The Thomas J. Kenny Elementary School is committed to providing each child with rigorous academic instruction and meaningful enrichment opportunities in a safe and supportive environment. Alongside students, families, and community partners, Kenny teachers develop students’ unique talents and provide them with the knowledge and skills to critically and creatively participate as leaders in their school, community, and the world.  With an emphasis on responsibility, integrity, and effort, Kenny students are prepared to succeed as leaders in high school, college and beyond.

Special Features

• Rated Level #1 Boston Public School based on students' academic achievement, annual growth, & school climate data.
• Recipient of $10,000 as a finalist for the 2019 School on the Move Prize
• Focus on the whole child, with all students receiving reading, art, physical education, music, science and mathematics instruction beginning in K1. Beginning in K2 students also receive social studies, writing & technology.
• Exemplary-rated after-school program offering arts, sports (basketball, volleyball, soccer, Tae Kwon do, ballet), community activism, empowerment, science & the environment, instrumental music (band & drumline), cooking, video news, academic tutoring & more.
• Classroom laptop carts to provide innovative learning software & technology instruction beginning in K2.
• Upper elementary students receive 1-1 laptops and STEM instruction that includes: google apps, digital music production, coding, graphic arts and more.
• My Way Cafe' with fresh buffet meals prepared daily & farm-to-school snacks.
• Full-time nurse, school-based counseling, social-emotional support team & over 20 school-based partners to address students' academic, physical, and social-emotional development.
• ISEE (exam school) tutoring & test prep beginning in grade 5.

Special Programs

• Specialized instruction for English Language Learners and students with disabilities, including small group (12 students/class) special education, full inclusion (20 students/class), resource room, and small group push-in and pull-out models. 
• 1-1 and small group academic tutoring offered by high-quality mentors.
• Center-based K0 & K1 preschool for students with individualized education plans (IEPs).

Exposure to opportunities that connect to students' interests & ignite their passions:

• Field trips to high schools, colleges, museums, local farms, businesses, theater performances, libraries, & hands-on learning experiences.
• Anti-bias, open-source social studies curriculum that affirms diverse identities, experiences and viewpoints.
• Science labs with live plants & animals, and hands-on engineering projects.
• High-quality art & music offerings including Chorus, visual arts, instrumental music, and digital art & music production. marching band performances and art showcases throughout the city of Boston beginning in grade 3.
• Cooking, nutrition, & gardening classes; on-site fruit & vegetable garden.
• "They Made It So Can I" motivational speaker series (grades 5 & 6).
• Playworks Recess Support, Junior Coaches program & Upper Elementary Student Leadership Council.
• Social-Emotional learning curriculum and practices, with a focus on providing lessons that incorporate students' interests, cultures & identities.
• Restorative disciplinary policies grounded in re-engaging and supporting students in partnership with families.
• Over 20 community-based partnerships focused on building both academic and social-emotional skills.

 Extended learning opportunities through before and after school programs in our building*

All Kenny students have the opportunity to join our before school (7:30-9:30 am) & after school (4:10-6:00 pm) programs which include:

• Slam poetry (multi-school league)
• One Bead ($1000 funded student-led
• community service project)
• Boston Ballet
• Tae Kwon Do
• Playworks Volleyball & Basketball
• Playworks Student Leadership
• Council
• science & the environment
• Drumline, band & marching band
• Girls Empowerment
• Creative Arts
• Exam School (ISEE) Tutoring
• top-chef cooking competition
• Center-based Learning & Play (K0- 1)

*New clubs are added each term

*financial assistance available

Invested in partnerships with families:

We believe that parents and guardians are a child’s first teachers and that families play a critical role in each student's success. We work alongside families and community partners to develop strong, healthy, well-educated young people that will make positive contributions to their communities and the world.

• School-based coffee hours for parents to meet other families, ask questions, and share feedback.
• Parent University sessions held throughout the school year.
• Parent council hosted meet-ups for students & families. 
• Active parent council & school site council, with parents involved in the decision-making process regarding school-based rules, whole-school policies, the annual budget, hiring of staff and more.
• Translated newsletters and individualized progress reports shared with parents & guardians.
• Parent/teacher conferences, open houses, performance nights, fundraisers and community-based events.
• Beginning in fall 2020, Google Classroom accounts for all students with parent/guardian access (K2-6).