A Message from Mrs. Leonardo
We don't have too many events this week due to the short week, but there are some important reminders below. Please be sure you're up to date with events that will happen after we return from Thanksgiving Break.
Thanksgiving Break
- We will have a minimum day dismissal at 1:50 pm on Tuesday, November 21. SamTrans will arrive at its regularly scheduled time since they do not accommodate our early dismissals.
- Thanksgiving Break is Wednesday, November 22 through Friday, November 24.
- Students return to school on Monday, November 27.
8th-Grade Letter
Our 8th-graders will get a letter explaining how they earn the ability to participate in 8th-grade activities including the promotion ceremony. Students must earn a cumulative GPA of 2.0. Parents of students who have a GPA lower than 2.0 will need to meet with Kennedy admin to determine what supports can be implemented so that trimesters two and three are successful.
The letter will be sent home with students on Monday. A separate email to 8th-grade families will also be sent on Monday. Students and their parent/guardian must sign the acknowledgment form and return it to their 1st period teacher by Friday, December 1. This is a graded assignment for 1st period (50 points).
Student Store
Our student store was open Monday and students got to pick up their purchases throughout the week! It was VERY busy. Students were overheard saying the line was worse than Black Friday (see pic below). Thank you to parent volunteers Julia Feng, Kate Loftus, and Omalis Villanueva for assisting with the student store!
Honor Breakfast
We plan to honor students on Wednesday, November 29 in the Kennedy gym. Doors will open at 7:15 am, and we will begin promptly at 7:30 am. Students will receive invitations on Monday, and parents will also be notified by text and email. We will recognize Principal's Honor Roll (4.0+), Honor Roll (3.75-3.99), Excellent Attendance (no tardies, no lates, full day attendance), i-Ready Excellence (40 or more passed lessons). Students can bring up to two family members. Breakfast will be cooked and provided by IHOP.
To check your student's GPA, sign in to PowerSchool. Your student can also show you by logging in to PowerSchool with their own username and password.
Rules Review Assemblies
Kennedy admin met with students last week to review school expectations for trimester two. The presentations are below. The Spanish versions of these presentations are still being translated. We will make them available to families next week.
Social Media Discussion & Group Talk
Jennifer Martinez, RCPD Juvenile and Family Specialist, met with students during PE to review how students should act online.
It is very important that parents check their student's cell phones if they have access to social media. Some students have multiple Instagram and TikTok accounts. They use these secret accounts to make fun of peers. Then, our admin team has to follow up with students at school and issue consequences. If your student has been disciplined for a social media incident, you will be required to attend our parent night on November 30 about how to check your students' social media and how to protect them online. The best way to protect students online is to make sure they do not have access to social media. 😉
RCPD Partnering with Kennedy
Parents want to know how they can protect their students from the dangers of social media. We are working with our local law enforcement agencies to bring parent info nights to Kennedy. As mentioned above, we plan to connect with our 8th-grade students this week.
On November 30, Ms. Martinez will return to Kennedy for an informational session for parents. Parents will learn how to navigate Instagram and TikTok so that they can be aware and informed about how students use these applications.
We encourage you to attend. Space is limited to 25 people, so sign up today. Sign up here.
Attendance Letters
Attendance letters were sent home two weeks ago. These letters are automatically sent to families from the Redwood City School District. These letters were sent to students who have excused absences and unexcused absences. This is a standard RCSD protocol. Please note: we can only change attendance during the week of the absence. We encourage parents to check PowerSchool for any attendance errors and then email Tatyana Tafoya ttafoya@rcsdk8.net the same week the error is found.
Reminders About Fast Food Deliveries
Please refrain from sending fast food deliveries via DoorDash, UberEats, etc. to students. If food is delivered, students can pick up in the office. We have too many students coming to the office to eat with friends and this against our lunch policy. Thank you for your support with this.
Information for Incoming Families
Cynthia Cardona, community school coordinator, and I met with incoming families virtually on Thursday to discuss Kennedy's programs. If families missed the meeting, it was recorded. RCSD will email families the info and elementary school sites will also notify families. However, I am listing the important links here. Please feel free to share with any 5th-grade families you know.
Shadow Opportunity for 5th-Graders
Kennedy Career Day
We plan to hold a Career Day at Kennedy in the spring. We are looking for folks who are interested in sharing information about their career with 6th through 8th grade students. Please spread the word! Interested individuals can sign up here. We will have more information about the event and the support we will need in January and February 2024.
November Family Challenge
We challenge students and their families to cook a meal together this month. Take a picture of yourself completing the challenge and email it to kennedyfc@rcsdk8.net.
Kennedy Sports
Congratulations to Kennedy White (6th-grade girls) for winning the volleyball championship! Kennedy White (7th-grade girls) also won the championship. Both teams played Kennedy teams! Our 8th-grade girls' volleyball team placed second, and our Kennedy Gold flag football team also placed second in the league. What a great fall for Kennedy sports! Thank you Ms. Meek, Mrs. Segal, Coach Moe, Maestro Alfredo, and Mr. Luis for coaching our teams.
Student Clubs Meeting This Week
- Intramural Flag Football on Monday, Tuesday at lunch
- Cursive Writing Club Monday at 7th/8th grade lunch in room 316
- Math Homework Support after school on Monday in room 534
- Book Club after school on Tuesday in the library
- 6th-Grade Student Council Reps Tuesday at lunch in room 103
- Italian Club Tuesday after school in room 318
- Makerspace and Robotics Club during 6th-grade lunch in room 104
- Wellness Club Tuesday during 7th/8th grade lunch in room 636
That's all for now!
See you soon!
Mrs. Leonardo
PTO Corner
Hello, Kennedy Community!
Thanksgiving is around the corner and in the spirit of giving, I’d like to highlight Kennedy’s continuing need for your financial contributions.
Maybe the new banners around all four corners of campus caught your eye this week? They are there to help make it easy for you to support your KMS Cougars - just scan the QR code! By donating to the our school’s PTO, you will be supporting:
-Music
-Drama
-Art
-PE and Intramural Sports
-Community Events and Enrichment Activities
-Afterschool Programs
-8th Grade Graduation
None of these programs would be possible without your continued support! Whether it’s $5, $25, $100 or $500, every dollar helps us ensure that our students are well-cared for.
PLEASE DONATE TODAY!
https://kennedycougarspto.org/donate
Reminder: Everyone is invited to this month’s PTO meeting. We will meet virtually on Tuesday, November 28, from 7:00-8:30 pm. Please join us! Here’s the link: https://zoom.us/j/98592373018?pwd=QzVaaUk1Nzkwa3o2aThSSXdrcVEwZz09
Represent Kennedy With Style
KMS Spirit Wear is on sale now. Order online at the link below.
https://kennedyrwc.itemorder.com/shop/home/
Follow the KMS PTO on Instagram and Facebook, @KennedyCougarsPTO.
Check out www.kennedycougarspto.org for more info.
Kind regards,
Jess Bryski
PTO President
2023-2024
Updates from Boys and Girls Club
Hello BGCP Families,
Welcome to Quarter 2 at BGCP! Here are some updates and changes that are occurring in the program.
This new quarter will feature changes in our program schedule, as well as new enrichments and clubs that are meant to enhance the student experience at the program. We’ve included our NEW program schedule for you to reference.
Daylight Savings:
Along with a new schedule, we’re also changing the release time for our student walkers. As daylight savings is starting, we want to ensure the safety of our students. For this reason, student walkers will be released from the program at 4:45 PM each day (to prevent students from walking home in the dark). If you wish to have students stay until the end of the program and get picked up, please reach out to our BGCP office. The new release time begins MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6TH. Our contact information is listed below:
BGCP Office Number: (650)804-9045
BGCP Email: kennedy@bgcp.org
Quarter 2 will run from Monday, October 23rd until Friday, December 15th. The new walker release time will continue until the end of daylight savings in March 2024. We look forward to staying in communication to better serve our students.
BGCP Office Number: (650) 804-9045
BGCP Email: kennedy@bgcp.org
We are excited about all the fun and engaging activities we have in store this year! We look forward to staying in communication and serving our students. Thank you, BGCP families.
Arnulfo Prado
Kennedy BGCP Site Director
Kennedy Family Center Updates
Our November Family Challenge is HERE! Find out the details in this month's podcast.
Family Challenge Details Begins: 23:51
Padres de Kennedy 2023 WhatsApp Group
Cynthia Cardona, Community School Coordinator ccardona@rcsdk8.net
Maria Segundo, Admin Assistant msegundo@rcsdk8.net
Kathryn Lige, Lead Mental Health Counselor klige@rcsdk8.net
Contact the Kennedy Family Center by phone: (650) 482-2110
What's Happening in the Kennedy Library?
Book Club has started! We meet on Tuesdays after school. If you are interested in joining, come by the library to sign up or sign up here.
Get more details from Ms. Cooper and the awesome Kennedy Library by visiting the Kennedy Library Website.
Kennedy's Amazon Wishlist
We are incredibly grateful for your support! Thank you!
Our wishlist contains items requested by teachers at Kennedy. It now contains items we need for our STEAM and art electives.
Kennedy Middle School
Email: cleonardo@rcsdk8.net
Website: https://kennedy.rcsdk8.net
Location: 2521 Goodwin Avenue, Redwood City, CA, USA
Phone: 650.482.2409
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kennedymiddleschool