Cougar Connect
Week of January 31, 2022
Principal Message Week of January 31st
Dear Kennedy Families,
Hope everyone had a nice weekend. We had a fun week last week at Kennedy.
Thank you PTO for recognizing our January birthdays, students always really enjoy it. We also were able to announce our students of the month for January. Those students will receive their certificates on Monday 1/31. Also thank you to the many families who participated in two late night meetings last week, your participation really helps.
Below is the principal's update for the week of Jan 31st.
Principal's Coffee Thursday 2/3 8:45 am
We will be having Principal's coffee via zoom this Thursday. As a reminder principal's coffee is always the first Thursday every month. (Link)
COVID-19 Testing Next Week @ Kennedy
Regular testing schedule Tuesday between 10:15-12:15 and Thursday from 1:30 pm and 4:30 pm. Please sign up when you receive the district notification (District link goes out every Friday)
Students at Home Choosing to Work Independently
We have students that are symptomatic and asymptomatic working independently from home. Families need to inform Kennedy office staff if this is your student's situation in order for your student's absences to be marked as excused.
Students choosing to work from home can do so asynchronously accessing work on their teachers’ Google classrooms
Families wishing to enroll in the Independent Study option through our district can reach out to Mr. Rosell for information arosell@rcsdk8.net. Families should be aware that the district option is a long-term choice that means your student would no longer be connected to their Kennedy teacher.
Let's keep working together, everyone.
Nick Fanourgiakis
Principal
Kennedy Middle School
650482-2409- EX 3111
Absent Students
Reminder, families have the choice of calling in their student absences as normal or complete a short form link below.
This will allow parents to report an absence without having to call the office each morning.
8th Grade Information
Thank you to the many families and students who joined us via Zoom last Thursday to discuss 8th grade graduation activities. If you were unable to make the meeting I have provided the slide deck and the video recording of the presentation below.
8th grade Graduation slide deck, Zoom Video
8th Grade Math High school placement assessment window
- 8th grade students will be completing their High School math assessments this week. Remind our students to do the best that they can.
- Results impact high school course placement
Address Verification continues. Please complete this as soon as possible. See link below.
Open Enrollment Transfers are available to incoming 9th-grade students who wish to attend a school other than their assigned home school. Deadline: Feb 1, 2022,
For all things related to enrollment at SUHSD, click here
Woodside & Sequoia classroom presentations at Kennedy will be happening in late Feb or early March
Spring Musical
Sara Rosenbloom, our drama teacher, will be leading our Spring Musical! We are excited to announce this year’s production will be High School Musical Jr. This year we will be live and in person and we are looking forward to a fantastic production this spring! Students will work as a group to create a musical. This is a performance opportunity for students to build community, sing, dance, and act in a group and create a show we can all be proud of. Being part of a production is a lot of fun and a great way to participate in the school community. There is no cost to participate. If you are interested in participating please sign-up here: https://forms.gle/HgFxMxpwSQowFLZx8
For those interested in participating, there will be an informational meeting on zoom on Wednesday, Feb 2nd, at 6:00pm. (Link to be sent that morning)
Rehearsals will be Monday-Thursday after school until 5:30pm. The first rehearsal will be Monday, February 7th, 2021
Performance is scheduled for: April 29th-May 1st
Valentines Day Grams
GSA are going to be selling Valentine's day grams. They will be selling small bags of Hershey's kisses for $2 with an option to add a rainbow "Love is Love" sticker for $3.
Sales will being Thursday February 3rd at lunch and after school under the lunch shelter. The sales will continue until February 11. Valentines day grams will be delivered during 7th period on Monday 2/14.
PTO NEWS week of 1/31 - 2/4
PTO NEWS - 1/31/22
Save the date! Wednesday, February 9, 2022 from 9-10am - Parent Education Zoom Meeting with renown middle school parenting expert, author & speaker, Michelle Icard. Michelle will answer your parenting questions in a Zoom call just for our Kennedy school community.
Whether you’re worried about grades, motivation, friendship issues, self-esteem or social media, Michelle can address your concerns and offer both advice and relief.
Michelle’s second book, Fourteen Talks by Age Fourteen, covers the essential conversations to have with your child before they start high school – and how best to have them. Distilling her decades of experience working with families, Fourteen Talks by Age Fourteen focuses on big, thorny topics such as friendship, sexuality, impulsivity, and technology, as well as unexpected conversations about creativity, hygiene, money, privilege, and contributing to the family.
Check out Michelle Icard’s website https://michelleicard.com/
This event is free for all Kennedy parents! Please click the link below to register and to ask a question for Michelle Icard to answer in the Zoom presentation.
https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07ej0ha3ok37b9564c&oseq=&c=&ch=
We will have a Scholastic Book Fair in the Kennedy library during the week of February 14-18, 2022! More info soon!
Check us out on social media for the latest info! Instagram @KennedyCougarsPTO and Facebook at John F Kennedy Middle School Parent Teacher Organization.
Kennedy PTO Needs your donations! Check with your employers about donation matching options. Click this link to donate. https://kennedycougarspto.org/donate-now
Redwood City Walking to School Safely Survey
Are you interested in improving Redwood City's walking, biking and safety conditions? Tell us what you think! The City of Redwood City is working on developing a plan with your safety and convenience in mind. Your feedback will help us finalize and prioritize a list of specific improvement projects throughout Redwood City.
Learn more about the RWC Walk Bike Thrive project HERE.
Click HERE to take the survey.
Redwood City Parks and Recreation
Bus Passes
This year the Redwood City School District is part of a special SamTrans pilot program. SamTrans has donated free youth bus passes to be used by students enrolled in the Redwood City School District this is good through June 30th, 2022. Students can receive a free bus pass if they are eligible in one of these categories: Free/Reduced Meals, housing insecurity (homeslessness), foster-youths and migrant students, or students whose parents did not recieve a High School Diploma. If you are interested in receiving a pass for your child, please contact Maria Segundo from the family center at 650-482-2409 or send me an email to msegundo@rcsdk8.net. If your child does receive a pass, you will be contacted to complete a short survey.
Book Fair Feb 14-18th
Help get your kids the lunch you always dreamed of! (Community Survey)
Are you interested in better school breakfast and lunch options for Redwood City School District students? The Healthy School Meals Coalition is working with parents and teachers to make district-wide school meal improvements.
We’d love to hear from you! Follow the QR code to fill out a survey about your experience with school food and sign up for updates about this initiative.
Email Jessica with questions: jesshade@gmail.com
Pictures / Videos
New York Times journalists Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey
New York Times journalists Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey spoke to students & answered questions and discussed how to break into investigative journalism.
New York Times journalists Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey
Science for Scientist
Weekend Rap Mr. Orepeza students
Journalism Video Newsletter January edition
Science for Scientist
February Calendar
Feb 2nd Spring Musical via Zoom 6 pm Meeting
Feb 3rd Principal’s Coffee via Zoom 8:30-9:30 am
Feb 9th Parent Education via Zoom 9:00-10:00am
Feb 15 Grand Canyon Meeting Kennedy gym 6:30- 7:30 pm
Feb 14th Valentines Day
Feb-14-18th Book Fair Kennedy Library School Hours
Feb 21-25 No School
Kennedy Middle School Redwood City
Email: nfanourgiakis@rcsdk8.net
Website: https://www.rcsdk8.net/kennedy
Location: Kennedy Middle School, Goodwin Avenue, Redwood City, CA, USA
Phone: 650-482-2409
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kennedymiddleschool/