Mary M. Knight Family Newsletter

Dear Mary M. Knight Families,

We are here.

In just over one week, our hallways and classrooms will once again be filled with our OWLS as we begin the 2026–2027 school year together.

Over the past several weeks, our message to families has intentionally built one step at a time.

First: You belong here.

Then: We are getting ready together.

Now, as the first day approaches, I want to introduce the idea that will help guide much of our work this year: GRIT with Intentional Excellence.

At Mary M. Knight, GRIT represents Growth, Resilience, Intensity, and Tenacity. Those words have been part of our school culture for several years, but this year we are adding an important challenge to them: Intention.

• Excellence does not happen by accident.
• It happens through the choices we make each day.
• It is the student who arrives ready to learn.
• It is asking a question instead of quietly giving up.
• It is using class time with purpose.
• It is treating someone with dignity even when we disagree.
• It is putting a phone away so we can be present.
• It is showing up every day and on time.
• It is taking care of our classrooms, buses, bathrooms, equipment, and shared spaces because they belong to all of us.
• And it is learning from mistakes instead of allowing mistakes to define what happens next.

That is what GRIT with Intentional Excellence means to us.

We are not asking our students to be perfect. We are asking them to become increasingly intentional about the choices that help themselves and the people around them grow.

Our staff will be doing the same.

This week our teachers and staff return for professional learning, collaboration, classroom preparation, and the important work of making sure our systems are ready for students. On Friday evening, we will open our doors for our Back-to-School BBQ so students and families can reconnect with teachers, visit classrooms, ask questions, and begin building relationships before the first bell ever rings.

Then, on Tuesday, August 25, we get to begin.

Families are an essential part of that beginning.

This week, I encourage you to sit down with your child and talk about more than backpacks and school supplies. Talk about how they want to approach this year.

Ask:

• What is one thing you want to get better at this year?
• What is one choice you can make each day that will help you get there?

Those two questions get right to the heart of what we mean by intentional excellence.

We are excited to welcome our students back, and we are committed to creating a school where every child is known, supported, challenged, and given the opportunity to grow.

With OWL Pride,

Josh Stoney
Principal

GRIT With Intentional Excellence: What Does It Actually Look Like?

Over the past few years, our students have become increasingly familiar with the four parts of GRIT:

• Growth — We improve through feedback and practice.
• Resilience — We recover, adapt, and keep moving.
• Intensity — We bring focus, energy, and purpose.
• Tenacity — We follow through when learning is difficult.

This year, we are challenging our OWLS to bring those four ideas together through Intentional Excellence.

That does not mean doing everything perfectly.

It means learning to make purposeful choices.

A student showing Intentional Excellence might:

• Get to school on time because attendance matters.
• Begin work when class starts rather than waiting for repeated reminders.
• Put a phone away so attention stays on learning and relationships.
• Ask for help when something is confusing.
• Respond to feedback by asking, “What can I improve?”
• Speak respectfully, even during disagreement.
• Correct a mistake rather than making an excuse for it.
• Take care of school property because our campus belongs to everyone.
• Notice when someone else needs encouragement or support.

Those decisions may seem small individually.

Over 180 school days, they become habits.

And habits eventually shape who we become

.

This Week's Family Conversation

Ask your child:

“What does doing something with intention mean to you?”

Then ask:

“What is one area where you want to be more intentional this school year?”

We want students to understand from the beginning that they have tremendous influence over the direction of their year.

Strong years are built one intentional choice at a time.

August 17–24

• District Professional Learning & In-Service

Friday, August 21

• Back-to-School BBQ
• 5:00–7:00 p.m.

Monday, August 24

• First Day of High School Fall Sports Practice

Tuesday, August 25

• First Day of School — Grades 1–12

• Late start 9:00 am

Monday, August 31

• First Day of Kindergarten
• First Day of Middle School Sports

Wednesday, September 2

• Late start 9:00 am

Tuesday, September 8

• First Day of Preschool

Friday, September 4

• Fall Student Picture Day

Below are this year's general supply lists by grade level. Families are encouraged to begin gathering supplies over the next few weeks.

Grade Supplies

A complete, detailed school supply list by grade level is available on our district website and school office.

Friday, August 21 | 5:00–7:00 PM

Come Reconnect With the Owl Family!

Before the first day of school arrives, we want our students and families to have an opportunity to walk through the doors, reconnect with staff, ask questions, and simply spend some time together as a school community.

Please join us for our MMK Back-to-School BBQ on Friday, August 21, from 5:00–7:00 p.m.

The evening will be an open-house format, so families are welcome to arrive anytime during the event.

Visit Your Child's Classroom

Teachers will be available in their classrooms so students and families can:

• Meet or reconnect with teachers.
• See classrooms before the first day.
• Learn about general classroom expectations.
• Ask questions specific to your child's class.
• Help younger students become familiar with where they will go on the first morning.

Simply being back on campus before school begins can make a significant difference for students who may be wondering what the first day will feel like.

Family Information Tables

We will also have several stations available so families can get important beginning-of-year information and have questions answered in one place.

Look for information and support regarding:

Transportation — Mr. Toby Lane
Ask questions about bus routes, transportation procedures, and student transportation needs.

Food Service & Registration — Ms. Shantel Freeman
Receive food-service information and assistance with beginning-of-year registration needs.

Athletics — Mr. Tom Kerr
Ask questions about fall sports, athletic registration, FinalForms, schedules, and participation requirements.

Student Health & Nursing Information
Families can review important health information and make sure the school has what is needed to safely support their child.

Family Surveys
We will be asking families to complete several short surveys that will help us better understand how we can support your child and strengthen our partnership with families this year.

Dinner With Our PTO

Our PTO will also be helping prepare dinner for our Owl community!

While you are here, take a moment to learn more about the Mary M. Knight PTO and how you can become involved.

Our PTO does a tremendous amount for MMK students throughout the year, and we would love to have additional parents, guardians, grandparents, and family members join in supporting our OWLS.

Come meet teachers, reconnect with neighbors, get your questions answered, grab some dinner, and help us kick off another great year at Mary M. Knight.

Friday, August 21 | 5:00–7:00 p.m.

We hope to see you there!

What Families Need to Know for Tuesday, August 25

The first day of school for students in grades 1–12 is Tuesday, August 25.

Here are the most important details families need to know before that first morning.

School Hours

School Begins: 8:00 a.m.
School Dismisses: 3:00 p.m.

Family Drop-Off

The secondary building doors will open at 7:45 a.m.

Families driving students to school should use the secondary building entrance for student drop-off.

Students who arrive before classes begin will remain in the cafeteria until they are released by staff to report to their classrooms.

Please do not use the elementary entrance as a family drop-off area. That location is being reserved for our buses so we can maintain an organized and safe arrival process.

Bus Arrival

Buses will unload students at the elementary building doors.

Bus route pickup and drop-off information can be found through the Transportation Department page on the district website:

https://www.marymknight.com/page/transportation-department

Transportation questions can also be directed to:

Mr. Toby Lane
360-426-6767, ext. 123
tlane@mmk.wednet.edu

Parents Entering the School

We understand that especially during the first few days, some parents of younger students may want to help their child transition into the building.

Parents or guardians who plan to enter the school or accompany an elementary student to a classroom must first check in and sign in through the school office.

This is an important part of our campus safety procedures.

We want our school to remain welcoming to families while also making sure that staff know who is inside our buildings at all times.

Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and secure campus for our students.

Before Tuesday Morning

Please make sure your child knows:

• How they are getting to school.
• How they are getting home.
• Where they will enter the building.
• Who they should ask if they are unsure where to go.

Our staff will be visible throughout campus that morning and ready to help students find their way.

No student needs to have everything figured out before they arrive.

We will be ready for them.

Your First Days Look a Little Different

Our youngest OWLS have intentionally different start dates as we work to create a supportive transition into school.

Kindergarten

First Day of Kindergarten: Monday, August 31

Mrs. Tracey will be reaching out directly to Kindergarten families to schedule individual WaKIDS Family Connection meetings during the opening days of the school year.

These conversations provide an opportunity for families and the teacher to connect, share information about each child, ask questions, and begin building the partnership that will support students throughout their Kindergarten year.

Kindergarten families should watch for communication directly from Mrs. Tracey regarding their individual meeting time.

Preschool

First Day of Preschool: Tuesday, September 8

Mrs. Lohman will also be reaching out directly to Preschool families before the beginning of the program to make contact and share important start-of-year information.

We look forward to welcoming our youngest OWLS to campus!

Registration Is Complete — What Happens Now?

Thank you to the students and families who joined us during our Secondary Registration and Schedule Pickup days last week.

At this time, students in grades 7–12 can review their current schedules through Skyward Family Access.

Students will also receive a printed copy of their schedule when they return to school.

Still Want to Request a Schedule Change?

Now that registration has concluded and final adjustments are being made to course sections, schedule-change options may be more limited.

Students who would still like to request a change will need to submit that request to Ms. Alex Fisher after school begins.

Requests will be reviewed based on:

• Graduation requirements.
• Student academic needs.
• Course and section availability.
• Class enrollment numbers.
• Changes already completed during registration.

Requests connected to graduation requirements and academic needs will receive priority.

Because our master schedule is built around a small number of course sections, not every requested change will be possible.

Our goal is to ensure every secondary student has a schedule that supports progress toward graduation while maintaining balanced and viable classes across our school.

Five Areas Guiding Our Work This Year

Families will hear us talk throughout this year about our five boulders.

These are not five separate programs.

They are five areas we believe will have the greatest impact on student learning, connection, and success when we work on them consistently.

1. Teacher Clarity

Students know what they are learning and what success looks like.

We want students to be able to answer three important questions:

What am I learning?

Why am I learning it?

How will I know when I am successful?

When learning is clear, students are better able to take ownership of their progress.

2. Belonging

Every student feels known, safe, connected, and valued.

Before students can take healthy academic risks, ask for help, or fully engage in their learning, they need to know they belong.

Relationships will continue to be at the center of the work we do.

3. Advisory

Students build habits, leadership, and future-ready skills.

For our secondary students, Advisory will continue developing into an important space for academic monitoring, relationships, leadership development, goal setting, and preparation for life beyond high school.

4. PLC Teams

Staff collaborate to improve learning and respond to student needs.

Our teachers will regularly work together to examine student learning, identify needs, strengthen instruction, and determine how we respond when students need additional support or additional challenge.

5. Systems

Consistent routines create a safe and effective school day.

Students are most successful when expectations are predictable.

Whether we are talking about attendance, behavior, transitions, communication, academic support, or safety, strong systems help everyone understand what to expect and allow us to spend more time focused on learning.

These five boulders connect directly to our larger goal:

Every student belongs. Every student grows. Every student has the opportunity to succeed.

A Safe, Focused School Is Something We Build Together

Part of starting the year with Intentional Excellence is being clear about the expectations that help protect learning, relationships, and safety.

Over the first several days and weeks of school, staff will spend intentional time teaching and reteaching expectations rather than assuming students already know every routine.

At the same time, there are several areas where we are asking for strong family partnership from the very beginning.

Attendance — Every Day Matters

One of the simplest and most powerful ways a student can position themselves for success is by being at school, on time, every day they are able to attend.

Learning builds from one day to the next, and repeated absences or late arrivals can quickly create gaps that are difficult for students to recover.

Our message to students is simple:

School matters every day.

Families can help by developing consistent morning routines, scheduling appointments outside the school day whenever possible, and communicating with the school when circumstances interfere with attendance.

Cell Phones — Protecting Time to Learn

Phones are an important part of modern life, but they can also become a significant distraction from learning and face-to-face relationships.

Our expectations this year are designed to protect instructional time.

Elementary students: phones should remain off and stored in a backpack during the school day.

Students in grades 7–12: phones are expected to remain off and away during instructional time. Secondary students may use phones before school, during lunch, and after school unless otherwise directed by staff.

We strongly encourage families to discuss these expectations before school begins.

If you need to reach your child during instructional time, please contact the school office so we can assist.

Respectful Behavior — Intent Matters, and Impact Matters Too

We want every child at MMK to feel safe, respected, and able to learn.

That means teasing, intimidation, harassment, inappropriate language, and behavior intended to embarrass, target, or hurt another person do not belong in our school.

One phrase we want students to understand this year is:

A harmful behavior does not become harmless simply because someone calls it “a joke.”

Students will make mistakes. When they do, our responsibility is to help them understand what happened, take responsibility, repair harm when possible, learn a better response, and move forward.

Our goal is accountability and growth.

Chromebook Expectations — A Learning Tool

School-issued Chromebooks are learning tools and should be treated that way.

Students will be expected to use devices appropriately, follow staff directions, care for the equipment, and use district technology for its intended educational purpose.

At this time, Chromebooks will generally remain at school unless students receive specific directions allowing a device to be checked out or taken home.

Families should also watch for beginning-of-year technology agreements. Required forms will need to be reviewed and returned before full Chromebook access is provided.

School Pride — Take Care of What Belongs to All of Us

Our buses, bathrooms, classrooms, athletic facilities, equipment, Chromebooks, furniture, and outdoor spaces belong to the entire MMK community.

Taking care of them is part of what it means to be an OWL.

We will be talking with students this year about the idea that:

How we treat shared spaces says something about how we treat the people who share them with us.

School pride is not simply wearing green and cheering at games.

It is leaving a place better than we found it.

You do not need a complicated family meeting to help your child prepare for the year.

Four short conversations can make a meaningful difference.

1. Attendance

“School matters every day. Our plan is to arrive on time and communicate when something gets in the way.”

2. Respect

“A joke is not okay when someone feels unsafe, embarrassed, or targeted.”

3. Phones

“Your phone will follow school expectations so you can focus, learn, and connect with the people around you.”

4. School Pride

“We take care of buses, bathrooms, classrooms, equipment, and shared spaces because they belong to all of us.”

When students hear similar messages from the adults at school and the adults at home, expectations become much clearer.

Thank you for being our partner in that work.

Five Things to Do Before August 25

With just over a week remaining, families can help make the first morning smoother by taking care of five things now:

1. Confirm Transportation
Know whether your child is riding the bus or being dropped off and review the plan with them.

2. Check Skyward
Make sure you can access Skyward Family Access. Secondary students should review their current schedules.

3. Prepare the Backpack
Gather school supplies, a water bottle, and other items your child will need.

4. Rebuild the Routine
Begin moving bedtimes and wake-up times toward the school-year schedule.

5. Talk About the Year Ahead
Ask what your child is excited about, what they are wondering about, and one area where they want to demonstrate Intentional Excellence.

A calmer first morning begins with a little preparation now.

Save the Date!

Mark your calendars, Owl families—Fall Student Picture Day is already scheduled!

Fall Student Photos

Friday, September 4, 2026

Photo Day

Monday, November 16, 2026

Families who would like to get a head start may order student photo packages online through Lifetouch before picture day.

Order Online:
Order Student Photos Through Lifetouch

We will provide another reminder as September 4 gets closer, but families are welcome to order their packages early.

Save the date and get those smiles ready, Owls! 📸🦉

Fall Athletics

Get Registered. Get Cleared. Get Ready!

The beginning of the fall sports season is quickly approaching, and we are excited to welcome our Owl student-athletes back!

Our high school fall sports include:

🏈 Football
🏐 Volleyball

The first day of high school fall sports practice is Monday, August 24.

Students planning to participate in athletics must complete their sports registration through FinalForms before participation.

✅ Families Should Complete Registration Now

Please take time before practices begin to make sure all required:

• Student information
• Parent/guardian forms
• Student and parent signatures
• Medical information
• Athletic registration requirements

are completed.

Waiting until the first day of practice can delay an athlete's ability to participate, so we strongly encourage families to review FinalForms now and take care of anything that remains incomplete.

Register for MMK Athletics

Access MMK FinalForms Athletic Registration

Fall Athletic Schedules

Families can also begin reviewing our fall athletic schedules through the district website:

View MMK Athletic Schedules

Athletics are an important part of the student experience at Mary M. Knight—building teamwork, perseverance, commitment, school pride, and connection.

We are excited to see our athletes back in action and can't wait to fill the stands with Owl Pride this fall.

Get registered, get ready, and GO OWLS!

Students planning to participate in Mary M. Knight athletics must complete their sports registration through FinalForms.

Access MMK FinalForms for Athletic Registration

Families are encouraged to complete registration as soon as possible so athletes are cleared and ready for the start of practices. Please make sure all required forms, signatures, and medical information are completed before participation.