Dr. Koop's Newsletter

April 4, 2025

Dear KRS families,

I hope you all had a great start to April! Congratulations to our amazing KRS students who participated in the STEAM Fair – your creativity and hard work were truly impressive!

This week, we also celebrated Paraprofessional Day on Wednesday, recognizing the incredible dedication of our paraprofessionals who make such a difference in our school every day.

A huge thank you to the KRS PTO for funding two incredible Laser Light shows—our students had a fantastic time!

April 7, 8, and 9, 2025 are 12:45 PM dismissal days for parent/teacher conferences.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

Sincerely,
Dr. Kathy Koop

Important Dates

April 7-9, 2025 - Parent/Teacher Conferences K-8 Only

April 14 - 18, 2025 - Spring Recess - Schools Closed

June 6, 2024 9:30 AM- Fifth Grade Celebration Ceremony (KRS Back Black-Top)

June 13, 2025 - Last Day of School 12:45 PM Dismissal

June 13, 2025 - 12:45 PM Fifth Grade Clap-Out

Fifth Grade Celebration Ceremony Rain Date June 9, 2025 9:30 AM (KRS Back Black-Top)

Take Your Child To Work Day - April 24, 2025

Take Your Child to Work Day is on Thursday, April 24, 2025. If you plan to have your child participate, please complete the required form using the link below:

Take Your Child to Work Day Form

Once completed, please send the form to your child’s teacher. This ensures that their absence is properly documented.

World Autism Acceptance Month

April is Autism Awareness Month

April is Autism Awareness Month, a time to celebrate the incredible diversity of our students and reaffirm our commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive learning environment for all. Autism is a spectrum, meaning that each individual experiences it uniquely. As a school community, we strive to promote understanding, acceptance, and appreciation for the strengths and perspectives of individuals with autism.

Throughout this month, we will be engaging students in activities that highlight the importance of empathy, respect, and meaningful inclusion. We encourage families to continue these conversations at home—small moments of learning can lead to a greater culture of acceptance.

Together, we can build a school where every child feels valued and empowered to reach their full potential. Thank you for your partnership in making our community a place of kindness and understanding.

Teacher Highlight - Mrs. Julia Nicolette

What is your role at Kings Road School?

I am a fifth grade classroom teacher at Kings Road School. This year, I teach ELA and social studies to both fifth grade classes. As a fifth grade teacher, I have the opportunity to teach my students in their last year of elementary school! It is amazing to see how much they grow, not only in height, but academically and emotionally, from September to June when we clap them out of KRS! I also serve as co-advisor of the KRS Student Council. I help to organize projects and activities in which 5th grade student council members participate in to help the school and community.

What are your qualifications to serve in your role?

I have 28 years of teaching experience, 25 of them here at Kings Road School! Along with state certifications, I hold a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Elementary Education, and Master’s Degrees in both Special Education and Educational Administration.

What do you like about Kings Road School?

Kings Road School is a special place because of the people here. The teachers and staff that I work with each day support one another both professionally and personally. Along with the teachers, the enthusiastic students and their parents give this school such a sense of community.

What is your favorite book?

I really enjoy Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea. I read it every year to my fifth graders. It is told from various students’ point of view and illustrates friendship, honesty, and forgiveness. We all learn from each other.

What do you like to do when you are not at Kings Road School?

When I am not teaching, I love to spend time with my family. My husband and I, along with our two sons, ages 15 and 12, are really into hiking and love to explore new trails with our dog! We also love visiting historical sites and museums. In my free time, I also enjoy baking, gardening, and of course, reading!

Curriculum Corner

Curriculum Update

On Monday 3/31 the elementary staff engaged in a full day of professional development. The Madison Public School District provides professional development because it is an investment in our children. There is a direct correlation between a teacher's capacity and gains in student achievement (Darling-Hammond et al., 2009; Every Student Succeeds Act, 2015; Marzano, 2010). On Monday, our staff engaged in tailored workshops. These workshops included planning our fifth unit of study in reading and writing for grades K-2, preparing for our test prep unit in grades 3-5, and methods of co-teaching with a focus on parallel teaching for our special education staff. We also facilitated DLM training for our specialized teachers, while our guidance and p.e staff learned about research regarding anxiety and the power of play. Additionally, our interventionists worked on reviewing and aligning math assessments, our ESL teachers engaged in literacy training and planned our upcoming ESL family night, our Spanish teachers collaborated on their upcoming transportation and community helpers units, and our music and art teachers prepared for the 3rd-grade music show and upcoming art show as well as engaging in off-site professional learning.

This month our libraries are celebrating poetry! Please see the attached flyer to learn more about our optional and fun poetry contest!

Congratulations STEAM Fair Participants!

Thanks to the MHS Band for Presenting to the KRS 3rd Graders!

News for KRS Families

KRS Parent Book Club

The third meeting of the KRS Parent Book Club will be held via Zoom on April 9, 2025 from 7-8 PM. Everyone is invited to attend. To participate, all you need is a copy of the Anxious Generation by, Jonathan Haidt. Our third meeting will focus on pages 113 - 218 to include the following topics:

Part 3 The Great Rewiring: The Rise of the Phone-Based Childhood

Chapter 5 The Four Foundational Harms: Social Deprivation, Sleep Deprivation, Attention Fragmentation, and Addiction

Chapter 6 Why Social Media Harms Girls More Than Boys

Chapter 7 What is Happening to Boys?

Chapter 8 Spiritual Elevation and Degradation

Parent/Teacher Conferences

Spring Parent-Teacher Conferences are scheduled for April 7-9. These meetings are an excellent opportunity to discuss your child's progress, strengths, and areas for growth. If you do not yet have a scheduled conference, we encourage you to reach out to your child’s teacher as soon as possible to arrange a time.

To make the most of your conference, consider these tips:
✅ Come prepared – Bring any questions or concerns you’d like to discuss.
✅ Share insights – You know your child best! Share observations about their learning and well-being.
✅ Collaborate on solutions – Work with the teacher to set goals and discuss ways to support learning at home.
✅ Follow up – Stay in touch with your child’s teacher to monitor progress and keep communication open.

We appreciate your partnership in your child’s education and look forward to these important conversations.

Spring Concert - Band, Chorus, Orchestra Students

Kings Road School 4th and 5th graders who participate in the Band, Orchestra and Chorus are hard at work putting the finishing touches on the music they will perform in our upcoming spring concert. The concert will be held on Tuesday May 13th at the Madison Junior School. Show starts at 7:00pm. Come out if you can. All are welcome!