Mary M. Knight Family Newsletter

Dear Mary M. Knight Families,

Last Friday, our students came together to honor the veterans in our community. Our ASB hosted this year’s Veterans Day assembly, and every grade level had a part. Each class shared a performance or presentation thanking those who have served for protecting the freedoms and rights we enjoy every day. Our choir, led by Mrs. Chambless, performed a song in their honor. At center court, a remembrance table reminded us of those who never came home.

We were also proud to recognize our guest, Mr. Bailey. Mr. Bailey served in the United States Air Force and the Reserve, and today he serves our students in a different way, as one of our MMK bus drivers. Many students see him every morning and afternoon. On Friday, they got to see the service behind the person who helps get them to school safely.

That matters. This month our CharacterStrong focus is Gratitude: choosing to appreciate the people and things in our lives. Gratitude means the most when it is specific, when we can name who served, who helped, and what it asked of them. Thank you to our ASB students for leading the assembly, to our staff for preparing each grade level, and to every veteran and military family in our community.

Service also connects to our November theme, “Lean In, On Purpose.” Serving others means choosing something hard for a purpose bigger than yourself. Our students practice a smaller version of that every day when they stick with difficult work instead of avoiding it. You’ll see plenty of that in this week’s GRIT Spotlight.

This is a short week. Students attend school Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. There is no school Wednesday, November 11, as we observe Veterans Day. There is also no school for students Friday, November 13, while our staff spend a full day in professional development and collaborative learning. With only three days in class, every day counts.

Here’s what families can do this week:

• Thank a veteran together. On Wednesday, help your student thank a veteran in your family or community, in person, by phone, or with a handwritten note.
• Protect the three school days. Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday are full learning days. Make each one count.
• Ask about the assembly. What did your student’s grade share? What did they learn about someone who served?

And on Saturday, our Owls football team hosts Taholah for the league championship right here at Mary M. Knight. Let’s pack the stands!

With gratitude and OWL Pride,

Mr. Stoney
K–12 Principal

“Who is someone who has served or helped others, and what would you want to thank them for?”

Start with veterans, then widen the circle: a teacher, a coach, a bus driver, a neighbor, someone in your family. Later in the week, follow up: Did you get a chance to tell them?

Gratitude grows when we say it out loud.

Tuesday, November 10: School day

Wednesday, November 11: No School (Veterans Day)

Thursday, November 12: School day

Friday, November 13: No School for Students (Staff Professional Development)

Saturday, November 14: High School Football League Championship [TIME AND LOCATION TBA]

Veterans Day is a natural week to practice our CharacterStrong trait. Gratitude isn’t only a feeling. It’s something we can do.

Try this as a family on Wednesday: Write a thank-you note together to a veteran, a first responder, or someone who serves your family. Younger students can draw a picture, and you can help them write a sentence. If you started a Gratitude Jar last week, add a slip for the people who serve our community.

GRIT Spotlight: Leaning Into Hard Things

This week’s GRIT students show what “Lean In, On Purpose” looks like. Each one chose to stick with something hard, own their growth, or lift up the people around them.

Elementary

Leona Davis | PreK
Writing letters on primary paper is hard. Each one has to sit right on the bottom line and be just tall enough. Leona didn’t give up and didn’t get grouchy. She just kept erasing and rewriting until she got it right, showing her classmates that how we write matters. That’s Willingness with Resilience and Success with Tenacity.

Remi Rivard | 1st Grade
When Remi finishes her work, she doesn’t sit and wait. She picks up a book and keeps reading, because she knows there is always a chance to learn and get better. That’s Ownership with Growth.

Dominic Franco | 2nd Grade
Dominic is challenging himself to become a stronger reader. He’s working hard, trying new things, and showing he isn’t afraid of a challenge. Every book he reads brings him one step closer to his goal. That’s Ownership with Growth.

Holden House | 2nd Grade
Holden is building his reading comprehension by thinking more deeply about what he reads and using part of the question in his answers. He’s taking ownership of his learning and pushing himself to do better. That’s Ownership with Growth.

Matthew Hett | 3rd Grade
Matthew makes sure his work is careful and correct, and he never rushes. He’s brave enough to ask for help when he needs it, and he’s grown in staying focused and tuning out distractions. He is also a caring friend who tries to do what’s right. That’s Ownership with Growth and Intentional Effort.

Lilly Botha | 4th Grade
Whether it’s a timed test, a tough math question, or her least favorite spelling page, Lilly gets it done with a positive attitude and doesn’t give up. A classmate added that Lilly keeps going even when she’s frustrated, and that she’s a great friend. That’s Willingness with Resilience.

James Horn | 5th Grade
James perseveres in his strong subjects and in the ones that are harder for him. He never backs down from a problem or passage. When he helps friends, he helps them think instead of handing them the answer. That’s Willingness with Resilience and Intentional Effort.

Emmett Cruz-Vizena | 6th Grade
After time away from school, Emmett jumped right back into the daily routine with confidence. Returning and re-engaging after time away takes real resilience. That’s Willingness with Resilience and Success with Tenacity.

Secondary

Avery Lohman | 7th Grade
Avery often flies under the radar, but her work ethic doesn’t go unnoticed. When she’s absent, she checks in with teachers, gathers missed work, and stays on track. She doesn’t shy away from challenging assignments, and she quietly leads by encouraging classmates to stay focused and helping them when they need it. That’s Ownership with Growth and Leadership with Intensity.

Rylee Cook | 9th Grade
Rylee has stepped up in Advisory this year, taking on projects and doing whatever it takes to make her advisory a more inclusive and successful space. That’s Willingness with Resilience.

Lexi Hulford | 9th Grade
Lexi faces challenges head-on and uses multiple strategies to stay in the game. Her dedication to her schoolwork and to her goals for the future stands out. That’s Willingness with Resilience.

Marissa Mikeska | 11th Grade
Marissa is looking ahead to her future classes and advocating for herself, while being intentional about what she asks for and why. She’s taking an active role in shaping a more successful school career. That’s Willingness with Resilience and Intentional Problem-Solving.

Destiny Larance | 12th Grade
Destiny meets challenges in construction with a “can-do” attitude, and her skills keep growing. Her willingness to try and try again is building a foundation for future success. That’s Ownership with Growth and Willingness with Resilience.

Peer Shout-Outs

• Luna Jones (5th): for working well with her new table group and for being kind to others.
• Tristen Ushman (3rd): for being kind, not giving up on hard tasks, and asking for help when he needs it.
• Jackson Short (4th): for being nice and setting a good example for younger students.
• Colton Rivard (4th): for being a kind, helpful big brother at school and at home, and for looking out for others on the playground and bus.
• Akari Mali (4th): for making others feel good by treating them with kindness.
• Grace Johnson (4th): for working hard every day and being a good friend.

Keep noticing the good, OWLS.

🏈 League Championship Information to be Communicated this week

🏀 Middle School Basketball: Week 2 Practice (Grades 5–8)

• Boys: 3:00–5:00 p.m.
• Girls: 5:00–7:00 p.m.

Come out, cheer on our student-athletes, and help create a positive, respectful environment that represents MMK with pride.

GO OWLS!