KPF Newsletter 1/14/26

Hello Kenny Families -

I am at a loss for words when it comes to what I am seeing in our city right now. The recent events surrounding federal immigration enforcement in our city—including the tragic loss of Renee Nicole Good, the presence of agents near our schools, and the widespread surge in enforcement—have left me feeling a profound sense of fear, anger, and exhaustion.

To say the first half of this school year has been a roller coaster of emotions would be an understatement. The outpouring of love from all of you is felt and needed. When asked what the Kenny Staff needs, I would say we need hugs and to feel seen by those around us. Our community has been so generous in supporting the school and those who are being impacted by the incidents in the community. We are heartbroken by the Kenny Kids who aren’t with us and we feel the fear that our students share in the most innocent of ways.

And with all of that, there are some real moments of joy and unity as well. Seeing neighbors and parents walking the icy sidewalks to ensure others are safe, and the unity around communication and action to protect those who may be targeted is inspiring. I am proud of our students and families for standing up for what they believe in and walking around the block on a day they didn’t have to be at school. I am motivated by the energy that our staff continues to put into their lessons and conversations with their students, despite feeling a huge heartache.

As a parent of two young children myself, the conversations are not easy and the questions come at the most random moments. It is helpful for kids to see you process your own emotions in healthy ways so that they can do that as well. Big emotions in small bodies are difficult to express when the feelings are new to them or when they don’t fully understand what is happening. Please reach out if you need help navigating those feelings with your child and we can support them here at school.

We have two events that can also be helpful and build community. The Festival of Nations will now be a Sing for Peace event, look for more information from Community Education. We have rescheduled our Community Circle. This is more needed now, than ever. Get to know your neighbors beyond the surface level so that when there is a need, we all feel comfortable helping out. I encourage you to continue to support one another and your students, find the joy in the little things and savoy the hugs and love of others around you.

In Partnership,

Dr. Jessica Busse

Principal, Kenny School

January 15: Student of the Month Assembly, 9:45-10:45am (RSVP here)

January 19: No School, Martin Luther King Jr. Day

January 23: No School, Record Keeping Day

January 23: Sing for Peace (formerly Festival of Nations), 3-5pm

January 25: Community Circle, 5-7pm

Upcoming Meetings: ALL Caregivers Welcome!

Next KPF Meeting is Tuesday, February 3, 7-8:30pm (on zoom)

Next Site Council Meeting is Tuesday, February 10, 5-6pm (in the media center or on zoom)

Planning ahead? View the entire calendar here

In times when things feel loud and uncertain outside, community circles are like a warm, quiet hug for our neighborhood. They are simple gatherings where families can come together to sit, breathe, and talk openly about how they are feeling. For kids and parents alike, these circles provide a safe place to share "big feelings"—like being scared or worried—without judgment. By listening to one another and sharing stories, we remind our children that even when the world feels a little bit broken, they are surrounded by a community that loves them and looks out for them. It’s a way for us to turn our neighbors into family and make sure that nobody has to carry their worries all by themselves.

What is March Magic?

March Magic is our annual spring fundraiser organized by volunteers to support the Kenny Parent Foundation (KPF).This adult-only event features a live band (Hurricane Karaoke – with one of Kenny’s own dads on keyboard!), a taco bar, full cash bar, raffle/silent auction, and sign-ups for our exclusive Great Gatherings.

Theme & What to Wear

"Sing Loud, Kenny Proud!" Show your Kenny spirit by wearing Kenny green or your favorite Kenny gear! Kenny merch will be available for purchase ahead of the event.

Who’s Invited?

Kenny alums, current & future parents, and staff – join us for a night of fun!

Why It Matters

Funds raised support Kenny Community School by enhancing student experiences and facilities. Past contributions have funded:

• Playground renovation – Benefiting students & the Kenny neighborhood
• Kenny Community Garden revitalization – A vibrant space for students & families
• Artist in Residence & Native Pride Productions – Bringing arts & culture to Kenny
• Bakken Museum & The Works Museum presentations & other enrichment programs
• A new sound system in the gym to support school events, assemblies, performances, andmusic programs

Are there different ticket prices?

Yes! We have a sliding scale for tickets. The suggested price is $50, but there are tickets available at other price points. If cost is a barrier, complimentary tickets are available—we want everyone in our community to attend!

Do we have exclusive access to the venue?

Yes! We have exclusive access to VFW Post 5555 for the night, meaning it’s a private event just for our March Magic attendees.

What are Great Gatherings?

Great Gatherings are themed events hosted by parents, teachers, or community members—such as dinners, outings, family activities, and grade-level parties. Attendees pay to join, and all proceeds go to KPF. Want to host a Great Gathering? A sign up form will be available in February!

Can my company sponsor March Magic?

Yes! Sponsoring March Magic is a fantastic way for businesses to support the Kenny community. If your company would like to contribute, please reach out!

📍 For more information, visit: thekpf.org/march-magic

A group of 20 Kenny Kids and parents spent an evening at Second Harvest Heartland packing food last week. Big thanks to all who lent a helping hand, and to Tully Jordan for organizing!

Lost and found is out in the front entrance of Kenny, please check to see if anything belongs to you! Any items remaining after January 19th will be donated.

Rachel Patrick the music teacher here; the kids call me Miss Patrick. Starting on Monday, Kenny is receiving a donation from a community member of a weekly fruit basket from Brightside for our teachers' lounge for staff, volunteers, and anyone else who passes through the staff lounge to snack on. Brightside is my brother Michael's nonprofit organization (Michael attended Armatage, Anthony, and Southwest, so he loves the Kenny neighborhood). Brightside takes excess produce in the metro and deliver it to the doors of families and businesses that need healthy food on a pay-what-you-can sliding scale. This provides healthy food to people who can't leave their homes because of safety concerns, transportation issues, poverty, or medical conditions. There is a lot of food waste in the metro, which means that Brightside runs out of money to fund deliveries (staffing, delivery van maintenance, food pickup and storage, etc.) before they run out of produce.

If you would like to help them out by ordering produce for your home, office, or business, or by buying from their stall at one of the farmers' markets, check out their website:

https://brightsidempls.org/

If you know anyone who would benefit from produce deliveries to their home or local corner store, check out their delivery request info:

https://brightsidempls.org/pages/faq

Request for materials for the music room:

Do you have random gift cards or hotel key cards laying around that you used up? It turns out that those plastic cards are the perfect materials for guitar picks, ukulele picks, and dulcimer picks. I have a pick punch (it's like a hole punch, but in the shape of a pick) that I use to quickly make picks whenever we need them. It's a lot faster and more convenient than running to a music store or waiting for them to arrive in the mail, plus we get to recycle something that generally gets thrown away. The kids think it's so cool, I let them use the pick punch to make themselves a pick or two to take home at the end of the year and some of the kids like to make necklaces or earrings out of them. If you have obsolete plastic cards just laying around, please send them to music class with your kid and we will use them to make picks!

WHEN: Friday, January 23rd from 3-5pm (this is a non-school day for students)

WHERE: Kenny Elementary school (5720 Emerson Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55419)

Kenny Summer Minneapolis Kids registration opens Friday, February 23 at 7am. More information here.

For more information visit the Mpls Kids Juniors Website, register online here starting 7am on January 30!

If you are in need of winter gear for your student, please get in touch with Ms. Nora

Health Services Assistant / Attendance: Angie McCann, 612-668-3346

School Nurse: Rebecca Richardson

School Social Worker: Nora Beyers

School Psychologist: Kate Wagner

Secretary: Shermane Gatlin-Johnson

Kenny Principal: Dr. Jessica Busse

KPF Board: kennyschool99@gmail.com

Phone: 612-668-3340

School Website: https://kenny.mpschools.org

KPF Website: https://www.thekpf.org

Address: 5720 Emerson Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55419