Kennedy Newsletter for Families
March 29, 2020
Principal's Post
Hello Kennedy Families,
I never thought I would be writing a newsletter to you to discuss a long-term school closure. I still sometimes find myself unable to comprehend the issues our schools, community and country are facing as a result of COVID-19. I find peace in knowing that this too shall pass and soon enough we will return to life as we once knew it!
In this update I will be sharing a variety of topics. I plan to begin sending you a weekly Smore instead of a monthly Smore during our closure so that I can keep you up-to-date and well-informed. Please feel free to email me any time you have additional questions or concerns.
I also want to try and reduce any anxiety you may be feeling about "homeschooling". First and foremost, please do not try to reproduce a 7.5 hour school day during this time. The work packets that we shared were meant to take much less time than a normal school day and are a way for students to maintain what they have learned this school year. We did not include any new material in the work packets. We planned for the packet work to begin on Monday, March 30th, and we separated reading and math tasks into daily sections. If you get behind, please don't have your child do multiple days in one setting. We completely understand that many of you are working from home and struggle to also be your child's "teacher". Do the best you can and know we understand! Also, feel free to reach out to your child's teacher via Class Dojo. As we continue throughout our school closure, teachers will be checking in with you periodically and will also be providing some additional support/contact time for students.
Again, feel free to contact me or your child's teacher if you have questions or need assistance. We will return your message within 24 hours Monday through Friday. I wish you health and happiness during this unprecedented time!
Thanks for all you do,
Janice Irvin
KCS Food Distribution Program
Let's Have Some Virtual Fun!
KCS Food Program: Updated!
- Program is available at 10 AM - 2 PM at all eight elementary schools, Sevier, Robinson, and Dobyns-Bennett each weekday. We will restart the program on Monday, 3/30 following spring break.
- This is for all children 18 and under. Children do not have to be Kingsport City Schools students.
- Breakfast and lunch will be given during the 10 AM - 2 PM time frame.
- Bus routes will leave schools starting at 10 AM.
- If you are not on a bus route and live within Kingsport City limits, please call (423) 392-4670 or (423) 392-4416 to be added to a bus route if needed.
From our School Counselor
Dear Kennedy Families,
Social distancing and being together as a family unit for long periods of time is new for us all and it can be stressful at times.
Here are some tips for combating anxiety:
- Focus on what you can control (thoughts, behaviors, reactions)
- Look for something to be thankful for and joy in simple moments
- Limit news consumption and social media (as this can bring us down)
- Reach out by phone or video chat for connection to others
- Ask for help if you need it and know you are not alone in this
Please know that you are welcome to reach out to me for any of your child's social/emotional needs by email at koaks-blair@k12k.com, my office phone number at 423-857-2705 ( I will be checking messages regularly), or by private DoJo messenger.
Please know I am still here for you and missing seeing our entire Kennedy family.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Oaks-Blair
School Counselor
Other Web Based Resources
Here are some websites that you can visit to support your student's learning at home. I'm sure many of these are duplicates of what you already have, but we hope you find something new in here that your lion will love!
Website URL
PBS Kids PBSkids.org
Switcheroo Zoo SwitcherooZoo.com
National Geographic for Kids Kids.NationalGeographic.com
Dr. Seuss Seussville.com
Little Golden Books LittleGoldenBooks.com
Starfall (reading and literacy) Starfall.com
Fun Brain Funbrain.com
(math, reading, Wimpy Kid)
National Constitution Center ConstitutionCenter.org
Into the Book Reading.ECB.org
**Khan Academy (math) KhanAcademy.org
Storyline Online StoryLineOnline.net
(actors read to kids)
Highlights HighlightsKids.com
(yes, that magazine!)
**=Irvin's top pick!
Kennedy is a Bully-Free Zone! #CoyotesAreKind
**** Kennedy Office Staff ****
Cindy Salyer - Office Assistant
Kem Padgett - Award Winning KCS Secretary
Debbie Allen - Family Liaison
Kim Oaks-Blair - School Counselor
Heather Hobbs - Associate Principal
Dr. Janice Irvin - Principal
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.
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