Cougar Connect
Principal Message January 16th, 2023
Dear Kennedy Families,
Families I hope you enjoyed the long weekend! Hopefully the worst of the storm has passed and we'll enjoy safer weather conditions in the week to come. We have a short week this week but it is busy.
Attendance
Attendance is very important, no matter what time of year, as every instructional minute counts. If students are sick, please keep them home. However, when possible, please schedule vacations and appointments when school is not in session. See link for the correlation between student achievement and chronic absenteeism: (Link)
Parents and guardians should be notifying our office staff when students are absent. Truancy and attendance letters will be sent home to students who have excessive absences. Doctor’s notes are required for three or more consecutive absences.
Progress Reports
Progress Reports were mailed to you on Friday 1/13. Student progress can also be found digitally through the parent portal using PowerSchool. If anyone still needs assistance gaining access to the parent portal, please call our office and we can assist. Also included with your progress report are the results for your students I-Ready diagnostic exams. I have made a short video explaining some of the details within the I-Ready Report you will receive. I-Ready Report.
8th Grade Hoodies
Hoodies were distributed to students last week but if a student was absent and did not receive the hoodie have the students inform administration and they will assist.
All the best,
Nikolaos Fanourgiakis
Principal
Kennedy Middle School
8th Grade Families
8th graders will be taking the MIRA math assessment January 18th and 19th in Mrs. Comfort and Mrs. Kerri's classes. Your students' results are shared with the High School. Please remind your 8th graders to get a good nights rest and charge their chromebooks.
8th graders do the best that you can!
See Link of information sent to all families on 1/6/2023 (Link)
Teen Talk - 7th Grade
Parent Information Session January 17th 7:30 pm (Register here)
Kennedy will be hosting an information session that provides parents and guardians with information about the comprehensive sexual health course, Teen Talk Middle School. Information about the CA Healthy Youth Act, key content, and rationale, will be provided. There is also an opportunity for Q&A.
Teen Talk Jan 23-Feb 3rd
Kennedy 7th grade students will be participating in Teen Talk in their science classes Jan 23-Feb 3rd. Science teachers will be sending further information on January 9th which will be added to the Cougar Connect. Please reach out to our 7th grade science teachers if you have any questions:
Irma Aguilar Figueroa, ifigueroa@rcsdk8.net
Chelsea Strangman, cstrangman@rcsdk8.net
Musical Newsletter 1/16/2023
Please use the link below to access the Matilda Jr. Newsletter #4-Rehearsal Schedule.
Family Meetings Tuesday January 17th
Tech Crew Meeting during brunch / recess in room 417 - students will be reminded during morning announcements.
Sara Rosenbloom srosenbloom@rcsdk8.net
7th Grade Grand Canyon Trip update 1/16/2023
The Grand Canyon Field Trip Practice Hike will take place on the morning of Saturday, January 21st from 8:00 am to 11:00 am. Students will check-in at the Kennedy gym and hike up to Cañada College and back. If you have not submitted the permission slip yet, please do so or you will not be able to attend. Extra copies are available online or at school with Maestro Alfredo in Room 424.
Also, please make sure to mark your calendars for our Mandatory Meeting on Tuesday, February 14th which will begin at 6:30 pm. We will cover all of the details of the trip, collect payments, and distribute backpacks.
Lastly, a reminder that payments can be made before our meeting in February via Zelle. Making payments ahead of time will help our meeting run more efficiently. Families have received information about how to submit their payments. Payment information is also available online.
Kennedy Grand Canyon Field Trip Website
Please email Maestro Alfredo (aoropeza@rcsdk8.net) if you have any questions.
Math Information Night January 26th 6:00 pm Kennedy Library
Thank you to the families that joined us in December.
The meeting went well so we will be offering it again on January 26th 6:00 pm in the Kennedy library (In-Person)
Goal of Meeting:
To provide families resources in order to support math at home
To give some general grade level math expectations for families
If you are interested in attending please complete this short ticket. (Link)
SEL PARTNERSHIP ACKNOWLEDGE ALLIANCE
Project Resilience by Acknowledge Alliance will commence on January 13th-March 3rd with our 7th grade students and go for 7 weeks
Students will receive weekly lessons in their social studies classes on Fridays.
Project Resilience is a partnership where Acknowledge Alliance facilitators work with our students on developing their social emotional skills, including identifying strengths, recognizing and managing emotions, demonstrating caring for others, coping strategies for dealing with feelings, establishing and maintaining positive relationships, making responsible decisions and working with others.
Winter Sports (Redwood City Parks and Recreation)
Below is the schedule of practices and games through February. If there are any changes we will announce it during morning announcements and coaches will inform families.
Practice Schedule (Link)
Game Schedule (Link)
If you have practice questions contact your coaches or Recreation Coordinator Michael Smith <msmith@redwoodcity.org>
Academic Supports
Kennedy school provides a variety of academic support for students. Some of the academic support are provided in person but there are also many that are online. Attached is a document that provides details of some of these supports. If you have questions please contact me or our family center director Elizabeth Calderon.
Elizabeth Calderon, ecalderongarcia@rcsdk8.net
Nick Fanourgiakis, nfanourgiakis@rcsdk8.net
Yearbook 2022-23
Student Council
Visit the Student Council website
Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)
The Kennedy Counseling team is here to support our students! We offer crisis support, short term individual counseling and one time check-ins.
Here is the link to the Kennedy counseling referral. You can also email our Mental Health Counselor, Mariela Lopez for any questions or concerns (mlopez3@rcsdk8.net).
Student Family Handbook / 2022-23 Calendar
8th Grade Students of the Month December
7th Grade Students of the Month December
6th Grade Students of the Month December
Immersion 7th Grade Science
Immersion 7th Grade Science Ms. Figueora's students are analyzing different rocks and describing their different textures. This is a multi-day lesson in their Rock Transformation unit.
8th Grade Physical Education
8th Grade Expository Reading and Writing
6th Grade English Language Development
January Calendar
January 17 Spring Play Parent Meeting via zoom times TBD
January 17th Teen Talk Parent Information Night 7:30 pm
January 18-19 8th Grade MIRA High School Assessment
January 21st Saturday Practice Hike Grand Canyon 8:00 am @ Kennedy
January 23rd -Feb 3rd Teen Talk 7th Grade in Science classes
January 24 Site Council & ELAC - 6:00-7:00 pm
January 24th PTO Meeting- 7:05-8:30 pm
January 25th Dine out Fundraiser Chipotle RWC 4-8pm
January 26th Math Information Night 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Kennedy Library
January 31st - 8th Grade Parent Meeting 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm via zoom
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/