KESTREL HEIGHTS NEWSLETTER

A Kestrel Heights Expansion Project tab has been created on our website!

https://kestrelheights.org/expansion-project-information/

On this page you will find construction updates, the Expansion Project Questions/Concerns form, answers to questions/concerns, pictures and videos!

Our next Parent & Family Engagement Session will be held on May 17th at either 12:30pm - 1:30 pm or 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm.

May Menus can be found online https://kestrelheights.org/lunch-information/

All parents of students who choose to eat from school’s lunch regardless of their status (Free, Reduced or Paid) have to use this system to pre-order the meals. Pre-order meals must be in by 5pm the day before the meal is being pre-ordered.

Please review the attachment below. It contains the information for creating your Lunch Account and how to pre-order meals for your child(ren).

Read it carefully, then click the link below to get started with the setup.

Account Setup Instructions:

https://kestrelheights.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Parents-Guide-to-School-Payment-Portal.pdf

How to pre-order instructions (Lunch Only):

https://kestrelheights.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/How-to-Pre-Order.pdf

Pre-Order Breakfast:

https://forms.gle/nis6YkXHyrA8gu5C7

Free and Reduced Lunch Forms:

https://kestrelheights.org/lunch-information/

KINDERGARTEN GRADE NEWS: As we continue the fun in teaching and learning here in Kindergarten, we are "empowering our Scholars to sharpen academic knowledge." In math our future engineers continue to be creative with shapes. In the first picture, scholars show off their shape faces. Shapes can be seen all around us!

This week in science, we are looking at "How can we measure weather?" We got excited and decided to play a little with the topic, so we got out some tools and played the role of weather Scientists. Pictured are young meteorologists giving reports on the weather and measuring the temperature. They now know how to use a Thermometer and, of course, "measure temperature."

SECOND GRADE NEWS:

This week we're answering “ Why might a person from long ago be important today?” We’re reading an informational text about Benjamin Franklin, who made many helpful discoveries long ago. Also, continuing with new vocabulary, long vowel o and e; final stable syllable-le. In math we are continuing with measurement using measuring tools and showing measurement data.

THIRD GRADE NEWS: This week in reading we looked at drawing conclusions. Conclusions are inferences made from text evidence and background knowledge. A conclusion is a logical next step in a sequence of events. Please continue to read every day with your child at home for at least 30 minutes.

In math, scholars enjoyed our fraction review. Next week we will be working on addition and subtraction strategies. Students will be working to move up one level of efficiency to add and subtract within 1000 with regrouping. Please continue to encourage your scholar to practice their basic multiplication facts.

FOURTH GRADE NEWS: The two fourth grade classes are tied right now in the multiplication memorization battle. Next week they’ll retake their 3’s and 4’s, stay tuned!

FIFTH GRADE NEWS:

In fifth grade, Mrs. Hart’s class pulled ahead in the multiplication memorization battle. Next week 3’s and 4’s will be tested, can they hold the lead?

SIXTH GRADE NEWS:

Social Studies - We have started our unit on civilizations of Eastern Europe, which includes the Byzantine Empire and early Russia. We will begin with learning about the geography of Eastern Europe and then move into the Byzantine empire. The Byzantine empire was formerly a part of the Roman empire in the east. Its capital is today Istanbul, Turkey. The Byzantine Empire lasted for almost 1,000 years after the fall of the Roman empire in the west.

Math- This week in math we are continuing our statistics unit. This week we are covering Dot Plots and Histograms. Students will have to be able to tell the mean, median, mode, and range from a dot plot and histogram. They will also have to describe the shape of the data (symmetrical, skewed left, or skewed right). In order to tell what percentage of the data falls at certain data points it would be great if scholars refresh on how to calculate percentages at home.

Science- This week in Science, the 6th grade scholars are working on comparing Cellular Respiration to Photosynthesis. We are also discussing how Cellular Respiration is a process that breaks down food molecules to produce ATP (energy). We are discussing the stages of Cellular Respiration which includes: glycolysis, Pyruvate oxidation, the Krebs cycle and oxidative phosphorylation. We will wrap up the week also learning about the process and stages of the Electron Transport Chain.

SEVENTH GRADE NEWS:

Science- The 7th graders are learning about genetic disorders and that disorders occur when a mutation affects the genes. They have learned that there are many types of mutations and even had the task of researching a few that are widely known such as Sickle Cell Anemia, Cystic Fibrosis, Huntington's Disease and Down's syndrome. We discussed management and treatment of genetic disorders. Scholars were able to determine that some genetic disorders cause symptoms at birth, while others develop over time. To wrap up the unit we also discussed how environmental factors such as chemical exposure, UV radiation from the sun, repeated radiation exposure (x-rays) and smoking can also cause genetic mutations.

EIGHTH GRADE NEWS:

Dust off your dancing shoes! Time to sparkle and shine! All 8th grade scholars are invited to attend the Rewrite the Stars Semi-Formal Dance on Friday, May 20th from 6:00pm - 9:00 pm. Join your friends for a night of dancing, food, and fun!

Tickets go on sale Monday, April 25th. Tickets may be purchased in front of the trophy case before or after school. Ticket are $25 each. (cash only). Please note, only Kestrel 8th grade scholars may attend this year's dance. Scholars from other schools or lower grades may not attend.

Please feel free to drop off donations at the front desk or send them with your scholar to give directly to their teacher.

Items to consider:

• Disinfectant wipes
• Hand sanitizer
• Disposable masks(Children's size)
• Cases of Water
• Band-Aids - various sizes

• Healthy, peanut free and tree nut free snacks (scholars who do not have a snack)

• Tissues

• Baggies

Kestrel Heights is soliciting written proposals from qualified firms for the following services:

-Legal Services

-Transportation Services

-Custodian Services

The attached documents provide the necessary details and deadlines to submit a proposal. Proposals will be accepted for a period of 30 days and then reviewed.

Boosterthon Annual Fundraiser:

We’re only 2 weeks away from our Kestrel Heights Fun Run & Color Run! Our goal is to raise $12,000 for the PTA budget which helps provide financial support for special projects that would otherwise fall outside of the school’s budget. This is our primary fundraiser for the year and money raised through this event will be used to support a variety of important initiatives throughout the year, including: classroom technology and enrichment, arts programs, student athletics, school events, and more. Here is a quick video overview of our fundraising program: Boosterthon Coming Soon!

We want all families to get registered by 5/4!
Any K-5 student who registers before 5/4 will earn an exclusive bonus prize only available to those who register before kickoff day!
Any 6-8 student who registers before 5/4 will earn an extra color packet!

Key dates to remember:
• Registration Opens - 4/20
Register at WWW.MYBOOSTER.COM
• Donating Starts - 4/27
• Fundraiser Kick Off - 5/4
• Event Day - 5/12 SAVE THE DATE!

We are working hard to make this fundraiser safe, fun, and successful for everyone! Thank you for working with us to make our school stronger. We are grateful for your support!

Snapology’s after-school STEAM workshops are coming back to Kestrel:

We’re thrilled to partner with Snapology again to bring another series of after-school STEAM workshops to Kestrel Heights! Classes start NEXT WEEK, so don’t delay in enrolling! Elementary and middle school scholars can enroll in a 5-week class. Our elementary program will occur each Tuesday, while our Middle school program will occur each Wednesday.

Both classes will feature fun hands-on educational activities, and a portion of the registration fee will be donated back to our school.

Register at www.flow.page/snapkhcs

Spring Book Fair volunteer opportunity:

We are excited to begin planning our Spring Book Fair, which will occur May 20th through May 27th. In order to make this happen, we are in need of several volunteers to assist us. If you are interested in helping set up, break down, or work during the book fair, please visit this link to sign up for an available volunteer slot: https://forms.gle/ZfFxQCQh86iqkggi7

Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week, May 2nd through 6th:

It’s that time of year again where we aim to wrap our incredible teachers and staff up in love and gratitude during Teacher Appreciation Week. We’ll be celebrating the first week of May and we have some suggestions of ways that each student can participate in showing some love to their favorite teachers/staff members.

Teacher Appreciation Week Schedule:
-Monday, 5/2: Bring teachers and staff their favorite school supplies.

-Tuesday, 5/3 (Teacher Work Day): Send teachers and staff an email expressing your thankfulness.

-Wednesday, 5/4: Recognize your favorite member of our support staff (specials/electives/EC/AIG/ESL/intervention/counselors/admin/bus drivers) by bringing them something special.

-Thursday, 5/5: Bring teachers and staff their favorite treat or snack.

-Friday, 5/7: Dress down by wearing your teacher’s favorite color.

Find a list of each teacher’s favorite things here: https://tinyurl.com/KHCSfavorites2022
Also look for our Appreciation Boards located in the hallway near the office in both the middle school and the elementary school. Students and families are invited to stop by and post thank you cards, notes, or art to let teachers and staff know how much they appreciate them

Register for Camp Kestrel using the following link:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1nZCKhlxHVoJm1xNmybuu1a2o7f-6z3S_hglaPJk6hVc/edit

The Parent and Family Engagement Calendar is located on our website at: https://kestrelheights.org/calendar/

MAY, MON 2

Teacher Appreciation Week (Day 1/5)

Fire Drill

PTA Meeting

MAY, TUE 3

Teacher Appreciation Week (Day 2/5)

Protected Teacher Workday- No School

MAY, WED 4

Teacher Appreciation Week (Day 3/5)

Boosterthon Fundraiser - PTA (Day 1/9)

MAY, THU 5

Teacher Appreciation Week (Day 4/5)

Boosterthon Fundraiser - PTA (Day 2/9)

MAY, FRI 6

Teacher Appreciation Week (Day 5/5)

Boosterthon Fundraiser - PTA (Day 3/9)

4th Quarter Progress Reports

MAY, MON 9

Boosterthon Fundraiser - PTA (Day 6/9)

MAY, TUE 10

Boosterthon Fundraiser - PTA (Day 7/9)

Kestrel Heights Board Meeting

MAY, WED 11

Boosterthon Fundraiser - PTA (Day 8/9)

MAY, THU 12

Boosterthon Fundraiser - PTA (Day 9/9)

Boosterthon Event - PTA Fun Run Day 11:30-2:45

MAY, FRI 13

K-5 Spring Concert

MAY, THU 19

Band Concert

MAY, FRI 20

Spring Book Fair (Day 1/6)

Semi Formal Set up and Dance

MAY, MON 23

Spring Book Fair (Day 2/6)

MAY, TUE 24

Spring Book Fair (Day 3/6)

MAY, WED 25

Spring Book Fair (Day 4/6)

MAY, THU 26

Spring Book Fair (Day 5/6)

PBIS Celebration

MAY, FRI 27

EOG Testing

Spring Book Fair (Day 6/6)

MAY, MON 30

Memorial Day- No School

MAY, TUE 31

EOG Testing

JUN, WED 1

EOG Testing

Fire Drill

JUN, MON 6

EOG Testing

PTA Meeting

JUN, THU 9

EOG Testing

JUN, FRI 10

EOG Testing

5th Grade Promotion

8th Grade Promotion

Kindergarten Promotion

Last Day of School

JUN, TUE 14

Kestrel Heights Board Meeting

We are a small, diverse, and inclusive learning community in Durham that empowers our Scholars to sharpen academic knowledge, demonstrate creative expression and expand leadership abilities to prepare for success in high school, college, and beyond.

Email: Vargas@kestrelheights.org
Website: www.kestrelheights.org
Location: 4700 South Alston Avenue, Durham, NC, USA
Phone: 919-484-1300
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KestrelHeightsSchool
Twitter: @KestrelHeights