Linden Grove Middle School
October 12, 2026
Spirit Store
Our Linden Grove Spirit Shop is live on the hyperlink below. It will be open for 90 days and items are shipped directly to you.
This is not a fundraiser, this is simply an opportunity for students and staff to purchase some Linden Grove swag.
KPS Volleyball Tournament
Wednesday, October 14
7B @ Milwood
3:45 - Milwood (1) vs Hillside (4)
4:45 - Linden Grove (2) vs Maple Street (3)
5:45 Championship
8B @ Linden Grove
3:45 - Maple Street (1) vs. Hillside (4)
4:45 - Linden Grove (2) vs. Milwood (3)
Championship
Thursday, October 15th
7A @ Hillside
3:45 - Linden Grove (1) vs Maple Street (4)
4:45 - Hillside (2) vs Milwood (3)
5:45 Championship
8A @ Maple Street
3:45 - Linden Grove (1) vs. Milwood (4)
4:45 - Hillside (2) vs. Maple Street (3)
5:45 Championship
Winter Sports Requirements
All student athletes must have a sports physical dated after April 15, 2026, before they are allowed to participate.
2. All students must pay a one-time supplemental insurance fee of $30. This can be paid online using the KPS website. Go to "family resources" tab and choose "Revtrack" $30 pay online. Students can also bring a check made out to "Linden Grove Athletics" or pay cash.
7th and 8th Boys Basketball Tryouts and Schedule
Thursday, Oct. 15 is open gym for 7th and 8th grade boys. 3-5 pm
Monday, Oct. 19 - first day of tryouts for 7th and 8th grade. 3-5 pm
A physical dated after april 15, 2026 is required to play. Free sports physicals are available by calling and setting up an appointment with the Loy Norrix Health Center.
B team games start at 3:45, A team starts at 4:45. If one grade is listed at home, the other grade plays away.
Tuesday, Nov. 3 - 7th gr. @ Hillside; 8th gr. @ LG
Thursday, Nov. 5 - 8th gr. @ Mattawan; 7th gr. @ LG
Tuesday, Nov. 10 - 8th gr. @ Maple St.; 7th gr. @ LG
Thursday, Nov. 12 - 8th gr. @ Lakeview; 7th gr. @ LG
Tuesday, Nov. 17 - 7th gr. @ Milwood; 8th gr. @ LG
Thursday, Nov. 19 - 8th gr. @ Portage Central; 7th gr. @ LG
Monday, Nov. 30 - 7th gr. @ Gull Lake; 8th gr @ LG
Wednesday, Dec. 2 - 7th gr. @ Portage North; 8th gr. @ LG
Monday, Dec. 7 - 8th gr. @ Battle Creek Springfield; 7th gr. @ LG
Wednesday, Dec. 9 - 7th gr. @ Portage West; 8th gr. @ LG
Dec. 14-16 - KPS Tourney - TBD
7th Grade Gatekeeper Program
The safety and well-being of our students is important to us. One of the ways that we help support
students is by partnering with community organizations who specialize in different components of health and wellness. We are pleased to partner with Gryphon Place to bring the Gatekeeper Program to our students. This program provides the opportunity to learn life-saving skills while increasing knowledge of mental health and managing life challenges. The Gatekeeper Program, provided by Gryphon Place, will be presented in your student’s class Monday-Wednesday, from October 12-14th, for a total of three class periods. The Gatekeeper Program has been delivered locally since its development at Gryphon Place in 1988. It is curriculum-based and delivered to classroom-sized groups in a multi-lesson, multi-media format. Gryphon Place is a local nonprofit with a mission to connect with people and organizations to assist in resolving conflict, crisis, and meeting life challenges. Gryphon Place provides School Programs, Crisis Services including the 24-hour crisis helpline (269) 381-HELP, Survivors of Suicide Support Group, and Critical Incident Stress Management debriefing teams. As well as Dial 2-1-1 Information & Referral Services for access to local programs and resources, Restorative Practices including in school mediation, and has a 51-year history of leading the community in suicide prevention efforts. The primary goal of the Gatekeeper Program is to increase the likelihood that young people, who are often the first to know when a friend has a problem, know how to respond to and get help for a friend or peer in crisis. The Gatekeeper Program provides education about mental health, stress, and coping skills in a manner that reduces stigma and encourages help-seeking behaviors, in addition to promoting the development of healthy coping and communication skills. Students will learn what a crisis looks like (warning signs of suicide), how to react, and how to get help for someone in crisis (refer to a trusted adult). The Gatekeeper program gives students tools to help them make safe, healthy choices, and helps them identify personal resources that they can turn to when they or someone they know needs help as well as encourages students to call (269) 381-HELP before an emergency happens so they are comfortable in an emergency. At any age, it can be difficult to know how to handle a crisis, and this is an important opportunity to learn these crucial life skills. Students learn that they need to tell an adult if someone is showing signs of suicidal thoughts or mental illness, and they learn that there is help, and hope, available. Students also learn about resources available to the community, the crisis line, (269) 381-HELP and the resource and referral line, Dial 2-1-1.
Gatekeeper Program staff are guest educators delivering the program curriculum and do not provide follow-up services for any student needs - in the event that a student shares any information during the course of the program that indicates someone’s safety may be at risk, that information is referred to school staff to determine whether follow-up is necessary.
If you have any questions about your student and the Gatekeeper Program, please contact Nora Snead, 7th Grade Counselor. We are fortunate to have this program available to our students and look forward to the year.
Thank you,
Nora Snead
7th Grade School Counselor
WMU Tutoring
Western Tutoring has room for more students. WMU tutoring runs from 3-4 on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the library. WMU tutoring requires a signed permission slip (PDF below). Enrollment is first come, first served.
Math Club and Math Counts
Important Changes to Second Semester Algebra Readiness Enrollment
Each year, we have a group of students who are performing near grade-level expectations but fail to reach proficiency on the state assessment (M-STEP). To help these students bridge the gap, we are teaching a specialized second-semester Algebra Readiness course. Students who score between the 40th and 55th percentile on the Fall NWEA MAP Math test will be on a watch list for enrollment in this course.
In January, students will take the Winter NWEA MAP Math test. Students from the fall watch list who score between the 40th and 55th percentile on the Winter test will be automatically enrolled in the Algebra Readiness course for the second semester. Because our school day has a fixed number of periods, this class will be one of their second-semester electives.
How You Can Help Your Child Maintain Their Elective
Every student at our school has a personalized NWEA MAP Pathway on IXL. This pathway automatically takes your child’s individual NWEA test results and creates a custom list of short, targeted skills they need to practice to grow.
Here is how you can support them between now and January:
Set an IXL Routine: Have your child log into IXL at home for 15 to 20 minutes, 3 to 4 times a week. Consistent, short practice is much more effective than cramming.
Focus on the Diagnostic/NWEA Plan: Have them navigate to their "Learning" tab, click "Recommendations," and look for their MAP Growth Study Plan.
Encourage "SmartScore" Goals: On IXL, students should aim for a "SmartScore" of 80 (Proficiency) on their recommended skills. They do not need a 100 to make great progress!
By focusing on these personalized gaps now, your child can enter the Winter NWEA testing window feeling confident, sharp, and ready to demonstrate that they are on track—allowing them to keep their elective schedule intact for the second semester.
Weapons Detectors
Students and guests must pass through a weapons detector durning normal school hours.
CATS Expectations
Linden Grove Wildcats focus on the C.A.T.S. expectations, which means we are caring, accountable, trustworthy and safe in everything we do. We will be talking to students about the C.A.T.S. expectations and how to meet them during the first week and throughout the year.
Honor Guard
Honor Guard students are identified based on their use of the CATS (caring, accountability, trustworthiness, safety) expectations. Each teacher rates each student on their team using a simple rubric. Students must score “mostly” or “often” in each category for each class. Students identified for Honor Guard are given additional privileges, like going through the lunch line first, and are offered some additional fun opportunities. Honor Guard students are selected every 6 weeks. Honor Guard students can lose the distinction for behavior infractions.
House System
This year we will be instituting a House System with our teams. Teams will compete within their own grades and against all other grades to be the “House” or “Team” of the year. Some of the areas the Houses will compete in are: attendance, grade point average, tardies, citizenship, and cleanliness. There will also be monthly spirit assemblies where Houses will compete in a hands-on activity. Every student will get a House-specific T-shirt and will be to encouraged to wear it to the monthly assembly. We hope to inject a lot of fun and school spirit with this initiative. We will post more information about the House system throughout the school year.
Important Changes to 8th Grade Completion Ceremony Eligibility
As we prepare our students for the increased academic demands of high school and beyond, our primary goal is to foster accountability, strong study habits, and a commitment to academic excellence.To support this goal, we are updating the eligibility requirements for our end-of-year 8th-grade completion ceremony.
Starting this school year, 8th-grade students must earn a passing Y1 cumulative grade in all core academic courses (Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies) to participate in the completion ceremony.
Why This Change Matters
The middle school completion ceremony is a celebration of readiness for high school. We want this milestone to be deeply meaningful. By raising the bar, we aim to motivate students to take their daily coursework seriously from day one, understanding that their effort throughout the year impacts their celebration at the end.
Keeping You Informed
We view you as our most important partner in your child's education. We want to ensure that every single student has the opportunity to walk across the stage. To prevent any surprises, we will be implementing an early-warning system:
Progress Monitoring: Teachers and counselors will closely monitor student grades throughout the year.
Warning Letters: If a student’s cumulative grade puts them at risk of failing a core class, a formal warning letter will be included with their report card.
Action Plans: These letters are not just notifications—they are an invitation to collaborate. Every warning letter will outline specific steps, such as tutoring or academic check-ins, to help your child get back on track.
Next Steps
We ask that you sit down with your child this week to discuss these new expectations. Remind them that consistency matters, and that the choices they make in the first quarter build the foundation for their completion in the spring.
If your child is struggling at any point in the year, please reach out to their teachers or our counseling department immediately. We are fully committed to providing the resources, extra help, and encouragement our students need to succeed.
Thank you for your continued support in raising the bar for our students. Together, we can ensure they all reach their full potential.
Educational Benefit Forms-Important!
All students enrolled in KPS schools can receive a healthy breakfast and lunch at no charge.
It is critical that all households, regardless of income, fill out and sign the Education Benefit Form (EBF). The information gathered from the Educational Benefit Form is crucial in determining the amount of money that our school receives from a variety of State and Federal supplemental programs like Title I A, At-Risk (31a), Title II A, E-Rate, etc.
These supplemental programs have the potential to offer supports and services for our students including, but not limited to:
• Instructional supports (staff, supplies & materials, etc.)
• Non-instructional services (counseling, social work, health services, etc.)
• Professional Learning for staff
• Parent and Community engagement supplies and activities
• Technology
We are asking that you complete and submit this as soon as possible to ensure that additional funding for our schools is available to meet the needs of our students. All information on the report is confidential.
Without your assistance in completing and returning the Educational Benefit Form, our schools will be unable to maximize the use of available State and Federal funds.
Team Names
6th grade- cheetahs and bobcats
7th grade- cougars and leopards
8th grade- lynx and panthers
Chromebook Expectations
Dismissal Procedures
Regular school day dismissal is 2:58 PM. Students exit the front doors and are expected to go to their assigned loading areas. Bus riders exit right and go directly to their buses. Car riders and walkers exit left and walk home or wait for pick up. All pick-ups should occur in the pick-up circle near the flag pole.
If a student has after-school detention, athletics, or club activities, they are expected to go directly after school and not dismiss out front.
It is essential that students know their bus numbers. Students may only ride their assigned bus and only assigned students may ride a bus. Bus riders who do not follow dismissal procedures can be subject to bus suspension. Please review the transportation handbook with your child.
After school supervision ends at 3:10. Students must be picked up by then.
Lunch Times
6th grade- 10:48:11:18
7th grade- 11:43-12:13
8th grade- 12:38-1:08
Students enter the cafeteria and sit down at their selected tables. Sections are called one at a time to get food. Once Honor Guard students are recognized after the first 6 weeks, they are always called first.
The cafeteria typically serves 6 choices. One choice is the featured menu item. Other options are pizza, burger, chicken sandwich, made to order deli sandwich, salad bar, or grab and go (often a parfait). It is possible that one item may run out, but there are always other options available.
If a student has medically documented food allergies that restrict his or her diet, the restrictions or substitutions must be documented by a licensed physician and submitted to the Food Services Office before any changes will be made. The required forms are available in the Food Services Office at the KPS Administration Building, located at 1220 Howard St. or in your child’s school. For more information, please call (269) 337-0120.
Students are expected to remain seated throughout lunch. Staff members come around to collect trash. When the weather is cooperative, we offer students the opportunity to go outside for 10 minutes.
Students who consistently fail to follow the lunchroom expectations will be assigned to eat in the lunch detention space.
Medications at School
Tardies
Cell Phone Expectations
Students may use their cell phones during breakfast, until 8:03. After 8:03
there is no student cell phone usage allowed at Linden Grove. After 8:03 cell phones are expected to be silenced and stored out of sight. The safest place for a cell phone is at home. The next safest place is locked in the pod locker. Cell phones may not be carried in hands. If a student violates the cell phone policy the phone is confiscated for the day and returned at the flag pole at dismissal. The following additional consequences apply for cell phone violations:
1st violation- reminder
2nd violation- parent meeting required.
3rd violation- 1 week cell phone turn in at the start of the school day. Turn in duration increases 5 days with every third violation.
Students wearing airpods or headphones during the school day are assumed to be connected to a phone are considered in violation of the cell phone policy.
Dress Code Expectations
1: Students may not wear hats, hoods, or head coverings after 8:03
2: Shirts must cover the naval.
3: Bookbags and jackets must be stored in lockers. Small bags can be carried.
4: The school reserves the right to ask a student to change if the student's outfit is causing a disruption to the learning environment.
Students in violation of the dress code are offered an item from the school or can call home to have an adult bring a change of clothes. Students who refuse either option will be sent home.
Gum/Food/Drink Expectations
Responsible gum chewing is allowed at Linden Grove.
Students can bring food and drinks to be eaten at lunch. No food or drinks, with the exception of water, can be eaten in the pods or duirng passing times.
Horseplay
Any staff member can assign this conseqeunce. Dententions must be served within 24 hours of the infraction (next school day). Parents will be notified of the assigned detention by email.
If You Need to Contact the School
If there is an issue with a specific class, please contact the teacher first by email. Teachers will respond within 24 hours. If there is a non-classroom issue, you can email the teacher, Mr. Hughes, Ms. Frison or call the main office.
Names to Know
Here are the names and email addresses of the support staff who work with students.
Tamica Frison- Assistant Principal frisontl@kalamazoopublicschools.net
Amanda Swan-Counselor- 8th grade and Cheetahs swanaj@kalamazoopublicschools.net
Nora Snead-Counselor-7th grade and Bobcats sneadna@kalamazoopublicschools.net
Jen Eubanks-Head Secretary eubanksjm@kalamazoopublicschools.net
Brenna Smith-Child Accounting Secretary smithb@kalamazoopublicschools.net
Jamie Korinek-Climate and Culture Coach korinekjr@kalamazoopublicschools.net
Leo Gray- Behavior Interventionist, grade 7 graylc@kalamazoopublicschools.net
Jeff Hoskins-Behavior Interventionist, grade 6 hoskinsandersonjg@kalamazoopublicschools.net