KESTREL HEIGHTS NEWSLETTER

​Do you have family or friends who are also interested in enrolling at Kestrel Heights School?

Please share the below flyer with them!

Our online application is available on our website at www.kestrelheights.org/apply-now.

Important Enrollment Dates for 2022-23:

• Applications must be submitted by January 31, 2022
  
• The new scholar lottery will be held on February 11, 2022

Kestrel Heights will be participating in the Scripps National Spelling Bee!

Grade-level spelling bees will take place the week of January 25th, grade-level winners will be announced on January 28th. These semi-finalists will move on to our school-wide spelling bee to be held the week of February 14th. Our top speller will then move onto the Local Spelling Bee on March 26th.

Word Study List was sent home with scholars today. Once your scholar has mastered their grade level words they should move on to practicing the next grade levels words.

Unfortunately, we will not be able to have guests in person but there will be a live link available for parents and families to view. If you have any questions regarding the Spelling Bee please reach out to Ms. Pritchett via Class Dojo message or email: elisepritchett@kestrelheights.org.

If we receive notification of a positive diagnosis of COVID, we are required to trace any exposure that may have occurred. Those who are exposed are then sent home for up to 10 days to quarantine or, they may be tested after four days and return with a negative result. However, for scholars who have already received the vaccine and are not showing symptoms, they may not have to quarantine at all.

If your scholar has received or if they do receive the COVID vaccination, would you please share the documentation with us so that we may update your scholar's school health record? In the case of an exposure this will assist us in communicating with you if your child must go home or may remain in school.

Thank you to the many Middle School Families who have already submitted the documentation.

Vaccine documentation may be emailed or dropped off to Ms. Vargas in the Middle School Admissions Office. Thank you!

Second grade has worked very hard since school has started. We are very proud of each one of our scholars and want them all to have a safe winter break with family and friends. We are encouraging our scholars to "READ, READ, READ" while on winter to break and to spend some time on Iready my path. We love you and see you back in 2022!!!

Third grade is continuing to SOAR! In ELA, our scholars have enjoyed learning about the various types of poetry. After the winter break scholars will compete in a Classroom/Grade Level Spelling Bee Jan 25-28th Please see our Class Story in Class Dojo for additional information.

Also, scholars should continue to practice reading at home each day over the winter break.

In Math, we have just completed a unit on division. When we return from the winter break we will begin a unit on fractions. Also, please continue to have your child practice their multiplication facts at home. As a friendly reminder, students enrolled in public schools should memorize multiplication tables to demonstrate competency in efficiently multiplying numbers.

In social studies , scholars just wrapped up working on the Lost Colony of Roanoke. When we return from break, scholars will explore the events that led to North Carolina moving from a colony to becoming a state. Have a great break!

Fifth grade scholars have been working with decimal numbers to the thousandths place. When we return from break we will begin adding and subtracting decimal numbers. Over the break please continue to practice your multiplication facts! Have a wonderful and restful Winter Break! See you in 2022!

• ELA: Mrs. Bowie - Scholars are studying the elements of an argument. This includes persuasive language, a claim, evidence, and commonplace assertions. When scholars return from Winter Break they will compete in the School-Wide Spelling Bee. Wordlist and flash cards were provided to every scholar today. Last, but not least, I would like to thank all of the families who brought me gifts this week!!! I've enjoyed oatmeals cookies, Mediterranean Blood Orange Hanging Sachets, Target & Chick-Fi-La gift cards, a Christmas mug and candle, a personalised "Mrs. Bowie” mug, a personalised "Mrs. Bowie” mask, school supplies, cards, drawings, and much much more!!! My heart is overflowing this holiday because of you!

• Math: Mrs. Guess - Class is wrapping up their Decimals Unit. We have the class store opening up on Friday and are finishing the Unit with a Decimals Test. Scholars will be tested on addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of decimals. This unit is calculator inactive.

• Social Studies: Mr. Griffin - We have been looking at ancient India and Ancient civilizations.

• Science: Mr. Flynn - Scholars are investigating the history of human space exploration; specifically the contribution of satellites to society.

Compacted Math 7-8:

We are currently in our unit on Probability and will continue that unit after the break.

NO HOMEWORK over Winter Break. (Work on any missing work)

Math 7: We just took a uur Quiz 12&13: Probability of Simple Events, we will continue our unit on Probability with compound events and sample spaces after the break.

NO HOMEWORK over Winter Break. (Work on any missing work)

ELA :We are currently reading “The Glory Field”. This is a story of the progress of black Americans escaping slavery and combating prejudices. The story has kept the scholars involved and has raised many questions throughout the lesson. We will continue to read the novel when we get back in January.

NO HOMEWORK over the Winter holidays. However, it would be great to do some reading on “The Glory Field”.

Social Studies: Mr Johnston: In SS we are beginning a brand new unit on the Age of Exploration. Scholars will be learning about the explorers who mapped the globe. NO HOMEWORK over Winter Break.

Mr. Guenther’s Math Classes

Math 8 - We completed the unit on Linear Functions and will be solving Systems of Equations when we return from break.

Math 1 - After completing the Features of Functions unit, our Math 1 scholars learned Transformations & the Pythagorean Theorem.

Our Math 8 & Math 1 scholars completed a “Wheel of Theodorus” Project this past week, and the results are amazing!

Mrs. Williams’ ELA - Our scholars chose an influential person and wrote a biography on them. From athletes like LeBron James & Patrick Mahomes, to musicians like Beyonce. Many students were surprised by the “Fun Facts” they found about their influences.

Mr. Johnston’s Social Studies - In social studies this week we are beginning a new unit entitled "Forming a Government." Scholars will be investigating the formation of the U.S. Constitution. No homework over winter break! See you in 2022!

Mr. Flynn’s Science - Our 8th graders are learning about human anatomy. This past week, our scholars learned about the respiratory system. They will be learning about other parts of the human body when we return from winter break.

Kestrel is always accepting PPE items. Please feel free to drop supplies off at the front desk or send them with your scholar to give directly to their Teacher.

Items to consider:

• Disinfectant wipes
• Hand sanitizer
• Mask (K-5 size)
• Cases of Water

To find all our breakfast and lunch information, please visit our website at:

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

If you need assistance please contact Maureen Gordon at gordon@kestrelheights.org or (919)484-1300 ext.300

https://kestrelhawks.bigteams.com/main/teamschedule/id/3753490/seasonid/4667339

https://kestrelhawks.bigteams.com/main/teamschedule/id/3753493/seasonid/4667309

Researchers at Duke University are speaking with parents and caregivers of Black students and of Latino students who go to Durham County Charter Schools. They are also speaking with students who are Black or Latino and school personnel. They want to learn parents’ and caregivers’ thoughts about (1) the COVID-19 prevention strategies in schools, including testing for COVID-19, and (2) how these strategies may affect students of color."

What's up with the big green box?:

If you've driven by the middle school, you may have noticed the new green collection bin between the school and the athletic field. We've partnered with Green Zone Recycling to begin a textile recycling program at KHCS! This easy solution provides a convenient way for our community to donate unwanted items, reducing the flow into our landfills and generating extra funding for our school.

How does it work?

-Place your clean and dry clothing, shoes, and household items in a bag and drop them in the collection bin.

-Green Zone Recycling collects the items from the bin each week.

-Once items are sorted, Green Zone distributes usable items to be resold. Unusable items get shredded so that the fibers can be repurposed into new materials.

-Green Zone will make a small payment to our school for every pound of items collected.

Please refer to the flyer for additional information or contact pta@kestrelheights.org with any questions.

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

December 20 - December 31

• Winter Break

January 3

• PTA Meeting

January 6

• Winter Sports Picture Day

January 11

• PBIS Expectations Assembly
• Kestrel Heights Board Meeting

January 14

• Middle School Dance Show

January 17

• MLK Jr. Day- No School

January 18

• Bus Drill Elementary

January 19

• Bus Drill Middle

January 20

• Virtual Community Discussion
• Winter Pep Rally

January 21

• End of Quarter 2
• Lockdown Drill
• PBIS Celebration

January 24

• Teacher Workday- No school

January 26

• Breakfast with Director - Ms. Jackson

January 28

• Q2 Report Cards