The Kenwood Courier

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.
  

Kenwood students have enjoyed 4,600 total minutes of learning this fall in the Outdoor Classroom, participating through both their physical education class and activities with their homeroom teachers. Way to go Kenwood Team!

Dear Kenwood Families,

On this blustery Friday, I want you to know I'm thinking of you! The Kenwood staff and I are so thankful to be working in partnership with you to support all our students during these complicated times. Kenwood is a place of learning, joy, collaboration, kindness, and integrity because we all (staff, students, families, community partners, volunteers) work hard to make it so.

Please look for your child's report card or progress report in their backpack on Monday, Nov. 10, and reach out to the classroom teacher with any questions you may have.

If you're experiencing a shortage of food, please scroll below the Principal's Update to find community resources. You can also call the Kenwood office at 612-668-2760 for more information.

Finally, I want to share the District's communication about contract negotiations in case you missed it earlier this week.

Dear MPS Families and Caregivers,

MPS is continuing negotiations today with MFE teachers, education support professionals (ESPs) and adult education teachers. MPS received MFE’s intent to strike on Friday, Oct. 31, moving negotiations to a 10-day cooling off period prior to a potential strike, which could begin as early as Tuesday, Nov. 11.

MPS remains committed to reaching an agreement quickly that is student-centered, fair, and that substantially addresses union and district priorities within available resources.

While it is always our hope to avoid a strike, we have to be prepared in case it happens. Our primary goal is to minimize the impact a strike could have on our students and families.

To that end, we want to share some information about what families can expect in the event that a strike is called:

• Pre-K-5 emergency child supervision will be available beginning the second day after a strike begins for families who have no other child supervision option.

• Sites for emergency pre-K - grade 5 child supervision: Loring, Webster, Bethune, Bancroft, Windom, Green Central and Keewaydin

• Hours of operation will be 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., with transportation and meals provided.

• If families are interested in registering for this option, they should reach out to their principal, either via phone or email. Confirmation will be provided via email, as space will be limited. Pre-registration and confirmation is required.

• Drop-in gym and activities for middle and high school students will be available between the hours of 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

• Sites for drop-in gym and activities: Camden, Edison, North, South, Southwest, Washburn and Roosevelt.

• Meals will be provided.

• Students must be prepared to share their school ID to enter, but pre-registration is not required. Students in grades 6-10 must arrive by 1 p.m. in order to participate in the afternoon activities. Students in grades 11-12 can arrive at any time during programming. Reentry will not be allowed once students exit.

• Meals will be available for all MPS students at any of the school sites listed above, even if they are not participating in pre-K-5 emergency child supervision or drop-in gym or activities.

More information about a potential strike and ongoing updates about negotiations can be found on our MFE Negotiations website.

I wish you all a peaceful weekend.

Heidi Johnson

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

Greetings Kenwood Families! My name is Kara van Wyk, and this is my second year of getting to know your students in the art room!

Kenwood students will approach art-making with a focus on line, shape, color, form and texture. Each grade level creates art with a new and more in-depth focus on these elements of art.

Throughout the year, we will work with a variety of materials, including crayons, colored pencils, markers, watercolor paints, tempera paints, collage, oil pastels, clay, and yarn, among other things.

At home, families can support visual literacy by looking at picture books, advertisements, and artwork together. Ask your children what they think the picture is “telling” them. Ask them how the picture makes them feel. See if they can explain why it makes them feel that way. You may be surprised at their answers! Even very young children are responding to images they see.

I’m looking forward to a great year with your children. Stay tuned for some fantastic artwork!

Ms. Kara van Wyk

Our musicians at Kenwood have been busy singing, dancing and working in our piano lab. We have 19 keyboards, so all 2nd through 5th grade students can practice simple songs and chords. If they already take lessons, they can work on songs that fit their level of play. They have really enjoyed it!

Kindergarten and 1st grade students have been playing the soprano ukuleles. We are learning how to hold them correctly, strum with a pick and even play a few chords. The C chord is the easiest and a yellow sticker marks the spot where they put their finger.

We finished our unit on rhythm and are beginning to study the note names on the staff.

Kids will learn the notes on the treble clef. In a couple of weeks, 2nd through 5th graders will begin playing the baritone ukuleles and guitars.

Studying music has been proven to enhance brain development, along with providing joy, plus social and emotional growth. Keep singing kids!

Ms. Sue

We are excited about the start of ALC classes this fall/winter session! There was a high response for our after-school opportunities, and not all students could be enrolled in their preferred class at this time. There is still space for student to join Woody’s Outdoor Friends (1st-2nd grade) and Theater Workshop (4th-5th grade), and there will be a second session of after school classes starting in late February.

Important Information about the Fall/Winter Session:

• This session of after-school classes runs from Tuesday, November 11, 2025 through Thursday, January 29, 2026. Your student is expected to regularly attend throughout the session.

*Note: There will be no after school classes on Tuesday, November 25, 2025

• If there is a change in your student’s regular transportation from after-school, please notify the office at 612-668-2760 no later than 4:30pm on the day of the change. Bus transportation changes must be scheduled one week prior to being able to ride.

• If you are picking your student up from after-school, please be prompt. You can meet your student(s) in the atrium- inside Door 1- at 5:30pm. Please do not park in front of the building on Penn- leave space for buses.

• If your student is riding the bus, they will have an updated bus tag with their after school drop off time and location.

• Please carefully review the bus stop information. Your student’s drop off stop for after school may be different from their regular end of day location.

• The decision to close after-school classes due to weather is made at the district level. Communication about weather-related changes will come from MPS.

• Robyn Eller is the Academic Lead for ALC- contact robyn.eller@mpls.k12.mn.us or at the school office number (612-668-2760) during program hours (4:15-5:30).

If you are excited to see your students school pictures they are ready to view.

Visit mylifetouch.com to log in or create an account, find your student and order using your student's student ID number (if available at your school).

All families can also log on and order a FREE Digital SmileSafe card.

More about the Smilesafe program here.

Retakes Thursday, Dec. 4th

Did you know that Kenwood has a yearbook club? If you are a 4th or 5th grader you can join this after school program on Thursdays (4:05-5:30), 11/13 - 1/29 & help create your school’s yearbook. Please fill out the ALC sign up sheet that went home earlier this week.

Have you been to the new coffee shop & retail experience that celebrates Asian American & Asian Culture? Well now is your chance to check it out while supporting Kenwood School. Moona Moono has invited us to do a Kenwood Shop & Social on November 15th from 6-8 pm. Stop in for a drink, pick up a holiday gift or just socialize with others from the Kenwood Community. 10% of the proceeds from the event will benefit Kenwood.

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!

Minneapolis Kids is the district’s before/after school school-age care program for students in grades K-5. Register now! An important update for the 2025-26 school year, Mpls Kids will continue to offer its before-school program at Kenwood. For after-school care next year, the afternoon Kenwood program will be consolidated into Emerson Mpls Kids. This means that students who wish to participate in after-school programming will have the opportunity to join Mpls Kids at Emerson school. Families who wish to utilize after-school care may request transportation between Kenwood and Emerson to meet their scheduling needs.

For questions contact: Anita Adams | Anita.Adams@mpls.k12.mn.us Mpls Kids-Kenwood Program Coordinator

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

• The Application for Educational Benefits (formerly known as Free and Reduced-Price Lunch) lets families know if they qualify for certain benefits and is one of the ways funding is determined for schools. Families of all income levels should complete the application regardless of perceived eligibility.

  Applying matters! This information helps to:

  • Determine benefits for students and families (e.g., no-cost school meals, free bus cards, discounted internet, PEBT)
  • Generate about $100 million in district funding each year;
  • Qualify schools and community sites to serve no-cost food to youth 18 and under after school and in the summer months.

  • The Application for Educational Benefits can be completed through SchoolCafe

    1. Visit the SchoolCafe
    2. Click on Complete the Application for Educational Benefits Online (login not required but preferred);
    3. Follow the instructions to complete your online application.

Volunteers needed! Please click here (with the link below embedded) to see all the upcoming volunteer opportunities with the PTA at school. Many hands make light work - give as much or as little time as you can. We will add any new events and signups to this link throughout the year, so you can always check back and see what is needed if you have time to spare.

We are still looking for caregivers to help in the lunch room. Unlike in years past, you don't have to sign up for a consistent rotation. Have an upcoming day off work? Stop in for an hour block during your student's lunch and help keep lunch running smoothly.

https://signup.com/go/iVKZheN

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.

As a fall fundraising event, Kenwood PTA has reserved a block

of discounted tickets for the Saturday, November 15 at 1 p.m.
performance of A Christmas Carol at the Guthrie Theater.
For every adult ticket purchased at $40, Kenwood Elementary School will
receive $14.50. Youth tickets (ages 5–17) are $25.50 each. To purchase tickets,
complete this request form and submit payment to Elizabeth Deacon by Wednesday,
November 12. Cash, check or Venmo (@EDeaconMpls) accepted.
To learn more about this beloved Twin Cities tradition celebrating 51 years this
season, visit guthrietheater.org/carol.
NOTE: Everyone must have a ticket and children under 5 are not admitted.

Minnesota Institute for Talented Youth (MITY) is now accepting applications for its fall session. Advanced learners in grades 1 - 5 take two unique classes each Saturday with peers from around the Twin Cities area who share their interests. 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.

Need a kid-free night? Bring them down to the park to enjoy dinner and a PG rated movie! Kids will also have an opportunity to participate in active group games or crafts during this program. ALL youth activity fees are fully discountable at checkout for Minneapolis residents - no code needed! See our discount qualifications here. Details below: • When: November 19 • Time: 6-8pm • Location: Fuller Park (4800 Grand Ave South Mpls, MN 55419)

Fall Dinner: Connecting & Cultivating Community In partnership with Waite House, please join us for our annual Fall Dinner. This is a FREE program and first come, first serve. All ages are welcome for dinner, live performances, kids activities, and fun giveaways. Details below: • When: November 20 • Time: 5-7pm • Location: Pillips Community Center (2323 11th Ave S Mpls, MN 55414)

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