KMS Principal's Friday Press

Hi KMS Families! The 26-27 school year is well underway. This year, all KCSD schools have shifted to monthly newsletters, so please to bookmark this newsletter so that you may come back to it as needed. Due to covering a month's worth of activities and highlights, this newsletter is longer than our previous newsletters. If you have any questions, please reach out at anytime. -The KMS Principals

From September 15 through October 15, KMS is proudly celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month! Throughout the month, students are learning about and honoring Hispanic culture, history, and contributions through engaging activities across subject areas.

In classrooms, students are exploring the important accomplishments and influence of Hispanic and Latino individuals through ELA lessons, art projects, discussions, and other learning experiences. Homerooms are also participating in daily Hispanic Heritage Month trivia, creating a fun and friendly way for students to deepen their knowledge of Hispanic history, culture, and heritage.

KMS is also recognizing the inspiring accomplishments of our community by featuring 30 Hispanic KHS graduates and highlighting their successful post-high-school careers. These stories celebrate the many paths our graduates have taken and the positive impact they continue to make in their professions and communities. See some fun images below.

To add a delicious cultural connection to the celebration, churros are available for purchase in the cafeteria for $1.

We have an exciting day coming up! On Friday, November 6, a team from Pennsylvania Don Eichhorn Schools to Watch (STW) will visit KMS as part of our 6th Schools to Watch evaluation!

For those newer to KMS, Schools to Watch is a national recognition and school-improvement program that identifies high-performing middle schools based on four key areas:

• Academic Excellence

• Developmental Responsiveness

• Social Equity

• School Organization

KMS is a proud 5-time School To Watch, having earned the distinction in 2012, 2015, 2018, 2021, and 2024. To be re-designated, schools must demonstrate that we continue to grow, evolve, and adjust to provide an exceptional middle school experience for our students.

The STW process looks closely at 37 research-based criteria that define an outstanding middle school. Our visit on 11/6 won't be about putting on a show. It will be about showing who we are. Our visitors will have an opportunity to see our classrooms, talk with students and staff, and experience the relationships, instruction, collaboration, and commitment to kids that happen at KMS every day. Being a School to Watch isn't about a plaque on the wall. It's about the people who make KMS what it is. Let's show them what we've got KMS! 💙🖤🤍

Just for fun...

• 2015 Schools To Watch Video
• 2018 Schools To Watch Video
• 2021 Schools To Watch Video
• 2024 Schools To Watch Video

Tonight (Friday 10/2) is KHS's homecoming football game and parade. Click here for more information. We hope to see you there! Please see KCSD's spectator expectations below.

We asked and you answered! We wanted to know how every student's first week was at KMS?

• Outstanding - A Great Start (72%)
• Good! Mostly Positive (22%)
• OK. Some ups and downs (6%)
• Not as well as we hoped. A challenging start (1%)

KMS Counseling Department: The KMS Counseling Department is here to support every student academically, socially, emotionally, and as they begin thinking about their future. Our counselors support students and families with individual and group counseling, academic support, crisis intervention, career and college exploration, and student/family advocacy. We also work closely with teachers, administrators, families, and community partners to make sure students have the support they need.

Meet Our Counseling Team:

• 6th Grade: Ms. Kori Barley Stoudemire (kbarley@kcsd.org)

• 7th Grade: Ms. Lauren Boder (lboder@kcsd.org)

• 8th Grade: Mr. Shariyf McCormick (smccormick@kcsd.org)

Need to Reach Us? Students can stop by the Counseling Office or ask to meet with their counselor. Parents and guardians can reach us by phone (610-268-5800), email (See above), or Talking Points.

Handle With Care: Sometimes students simply need a little extra care during the school day. If your child had a difficult night, is going through a challenging time, or just woke up “on the wrong side of the bed,” please reach out to their counselor and let us know they need a little more care that day.

With your permission, the counselor can send a “Handle With Care” message to your child’s teachers so they know to provide a little extra patience and support—without sharing personal details.

We’re here to help. Please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Forms will be distributed to students on Friday, 10/2. You can also purchase pictures electronically:

• Online Order Form
• Picture Packages (digital copy of handout students will receive on 10/2)

We are excited to introduce Demon/Diablo Dollars, a new addition to our established Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program!

At some point, your student has or will come home with a “Kennett Square” (KSQ)—a small token given by an adult in the building to recognize Kennett PRIDE: Personal Responsibility, Respect, Integrity, Dedication, and Excellence. Many students keep these squares like prized possessions, and we’re not changing a thing about this process!

Instead, we’re adding another layer of PRIDE. Beginning Friday, October 30, teachers will also give Demon Dollars to recognize students demonstrating PRIDE. Students may earn:

• Demon Dollar ticket = $1

• Blue Kennett Square = $5

• Gold Kennett Square = $10

Students can save their currency or spend it at our School Store, open Fridays during lunch. The store will offer items at different price levels, including fidgets, school supplies, small prizes, and special rewards and experiences through raffles.

Demon Dollars have no cash value and cannot be purchased, exchanged for real money, traded, copied, or sold. Families do not need to send money for the store. As always, clothing items will also be available for purchase with U.S. dollars.

Our goal is simple: recognize positive choices, strengthen our school community, and give students another reason to take pride in meeting schoolwide expectations!

Students can find THIS INFOGRAPHIC posted in classrooms and around the building in the weeks leading up to the grand opening. Let’s show our Kennett PRIDE!

Progress Reports: Term 1 ends on Thursday, October 1st, 2026. Progress reports will be posted on Skyward on Tuesday, October 6th.

First Marking Period Report Cards: The first marking period ended for students on Monday, November 2, 2026. Report cards will be distributed to students in 1st period on Friday, November 6th. Only our final report card will be mailed home. MP1, MP2, and MP3 report cards will be distributed to students in 1st period.

❄️ Winter Sports Are Right Around the Corner! 🏀🤼

Winter sports are rapidly approaching, and we are excited to get our middle school athletes back on the court and mat! All students must have a current physical submitted to the Nurses’ Office before they are eligible to participate in tryouts or begin the season.

🏀 Boys Basketball Tryouts: Tuesday, November 10; Wednesday, November 11; and Thursday, November 12

🏀 Girls Basketball Tryouts: Tuesday, November 17; Wednesday, November 18; and Thursday, November 19

🤼 Wrestling: Season begins Monday, November 16. A hydration testing letter will be sent home at the end of October.

Please make sure physical paperwork is completed and submitted to the Nurses’ Office before tryouts. All forms are available on our sports webpage. Any athlete interested must submit their physical form (after June 1st) to nurse Oakes at kmssports@kcsd.org Student are not able to participate until all forms are complete, signed, and submitted.

Pay to Play: Please wait until rosters are set for Pay to Play payments. We are proud to have not raised our fee in the last decade ($30).

We look forward to a great winter sports season!

A vaccination clinic will be held at Kennett Middle School on October 15 from 3:00 PM to 6:45 PM. Register to attend here.

El 15 de octubre, de 3:00 p. m. a 6:45 p. m., se llevará a cabo una jornada de vacunación en la escuela Kennett Middle School. Regístrese para asistir aqui.

Athletic Eligibility: KMS expects student-athletes to maintain passing grades (60% or above) in all their courses to be eligible to participate in sports. Parents and guardians, please review our Eligibility Requirements with your child. On Thursday afternoons during sports seasons, KMS runs a grade report to determine sports eligibility for the upcoming week. A Thursday report lets us inform students on Fridays so everyone can plan accordingly for the next week.

• Eligibility Warning: Any student with one failing grade receives an eligibility warning. This student continues to be eligible for all practices and games.

• Ineligible: Any student with two or more failing grades is ineligible for the upcoming week of sports. During a week of ineligibility, a student may continue to practice. However, they may not play in games or travel with the team.

See below to see KMS in action during the month of September!

In 2026, technology plays an important role in your child's learning. Protect your student's district issued learning device with our comprehensive Kennett Chromebook Protection Plan (KCCP), designed to shield families from unexpected repair costs. Our affordable coverage ensures that accidental damage, drops, spills, and screen cracks won't interrupt your child's education or create financial stress. This $50 plan provides 100% coverage for repairs or replacement of the Chromebook that would otherwise be the responsibility of the student and/or parent/legal guardian.

Personal Device: Click here for KCSD's Personal Device Guidelines

KCSD Volunteer: KMS has volunteer opportunities multiple times throughout the year (E.g., field trips, PSSA help, dances, mentoring, classroom support, etc.). All volunteers must be pre-approved by the district. Click here to learn more.

KMS PTO: The KMS PTO strives to support our teachers and students efficiently (meaning we don't spend more time on tasks than we need to!). If you are interested in joining KMS PTO meetings, keep a lookout for more information from KMS PTO President, Mrs. Colleen Corrado.

KMS PTO Bottom of the Book Bag: Email kennettmiddle@gmail.com to register and receive the BoBB directly to your inbox each week! To submit local activities or events for the BoBB, please email kennettmiddle@gmail.com.

October is AAC Awareness Month [video link]! It is a time to bring awareness to AAC, which stands for Alternative Augmentative Communication, and all of the different ways we can communicate! It includes: sign language, texting, gestures, facial expressions, tablets, switch boards, communication boards, pictures, and more!

Communication is a fundamental right, and for those who have difficulty using verbal speech, AAC systems can provide increased access to express their thoughts, needs, wants, and ideas effectively. Here at KMS, we have students in our building who use AAC as a primary method of communication, such as tablets and sign language, so it’s especially important we recognize this month and talk about it as a school community.

Click here to see our schoolwide presentation being shared with students in Strength this month:

AAC Awareness Month Strength Presentation

Best Buddies is a 501c(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, and inclusive living for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Kennett Middle School has had an established middle school chapter of Best Buddies since 2021.

To learn more about Best Buddies please see the attached Best Buddies flyer below.

• English Flyer
• Spanish Flyer

You can follow the steps to register your student here: https://forms.bestbuddies.org/4895599

Or, request a paper application in English or Spanish. Registration closes Friday, October 9!

Questions? Please contact KMS Best Buddies Advisor Ashley Long, along@kcsd.org

For the safety of all students, we ask that families please avoid packing any glass containers in their child’s lunch, including bottles, jars, or Tupperware. Glass can easily break and cause injuries, and we want to ensure that lunches remain both safe and enjoyable for everyone.

Introducing the KEF Raffle shop. Bidding opens on October 12th. Click here to check out the cool prizes and experiences!

Parent teacher conferences will be held on Monday, November 23rd and Tuesday, November 24th. Parents and guardians will receive a special message from families in the coming weeks with more information.

• Progress Reports Posted to Skyward - Tuesday, October 6th
• KMS School Pictures - Friday, October 9th during the school day
• KCSD School Board Meeting - Monday, October 12th at MDL at 7:00 PM
• KMS PTO Meeting - Tuesday, October 13th at 7:00 PM (Zoom)
• Technical College High School 8th Grade Trip - Thursday, October 15th and Friday, October 16th
• National School Bus Safety Week - Begins Monday, October 19th
• KCSD Curriculum Committee Meeting - Monday, October 26 at MDL at 7:00 PM
• 8th Grade DC Trip - Monday, November 2nd
• End of 1st Marking Period - Monday, November 2nd
• National School Psychologist Week - Begins Monday, November 2nd
• Teacher In Service (No School for Students) - Tuesday, November 3rd
• Cafe en Familia - Thursday, November 5th at MDL at 6:30 PM
• Report Cards Distributed to Students - Friday, October 6th
• KCSD School Board Meeting - Monday, November 9th at MDL at 7:00 PM
• KMS School Picture Retakes - Friday, November 13th
• Parent Teacher Conferences - Monday, November 23rd and Tuesday, November 24th
• No School for Students (Conferences and Thanksgiving Break) - Monday, November 23rd through Friday, November 27th.

ADDRESS:

195 Sunny Dell Road Landenberg, PA 19350

(610) 268-5800

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