The Kenwood Courier

Kenwood Community School and MPS are with you. All families and students are welcome here. Please use this link to learn about the ways that Minneapolis Public Schools, the City of Minneapolis, and the state are here to support you.

What a great way to enjoy the season. Kenwood students not only love to play outside but they also gain a unique learning experience in the snow.

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. 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
• Jan. 23: Teacher Record-Keeping/No School for Students
  
• Jan. 30: All School Morning Meeting

A Go Fund Me page has been created for Mrs. Thompson and her family, whose husband/dad passed away unexpectedly. Donations to her family, large and small, are deeply appreciated.

It is that time of the year for colds, influenza, stomach flu, strep throat and more.

We are experiencing an increase in illnesses of all kinds in our school community, especially influenza like illness/Influenza. Please help Kenwood students and staff stay as healthy as we can in the next week. Here are important ways to stop the spread of germs:

• Stay home from work, school and activities if you are sick.
• Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
• Clean your hands often. Hand-washing for 20 seconds several times a day helps control the spread of germs and protects you from germs.

Students should not come back to school until 24 hours after the last bout of vomiting, diarrhea or fever 100.0+ (without fever reducing medications). Or until 12-24 hours after starting an antibiotic if diagnosed with a contagious illness, depending on the illness. This includes the following day if student has been sent home from school with illness.

Call the attendance line if your student has a reported case of Influenza, Strep, Covid or other contagious illness.

I hope this information helps our students and families have a healthy week before the Winter Break. If you have questions or to report an illness, please call the health office 612.668.2766. Thank you for your assistance in keeping our school healthy.

Traci Cruikshank, Licensed School Nurse

Unfortunately there have been several cases of head lice within the school community. Please read the attached document for information and please check your children regularly. Treatment shampoo is available at school; please call the health office if you would like us to send it home with your child.

The enrollment window for next school year is open now. Families interested in enrolling in MPS for

the 2026-27 school year should complete registration by the lottery due date of Monday, Feb. 9,

2026, for the best chance of receiving a preferred placement. In-area community school requests

are honored as received up to the start of the school year, and magnet school and out-of-area

community school requests will go through our lottery process.

Current MPS students at transition grades will be automatically assigned to their magnet or

address-based community pathway. If families are interested in a different school option, share

this request form with them to be submitted by Feb. 9, 2026.

Kenwood community help us to spread the word with Prospective families. Prospective families are encouraged to visit schools for open house events or tours. If you are interested on touring Kenwood Elementary sign up here.

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

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!

Join the Family Directory via this Google Form. Those who opt in will have access to the directory to arrange playdates and connect with classmates' families. The directory cannot be used for business or political solicitations. The directory link should not be shared with people who are not in the directory.

Did you know you can subscribe to our Google Calendar to have PTA events added automatically to your Google Calendar? Click the link and simplify!? Click the link and simplify!

We sincerely hope you have enjoyed the PTA-hosted events you have attended this year. It is our goal to ensure that our PTA events are inclusive and welcoming to our entire school community. We would greatly appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to provide feedback to help us plan for the future. As much or as little perspective as you would like to share is much appreciated. Click here to share your feedback.

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

Our Students love playing outside during recess! To ensure they can enjoy the fresh air and sunshine even in cooler weather, please send your kids to school with their winter gear: hat, snow gloves, snow pants, snow boots and coat. If you need assistance with winter gear, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. Call the main office at 612-688-2760 and ask for Ms. Victoria.

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

Stop by to recover any missing items.

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.

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

Already have the app? Make sure notifications are turned on to get updates like arrival times, school arrival and more. Go to Settings in the app to enable notifications.

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

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)

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

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