The Kenwood Courier

We celebrated "Poem in your Pocket Day" today! Each student and adult has a tiny treasure to share with you.

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.
  

5th grade reading buddies time

We love seeing 5th graders step up as leaders and friends through the magic of reading.

• April: Volunteer Appreciation Month

• April 22: Administrative Professionals Day

• April 23: Grades 2-3 Music Concert 3:00 and 6:30

• April 30: Kindergarten Registration 8:00-9:15

• April 30: Hispanic Family Involvement Day

• May 1: Coffee with the Principal

• May 1-3: Plant Sale

• May 1: Principal Appreciation Day

• May 4-8: Teacher Appreciation Week

• May 6: Walk, Bike & Roll to School Day and Let’s Roll MPS

• May 6: School Nurse Day

• May 14: Spring Picnic

• May 21: Music and Band Concert

• May 25: Memorial Day - No School

• May 26: Teacher PD Day/No School for Students

• May 27: Eid al-Adha/No School for Students

Dear Kenwood Families,

I’m writing to express our heartfelt gratitude for all the ways you’ve helped Kenwood students, families, and staff learn and grow, experience joy, and find refuge and safety this academic year. Robin Wall Kimmerer explains that “[t]he trees act not as individuals, but somehow as a collective. Exactly how they do this, we don’t yet know. But what we see is the power of unity. What happens to one happens to us all. We can starve together or feast together.” (Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants.) You’ve demonstrated in countless ways that you believe in and are nurtured by our unity. Whether you’ve volunteered once or you volunteer nearly every day, we see you, we thank you, and we want to affirm that your gift and you matter to us. It’s true, you help us shine, but your time, talents and generosity help us feel hopeful and loved. Thank you.

Here’s a partial list of the ways you’ve helped us this year: introduced students to art masterpieces found at MIA; worked on the sound system in the gym; picked up instruments at other MPS sites; baked amazing cookies; washed apples for our snacks; funded, created, and celebrated the outdoor classroom; set up chairs; installed new basketball hoops and sound-proofing in the gym; built the gagaball pit; walked to the school forest; planted bulbs with headlamps on; wiped down tables; served scoops of blueberries; opened milk cartons; shared what you love about Kenwood with prospective families; chaperoned fieldtrips; practiced letter sounds with young readers; played a math game; prepped students for Math Masters; planned and launched the Read-a-Thon; reserved baby goats for the sweetest celebration; provided snacks and meals for staff; brought a staff member flowers; held Door 1 open when Heidi had to speak with a child on the playground; delivered children to and from school; nourished families; provided financial assistance; served on Site Council and/or as an officer on the PTA; brought the office treats; served as a guest reader; led an art project in a classroom; sat with your child during morning meeting; ordered pizzas for the 3rd graders when the lunchroom ran out; helped us lay out the yearbook; supported Every Meal; helped kindergarteners learn how to ride bikes; shared your family’s cultural traditions with the class; shared your love of writing with 4th graders; celebrated our students’ growth with high fives, hugs, and love.

Your acts of kindness teach our children that being a helper makes a huge difference to our community. They will replicate this love and care because they have experienced it first hand.

Thank you.

Please join us for a fun night of music with our 2nd and 3rd graders!

Please note that the 2nd & 3rd Grade music concert is next Thursday, April 23 at 6:30. If your student stays for ALC on this day, you may want to make different transportation arrangements so that your family can attend the concert— especially if your student rides the bus. Please communicate any transportation changes to the office &/or Robyn Eller. There is no supervision for students between the end of ALC at 5:30 and the concert at 6:30.

ALC classes end Thursday, April 30. Thank you for supporting your student in Kenwood’s academic enrichment opportunities this year!

We are organizing a staff-only picnic for our April Staff Appreciation event on Wednesday, April 22nd! We will provide a buffet of sandwiches but need your help with sides, drinks & dessert!

If you're able, please consider signing up to bring a side, sweet treat, or drinks to help round out their lunch and brighten their day. It's a small way we can say thank you for the care, energy, and dedication they bring to our kids and school community every day.

April Teacher/Staff Appreciation Sign Up

Welcome to new and returning Woodchuck families!

Kenwood Kindergarten Registration Day is Thursday, April 22, 2026 from 8:00 -9:15 am in the Multipurpose Room.

• 8:00 a.m. - Refreshments
• 8:15 a.m. - Welcome
• 8:20 a.m. - Incoming students visit Kindergarten classrooms
• 8:20 - 9:00 am - School information and registration confirmation/completion

We hope to see you then if you have an incoming kindergartener!

You are welcome to call the school office at 612-668-2760 if you have any questions about the registration process at Kenwood.

Join us Friday, May 1st – Sunday, May 3rd for a great selection of annuals, perennials, herbs, and veggies!

🤝 Volunteers Needed!
This event is only possible with your help. We need volunteers for setup, sales, and more. Please pick a spot that works for you:

👉 Sign up here: Plant Sale Volunteer Sign Up

Join us after school in the Outdoor Classroom to celebrate the extraordinary way our school community and neighbors came together this winter.

Please save the date for our annual Kenwood Spring Picnic - Thursday, May 14 from 4:15-6 pm on the playground. There will be a FREE dinner for all students, along with their caregivers and siblings under 18, as well as fun activities, performances from students, and much more! We hope to see you there!

Volunteers make our community events possible - please sign up for a shift during the picnic to help make this year's picnic a success! https://signup.com/go/weWcaLs

Kenwood families—thank you so much for signing up this past month! It was our strongest turnout yet, and it was wonderful to see so many new faces in the lunchroom. Your time and support truly make a difference for our school community.

Below is the April schedule—please consider signing up for a shift to help us keep the lunchroom running smoothly and supported by such an amazing group of volunteers!”

April Lunch room Volunteer Sign Up

As we begin planning for next school year, we’re seeking volunteers to support our school community. Whether you have a little time or a lot, there’s a role for you!

Positions Include: Co-Social Media Chair, Green Team Chair, Teacher Appreciation Chairs, Marketing Chair, Co-Spiritwear Chair, Site Council Liaison, and Volunteer Coordinator.

If you’re interested in getting involved in any capacity next year, please contact kenwoodschoolpta@gmail.com. Your involvement makes a meaningful difference in our school community. Thank you for your support!

Minnesota state law requires all incoming kindergarteners to be screened. The program helps find possible health and developmental concerns that may impact a child’s learning.

If you have completed screening either with MPS or another school district, no action is required at this time. If your child has not yet been screened, please make an appointment to complete this process before the start of the school year. For more information or to book an appointment, call 612-668-3715 or visit https://qrco.de/MPS-Screening.

Registration Opened Sunday, Feb. 22 at 5 PM

We’re thrilled to welcome back the Kenwood Musical, returning with even more creativity, excitement, and opportunities for young performers to shine. And that’s not all — we’re expanding our lineup of high‑energy outdoor classes to keep kids exploring, creating, and soaking up the sunshine all summer long.

Registration went live Sunday, Feb. 22 at 5 PM, and spots fill fast!

👉 Parents can sign up here: Kenwood Super Summer

Explore more this summer with innovative, immersive experiences that inspire students to discover new possibilities inside and outside the classroom. This includes programs like…

• Summer Scholars

• Minneapolis Kids

• Super Summer

• Summer long-camps

• Freedom Schools

This summer, Minneapolis Kids Before and After Summer Scholars Care (grades 1-7) will not be offered. Our Summer Scholars program will run from June 29 to July 23 this summer, which is slightly shorter than previous years. We understand this may impact summer care for students, and we apologize for the inconvenience. These changes allow us to continue to offer quality programming while addressing budget challenges. Learn more about MPS Summer Programming!

The Yearbook ALC has been busy this winter creative directing a really special Kenwood Yearbook. And to finish off their process, they concepted, art directed and filmed this video to promote the yearbook. Please order a yearbook for your Woodchuck here!

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!

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.

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

During Spring Break families can get FREE state park pass at the library. If you are not traveling over break, this can be a great way to have an adventure close to home.

Just like you check out a book at the public library, you can also check out a state park. With a library card, you can get a free day pass for admittance to any state park. The pass is good for 7 days.

Here is the website.

https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/minnesota-state-parks-library-program.html

You can get a library card and your pass at most public libraries. Here are a few in the area.

Brookdale

Brooklyn Park

East Lake

Franklin

Hosmer

North Regional

Webber Park

Here is a list of state park you can visit: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/list_alpha.html

The Department of Human Rights recently created a landing page that details what is (and is not)

covered under the Minnesota Human Rights Act, when it comes to discrimination against

immigrants. State law clearly prohibits discrimination based on national origin, race, color, and

religion in the areas of employment, housing, public accommodations, public services, education,

credit, and business. While the Minnesota Human Rights Act does not explicitly prohibit

discrimination based on “immigration status” or “citizenship status,” discrimination that targets people

because they were born outside of the United States, speak a different language, appear to be

immigrants, or are perceived as undocumented may be covered under the Minnesota Human

Rights Act’s national-origin and race protections. Anyone who believes they may have been

discriminated against should contact us by completing this online form. Learn more on our

webpage here: Discrimination Related to Immigration Status.

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.

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
• Kenwood Staff Directory