Kennedy Middle School Update

• APRIL 3RD - End of 3rd Quarter

• APRIL 5TH - KMS All School Dance

• APRIL 9TH - Germantown Sings @ GHS Field House

• APRIL 19TH - No School for Students (Professional Development)

8th Grade Promotion 2024 - SAVE THE DATE

DATE: Thursday, June 6th, 2024

TIME: 6 PM

LOCATION: GHS Fieldhouse

Please note: 8th graders will not be required to report to school on the half day (6/7/24)

Watch your email, the monthly KMS newsletter, and the KMS website for more information on the evening's event.

We look forward to celebrating your 8th Graders!

Our newest edition to the maintenance department at KMS. Welcome Ken!

8th Grade Promotion 2024 - SAVE THE DATE

DATE: Thursday, June 6th, 2024

TIME: 6 PM

LOCATION: GHS Fieldhouse

Please note: 8th graders will not be required to report to school on the half day (6/7/24)

Watch your email, the monthly KMS newsletter, and the KMS website for more information on the evening's event.

We look forward to celebrating your 8th Graders!

WHEN: Wed. April 17 at 6:30-7:30pm

WHERE: Kennedy Middle School in the GAC

Mental Health Conversation: A Parents’ Guide to Talking with Teens

With youth mental health issues increasing at an alarming rate over the last 15 years, parents having consistent and open conversations with their teens about mental health has become more important than ever. When do you start these conversations and what do you need to say? On Wednesday, April 17th, Germantown Youth Futures (GYF) will host a Parent Chat featuring Lucas Grancorvitz, Manager for General Psychiatry and Integrated Behavioral Health at Froedtert Hospital. Mr. Grancorvitz will discuss strategies to help parents and caregivers talk to teens about mental health. The parent chat will be held at Kennedy Middle School in the Gold Activity Center (GAC) from 6:30 -7:30 pm. Please see the flyer for more information and to register.

Read here for monthly insight on adolescent brain development. This may include research on brain development, effects on learning and behavior, and tips for things to do at home.

Research has shown that the adolescent mind is complex. Between the ages of 11 and 15, the brain begins to rewire and neural pathways that were strong connections in the past may be destroyed. What does this mean for KMS students? Skills and other prior learning are impacted and the adolescent may have no idea why. If a decision or action does not make sense to you, it may not make sense to your child either.

Things we can do:

• Recognize that brain development continues until mid-20s
• Establish consistency in learning, rules, and expectations
• Provide repetition to strengthen new brain connections and patterns
• Have patience and understanding

Adolescence is an incredible time for growth and learning together!

• Spring Track and Field will be starting early this month starting with a parent/coach/athlete meeting on Thursday, April 4th. See the KMS Athletics link for schedules.
• Key Club Meeting on Tuesday, April 23rd from 2:45 - 3:45 in the GAC
• Join us at Science Club every other Wednesday! At Science club we have fun learning through experiments, challenges, inventions, and current events! We meet in Ms. Schilling's room E-7 from 2:45-3:45pm. If you have any questions please see Ms. Schilling or Ms. Betanzos.
• Mathcounts will meet April 8th and April 22nd from 2:45 - 3:30 in Mrs. Rohde's Room E3.
• AV Club meets Tuesday and Thursdays from 2:45-4pm in room G141

• Responsible care of Chromebooks is an integral part of life at KMS. Please ensure students are plugging their Chromebooks in to charge overnight and bringing them fully charged to school each morning. This will help set everyone up for success each and every day at KMS!
• Having issues with Skyward? Parents and students can now use the email skywardsupport@gsdwi.org for any issues related to Skyward access or login, etc... These emails go straight to our Skyward-knowledgeable staff!

If you can sing, dance, act, do Taekwondo, perform in Poms, perform comedy or magic, or solve a Rubik's cube quickly, anything that is a talent, we want to see it! The KMS talent show will be held on the evening of April 25th!

Please feel free to reach out to Ms. Buettner or Ms. Fichtner if you have any questions. Hope to see you there!

Earth Week 2024 is right around the corner! Come join the GHS event, sponsored by the Environmental Club, to get outdoors for a 5K Run/Walk! The event will take place on Sunday, April 28th, from 10-1 at Datka Stadium (Germantown High School Track). Please see the link for more information, and to sign up!!!

https://www.classmunity.com/germantownwi/view-fundraiser.php?fundraiser_id=2419

Now through April 22nd, Jr. Key Club is collecting NEW or GENTLY USED sport equipment for Cream City Charities.

Cream City Charities mission is to provide sport gear/equipment to underprivileged children and youth groups in the Greater Milwaukee Area and the State of Wisconsin.

Please bring your sport equipment donations to Student Services by April 22nd.

Students who are attending after school sporting events, without a parent, need to report to the designated location immediately after school. Students are encouraged to quietly work on homework or other academic tasks during this time. If students have completed all their school work they are allowed to quietly socialize with their peers. If students do not want to stay after school but would still like to attend the sporting event, they will need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

During the sporting event, students are expected to sit in the student section which is supervised by KMS staff. Students will not be allowed to sit in other areas of the gym unless they are accompanied by an adult. Spectators are not allowed to sit on the players side of the gym. If a student is attending a sporting event with an adult that is not their guardian or parent, that individual is responsible for supervising that student during the event.

Cell Phone Use - We are aware that students will need access to their cell phones during these events for a variety of reasons including but not limited communication with parents when they are to be picked up, change in plans, and or for emergencies. Students' cell phones should be stored in their backpacks, which will be placed next to the bleachers, and if they need to use them they will be allowed to with the supervision of a KMS staff member. Students are allowed to come to the Gold Office throughout the day to contact parents so that plans can be made or clarified. If students are not following cell phone expectations or using their cell phones in inappropriate ways, KMS supervisors do have the right to confiscate the phones and give them to parents when the student is picked up. Students who are not following expectations for after school sporting events will meet with KMS administrators and their participation in future sporting events will be discussed.

Students who receive school-based consequences (such as an in-school suspension) during the day may not be allowed to attend after school events for that day.

Please be kind and efficient while dropping off your child in the morning. There are two locations for drop off in the AM. You can drop off your child in the Main Office loop (south side) or the Student Services loop (west side). Here are a few reminders when dropping off students:

• You may not stop or park in the Main Office loop or Student Services loop between the times of 6:45am - 7:20am and 2:43pm - 3:00pm. If you want to stop or park, please use the south parking lot.
• When dropping off students, please pull all the way through the loop (by the bike rack) before dropping off.
• Remind your child to be ready to exit the car upon drop off so other families are not waiting too long.

As always, be kind and courteous, thank you!

Principal: Jessica Gieryn

Assistant Principal: Brandon Kohl

Website: https://www.gsdwi.org/o/kennedy
Location: N118 W15860 Williams Drive Germantown, Wisconsin 53022
Phone: 262-253-3450
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KennedyGSDWI