Kennedy Middle School
March 11th, 2024
A Message From the Principal
Dear families,
During the first part of the second semester, our school is experiencing more instances of harassment than we typically see or hear here at Kennedy. Incidents include using language or name-calling that is putting down another student based on gender, race, or body size. The majority of what we are seeing is racial harassment. This is not acceptable. Our Culture and Climate Team, alongside our Equity and Inclusion Team, and our Advisory lead is planning lessons and re-teaches around these important topics in classrooms and in Advisory. Mrs. Baxter, Mr. Scott, and Mrs. Clark will also be visiting some classrooms to share the importance and seriousness of this behavior over the next several weeks. Teachers will also be practicing and sharing ways to interrupt, teach, and report racism, homophobia, and sexual harassment, even if the behavior seems based on students not understanding their impact. We will start some of this before spring break and then really get into it after spring break to make it a school wide event in hopes to change our culture back to a more inclusive and inviting environment for all students and adults. An ask for families - please support these efforts in teaching and sharing with your students that hateful language, gestures, and actions are never acceptable. If, as a student, you see something that is harassment, speak up against it; or in the very least, report it.
We will be sharing the lessons with you as we share them with our students. If you are not sure how to start this conversation with your student before then, I have included a great resource below!
Congratulations OBOB Team!!!
Congratulations to our Kennedy OBOB team! Over the weekend, they placed 2nd in the regional Oregon Battle of the Books competition at Siuslaw Middle School in Florence. The team moves on to the state competition in Salem in April. Good job to Iris Kimball, Delia Sweeney, Jaylee Veal, Miriam Wohlers, and Catie Zacks for all their hard work and thanks to everyone who participated in OBOB at Kennedy.
PTO Update
Here is a quick rundown of everything coming up in March!
Wednesday 3/13 PTO Meeting at 6:30pm on zoom.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85756752122
This is a great opportunity to connect with school staff and other parents, ask questions, voice concerns, and get the inside scoop on what is happening at Kennedy. This month we will hear from
- One of our track coaches about what to expect this season.
- Guest Joy Marshall about the 4J Local option levy on our ballot in May.
- Principal Clark with an update about parking and other school news.
Wednesday 3/20 4-8pm Fundraiser at Chipotle
Show the attached flyer or use code 3G727EJ when you order online and Kennedy PTO will receive 33% back for our school!
Friday 3/22 1-3:30pm Pop popcorn for the school social
We need 3-4 volunteers. Please let me know if you can help.
Volunteer Needs:
*LIbrary Helpers: We could use a second volunteer Monday, Tuesday or Thursday during lunch from 11:30-1. We could also use volunteers during nutrition break M, T, TH, F 10:25-10:40am and W 9:45-10:00am. Let me know if you can help during any of those times.
*Earth Day Campus Beautification Project in April. Want to help plan a work day for Earth Day in April? Trash pick up? Flower planting? Contact Rose if you have ideas or would like to help head something up. roseiwilde@gmail.com
*8th grade celebration: The committee will start meeting after Spring Break to make plans for the 8th grade promotion ceremony in June. If you love decorations or party planning we would love your help! You don't have to be an 8th grade parent to participate.
Looking forward to seeing you soon!
Track and Field Registration!!!
Click Here to Register for Track and Field
We are so excited to be offering this for our students again. Track season is always a favorite and we always have a great turn out! We have several staff members that coach and it is really fun for students to get out and see both staff and other students in a different environment.
Track started today, but it is not too late to register and get started a couple days late. We will keep registration open until April 1st!
If you plan on paying online, please make sure to pay through the blue "register now" button on the bottom of the page and not the link on the side of the page. If you click on link on the side of the page it will go to the wrong school. This will be fixed for next year, but not something that could be done this year.
Parking Lot Update
Thank you for working with us to help create a safer drop off and pick up environment for our students.
Drop Off - This is working great and we will continue to have parents drop off in the lower parking lot that is straight ahead when entering the school driveway.
Pick Up - I met with Safe Route to Schools staff, district facilities, and transportation. Here is what we will finish the year with.
- Parents can continue to go straight and pick up kids as they have been for the last month or two.
- Parents can turn right and pick up kids in the upper parking lot before the stairway. Once your car passes the stairway to make the turn to the lower parking lot your student needs to be in your car. The buses are parking differently so that students should not be able to walk in between them. Students will be able to cross at the cross walk at the front of the school and go up the stairs to get to the upper parking lot and meet their parents, or go to the end of the sidewalk and use the crosswalk that they have been using. Students can not be picked up where the buses park. This is not safe and will require us to shut down parents using this area again. This is only to be used as a drive through after you have picked up your student in the upper lot.
Thank you again for working with us and making things safe for all our students.
Safe Routes To Schools Survey
As part of the 4J Safe Routes to School program we ask that you take a few minutes to fill out our Parent/Guardian surveys for Kennedy Middle, regardless of how your student(s) get to school to inform our efforts to help students use active and shared transportation for their school commute. This link is specific for your school. If you have more than one student at this school please fill out one for the older student only. If you have students at more than one school please fill out one for each school you receive a link for. Thank you for your time.
Como parte del programa 4J Rutas Seguras a la Escuela (Safe Routes to School) le pedimos que usted se tome unos minutos para completar nuestra encuesta de Padres/Tutores de Kennedy Middle, independientemente de cómo su(s) estudiante(s) llega(n) a la escuela para informar nuestros esfuerzos para ayudar a los estudiantes a usar transporte activo y compartido para su viaje regular escolar. Este enlace es específico para su escuela. Si usted tiene más de un estudiante en esta escuela por favor complete solo una para el estudiante mayor. Si tiene estudiantes en más de una escuela, complete uno por cada escuela para el que reciba un enlace. Gracias por su tiempo.