KMS NEWSLETTER

Dear Middle School Families,

We’ve had a wonderful start to the school year, filled with energy, learning, and excitement from our students. As we move forward, we want to emphasize one of the most important factors in student success: regular attendance. Attending school every day is one of the most important ways students can stay on track with their learning and development. Research consistently shows that students who attend school regularly are more likely to succeed academically, build strong relationships with peers and staff, and develop lifelong habits of responsibility and commitment.

What is Considered Regular Attendance?

• At our school, regular attendance means your child attends school 95% of the time, which equates to missing no more than 8 days over the course of the school year. We understand that occasional absences due to illness or emergencies happen, but it’s important to aim for consistent attendance when possible.

What is Chronic Absenteeism?

• Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing more than 10% of the school year, or 18 or more days. That’s just two days a month—and it adds up quickly. Students who are chronically absent are at a higher risk of falling behind in school, struggling with reading and math, and facing challenges in later grades.

How You Can Help

Here are a few ways you can support strong attendance habits:

• Set a consistent bedtime and morning routine.

• Limit access to technology at night such as cell phones, iPads, TV’s, etc.

• Schedule appointments outside of school hours whenever possible.

• Avoid extended vacations during the school year.

• Communicate with the school if your child is experiencing challenges that impact their ability to attend.

Sick Days

• We recognize the health and safety of students is a priority. Students should stay home from school if they have any of the following symptoms:

o Fever 100.4 or higher, vomiting, diarrhea, severe cough, rash of unknown origin, or any reportable infectious disease.

• Students may return to school when their symptoms are improving, and they are fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication. Feel free to contact Nurse Amber with further questions regarding illnesses and attending school.

We are committed to working with families to ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed. If your child is facing barriers to regular attendance, please reach out to us. We are here to help. Thank you for your continued support in making school attendance a priority.

Sincerely,

Rena Rankin, Principal​​​​​​​

Judith Bruns, ​​​​​​​Assistant Principal

Pink Areas = Student Drop-Off & Pick-Up Zones

You may use Powell Street, Rezanof Drive, or the KMS Playground Lot

Students should enter/exit the vehicle on the sidewalk side only.

Black Area = No Drop-Off or Pick-Up

This lot is reserved only for school buses and faculty parking.

For everyone’s safety, please do not drop off or pick up students in this lot.

Reminder that Morning Intramurals in the gym start at 8am and Breakfast in the Commons starts at 8:20am. Your student is welcome to join either of these morning activities to get inside out of the weather until the bell rings to go to their lockers at 8:40am. They may enter using the doors near the playground, as indicated with yellow arrows in the map below.

Thank you for helping us keep our students safe and traffic running smoothly!

• Student Gov't, Mondays, 8:20-8:40am, Room #103 - All students welcome! Elections for Secretary and Treasurer are coming soon!
• Picture Day - students will have picture made during their regular gym class period
• 7th & 8th Grade Cheerleading Tryouts, 4:00-5:15, KMS Dance Studio

• Orange Shirt Day
• Near Island Trip for Mr. Simpler's 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 6th period Culture Quest classes
• Academic Organization with Ms. Lucy, Tuesdays during Flex, Room #202
• 7th & 8th Grade Cheerleading Tryouts, 4:00-5:15, KMS Dance Studio

WEDNESDAY, 10/1

• Near Island Trip for Mr. Simpler's 3rd and 5th period Culture Quest classes
• 6th Grade Lunch Bunch, see flyer below for permission form and sign-up, Room #201
• GRACE Group with Ms. Lucy, Wednesdays during Flex, Room #202
• Early Release, 2:45PM

THURSDAY, 10/2

• Yearbook Committee, 3:50 - 4:30, Room 104
• 7th & 8th Grade Cheerleading Tryouts, 4:00-5:15, KMS Dance Studio
• PARENT MEETING for 7th & 8th Grade Cheer, 5:15, KMS Commons

SATURDAY, 10/4

SUNDAY, 10/5

• Film Screening & Discussion: GROWING the KENAI: Childcare Licensing, 4-6pm, Choral Pod

KMS PTSA’s annual Cougar Mountain Cookie Dough Fundraiser is in full-effect!

Keep an eye out for KMS students raising funds for prizes, activities, and events that benefit all students at Kodiak Middle School.

Each student brought home a cookie dough packet with an order form, product flyer, instructions, and a checklist, plus a little competitive spirit.

Every student who sells at least 2 tubs will be entered into a random prize drawing.

The 1st period class with the highest average sales per student wins a juice/donut party!

How to Sell:

1. Find an adult (not a fellow student, or your little brother) who wants to order cookie dough.

2. Write their order and contact info on the form. Remember, you will be delivering this dough, so you need to be able to contact them in November when it arrives.

3. Collect payment and secure it in the envelope.

4. Turn everything in to your 1st period teacher on Monday, 10/6.

Cookie dough will arrive in Kodiak the week before Thanksgiving (around 11/18). Students will deliver tubs directly to their customers. (Orders of more than 5 tubs will be picked up in front of the high school.). We will give you a copy of your order form when you pick up your dough tubs!

Parent Reminders:

• Please discuss with your student the ways you are comfortable with them selling cookie dough (door-to-door, bringing forms to work, etc.).

• Periodically check their envelope to be sure payments collected match tubs sold. If you don’t want your student carrying cash for 10 days, consider keeping the bulk of the money safely at home until turn-in day.

This is one of the most prestigious fundraisers available—Cougar Mountain isn’t taking any new schools. Our goal is $40,000 in sales, and KMS gets to keep HALF! PTSA can do amazing things with your support, and we are implementing awesome projects with the funds from last year, still!

We truly thank you for helping us get there!

If you fill up your order form, your student can stop by the KMS office to get more, or you can print one yourself by clicking the button below. Be sure to put your student's info on each order form in case they become separated.

Students will take pictures during their regular gym classes.

Part-time students can take theirs before their class starts, or before they leave for the day. Just let them know in the office.

You can place your order on mylifetouch.com using your Picture Day ID: EVTHCDVWZ.

Order before midnight on September 29 to get FREE shipping!

Orders after Picture Day must be placed online only on mylifetouch.com.

If your student needs a new order form, have them come by the office.

7TH & 8TH GRADE CHEERLEADING TRYOUTS

MON 9/29 , TUE 9/30, & THU 10/2

4:00PM-5:15PM

KMS Dance Studio (across the hall from the KMS Band Room)

**Tryouts are not for cutting students from the team, but to assess skills and identify areas for improvement throughout the season.

PARENT/GUARDIAN MEETING

THU 10/2

5:15PM

KMS Commons

Important information about the cheer season, schedules, and expectations will be shared.

Questions? Contact Coach Cindy

Sports Physical and Risk Forms are REQUIRED.

What is Orange Shirt Day?

On Orange Shirt Day, we recognize the indigenous children who endured the residential schooling system, and its trauma that continues to be felt to this day. We encourage all of you research more about the history and meaning of Orange Shirt Day. Wear an orange shirt on Tuesday to show your recognition.

See flyers below for more info on the two new Flex options with Ms. Lucy: GRACE Group and Academic Organization.

Students will sign up using SmartPass.

Space is limited; see Ms. Lucy with questions.

See flyer for parent permission and sign-ups.

Sara Bruce, KMS 6th grade counselor, will lead a weekly lunch bunch. At times she will be joined by KIBSD district-wide school social worker, Tania Silva-Johnson.
Lunch Bunch will meet during lunch (20 minutes) once a week, providing a quiet lunch space, games/icebreakers, and support students with anxiety, academic stress, conflict, friendships as well as other stressors and supports.

GROWING the KENAl:

Childcare Licensing

Film Screening & Discussion

Sunday, October 5th

4:00 - 6:00 pm

Free, all-ages event

Gerald C Wilson Choral Pod (722 Mill Bay Rd.) Kodiak, AK 99615

RSVP requested (but not required): https://tinyurl.com/KodiakFilm

During the course of the school day, teachers and staff like to recognize students who are caught exhibiting the KMS core values of Respect, Integrity, Citizenship, and Kindness. We do this by giving out Grizzly Tickets. Every Grizzly Ticket goes into a bucket and from that bucket, we draw two students to celebrate per grade.

“My favorite activities today were walking with my friend and fishing.”

-Kenneth N.

“My favorite activity was walking around because walking around outdoors is soothing.”

-Jorge B.

“My favorite activity was shell finding. Shell finding was my favorite because there were some very nice ones.”

-Mariella L.

“My favorite activity is fishing. I like fishing so much and I got to fish.”

-Max C.

It's almost Fall, Y'all!

Art Mural Club had its first meeting last week! Students, teachers, and parents enjoyed sharing ideas for the mural that will go on the concrete wall on Powell Street.

Common themes of bears and salmon traveling upstream from the ocean to the mountains, sunrises, and leaving prints behind emerged among the students. We also had a discussion about middle school being the "bridge years," as it is the bridge between their elementary and high school years. We realized the building's location is literally bridging between Main Elementary 5th grade and the high school!

Art Mural Club is open to all of our students and families. Our next after school meeting is Tuesday, October 20 from 3:45 to 4:30. Snacks are provided. Students will be responsible for their transportation home.

We love having volunteers in our building! Even if you aren’t able to help with specific events, there are always flexible opportunities that can fit your time and schedule. If any of the options below interest you, please reach out for more information!

• 10/6: Cookie Dough Envelopes due back to 1st period teachers
• 10/11: Elk's Lodge Hoop Shoot
• 10/16 & 10/17 - Schools Closed, In-Service
• 10/20-10/24 - Scholastic Book Fair
• 10/22 & 10/23 - Parent/Teacher Conferences
• 10/31 - End of Quarter 1
• 11/7 - 7th & 8th Grade Fall Ball

Right now, many families at KMS are facing food insecurity. Your contribution to our food pantry can make a real difference. We're collecting non-perishable food items throughout the entire school year to fill our pantry and provide meals for those KMS families in need to take home every Friday.

Drop-off at KMS:

Monday-Friday

8:30am - 4:00pm

For questions contact:

Nurse Amber

907-486-7470

amber.bunker@kibsd.org