Kenwood - January Newsletter
Check each Sunday for updates at the top of this newsletter
NEWS FOR THE WEEK OF JANUARY 25TH
Little changes coming....
Some of our regulations will be lifted due to us going into this yellow phase. The district has reviewed the blueprints. Here are some upcoming changes:
- Temperatures taken once a day, in the morning
- PTO can meet in person after March 1st while continuing to follow district safety protocols
- Kindergarten and 1st grade MAY eat breakfast in the cafeteria. More information on that below.
- Outside counselors may also start meeting with our students in our buildings.
- Parent-teacher conferences will be held remotely via zoom. Parents can schedule an in-person meeting on an as needed basis.
Like we said, these are exciting changes and we're ready to continue learning in a safe environment.
BREAKFAST CHANGES FOR KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS ONLY AT THIS TIME
Our plan is this:
- For Monday and Tuesday, parents practice getting their child to school by 7:45 AM. They will still eat in the classroom. I've encouraged teachers to talk to parents about breakfast eaters that arrive late. We don't ever want to not provide breakfast for those that need it. Please work with us on this!
- Then on Wednesday, students will begin eating breakfast in the cafeteria. They will still enter through their normal doors, place their belongings on their desks, and then head down to the cafeteria for breakfast.
- Students will continue to be spread out at the cafeteria tables.
- We will communicate with students' teachers on their timeliness to the cafeteria. Teachers will contact you if changes need to be made.
Thank you all for your flexibility and understanding. We are excited to get back to a little bit of normalcy, no matter how little!
January Birthdays
January
2-Beckham C., Oliver V.
3--Cooper B., Jacob R., Peyton O.
5-Ryan K., Tahlayla J., Sawyer S.
6-Jersi W.
8-Hadley G.
10-Avery L.
11-Maven K., Dominic H.
12-Lucas R.
13-Jayden H.
16-Leo B., Beckham J.
17-Lauren L., Griffin E., Kaylee U.
18-Ah Marius C.
19-Coen W., Xzavier H., Joshua R., Annabelle S.
21-Maria R., Arianna A.
23-Alonzo C., Logan E., Parker F.
25-Kaitlynn G.
26-Natilie L.
27-Haylee G., Danica M.
28-Tannym K.
30-Miranda B., Maxsen P.
31-Madison R., Aleighna M.
February is Black History Month
February 9, 11, and 15th--Parent-Teacher Conferences (via zoom)
February 17--No school, Professional Development Day
February 18-19-No school, conference compensation days
NEWS FOR THE WEEK OF JANUARY 17TH
January 15th: Martin Luther King Jr. was a social activist and Baptist minister who played a key role in the American civil rights movement from the mid-1950s until his assassination in 1968. King sought equality and human rights for African Americans, the poor and all victims of injustice through peaceful protest. He was the driving force behind major civil rights events such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the 1963 March on Washington, which helped bring about such landmark legislation as the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act. King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 and is remembered each year on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, a U.S. federal holiday since 1986.
Monday, January 18
Wednesday, January 20
Thursday, January 21
School picture information
January 18th--No school for students--Professional Development Day, Martin Luther King Jr. holiday
January 20-I LOVE PUBLIC SCHOOLS DAY
January 21-School Picture Day
February 9, 11, and 15th--Parent-Teacher Conferences (via zoom)
February 17--No school, Professional Development Day
February 18-19-No school, conference compensation days
NEWS FOR THE WEEK OF JANUARY 10TH
We had a great three days back after break. It was great to see the students again and we are ready to get our "Learning On!" We continue to be fortunate to have in person learning and now have our chromebooks so we won't have to share with other classes. Some students have already used their chromebooks to take their AR STAR assessment to begin the third quarter. Others, mostly in the upper grades, have used google classroom as a means of getting information from their teachers and responding back. We can't wait to help our students learn more about their use. I do want to inform you all that getting these chromebooks does NOT mean that we are going to remote learning. I want to help put your mind at ease at least at this time. Honestly, I thought we'd be in remote learning earlier on during the first quarter so I'm glad to have been wrong!
Your child received their report cards from the second quarter. Please take time to review this with your child, set some goals, and the actions that it will take to reach those goals. It's never too young to teach your child about goal setting. Our students love to share with all when they've reached them. It's a great feeling when you've accomplished what you've set out for. Please sign and return the report card form by this Friday.
Please join us for our first PTO meeting for the new year. It begins at 7 PM. Here is the link: PTO Meeting. We'd love to have your input and it's a great way to meet others even if not in person. Also, if you want to order Kenwood spirit wear, it must be done by midnight tonight. Here is the link: Kenwood spirit wear 2. This is the last one for the year.
SPRING MUSIC CONCERT INFORMATION
These are the dates that the grade levels will travel to the Merryman Performing Arts Center to rehearse and then record the music program. These recordings will be shared with you hopefully within two weeks of recording. They will be sent out to you at a later date. *More information will be coming as to the attire that we'd like them to wear on their specified days.
March 4--Grades 2 & 3 will rehearse and record in the afternoonMarch 8-Grades Kindergarten & 1will rehearse and record in the afternoon
March 8-Grades 4 & 5 will rehearse and record in the morning
January 11th-PTO Meeting at 7 PM via Zoom--Use this link: PTO Meeting
January 18th--No school for students--Professional Development Day, Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Jan. 18, 2021, is the 26th anniversary of the day of service that celebrates the Civil Rights leader's life and legacy.
January 21-School Picture Day
February 9, 11, and 15th--Parent-Teacher Conferences (possibly via zoom again)
February 17--No school, Professional Development Day
February 18-19-No school, conference compensation days
PRINCIPAL'S ACCELERATED READING LUNCHEON-STUDENTS MEETING PRINCIPAL'S GOALS
I had a lot of fun eating with our Principal Goal earners from the second quarter. So much fun that I didn't get pictures of them all! Here are some that I did take. Good luck on meeting your goals this next quarter!
KENWOOD TEACHERS--"Rolling" in the new year and making it "Popping" great!
SCHOOL RESUMES WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6TH
NEWS FOR THE WEEK OF JANUARY 3RD
March--During the closure of schools throughout the state, our teachers continued to reach out to students and families to help them stay connected. We did not focus on new academic learning but on sustaining what we'd already learned and built upon that. With the help from parents and at times, siblings, our students were able to make some sense of routine. For this, we thank you all!
August-Opening up to in-person learning--best decision ever! Our district and staff implemented many new protocols to help families, student and staff feel safe and protected. These changes have become a piece of our normal routines. We all questioned how students would do wearing masks all day long AND THEY ROCKED IT! Our young ones are so resilient and should be praised as great role models for others. I'm so very proud of them, our teachers, paraprofessionals, secretary, nurse, health aide, custodians, and diner ladies for all doing their due diligence in making sure we all remain safe and in school.
December--first semester completed. Wow! I was concerned earlier on that we'd have to shut down again and go to remote learning way back in September. WE MADE IT TO DECEMBER! It's still hard to believe but with few positive staff members and students along with lots of quarantining, we completed a full semester. I tell the staff that this experience is like "Whack-a-Mole", a game where an animal (mole) pokes it's head out of several holes and your job is to hit it before it goes back down. Our teachers dealt patiently with student attendance--one day they are there, the next they are gone for 10-14 days and by the time they come back, another student is gone. They worked tirelessly to keep these students caught up with their missed instruction and work. All of this while providing academic instruction and taking care of students' mental health and wellness.
Our teachers are our true heroes. I've never been so grateful to work with such amazing people! Here's to 2021 and celebrating new challenges that we know that we can overcome!
POSSIBLY ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS TO START OFF THE NEW YEAR
OUR CHROMEBOOKS HAVE ARRIVED! OUR CHROMEOBOKS HAVE ARRIVED!
All of us have patiently awaiting for our chromebooks. It was determined before school started that we'd be going 1-to-1 but nobody knew that it would take this long for them to come in. Just one more thing that we can thank COVID for:) Anyway, your child will be assigned and checked out their own chromebook. These will not come home. More information will be shared once we get back into school. Our teachers and students have again gone OVER THE TOP with sharing these devices as classrooms were limited to a very small amount of chromebooks in their classrooms. Now, every student will have their own and this will make more efficient and effective use of time. We can't wait to get started!
January
6th--3rd Quarter Assembly, AR Principal Goal Lunch
7th--AR Principal Goal Lunch
8th--Report cards sent home, AR Principal Goal Lunch
11th-PTO Meeting at 7 PM via Zoom--Use this link: PTO Meeting
18th--No school for students--Professional Development Day
SPRING MUSIC CONCERT INFORMATION
HOLIDAY FUN
STAFF SELFIES
Kenwood School Song
Mrs. Clevenger
Email: jilclevenger@kearneycats.com
Website: https://kenwood.kearneypublicschools.org/
Location: 915 16th Avenue, Kearney, NE, USA
Phone: 308-698-8200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kenwoodelementary/
Kenwood Staff Contacts
Principal:
Jill Clevenger-jilclevenger@kearneycats.com
Secretary:
Saralyn Feddersen - sarfeddersen@kearneycats.com
Social Worker:
Traci Hastings-trahastings@kearneycats.com
Counselor:
Counselor-Mary Fruhling- marfruhling@kearneycats.com
Kate Roehrich-katroehrich@kearneycats.com
Tori Fiala-torfiala@kearneycats.com
Sue Liveringhouse-sueliveringhouse@kearneycats.com
First Grade:
Jessika Lehmann-jeslehmann@kearneycats.com
Megan Szafrajda-megszafrajda@kearneycats.com
Barb Thompson-barthompson@kearneycats.com
Second Grade:
Allison Birdwell-allbirdwell@kearneycats.com
Tami Buss-tambuss@kearneycats.com
Holly Gilbreath-holgilbreath@kearneycats.com
Third Grade:
Melinda Hogeland-melhogeland@kearneycats.com
Beckie Luedke-becluedke@kearneycats.com
Kat Mundorf-katmundorf@kearneycats.com
Fourth Grade:
Megan Buerer - megbuerer@kearneycats.com
Rachelle Chamberlain - racchamberlain@kearneycats.com
Lynn Lebsack - lynlebsack@kearneycats.com
Fifth Grade:
Jane Bartee-janbartee@kearneycats.com
Broc Howard - brohoward@kearneycats.com
Janice Knispel - janknispel@kearneycats.com
Specials:
PE-Hope Gillaspy - hopgillaspy@kearneycats.com
Art-Rivkah Raffaeli - rivraffaeli@kearneycats.com
Music-Jake Consbruck - jacconsbruck@kearneycats.com
Media/Library-Mary Roesler- marroesler@kearneycats.com
Counselor-Mary Fruhling- marfruhling@kearneycats.com
Title Reading-Janice Polk - janpolk@kearneycats.com
Title Reading-Lisa Martenson - lismartenson@kearneycats.com
Special Education/TLC-Amanda McConnell - amamcconnell@kearneycats.com
Special Education-Katie Butler - katbutler@kearneycats.com
Special Education-Brooke Modlin - bromodlin@kearneycats.com
*Jayce Magnani (substitute for Mrs.Modlinl)-jaymagnani@kearneycats.com
Speech/Language-Trish Abels - triabels@kearneycats.com
School Psychologist-Ashley Carrier - ashcarrier@kearneycats.com
Permanent Substitute
Alexis Thiel-alethiel@kearneycats.com
Nurse-Sara Gomez--sargomez@kearneycats.com
About Us
Website: https://kenwood.kearneypublicschools.org/
Location: 915 16th Avenue, Kearney, NE, USA
Phone: 3086988200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kenwoodelementary/