Kennedy Cougars

Dear Kennedy Families and Caregivers,

Career day in grade 8 was a BIG hit. We had professionals from Natick and the surrounding area come and share their career paths with the students this past Wednesday. The list of presenters spanned from Chefs, Sports team GM Assistant, Textile Technician from the Army labs, to Natick Fire Fighter and Real Estate Agents. We can't thank our presenters enough for taking time out of their busy day to be with our students and share what is possible after school. We appreciate you!

Natick Summer Learning Course Descriptions:

Here is the link to the Natick Summer Learning Enrichment Course Descriptions. Check it out!

Here is the 2023 Middle School Summer Reading Document:

The PTO is pleased to partner again with Wellesley Books for Summer Reading Books. The online bookstore links will be available from Friday, May 19 until Wednesday, May 31st; during this timeframe, 20% will go to supporting the two schools’ PTOs. All books will be available at Wellesley Books after this for families to buy.

Please access this link to order through the PTO: https://www.wellesleybooks.com/kennedy-wilson-2023-summer-reading-book-fair

Families can specify on the website if they would like to purchase in-store; if so, they will receive a printable voucher that can be brought to Wellesley Books to contribute to the PTO. The donation at Wellesley Books is based on summer reading titles only.

News from Natick 180 (see pic below):

May is mental health awareness month. Check out the webinars and trainings being offered from Natick 180 below:

Here are the links to register for all of the Mental Health Awareness Month webinars or trainings.

May 24th | 6PM - 8PM ET: QPR Suicide Prevention Training

Registration Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/19eyCh-EcrUfNzb5gf8hcQO0YDJaHDeRfT-kB2yPCd4U/edit

Grade 8 Activities:

Updated letters were sent out via school messenger to 8th grade families this week with information about the end of the year programming for 8th grade. In case you missed it, here is the list of activities we have planned for our amazing 8th grade students:

Thursday, June 8th: 8th Grade Social (6:00 pm - 8:00 pm) Cost: Free

This takes place in the Kennedy cafeteria and includes a DJ and light refreshments organized by Kennedy Student Leadership and sponsored by the KMS Parent Teacher Organization.

Tuesday, June 13th: 8th grade Field Day at Cole Center, Natick:

8th grade teams will spend the day at Cole Fields participating in games and team building activities.

Tuesday, June 13th: Laptop & Library Book Collection:

Students must return their Chromebook and charger as well as any school library books.

***Wednesday, June 14th: Promotional Ceremonies at Kennedy Middle School -

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE TIME HAS FLIPPED FROM PREVIOUS COMMUNICATION FOR THESE TEAMS WALKING FOR CEREMONY. PLEASE ADJUST YOUR CALENDARS ACCORDINGLY.

• 8:15 am- 9:00 am -Teams Endeavor (Miller, Prince) and Discover (Alagappan, Dion, Raider, Posklensky)

• 9:30 am-10:15 am - Team Inspire (Joyce, Forest, Gallivan, Rogers)

• Gathering for all 8th grade students and families together on the front lawn (optional)

Thursday, June 15th: 8th Grade Breakfast and Celebration:

Breakfast celebration provided by KMS Food Services, student throwback video presentation in the auditorium, yearbook signing event on the front lawn (weather permitting), and traditional “Clap Out” for 8th graders through Kennedy Hallways.

Attendance Reminders:

• Tardies related to health appointments will be excused when a provider note is submitted listing the date of the visits.
• Absences due to illness or medical care will be excused when you submit a written note from a health provider.
• Absences due to travel cannot be excused.
• Absences which were not called in by a parent/guardian will generate an automated call or call from school personnel when they do not call the attendance line.

Natick Instrument Showcase at Natick High School

The Natick Music Department will be hosting our next Instrument Showcase for students interested in joining band or orchestra on Tuesday, June 13th from 5:00-7:00 PM at NHS. (See graphic below)

Athletics Update

• Kennedy volleyball lost to Stacey Middle School, Milford 2 - 0

• Kennedy track meet vs. Wilson - results still pending

Positivity Project News

This week our school community will be focusing on the character strength of Love of Learning. Love of learning means you master new topics on your own or in school.

Those with a love of learning are intrinsically motivated and engaged in a topic regardless of achieving an external standard. They enjoy learning simply for the sake of learning. They don’t need a prize of a high grade as a reward. Their reward is the process of doing the work and improving.

Developing a love of learning is highly beneficial for an individual. It means that they are intrinsically motivated to deepen their existing skills and abilities, or learn something completely new. Since intrinsically motivated action is correlated with positive emotions, those who act on their love of learning may also have enhanced mental and physical health. Additionally, individuals who love learning have the desire and ability to overcome challenges, due to a sense of autonomy and control over their environment.

To practice and encourage the character strength of Love of Learning with your child, please visit the Positivity Project’s P2 for Families (password: P2), where together you will watch a video, read a quote, and talk about the answers to three questions.

Here is the P2 parent letter Love of Learning for this week's character strength.

I hope everyone has a nice weekend,

Regards,

Jodie Cohen, Principal

"A love of learning has to do with learning that we are loved."

~Fred Rogers

Twitter - @KennedyMSNatick

Instagram - @KennedyMSNatick

#weR1Kennedy

#hearusROAR

#KennedyStrong

#cougarpride
#positivityinaction

1 - Upcoming Events:

• May 24 - Transfer of Flags Ceremony at Kennedy MS at 6:30 pm
• May 25 - 4th to 5th Grade Transition Night for Incoming Kennedy Families at 6:30 pm
• May 29 - Memorial Day Holiday - No School
• May 31 - Grade 5 & 7 Chorus Concert - 6:30-8:00pm
• June 1 - Grade 6 & 8 Chorus Concert - 6:30-8:00pm
• June 2 - Grade 5 Step Up Day (during the day)
• June 6 - Grade 5 & 7 Band Concert - 6:30-8:00pm
• June 7 - Grade 6 & 8 Band Concert - 6:30-8:00pm
• June 8 - Last for late buses and vans (except for the ASAP program for our van students)
• June 14 - 8th grade promotional ceremony, 8:15 - 10:15
• June 15 - 8th grade breakfast
• June 15 - Last day of school. Early release all schools!

2 - Grade 8 to 9 Transition to Natick High School Timeline

Here is the link to the Grade 8 to 9 Transition Timeline.

3 - From the Nurses Health Clinic:

If your student tests positive for Covid-19, they must stay home for 5 days. The day they started symptoms is Day 0, the next day is Day 1, then Day 2, etc. They may return to school on Day 6 and must wear a mask for an additional 5 days. A headache, scratchy throat, congestion/runny nose, cough, and/or fever are some of the more common symptoms of Covid-19.

Siblings and close contacts do not need to quarantine and can come to school as long as they are not having symptoms of illness. However, they must wear a mask for 10 days when around others following exposure.

Click for more information from the Massachusetts DPH: Covid-19 Isolation and Exposure Guidance

4 - Information notification letters about math placement

For information about the math placement process, please see the letters below.

22-23 6th to 7th opening placement letter

22-23 7th to 8th opening placement letter

Natick Public Schools is excited to announce our partnership with Paper for on-demand tutoring for NHS students. Paper is a secure, online tutoring service that provides students with unlimited, 24/7 academic support. Whether they’re stuck on homework, studying for a test, or need someone to read and make suggestions to their essays, there will always be experts available online to assist students in over 200 subjects and more than 4 languages.

Paper tutors have been specially trained to conduct expert, academic support in a secure, chat-based platform. With a commitment to helping students learn, they’ll never give students answers, but rather interact with them in an encouraging tone to lead them forward.

This is a free service that we’re providing, so students are encouraged to use it as much as they need, whenever they need. Our teachers also have accounts and will be able to review all student activity to see what they’re working on and provide more targeted instruction as needed.

If you’d like to learn more about Paper you can sign up for a Paper hosted Parent Info Session, available in both English and Spanish.

To see Paper and the help it offers firsthand, we encourage you to login with your students. To get started, simply visit PAPER’s student login page, type your school’s name, and log in via Google using your school credentials

We’re thrilled to offer our students the unlimited, 24/7 support that Paper provides and we can’t wait to see what we’re able to accomplish together.

Your Kennedy Middle School PTO is working hard behind the scenes to support our school in a variety of ways. They are working diligently to bring great activities to our school community.

Visit our KMS PTO website for details of the NEWEST events for Kennedy!!!

Natick Public Schools does not discriminate in employment nor its educational programs, services, and activities based on race, creed, color, age, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, physical and intellectual differences, immigration status, homeless status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Please be aware all electronic communication to and from Natick Public Schools is public record and subject to public disclosure per Massachusetts General Law Chapter 66, Section 10.

• Title I: Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990Title II
• Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990Title VI
• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964Title IX
• Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
• MGL, Ch.76, Section 5: Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 76, Section 5