Kennedy Newsletter for Families
Week of April 2021
Principal's Post
Hello Kennedy Families,
I always like to look back at old newsletters from years past to see what I wrote about over the last years in our Kennedy Family Newsletter. Here are some things we were discussing and planning this time last year:
- Packet Pick-up
- When individual teachers would be outside for Packet Pick-up so students could see their teachers in line from their cars
- Zoom Class Meetings
- Communicating through Class Dojo (Hey! We still do this!)
- Germs
- Taking the US Census
- Our Online Scholastic Bookfair
- Our Playground was closed. :(
- Emergency Resources during the nationwide Covid-19 quarantine
- Bus delivery of KCS Breakfast and Lunch
As I'm typing these things, I have a sense of calm. We have done amazing things as a community over the last year. I think it's good for us to look back to see how far we have come. It was stressful, but we came through it together.
I'm so profoundly happy that our students are back in school. We have had to quarantine several times this year (my children included), but for the most part our doors have been open. Almost every day on the morning announcements I mention to Coyotes that "all of the adults in this building have chosen Education as a profession" and that "our students are the reason we are here". Going through stressful times and trauma has made and continues to make our students resilient. Our future is bright, and I know our students will contribute many amazing and beautiful things to our community as they continue to grow.
So proud to serve you,
Janice Irvin, Principal
KCS Summer Learning Experience Information
Dear Families,
We are excited to offer students the KCS Summer Learning Experience at Kennedy Elementary! On-site, students will engage in reading, math, movement/play, and STREAM (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Related Arts, Math) instruction and activities designed to keep your child(ren) learning and growing! Designed for fun, the Summer Learning Experience allows students to create, learn, and explore while giving them plenty of time for physical activity and special events to celebrate summertime and learning!
The Summer Learning Experience at Kennedy runs five weeks beginning June 1 through July 1 (June 1-4, then Monday through Thursday until July 1). Students participate four days a week, 8:45 a.m. until 3:10 p.m. Transportation (if needed), breakfast, and lunch will be provided for each student. A KCS teacher will be reaching out to you soon with more information about the experience and how your child(ren) will benefit from this experience.
Please complete the form being sent home and return to your child’s teacher by Friday, April 16. These are being sent home today for some students.
Ready to Enroll? Reserve your spot at http://bit.ly/summerlearningkcs or scan the QR code (open the camera on your phone and start to take a picture of it).
Take Note
April 9 - Ross N. Robinson Boys Group is coming to do landscaping for us
April 13 - 5 to 6PM (all teachers) Drive through pick up Spring Stem Night! Drive past the front of our school to see your teachers and get some great activities!
April 14 - Kindergarten Screenings in Room 50
April 14 - 4th Grade Goal Celebration #1 (see teachers for more details) 1st Math (multiplication to 11s) and 1st Literacy (Study Island Work)
April 19 - If you ordered a tree it is scheduled for arrival on or around Earth Day (April 22).
TNReady/TCAP State Testing Begins
April 21 - English/Language Arts Part 1
April 22 - English/Language Arts Parts 2 & 3
April 23 - English/Language Arts Part 4
April 26 - Math Part 1
April 27 - Math Parts 2 & 3
April 28 - Science
April 29 - Make-ups Completed
May 6 - Orleans-Hannah Math Placement Test 9am (5th Graders only)
May 7 - Field Day (Rain Date May 14) No Families this year, please.
May 17 - 4th Grade Goal Celebration #2 (2nd try- multiplication to 11s)(2nd try- Study Island Work)
May 18 - 5th Grade Promotion 9:00am
May 19 - 1/2 Last Day of School - Talent Show (PreK-2 at 9:30 & 3-5 10:30 - possibly live streamed this year
June 1 - 1st Day of KCS Summer Learning Experience -Mr. Herron, Principal
Summer Learning Experience Dates
June 1 - 4
June 7 - 10
June 21 - 24
June 28 - July 1
Kindergarten Registration
Hello Kennedy Families,
Please take the time to read this information about Kindergarten Registration. Please pass the information on to families that you know who have a Kindergarten age child.
Kindergarten Registration for the 2021-22 school year will be held on Wednesday, April 7, 2021 from 9 a.m. – 3:00p.m. & 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. located at each Kingsport Elementary School. You do not have to bring your child to registration. Masks are required. For additional information, call the Kingsport Elementary School your child is zoned for. Go online to www.k12k.com for a list of Required Documentation.
Attached is a copy of the Kindergarten Registration Flyer
REGISTER EARLY!
The On-Line Registration Portal is open! Families can register NOW from the comfort of your own home instead of waiting until April 7, 2021.
Go online to www.k12k.com, select Registration at the top of the screen.
Scroll to the bottom of the screen where you will see the following information.
If you currently have students in KCS, please sign in using your Aspen Portal Credentials. If you are new to KCS, please follow the instructions for creating an Aspen Portal.
You have the opportunity to upload the required documentation through the portal OR call the school to set up an appointment to drop off the documentation.
Take Note: Please contact your child's school for the next step to complete the KCS registration process. This includes setting up a time for your child’s Kindergarten Screening. For Kennedy Families, you will call 423-857-2700 and ask for Kem Couch.
KCS Math Resources
Our Investigations 3 curriculum now has a link with additional resources to support families. You no longer have to login to Pearson Realize to access these resources. Use this link: https://investigations.terc.edu/at-home-resources/ to access:
· Math at Home collection
· Investigations 3 Games Online (Grades K-5)
· Math Words and Ideas (interactive review of concepts)
Related Arts Website!
Kennedy is a Bully-Free Zone! #CoyotesAreKind
**** Kennedy Office Staff ****
Kennedy Constants (always included)
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.
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
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