Kenwood Newsletter-January 2023
Check each Sunday for updates at the top of this newsletter
JANUARY 30TH-FEBRUARY 3RD
It looks like this upcoming week is going to be dreadfully cold outside. We appreciate our warm building on freezing days like these! I'm assuming we will have indoor recess for at least the first couple of days. The teachers do a wonderful job of getting the students moving by providing movement and brain breaks throughout the day.
Here are a couple of reminders for this week and upcoming weeks:
- Sign up for parent-teacher conferences using this link or click on the button below in the newsletter.
- The book fair will be set up in the library for families to visit during conferences. We ask that students not be left alone in the book fair and be supervised by an adult.
- During your conference, if your child(ren) are with you, please have them sit with you so your full attention can be on the conference.
- Thursday, February 2nd--Height and Weight Screening, Circle of Friends after school
- Student drop off-please pull forward as much as possible when dropping off students. Some cars are pulling around vehicles which could end up in an accident. Thank you for being cautious around our building in the morning and after school.
Check out the upcoming events below in the newsletter. There's a Coin Challenge, conferences, book fair, and professional development days along with compensation days that you'll want to plan for.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
February 1st-George Washington Carver
February 2nd-Shirley Chisholm
Shirley Chisholm was the first African-American woman to serve in the United States Congress. She served 14 years in Congress, and helped open up opportunities for people like President Barack Obama and Senator Elizabeth Warren. She had said she didn’t want to be remembered as the first woman or African American to do something. She wanted to be remembered as someone who "had guts."
February 3rd-Bessie Coleman
Bessie Coleman was the first African-American woman to obtain an international pilot’s license, soaring to new heights that Black people in the United States had never reached before. But as a Black woman in the 1920s, she faced many obstacles because of her race and gender. She said that “the air is the only place free from prejudice.”
I used to do jazz, ballet, and tap dancing.
I played in a national slow pitch softball tournament in Louisiana.
I was raised on a farm.
I coached high school volleyball.
I brought my tonsils to school for show and tell when I was in kindergarten.
Kenwood Principal, Mrs. Clevenger
Second Step Weekly Focus-P: Pick the Best Solution
100 Days of Fun!
February
1-Black History Month, HAL After School Activity
2-Height and weight screening
8-Parent - Teacher Conferences/Book Fair 4-9
9-Kindergarten field trip to Kearney Area Children's Museum
10-Healthy Snack Sales-1st Grade donations
13-Parent-Teacher Conferences/Book Fair 4-8:30
15-Parent-Teacher Conferences/Book Fair 4-8:30
15-17th--NO SCHOOL--Professional Development & Teacher Compensation Days for conferences
20-President's Day
20-24-Coin Challenge (PTO fundraiser)
22-HAL After School Activity
24-Science Olympiad
January Birthdays
January 3-Maximus R.
January 4-Brynlee S.
January 5-Ryan K., Tahlayla J., Sawyer S.
January 8-Brayden J.
January 9-Peter M.
January 11-Dominic H.
January 13-Jayden H.
January 15-Dalton T.
January 16-Leo B.
January 17-Lauren L., Kaylee U., Griffin E.
January 18-Brennan O.
January 19-Annabelle S.
January 20-Sadie C.
January 21-Aislee S.
January 23-Logan E., Parker F., Kaitlynn G.
January 25-Kaitlynn G.
January 27-Charles K., Danica M.
January 30-Maxsen P.
January 31-Aleighna M.
July Birthdays--Celebrate 1/2 Birthdays
July 3-Ben K.
July 5-Gage T., Isaac A., Elaine A., Michael B.
July 6-Brinn K., Aspen J.
July 8-Kollins E., Cathena L.
July 9-Hank T., Wesley D.
July 10-Amarie O., Breyden B.
July 11-Ellyson S.
July 12-Serenity H., Ja'Miyah R.
July 13-Adam S., Kami B.
July 14-Aliyana C.
July 15-Kyler S.
July 16-Autumn H., Jameson C., Brysen A.
July 17-Zander N.
July 19-Kayla K., Silas H.
July 20-Wesley G., Dontavious W.
July 21-Mason S., Kendyl G., Madison S.
July 22-Braylon C.
July 23-Harper H., Grady H.
July 26-Gavon Paine
July 27-Logan S.
July 30-Jaxtin W.
July 31-Ariah L., David C.
JANUARY 23RD-27TH
We will gear back up for a full five day week this week. We don't have many events except for we did move the Healthy Snack Sales to this Friday, January 27th. We ask that 2nd graders donate healthy snack items and make sure your child brings a quarter or quarters to purchase a snack. Also, our kindergarten, first, second, and third graders will be attending the Magic School Bus at the Merryman Performing Arts Center on Friday afternoon. This is the first time that we will be taking over 250 students together outside of our building so most of our staff will be helping with this outing.
Parent-Teacher Conferences are coming up. Click on this link Kenwood Parent-Teacher Conferences or contact SaraLyn Feddersen at 308-698-8200 to sign up for conferences.
That's it for this week. Have a wonderful Sunday!
CONGRATULATIONS TO 5TH GRADER, BRAYDEN HOCK!
Brayden Hock will represent Kenwood at the Buffalo County Spelling Bee in Amherst on February 7th. He competed with fourteen of his fifth grade classmates and came out on top! Best of luck to you, Brayden!
Top 15 Contestants in our first ever Kenwood Spelling Bee!
We are all so very proud of these fifth graders for taking a risk and competing in the spelling bee in front of all of your peers and teachers. "You can do hard things!"
Mrs. Bartee's class
Trevor Stott
Conner Pesek
Elly Schleusener
Aleighna McDaniel
Londyn Johnson
Mr. Howard's class
Holly Kelliher
Leo Mason
Harper Krantz
Parker Szafrajda
Liam Kelliher
Mrs. Luedke's Class
Jaelynn Schultz
Peter (Tonda) Morris
Brayden Hock
Blake Holliday
Breckyn Klingelhoefer
Second Step Weekly Focus-E Explore the Consequences
I love roller coasters.
I played the drums and trumpet in middle school.
My favorite food is mashed potatoes with Cheetos.
I was voted class clown my senior year in high school.
I’ve been to London, Paris, Rome and the top of the Eiffel Tower.
Mrs. Modlin, Special Education Teacher
I am terrified of heights.
When I was little I swam so much that my hair turned green from the chlorine!
When I was 8 my neighbor accidentally slammed my finger in a door. My finger cut off and I had to have it attached.
My husband and I met when we were 13 years old.
I was born in Nebraska but raised in Minnesota.
Mrs. Fiala, Kindergarten teacher
February
1-Black History Month
2-Height and weight screening
8-Parent - Teacher Conferences 4-9
9-Kindergarten field trip to Kearney Area Children's Museum (tentative)
10-Healthy Snack Sales-1st Grade donations
13-Parent-Teacher Conferences 4-8:30
15-Parent-Teacher Conferences 4-8:30
15-17th--NO SCHOOL--Professional Development & Teacher Compensation Days for conferences
20-President's Day
24-Science Olympiad
JANUARY 16TH-20TH
This week we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr Day on Monday. See below for more information on this holiday. We also will have Healthy Snack Sales on Friday and PTO is asking that 2nd grade students donate those snacks. Please remember to send a quarter or quarters with your child on this day so we don't have any tears. If you haven't visited the Kearney Public Library to see our students amazing art talent, you still have time. The last day for the art show is on Monday, January 23rd.
One friendly reminder at pick up/dismissal time is to please NOT park in the crosswalks. It's dangerous for people to walk through or around vehicles.
Congratulations to our Top 15 Spellers in 5th Grade! Good luck on Monday!
Mrs. Bartee's class
Trevor Stott
Conner Pesek
Elly Schleusener
Aleighna McDaniel
Londyn Johnson
Mr. Howard's class
Holly Kelliher
Leo Mason
Harper Krantz
Parker Szafrajda
Liam Kelliher
Mrs. Luedke's Class
Jaelynn Schultz
Peter (Tonda) Morris
Brayden Hock
Blake Holliday
Breckyn Klingelhoefer
Second Step Weekly Focus-T Think of Solutions
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR DAY
MLK Jr. was a social activist and Baptist minister who played a key role in the American civil rights movement from the mid-1950s until his assassination in 1968. King sought equality and human rights for African Americans, the poor and all victims of injustice through peaceful protest. He was the driving force behind major civil rights events such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the 1963 March on Washington, which helped bring about such landmark legislation as the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act. King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 and is remembered each year on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, a U.S. federal holiday since 1986.
January
27-Magic School Bus at Merryman for grades K-3
February
1-Black History Month
2-Height and weight screening
8-Parent - Teacher Conferences 4-9
9-Kindergarten field trip to Kearney Area Children's Museum (tentative)
10-Healthy Snack Sales-1st Grade donations
13-Parent-Teacher Conferences 4-8:30
15-Parent-Teacher Conferences 4-8:30
15-17th--NO SCHOOL--Professional Development & Teacher Compensation Days for conferences
20-President's Day
24-Science Olympiad
January 9th-13th
We are ready to get back to a successful second half of the school year. As everyone can tell, time is flying fast.
This week at Kenwood:
- Tuesday, January 10th-PTO Meeting at 7 PM in the art room-everyone is invited to attend
- Wednesday, January 1th-5th grade Spelling Bee test
- January 5th-23rd KPS Elementary School Winter Art Show at the Kearney Public Library during normal library hours-enjoy some amazing talents from our local students
I was born on the first day of summer.
My left arm is almost 2 inches shorter than my right arm.
I zip-lined over the Grand Canyon.
One of my biggest fears is my food touching on a plate. Gross!
I once swam with a sea turtle and held an octopus in my hand while snorkeling in Hawaii.
4th Grade Teacher, Megan Buerer
I’ve lived in Kearney over half of my life but didn’t grow up here.
On summer days you might find me at the lake.
I used to be a substitute at Kenwood before teaching here.
I grew up in the same town as Mrs. Lebsack.
My son plays football at UNK.
3rd grade teacher, Mrs. Hogeland
5-School begins
10-PTO meeting at 7 PM in the art room
16-Martin Luther King Jr. Day
20-Healthy Snack Sales-2nd grade donations
27-Magic School Bus at Merryman for grades K-3
February
1-Black History Month
2-Height and weight screening
8-Parent - Teacher Conferences 4-9
9-Kindergarten field trip to Kearney Area Children's Museum (tentative)
10-Healthy Snack Sales-1st Grade donations
13-Parent-Teacher Conferences 4-8:30
15-Parent-Teacher Conferences 4-8:30
15-17th--NO SCHOOL--Professional Development & Teacher Compensation Days for conferences
20-President's Day
24-Science Olympiad
Second Step Weekly Focus-S Say the Problem
LUNCH
Need to get a hold of a teacher, see the information at the bottom of this newsletter. We are here to help you!
BOOK VENDING MACHINE
SCHOOL-WIDE ART MURAL
LET'S STAY CONNECTED
Mrs. Clevenger
Email: jilclevenger@kearneycats.com
Website: https://kenwood.kearneypublicschools.org/
Location: 915 16th Avenue, Kearney, NE, USA
Phone: 308-698-8200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kenwoodelementary/
Kenwood Staff Contacts
Principal:
Jill Clevenger-jilclevenger@kearneycats.com
Secretary:
Saralyn Feddersen - sarfeddersen@kearneycats.com
Social Worker:
Logann Collin-logcollin@kearneycats.com
Counselor:
Counselor-Mary Fruhling- marfruhling@kearneycats.com
Ashlee Bauer-ashbauer@kearneycats.com
Tori Fiala-torfiala@kearneycats.com
Sue Liveringhouse-sueliveringhouse@kearneycats.com
First Grade:
Jessika Lehmann-jeslehmann@kearneycats.com
Megan Szafrajda-megszafrajda@kearneycats.com
Barb Thompson-barthompson@kearneycats.com
Second Grade:
Allison Birdwell-allbirdwell@kearneycats.com
Tami Buss-tambuss@kearneycats.com
Holly Gilbreath-holgilbreath@kearneycats.com
Third Grade:
Rachelle Chamberlain - racchamberlain@kearneycats.com
Melinda Hogeland-melhogeland@kearneycats.com
Kat Mundorf-katmundorf@kearneycats.com
Fourth Grade:
Theison Anderson-theanderson@kearneycats.com
Megan Buerer - megbuerer@kearneycats.com
Lynn Lebsack - lynlebsack@kearneycats.com
Fifth Grade:
Jane Bartee-janbartee@kearneycats.com
Broc Howard - brohoward@kearneycats.com
Beckie Luedke-becluedke@kearneycats.com
Specials:
PE-Hope Gillaspy - hopgillaspy@kearneycats.com
Art-Rivkah Raffaeli - rivraffaeli@kearneycats.com
Music-Jake Consbruck - jacconsbruck@kearneycats.com
Media/Library-Mary Roesler- marroesler@kearneycats.com
Counselor-Mary Fruhling- marfruhling@kearneycats.com
Title Reading-Janice Polk - janpolk@kearneycats.com
Title Reading-Lisa Martenson - lismartenson@kearneycats.com
Special Education/TLC-Amanda McConnell - amamcconnell@kearneycats.com
Special Education-Katie Butler - katbutler@kearneycats.com
Special Education-Brooke Modlin - bromodlin@kearneycats.com
Speech/Language-Trish Abels - triabels@kearneycats.com
School Psychologist-Ashley Carrier - ashcarrier@kearneycats.com
Nurse-Megan Braden-megbraden@kearneycats.com
Health Room Assistant-Linda Harris-linharris@kearneycats.com
About Us
Website: https://kenwood.kearneypublicschools.org/
Location: 915 16th Avenue, Kearney, NE, USA
Phone: 3086988200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kenwoodelementary/