Cougar Connect
Week of March 25, 2019
Support Kennedy!
Thank you in advance for your generosity in helping the Kennedy PTO raise up to $30K in support of our students and community! This will help fund next school year’s programs, including: The Kennedy Family Center, The Art Program, The Maker Space, and a new project based learning program called Project Lead The Way. Donate Now or put a check in the PTO box in the school office. No contribution is too small!
Site Council Meeting - Budget Allocations for Next Year
February Students of the Month
Abbey Rudkin
Adriana González
Aidan Goodell
Aidan Pineda
Aislinn Daly
Alexa Alvarez Apolonio
Alexa Vargas
Amos Figueroa
Amy Jackson
Angel Soto
Anthony Woo
Arielle Lyon
Aryanna Duarte
Calliope Hogrefe
Camryn Carter
Cassandra Herrera
Cebelli Pfeifer
David Bonilla
Diego Comfort
Diego Navarro
Diego Sanchez
Dominic Puluc
Everest Franz
Gabriel Reyna
Gloria Chavaria Villasenor
Jackie Santos
Jadaleen Perez
Jafet Martínez
Janelle Jones
Jasmin Farias
Jemima Lake
Jeovanny Carlos
Johan Hernandez
Jonny Markovich
Jose Carranza
Jose Ulloa
Julia Fernández Giorgi
Julia Keleman
Karla Ventura
Katie Kubota
Kenia Rojas
Kiara Gaddis
Kimberly Hernandez
Lilly Lyssand
Lily Giacomoni
Lisa Torres
Lucerito Zapien
Luis Cuevas
Michael Robbins
Monica Salto
Owen Tienken
Pedro Vail
Priya Alo
Rafael Manzo
Ryan Eberhard
Sofia Bellver Eymann
Stephanie Garcia
Taylor Kepney
Yoeli Romero
Accelerated Math For Next Year
After School Extra Math Sessions
I will be continuing to work with students after school when we return from break. Here are the dates of the April sessions:
6th Grade: Monday, April 8 & 22, 3:15-4:15 pm, Library
7th Grade: Wednesday, April 10 & 17, 3:15-4:15 pm, Library
8th graders are welcome to attend the 7th grade sessions to brush up on skills.
Teaching Tolerance and Proper Behavior
Social Studies teachers will spend some time over the next five to six weeks working with students on tolerance, name calling, bullying, and more. Here are some of the resources being used to inspire and guide discussions and activities.
How can you help support us? By having conversations with your students and correcting inappropriate behavior. If you hear your student using foul language, call them out on it, give them consequences if they continue. It is amazing how many of them think it is cool and okay to swear/cuss.
If you hear your student using inappropriate slang, have a conversation with your student. Help to educate your student about why it isn’t appropriate. You can even research together online how/why that term originated historically. It is amazing how many students for example use the “N” word to each other. And they think if it ends in an “a” versus an “er” that it is okay. This will be addressed in lessons with the teachers, including other inappropriate names students are calling one another.
No Gum On Campus
This past week I reminded students that gum in not permitted on campus unless for special medical reasons. Please remind them at home about this. The students are leaving gum all over the ground, under desks, etc., which is really gross.
8th Grade Graduation Festivities
8th grade graduation events are almost here. Your kids will participate in a day trip to Great America, the graduation dance, field day events and the graduation ceremony, including gowns for all kids. These wonderful events take money to produce and we are asking for donations of $75 per child to cover the costs. Without your donation we won’t be able to make all of these events happen. Please make a contribution today so we can make your child’s graduation from Kennedy a memorable one!
Make a $75 contribution by credit card or PayPal account using this link: https://bit.ly/2DeBrJf. Please include you child’s name in the comments.
Write a check or leave cash in the PTO lock box at the Kennedy Office, please note your child’s name on check or envelope.
Save The Dates
There are several dates coming up in March, April, and May to mark on your calendar that you may or may not know about. There will be more details to come on all of the night events as we get closer to them.
Tuesday, March 26, 7:15 am: Trimester 2 Honor Roll Breakfast.
Thursday, March 28, 7 pm: We will be showing the movie Angst and have a panel discussion with high school students and experts after. We are finding that a lot of kids have anxiety and depression and feel that it is important to address this topic. Students will also see the movie that day during school and be able to ask questions to a panel.
Friday, March 29: Super Minimum Day. Dismissal at 12:06 pm.
Monday, April 1- Friday, April 5: Spring Break. No School.
Thursday, April 11, 6-7:30 pm: Open House/STEAM Fair.
Thursday, April 25, 7 pm: Spring Concert.
Thursday, May 2, 7 pm: Vaping/Juul Parent Information Night. Sequoia Union High School District is doing this same evening in April. I asked the organizer to bring this presentation to RCSD because there is a huge increasing trend nationwide of middle school and high school students vaping. Kennedy will host because I organized this, but we will open this up to all parents in the District. (Same thing with Angst in March).
ANGST
REDWOOD CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT PARENT EDUCATION SERIES
ANGST: Raising Awareness Around Anxiety
Documentary Film & Panel Discussion
Thursday, March 28, 2019, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
John F. Kennedy Middle School (Gym)
2521 Goodwin Avenue, Redwood City, CA 94061
Info + Tickets: https://angst2019kennedy.eventbrite.com
What is causing the anxiety epidemic in our children and teens?
Join us for a special screening of the new IndieFlix documentary, ANGST: Raising Awareness Around Anxiety, followed by a panel discussion with ANGST executive producer Karin Gornick.
ANGST features candid interviews with youth and young adults who suffer, or have suffered, from anxiety. The film includes discussions with mental health experts about the causes of anxiety and its sociological effects, as well as help, resources, and tools.
Parents, students (ages 10+), educators, and community members welcome! Spanish subtitles will be available. Free admission and light refreshments.
ANGST is sponsored by Kennedy Middle School, Sequoia Healthcare District, and Sequoia Union High School District.
Questions? Contact Charlene Margot, M.A., Director, The Parent Education Series, at cmargot@csmconsulting.net
Academic Support
All Academic Subjects:
Tuesday-Friday, 7:45-8:15 am, Library
Monday-Wednesday, 3:10-4:10 pm, YELL Room, (Old REACH Office)
Thursday, 1:35-2:35 pm, YELL Room (Old REACH Office)
Math:
Monday-Wednesday, 3:10-4:10 pm, Room 637
Clubs and Groups
Art Club: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 7:30-8:20 am, Room 526
Book Club: Thursdays, Lunch, Room 534
Dungeons & Dragons: Fridays, Room 528
Jazz Band (Audition Only): Mondays & Wednesdays, 3:15-4:15 pm, Room 312
Maker Space: Mondays, Lunch, Room 531
Photography & Writing Club: Tuesdays & Thursdays, Lunch, Room 314
Robotics Club: Tuesdays, 3:10-4:10 pm, Room 530
Total Drama Club: Tuesdays, 3:10-4:10 pm, Room 417
Shakespeare & Improv Club: Mondays & Fridays, 3:10-4:10 pm, Room 417
Walker Library Club: Tuesdays & Wednesdays, Lunch, Room 417
Pictures From This Week
March Events
Monday, March 25: March Birthday Celebration, Lunch, Room 535
Tuesday, March 26: Honor Roll Breakfast, 7:15 am, Gym; 6th Grade Field Trip to Asian Art Museum (Ms. Dueñas’ classes), All Day
Thursday, March 28: Angst Anxiety Assemblies (throughout day), Angst Parent Showing & Panel Discussion (including the movie’s producer), 7-9 pm, Gym
Friday, March 29: Sports Assemblies (8th Grade: 9:05-9:45, 7th Grade:10:20-11:00, 6th Grade: 11:20-12:00); Super Minimum Day Dismissal, 12:06 pm; Shrek Jr., 7 pm, MIT Theater
Saturday, March 30: Shrek Jr., 1 & 7 pm, MIT Theater
Kennedy 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/