Support for families with developmental concerns
The Side By Side Program provides support for families raising children ages birth to 5 years who may be concerned about their child’s development or may have questions about parenting their child. Services include home visits and information about community resources.
How Does the Program Work?
Our Parent Coaches and Specialized Technical Assistance Team (STAT), work alongside families to find ways to support their child’s optimal development in the areas of communication, problem-solving, motor, daily living, behavior and social-emotional skills. Individual visits in the home or other preferred locations are available. Assistance is provided to help with:
Guidance to parents/caregivers on enhancing their child’s development through play and everyday activities.
Strong commitment to addressing the family’s concerns, goals and individual resource needs.
Ongoing developmental and sensory screenings.
Information on community resources and how to access them.
Who is Eligible?
Families of infants, toddlers and preschoolers who have concerns about their child’s development but are not eligible for special needs services provided through AzEIP, Department of Developmental Disabilities or their local school district. Families must reside in the First Things First Phoenix South region. Please contact us for more information about specific ZIP codes served through this program.
Is There a Cost?
The Side By Side Program is provided at no cost to eligible families thanks to a grant funded through First Things First.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SIDE BY SIDE PROGRAM OR TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY, PLEASE CONTACT ANDI SINOHUI AT (602) 633-8454 OR ASINOHUI@SWHD.ORG.
Are you preparing for your first or next school administration interview? Join us for an Aspiring Administrators Interview Skills Clinic on Saturday from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Verna McClain Wellness Center
This interactive clinic is designed to help aspiring leaders confidently communicate their experience, navigate panel and scenario-based interviews, and stand out as strong leadership candidates.
Doors open at 8:30 a.m. for networking and breakfast.
Register Today
Who Should Attend
✓ Aspiring school administrators
✓ Teacher leaders and instructional coaches
✓ Deans, counselors and coordinators
✓ Educators pursuing leadership roles
What You’ll Learn
✓ Preparing for administrator-level interviews
✓ Answering panel and scenario-based questions
✓ Communicating leadership experience with clarity
✓ What hiring panels are really looking for
✓ Practical strategies to interview with
This event is hosted in partnership with the Arizona Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents and the Arizona Alliance of Black School Educators
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
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
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
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! 🎉
Good Morning Kennedy Families! ❄️⏰
This is a friendly reminder that today is an Early Release Day—students will be dismissed at 1:00 PM.
🎄 Winter Break: December 22 – January 5
📚 School resumes: Tuesday, January 6 at 8:00 AM
Wishing you a fun, restful, and safe winter break! 💙
