Dear Kennedy Families,
I have several celebrations and updates to share this week. Our STEM teacher, Jill Jensen, has been doing outstanding work, collaborating closely with the other elementary STEM teachers across the district to write a grant that will expand robotics opportunities for our students. We are thrilled to share that the grant was funded, allowing us to enrich STEM learning in meaningful and engaging ways. She also took the initiative to write an additional grant focused on transforming part of our campus into a native prairie learning space, creating an outdoor environment where students can explore science, ecology, and environmental responsibility firsthand. This grant was funded as well, and we are excited about the long-term learning experiences this space will provide for Kennedy students.
We were also honored to welcome Superintendent Wehrkamp Herman this week as she hosted a 4th grade student focus group. Our students shared openly about what they enjoy most at school. They also offered thoughtful suggestions about what could make their experience even better. It was fun to hear their perspectives and see how seriously they take their role in helping shape our school community.
Thank you for everyone’s generosity as we collected donations these past “10 days”. The 10 Days of Giving for Hastings Family Service were a huge success with Kennedy collecting 460 lbs of food + $379 = 839 total.
Lastly, the fresh snowfall brought so much joy to students this week. It has been wonderful to watch them playing together, building, exploring, and fully embracing the magic that comes with the first real snow of the season. Their excitement and creativity outside have been a bright spot during these colder days.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Stay warm and have a restful weekend!
Mr. Latch
