Kennedy Newsletter for Families
March 2021
Principal's Post
Greetings from the Kennedy Elementary Office!
And just like that, it's March again. It's been a year almost to the day since Kennedy closed our doors for what we thought would be a few weeks that turned into months. Looking back on that time it's hard to imagine how we got through all of that-- but we sure did! Our Lynn Garden Community is resilient and strong. As the principal I've been so pleased to see families and teachers communicating so much this year (THANKS CLASS DOJO!) about where students are emotionally, socially, and academically.
Although we were able to stay open for almost the entire school year we are still looking for ways to assess our students and re-teach where needed. For some students, more opportunities to continue their progress this year, directed by KCS teachers, will help them to master expectations. One way to allow us to meet the needs of our students is a new learning opportunity in KCS for five weeks this summer. The planning of the locations, schedules and optimal candidates for enrollment is currently in the works. We just wanted to make you aware that this specialized programming is sure to include high impact lessons, related arts, and the joys of summer fun in a few packed weeks. Be looking for more information to come soon regarding your child’s possible recommended placement in our program.
Please don't hesitate to call or email me if you have questions or other needs.
Proud to serve you and the Lynn Garden Community,
Janice Irvin, Ed. D.
Principal
Kennedy Elementary
It's Read Across America Week! March 1-4
Dress-up Days this Week:
3/3 - Wacky Wednesday - Wear wacky clothes and hair!
3/4 - Dress for Success - What I want to be when I grow up.
3/5 - KCS Closed for Employee Covid-19 Shots
Food for Students While Quarantined
Should your student ever be quarantined or if school is virtual, you can go by the below schools between 10:00-10:30 a.m. to pick up a curbside meal on any weekday.
- George Washington Elementary School, 1100 Bellingham Drive
- Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School, 1051 Lake Street
- Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, 1000 Summer Street
- Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, 221 Westmoreland Avenue
Zoning and Tuition
Today started the opening of the window for tuition and zoning applications. As a reminder zoning/tuition applications must be submitted annually. If you have any questions please contact Jim Nash at jnash@k12k.com or call him at 423-378-2100. The application information is also on our district website (www.k12k.com) or the link for the application is below.
2021-22 Zoning and Tuition Application
Thanks,
Jim
Take Note of What's Coming Up
March 12: End of Nine Weeks
March 15: NO SCHOOL ~ Teacher In-Service Day
March 18: Report Card Distribution
March 29 – April 2: NO SCHOOL ~ Spring Break
April 21: TN Ready ELA 1(Grades 3, 4, and 5)
April 22: TN Ready ELA 2 (Grades 3, 4, and 5)
April 22: Progress Report Distribution
April 23: TN Ready ELA 3 / 4 (Grades 3, 4, and 5)
April 26: TN Ready ELA Makeup
April 27: TN Ready Math 1 (No Calculator) (Grades 3, 4, and 5)
April 28: TN Ready Math 2 /3 (Calculator) (Grades 3, 4, and 5)
April 29: Science Testing (Grades 3, 4, and 5)
April 30: Make-Ups
May 19: Half Day ~ Last Day of School
May 19: End of Nine Weeks/ Report Card Distribution
Celebrate Earth Day!
We are celebrating Earth Day this spring by participating in the 12th Annual Neighborhood Forest free tree program, whose aim is to provide free trees to kids every Earth Day. Since 2010, Neighborhood Forest has reached over 60,000 families and planted over 30,000 (mostly urban and residential) trees through the hands of children and parents across North America. We endorse this project and are excited to be participating in this wonderful program that teaches kids stewardship through the magic and wonder of planting and watching trees grow.
Please fill out the following online registration form by March 8th and receive a free tree (6-12 inches in size) during Earth Week (April 22-30). Trees will be delivered to Kennedy Elementary, and we will arrange to get the trees in the hands of your children on or around Earth Day (April 22nd). Planting instructions and species information will be emailed a few days prior to the trees arriving.
🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲
Register to receive a free tree for Earth Day to plant with your child:
https://www.neighborhoodforest.org/school-search/
*For more information about this program, please visit www.neighborhoodforest.org or
Family Reminders for COVID-19 Absences
- If anyone in your household takes a COVID test, your child should remain home until results are received. Please call our office at 857-2700 and we will get school related items ready for pick up.
Link your Food City card to Kennedy, please!
A Message from our Cafeteria
Please see the March Cafeteria menus linked below. At times these menus may change without notice due to food availability, but that doesn't happen often. Please email our cafeteria manager, Karen Mullins, at kamullins@k12k.com if you have any questions.
March menu linked here.
Kennedy is a Bully-Free Zone! #CoyotesAreKind
**** Kennedy Office Staff ****
Kennedy Constants
We hope you find it helpful! Please let us know if we can clarify anything for you.
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. Treats must follow our KCS healthy food guidelines.
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 392-4416, 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. No need to stop at the bottom of the hill.
- During AM drop off, students can walk into the cafe from 7:30-8:05.
- In the afternoons, 4th and 5th grade cars (side parking lot) please turn RIGHT after you pick-up.
- 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.
Communication & Class Dojo
Contact us!
857-2700 - Main Office
857-2704 - Cafe, Karen Mullins
857-2702 -Nurse Lundy
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.
Kennedy Family Lifeskills for Reference
Kennedy Family Positive Discipline Reference
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 Lundy'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 (Subject to Change Due to Covid-19)
AM Tutoring (5th Grade)
Big Brothers Big Sisters (all grades)
Chorus (all grades)
DBYes (DB student mentors)
HOWLers (Boys, 4th and 5th)
Kiwanis Club Readers (volunteers)
RTI - Response to Intervention (time set aside to catch up academically)
STREAM Club
Ladies of Lynn Garden (Girls 4th and 5th)
Lego League
Maker Space (only one in a KCS elementary school!)
Morning Mile (Coach Robbins - 7:45-8:00)
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 Alisa Strong (astrong@k12k.com) via email or by calling (423)378-2100.
Approvals are based on: Attendance, Behavior, and Classroom Space