Kennedy Families,

Hope everyone is doing well. We are in our last week of September and we are excited to continue with the positive start. Thank you to the many families that joined us for the High School information session Thursday night and the many good questions we received.

Some quick updates for this week:

• 6th grades this week will have there third WEB (Where everyone Belongs) activity during Homeroom

• I-Ready make-ups will be this week

• Attendance is important if your student is able make sure they are at school

Here is what you need to know for the week ahead (Sept 26-30):

Vision Screening

Is scheduled for all students on October 3rd. Students will be screened during their PE classes during the day. If parents want to opt out, complete email admin because you need to complete the document below. (Link)

Picture Day

Picture day make-ups are October 25th. If you still want to complete orders the link is below

- https://my.lifetouch.com/mylifetouch/

- Code: EVTFKFZ2S

If your student was absent or would like to retake their photo that date will be on Tuesday October 25.

Tardies - Students Late to classes 2-7th periods

Kennedy began "Academic Lunch" during lunch for students who are late to class this week. Families were notified via text message if their student was late. If you have a student who is late to class, please follow up with him/her and encourage timely arrival to classes. We appreciate your efforts in this matter.

Lunch Pick-up

Families that need to pick-up their students during Kennedy lunch time, please come five minutes before lunch begins or five minutes after lunch ends. Thank you for taking this into consideration.

COVID-19

COVID-19 is still a concern for our staff, students, and families. We continue to recommend, but not require, students wear masks. If a student tests positive, parents should complete the district’s self-reporting form and inform the Kennedy office. This form is available on the “Quick Links” section of the RCSD website as well as all 12 school websites.

Also, if your student is sick or showing COVID-19 symptoms, please keep the student home and get them tested.

Go, Cougars!

Nikolaos Fanourgiakis

Principal

Kennedy Middle School

nfanourgiakis@rcsdk8.net

Thank you to the around 100 families that joined us for the High School Information night Thursday night. Mr. Camarena presented and took questions from families. Below is the presentation (Video of Presentation), Slide Deck Presentation

Some Information for you:

• Local High Schools are providing Shadowing opportunities for students with some already starting. See link for more information.

• High school Fair in the Kennedy gym October 13th 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm in the Kennedy gym

Project Resilience by Acknowledge Alliance will commence on Sept 30 in 6th-grade social studies classes and will run for seven weeks with the lessons on Fridays.

Project Resilience is a partnership where outside instructors work with our students on developing their social emotional skills, including identifying strengths, recognizing and managing emotions, demonstrating caring for others, coping strategies for dealing with feelings, establishing and maintaining positive relationships, making responsible decisions and working with others.

please visit www.acknowledgealliance.org/services.

Regular I-Ready testing finished last week. Kennedy administration will focus on the students that need extra time or were absent and need to complete the assessment.

The next round of I-Ready will be administered in December.

What is I-Ready?

I-Ready is a district diagnostic assessment given to all students to determine what grade level content they have learned, and need to learn. It is a very valuable tool for teachers and allows for student to gain access to an I-Ready digital interface of lessons that target each students needs. Students will be using that digital interface in their Expository Writing and English language development classes. Families will receive a copy of their students progress with each report card.

*Also if you are an 8th grader the High Schools last school year used the I-Ready Reading assessment as a class placement metric.

I-Ready Testing Schedule is below: (Block Days and Friday)

• Sept 26-30 Make-ups
  

Step #1 School (Link)

Step #2 Schoo Passcode 1015926081674110

Price $35

Deadline April 5th

Official Flyer with information (Link)

The 6th grade science team will be continuing MSI field trips this year. The Marine Science Institute will give students the opportunity to learn about the watershed they live in and how to take care of it. This includes learning how to canoe and water quality collection. Permission slips will be distributed by your students science teachers prior to their classes trip.

Below is the schedule of classes going Canoeing in Sloughs in October (9am-2pm)

• October 4th Tuesday, Period 5, Ms. Virnich class
• October 5th, Wednesday, Period 7, Ms. Virnich class
• October 7th, Friday, Periods 2 and 4, Ms. Virnich class
• October 11th, Tuesday, Periods 5 and 6, Ms. Ruiz
• October 12th Wednesday, Periods 1 and 3, Sergio’s classes
• October 13th Thursday, Period 4, Ms. Ruiz class and Period 2, Sergio’s class
• October 14th, Friday, Period 6, Ms. Virnich class
• October 26th, Wednesday, Period 1, Ms. Virnich class

*If you have any-questions check in with your science teachers

aruiz@rcsdk8.net, ssimarromartinez@rcsdk8.net, jvirnich@rcsdk8.net

Family Parent Portal is open

Parent portal will provide families access to students grades and attendance as well as past student state test results.

Short Video Tutorial

Kennedy teachers are expected to have their grade books updated at least every two weeks (many update daily).

If you still need your login please contact Ms. Segundo msegundo@rcsdk8.net

Powerschool Mobile App District Code: ZXGZ

• Staff awards students with Cougar Cash who abide by

• P = Prepared

• A = Attitude (positive)

• W = Wise choices

• S = Safety

Sign-up (Link)

September KMS PTO Meeting this Tuesday, 9/27/22 - 7-8pm via Zoom All parents & families are welcome to join! We will vote in the new PTO Treasurers, discuss the bond measure, open PTO roles & more (Link)

September Birthday Cupcakes this Wednesday, 9/28/22!

Teacher & Staff Appreciation Breakfast this Thursday, 9/29/22 - Thank you for signing up to bring food items to show support to our Kennedy teachers & staff.

There are a few spots left - help with set up in the morning and bring tea & hot water!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080C48AEAF23A0FD0-staff

Volunteer at KMS this year! There will be many ways for parents & families to get involved at Kennedy. RCSD has a simple process and a few forms for volunteers to complete before they are cleared to be on campus.

YOU MUST COMPLETE THE VOLUNTEER FORMS BEFORE YOU ARE ALLOWED TO VOLUNTEER!

Please note: You only have to complete the forms once. If you have completed the volunteer process at other RCSD schools in the past, it applies to all RCSD schools.

Please visit the RCSD website to find required forms and details about the process.

https://www.rcsdk8.net/careers/volunteer

Open PTO Leadership Roles-

• Book Fair Coordinator - plan & organize Scholastic Book Fair in the library - Nov 14-18, 22 (during school hours). Work with our KMS librarian, parent volunteers & students.

• Volunteer Coordinator - facilitate & recruit volunteers for PTO events & activities

• Grade Level Parent Leaders - communicate with parents at your student's grade level, plan parent connections

Check out www.kennedycougarspto.org for more info.

Follow the KMS PTO on Instagram @KennedyCougarsPTO and Facebook at John F Kennedy Middle School Parent Teacher Organization.

Feel free to email with questions or concerns info@kennedycougarspto.org

Kennedy Student / Family Handbook

Calendar 2022-23