Cougar Connect

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Thank you for a successful week last week! We had our first School Site Council meeting, celebrated with students at our Reclassification Ceremony at Hoover School, followed by my monthly Principal’s Coffee, Club Rush, our Fall Carnival, and the high school fair. We also held our very first Hispanic Heritage Assembly featuring 7th grader Valentino Cortez on guitar and 6th grader Darla Inzunza singing a beautiful song. Our band and dance elective students also performed. I am so thankful for a community of staff, students, and families who consistently go above and beyond to create opportunities for our students to shine.

This week, we kicked off Flag Football intramurals, made possible by our middle school volunteers from Peninsula Covenant Church (PCC)—thank you for your partnership!

October is also National Bullying Prevention Month, a time to remind our students that kindness, empathy, and inclusion are part of what makes Kennedy special. Let’s continue to model positive behavior, speak up when we see someone being mistreated, and make sure every student feels seen, safe, and valued on our campus. Together, we can help every Kennedy Cougar know they belong.

We also want to highlight the various cultures and backgrounds at Kennedy, so your students may come to you to ask you about your family history, culture, and traditions. This month's Family Challenge encourages families to cook a meal together. Take a picture of your family cooking a meal, send the photo to kennedyfc@rcsdk8.net, or text it to 650-656-0501. We will randomly select a family to win a $100 gift card to the restaurant of their choice.

Please remember that there will be no school on Monday, October 13 in observance of Indigenous Peoples' Day.

Grades

Have you checked your student's grades? Are you signed up with PowerSchool? Our Family Center will identify which families do not have access to PowerSchool and they will reach out to make sure you are connected. Families should check their students' grades at least once per week to monitor progress. If you need support with PowerSchool, please reach out to Cynthia Cardona (ccardona@rcsdk8.net) and Maria Segundo (msegundo@rcsdk8.net) in our Kennedy Family Center.

Attendance Contact

When attendance concerns arise, please email Jessica Perez. She will update your student's attendance.

The Kennedy office is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Phone Contact: (650) 482-2409

Principal: Chandra Leonardo cleonardo@rcsdk8.net

Assistant Principal: Dr. Shanna Laney slaney@rcsdk8.net

Assistant Principal: Enrique Pin epin@rcsdk8.net

Office Manager: Liz Avalos lmavalos@rcsdk8.net

Office Assistant (Attendance): Jessica Perez jpperez@rcsdk8.net

Office Assistant (Student Records, Student Health): Maritza Gutierrez mggutierrez@rcsdk8.net

Have a great week!

Chandra Leonardo

Principal

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Each month, families can download and read the Parent Institute newsletter. Each newsletter provides tips and updates for families about how to support their Kennedy Middle School student.

This month's topics include how to monitor your student's time after school, how to strengthen math skills with estimation challenges, and how to reduce your students' test taking anxieties.

Dear Families,

We are writing to inform you that SamTrans will be adjusting the timing of Route 79 to address concerns related to on-time arrival at Kennedy Middle School. Both of these routes will start 10 minutes earlier in the morning in order for the routes to arrive at school on time at 8:20am. This change will be effective starting October 6th.

Please refer to: https://www.samtrans.com/schedulesmaps for more information about the new schedules. Attached is the new schedule.

If you have any concerns or questions, please call SamTrans Customer Service at 1-800-660-4287.

Thank you for supporting our Fall Carnival! The students and families had a fantastic time and we had amazing support from our Kennedy Parents. Thank you!

Chaperones needed to Fall Dance Oct 17! Sign up here!

Direct Drive Continues! Our Direct Drive is under way with the goal of raising $75K towards our total annual goal of $245k. Please join your Kennedy Community in contributing to raising crucial funds for our students. We ask each family to contribute $500 or an amount comfortable for them. Our community goal is 100%

participation. More details here at https://kennedycougarspto.org/direct-drive!

The PTO is looking for a parent to help as co-communications chair. This person would help create fliers for events and school activities and help post events on our social media accounts. The PTO is also looking for a Parent Liaison for both the Music and Art programs. The Program Liaisons support Kennedy’s electives by working with the elective teacher and representing the programs needs within the PTO.

Volunteers Needed!

All Kennedy event volunteer opportunities here

Here is a list of our PTO Leadership Opportunities

Or complete this Kennedy parent volunteer form to let us know how you can help!

PTO Monthly Meeting

Our next PTO Meeting is Tuesday, October 28 from 7-8:30p in the Kennedy room 101. Please join us in person! If not possible, then our Zoom Meeting Link is: https://zoom.us/j/94614875671

Meeting ID: 946 1487 5671

Have an idea or a question? Email info@kennedycougarsPTO.org

Don’t forget to check out our website: https://kennedycougarspto.org/

Thank you for attending the October Principal's Coffee. Here are the slides that were shared at the meeting.

Here is the agenda and minutes from our October 1 School Site Council Meeting:

Agenda, October 1 School Site Council

Minutes, October 1 School Site Council

Next week's Cougar Connect will include our newly improved Parent Involvement Policy. The Parent Compact will also be included.

We are continuing to partner with Marine Science Institute (MSI) for the 2025-26 school year. Our 6th grade students will learn about the Bay Area's watershed through canoe field trips and creek studies. This week, Maestra Adriana's sixth and seventh period science classes will go on the canoe field trip on Wednesday, October 8. Field trip permission slip forms must be turned in by Tuesday in order for students to attend.

Dear 7th Grade Families,
We’re excited about this year's Grand Canyon field trip! If your student is interested in joining, please remember that we are still accepting interest applications until September 26. This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to explore and learn outside the classroom.

If you have any questions or need assistance with the application, feel free to reach out!

Grand Canyon Application 2026

🏀Redwood City PRCS Basketball Registration August 1-October 30🏀

🍂OCTOBER: Identity, Courage & Belonging

Know Your Story, Honor All Stories

• Indigenous Peoples’ Day ~ No School Oct. 13 All Day
• ELAC Meeting Oct. 15 Room 101 6:00-7:00 p.m.

• Food Distribution Day for Families Oct. 16 Blacktop 2:30-4:00 p.m.
• 6th-8th Grade Fall Dance Oct. 17 Gym 6:00-8:00 p.m.
• 8th Grade Yosemite Trip Oct. 19-24 Yosemite National Park
• PLCs-District Wide-Minimum Day Oct. 22 8:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
• Picture Day Make-up Oct. 28 Gym 8:30 a.m.-3:15 p.m.
• PTO Meeting Oct. 28 Room 101/Zoom 7:00-8:30 p.m.
• School Site Council Oct. 29 Virtual 5:00-6:00 p.m.

All events are subject to change. Please read the weekly newsletter for updates. Click here to view the Calendar of Events.

Our Kennedy PTO has added our Calendar of Events to their website. You can click the link on the calendar to add all Kennedy events to your own Google Calendar. Click here to view and add these events to your calendar.

Volleyball Games

6th Grade

• Monday, October 6: Kennedy Green vs. Roy Cloud @ Kennedy 4:45 p.m.
• Monday, October 6: Kennedy White vs. Redeemer @ MIT 6:15 p.m.
• Thursday, October 9: Kennedy White vs. North Star @ Kennedy 6:15 p.m.

7th Grade

• Monday, October 6: Kennedy Green vs. North Star @ MIT 4:45 p.m.
• Monday, October 6: Kennedy White vs. Roy Cloud @ Kennedy 6:15 p.m.

8th Grade

• Monday, October 6: Kennedy White vs. Redeemer @ Kennedy 5:30 p.m.
• Thursday, October 9: Kennedy White vs. Connect @ Kennedy 4:45 p.m.
• Thursday, October 9: Kennedy Green vs. Roy Cloud @ Kennedy 5:30 p.m.

Flag Football Games

• Wednesday, October 8: Kennedy vs. Clifford @ Hawes Field 4:00 p.m.

• Please click this link to view information about high school shadowing and other details from Sequoia Union High School District and local charter high schools.
• Please click here to view the information presented to families on Thursday, September 11 at Back to School Night.

Design Tech High School Open House Info RSVP link: click here.

Please join us for the Meet the Principal Feeder Event hosted at a private home in our community. This is a great opportunity for parents of current 7th and 8th grade students to hear directly from our wonderful principal, Karen van Putten, staff, and current students, while learning more about what makes Woodside High School special. This important gathering gives parents the chance to hear stories, ask questions, and gain valuable insight into WHS. Event details are as follows:

Kennedy Middle School Feeder Event

Date: Monday, November 3rd, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm

Location: 343 West Oakwood Blvd in Redwood City

Sign Up Link: click here

Stay up to date on all things Wildcats - check out the FUTURE FAMILIES PAGE and the WOODSIDE HIGH SCHOOL - SHADOW PROGRAM

Please join us for TIDE Academy's 8th Grade Information Night on Thursday October 23rd at 6 PM and hear from our academic departments, students, administrators, parents, counselors and our partner Foothill College about our dual enrollment program. Click here to RSVP.

Kennedy students will have nightly math and reading homework. If your student says they do not have homework or they finished their homework, please ask them to show you what they completed or worked on during the day.

All 6th grade students will have planners, and they will write in their planners. Students will also have homework folders with sections for assignments to complete and assignments to turn in.

Your student should have at least one reading book at their reading level that they enjoy reading. They will also have texts to read in their English language arts, ELD, and/or Expository Reading & Writing classes.

Attendance is important at Kennedy. We continue to improve our attendance rates, and our goal this year is to improve our attendance by 5%. Students need to be at school on time every day. Please schedule doctor's appointments after school and schedule vacations and trips during RCSD's scheduled breaks.

If your student must be absent, caregivers are expected to notify our office staff by calling our attendance line and leaving a message. You may also email the details of your student's absence to Ms. Perez: jpperez@rcsdk8.net.

Click here to read Kennedy's attendance policy and guidelines.

Remember

• Calling in an absence does not mean the absence is excused. An absence is excused if a student is ill, has a medical need, must attend a funeral of an immediate family member, or for religious reasons. You may view the California Ed Code policy on excused absences here. If a student's absences do not meet these guidelines, the absence is unexcused.

• Absences must be called in during the week the absence occurs. We are unable to change or update absences after the school week ends.

• A doctor's note is required after two days of illness.

• Truancy letters are generated by our district and are sent to families.

• Caregivers should check PowerSchool weekly to ensure attendance is accurate.

In order to make our handbook for students and families more accessible, we have digitized it. Please know that the information in the handbook will be continually updated to ensure families are informed.

Click to view and save the Kennedy Student & Family Handbook.

With a commitment to excellence, Kennedy Middle School engages, encourages, and empowers students in challenging and creative learning opportunities while preparing them for their futures in high school and beyond.

Website: https://www.rcsdk8.net/kennedy
Location: 2521 Goodwin Avenue, Redwood City, CA, USA
Phone: 650.482.2409
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kennedymiddleschool