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 4,780 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:

The gentle autumn weather and the northern lights over the past 3 nights have made this week feel magical! I hope that you have lovely plans for the weekend.

An update on school safety: to align with best practices related to safety and security, we're no longer able to allow caregivers to walk their children to classrooms or to deliver snacks, lunches, water bottles, backpacks, etc. during the school day or before/after school. Please say goodbyes at the main door, or, if running late, come to the main office to sign in your child or drop off the forgotten item. We'll make sure everyone and everything makes it to the right location! We appreciate your cooperation and understanding.

Give to the Max: Please consider giving to the Kenwood PTA on Thursday, Nov. 20. Your contributions help us provide so many of the lovely arts and community-building opportunities that help Kenwood kids thrive and shine!

Please Scroll! There's so much important information below. We hope you'll discover new and useful resources, the Family-School Compact, information about ALC, Yearbook pre-orders, opportunities to gather at local businesses in support of Kenwood, and an invitation to join us for the first Kenwood Conversation related to raising healthy children in a world filled with technology and social media. Childcare provided!

Thank you for working in partnership with us!

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

As a school community, we make promises to each other about how we'll show up as our best selves in support of ALL students' growth and achievement. Please take a look our Family-School Compact with your children and discuss our promises and commitments. We're grateful to be partnering with you to make our school an excellent place to learn and grow. Please reach out to Principal Johnson with any questions you may have.

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).

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

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.

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)

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)

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

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.

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