KAMSC Newsletter

We had a great first week of school! It was so great to see all of our returning and new students. Teachers reported back that all of the students came eager to learn! I held an assembly yesterday to discuss the new handbook, and other KAMSC-related topics. The students were so attentive and the energy was great! We had a little fun as well with a rock-paper-scissors challenge and a give away!

A few quick reminders for parents dropping off. Please do not pull into the CEC parking lot driveway and stop at the end. That must remain open to traffic flow at all times. You may use the drive for the loading doc off of Vine if you want to pull in to drop off. If you pull into the parking lot you must pull all the way in and drop the students off in the lot and then pull back out. The preferred drop off location is on the CEC side of Vine street so students can exit the car right onto our sidewalk.

Remember, no school Monday the 1st for Labor Day weekend. We have a picture day this year at KAMSC (new), this will be on Tuesday September 2nd. We hope to see all families at our open houses on September 3rd here at KAMSC.

Heather Kortlandt

Director, KAMSC

Lifetouch will be here on Tuesday, September 2nd to take photos of all students and staff. We need everyone photographed for our KAMSC badges. If you also wish to order these photos you can do so at mylifetouch.com. You create an account or login with your picture day ID which is EVTD86JNB

We have also handed out paper flyers to students but please note that the date is wrong on the flyer...we changed the picture day to Tuesday, September 2nd.

We may have a KAMSC Prop or two available for students to use for pictures- if you don't want them to use anything, please tell your child that, otherwise we will be giving that choice (ex. lab coat, KAMSC sign)

I could use one parent volunteer for picture day. One from 7:30-11:00. Please use this link to sign up and fill out this volunteer form and email to heather.kortlandt@kamsc.org for KPS (good for 6 months).

This summer, senior Rowan Hagenbuch joined a biochemistry research team as part of the American Chemical Society's Project SEED. Mrs. Kortlandt and Ms. Joyce visited her poster session at Kalamazoo College and saw alumni Devi DeYoung and Anoushka Soares present their research as well.

KAMSC now has a student handbook that will be distributed each year to be signed by a parent/guardian and the student. You will do so through PowerSchool. It is the responsibility of each child and parent to read the handbook and comply with our program guidelines. The handbook is signed in PowerSchool through a google form. Click the Button Below to review the handbook with your child. Please do this by September 5

If you student is going to be absent from school you must notify both your partner school and KAMSC (if they are gone all day) and always KAMSC if they are gone during their KAMSC classes. Please remember that attendance is vital as the content moves fast and we want students to have as much of their classroom experience as possible. To notify KAMSC call (337-0004) or email kamsc.office@kamsc.org. KAMSC will now have an attendance policy that follows the state definition of chronically absent which is defined as being absent more than 10% of the school days. A full day absence = 2 KAMSC periods for KAMSC. In-person attendance is a requirement to remain in the KAMSC program. Research shows chronic absenteeism can harm academic performance. KAMSC’s collaborative, hands-on learning environment relies on active participation, rich discussions, and lab work that can't be replicated outside the classroom. Click the button below for the attendance procedures we will use in the office for students exceeding the 10%.

If you are a NON KPS student, you must:

• Download the app
• Use District Code: KXRB
• Sign in as "parent" (not student) and select "forgot password"
• On the next screen they should use their KAMSC school email address as their username and also use their kamsc email address as the "email address"...both are your KAMSC email.
• Check your kamsc email - a link to reset your password will appear (May take a few minutes to get the email)
• Set your password
• This will allow you to see your grades etc.
• Note: Parents also set up their own accounts.
• Parents - do the same instructions above
• Then - go to forms
• go to student information update form and then add yourself as contacts to your student through the form
• note it is important and necessary for you to include your email when adding yourself as a contact.

PowerSchool is the student information system that KAMSC will now use (switching from Synergy for those of you who were with us last year). Please click on the button below to review instructions for doing so. You will update your information yearly on this portal so that we have the most up to date information for your child. You will also use PowerSchool to check your students grades and keep track of attendance during the school year. If you have questions, please email kamsc.office@kamsc.org

Parents, please use the button below, to first download (or update) the app for your phones. Then, once your account is set up, go to "menu", "forms", "2025-2026 registration", then there will be a drop-down menu of forms to complete. This is extremely important. KPS parents, you may have already updated your information. Please complete this by September 5th. KAMSC students and parents will share a log in to PowerSchool - when you log in, to complete these tasks, please log in using your student's KAMSC email address/credentials. So you will want to do this task with your student near you. Please complete this task between the dates of September 2 -5.

KAMSC swag shop is open for the new year! It will stay open for three weeks. Kalamazoo Sportsware will then complete orders and we will do a pick up at school

https://www.purekalamazoo.com/kamsc

Please fill out this required volunteer form to have on file.

Each year KAMSC hosts university representatives that will come speak with students and parents. We also host a College Information night, which will be September 24 at open lab from 7-8:30 pm.

Please click the button below for a full list of dates and times for scheduled college visits at KAMSC and local in our area.

9th grade Honors Biology will attend a field trip to the West Lake Nature Preserve to explore a variety of ecosystems and the flora and fauna characteristics of Southwest Michigan. Each student is assigned a date based on their KAMSC group, either Sept 16 (Angles group), 17 (Rays group), or 18 (Segments group). Please ask your student what group they are in. Please fill out the Opt in permission slip.

Students will need parent transportation to West Lake to arrive between 8-8:15 and KPS will provide busses back to KAMSC for all students. Students will then catch their busses/rides to their partner schools from KAMSC for the afternoon. Please fill out this form to indicate whether you are able to drop your child off at the West Lake Nature Preserve on the specified day of your child's field trip. Please fill the form out after you know the date/group your child is in.

Please dress appropriately for the weather as students will be outside for the entire time.

• No open-toed shoes or sandals
• Consider bring sunscreen and insect repellent.
• Students should also bring a notebook and writing utensil.

Here is a link to the KAMSC opt out if your child will not be able to attend a given field trip. (note we are asking all parents to opt in just once as a permission slip for the full year, but can use this form to opt out of individual trips. Opt out form link

If you are dropping off or picking up your student at KAMSC, please do so at the Vine Street entrance. Please find a safe place to pull over and then have you student proceed to the Vine street entrance. If students are driving themselves:

1. They need to acquire a parking pass from the KAMSC office - please fill this out

2. They need to park by the El Sol playground off of Dutton Street (but then walk to Vine street entrance)

3. They should be reminded to not keep anything valuable in their car and to keep their cars locked at all times.

4. The building will have a campus security officer at the Vine Street entrance during times of arrivals and dismissals.

Mon., Sept 1 - No School

Wed., Sept 3 - KAMSC open house - 9th/10th grade 6-6:55 pm 11th/12th grade 7-7:45pm

Wed., Sept 10 - 9th grade mixer - 6-7:30 - 1st floor Chenery Lobby

Wed., Sept 10 - open lab 6-7:30

Tue., Sept 16- 2:00-2:45 - MSU College Rep at KAMSC

Tue., Sept 16 - 9th gr. Bog Field Trip - Angles

Wed., Sept 17 - 9th gr. Bog Field Trip - Rays

Thur., Sept 18 - 9th gr. Bog Field Trip - Segments