Cougar Connect
Week of January 20, 2020
Reminder
Address Verification Night
We are looking forward to seeing many of you this Thursday night sometime between 5-7:30 pm in the library. All families must show address verification for high school even if you currently have a student in the Sequoia Union High School District. Below is a flier we received this week that has lots of information you need for address verification. If you are unable to attend on Thursday night you can always go down to their District Office.
School Tours
Our last formal tour date is Friday, January 24, at 8:30 am in the library.
*For families who can’t make any of these dates/times and want more information about the school can contact the office to setup a meeting time with me.
Congratulations!
Aaron Medina
Aaron Sanchez
Adrian Contreras
Agustin Suarez
Alejandro Molina
Alex Quezada
Alexa Vargas
Alondra Huerta
Andres Orozco Torres
Angel Ake
Angel Martinez Zarate
Anthony Rastellini
Axel Larson
Braeden Wall **
Britney Bautista
Callie Hogrefe
Carlos Maldonado
Carmen Cuevas
Celeste Younger
Christopher Garcia
Citlali Tinajero
Clara Panofsky *
Cuevas, Natalie
D'Anna Acevedo
Daniel Zertuche
David Pacas
Diana Abraham
Diana Maganda Rosales
Dylan De Leon
Dylan Salas
Elizabeth Oseguera
Emily Parker
Eva Smith *
Fernando Velazquez Barajas
Isaac Covacha
Isaac Wagner
Isabel Cortez
Isabella Osuna
Izaaiah Saafi *
Jada Crockett
Jenrick Velbis *
Joandy Maldonado Vasquez **
Jocelyn Ramirez
Josue Montoya
Juan Flores Jr
Julianna Zaragoza
Kai Fisch
Karina Granados
Karla Ventura
Katie Hernandez
Kenia Rojas
Kimberly Hernandez
Leonardo Rodriguez
Lesly Fajardo Fajardo
Lilly Lyssand
Lucerito Zapien
Luis Perez
Lyric Tully
Marta Sandoval *
Martinez Zarate, Angel
Maya Perez Martinez
Mckenna Fablinger
Michael Robbins
Michelle Silva Martinez
Natalie Cuevas
Nathalia Efigenio
Randy Nunez
Reese Moore
Rick Soriano
Rickey Ellis
Robert Garcia
Robert Roden III *
Rodolfo Quinteros Jr.
Santiago Sandoval
Spencer Calsing
Tabitha Oliver
Tiffany Sanez Rubio
Tosoni Lavulo *
Victor Fabian Montes
William Washington
Willson Ocampo
Zoey Argenal
*Chosen by an additional teacher(s).
Progress Reports
Aladdin Jr.
The musical Aladdin Jr. is a magical performance based on the Academy Award-winning Disney classic and the hit Broadway show. This is a colorful production by Kennedy Middle School in Redwood City. Our actors have done an outstanding job to bring you the story of Aladdin - a street rat who finds a magic lamp and embarks on an adventure that will test his will and moral character to earn the respect of princess Jasmine. Come discover a "whole new world" at our show!
PERFORMANCES: Friday, January 31 at 7 pm and Saturday, February 1 at 1pm & 7pm
LOCATION: McKinley Auditorium, 400 Duane St, Redwood City
Talk To Your Student
I had an interesting conversation the other night with a parent. Towards the end of the conversation the parent asked me about something unrelated to what I called to speak about and I am glad the parent did. The parent had heard from the student that there was a fight at Kennedy that day. I assured her there actually had not been. Two students were having a conversation and were in disagreement about something. They ended up walking away from each other. Students of course came over to try to escalate the situation and view the conversation.
Why am I telling you about this? For several reasons. Please don’t take everything your middle schooler says at face value. We find very frequently that like the game of “Telephone” that students play when they are little, the message tends to get changed, exaggerated, etc. If there is something you feel you really need to know, please feel free to reach out to teachers, an administrator, and/or the office depending on the situation/information you need.
Why are students trying to help escalate situations? Our Psychologist, Courtney, did some recent SEL work in many of our 8th grade classes. Students took an anonymous survey and this topic came up quite a bit. Students shared that they like the drama and want it to happen because it is entertaining.
At our staff meeting this Thursday, 7th/8th grade Social Studies Teacher, Stephanie Keith, who does SEL work in her room, shared that she has been talking to students about empathy. They have spoken about how students are taking pleasure due to another student’s pain by watching the situations and/or sometimes exacerbating them by getting involved or encouraging the conflict. Please take some time to speak with your student about empathy and making good choices.
Thank you for being a parent/guardian to a middle school student. (I know you don’t have a choice and I know it isn’t always easy). Please try to be as involved as you can. Talk to your student regularly, know who your student’s friends are, know where your student is when your student is not at school or with you/family, check your student’s cell phone and devices regularly to know what your student is up to and who your student is communicating with, model good language and choices, set boundaries, and give consequences.
Thank you to all of my staff, who choose to work in a middle school, which is not always easy. Middle school students are going through puberty, exploring new things - both good and bad, testing boundaries, etc. Thank you for making a difference in our students’ lives.
Mural
Congratulations to students Xin Xin Cui, Kara Melosh, Julia Keleman, Ellie Comfort, Eva Arteaga, Shainna Sia, Briseis Velasquez, Christian Woo, Miguel Zacarias, Hailey Ponce, and Rocco Piazza who designed a mural that was selected for the Youth Mural Alley Project. Thank you to Kennedy Art Teacher, Jesse Silverman, and parent, Jocelyn Keleman, for overseeing their work.
Here are the details to come see and celebrate their hard work:
The City of Redwood City, in collaboration with the Sequoia Hotel, is pleased to invite you to the grand opening of the Youth Mural Alley Project on Sunday, January 26th at 4pm. We look forward to honoring the students and team leaders who created the ten masterpieces and celebrate the newest addition to the public art in our community.
https://rwc-youth-mural-ally-project-grand-opening.eventbrite.com
February 6
8th Grade Graduation and Events Committee Needs Your Help!
Graduation may seem like a long way away, but the 8th Grade Graduation Committee is already starting to plan events for May and June 2020 that will create lifelong memories for our students that will be saying goodbye and moving onto high school! Please help out by visiting https://kennedycougarspto.org/8th-grade-graduation-events to donate and sign up to volunteer for various events. The next Graduation Committee Meeting will be Tuesday, January 21st at 6 pm in the Library (immediately before the PTO meeting).
Academic Support
Breakfast Club (Breakfast Provided)
7:45-8:15 am, Library (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays)
After School Help (Snacks Provided)
3:10-4:10 pm, Room 531 (Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays)
1:40-2:40 pm, Room 531 (Thursdays)
Clubs
Anime Club - Thursdays, Lunch, Room 417
Book Club - Wednesdays, 3:10-4:10, Room 531
Dungeons & Dragons Club - Tuesdays, 3:15-4:15 pm, Room 528
Earth Club - Wednesdays, Lunch, Library
Gamers' Club - Mondays, 3:10-4:10 pm, Room 637
Maker Space Club - Mondays, Lunch, Room 531
Photograph Club - Tuesdays, Lunch, and Wednesdays, 3:10-4:10 pm, Room 314
Sci-Fi Club - Tuesday, Lunch, Room B-5 (Every Other Week)
Yoga Club - Tuesdays & Thursdays, Lunch, Room A1 (Locker Room)
Students can show up to the club and do not need to sign up ahead of time.
News From The Community
January 2020 Saturday Open House at Woodside High School
Principal Diane Burbank would like to invite prospective students and parents for another opportunity to see Woodside High School.
The link below is to register if interested.
WHS Open House Registration for Sat., Jan. 25
Woodside High School will hold its annual Open House on Saturday, January 25, 2020, 9 am to 12 noon. Student led one-hour tours will showcase our fabulous campus and answer many prospective students’ questions about attending Woodside High School. Tours leave every 10 minutes from the PAC (Performing Arts Center) and end at the MUR (Multi-use Room) to speak informally with academic and athletic program staff. Please pre-register to guarantee your tour spot.
After School Sports
Pictures From This Week
5th Grade Visit (Henry Ford, Taft, and Rocketship)
January Events
Monday, January 20: No School, Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Tuesday, January 21: Second Harvest Food Bank, 9:30 am, Gym; Face the Cookie Lunchtime Competition, Outside Room 534/535; Grad Committee Meeting, 6 pm, Library; PTO Meeting, 7 pm, Library
Thursday, January 23: Principal’s Coffee, 8:30 am, Library; Student Store Open, Lunch, Room 531A; 8th Grade High School Address Verification Night, 5:00-7:30 pm, Library
Friday, January 24: School Tour, 8:30 am, Library
Monday, January 27: January Birthday Celebration, Lunch, Room 531A
Tuesday, January 28: Moving Up Lunchtime Competition, Outside Room 534/535
Friday, January 31: Aladdin Jr. Performance, 7:00 pm, MIT TheaterKennedy Middle School
Email: sadler@rcsdk8.net
Website: www.rcsdk8.net/kennedy
Location: 2521 Goodwin Avenue, Redwood City, CA, USA
Phone: (650) 482-2409
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kennedymiddleschool/