Cougar Connect
Week of January 17, 2022
Principal Message Week of January 17th
This message was composed on Friday January 14th
Dear Kennedy Families,
I hope everyone is doing well considering the challenges all of us are facing on a daily basis with the current COVID-19 surge. Thank you, families, for another good week at Kennedy, and for all the support and collaboration during this ongoing pandemic. I would also like to send a special shout out to the staff who have been here each and every day and the many who have rushed to get back to serve our students. We continue to work together to make sure we remain focused on teaching and learning. Please take note of a few important updates for next week:
No School
- Monday, January 17th as we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
Pandemic Framework
On Wednesday, January 12th, the CDC issued new guidance around the pandemic which changed some school procedures. Please remember that each case can be a little different, and if you have specific questions or concerns, please inform our office and we will do the best we can to answer or refer you to someone who can.
Positive cases (Everyone regardless of vaccination status)
5 Days of Isolation
Isolation can end if:
- Symptoms are not present or are resolving and
- A diagnostic specimen collected on day 5 or later tests negative.
* antigen test preferred.
Close Contacts at School (Asymptomatic, Vaccinated)
- No need to quarantine
- Consider testing
- Get tested on day 5 of exposure (Use the scheduled school testing days on Tuesday and Thursday)
Close Contacts at School (Asymptomatic, Unvaccinated)
- Can attend school if:
- Test twice that week (Once the day informed)
- Quarantine from extra curricular activities within the community like sports
Pandemic Recovery framework update January 12th
RCSD School Board Presentation on the framework January 12th
* We will continue to update you as the framework changes
Upcoming Health and Testing Reminders
If a student or family member within the home is sick or has a positive case, please keep the student home and inform the school. Our nurses will reach out and provide guidance.
Sign up your students for testing Tuesday, January 18th. We will be testing students from 10:15 pm to 12:15 pm.
We need students to be registered in Primary Health in order to test them at school. Families do have the option to test on their own. However, with the frequency of current close contacts, we believe it is easier to test during our school’s designated weekly times. Any family whose student was a close contact last week and was not registered under Primary Health, received an individual message on Friday, Jan 14, 2022. If you would like your student to be tested at school, please register them here: https://bit.ly/consentlink.
Students at Home Choosing to Work Independently
We have students that are symptomatic and asymptomatic working independently from home. Families need to inform Kennedy office staff if this is your student's situation in order for your student's absences to be marked as excused.
Students choosing to work from home can do so asynchronously accessing work on their teachers’ Google classrooms
Families wishing to enroll in the Independent Study option through our district can reach out to Mr. Rosell for information arosell@rcsdk8.net. Families should be aware that the district option is a long-term choice that means your student would no longer be connected to their Kennedy teacher.
COVID-19 Testing Next Week @ Kennedy
Regular testing schedule Tuesday between 10:15-12:15 and Thursday from 1:30 pm and 4:30 pm. Please sign up when you receive the district notification
Progress Reports
Progress reports will be mailed January 21st. They will include students' I-Ready results from December.
Let's keep working together, everyone.
Nick Fanourgiakis
Principal
Kennedy Middle School
650482-2409- EX 3111
Absent Students
In an effort to improve logging and reporting absences for Kennedy families we will be starting a digital reporting system on Tuesday January 14th. Families will have the choice of calling in their absences as normal or completing a short form that will be linked on our Cougar Connect each week.
This will allow parents to report an absence without having to call the office each morning.
Boys and Girls Club Reopens Tuesday
Also they are looking for program leader and a coaches if you know someone check out their website (Link)
If you have any questions please reach out to: Juanita Herrera
8th Grade Information
8th Grade Math High school placement assessment window
- January 27th to Feb 5th.
- Students should check in with their math teacher to see when they will be administering the MIRA assessment as the assessment can take 2 to 3 class periods to complete
- Results impact high school course placement
8th Grade Information Night on January 27, 2022 at 7 pm via Zoom. We will discuss 8th grade graduation and end-of-the-year festivities
Address Verification continues. Please complete this as soon as possible. See link below.
Open Enrollment Transfers are available to incoming 9th-grade students who wish to attend a school other than their assigned home school. Deadline: Feb 1, 2022,
Tide Academy will be resuming outdoor tours on Mondays and Wednesdays in January from 1:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.
For all things related to enrollment at SUHSD, click here
Woodside & Sequoia classroom presentations at Kennedy will be happening in late Feb or early March
Cougar Counseling Corner
Hello Kennedy Families! This is a friendly reminder that we have an amazing team of counselors at the Family Center who are here to support you and the students! We invite you to recognize your inner wisdom and let it guide you through each and every day.
Mindfulness tip of the week: Puzzles are a great way to sharpen the mind, but they’re also a mindfulness practice. They require focus, attention to detail, and presence of mind while also being fun and rewarding.
They include:
jigsaw puzzles
crosswords
sudoku
word finds
spot the differences
riddles
Check out Kennedy's virtual calming room
Teens may enjoy puzzles and not even realize they’re practicing mindfulness at the same time.
Referral link: Online Mental Health
Feel free to email us at mlopez3@rcsdk8.net with feedback about this technique and if you would like to see more!
PTO NEWS week of 1/17 - 1/22
PTO will do cupcakes for January Birthdays on Thursday, January 27 at lunch!
Parents of 8th graders - please fill out this survey to give us your 8th graders NAME & SWEATSHIRT SIZE. YOU MUST PUT YOUR STUDENT’S NAME IN THE SURVEY FOR THEM TO RECEIVE THE FREE SWEATSHIRT! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XHP5T5Y
Kennedy PTO Needs your donations! Check with your employers about donation matching options. Click this link to donate today! https://kennedycougarspto.org/donate-now
Join us via Zoom for our next PTO Meeting on Tuesday, 1/25/22 from 7-8pm. We will discuss 8th Grade Events and Activities and upcoming events for this school year.
Check us out on social media for the latest info! Instagram @KennedyCougarsPTO and Facebook at John F Kennedy Middle School Parent Teacher Organization.
KMS classrooms need Kleenex! Please bring tissue donations to the office. Thanks!
Grand Canyon Meeting Update
Book Fair Feb 14-18th
Help get your kids the lunch you always dreamed of! (Community Survey)
Are you interested in better school breakfast and lunch options for Redwood City School District students? The Healthy School Meals Coalition is working with parents and teachers to make district-wide school meal improvements.
We’d love to hear from you! Follow the QR code to fill out a survey about your experience with school food and sign up for updates about this initiative.
Email Jessica with questions: jesshade@gmail.com
Pictures
January Calendar
- January 4th / Tuesday Classes Resume
- January 6th Principal's Coffee 8:45am
- January 17th Martin Luther King ~ No School
- January 20th 5th Grade information night 6 pm
- January 25th Site Council / PTO Meeting 6:00pm-8:30 pm
- January 27th High information night for 8th grade families, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Kennedy Middle School Redwood City
Email: nfanourgiakis@rcsdk8.net
Website: https://www.rcsdk8.net/kennedy
Location: Kennedy Middle School, Goodwin Avenue, Redwood City, CA, USA
Phone: 650-482-2409
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kennedymiddleschool/