Kenwood Communicator

Welcome to February! Kenny the Bulldog's special friend, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow on Groundhog Day yesterday. If Phil's shadow-sighting keeps with tradition, we will have six more weeks of...unpredictable Northwest Florida weather! Remember to check the daily forecast and outfit your student with layers to stay warm in the morning and cool in the afternoon.

This week we celebrated Ms. Tracy McDonough as Kenwood's 2024 Teacher of the Year at the annual Okaloosa County School District Teacher of the Year banquet. Each school's teacher was highlighted including our own Ms. McDonough. She is a longtime Kenwood Bulldog, a highly talented dancer and instructor, and a fantastic role model for students and staff. It takes a special kind of person to help grow kindergarteners, and Ms. McDonough is that person. Many of you have reached out to share your love already on Facebook, but don't hesitate to share send more her way. She is so deserving!

This month, we look forward to our Valentine's Day Family Fun Run. Parents are invited to run a mile with their students during PE. We hope to see you on the track!

For all the Kenwood Bulldog info, check us out on Facebook, the web, and Class Dojo. As always, have a great weekend, Bulldogs!

Peggy Land Nehring, Principal

If you haven't already completed the survey below, you still can through next week.

For those of you who participated in our Literacy Parade, please take a moment to complete the survey below. It is a quick and easy five questions that will help us plan future events.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HQPZ6HM

Thank you for taking the time to complete the survey!

We understand that at times, students need to be checked out for various reasons. When checking out a student, please bring a valid photo ID. A driver’s license is the ideal form of identification. Our front office staff will run your license through Raptor in order to check out your student.

If you send someone to check out your student, please make sure that the person is someone that you listed as an authorized person to pick up your child. Our staff will not release students to people who are not listed as authorized people on your child’s demographics on Focus/Raptor. If you want to add people to the authorized list, please write us a note or email stating your child’s name, the name of the person you are authorizing with that person’s date of birth and phone number.

Please remember that checking out students ends promptly at 2:40 P.M. We do this for various safety reasons. Please make appropriate arrangements to check out your child before 2:40 P.M. to ensure that we are able to get your child to the office before dismissal.

Let’s work together to ensure the safety of all of our students. You can reach us at 850-833-3570. Our staff speaks Spanish if you need assistance in Spanish.

As always, we are here to help you!

-Chel Martinez, Administrative Support

PACK, our parent-run volunteer group who makes magic happen here at Kenwood continues to stay busy. Check out what's going on below.

Candy Cane Lane was a huge success with a profit of $3000. December was definitely a season of giving on the part of our students. Thank you, parents, for supporting this event that helps students find a special treat for a special someone and learn how good it feels to give than to receive.

Get ready for FundRays coupon book sales. Sales begin next Friday, February 10th and run through February 24th. The top three sellers earn the opportunity to participate in a money jump while all students who sell at least five books earn a donut party!

It's time to start getting excited about Kenwood's Spring Carnival. Do you have time to be a volunteer? Sign up online at okaloosaschools.com now. It takes one to two weeks to process volunteer requests. Do it today!

PACK is also seeking donations for this event from candy to small toy prizes, to 2-liter sodas to cakes for the Cake Walk. Start collecting items now!

Parents, please be reminded that students absolutely may not bring the following to school: any type of toy, game, card, or collectors' cards. This includes, but is not limited to Pokemon cards. IF a student is found in possession of any of these items, parents will be notified and the items will remain in the front office for parent pick-up.

Beginning next week and the first week of March, your child will participate in the Child Safety Matters Program here at school. A representative of the program will present a 45-30 minute lesson to each homeroom, once in February and once in March. The two lessons cover material to help keep children safe. Please feel free to view information regarding the program in the link below.

“MBF Child Safety Matters® is a comprehensive, evidence-based curriculum for elementary school students in grades K-5. The program educates and empowers children and all relevant adults with information and strategies to prevent, recognize, and respond appropriately to bullying, cyberbullying, all types of abuse, and digital abuse dangers.”

https://www.mbfpreventioneducation.org/why-use-our-programs/mbf-child-safety-matters/

An informational letter will be sent home the week of January 16th. Please sign and return the letter only if you DO NOT want your child to participate. Students who are not participating in the program will be visit another classroom, or the library, and read quietly or complete work until time to return to the classroom.

-Linda Holland, School Counselor

We are now selling spaces for 5th grade yearbook ads. Order information has been given to all 5th grade students and that information is below.

Personal Ads: Parents and guardians are given the opportunity to publish a personal ad for their 5th grade student showcasing their life, achievements, and memories. The ads can include a current picture, pictures of your student throughout their life, baby pictures, and a personal message for your student.

Attached is the Yearbook Ad Form containing the pricing and other needed information. Please submit the Yearbook Ad Form and payment in one envelope. All photos are to be submitted via email to alecia.esarey@okaloosaschools.com. Please put your student’s first and last name in the subject line of the email and attach the ad photos. You can also type your message in the body of the email.

All photos, ad forms, and payments must be turned in by Friday, February 17th. Checks should be made out to Kenwood Elementary. On the memo line write “Yearbook Personal Ad.” Your check should have your name, address and phone number.

The yearbook staff will do everything possible to make sure your ad is exactly the way you want it. Space is limited, so make sure you get yours in early! When all the spaces/pages are sold no more can be added. To secure your spot all items are needed: payment, photos, and message.

-Alecia Esarey, Art/Yearbook

This form must be completed with payment and ad pictures emailed NO LATER THAN Friday, February 17th. Make payments payable to Kenwood Elementary. Email photos to:

alecia.esarey@okaloosaschools.com include student first and last name in the subject line.

Please print clearly.

Student Name: ______________________________________________________

Parent Name: _______________________________________________________

Email address:_______________________________________________________

Phone number:______________________________________________________

Ad Space – check one Price Suggested Number of Pictures

__________ ¼ page $15 No more than 2

__________ ½ page $30 No more than 5

Payment Type – check one and then fill in the amount

Cash: __________ Check: __________

Amount: ________________

Message to Include on Ad Page: (Please print legibly. Can be emailed.) ________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

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