KMS WEEKLY UPDATE

Dear Families,

We are so grateful you are a part of the school community this year.

One of the aims at our school is to equip young people for all the realities of today’s world. With that in mind, we have partnered with CharacterStrong - an organization that provides training for educators and social & emotional learning curriculum for students. Their work in grades 6-12 focus on 3 main outcomes: increasing a sense of belonging for all students, improving skills that support student well-being, and deepening student engagement in their academics, in their school, and in their community.

Here’s what the data tells us:

• A sense of belonging in school is one of the most important conditions for learning and a fundamental support for social and emotional well-being. Nearly 1⁄3 of all students report a weak sense of belonging in their schools. Roughly half of 6th - 12th grade students say they don’t enjoy coming to school most of the time.

• Mental health challenges for teens have been increasing and 7 out of 10 teens in the U.S. (between 13 and 17 years old) have named anxiety or depression as a major problem among their peers.

• Student engagement drives learning and supports school success.

This curriculum was created to support school communities as they engage in the
work of preparing young people to thrive in the 21st century. The research supports the effectiveness of social & emotional learning in schools to increase student’s academic success and college & career readiness. The lessons focus on developing skills and mindsets around building positive habits, understanding our emotions, and increasing empathy for people and communities who have lived different lives than us. The curriculum helps students think about things they want to improve in their school, their relationships, and their world and then provides tools for them to work individually and in teams to close the gaps they’ve identified.

One of the key parts of nearly every lesson is the “CharacterDare” for Middle School students and the “To Be List” for High School students. These are invitations near the end of most lessons to put the content that they are learning into action in the real world.

If you ever want to play an active role in the CharacterStrong curricula, simply ask your student about the most recent CharacterDare or To Be List challenge. Maybe they’ll invite you to try one yourself!

To learn more about CharacterStrong, check out characterstrong.com to discover other resources for students and families.

Looking forward to a great year!

Geoff Smith, Principal

Rena Rankin, Assistant Principal

This is where we will have a quick reference for the upcoming week. More info is usually listed lower in the newsletter, if needed.

If you still haven't ordered pictures, click HERE to go to Lifetouch website,

enter the KMS picture day ID: EVT9NS9RH

and fill out the info for your student.

Tuesday @ 3:30pm, meet in Mr. Hodge's room (#102) to learn more about KMS Student Government! Join us to rep your class this year!

Turn your ideas to reality!

Work together with the school to voice your opinions & concerns!

*** All students in all grades are welcome ***

All students interested in theater!

KMS Drama Club will meet this Tuesday in the Cafeteria/Commons

4:15-5:00pm

Learn all aspects of a stage production, hone your acting and improv skills, and have tons of fun with your fellow students!

Any questions, see Mrs. Tamie during lunch

Let's show our school spirit this Friday - wear blue and gold, KMS swag, and show off your new (or vintage!) Grizzly Gear!

2023-24 Grizzly Gear is here,

priced at $15-30 for t-shirts, sweats, and hoodies!

See Mrs. Amanda or Mrs. Kim (during lunch/recess) to get yours!

Here, we will post a variety opportunities for all families to support KMS.

If you are interested in how you can pitch in, keep an eye out for something that works for you!

We appreciate ALL support, no matter what form it takes.

Thank you!!!

If you would like to help with donations, we have an Amazon Wishlist posted HERE.

Also- gently used clothing, especially bottoms, all sizes.

We are happy to launder them.

Donations can be dropped off at the main office.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

If you can help with organizing and keeping the line moving

please sign up for a time slot HERE.

This is a quick and easy way to help out!

Thank you so much!

Please make sure your student has a reusable water bottle to bring to school each day.

Thank you!

Lunch Bunch for 7th and 8th graders start next week!

6th graders will start the following week.

If you're interested in Lunch Bunch, click below for more information.

During the course of the school day, teachers and staff like to recognize students who are caught exhibiting the KMS 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 one winner per grade. The winners get to sit on the stage with up to 7 of their friends for the rest of the week!

THIS WEEK'S GRIZZLY TICKET WINNERS:

6TH GRADE - Alex Perez

7TH GRADE - Austin Sabangan

8TH GRADE - Tori May

KMS Basketball for 7th and 8th grade girls will be held in the KMS Gym from 4-5:30pm on September 27, 28, and 29.

You MUST have a current sports physical on file.

If you don't have one on file, click the button below to take you to the online printable form, which you will take to be filled out by your medical provider. You can also pick up a sports physical form on the SPORTS CORNER bulletin board by the main office.

If you have questions, please email Coach Marilia by clicking HERE.

If you have not done so already, please plan to send the Cross-Country activity & gear fee of $27.50 in with your runner.

The fees go toward balancing out the costs to run an activity, and includes team shirts.

If you need any other arrangement you can contact Mrs. King privately.

Thank you!

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES AND ACTIVITIES

Ms. Lhotka’s 6th grade Skills Development classes will be taking field trips to the Kodiak Public Library.

6th period will go on Wednesday

4th period will go on Friday

Our goals are to get library cards for students, find out about library services, and check out books for conducting research.

Calling all 8th Graders!!!

Design a paw pad, choose big or small

Submit it to Mrs. King

Paint your design on a paw in the 8th grade hallway

See Mrs. King for more info!

Here you will find events that will be happening in the next couple of months, but not during the coming week.

We want to give our families plenty of time to plan around our activities and opportunities.

Details will be posted later in this newsletter and/or another newsletter in the near future.

• 9/27-9/29: KMS Girls Basketball Try Outs
• 9/29: Migrant Education Family Social @ 6:30pm at the Kodiak City Pool
  
• 9/29: KMS PTSA Cookie Dough Fundraiser Begins

• 10/1: Migrant Education Family Social @ 1:30pm at the Kodiak City Pool
• 10/2-3: KMS Cheer Try-Outs @ 4:15-6pm at Main Elementary Gym
• 10/11-13: KMS Dance Team Auditions @ 3:45-5:30pm at Community Schools Dance Studio (across the hall from KMS Green Room)

It's almost time for the annual KMS PTSA Cookie Dough Fundraiser!!!

Are you ready?

Because I. AM. READY!

See the attachment below to learn more about how it works!

Families must be present to sign their students up for their beloved annual swim and ice rink pass.

September 29 and October 1st Migrant Education Family Socials are the only opportunities to sign your students up for this pass.

We will no longer be taking requests throughout the year.

Please plan to attend if you wish to have your annual City of Kodiak facility use fee covered by our department.

If you have any questions, please contact KIBSD Federal Programs at 907-486-7596

Oct 2-3, 4:15-6pm

Main Elementary Gym

For more info, visit the KMS/KHS Cheer Facebook Page or on Instagram - Kodiak Cheer.

Kodiak Middle School Dance Team Auditions

Open to all students in grades 6-8

10/11-10/13 @ 3:45-5:30pm

Enter through the Playground/Green Room door at KMS - turn right in the hall to get to the Community Schools' Dance Studio.

Here we will post announcements, opportunities, and resources for our KMS Parents and Guardians.

• Academic Reading & Notetaking - Tuesday & Thursday, 12 pm - 1 pm

• Beginning English Language (ELL) - Monday, 7 pm - 8:30 pm

• English for CDL - late starting - Thursday, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm

• English for Citizenship - late starting - Wednesday, 7 pm - 8:30 pm

• English for the Health Care Workplace: 1 free CEU - Tuesday & Thursday, 10 am - 12 pm

• Intermediate English Language (ELL) - Monday, 7 pm - 8:30 pm

• Tuesday Evening Topics - Tuesday, 7 pm - 8:30 pm

Academic Reading and Notetaking

• T & Th, 12 pm - 1 pm

Alternative High School Diploma Topics

• Science, Social Studies, Language Arts: Intensive RLA Prep -
• In-person & distance options island-wide
• Free practice & test vouchers, & more!

.

• Customized Study Plan
• Taught in 2 - 3 week units
• M & W, 9 am - 10:30 am, or M, 7 pm - 8:30 pm

• Thursday, 6:30 - 8:00 pm

• 1 free CEU
• 10 hours
• TBA T & Th

• Thursday, 3:00 - 4:00 pm

Building Strong Readers at Home

Tuesday, September 19 @ 5:30pm

Main Elementary Cafeteria

Enter through the door in the courtyard (down the stairs)

This week's topic: HEAR IT!

Learn how to identify & play with sounds of language and how it leads to reading.

For more info, email Angie Hietala

*If your student arrives after the morning bell please direct them to the main office entrance, to see the attendance secretary, Mrs. Tricia. All tardies will be marked unexcused unless a parent calls the attendance line (907-486-7460) and leave a message to excuse them.

Students will not be marked tardy if there is a bus delay.

Your student's lunch account can be paid via cash/check to main office, or online via the PowerSchool Parent Portal.

FOR INFO ON FREE/REDUCED MEALS, CLICK HERE

Click the button below for directions to set up a new account, check balance, or add funds.

To make sure you are receiving all communication from KMS, please take a moment to verify that your emails and phone numbers are correct in the PowerSchool Parent Portal.

This is the main way we will send home general school-wide information.

If you do not have a PowerSchool Parent Account, click <<HERE>> for instructions on how to set one up.

If you do not know the ACCESS ID and Password for first-time set-up, please call our main office secretary at 907-486-7460.

If you have already set up your PowerSchool Parent Portal, click <<HERE>> to sign in.

Feel free to bookmark this link for a quick way to see your student's :

• grades
• assignments
• lunch balance, etc.

If your student has an allergy or asthma that is not on file, please call our school nurse and update your student's info.

KIBSD-issued iPads are to ensure each student has the technology to participate and complete the coursework for each of their classes. If you would like to enable parental controls to manage your student's device, the app below is free to use and compatible with iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Android.

The graphic below is clickable, as well.