KPS News

Nov. 22, 2024

Open Enrollment for Health Care Ends Today

Open Enrollment ends at 5 p.m. today, Friday, Nov. 22.

This is the time of year you can make any changes to your insurance elections. Need to increase your Short-Term Disability? Change plans? Did you miss your window to enroll or to add a spouse? Now is the time!!

Here is the link to all the documents you may need to meet this deadline. This includes KPS Benefit Summaries with the rates for 2025.

https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1lLF6DQhSKHS1dnQhnOa36apglufV-4_R

You must complete a new application if you are changing health plans or optional coverage.

All health insurance elections will roll over from year to year, but you must re-enroll in the Health Equity FLEX (for non-teaching staff) or the OptionALL Flex (teachers) program each year (if you participate).

Don't have any changes to make for the new year? Great, you are all set.

Don't want to enroll in the Flex plans? Nothing more is needed.

All changes go into effect on Jan. 1, 2025, with the new premiums reflected on your Jan. 3, 2025 paycheck.

Washington Holds Annual Giving Thanks for Literacy

More than 400 people enjoyed an early Thanksgiving feast at Washington Writers' Academy's Giving Thanks for Literacy dinner. In addition to the dinner, 40 families received Thanksgiving baskets from Communities In Schools of Kalamazoo, and another 20 received baskets from WWA.

Principal Lanisha Hannah gave shoutouts to her staff for another successful event: Ms. Sutton for coordinating, Mr. Cicha for the music, Ms. Denise for the food, and Ms. Serenity for the video.

"I heard words like, “Wow," "Holy Cow," "I'm full," and "Incredible. The smiles said it all," she said. "Mayor Anderson said, 'You all have done it again! What a great way to serve and foster community!' This is why we do it and 'tis the reason for the season. I’m thankful for all of you that contributed, made this possible and kept this tradition alive!"

Maple Street Musicians Earn Spots in Prestigious Ensemble

Congratulations to Maple Street eighth grader, Malaika Sow and seventh grader, Mylo Chow, who both were accepted into the MSBOA Middle School All State orchestra. They earned their position in the top middle school string orchestra in the State of Michigan this year through blind auditions.

They will perform on Jan. 25 at the State Music Teachers Conference in Grand Rapids. Be sure to congratulate these two fine musicians for their hard work. Teacher Ben Gudbrandson said, "To my knowledge, this is the first time a middle school string player from KPS has won a spot in this ensemble in over 10 years."

Surprise Spirit Week at Milwood Magnet School

The Milwood Magnet staff kicked off trimester 2 with an "Underground Spirit Week." Staff participated in theme dressing throughout the week to bring smiles students. Daily themes included: sports jerseys, dress like a kid, mix-and-match patterns. Staff celebrated the end of the week with coffee and muffins from Coffee Rescue.

"The Milwood team consistently strives to celebrate our students and enhance their achievement and well-being!," said Brandy Stivers, the Milwood climate and culture coach.

Edison Celebrates AAA Students

Edison Academy presents its AAA Awards each trimester. Students are honored for:

Achievement (Do Your Best)., Attendance (Be Present in School and Class Daily), and Attitude (Have a Positive Learning Mindset.).

Students are presented with awards for perfect and excellent attendance, citizenship (no referrals) and academic certificates from their teachers for reading, math, science, social studies or other content or character awards given at the teachers' discretion.

KC Orchestra Students Visit WMU for String Day

Almost 50 Kalamazoo Central orchestra students traveled to Western Michigan University's Dalton Center Recital Hall with music teacher Jeanna Love for the university's annual String Day. The event allows students in Southwestern Michigan to participate in group master classes with college professors. Nearly the entire KC orchestra attended the event.

Tasty Records Day Tradition at Woodward

Woodward School held their annual fall records day chili cook-off. Principal Frank Rocco took home top chili honors for the second year in a row. (Past winners have been Andrea Walker and Keri Conant.)

Support CIS by Voting for the KPS Ugly Sweater

Kalamazoo Public Schools is honored to participate in a friendly ugly sweater competition in support of CIS – and the students they support in 22 of our schools. The "22 CIS Schools of KPS" ugly sweater has ornaments representing each CIS-partner school and school life.

The competition is simple: Each dollar that is donated in honor of our sweater is a vote. The sweater with the most votes by the end of their party on Dec. 10 will be the winner! You may vote for the KPS sweater, using this link, clicking on the image, or scanning the QRcode below.

Also, please keep an eye out for social media posts and encourage your family and friends to participate!

Board Recognitions from Nov. 21

Milwood Magnet School Excelsior Students

King-Westwood Excelsior Students

Kalamazoo Central State Track Champions

KPS Helps El Concilio Celebrate Nuestras Raices Gala

Grow Your Own Program Seeks Teachers for TESOL

The Grow Your Own program at Western Michigan University is looking to enroll a new cohort of teachers to earn their master's degree in education and an endorsement in TESOL (Teaching English to speakers of Other Languages). endorsement.

KPS has received "Grow Your Own" grant funding from the State of Michigan for the next three years in order to provide this opportunity. Applications are being accepted for the next session, which begins Jan. 6.

Austyn Sabin, a teacher at Lincoln International Studies School, enrolled in the program to get better at her job.

"My students come from a very diverse and vibrant series of backgrounds and cultures and they deserve the best teacher that they can have," she said. "In order to make sure that i was armed with all the skills necessary to meet the needs of my multilingual learners I started this TESOL program and found that it has not only helped me grow professionally but it's been very applicatble directly to what I do in the classroom."

"As you are learning these strategies and learning to apply them, all of these things can support all of your learners.They’re not specific to our multilingual learners. All of these strategies work to benefit all of your learners."

If you are a current teacher interested in adding a TESOL endorsement to your teacher certification and earning a master's degree at no cost, please fill out the form HERE. Interested applicants can also contact Maria Nunez Murillo in the Multilingual Learners and World Languages Department at (269) 337-1579 or at nunezmi@kalamazoopublicschools.net.

Need a Meal? Galilee Is Serving

Want to Volunteer? Galilee Needs You

Loy Norrix Opens "Urinetown' on Dec. 6

KRESA Career Connect Coming Dec. 3

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Open House Flyer December 2024.pdf

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Save the Date for Hillside Expo

From the Wellness Committee: Borgess Health & Fitness Discount

Ascension Borgess Health and Fitness is offering KPS Employees a Black Friday initiation special. The initiation fee is reduced from $129 to $89 with no monthly fees for December. The special runs Nov. 27 to Dec. 2. Employees must bring a work badge or business card in to qualify for the discount.

For more information or to request a trial pass, call (269) 552-2304.