KPS News

Parents from around the district — and with roots from all around the world — gathered at El Sol Elementary on Thursday for meeting geared toward helping parents learn how to navigate the school system and support their children.

Carolina Sanclemente, a fifth grade teacher at El Sol, originally envisioned the night as a Spanish-language event, but with the support of Principal Dr. Natalie Wilson and the Multilingual Learner staff, it became an effort to reach parents from several groups. In addition, to discussing upcoming conferences and using PowerSchool, parents had the opportunity to ask questions of the staff.

All information was shared in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Swahili, Pashto, Kinyarwanda, and Dari.

Maple Street Magnet teacher and cross country coach Jaclyn Bormann says the cross country team typically has a fun and easy practice on Mondays because their meets are on Tuesdays.

Last week, the athletes got a different kind of workout. Their coaches sent them out on a 40-minute jog armed with garbage bags and gloves to see who could collect the most litter around the school and neighborhood.

Thanks goes out again to Western Michigan University staff and students for helping Woods Lake Elementary celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, with music and crafts this morning.

Winchell

El Sol

Parkwood-Upjohn

Loy Norrix art teacher Greg Stevens has long been interested in outdoor education and the belief that it is a natural complement to a more traditional education.

Several years ago he began developing the curriculum for a class called EcoArt, that is a combination of his pursuits in the arts, sciences and experiential education.

"I had always thought that in an ideal world, I would be able to teach much of this class in the outdoors, but lacked a reasonable place to do so. In addition, I believed in the need for Loy Norrix to have a space for all classes to use an outdoor space for instruction," he said.

Since Norrix sits on some interesting and aesthetically pleasing grounds, Stevens said, and the staff often take students outside to complement their curriculum. Unfortunately, without a designated place to rest and take material, often these visits were just quick and failed to adequately give students the amount time they need outdoors.

After his EcoArt curriculum was approved last year, he began to seriously consider the idea of making an outdoor classroom his professional goal for the 2023-24 school year. He selected the site and designed the classroom. He collected all the needed quotes from contractors and coordinated the logistics by meeting with facilities.

The classroom was mostly completed over summer and early fall. LN Principal Chris Aguinaga, Karen Jackson in facilities, and lead art teacher Mandy Clearwaters, as well as the facilities crew, "were extremely supportive and the project would have never come to fruition without them," Stevens said.

Art teacher Mandy Clearwaters and fourth grade teachers Dayon Brooks, Kaisja Johnson, and Elita Jones took Winchell Elementary School fourth graders on a mini field trip to Asylum Lake Preserve today. After a short hike from the school to the preserve, students sketched outside, conducted a nature scavenger hunt and enjoyed the natural beauty of the preserve.

Kalamazoo Public Schools secondary counselors participated in Multi-Tiered, Multi-Domain Systems of Support (MTMDSS) professional development provided by Hatching Results. The district is developing a district-wide framework, curriculum, and system to align career and counseling services with ASCA recommendations and best practices.

According to Hatching Results, similar to the MTSS continuum of supports, MTMDSS organizes school counseling program supports across three tiers of intensity:

• Tier 1 universal supports,

• Tier 2 targeted supports, and

• Tier 3 intensified supports.

These varying services provide the necessary support for all students across the three domains of school counseling: academic, college and career, and social/emotional.

Dr. Tracy Miller shared that counselors are building the skills and framework necessary to ensure that each student has an awareness of themselves and their options and participates in increased experiences that help them develop the dispositions, personal agency, and 21st-century skills necessary to succeed.

Miller said it is important for students to possess the academics, behavior, mindset, and SEL skills necessary to prepare them to aspire higher as they carve out a viable career pathway and plan for future lives related to their skills, interests, and abilities.

Additional MTMDSS professional development will be offered for counselors during the school year.

The KPS Music Department has launched a new staff newsletter. Check it out to learn about the great work the music staff is doing and some of their upcoming performances and competitions.

Spring Valley Center for Exploration was able to recognize students who had perfect attendance for the month of September during lunches this week. Staff members hope this recognition in front of peers will help encourage more positive attendance for all students, said principal Heather Misner.

Mrs. Muhammad's fourth grade class had the highest attendance rate for the month of September! They enjoyed Slurpees from 7-11 to celebrate.

The City of Kalamazoo is currently accepting nominations for the 2025 Dr. Lewis Walker Social Justice Youth Awards.

As part of the community-wide MLK Day of Service, awards will be given to students between the ages of 12-19 from the Kalamazoo area in honor of Dr. Lewis Walker, a trailblazer for the progression of racial equity in Kalamazoo.

The winners will have demonstrated achievements in racial justice, community service, volunteerism, and leadership. Winners will receive a community service award, a monetary award, and a one-year membership to the NAACP.

The winners will be celebrated during the City Commission meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 21, when they will receive their award, which will be presented by the mayor.

The nomination deadline is Friday, Nov. 29.

Nominations can be submitted electronically HERE. For those without internet access, applications can be found in City Hall in the City Manager’s Office. If you need assistance, please contact (269) 337-8043. Additional information can be found on the city's website at: https://www.kalamazoocity.org/MLK.

Assistant Cheer Coach

Milwood Middle School

Job ID: 4646

Head Womens Varsity Soccer Coach

Kalamazoo Central High School

Job ID: 4468

JV Womens Basketball Head Coach

Kalamazoo Central High School

Job ID: 4519

Early Childhood Special Education Teacher

Lincoln International Studies School

Job ID: 4592

Elementary Literacy Coach/ Interventionist

Itinerant

Job ID: 4648

Elementary Special Education ASD Teacher

To Be Determined

Job ID: 4670

Grade 4 Math Teacher

Woods Lake Elementary

Job ID: 4669

Kindergarten Teacher

Spring Valley

Job ID: 4650

School Kitchen Positions

Various Locations

Job ID: 4644

Sub Site Supervisor

Various Locations

Job ID: 4643

College Readiness Teacher

Kalamazoo Central High School

Job ID: 4653

High School Math Teacher

Loy Norrix High School

Job ID: 4622

Activity Helper

Washington Writers Academy

Job ID: 4640

Activity Helper

Indian Prairie Elementary

Job ID: 4641

Activity Helper

Woods Lake Elementary

Job ID: 4639

Hourly Intake Proctor

Adult Education

Job ID: 4652

Hourly Teacher

Community Education Center

Job ID: 4524

Hourly Tutor

Kalamazoo Innovative Learning Program

Job ID: 4427

PEEP Hourly Tutor

Various Locations

Job ID: 4488

Success Center Support Staff

Lincoln Elementary

Job ID: 4656

Title I Hourly Tutor

Various Locations

Job ID: 4407

Early Childhood Special Education Itinerant Teacher/ Teacher Consultant

Special Education

Job ID: 4595

School Psychologist

Student Services Special Education

Job ID: 4596

Secondary English as a Second Language Coach

To Be Determined

Job ID: 4555

Secondary Math Coach/ Interventionist

Itinerant

Job ID: 4649

Speech and Language Pathologist

Various Locations

Job ID: 4514

Computer Applications Teacher

Linden Grove Middle School

Job ID: 4633

Literacy Coach

Maple Street Middle School

Job ID: 4562

Self Contained Paraprofessional

Woodward Elementary

Job ID: 4660

ASD Self Contained Special Education Paraprofessional

Edison Academy

Job ID: 4659

Elementary Multilingual Paraprofessional

Lincoln Elementary

Job ID: 4662

Elementary Multilingual Paraprofessional

Woods Lake ELementary

Job ID: 4663

Elementary Special Education Resource Room Paraprofessional

Winchell Elementary

Job ID: 4658

Elementary Special Education Resource Room Paraprofessional

Edison Elementary

Job ID: 4666

Secondary Multilingual Paraprofessional

Milwood Elementary

Job ID: 4664

Secondary Multilingual Paraprofessional

Phoenix High School

Job ID: 4665

Secondary Special Education Resource Room Paraprofessional

Kalamazoo Central High School

Job ID: 4661

Lead School Secretary

Washington Writers Academy

Job ID: 4667

Lead School Secretary

El Sol Elementary

Job ID: 4668

Campus Safety Officer

Various Locations

Job ID: 4611

Behavior Specialist

Milwood Elementary

Job ID: 4651

Guest Administrator Substitutes

Various Locations

Job ID: 4083

Guest Paraprofessional

Various Locations

Job ID: 4107

Guest Secretary

Various Locations

Job ID: 4364

Library Assistant

Spring Valley Center for Exploration

Job ID: 4657

School Library Assistant (Tuesdays full day and Thursdays half day)

Arcadia Elementary

Job ID: 4671

Email: communications@kalamazoopublicschools.net
Website: https://www.kalamazoopublicschools.com/
Location: 1220 Howard St., Kalamazoo, MI, 49008
Phone: (269) 337-0100
Facebook: Facebook.com/KalamazooPublicSchools
Twitter: @KPSschools