November 26, 2024

Have a happy safe break! See you on December 2 2024!

Let’s Hear it for the 100-YARD BUTTERFLY STATE CHAMPION, your Maroon Giant, Maggie Spybrook. Culminating an impressive High School swim career, Spybrook swam the perfect race not once, but twice in the same meet to claim the State Champion Title. And to do it, she broke the School Record in the event in Friday’s Preliminary events and again to win the event in Finals! But that isn’t her only highlight, it is the brightest, but not the only one. She claimed All-State Honors with her 5th place finish in the 100-yard Backstroke. She set a new School Record in the event during the Preliminary events and missed breaking it again by a mere 0.06 seconds. She also led the 4x 50-yard Medley Relay Team (Spybrook, Isis Land, Delanie Rimes, and Sasha Land) to an 11th place finish in both Preliminaries and Finals and another School Record. Spybrook also led off the 4x 50 Freestyle Relay (Spybrook, Rimes, S. Land, and I. Land) to a 16th place finish in Preliminaries and a spot in Finals. And then she stepped back to allow Bianca Boldt to swim her leg of the 4x 50-yard Freestyle Relay in Saturday’s Finals. The Relay with Boldt was a glimpse of the future. Those four swimmers are all returning to the team next season!

Also earning All-State Honors was your diver, Kiya Bowman. Bowman battled a very strong group of divers to an 8th Place finish. She demonstrated her moxie and will-power when she overcame a low scoring dive to immediately perform her highest scoring dive. I. Land also contributed to the Giants’ point total with her 15th Place finish in the 200-yard Individual Medley. In her 2nd individual event, I. Land shattered her 2023 100-yard Breaststroke School Record by 0.56 seconds! This amazing race landed her in 20th place in a very competitive event! Rimes achieved her Season Record in her individual event,the 100-yard Butterfly, which also earned her 18th finish and her best MHSAA State finish so far. Madison Jones finished with her highest MHSAA finish coming in at 21st place in the 1-Meter Diving event.

Together, this team finished 14th. This was the Maroon Giants highest finish at the MHSAA D1 Women’s State Swim and Dive Championships since an 11th place finish in 2006. Your Giants Women’s team was the highest finishing team representing the Southwest Michigan Athletic Conference (SMAC) at the D1 meet.

Please join us in giving them a GIANT round of applause! Well Done, Ladies!!!

Tuesday November 26th we have a half day and no school Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

If you ski or snowboard or want to learn how, then join the KC Ski Club! The deadline to join is November 26th. See Mrs. Bannigan in room 242 to request a Timber Ridge punch card application. Punch cards are $40 which gets you a $26 lift ticket and $26 ski rental anytime. You can buy punch cards for family members (adults or students) at the same price. Use the Ski & Snowboard Club Sign Up Form to request punch cards.

There will be a West Point Academy presentation at the Kalamazoo Public Library on Tuesday evening, November 26th.

Please see attached flyer for more information.

Parent(s)’/Guardian(s)’ Responsibility:

• It is the responsibility of the parent(s) and/or guardian(s) to notify the student’s school as early as possible on the day of an absence and explain the reasons for the absence.

• Written or email verification of a student’s absence by a parent/guardian is required (unless otherwise indicated by the appropriate administrator) and should be provided to the school the day after an absence.

• Student absences are considered unexcused if documentation supporting an excused absence is not provided.

• After 3 consecutive absences, a medical note from a physician may be required.

• It is the responsibility of the parent(s) and/or guardian(s) to make arrangements with the teacher to obtain missed assignments due to absences.

What is an excused absence?

• Student illness and/or appointment verified by the parent/guardian or medical professional

• Medically verified extended illness or hospitalization

• Attending a funeral

• Religious holiday

• Absence due to a subpoenaed court appearance

• Any time missed due to KPS school transportation issues

Please send email absence excuses to chsattendance@kalamazoopublicschools.net

We ask for your support in reinforcing the following school expectations with your children:

• Chromebooks: Students must bring a fully charged Chromebook to class daily. All Chromebook issues will be handled in the Chromebook Room during lunch

• ID Visibility: Students are required to wear their ID visible around their neck at all times. Pulling them out of pockets or backpacks is unacceptable. IDs are required to gain entrance into the building. They must be worn at all times around your neck and displayed. You may purchase an extra ID from Mrs. Garza for five dollars.

• Lunch Procedure: Each student is allowed to take only one lunch. Students who violate will serve dention and/or suspension

• Timeliness: Students must arrive to classes on time. Pattern of behavior will result in student loss of privileges up to and including suspension.

• Respectful Behavior: Students should keep their hands to themselves. Any physical aggression will be treated as an individual fight and students will be suspended.

• Detentions: Students must serve assigned detentions; failure to do so may result in suspension.

• Clean Environment: Students must throw away their trash after breakfast and lunch. They must also respect the bathrooms by putting paper towels in the trash can, flushing the toilet, and reporting vandalism. Students may receive lunch duty and other consequences.

• Safety and Welfare: Students can be suspended for behaviors that interfere with the safety and welfare of others, including walking the halls, vaping, attending more than one lunch, and any form of physical or verbal aggression.

• Hats, Hoodies, or Bonnets: are not allowed to be worn in the building at any time.

• Cell Phones may not be used during class time or while on bathroom breaks. Students may use cell phones before school, passing time, lunch, and after school.

• Attendance: To send in all student absences to CHSattendance@kalamazoopublicschools.net. If the absence is for a doctor's visit please remember to send in the doctor's office note with your email.

We appreciate your help in encouraging students to adhere to these expectations.

Arrival

• Please drop off students in the front of the building, not the back.
• Buses have a limited time for picking up, dropping off, and transporting students to the elementary schools.
• If you are dropping off your student at the curb please drop off and pull away from the curb. If you are planning on waiting until the doors open please pull into a parking spot. It creates a traffic jam and is unsafe for our students walking into the building.

Dismissal

• To ensure a safe and efficient pick-up process, please adhere to the following guidelines:
  1. Pick up students in the front of the building.
  2. Do not cut in front of buses.
  3. If picking up after 2:45 PM, you may pick up in the back.

Safety Matters
Students darting between buses can create an unsafe environment. Let's work together to maintain a safe and orderly dismissal process.

Seniors! The Kalamazoo Promise Pathway Coaches will be hosting Open Labs every third Wednesday in lab 553. Starting November 20th. Open Lab is a one stop for everything post secondary. Applying to college, trade programs, promise paperwork, FAFSA and more. You will need a pass to and from Open Labs. Reach out to your Promise Coach, Ms. Trenae Dunigan, with questions and for more information.

If you are interested in joining upper bound applications are now being taken. Please use the link attached to apply today. Please see flyer today for more information.

Still thinking about Alaska? There is STILL time to sign up! If you are interested in traveling with a group of KC students to Alaska in June, see Mrs. Dodson in room 359 for more information. Alaska is waiting!

As the weather turns colder it is very tempting to bring a blanket to school to snuggle in. Please leave it at home on your bed or coach to be ready for you when you get home and read a book. We do not allow students to use blankets as an alternative to coats or sweatshirts. Our HVAC system was upgraded this last year so we should be toasty all Fall/Winter long.

Thank you for your ongoing support of our students’ educational journey. We want to emphasize the importance of academic success and the role homework plays in achieving it.

Students are expected to complete their homework daily, as this work is important for understanding the material and preparing for quizzes, test, & state assessments. Help your student to set aside dedicated time and space each day for studying, which will help them stay on track. They can also stay after school for tutoring with our WMU tutors, CIS tutors, and KC Teachers.

Our goal is for every student to pass all their classes and earn the necessary credits toward high school graduation. Your encouragement at home can make a significant difference in their efforts.

Thank you for your partnership and being a part of our Giant Nation!

Attention CTE, KAMSC, and Dual Enrollment students, please pick up your yellow ID's in the Main Office, this will indicate to KC staff that you are allowed to leave campus and re-enter the building

Please be sure your are in the google classroom for the class of 2025 and that your have joined remind to receive text notifications.

If you have questions please see your advisors Mrs. Yarbrough and Ms.Bell

Attention all student athletes: do you want to sprint faster, jump higher, and grow stronger for your sport? Then the Maroon Giants Speed Club is for you. Speed Club meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays on the track (weather permitting) from 2:45 until 4:30. Our first day of training will be Tuesday, September 10th. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend. See you there!

Aunt Flows Lockers are officially stocked! If you need any period products look for the lockers next to Women's restrooms marked with pink tape. If you need a more consistent supply of products don't hesitate to get in touch with kcwomensadvocacy@gmail.com.

Are you eager to take a stand for women’s rights, and make a real difference? Join Kalamazoo Centrals Women's Advocacy Organization and connect with a passionate community, committed to providing resources and pushing for change. There are often opportunities to volunteer as a direct line to support our community. Please let either Mrs. Dodson or Kaitlyn Ozanich know if you are interested.

Just a quick reminder for all seniors: your senior photos are due November 25th! Make sure to submit them on time so you can be included in the yearbook. Don’t wait until the last minute—start getting those pictures in now! Photos can be submitted through the class of 2025 Google Classroom using the senior photo link. If you have any questions please contact Mr. Douglas.

State Representative Julie Rogers is seeking enthusiastic students to join her Youth Advisory Board! This is a fantastic opportunity to learn about government and make your voice heard. Interested? Check out the application linked below! For more information or questions, contact Kaitlyn Ozanich, who participated last year. Don’t miss your chance to get involved!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeUHZeK5sEB68_rrDK_-AQmRmAYiC6QIDahsFhGGnPfXbl48Q/viewform