We’re eager to connect and partner with you this 2024-25 school year in support of your children’s academic, social, and emotional growth. You can expect to receive the Courier Weekly.

• On the top of the page, you will find ADA and Translation features. To translate, click on the Translate button and choose your desired language.
• En la parte superior de la página, encontrará funciones de ADA y traducción. Para traducir, haga clic en el botón Traducir y elija el idioma que desee.
• Dusha sare ee bogga, waxaad ka heli doontaa ADA iyo sifooyinka Turjumaada. Si aad u turjunto, dhagsii badhanka Turjumka oo dooro luqadda aad rabto.
  
• В верхней части страницы вы найдете функции ADA и перевода. Для перевода нажмите кнопку «Перевести» и выберите нужный язык.
  
• د پاڼې په سر کې، تاسو به د ADA او ژباړې ځانګړتیاوې ومومئ. د ژباړې لپاره، د ژباړې تڼۍ باندې کلیک وکړئ او د خپلې خوښې ژبه غوره کړئ.
  
• در بالای صفحه، شما ویژگی های ADA و ترجمه را پیدا کنید. برای ترجمه، روی دکمه ترجمه کلیک کنید و زبان مورد نظر خود را انتخاب کنید.
  

• March 28: No School for Students/Record-Keeping Day
• March 29-April 6: Spring Break
• April 7: Return to School
• April 6-12: National Library Appreciation Week
• April 9: 5th Grade Trip to Anwatin Middle School, 10:30-12:15
• April 10 and 24: American Indian Student Affinity Group
• April 11: Coffee with the Principal
• April 11-June 6: Kenwood Chess Club Spring Session Begins (see below for details)
• April 15: Kenwood Latine Affinity Group
• April 16: Eat Pizza & Raise $ for Kenwood School (PTA Fundraiser), black sheep pizza on Washington Ave.
• April 17: Poem in Your Pocket Day
• April 21-May 6: 4th Grade Dance Residency
• April 22: Kindergarten Registration 8:15-9:15 am
• April 24: 2nd-3rd grade Music Concert
• April 25: All School Morning Meeting
• April 25 Volunteer Appreciation
• Apr. 28-May 2: Pits and Alleys

Dear Kenwood Families,

As we prepare to dive into Spring Break, there are several things I'd like to celebrate about the past few weeks at Kenwood Community School! Our fifth graders experienced the beauty of Northern Minnesota at Camp Widjiwagan the week of March 17. For four days and three nights, our students, Kenwood staff, Widji staff, and parent chaperones walked through the woods, took night hikes and were in awe of the stars, learned about the boreal forest and geology of the region, enjoyed small bon fires, and participated in a polar plunge in icy Burntside Lake. Our students slept very soundly in cabins after full days of activities in the fresh air! The PTA and Kenwood families helped make this unique experience possible, and our fifth graders are so grateful! They returned a stronger, more cohesive community of learners.

This past Tuesday, families of students in our Black Affinity Groups came together to share a meal and have opportunities for connection. Amber, Natasha, and Taneisha, our staff facilitators of the groups, helped students share what they love about their affinity spaces. It was a lovely, well-attended evening!

On Wednesday, the kindergarteners shined as they shared their drumming, singing, and dancing skills alongside our beloved Brother Ghana. All three classes performed beautifully, with courage and lots of joy. Many thanks to the Kenwood PTA for making this dear arts residency possible. And while the littles were performing in the gym, the 4th and 5th graders were performing A Kid's Life in the lunchroom! Music teacher Ms. Sue and her students were eager to make performance readiness an important part of their Quarter 3 learning. It was such a fun mini-musical!

I have a staffing update: Ms. Tali, one of our English Language teachers, is moving on from Kenwood as she prepares to welcome her baby later this spring. Her last day is Friday, March 28. We've loved having Ms. Tali at Kenwood, as a 2nd grade teacher last year, and as a part of the Multilingual Team this year. We wish her all the best during this time of exciting transition! I've interviewed candidates for the role and hope to share another update upon our return from Spring Break.

I want to draw your attention to Resources for Families information, located at the very end of this newsletter. Food shelves, Section 8 waitlist information, and child care options are among the included resources.

I wish you all a restful and fun Spring Break! Enjoy time with family and friends. We look forward to welcoming our Kenwood Woodchucks back to school on Monday, April 7!

Warmly,

Heidi Johnson, Principal at Kenwood

Spring Break

This is an annual tradition for Kindergarteners. Brother Ghana has been doing this residency with Kindergarteners for 18 years. He spends 6 weeks teaching the students drumming, song & dance. They were so proud to share their learnings with the performance on March 26th!

Artist residencies are funded by the PTA.

• There will be no school on Friday, March 28 due to Teacher Record-Keeping.
• Our SPRING BREAK is March 29-April 6.
• Students return to school on Monday, April 7.

All caregivers are invited to join us for Coffee with the Principal in the school lunchroom.

Feed the crew dinner or join friends for happy hour, all while raising money to support Kenwood School.

Grab a pizza any time on Wednesday, April 16th & 20% of the proceeds will be donated to Kenwood! PTA fundraiser.

Throughout the school year, our community shows appreciation to Kenwood’s teachers and staff, often through meals coordinated by the PTA. On Thursday, April 17 we’ll provide lunch for the entire staff to pop in and grab lunch as their schedule allows.

These meals depend on volunteer contributions of either food, drinks, or funds. We need your help! Please either sign up to bring items via this link (also below) or support the efforts with funds sent via Venmo to @KenwoodPTAMpls.

Please bring all items to the school Staff Lounge by 11 a.m. Thursday, April 17.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0A4FA8AF2FA0FD0-55953001-staff#/

Hello Kenwood families!

Students spent quarter 2 and part of quarter 3 focused on color in the art room. From color mixing, to shading, to creating intentional color schemes, all grades made their artwork colorful using tempera paints, watercolor paints, markers, and collage. Now in quarter 3, students turn their focus to showing depth in their 2D work and creating sculptures. Grades 3 and 4 made their 3D ceramic projects before spring break. Grades k- 2 will create theirs after break. Be on the lookout for packets of colorful artwork coming home around the beginning of April.

Have a great break! Ms. Kara

Support to our families in need by donating to the Kenwood closet. Drop off your donations in the bin located in the main lobby. Please see the flyer below for more details.

Questions regarding donation:

• Kenwood Caregivers, please contact Victoria Johnson at Victoria.Johnson@mpls.k12.mn.us
• Community members please scan the QR code below for more donation information.

Note: Next distribution event is at the Spring Picnic on May 15 from 4:30-6 pm

• School Gardens: Coordinate planning, planting with kids and maintaining the vegetable, rain, and pollinator gardens.
• DNR School Forest: Support Kenwood teachers in utilizing the forest.
• Oriole feeding site at Cedar LakeAnnual spring plant sale

If interested, please join this dynamic and fun group of volunteers in helping build on the tremendous work of others toward an enhanced Kenwood School environment for all.

Contact Amy Sanborn at amysanborn18@gmail.com with any questions or to sign up. https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://kenwood.mpschools.org/families-community/green-team__;!!MxD8lHs9xPYQ!Nnezyx3Ggxjs2TUGjLwSbny8NZbVB0bpfkD4l6caA5ThQqO9VQnTRJ-yH30VM1IyxbKv3hMGTEnyWKr8bE4oz2SCArqJOE8LzNg$

Kenwood Super Summer camp registration is just around the corner—starting Sunday, February 23 at 5 PM! We’re excited to invite Kenwood families to join us for a summer filled with amazing camps. Whether your child is interested in fishing, horseback riding, or even a Taylor Swift camp, there’s something for everyone. Plus, we’re offering several brand-new camps this year!

We can’t wait to see your child enjoy a fun, memorable summer filled with new adventures. Be sure to mark your calendars and get ready to register!

Registration for summer school.

1-5 GEMS-GISE STEM APPLICATION.pdf

1-5 GEMS-GISE STEM APPLICATION-SOMALI.pdf

1-5 GEMS-GISE STEM APPLICATION-SPANISH 1.pdf

Exciting news: Girls on the Run is returning to Kenwood for a spring season! Girls on the Run is an afterschool program that uses the power of being active to prepare 3rd - 5th grade girls and non-binary kids for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living. Over the course of the 8-week, 16-lesson season, participants will learn life-changing lessons about healthy friendships, teamwork, decision-making, self-respect and more, all while preparing to complete a 5K. Open to all 3rd - 5th grade kids and non-binary/gender expansive youth; no previous running experience required, and generous financial aid is available. Registration is open at www.gotrmn.org Our season will be each Monday & Thursday 4:05 - 5:30 p.m. from April 7 - May 31/June 1, culminating with a celebratory Girls on the Run 5K the weekend of May 31/June 1. Space is limited so register now! (Girls need to attend both days each week; as each lessons build on the previous) Visit www.gotrmn.org or contact Daisy Simpson at daisy.j.simpson@gmail.com for more information.

Minneapolis Public Schools is currently conducting an Equity and Diversity Impact Assessment on early literacy. We are seeking feedback from caregivers of MPS students in Kindergarten through 3rd grade. This survey will help us understand your experiences with reading instruction and the support your student is receiving through their school. Your feedback will be used to suggest improvements to early literacy across the district.

Please take this survey.

Our lost and found is overflowing with forgotten items! Could one of them be yours?

Unclaimed Winter Gear items will be donated after Spring Break April 18th!

Introducing "Skillsville," a new PBS KIDS show produced by Twin Cities PBS that centers on three best friends - Cora, Dev and Rae - and their pupperfly guide, Scout, who helps the kids solve fun challenges and explore different careers in the video-game world of Skillsville. Watch an episode of this new series, meet the characters, participate in activities related to the series and engage with community partners. It will be an epic event that you do not want to miss!

Attached is a flyer for the MPRB's Nature Day camps that are happening at Wirth, Minnehaha, and North Mississippi regional parks this summer. Registration opens on 3/5 at noon and there is a sliding scale fee option for Minneapolis residents that goes down to $0.

The city of Minneapolis offers a website with food shelf information. There is a list of food resources in the area and many of them have a map with food shelf locations. Website: https://www2.minneapolismn.gov/government/programs-initiatives/homegrown-minneapolis/food-shelves/

Click here to find free meals and snacks

The Section 8 waiting list is opening up on April 9th. Please click on this link for additional information:

https://metrocouncil.org/Housing/Services/Metro-HRA-Rental-Assistance/Applications.aspx

Click here to find a step-by-step guide to finding the right place for your child's care.

HelpMeConnect is a groundbreaking interagency collaboration between Minnesota’s Department of Children, Youth, and, Families; Education; Health; and Human Services. Click here to explore HelpMeConnect and find the support you need.