Kennedy News
August 2022 - Welcome Back Edition - #KENNEDYBEST
Note from Mr. Rustad: Preparing for the BEST School year ever!
Kennedy Families,
I am so excited to welcome back all of our Kennedy Cubs for a great year of learning! Our first day of school is Thursday, September 8th.
For the first time in two years, we are entering a school year that seems normal. Normal has never felt so good! 😊 Our focus this year is making it the BEST year ever for all students. We have a goal to see all students reach their fullest academic potential. Additionally, we want every Cub to feel safe, welcomed, and loved at school. We have some of the most amazing educators at this building and they are going to be ready to start supporting our Cubs towards these goals starting on September 8th.
All families should log into Parent Portal and find out who will be teaching their student or students.The online entrance conference sign up link is also live. You will find more information about this further down in the newsletter.
We have two new staff updates to share. Mrs. Ward, who taught 3rd grade last year, will now serve as our mentor coach. The mentor coach supports teachers in their pursuit of providing academic excellence for all students. Additionally, the mentor coach supervises student teachers, coordinates district and state assessments, Reading and Math Corps, and much more. Mrs. Ward will split this role between Kennedy and Washington.
Additionally, we have a new member of our office team. Jen Niles has started in the role of clerical assistant and point of sales operator. Jen is excited to get to know all of the Cubs and to help our families throughout the year.
Below is a list of teachers for 2022-23 school year.The names in bold are new to Kennedy.
- Kindergarten - Mrs. Harper, Mrs. Lout, and Mrs. McConkey
- 1st Grade - Mrs. Brennan, Mrs. Hanson, and Ms. Ladd
- 2nd Grade - Mrs. Imhoff, Mrs. Veroeven, and Mrs. Wiste
- 3rd Grade - Mr. Meyers, Ms. Sedivy and Mr. Wischnack
- 4th Grade - Mrs. Schulz and Mr. Winning
- 5th Grade - Ms. Kelly and Mrs. Uhrich
- Intervention - Mrs. Fischer, Mrs. Wittenberg, and Mr. Krueger
- Multilingual Learners (MLL-formerly EL) - Ms. Rodriguez
- Specials - Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Howell (PE), Mrs. Benson (Media), Mrs. Carpenter (Music), and Mrs. Wingen (Art)
- Special Education - Mrs. Wensel, Mrs. Stenzel, Mrs. Burnham, Mrs. Hopkins, and Mrs. Konz
- Student Support - Ms. Helget (Counselor), Mrs. McNamara (Social Work), Mrs. Loitz (School Psychologist), Mrs. Lockwood (Nurse) and Mrs. Anderson (Nurse)
Together we will make this the BEST year ever for all Cubs!
Together We Are Kennedy!
Steve Rustad
BE SAFE
ENGAGE
SHOW EMPATHY
TOGETHER WE ARE KENNEDY!
Save the Date for the First Day of School!
Thursday, Sep 8, 2022, 08:00 AM
Kennedy Elementary School, East Main Street, Mankato, MN, USA
Find out your student's teacher
All Kennedy families are invited to log into Parent Portal to find out who their child's teacher will be for the upcoming school year. You can click on the Parent Portal button below to access the log-in screen. If you are unable to log into the portal, you can call the school and we will let you know who the teacher will be for this upcoming school year. The number for Kennedy is (507)387-2122.
Sign up for Entrance Conferences
Update on School Safety at Kennedy from Mr. Rustad
We are so happy to be able to welcome back our Cubs!! Arrival and dismissal times involve a large number of students moving through common locations, so we developed a safe and efficient way to drop off and pick up at Kennedy. To make this process as safe and efficient as possible, we use a staggered drop off system and rely on everyone doing their best to follow the times and locations for drop off/pick up. If your assigned drop off time does not work for you, please talk to your student's teacher about a time that works better.
Arrival Procedures
If walking or dropping off please follow the staggered arrival times by last name:
Last names A-H 7:45
Last name I-P 7:50
Last name Q-Z 7:55
Students must enter and exit through the designated doors for their grade level. The only exception to this is that older siblings of kindergarten and 1st grade students may enter at doors 1 and 2 to drop off younger siblings.
All Kindergarten - Door 2
All 1st - Door 1
All 2nd + 4th - Door 14
All 3rd + 5th - Door 13
VERY IMPORTANT ARRIVAL INFORMATION FOR PARENTS
- PLEASE PARK ONLY IN THE DESIGNATED AREAS FOR DROP OFF (SEE MAP BELOW)
- DO NOT DROP OFF IN THE BUS LANE BY DOOR 14.
- DO NOT DO U-TURNS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET.
- PARENTS AND OTHER VISITORS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ENTER THE BUILDING DURING DROP OFF.
- PARENTS WHO ARE WALKING THEIR STUDENTS TO SCHOOL SHOULD STAY ON THE SIDEWALK NEAR THE ROADS DURING DROP OFF.
- IF YOU HAVE A SITUATION WHERE YOUR STUDENT HAS TO ARRIVE BEFORE 7:45, THEY SHOULD GO TO DOOR #2 AND SHOULD GO DIRECTLY TO THE CAFETERIA.
- DOORS 1, 13, and 14 WILL BE LOCKED UNTIL 7:45.
Dismissal Procedures
Students will be walking out with their classroom teacher and gathering in their outdoor pod spot. Students will tell their teacher when they are leaving. Siblings should choose a meeting location on the sidewalks away from the other pods. We will begin our dismissal process just before 2:30. If you are waiting for your child outside of a car, please wait on the sidewalks along the roads and your child can meet you there. Thank you for your help and cooperation to make this run as smoothly as possible. We appreciate your patience as we all learn this new routine. Let us know if you have any questions.
VERY IMPORTANT DISMISSAL INFORMATION FOR PARENTS
- DO NOT DROP OFF IN THE BUS LANE BY DOOR 14.
- DO NOT PARK OR PICK UP ON KENNEDY STREET BETWEEN THE STOP SIGN AND THE BUS LOOP. THIS CREATES A TRAFFIC JAM.
- STUDENTS AND PARENTS SHOULD ONLY CROSS KENNEDY STREET AND MAIN STREET IN THE CROSSWALK EVEN IF THIS MEANS WALKING A LITTLE FARTHER. THE CROSSWALK IS THE ONLY SAFE OPTION FOR STUDENTS.
- PARENTS AND OTHER VISITORS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ENTER THE BUILDING DURING DROP OFF.
- PARENTS WHO WALK HOME WITH THEIR STUDENTS SHOULD STAY ON THE SIDEWALK NEAR THE ROADS WHILE WAITING.
2022-2023 Kennedy School Supply List
School meals are no longer free for all students
It's more than a meal application...
Completing the Free and Reduced Lunch Application helps in many areas beyond free or reduced-price meals. The number of qualifying applications directly impacts the Federal funds MAPS receives which helps provide continued funding to support all students.
For more information on how to fill out the application, use this link: https://docs.google.com/.../1jwZ96EjYi0D.../edit or call 507-388-7442 for questions.
Monthly Two Hour Early Release Information
What do you need to know?
- Students will be dismissed at 12:30 PM.
- Students will be able to have breakfast and lunch at Kennedy. Under the 2 hour late start system, students did not have an option to have breakfast.
- There will be child care available for students on this day. Students will need to be signed up in advance so that we can appropriately staff the child care. Students who are not signed up will be dismissed at 12:30 and will follow their afterschool plan (bus, parent pick up, or walk). Students who are signed up will be dismissed at 2:30 and will follow their afterschool plan (ACES, parent pick up, or walk).
- The first early release day is Wednesday, 9/21. All early releases are on a Wednesday. Here are the dates for all of the early releases: 9/21/22, 10/12/22, 11/9/22, 12/14/22, 1/11/23, 2/8/23, 3/10/23, 4/12/23, and 5/10/23
Job opportunities at Kennedy - Join the Cub family!
- Student Success Coach: This vital paraprofessional position works closely with our teachers, counselor, and principal to offer social/emotional and behavior supports to our students. Click here for more details!
- EL Paraeducator: We are looking for a great candidate to fill our EL paraprofessional position. This position works directly with our multilingual learners. Check out this link for more details.
- Lunchroom/Playground Supervisor: Looking for a great way to get to know all of the Kennedy Cubs? Interested in a job that is only a couple of hours each day? Join us in the lunchroom or on the playground! Check out this link for more details.
- Special Education Paraprofessionals for our Autism Spectrum Disorder Program: Our amazing special education team is looking for some additional members.If you are interested in working with some amazing Cubs and great teachers, then this is the job for you! Check out this link for more details.
- ACES: The Mankato Area Public Schools before and after school care program is looking for great people to fill the positions of site lead, childcare assistants, and student support assistants. These positions may be at Kennedy or other school sites. Click on this link for more information.
- Substitute Teachers: If you have a 4 year degree and want some flexibility in the days you work, subbing is the job for you! The district recently raised the rate of pay to $200 a day for substitutes. To learn more, click on this link or scan the QR code on the picture below.
It's a great day to be a Kennedy Cub! Join the Cub family!
Email Mr. Rustad if you have any questions about these opportunities at Kennedy
Kennedy PTO
WELCOME BACK!! WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU!!
Kennedy Elementary School
Steve Rustad
Email:
Mankato Area Public Schools (MAPS) is committed to working together equitably, with families and communities, so that each learner has the knowledge and skills to be a successful and contributing citizen in a diverse global society.
Email: ke@isd77.org
Website: https://ke.isd77.org/
Location: 2600 East Main Street, Mankato, MN, USA
Phone: (507) 387-2122
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ISD77MAPS/
Twitter: @ISD77MAPS