KAMSC Newsletter

At the Kalamazoo Area Math and Science Center, achieving our Challenge Success goals of fostering student well-being, engagement, and a profound sense of belonging is fundamentally impossible without the active partnership of our families. While our educators cultivate these values within the classroom, we can bolster these values even more when parents and guardians reinforce these habits at home and participate directly in community initiatives like Open Lab, family events, and challenge success awareness campaigns. Ultimately, engaging our families creates an interconnected support system that bridges academic rigor with personal growth, ensuring our students thrive both as scholars and as healthy, well-rounded individuals. Some ways that you can engage right away are:

• Attend College night on Sept 23rd (no matter what grade your child is in)
• Register your child and send emails out for Kilometers for KAMSC, but most importantly come out to Kalamazoo Central on Oct 7 and engage in some outdoor, physical "downtime" and learn about some ways we can support student well being, engagement and belonging.
• Attend the October Parent Org meeting on Oct 21st

Heather Kortlandt

Director, KAMSC

The KAMSC Swag shop is now open. All orders are due (and the store will close) on September 23, 2026

Mrs. Kortlandt plans to attend this event and it would be amazing to have a large KAMSC turn out for it! Try to look for her and perhaps we can all sit together! Let's celebrate Math!

Join us for Kilometers for KAMSC on October 7 at Kalamazoo Central. Participants can walk or run laps while learning practical Challenge Success strategies for building healthy habits and reducing stress. We hope you'll join us for an evening of fitness, fun, and community as we support KAMSC together! The event will kick off with a Cricket Match from 5:00–6:30 p.m. at the Kalamazoo Central High School baseball field. Whether you're an experienced player or simply want to cheer on the participants, everyone is welcome! Those interested in playing should sign up with Mr. Sinclair in advance. The Kilometers for KAMSC Fun Run will begin at 6:00 p.m. on the Kalamazoo Central track and continue until 7:00 p.m. Participants can run or walk at their own pace while enjoying a fun-filled evening featuring games, prizes, and activities.

KAMSC families are warmly invited and encouraged to join us for this exciting community event. We look forward to celebrating health, wellness, and school spirit together!

Funds raised through Fund Hub will support a variety of KAMSC programs and student needs, including our annual student planner project, research and classroom supplies, food for school events, lab aide positions, and other important initiatives.

How to Participate

• Please register your child by clicking on this link.
• Share your student's fundraising page with at least 10 friends or family members via email.
• Donations by check are also welcome. Please make checks payable to KAMSC and bring into the office. Please include the student's name so fundraising totals can be credited. Student fundraisers will be eligible for prizes.

9th grade Honors Biology will attend a field trip to the West Lake Nature Preserve to explore a variety of ecosystems and the flora and fauna characteristics of Southwest Michigan. Each student is assigned a date based on their KAMSC group, either Sept 22 (Angles group), 23 (Rays group), or Sept 24 (Segments group). Please ask your student what group they are in.

Students will need parent transportation to West Lake to arrive between 8-8:15 and KPS will provide busses back to KAMSC for all students. Students will then catch their busses/rides to their partner schools from KAMSC for the afternoon. Please the button below to fill out the transportation form to indicate whether you are able to drop your child off at the West Lake Nature Preserve on the specified day of your child's field trip. If you are unable, you can indicate that your student can ride from KAMSC with a KAMSC employee to the bog. We can accommodate a small number of students.

Please dress appropriately for the weather as students will be outside for the entire time.

• No open-toed shoes or sandals
• Consider bring sunscreen and insect repellent.
• Students should also bring a notebook and writing utensil.

Each year KAMSC hosts university representatives that will come speak with students and parents. We also host a College Information night, which will be September 23 at open lab from 7-8:30 pm.

Every year Ms. Joyce sets up many visits from College reps here at KAMSC. Click the button below to view the schedule so that you can come speak to them.

KAMSC students - Do you have a passion to start your own start up someday? Then, this free event might interest you? On Tuesday, September 22nd five Michigan startups will copete live for $250,000 in prize funding and to advance to the PitchMI Championship for an additional $1,000,000. Click here for more information. This will be held at the Civic Theatre and requires an RSVP.

Tutoring is available now. If you are in need, click the button below and sign up!

Handbook and sign the acceptance form through PowerSchool. Here is a direct link to it again. I would invite you to be sure that you have read through the MTSS support procedures. I will pull grades to see what students have a C or lower in any class which indicates a need for support to us or if a teacher recommends additional support regardless of grades. If your child is showing that need, Mrs. Allbee or I will email you and the child to set up support provided by KAMSC. This is required for a three week interval and then we pull grades again to review. Our hope is always that that three week interval is enough support but students will sometimes move in and out of support throughout a semester. Please know, that this is meant to be a supportive measure. We take our responsibility of helping your child achieve the high standards of KAMSC seriously.

We wanted to institute a private way that you could report any type of bullying at KAMSC. Mrs. Allbee has created a report form to do so. Either she or Mrs. Kortlandt will follow up if enough information is provided. We have not had an issue with bullying at KAMSC but we want to make sure there are channels open for reporting in case there were to ever be an incident. This will live in our newsletter, every, single week.

If you are dropping off or picking up your student at KAMSC, please do so at the Vine Street entrance. Please find a safe place to pull over and then have you student proceed to the Vine street entrance. If students are driving themselves:

1. They need to acquire a parking pass from the KAMSC office - please fill this out

2. They need to park by the El Sol playground off of Dutton Street (but then walk to Vine street entrance)

3. They should be reminded to not keep anything valuable in their car and to keep their cars locked at all times.

4. The building will have a campus security officer at the Vine Street entrance during times of arrivals and dismissals.

Tue., Sept 22 - 9th gr. Bog Field Trip - Angles

Wed., Sept 23 - 9th gr. Bog Field Trip - Rays

Thurs. Sept 24 - 9th gr. Bog Field Trip - Segments

Wed. Sept. 23 -Activity Fair 95-6) Open Lab 6-7:30) & College Night (presentation center 7-8:30pm)

Wed Sept 30 - Open Lab 6-7:30