KSTM Newsletter September 2026

We are off to a great start for the 2026-2027 school year at KSTM. Keeping it rolling, there are many exciting events happening in September and we want to make sure that all are informed. Please review our September newsletter for upcoming events - here are a few highlights:

• School Picture Day is Friday, September 4th, 2026 - Pictures will take place during Block 1 (8th Graders), Block 2 (7th Graders) and Block 3 (6th Graders). We will make sure to catch any students in the building before the photographers leave by lunch time.
  
• There is NO SCHOOL for students and staff on Monday, September 7th for Labor Day. Our offices will be closed. Students return to school on Tuesday, September 8th for an 8-period, A-day.

• KSTM Hullabaloo is September 11th, 2026 - The Fall Hullabaloo is a fundraiser from 3:30-5:05. Tickets are $5 dollars to attend. See below for more information. Funds raised are given to our school community KSTM scholarship fund.

• FALL SPORTS season has started - the calendar is up to date on the KSTM Website. Please be sure to check the King Science website for upcoming events, the staff directory, and other important information.

#KSTMPROUD,

Jane Laughlin

Principal

Greetings everyone,

We invite you to stay up to date with all of our upcoming school events! From competition to other important happenings, our activities calendar is the place to find the latest schedules and event information.

Please visit our activities calendar create an account on BOUND and stay connected with up-to-the-minute updates, including any schedule changes or important announcements. We encourage everyone to join us in supporting all of our KING students!

https://www.gobound.com/ne/schools/kingsctechms

QUESTIONS REGARDING SPORTS OR SPORTS SCHEDULES - CALL OUR AD, Mr. Odell Santos at 531-299-3774 or email him directly at Odell.Santos@ops.org

The KSTM HULLABALOO is a KSTM Fundraiser event for students - all proceeds of the event go to our KSTM Scholarship. Cost of the event is $5.00 plus any concessions purchased. This is a cash only event.

3:05 to 5:05 p.m.

Late Bus Available for students who ride the bus

Hullabaloo Events:

• Gym: Basketball, Volleyball, other open gym events
• Cafetorium: DJ & Concessions - Concessions cost extra
• Library: quiet hangout space
• Courtyard: quiet hangout space (pending weather!)
• Hallway between Gym & Cafetorium: games

Tickets are $5.00 for entry to event! Tickets will be sold during lunch September 8th-11th

NOTICE: Students who are involved in Code of Conduct violations the week of the Hullabaloo may lose the privilege to attend this event. Refunds only issued if a student cannot attend because of a referral.

8th Grade Administrators:

• Ms. LaDeidre Jackson: 531-299-4016 LaDeidre.Jackson@ops.org
• Mr. Odell Santos: 531-299-3774 Odell.Santos@ops.org

7th Grade Administrator

• Ms. Nicole Benson: 531-299-7030 Nicole.Benson@ops.org

6th Grade Administrator

• Ms. Roxana Silva: 531-299-9049 Carmen.Silva@ops.org

Instructional Facilitator (all grade levels)

• Mrs. Kelcey Schmitz, 531-299-8027 Kelcey.Schmitz@ops.org

Contact AD Odell Santos with questions regarding sports activities or events at 531-299-3774

• 8th Grade / 7th Grade (K-Z) = Ms. Montre Mbachu (P) 531-299-6798 * Montre.Mbachu@ops.org
• 6th Grade / 7th Grade (A-K) = Mx. A.E. Reiff (P) 531-299-3676 * Ana.Reiff@ops.org
• Social Worker: = Ms. Kasia Piercy (P) 531-299-8027 * Kasia.Piercy@ops.org

This summer, our district notified families that students at King Science will continue to receive lunch at no cost, regardless of income, through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).

We encourage our families to complete an Educational Benefits Form by Sept. 24 to see if they qualify for additional benefits including:

• Discounted home internet services

• Discounted or waived fees for SAT, PSAT, ACT, AP and other academic tests

• Waived or reduced college and postsecondary application and course fees

• Scholarship options

• Access to career, internship and other community programs

Log in to SchoolCafe and click “Apply for Benefits” to complete the form. It only takes a few minutes to complete if you have your household income details handy.

One form covers all students in your household. If you have already completed an Educational Benefits Form or Free and Reduced Meal Application through SchoolCafe, you can check your eligibility status on your account dashboard.

Please reach out to our office if you need help completing your application.

The Wildcats Club (WCC) team is excited to kick off another amazing school year at King Science & Technology Middle School! We have already had a fantastic start, welcomed many new students, and have lots of exciting activities planned for our Wildcats.

🎉 What We've Been Up To

📚 August 17 – Back-to-School Night

What a great night! We welcomed many families and enrolled lots of new Wildcats Club members. We also began collecting family information for our Remind App, which will be one of our primary ways to keep families connected and informed.

This year, WCC will share updates through:

• 📱 Remind App
• 📘 King Science & Technology Middle School Facebook Page
• 📰 KSTM Monthly Newsletter

🐾 August 19 – Wildcats Club Begins!

WCC officially kicked off for students who are walkers or picked up by a parent/guardian. We are excited to have our Wildcats back and ready for another year of learning, friendship, creativity, and fun!

🚲 August 24 – Provider Selection Day

Our Community Partners brought the excitement! Students got a chance to meet providers and see demonstrations of the awesome activities they can participate in during Session I (August 19–October 9).

Students explored opportunities with:

• 🚲 Team Bike Rescue
• 🌱 Center for Holistic Development
• 🎨 WhyArts?
• 🔬 NE STEM 4 U
• 💡 Invention Scouts

After the demonstrations, students selected the providers they were most excited to work with!

🚌 August 24 – Late Bus Students Join WCC

Our students who ride the late bus officially joined Wildcats Club programming. We are happy to have everyone together and ready for a great year!

🌟 What's Happening at WCC?

It's not too late to join!

Wildcats Club is still accepting applications for students who are looking for a place to:

📚 Get homework help
🎨 Explore enrichment activities
🍽️ Enjoy a hot meal
🚌 Participate in special activities and field trips
🤝 Make new friends
🎮 Have fun and build new skills

WCC Programming:
📅 Monday–Friday
⏰ 3:05–5:30 PM
🚪 Student dismissal begins at 5:15 PM at the Pratt Street Entrance

Applications are available at the front office, Library, & cafe . Questions contact Staci Wise 402-881-0092 swise@aiminstitute.org

🐾 Bring a Friend & Earn Rewards!

Starting September 1, current WCC members can earn a reward for every student they refer who completes a WCC application and attends Wildcats Club.

Know someone who should be a Wildcat Club member? Invite them to join the fun!

📖 Coming Soon: Homework Help!

Beginning September 8, WCC will offer dedicated Homework Help Monday–Friday from 3:45–5:15 PM.

Whether students need help getting started, finishing an assignment, or staying on track, our goal is to help every Wildcat feel confident and successful!

☕📚 Sip, Read & Repeat Book Club

Get ready to Sip, Read & Repeat!

Our WCC Book Club begins Thursday, September 10. Students will spend 20 minutes reading while enjoying a beverage and participating in fun reading challenges.

📚 First Reading Challenge

September 1–October 1

Students will have opportunities to earn prizes throughout the challenge!

🏆 Weekly: Students with the most reading minutes will receive a prize.

🥇🥈🥉 End of Challenge: The top three readers will receive special prizes!

Prizes to be announced.

📋 *Reading logs will be available during WCC time for students to pick up.

So grab a book, grab a drink, and Sip, Read & Repeat!

📅 Mark Your Calendar!

🚫 No Wildcats Club

Monday, September 7 – Labor Day

🎉 Hullabaloo

More details coming soon!

🐾 There's Always Something Happening at WCC!

From STEM and arts to reading, homework help, community partnerships, friendship, and fun, Wildcats Club is a place where students can discover something new and make their after school hours count.

We can't wait to see what our Wildcats accomplish this year!

💙🐾 GO WILDCATS!

Our Mission is to elevate tech through lifelong learning.

Staci Wise

Wildcat Club Site Director

King Science Middle School

3720 Florence Blvd

402 881 0092

MTSS-B stands for Multi-Tiered Systems of Support for Behavior. MTSS-B focuses on behavior Expectations that are prioritized and used all through King Science.

The framework for MTSS-B is:

• A Problem-solving framework for behavior

• A systematic standardized implementation of evidence-based practices

• A framework with standardized practices that has tiers of increasingly intensive supports that increase the likelihood students are academically, emotionally, behaviorally and socially successful.

At King Science with have two tiers of MTSS-B.

Tier 1 serves every student through our school wide expectations “The King Way”

• Be Respectful

• Be Responsible

• Be Safe

Students who show positive behaviors that match The King Way can be awarded Wildcat Bucks, which they can exchange in our Wildcat Store every few weeks.

Tier 2 serves a smaller portion of students who need more support than Tier 1. The Tier 2 team gives instruction to students on how to solve peer conflicts and helps them improve their attendance.

Attention Students: There are 415 minutes in the school day, and every minute counts! Tardies to class disrupt the classroom, interrupt the lesson, and put students at risk of falling behind. Beginning this week any student who has 3 tardies during the week will be assigned an afterschool detention the following week. BE RESPONSIBLE, WILDACTS ! Get to class on time.

• Cell Phones and Personal Devices must be off and out of sight during the school day from 7:40-3:05
• Student failure to comply may result in their personal device being confiscated by administration.
• Parent Communication and Code of Conduct consequences may be applied for repeated violations of the No Cell Phone/No personal device policy.
• If you have any questions regarding this, please call the grade level administrator.

The OPS Parent Survey link is open all year long.

SURVEY LINK: http://www.tinyurl.com/OPSParentVoice