Principal's Message

 

Text Box: by Mrs. Annabel Ancheta                    Her 6th grade Language Arts teacher had always told Diana she had a special gift, she had a flair for writing.  Diana Angel was only 11 years old and was already using vocabulary and idioms that suggested she was a very perceptive young student.  Ironically, she did not seem to recognize or to even have taken advantage of her brilliant ability to express herself in writing.  Therefore, Mrs. Ancheta began to encourage Diana to pursue writing as a leisure pursuit or even to consider it as a career choice.                  A year later, Kenwood K-8 Center, as did all Florida schools, received an invitation for students to participate in an essay/art competition sponsored by The Herald.  The theme was Hispanic Heritage and the students were to choose a Hispanic person whom they felt had influenced their community in a positive way.  As soon as Mrs. Ancheta read this e-mail, she immediately thought of her former student, Diana.  She knew Diana would be perfect for this competition and that it would be an excellent opportunity for her to excel and realize what a true talent she possessed.  Diana graciously accepted the challenge and Mrs. Ancheta agreed to assist with finding the subject on which to focus her essay. Within one week, this student-teacher team decided to interview one of Mrs. Ancheta’s in-laws, Evelio Ancheta, as the focus of the essay.  They thought he would be perfect for it since he was Hispanic, a political prisoner, and a published writer as well.  With only three days short of the entry deadline, Diana had her interview questions answered and a picture of her subject in hand. It took her less than one hour to produce an essay that would earn her 3rd place in the state. Finally, one month later, during morning announcements, there she was.  Diana, along with 2 of Mr. Lacayo’s distinguished students, was being proudly introduced by Mrs. Almeida-Perez and two representatives from The Herald for her achievement in this statewide contest.  Diana Angel received third place, “Honorable Mention”, for her beautifully written essay, and was awarded a $250 US Treasury Savings Bond.   Hopefully, the biggest reward for this accomplishment was the motivation and self-appreciation Diana needed to finally recognize her special gift.

A Girl With a Special GiftText Box: Dear Parents and Guardians,   As I write this, we are down to the last few days of school before our holiday break is upon us. This is a wonderful time of year, as it is a time of reflection and a great time to spend with our family and friends.   I would like to extend appreciation to all of our faculty, staff, parents, and students for making the first half of this school year a successful one. 2008 is upon us, and it is sure to be filled with ups, downs, predictable routines, and exciting surprises. I look forward to seeing all of the members of the Kenwood family after the holiday break.   On behalf of the entire Kenwood K-8 Center staff, I wish everyone a Happy Holiday and a prosperous New Year!                                                                            Sincerely,     Mrs. Moraima Almeida-Perez

5th Grade DARE Graduation

12/19

Kindergarten Holiday Show

12/20

Kindergarten Holiday Celebration

12/20

Winter Break

12/24-

1/4

NJHS Meeting

1/9

Mid-Term Exams

1/10-1/14

PTSA Meeting

1/15

Teacher Planning Day

1/18

Dr. Martin Luther

King, Jr. Holiday

1/21