90% of the brain develops before age 5.
Free bilingual 8 week reading program for families with children 0-5 years old at John F. Kennedy Family Center. Thursday's from 8:30-9:30am February 19th for 7 weeks. You will have a specialized teacher that will provide 12 books, make and take crafts, music and movement and healthy snacks.
Decades of research show that children learn best when their families are active partners. Reading routines strengthen parent–child bonds, build language, and support emotional well-being.
The brain is most flexible and adaptable to learning during the earliest years.
#RaisingAReader #Elementary #EarlyLiteracy #JfkAcademy
Family Education and Engagement Coordinator
Join us for our free mobile food distribution, in collaboration with St. Mary's Food Bank, on Friday, Feb. 27 at 8 a.m. Food items will be distributed in the parking lot of Bernard Black Entrepreneurial Academy.
🚗 For everyone’s safety, please enter the distribution site via Southern and 27th Ave.
✉️ Bring your ID and a piece of mail to confirm your address.
Dear parent,
The district is seeking parent feedback on special education. We are seeking your input regarding the special education services your child receives. Below is a link to a six-question survey that should take just a few minutes to complete. If you have more than one child in special education, you will be able to submit multiple survey responses (one for each student with an IEP). We look forward to hearing from you. Copy and paste link into your browser.
https://bit.ly/4qKVqoT
John F. Kennedy Academy of Inquiry
Heritage Stories
Telling stories that matter:
in honor of Black History Month.
Please join us in creating an at home visual storytelling project celebrating important black leaders, artists, athletes, or your own family in our south phoenix community.
Projects will be presented on Friday, February 27th, during the student of the month assembly.
Please come in at 8-8:20am to have coffee with our principal, Ms. Hart and your Family Coordinator-Melissa Downs. We would like to celebrate progress and discuss any areas of concern.
Buffalo Soldiers will also be here at 9am for 10 minutes to present.
Melissa.downs@rsd.k12.az.us
Family Education and Engagement Coordinator
Hosted at Bernard Black
OPEN to ALL RSD School Students
ENROLLMENT IS OPEN!
GRAB YOUR SPOT BEFORE WE FILL UP!
Champions Champ Camp is where your child will discover, create, and play over SPRING break.
MARCH 9TH- MARCH 13TH 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
CHAMP CAMP MAKES SPRING BREAK SPECIAL
Safe, supervised fun so you can truly relax.
STEM challenges for a full season blast off.
Movement, laughter, and brain growth galore
New buddies and favorite friends who cheer them on
3-5 DAYS: $160.00 NOW $40
6550 S 27th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85041
CH003293@Discoverchampions.com
480-904-5460
Our Loving Library Reading Ambassadors will be here this Friday, February 20th from 3-4pm!
Please let me know if your child will be attending.
Loving Library would like to be prepared with the right amount of supplies and snacks.
Melissa.downs@rsd.k12.az.us
On January 30th- Kennedy Colts were honored to have Donna Washington, author and storyteller visit our 2nd and 3rd graders. Our students were laughing with her engaging stories!
Please follow and like us on:
Facebook JohnFKennedyElementary
Instagram Jfkacademycolts
Melissa.downs@rsd.k12.az.us
Family Education and Engagement Coordinator
Hello Kennedy Families,
Click the link below to view our February Family Newsletter, which includes important dates, upcoming events, and school information.
Family Newsletter Link
Join us tonight from 5:00–6:30 PM for our Journey Through Kennedy!
🎀 Playground Ribbon Cutting at 5:30 PM
🍕 Food
🎶 Music
📚 Student work from every grade level
🎁 Raffles & prizes
📌 Re-enroll today to secure your child’s seat for the 2026–2027 school year.
We hope to see you tonight at 5:00 PM! 💙🐎
In honor of Black History Month, we are hosting a district-wide STEM event celebrating Black inventors.
📅 Wednesday, February 11
🕓 4:00–6:00 PM
📍 Bernard Black School
6550 S. 27th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85041
ASU National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), South Mountain High School, South Mountain/ Phoenix Community College, and others will lead fun, hands-on STEM activities for families. Community partners will also be on-site to share resources, and food will be available for purchase.
We invite all Roosevelt families to join us for an evening of learning and celebration—and encourage you to bring your friends and neighbors!
There are no available spots left.
The schedule is 3-4pm
February 9 +23
March 16+ 23
April 6 +20
#HandsOnLearning #SpacesOfOpportunity #jfkacademycolts #gardening
Your Voice Matters in Curriculum Adoption
We believe that strong curriculum is built with community input. As part of our curriculum adoption process, instructional materials are now open for 60 days of public review and comment. Parents, guardians, educators, and community members are invited to explore the materials and share feedback.
🗓 Review period: Jan. 30 – March 30, 2026
Social Studies
username: azreview2026
password: password1
Science
No login required
🔗 Learn more & submit comments
Thank you for partnering with us to support student learning.
3rd grade Kennedy families, this week we begin the Arizona English Language Learner Assessment (AZELLA). This assessment is very important, and daily attendance truly matters so students can complete testing successfully.
✨ Special incentives for our students testing this week:
👕 3rd grade students taking the AZELLA may wear Free Dress to school
🍿 Students who are present for all 5 consecutive days of testing will earn a Popcorn Party
Thank you for helping your child arrive at school on time and every day during testing week. Your partnership helps our scholars show what they know and succeed! 💙📚
This is a friendly reminder for students in Mr. Yirnechies’ Music Club class who will be performing tomorrow at the Wellness Center 🎶
Please be sure your child brings their signed field trip permission slip to school tomorrow. We don’t want any student to miss the opportunity to participate in this special performance.
Thank you for your continued support—we’re looking forward to a great event!
Warm regards,
Kennedy Team
Families may re-enroll online or stop by the front office to secure your child’s spot for next school year.
✨ We also offer half-day and full-day Pre-K options for our youngest learners!
Enroll Today!!!
#Community #SouthMountain #schools #donation
#HandsOnLearning #Academy #Gardening #SpacesOfOpportunity #Community #FamilyEducationAndCommunityEngagement
melissa.downs@rsd.k12.az.us
Buffalo Soldiers of America 's Phoenix Chapter donated 43 gifts. We are very Thankful to them for bringing smiles to our students! A special thanks to Chaz Jackson for always thinking of us and to Gigi for always helping!
#BuffaloSoldiers #KennedyColts #SouthMountain #elementary
Melissa.downs@rsd.k12.az.us
Good Evening Kennedy Families,
As a friendly reminder, school will resume for students on Tuesday, January 6,2026.
🕢 Breakfast: 7:30–8:00 AM
🕗 School Begins: 8:00 AM
Please remember to have your ID visible during arrival to help keep our campus safe.
We look forward to welcoming our students back and starting the new year strong. Happy New Year! 🎉
