Kingsley Connection

With the snowstorm we’re experiencing right now, it’s a great time to slow down, stay warm, and cozy up with a good book—something we hope all our Cougars lean into this month. As we head into December, we’re gearing up for an exciting stretch: winter benchmark testing, our schoolwide dance party, a full slate of athletic events, and three important weeks of learning before break.

Now is the time for students to show strong attendance, arrive on time, and follow daily expectations like wearing their IDs and keeping cell phones “silent and away.” When we return on Monday, Dec. 1, we’re ready to launch into a fun, focused, and memorable December at KJHS.

Don’t miss out—circle those school holidays, teacher institute days, and early release days. Your future self will thank you!

📣 Stay in the Know:
Daily Announcements pop up each lunch period and are always hanging out on the KJHS website main page. Check ‘em out!

December:

Monday, Dec. 1 - Return to school

Wednesday, Dec. 3: Early Release Day

Wednesday, Dec. 3: Normal West Freshmen Orientation @ 6:30pm

Friday, Dec. 5: Student Council Winter Dance Party (3:45pm - 5:45pm)

Wednesday, Dec. 10: Normal Community Freshmen Orientation @ 6:30pm

Dec. 22-Jan. 2: No School: Winter Break

A quick reminder that Winter STAR Testing kicks off the week of December 1! We’re excited to see the growth our students have been working toward.

Being at school, well-rested, and ready to go makes a big difference.

Students will take both Math and Reading assessments, and the results help us celebrate progress, fine-tune our instruction, and identify any supports students may need. We’re proud of the hard work our Cougars have put in—let’s finish 2025 strong!

A strong start leads to a strong day, and those first 10 minutes of advisory matter more than most students realize. Arriving late disrupts a student’s momentum, and those minutes add up fast. The same is true throughout the day—being on time to every class helps students stay organized, connected, and ready to learn.

Strong attendance and low tardies also directly support our School Improvement Plan (SIP) goals. Families often ask if this is something they should know about — and the answer is yes. When students are present and on time, we move closer to meeting our schoolwide goals and ensuring academic growth for all learners. Every student truly makes a difference.

We may have a long break ahead, but we still have three full weeks of learning, and teams have planned fun, engaging activities built around academics. Students need to be here, and on time, to experience them.

This month’s challenge: Can our Cougars hit 15 days of full-day attendance? We believe they can!

If your student needs support with food, supplies, or attendance concerns, please reach out to our Family Coordinator, John Ahlemeyer (ahlemej@unit5.org). He is happy to help.

Friday, December 5th: Student Council After-School Dance Party from 3:45–5:45 PM!

• 🎟 Tickets: $5 — on sale during lunch starting two weeks before the dance

• 🕓 When: Dance starts right after school and ends at 5:45 PM

• 🎒 After the fun: Students will grab items from their lockers and be ready for pickup by 5:50 PM

• 🚗 Pick-up time: Please plan to pick up all party-goers by 6:00 PM

Thank you for helping us make this celebration a glow-tastic success! Please check out the dance party wishlist!

Amazon Wishlist

At the junior high level, staying off devices during the school day is a challenge for many students. We reinforce expectations at school, but family support truly makes the biggest difference. When families limit non-urgent communication, students feel less tempted, show stronger self-control, and understand that school is a place for learning—not notifications. Consistent expectations at home and school help students build responsible habits that carry into high school and beyond.

Families can help by:
• Avoiding texts or calls during the school day unless it’s an emergency.
• Calling the school office if you need to reach your child.
• Reminding your student each morning to silence their device and store it in their locker or backpack.
• Talking with them about how staying off devices helps them focus, learn, and make real connections.

Student expectations remain the same: phones, smart watches, earbuds, and other personal devices must be silenced and stored away all day, with use allowed only in emergencies or if written into an IEP or 504 plan.

At Kingsley, we believe school is more than classes—it’s also about finding your place, exploring new interests, and building lasting friendships. Our wide range of clubs gives every Cougar a chance to connect, lead, create, and have fun. Whether you love music, service, academics, or just want to try something new, there’s a club for you at KJHS.

👉 Check out the full list below and encourage your student to get involved—because Cougars grow stronger together!

Junior High Athletics Update: Click here

KJHS Volleyball Tryouts:

Join us for a free night of technology, coding, and creativity! This event is hosted by the Normal West Computer Science Honor Society, Girls Who Code, and the Computer Science Associate's Degree Program.

• Date: Friday, December 12

• Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:15 p.m.

• Who: This is a free event open to all K-8 students.

• Details: No experience is needed! Come learn with us!!!

Student Registration: Please use the link below to register your student or scan the QR code on the attached flyer.

Register your student for K-8 Coding Night!

For our 8th graders, the journey toward high school officially begins in December. Over the next few weeks, students will move through a clear and supportive process designed to help them understand their options, explore their interests, and make confident choices for freshman year.

Families may not know which high school boundary they live within, so please click on this link to find which high school your student will attend (based on your address) High School Boundary Map.

There are a couple additional sessions prior to 6:30 that may be of interest to you. Please read these carefully:

• If your child wishes to participate in the Computer Science Associate Degree program offered by Heartland Community College and Unit 5, there will be a meeting at NORMAL WEST HIGH SCHOOL at 5:00 pm in the West Auditorium. This program is offered at West High School only; so if your child plans to participate in this program, they would attend Normal West High School.
• If you are interested in learning more about Honors Classes (Honors Classes: Are they for me?), Normal Community will offer an OPTIONAL session starting at 6:00 pm in the Auditorium. Both schools offer Honors courses.

Please click on the links below to read the welcome letter from your student's high school.

• West Wildcat Welcome Letter- Freshmen Orientation 12/3/25
  
• (En Espanol) West Wildcat Welcome Letter - Freshmen Orientation 12/3/25
• NCHS Ironmen Welcome Letter - Freshmen Orientation 12/10/25
  
• (En Espanol) NCHS Ironmen Welcome Letter - Freshmen Orientation 12/10/25

Respectfully,

Dr. Angie Codron

Normal West HS

Dr. Adam Zbrozek

Normal Community HS

High School Course Selection Timeline

December 1 (Team 8-1) & December 2 (Team 8-2)
Middle school counselors will visit 8th grade classrooms to present important high school course information.

December 3 (Normal West) & December 10 (Normal Community)
Freshman Orientation at each high school.

December 8
High school counselors will come to Kingsley to share course selection and program information.

December 9 (Team 8-1) & December 10 (Team 8-2)
Middle school counselors will meet one-on-one with 8th grade students to discuss course choices.
• Students who are absent will meet with counselors when they return.

Mid-January
Students will enter their course requests into Infinite Campus.
• Students who are absent will complete this upon their return.

March 20
Last day for students to make any course selection changes with their middle school counselor.

Knowing who to contact at KJHS about certain issues can be challenging. We hope this mini-guide helps as to who to contact first when you need help.

• Absences (partial or full day): KJHS Attendance line (309-557-4456)

• Classroom level issues (grades, behavior, etc.): Your student's teacher(s)

• General questions about KJHS: KJHS Main Office line (309-557-4407)

• Student information/registration updates: KJHS Guidance office (557-4899)

• Sports-related questions: Mrs. Menken (557-4862 or menkenk@unit5.org) or Mr. Davis (557 - 4962 or davissy@unit5.org)

• Student behavior issues: Student's AP

• 6th & 7th Grade: Mr. Larson (557-4858 or larsond@unit5.org)

• 8th Grade: Mr. Davis (55 -4962 or davissy@unit5.org)

• Student's emotional or social issues: Student's Guidance Counselor

• Last Name A-K: Mrs. Kimberly Johnson (johnsonk@unit5.org)

• Last Name L-Z: Mrs. Breanna Schwarz (schwarb@unit5.org)

• Student schedules: KJHS Guidance office (557-4899)

• Student support services: KJHS Guidance office (557-4899)

• Issues with KJHS staff member: Mrs. Kelly Fitzgerald (fitzgeke@unit5.org; 557-4574)

• Curriculum questions: Mrs. Kelly Fitzgerald (fitzgeke@unit5.org; 557-4574)

Email: fitzgeke@unit5.org

Website: https://kingsleyjhs.unit5.org/
Location: 303 Kingsley Street, Normal, IL 61761

Phone: 309-557-4407
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kingsleyjhs/

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