Kennedy Newsletter for Families
September 2022 Family Newsletter
A Note from the Principal
Kennedy Families,
Happy September! I hope your child(ren) are enjoying our school year so far. We've had a lot going on this week! Progress Reports have come out, we had Family Conferences, and KPD came out to do a demonstration with their awesome equipment. It was very, very cool!
We have several things coming up so pay attention to your emails and Class Dojo messages.
Right now, our "Spooky Fest" is scheduled for October 25. This is our Fall Festival (that includes our old "Spooky Literacy Night elements) that is sponsored by our PTA. Students can wear costumes, trick-or-treat with their favorite teachers, and more! There is always a huge turn out and you won't want to miss it.
I'm someone who is lucky enough to love my job. This school is amazing and the students, community, faculty and staff are too. Let me know if you need anything
Also, GBO!
Proud to serve you and the Lynn Garden Community,
Janice Irvin, Ed. D.
Proud Principal
Kennedy Elementary
Important Info from our Nurse
What if I need to contact the JFK Nurse?
Did your child wake up not feeling well? Are you trying to figure out whether to send them or not? Please feel free to contact Lorrie Linkous, our fabulous school nurse!
Emails sent to the email address below go to Lorrie Linkous' regular email --but this one might be easier to remember. Use as needed!
Upcoming Events
2: Parent Teacher Conference Day / No School
4-10: National Suicide Prevention Week
5: Labor Day / No School / ASC Closed
6: Classes Resume
11: Patriot Day
13: BOE Meeting
16: National Teacher’s Assistant Day
19: Deadline for Insight KCS Applications
20: National IT Professionals Day
22: First Day of Fall
23: Insight KCS (Session 1 of 6)
27: BOE Work Session
30: End of 1st 9 Weeks
October
25:Kennedy Spooky Literacy Night/Fall Festival (So fun!!!)
The Book Fair is Coming!
We have your in-person Scholastic Fall 22 Book Fair scheduled for 10/24/22- 10/28/2022. Just like your students we are eager to bring one of the most anticipated events back to your site! It is always exciting to be a kid at the Scholastic book fair. Your students are going to love our fall lineup this 2022 season! It is always our privilege to help you host your book fair and get new books into the hands of your young readers. There is nothing like the freedom to choose their own book and be on their way to becoming a bolder, prouder stronger reader!
You've got to check this out!
Notes from our August PTA Meeting
Attendees: Janice Irvin, Meaghann Malone, Rebecca May, Stephanie Hoeppner, Julie
Dunworth
Note: Our apologies to all that attempted to join us virtually. We hope to have
our meeting link back up and running properly for the next meeting on September
21, at 9am. We hope you’ll join us! Despite our technical difficulties, we
still had a wonderfully productive meeting.
Minutes
● Principal Update, Janice Irvin:
○ Kennedy is a Level 5 school! This is due to our student growth in
both literacy and math - way to go Coyotes and Teachers!
○ We enjoyed Kennedy Kudos on Friday; our students and staff enjoyed
dancing with DB football players, watching some entertaining skits,
and a visit from Curtis the Coyote
○ Twitter will be phased out and Instagram will be coming for Kingsport
City Schools to more easily share photos with our families
○ Ms. Carter, our librarian, has been smartly using her Scholastic
Dollars from previous book fairs. She has been working hard to phase
out older books and bring in new, exciting reading material to
Kennedy. She has also been able to give the library a more open feel
with new furniture (bought with book fair funding); the previous
furniture has been repurposed in Ms. Jeter’s art room
○ Ms. Carter will also be bringing in a visiting author later this year
and is working hard to plan our next book fair!
○ Dr. Irvin is the principal elect of the Tennessee Principals
Association. She will attend Training in December on how to make
Kennedy a Blue Ribbon School! This is a national accreditation that
we hope to achieve
● Communications & MemberHub, Meaghann Malone:
○ This year the PTA will be utilizing MemberHub for communication,
information sharing about the PTA, volunteer sign ups, and to allow
us to accept donations/sell “store” items online! This is a platform
provided to us by the Tennessee PTA. The website for the Kennedy PTA
is kennedycoyotespta.memberhub.com - this is still a work in
progress, please be patient with us!
● Financial Update, Stephanie Hoeppner:
○ Our current balance is roughly $1270; PTA membership dues have
brought in $480 so far!
● We will be looking for volunteers to help with
○ picture day
○ decorating the entrance of the school
○ updating the marquee
○ Fall Festival/Spooky Literacy Night/Family night for the book fair
● The PTA is planning to give every student and staff member a free t-shirt
this year! We’ll be asking for business/family/group donations. Sponsors
and donors will be listed on the back of the shirt. It was voted on that
additional shirts may be purchased for $15. A design has been selected; we
will work on finding a vendor. Sponsor/donor forms should be distributed
this week. The largest sponsor will have the option to put logo on back
above list of other sponsors/donors
● We have an officer opening for Vice President in the PTA. If you would like
to nominate someone or yourself, we will plan to vote on this position at
the next meeting if accepted nominees are prepared
Fall Festival voted to be joined with Spooky Literacy night again this year!
● PTA will plan to serve pizza, chips, drinks, popcorn, cookies - see
if Chef’s will be willing to work with us on pizza pricing
● MemberHub will allow us to pre-sell food tickets so we can have a
good grasp on how many people to prepare for
● Basket theme ideas for the silent auction: football, baseball,
soccer, books, crafts, art, Christmas, DB, date around Tri-Cities,
Axmen
● Will need volunteers for 30 minute slots to help with popcorn, food,
library, silent auction, watch inflatables
Ideas discussed: RADA fundraiser, Cornucopia fundraiser, Calendar “pay the date”
for classrooms to raise funds for needed items, adopt-a-teacher, fixing the glass
for the mini-library (plans have been made for this), have shirts with white
print on black shirt instead of black print on gray shirt
Concept of this year’s design - gray shirt with black print (or black shirt with white print):
Financial Update
Date Balance Amount What/Who
7/1/22 482.13 Beginning balance for financial year 22-23
7/14/22 307.13 (175) Payment to Fun for All for summer school bounce house
8/4/22 407.13 100 Donation towards summer school bounce house
8/8/22 852.13 445 Donation from Action Athletics for 21-22 shirt sales
8/19/22 1232.13 380 Member dues donations deposited
8/19/22 1272.13 40 MemberHub payout
Christian Horner - KCS Innovative Learning Coordinator Info
I'd also like to share that I heavily promote the Canvas Parent App, as it keeps users signed in, is very user friendly, and parents can set notifications per student. And, there are instructions for Parents to download and use the app inside the packet.
If you have any questions, or need additional support for Canvas, please feel free to reach out!
Admin/Teacher Guide- Canvas Parent/Observer Acc...
What if my child needs extra help?
We offer Multi-Tiered Student Support (MTSS) for all students regardless of their current level. Each day we have 30-45 minute blocks that are planned specifically to help students fill in the "holes" of their understanding to master content. Here are some FAQs about Intervention.
Intervention
Q1: What grades should have access to math intervention?
All students, regardless of grade, should have access to math intervention.
Q2: Are grades K-2 exempt from math intervention?
No, ALL grade levels should be providing math intervention. Early gap closure is critical.
Q3: What if a student qualifies for intervention in both literacy and math?
Ideally, the student will receive intervention services in both areas. Otherwise, the student should receive support in the area of greatest need.
Q4: Can a student who is receiving special education services on an IEP be in a Tier 2 or Tier 3 intervention under MTSS at the same time?
Students with specific learning disabilities that have demonstrated a lack of response to intervention at Tier 3 should receive a more intensive intervention for the area of qualified services than that provided at Tier 2 or Tier 3. As a reminder, intensity does not mean increased time. However, students who receive special education services due to another disability (e.g. Developmental Delay, Other Health Impairment, SLD in another area) can receive special education services to address the primary disability while at the same time participating in Tier 2 or Tier 3 level intervention if a specific learning disability is also suspected and/or their universal assessment scores indicate a need for Tier 2 or Tier 3 level intervention in reading or math.
A Note from our Family Liaison
Food City Linking
Hint: You can even have other family members do this if they shop at Food City!
School-wide Behavior Expectations
Helping Others
Overcoming Challenges
Willingness to Learn
Leading with Respect
The following section is called "Kennedy Constants". It's included each month for your reference.
Meet our Office Team!
Attendance, Absences, and Tardiness
Birthdays
Please only send healthy snacks as a birthday treat for your child's class. We cannot accept cupcakes, cakes, or homemade items. Please make arrangements with your child's teacher before sending in healthy treats.
Flowers, balloons, etc. should not be sent to the office for students. Please give these sweet gifts at home.
Breakfast and Lunch Programs
Ice-cream day is Friday and must be purchased ($1)
Healthy chips can also be purchased ($1)
Bus Transportation
The number to the transportation garage is 423-578-1820, if needed.
Carline
- During AM drop off, please stay in your car and allow your child to exit independently.
- During AM drop off, please unload at all 4 numbers/lanes at the back cafeteria entrance. No need to stop at the bottom of the hill.
- During AM drop off, students can walk into the cafe from 7:45-8:30.
- In the afternoons, 4th and 5th grade cars (side parking lot) please turn RIGHT after you pick-up. Leave a lane open for emergencies.
- In the afternoons, PLEASE USE YOUR CAR TAG! :) There is often a glare and I cannot see faces until you are right beside me. This helps our line move as quickly as possible.
Drop-off starts at 7:45am for K-5 and begins promptly at 8:35am for PreK students.
K-5 Students arriving after 8:30am must be walked to the front door by a family member.
Communication & Class Dojo
Contact us!
857-2700 - Main Office
857-2704 - Cafeteria, Karen Mullins, Manager
857-2702 - Clinic, Nurse Linkous
378-2340 -Fax
1500 Woodland Avenue
Kingsport, TN 37665
Discipline
They are:
H- Helping Others
O- Overcoming Challenges
W- Willingness to Learn
L- Leading with Respect
Hear us HOWL!
In addition to these expectations we use Positive Discipline with Lifeskills at Kennedy Elementary. We know that a part of growing our students as leaders includes citizenship and character. We believe our students are the best in Tennessee.
Food City Card Reminders
Hint: You can even have other family members do this if they shop at Food City!
Kennedy Lifeskills for Reference
Kennedy Family Positive Discipline
Positive Discipline really boils down to discipline that is kind and firm. We focus on fixing the behavior, not necessarily punishment. It's based on respect and character building.
Drills/AED
Health and Medical
Additionally, we have a tele-medicine program where a child can be seen via a camera and equipment in Nurse Linkous's office. They can receive antibiotics through this program if needed! We encourage you to use this program! It's awesome!
Homework
Lost and Found
Opportunities for Coyotes
AM Tutoring (5th Grade)
Big Brothers Big Sisters (all grades)
Chorus (all grades)
HOWLers (Boys, 4th and 5th)
Kiwanis Club Readers (volunteers)
STREAM Club
Ladies of Lynn Garden (Girls 4th and 5th)
Lego League
Speech Services for approved students
Spelling Bee (3rd, 4th, and 5th)
Snacks/Water Bottles
Testing Policies
Our KCS Website can be found here: https://www.k12k.com/
Zones of Regulation
In addition to addressing self-regulation, the students will be gaining an increased vocabulary of emotional terms, skills in reading facial expressions, perspective on how others see and react to their behavior, insight on events that trigger their behavior, calming and alerting strategies, problem solving skills and much more. You can connect this work to parenting as home. We are excited to help our Coyotes stay in the Green Zone!
Taken from Zones of Regulation Content
Zoning and Tuition
If you have any questions feel free to contact Jim Nash (jnash@k12k.com) via email or by calling (423)378-2100.