
Kennedy Family Update
March 17, 2023
Health & Fitness Day
Our annual Health & Fitness Day is April 14th! We are always looking for new ideas if you/someone you know works in health, fitness or wellness related field and would like more information about volunteering please email catherinelashombe@walthampublicschools.org .
Course Selection for Grade 8 Students (almost 9th graders!)
This week, grade 8 students learned how to choose electives for high school next year. Ms. McCrary created a website full of resources to assist students and families.
This page has resources for 8th graders on course recommendations and selections.
It includes:
1. Slide show on how to see recommendations and make selections (English, Spanish)
2. Full Program of Study (including Spanish, Portuguese & Haitian-Creole)
3. List of Freshman Electives
4. How parents/families can see recommendations in Aspen (English & Spanish)
Ms. Sullivan will also be reaching out through email with even more information!
Curriculum News
Mathematics
SBIRT for grade 6
Dear Parent or Guardian:
As part of the routine screenings required by the state, schools are required to screen students for substance use in middle and high school. This is an effort to help prevent students from starting to use substances, or intervene with early use.
In light of the pandemic, SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment) will be offered differently this year. Rather than in-person meetings, students will be asked to answer a paper questionnaire. The questionnaire will contain a few health screening questions about alcohol, other drugs, nicotine and tobacco use. In order to maintain confidentiality, the student’s LASID ID number will be used on the form, rather than names. Questionnaires will be reviewed by nurses and or school counselors and then shredded. Anything that is answered will be kept as confidential as possible. One reason this information would not be kept confidential is if an answer indicates that there is an immediate risk to the student’s safety or the safety of someone else. If indicated, a school counselor or nurse would work with your student to make a plan for support and or referral if needed. Students will have the option of answering all, some, or none of the questions.
As with any school screening, you have the right to opt your child out of this screening. Please contact Cindi Detzer or Margaret Richardson at 781-314-5564 or email: cynthiadetzer@walthampublicschools.org if you wish to exclude your child from this screening. Additionally, screening is voluntary and students may choose not to answer any or all of the screening questions. Screenings will be conducted in March.
One way to prevent youth substance use is to talk with your child about your family’s values and expectations regarding substance use. Research shows that parents’ influence is the #1 reason young people decide not to drink alcohol. Together, schools and parents CAN make a difference for the youth in Waltham. More information on SBIRT may be found at: http://www.masbirt.org/about-masbirt
Sincerely,
Patricia McCaffrey Cindi Detzer & Margaret Richardson Kevin Gildea
Director of Health Services School Nurses, Kennedy Middle Principal, Kennedy Middle
Kennedy Middle School
Is your student going to be absent or tardy?
Please call 781-314-5670 before 7:30 AM. After 7:30 AM, please call the main office line at 781-314-5560.
Contains homework tracker, upcoming assignments, and important dates
Website: https://www.walthampublicschools.org/o/jfk
Location: 655 Lexington Street, Waltham, MA, USA
Phone: 781-314-5560