Mary M. Knight

Mission (our purpose):
Our Mission is to ensure that all students have the knowledge, skills, motivation, and confidence to be successful citizens.

Vision (who we must become):
We are a community of learners and leaders united to enrich the lives of all our students.

Good morning, MMK Families!

As we enter the final week of our first semester, I want to take a moment to reflect on what makes our Mary M. Knight community so special, and to share some important information as we approach a critical deadline.

This has been an exciting start to 2026 at our school. Looking through this week's newsletter, I'm struck by the incredible GRIT our students are showing—from Henry in Pre-K demonstrating leadership by keeping our classroom safe, to Lucas Vogland scoring 100% on his math homework and tests, to students like Jadynn and Raegyn showing determination in challenging new topics. These stories represent who we are as a school: a community of learners and leaders, working together to achieve excellence.

However, I want to be very clear about something critical: Our first semester ends on Thursday, January 22nd, and this deadline is firm. This is the last opportunity for students to complete missing assignments and take make-up assessments. The stakes are real, especially for our secondary students in grades 7-12, where failing a course means students won't receive necessary course credit and may need to recoup that credit through summer school—which can impact on-time graduation timelines.

I'm asking for your partnership right now:

• Check your student's grades in Skyward Family Access today—don't wait
• Have a meaningful conversation with your student about their classes and any challenges they're facing
• If you have concerns, contact your child's teacher or advisory teacher immediately

We have the tools, the teachers, and the commitment to support every student. But we need families engaged and aware. If your student is at risk, please reach out today so we can develop a support plan together.

I'm also excited about the after-school Woodworks and Metals programs launching this month—these opportunities exemplify our commitment to hands-on learning and preparing our students for success.

Thank you for your partnership, your trust, and your commitment to our students' success. Together, we truly are building excellence.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please don't hesitate to contact your student's teacher or our office at (360) 426-6767.

With appreciation,

Monday 1/19

• No School - MLK Day

Tuesday 1/20

• HS Basketball @ Willapa Valley 4:00 pm

Wednesday 1/21

• Late Start
• HS Wrestling @ Onalaska 5:00 pm

Thursday 1/22

• Last day of Semester 1

Friday 1/23

• No School
• HS Basketball vs. Ocosta 5:30 pm

Saturday 1/24

Dear Mary M. Knight Families,

As we enter the final week of our first semester, I want to share important information to help ensure your student finishes strong and is positioned for success in 2026.

Key Information:

First Semester Deadline: January 22, 2026

January 22nd marks the final day of the first semester and the last opportunity for students to complete missing assignments and take make-up assessments. This deadline is firm, and we encourage both students and families to be aware of it as we approach this date.

Know Your Student's Progress

If you are unsure about your child's academic standing, now is the time to take action. We encourage you to:

• Have meaningful conversations with your child about their classes and any challenges
• Check grades regularly through Skyward Family Access
• Contact your child's teacher directly with questions or concerns

Your involvement and awareness make a real difference.

Important Note for Secondary Families

For students in grades 6-12, please understand that failing a course means the student will not receive the necessary course credit. Students will need to recoup that credit through summer school or future course adjustments, which may impact their on-time graduation timeline. If your student is at risk, please reach out to their advisory teacher immediately so we can develop a support plan together.

In Closing

Thank you for your continued partnership, support, and due diligence in working with us to ensure your child's success. Together, we are committed to helping every student achieve their full potential.

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact your student's teacher or our office at (360) 426-6767.

New Invitation Coming Wednesday, January 21

Dear Mary M. Knight Families,

We hope the new year is off to a great start for you and your family! As we settle into 2026, we want to revisit an important communication tool that helps keep you connected with your child's teachers and our school community: Rooms.

A Quick Refresher: What is Rooms?

Back in October, we introduced Rooms as part of our Mary M. Knight School District app. Rooms is your direct line to your child's classroom, offering:

• Two-way messaging with teachers and staff
• Classroom announcements and important updates
• Access to materials and resources shared by teachers
• Behavior celebrations and academic achievements
• Everything in one convenient app alongside school news, events, and menus

Why We're Reaching Out Again

While many of our families successfully set up Rooms during conferences in October, we know that life gets busy! Some families may have:

• Missed the original invitation email
• Started the setup process but didn't complete it
• Had technical difficulties and didn't follow up
• Simply forgotten among all the other back-to-school communications

We don't want anyone to miss out on this valuable connection to their child's education, so we're giving everyone a fresh start!

Your New Invitation is Coming This Wednesday!

On Wednesday, January 21, we'll be sending out a new round of invitations to Rooms. Here's what to expect:

📧 Check Your Email
Watch for an email from Apptegy about setting up your Rooms account for Mary M. Knight School District. Be sure to check your spam or junk folder if you don't see it in your main inbox.

📱 It's Quick and Easy
The setup process takes just a few minutes:

1. Click "Create a password" in the invitation email
2. Complete your registration with a secure password
3. Download the Mary M. Knight School District app (if you haven't already)
4. Open the app, tap "Rooms," and log in
5. Start connecting with your child's teachers!

Already Set Up? You're All Set!

If you've already downloaded our app and logged into Rooms, you don't need to do anything. Keep using Rooms to stay connected with your child's teachers and classroom activities!

We're thrilled to announce two outstanding after-school enrichment programs that will give our students additional hands-on learning time in our Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs this semester!

After-School Woodworks

Starting: Wednesday, January 29th
Schedule: Most Thursdays, 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Location: Mr. Cole's Room
Eligibility: 8th-12th grade students who have completed at least one semester of woodshop or construction class

This program provides students with extended workshop time to refine their skills, work on personal projects, and explore advanced woodworking techniques in a supportive environment.

After-School Metals

Starting: Wednesday, February 4th
Schedule: Every Wednesday, 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Location: Mr. Plaisance's Room
Eligibility: 9th-12th grade students who have completed Semester 1 Metals

Students will have the opportunity to continue developing their metalworking skills, tackle more complex projects, and gain valuable experience working with metal fabrication equipment.

Why These Programs Matter:

Both programs offer students meaningful opportunities to deepen their technical skills, build confidence, and create portfolio pieces that showcase their craftsmanship. These experiences support career exploration in skilled trades and provide valuable hands-on learning that complements classroom instruction.

Questions? Please contact Mr. Cole (Woodworks) or Mr. Plaisance (Metals) for more information, or reach out to the main office at360-426-6767.

We're proud to offer these enrichment opportunities to our MMK students!

This Week's Outstanding OWLs

This week, we are thrilled to recognize the following students who exemplify what it means to show GRIT—perseverance, determination, kindness, and a commitment to excellence. These young OWLs are making Mary M. Knight proud!

Pre-Kindergarten

• Henry Backhaus - Henry demonstrates leadership by helping keep our classroom safe! He reminds classmates to walk carefully through our busy classroom, showing that he cares about everyone's wellbeing. Thank you for being a safety leader, Henry!

Kindergarten

• Lucas Frostad - Lucas shows incredible compassion by making sure no one feels left out. He checks on classmates who are alone and invites them into his games, demonstrating outstanding leadership qualities.
• Remington R - Remington pushed herself on the Swim Bus, focusing hard on decoding sounds and words. Her determination and work ethic are shining through!
• Braden Thomas - Braden showed true GRIT on the Swim Bus by staying focused and working hard on his reading skills. His brain power is growing stronger every day!

1st Grade

• Remy G - Remy always tries her hardest in PE, even when activities are challenging or new. She's taken our discussions about perseverance to heart and shows it every day!

2nd Grade

• Raegyn Ayres - Raegyn is a role model in PE! She follows expectations consistently and helps classmates succeed by showing them how to do activities and encouraging them along the way.
• Freya Weaver - Freya is a wonderful friend who never gives up on her work. She listens well and makes good choices every day.
• Sunny Baughman - Sunny's work ethic on the Swim Bus has been outstanding! Her focus and determination helped her advance through six reading books. Amazing progress!
• Ronan Jones - Ronan's dedication is exceptional! He cooperated beautifully during reading work, completed all homework, and progressed through eight reading books. Outstanding determination, Ronan!

3rd Grade

• Jayce Lingnau - Jayce has shown tremendous growth by following expectations in Music and PE, being safe with his body and words, and helping others. We can see him taking our OWL and GRIT values to heart!

4th Grade

• James Horn - James works with everyone and makes classmates feel comfortable and welcomed with his great sense of humor. He's growing into an awesome MMK student and true OWL!

5th Grade

• Lucas Vogland - Lucas continues to amaze us with his math skills! He usually scores 100% on homework and tests and is almost done with his book. His daily GRIT is inspiring!
• Haven-May M - Haven came to MMK ready to learn and help others! Her bright energy and willingness to take on new challenges head-first make her an amazing addition to our school community.

6th Grade

• Mason Haskins - Mason has been a bright spot in afternoon reading class with his exceptional attitude toward learning. We're excited to watch him continue to grow!
• Jadynn Smith - Jadynn works hard with new topics in Music and PE, helps classmates, and never gives up when facing challenges. She always puts forth her best effort!
• Jacee House - Jacee stays focused and completes her work consistently. She's been doing very well and is a good student. Great job, Jacee!

Thank you to all our families for supporting your children in developing these important character traits. Your partnership makes our school community strong!

🍽️ This Week's Lunch Menu

• Monday:
• Tuesday: Chicken Philly
• Wednesday: Hearty Beef & Vegetable Stew
• Thursday: Chicken Drumstick & Mashed Potatoes
• Friday:

🏃‍♂️ Athletics This Week

• Monday:
• Tuesday: HS Basketball @ Willapa Valley 4:00 pm
• Wednesday: HS Wrestling @ Onalaska 5:00 pm
• Thursday:
• Friday: HS Basketball vs Ocosta 5:30 pm
• Saturday:

📋 Important Reminders

• End of Semester 1 grading term - January 22

🔗 District Website: Access to district website

🔗 Skyward Family Access: Access grades and attendance

🔗 Athletic Schedules: MMK Sports Hub

🔗 Character Strong Resources: Available on district website

📧 Questions? Contact us at (360) 426-6767 or visit marymknight.com

Email: jstoney@mmk.wednet.edu
Website: https://www.marymknight.com/
Location: 2987 Matlock-Brady Road, Elma, WA, USA
Phone: (360) 426-6767
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MMKOwls