The Kenwood Courier

The fourth graders in Ms. Kronmiller's class were building circuits and learning about electricity on a snowy Friday afternoon!

We’re eager to connect and partner with you the 2025-26 school year in support of your children’s academic, social, and emotional growth. You can expect to receive the Kenwood Courier every Friday.

• On the top of the page, you will find ADA and Translation features. To translate, click on the Translate button and choose your desired language.
• En la parte superior de la página, encontrará funciones de ADA y traducción. Para traducir, haga clic en el botón Traducir y elija el idioma que desee.
• Dusha sare ee bogga, waxaad ka heli doontaa ADA iyo sifooyinka Turjumaada. Si aad u turjunto, dhagsii badhanka Turjumka oo dooro luqadda aad rabto.
  
• В верхней части страницы вы найдете функции ADA и перевода. Для перевода нажмите кнопку «Перевести» и выберите нужный язык.
  
• د پاڼې په سر کې، تاسو به د ADA او ژباړې ځانګړتیاوې ومومئ. د ژباړې لپاره، د ژباړې تڼۍ باندې کلیک وکړئ او د خپلې خوښې ژبه غوره کړئ.
  
• در بالای صفحه، شما ویژگی های ADA و ترجمه را پیدا کنید. برای ترجمه، روی دکمه ترجمه کلیک کنید و زبان مورد نظر خود را انتخاب کنید.
  

• Dec. 9: Site Council, 4:15-5:45
• Dec. 20 - Jan. 4: Winter Break
• Jan. 5: Return to School!
• Jan. 9: Coffee with the Principal
• Jan. 19: MLK Day/No School
• Jan. 20: Prospective Family Open House

Dear Kenwood Families,

As we move into the season that honors love and light, please know that we are so grateful to be working in partnership with you to help all our students shine.

Unfortunately, I have very sad news to share with you. Mrs. Thompson's dear husband, Joel, unexpectedly passed away early Thursday morning. Our hearts are with Christy and her family as they mourn their devastating loss.

Many of you have asked how to help Mrs. Thompson and her family. Because there are now many unexpected expenses, Mrs. Thompson would benefit from financial donations. To ensure that all gifts go directly to her, donations can be made via Venmo: @Christina-Thompson-140.

Mrs. Thompson plans to be back at school late next week. We're eager to embrace her upon her return. Thank you for your compassion and understanding.

I wish you a peaceful weekend.

Heidi Johnson

Please be very cautious when you drop off your students on Penn Ave. in the morning. Drivers have reported that children have run across the street to the playground as buses and cars approach, creating a dangerous situation. Please park on the school side of the street, north of the Kenwood gate and the bus drop-off zone to prevent accidents and injury. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

In partnership with Kenwood, the PTA is continuing our annual winter giving gift card drive to support families within our community. With gift cards, families will be able to use the funds at their discretion to get what they need most this winter: clothes, toys, groceries, personal care items, etc.

We are so appreciative of the donations we have received previously in support of families impacted by the delay of SNAP benefits. We are continuing our gift card drive in the lead-up to Winter Break to further support families in our school community. If you are interested in donating, we are collecting Target gift cards in increments of $25. We, of course, welcome larger donations, but ask that they be provided in $25 increments for ease of distribution. Gift cards can be dropped off in the main office with Danielle Sanders through Monday, Dec. 15. Alternatively, if you prefer to give electronically, please Venmo the PTA at @KenwoodPTAMpls. Every contribution, regardless of size, helps.

Please note, Target is offering 10% off Target Gift Cards, up to $500 on December 6th and 7th this year for Target Circle members, so it is a great time to get more bang for your buck.

Please contact Alex Holzschuh if you have questions or are interested in receiving support over the winter break. Thank you!

We want to ensure Kenwood families are aware of the following food and nutrition resources. Every Meal works to fight hunger in our community by filling the food gaps children face during weekends, summers, and extended breaks. The program provides students with 4-5 pounds of food to take home in their backpacks every Friday. We have five different food bag options available to accommodate various cultural, dietary, and situational needs. If you are interested in receiving an Every Meal bag, please contact the Kenwood Family Liaison, Victoria Johnson [Victoria.Johnson@mpls.k12.mn.us or (612) 668-2760] to enroll or to ask questions.

Additionally, the Second Harvest Heartland Care Center helps people find free food through a network of food shelves and community resources. Find the best resource for you here You can also talk to a Care Center an advisor 8:00am-4:30pm Monday-Friday. The Care Center is free, friendly, and confidential. Help is available in English, Spanish, Hmong and Somali with interpreters available for other languages. Call or text 866-844-3663, or visit 2harvest.org/carecenter for more information.

If you are in need of immediate assistance reach out to our school Social Worker, Alex Holzchuh [Alexandra.Holzschuh@mpls.k12.mn.us or (612) 668-2760]

Finally, if you are in the position to help, the Kenwood PTA is collecting monetary donations to purchase gift cards for our school Social Worker, Alex Holzchuh to distribute to families. If you can contribute, please venmo the Kenwood PTA at @KenwoodPTAMpls

You can also find the link for the Yearbook Pre-Order Site here.

New date! We welcome all families who are considering Kenwood to join us for an hour-long meet and greet.

Our lost and found is overflowing with forgotten items! Could one of them be yours?

Stop by to recover any missing items.

Please keep your student home if:

• They have had a fever of 100.0 and above, in the past 24 hours. Keep your student home from school until 24 hours after the fever is gone, WITHOUT the use of fever-reducing medicine.

• They have vomited 2 or more times in the previous 24 hours.
• They have diarrhea and/or they are not feeling well and need to use the bathroom frequently.
• They have a rash of unknown cause. Please contact their healthcare provider before sending them to school.
• They have an illness that prevents them from participating in routine activities.

Please notify the Kenwood Attendance Line DAILY to report absences due to illness: 612-668-2766

Thank you for helping us keep our school community healthy and strong!

If you requested MPS transportation, bus stop details are now available in the My Ride K-12 app.

Get the My Ride app!

My Ride K-12 is the new GPS app that lets you:

• View your student’s bus in real time
• Get notifications
• Access bus stop details

Need transportation this year but didn’t request it yet?

• Complete a Save Your Seat form in the My Ride app, or Contact your child’s school directly to set up transportation
• Families will be notified once their students are assigned to buses.

More Information can be found here: https://www.mpschools.org/departments/transportation/myridek12

Are you looking for a small volunteer job at school? The PTA distributes a "library" of winter gear to each classroom for kids to use as needed. We could use help with the initial distribution, fulfilling occasional requests from teachers, and collection/cleaning/storing in spring. Contact Amy Sanborn at amysanborn18@gmail.com or 612-868-8664 if you would like to help.

Minnesota Institute for Talented Youth (MITY) is now accepting applications for its winter session which will be held January 24, 31, and February 7 at Twin Cities German Immersion School in St. Paul. Advanced learners in grades 1 - 5 take two unique classes each Saturday with peers from around the Twin Cities area who share their interests. (Fun Fact: MITY welcomed 154 students from over 80 different schools for its fall session!) Parents are invited to attend free speakers while students are in class. Go here to learn more.

Two great Opportunities for students who love math:

• Saturday Morning Math enrichment program for 5th - 7th graders
• Talented Youth Mathematics Program (UMTYMP)

When school is not in session, children can eat free meals and snacks at many

community sites, including Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and Hennepin County

Library locations. Visit the MPS Culinary & Wellness Services community sites webpage for

details about no-cost meals. Contact a site for specific hours and meal types.

Do you need help with rent, utilities, or a security deposit? Funding is available to support families who are experiencing financial hardship and need assistance maintaining stable housing.

If you are in need of support, please reach out to:

Ciara Graham, Stable Homes Stable Schools Site-based Lead
📧 ciara.graham@mpls.k12.mn.us

Let us help ensure your family has the housing stability it needs.

The Second Harvest Heartland Care Center helps people find food through our network of food shelves and community resources, as well as assistance with applying for SNAP. The Care Center is free, friendly, and confidential. Talk to an advisor 8:00am-4:30pm Monday-Friday, and help is available in English, Spanish, Hmong and Somali with interpreters available for other languages. Call or text 866-844-3663, or visit 2harvest.org/carecenter for more information.

United Way 2-1-1 provides free and confidential help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on many topics; housing, childcare, mental health, employment, transportation, and more! Call 211 or toll free 800-543-7709. Visit https://211unitedway.org/ for more information. Interpreters are available for all languages.

Click here to find a step-by-step guide to finding the right place for your child's care.

HelpMeConnect is a groundbreaking interagency collaboration between Minnesota’s Department of Children, Youth, and, Families; Education; Health; and Human Services. Click here to explore HelpMeConnect and find the support you need.

• School Secretary: Danielle.Sanders@mpls.k12.mn.us
• Family Liaison: Victoria.johnson@mpls.k12.mn.us
• Main Office Number: 612-668-2760
• School Website