Kennedy Newsletter for Families
Week of April 27, 2020
A message to my Coyotes:
Principal's Post
Hello Kennedy Families!
Today is the last day for the 2nd Learning Packet Pick-up. Please come to Kennedy sometime today for a Drive-through packet pick-up! It's stress free and you get an awesome "Movie Night Snack Pack" from our amazing PTA! (SEE BELOW for detailed information about this)
According to our calendars, Tuesday is bus driver appreciation day! Wow, do we want to thank them big this year! They have gone above and beyond to make sure our great kiddos all over Kingsport have nourished hearts and bodies. When you meal bus comes by this week, I hope you will consider how you might show thanks, I know it would mean a lot to them. This could be a chalk art message, a card, and sign on your mailbox, a word of appreciation,etc. Please join me in thanking them for all they do.
Friday is Lunch Hero day! This is a day each year we honor our cafeteria staff. The KCS food and nutrition services staff is working so hard to make sure every hungry child has a meal. This is for all kids 18 and under, this means we are asking them to prepare more meals than ever! If your family would like to submit a card or treat, please just give them to your meal delivery staff on Friday and they will return them to the cafeterias. Thanks so much for helping us celebrate those daily heroes!
Please let me know if we can be of assistance to your family during our school closure. We are looking forward to the day we are back in the hallways of John F. Kennedy!
I miss you all so much!
Janice Irvin
How do I pick up my child(ren)'s 2nd Packet?
- Do not come into the office this time.
- Drive to the front door area. You'll see us there.
- Do not get out of your car. :)
- Teachers will have on masks and gloves.
- Roll your window down a little bit and we will hand you your packet.
- Wave goodbye and give "air-hugs" or "air-high fives".
FUN IDEA!
Make a sign to hold up in your car as you drive through to send a message to your teacher. They love you so much and are so excited about the possibility of seeing you at the times below.
PLEASE NOTE:
YOU CAN PICK UP YOUR CHILD(REN)'S PACKET(S) AT ANY TIME DURING THE HOURS BELOW!!!! YOU DO NOT HAVE TO COME WHEN YOUR CHILD'S GRADE LEVEL IS SCHEDULED. YOU CAN PICK UP ALL THE GRADE LEVELS IN YOUR FAMILY AT THE SAME TIME.
If you want to see your teacher(s) when you pick up your packets!!!
MONDAY, APRIL 27 (3-5 Teachers)
3rd Grade - 8 am -10 am
- Trent and Johnson
4th Grade - 10 am- 12 pm
- Smith, Ryan, Fielden
5th Grade - 12 pm- 2 pm
- Pangle and Paupeck
2 pm- 5 pm Office Personnel
Going to be a 6th Grader Next Year? Want to be in Band or Orchestra?
The form link for enrollment:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSejGUGUDtR1VYFxGpqObVpT7B8tnW1DgZfggP3p9BkRnnQXjw/viewform?usp=sf_link
Going to be a 6th Grader Next Year? Want to be in Choir?
Sincerely, Mrs. Sandra Kerney
Robinson Choral Director
Important - Let's all work together for Lynn Garden!
•Ensure public services and funding for schools, hospitals, and fire departments.
•Plan new homes and businesses and improve neighborhoods.
•Determine how many seats your state is allocated in the House of Representatives.
It only took me 4 minutes to complete. It's worth our time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answer: We are currently finalizing plans and will share those with 5th grade parents soon, but we will have a way to recognize our 5th graders.
Question: What about student's yearbook and picture orders?
Answer: We are awaiting a delivery date from our printing company and will schedule a pick up date when they arrive.
Question: My child left items at school- is there a time we can pick up those items?
Answer: The district is working on a plan for picking up personal belongings. If you have a specific need in the meantime, please email kpadgett@k12k.com or jirvin@k12k.com and we will make arrangements for you to pick up those items.
Question: How can I get the bus to deliver lunches to my address?
Answer: Please call 423-392-4416 and leave a voicemail to schedule delivery.
Question: My child needs additional work/advanced work/modified work.
Answer: Please reach out to your child's teacher. They can provide additional resources to assist you. (iXL on our parent resources page is a great place to practice any grade level standards)
Question: I worry about my child falling behind academically.
Answer: Packet work is meant to review and maintain what was already taught this school year. We will address any untaught standards when we return to school. Ensuring that your child is reading each day is a great way to help them stay on track academically.
Question: My family cannot attend Zoom meetings.
Answer: Zoom meetings are completely optional. Join if you are able. You can also call into Zoom meetings by phone. Your teacher can share directions for joining by phone.
Question: How can we get correct answers for math problems? Reading questions?
Answer: Please reach out to your child's teacher for help. If you are struggling, there are likely many others feeling the same. Teachers will address questions in Zoom meetings, via Class Dojo or email. Teachers are constantly asking for additional ways to help students and will be more than happy to assist you.
Library Books Due
Little Library
Guardian Referral for School Counseling Services during Covid-19 Closure
Dear Kennedy Families, please feel free to fill out this confidential form (password protected) to let Mrs. Oaks-Blair know if you need to request school counseling services for your child. She will then contact you by phone or email.
Click HERE for the referral.
Zoning and Tuition Reminder: Deadline Coming Soon!
KINGSPORT, Tenn. – Kingsport City Schools will accept Zoning and Tuition Applications for students in grades K–12 for the 2020-2021 school year until Thursday, April 30, 2020.
Parents who would like to request their child attend a different city school instead of one for which their child is zoned, must apply for a zoning exception. Parents of students who are not legal residents of the City of Kingsport must submit a tuition application to attend Kingsport City Schools. Parents or legal guardians must apply annually for their child’s tuition and zoning status, even if they attended Kingsport City Schools during the preceding school year.
Applications can be found online at k12k.com via the "Parents" tab, 2020-21 Zoning and Tuition Application link. Application deadline is April 30, 2020.
The following are excerpts from the Kingsport Board of Education’s policies and procedures for zoning and tuition:
- Parents or legal guardians must apply annually for their child’s tuition and zoning status.
- Students who are not legal residents of the City of Kingsport shall pay tuition charges as approved annually by the Board of Education.
- Failure to pay tuition will disqualify a student’s application for the next year.
- Tuition students are accepted and zoning exceptions are granted only if current enrollment permits.
- The system does not provide bus transportation for tuition or zoning exception students, except in specific circumstances.
- Documented medical reasons
- Child care availability
- An expected move to a different zone
- Specialized school programs
- A fifth or an eighth grade student with a previous zoning exception
- Documented justifications related to the child’s specific educational experience
- Zoning and tuition for Kingsport City Schools employees and retirees, as well as City of Kingsport employees
- Zoning exception reapplications
- Siblings of currently enrolled out-of-zone students
- New zoning exception applications
- Tuition reapplications
- Siblings of currently enrolled tuition students
- New tuition applications for out-of-district residents
To find out the school for which your child is zoned, please refer to the online School Zones and Street Directory listed under the “School Zones and Street Directory” link under “Parents” at k12k.com, or call the KCS Administrative Support Center at (423) 378.2100.
If you didn't complete the survey last week, please let me know how we are doing (see below)!
Online Book Fair is here!!!!!
https://www.scholastic.com/bf/kennedyelementaryschool63
We will receive 25% in rewards for all sales and the fair will last until May 3. All orders ship to the student's home.
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!
We miss you so much!
Helping Others
Overcoming Challenges
Willingness to Learn
Leading with Respect
Low-cost Internet Information
(WJW) — Amid the coronavirus pandemic that is closing schools, businesses, attractions and events across the country, Comcast Cable is reaching out to low-income families to offer assistance so they can stay connected.
“For millions of low-income Americans who don’t have Internet service at home, this uncertain time is going to be even more difficult to manage,” Comcast said in a press release. “As schools and businesses close and families are encouraged, or even mandated, to stay home, Internet connectivity becomes even more important.”
Starting Monday, Comcast is putting in place two program enhancements to help low-income families.
Here is the breakdown on the packages:
- Low-income families in the Comcast service area can sign up for 60 days of complimentary Internet Essentials service, which is normally available to all qualified low-income households for $9.95/month.
- Also, we are increasing Internet speeds for the Internet Essentials service from 15/2 Mbps to 25/3 Mbps for all new and existing customers, which will be the speed of the service going forward.
To sign up, applicants can simply visit www.internetessentials.com. There are also two dedicated phone numbers 1-855-846-8376 for English and 1-855-765-6995 for Spanish.
Playgrounds Still Closed
As we continue to work with and align with the city on safety decisions, please note that playgrounds will now be closed to the public, starting immediately.
At this time (based on information from the city), other outdoor spaces, such as tennis, tracks, and walking paths, have not been closed. If anything should change regarding this, we will let you know as soon as we are able. This makes me incredibly sad and I can't wait to open it again.
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 (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