Phillies lost in the late innings, the team from Kennett enjoyed cheering on their singers and their Phils! Thank you to all those who supported our day at the ball park.

The juried exhibition was held from Wednesday, April 9th through Tuesday, April 22nd at the main location of the Chester County Art Association (CCAA) in West Chester. The show featured over five hundred pieces of art from eighteen Chester County high schools, including twenty-eight works by Kennett High School artists. 32 awards were given out in 8 different categories awards given out at the awards reception on Monday, April 23. Everything from drawing, painting, mixed medium to computer-generated art, sculpture to ceramics showcased the talents of area students. In addition to the recognition we featured in Ceramics last month, these three students also placed!

• Jay Winn: Second Place in Painting
• Cory Huber: Second Place in Drawing
• Maile Borkowski: First Place in Mixed Medium

The Kennett Library is featuring artwork from local high school students through the month of May. Be sure to drop by for a good book and a great creative experience.

The Kennett High School Band will be performing at the Kennett High School on Tuesday, May 6 at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium.

Join the high school chorus for Home Bound featuring each of their vocal ensembles and a string ensemble. Event is at 7:00 p.m. at the high school auditorium and is free to all.

It is a long road to State Choir, from auditioning and performing in both District and Regional Choirs and then being selected to join the best students in the state – it is a wonderful honor! Congratulations to Ryan Church and Ryan Hunter who ranked in the top half of singers to move onto Regions and in the top six to make it to States! The Pennsylvania Music Educators Association sponsors these concerts each year.

And congratulations to Ryan Hunter and Pierce Duckworth who represented Kennett at the National Association for Music Education at All-Easterns. Every other year a festival is held for top students in states the previous year. The event was held in Hartford, CT.

Ryan Battin, their Chorus Teacher, attended both events!

Experience a blend of technology and physical activity as families participate in a unique live robot TV show with CodeJoy followed by a tech-enhanced community walk at the Community Tech Trek event. Event is May 19 from 6 - 8 p.m. at the Kennett Library for students in grades 3 - 8. Evening is FREE!

KCSD is looking to hire substitute nurses for this and next school year. Are you a nurse looking for a position? Know someone who would be interested in working with our students? Share the opportunity today!