Cougar Connect

Dear Kennedy Community,

Welcome to week three! It was great to meet new families (and see familiar faces) at last week's Ice Cream Social. Thank you to our awesome PTO for organizing the event. 8th-grade families--please check your email this week. Important information about 8th-grade events will be sent to you from the PTO email address. 7th-grade families interested in the Grand Canyon field trip can find the details listed below in the newsletter.

Here's what you need to know for the week ahead:

Enrollment & Schedule Changes

We have had increased enrollment at Kennedy, so we need to open another 8th-grade social studies class, another 8th-grade science class, another 8th-grade P.E. class, and another 8th-grade English language arts class. We will notify students and their families about these changes on Tuesday afternoon. Their schedules will take effect on Wednesday.

Dine-Out Event at Redwood City BBQ Thursday, August 29

Eat at Redwood City BBQ this Thursday and support Kennedy! Bring in a picture of the flyer in the newsletter, enter code KMS online, or mention Kennedy in-store in order for Kennedy to earn money for our students.

Positive Behavior Expectations

We had a school-wide assembly on Wednesday where I was able to review Kennedy positive behavior expectations for students. Families can review the presentation here.

Please remind your students to keep their hands and feet to themselves. Students should not touch others' property (hats, hoodies, water bottles, backpacks, supplies), and they should not touch others' bodies (tackle football, touch football, slide tackling, piggyback rides, swinging friends around). We will enforce this expectation with all students. We've seen more of this amongst our newer 6th-grade students, so teachers, admin, and campus supervisors are making sure to correct this behavior quickly.

Students should also use positive language; profanity, slurs, and constant teasing will not be tolerated.

We will continue to teach expected school-wide behaviors at school and appreciate your support in discussing these expectations with your students at home.

Music Program Updates

Information packets have gone home with all music students. Please review the information and fill out the necessary forms. There is a mandatory information meeting for all new parents in the Music Program on Wednesday, August 28 from 6-7pm in the library. Returning parents are welcome. Questions? email Mr. Balogh ebalogh@rcsdk8.net

Redwood City Parks & Rec Registration

The last day to register for fall flag football and volleyball teams is this Wednesday, August 28th. Please visit Red Morton Community Center in person or visit the registration website to sign up your student: click here.

PowerSchool & Student Passwords

RCSD reset student Google passwords about two weeks ago. We will give students their updated passwords once they receive their Chromebooks after Labor Day. PowerSchool is not available for parent or student view until after Labor Day. Student schedules are still changing. I will let you know when PowerSchool is available. We will also have PowerSchool information sessions for families so that you can learn to check your students' grades throughout the year.

No School: Labor Day Monday, September 2

There will be no school on Monday, September 2, due to the Labor Day holiday.

Principal's Coffee

My first Principal's Coffee of the year will be held Thursday, September 5th, at 8:45 a.m. in the Kennedy Library.

Back to School Night

Mark your calendars: Back to School Night (BTSN) is Thursday, September 12 at 5:30 p.m. We will begin in the gym at 5:30 p.m. Then, families will have the opportunity to visit classrooms. We will host an 8th-grade high school information session from 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. in the gym after Back to School Night.

The Kennedy office is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Phone Contact: (650) 482-2409

Office Manager: Liz Avalos lmavalos@rcsdk8.net

Office Assistant (Attendance): Jessica Perez jpperez@rcsdk8.net

Office Assistant (Student Records, Student Health): Maritza Gutierrez mggutierrez@rcsdk8.net

Have a great week!

Chandra Leonardo

Principal

More information about our annual Grand Canyon field trip for 7th-graders can be found by clicking the links below. Information about next year's Yosemite trip will happen at a later date; our coordinator was unable to join us for the meeting.

Grand Canyon Information Presentation

Grand Canyon Student Application 2024-25

Teachers and staff are working on teaching our students expected behaviors, so we maintain positive learning environments for all students and staff. We expect students to show their P.A.W.S.:

Be Prepared

Have a Positive Attitude

Make Wise Choices

Be Safe

Kennedy Behavior Matrix

Kennedy PBIS Posters

We will meet as a whole school this Wednesday during advisory to review schoolwide expectations.

Parent Julia Feng donated many items to Ms. Le's classroom. Ms. Le is incredibly grateful for the donation of notebooks, calculators, markers, color pencils, and Kleenex. Thank you, Ms. Feng!

We are very thankful for the support from our Kennedy parents. Without your monetary support, we would not be able to fund our fine arts, music, and STEAM programs. There are several ways to donate to the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO). Please click this link to learn about all of the ways to support our Kennedy Cougars.

Our direct drive goal is $50,000. Without these funds, we won't be able to support the programs and activities that our community values. We need your financial help to continue to support the programs listed below that benefit all students and families. In order to provide these resources, we must raise $50,000. We suggest all families make a minimum financial contribution of $500 per family for the 2024-2025 school year.

To contribute and support our Direct Drive 2024-25:

PayPal (click here)

CreditCard via Online Store (click here)

Donation Form (click here)

What do we support?

Working closely with the KMS administration, PTO Direct Drive funds support: Music / STEAM / Art / Drama / Maker Space / School dances / Lunchtime activities / Physical education / 8th-grade celebration activities.

For more details about our Direct Drive Click here.

The PTO is dedicated to supporting and improving the educational experiences of Kennedy students through donations and volunteering.

How can I volunteer?

Everyone (parents or guardians, teachers, and staff of Kennedy Middle School) is automatically a member and is encouraged to attend our monthly meetings. Please join us at our first PTO meeting on Tuesday, August 20th in the Kennedy Library or on Zoom (link to be sent next week). Find more details and opportunities at: www.kennedycougarspto.org

How can I donate?

PayPal (click here)

CreditCard via Online Store (click here)

Donation Form (click here)

Mark your calendars! Our first PTO-sponsored Dine-Out event will be Thursday, August 29 from at Redwood City BBQ.

Thank you!

There will be no schedule changes during the first few days of school. Our admin team needs to determine our enrollment.

We will focus on students who are missing a class or have double classes (for example, two P.E. classes).

We often get asked why students were placed in an elective they didn't choose. This means their top three courses were full or the class was not offered due to a change in staffing.

Next week, students can request schedule changes. Students should listen to the morning announcements for details.

Students should not use their cell phones or have them on during the school day. Airpods should be used for class assignments only.

Students will face consequences if they are using their cell phones to record students and staff.

If you need to contact your student during the day, email our office staff so that we can send the message to your student: lmavalos@rcsdk8.net, jpperez@rcsdk8.net, mggutierrez@rcsdk8.net.

We want students to be able to express themselves with their attire, but we also want a school environment free of distractions. Students need to wear shoes appropriate for P.E. Crocs and open toed shoes and shoes without a strap should not be worn. Clothing that references drugs, gangs, alcohol, substance abuse, vulgar language or sexual connotations are not allowed.

We also want students to wear pants, skirts, and shorts that cover their underwear and private body parts.

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.

AUGUST

• Registration for flag football and volleyball through Redwood City Parks & Rec ends August 28.

SEPTEMBER

• Labor Day ~No School Sept. 2
• Principal’s Coffee Sept. 5 Library 8:45-9:45 a.m.
• Picture Day Sept. 10 Campus (during PE) 8:30 a.m.-3:15 p.m.
• Back to School Night Sept. 12 Campus 6:00-7:15 p.m.
• 8th Grade High School Info Sept. 12 Gym 7:15-8:15 p.m.
• School Site Council Sept. 18 Library/Zoom 5:00-6:00 p.m.
• ELAC Sept. 19 Library/Zoom 5:00-6:00 p.m.
• PTO Meeting Sept. 24 Library/Zoom 7:00-8:30 p.m.
• Staff Development ~ No School Sept. 30 All Day
• Fall Goal Setting Conferences Sept. 30-Oct. 4 Campus 1:00-3:15 p.m.
• i-Ready District Assessment in ELA-Math Sept. 4-30

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