Mary M. Knight Family Newsletter

Dear Mary M. Knight Families,

This is the last full week of the first quarter. The quarter ends on Tuesday, October 27, and Fall Conferences are Wednesday and Thursday, October 28–29, with half-day dismissals at 12:25 p.m. October 28–30. Elementary conference sign-ups are open now in Skyward Family Access, and you’ll find all the details below.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve talked about owning our learning on purpose, checking Skyward together, and why every day counts. This week, I want to bring it all together. Finishing a quarter well doesn’t take anything new. It takes three habits we already know, done consistently:

• Show up on time. Every day this week matters, including the busy, fun days of Spirit Week. The first minutes of each class set up everything that follows.
• Stay focused and engaged. Be present in class, ask questions, use work time well, and finish what you start.
• Communicate. If something is missing or unclear, talk to a teacher this week. Not at conferences, and not after the quarter closes. Now, while there’s still time to do something about it.

Here’s what families can do:

• Check Skyward together this weekend. Let your student walk you through where things stand.
• Reach out early. If something surprises you, contact your student’s teacher by Monday.
• Elementary families, sign up for your conference time in Skyward Family Access.

It’s also Homecoming week, and it’s a good one. We have spirit days all week, Senior Night on Tuesday as we honor Bella Buck, our Homecoming Pep Assembly on Friday afternoon, and Homecoming on Saturday. I love seeing our students bring energy and pride to these moments. That same pride belongs in the classroom. We can have fun this week and still finish strong. That’s what OWLS do.

One week to go. Let’s finish what we started.

With OWL Pride,
Mr. Stoney
K–12 Principal

“Which habit is strongest for you right now: being on time, staying engaged, or communicating? Which one needs your attention before the quarter ends on Tuesday the 27th?”

At the end of the week, follow up: What did you do about it? What do you want your teacher to know at conferences? Students who walk into conferences knowing their own answer are already taking ownership.

Monday, October 19: Comfy vs. Classy (see grade assignments below)

• Middle School Volleyball vs. Taholah (rescheduled), 5:00 p.m. (8th-grade fly up night)

Tuesday, October 20: Tropical Day

• SkillsUSA meeting, 3:00 p.m.
• High School Volleyball vs. Taholah, Senior Night, [time]

Wednesday, October 21: Anything But a Backpack

• Late Start: school begins at 9:00 a.m.
• Board Game Club, 3:00 p.m.
• Middle School Flag Football vs. Taholah, 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, October 22: Sports Day

• High School Volleyball @ Lake Quinault (rescheduled), 6:00 p.m.

Friday, October 23: Dress Like an Owl / School Spirit

• Veterans Day recognition form due
• All-School Homecoming Pep Assembly, 2:05 p.m.

Saturday, October 24: Homecoming

• High School Football vs. Lake Quinault, 1:00 p.m.
• Homecoming Dance, grades 8–12, 8:00 p.m.

Different days. A stronger school.

Homecoming week is here! Spirit days are a fun way for students and staff to show OWL Pride together.

• Monday: Comfy vs. Classy. Dress by grade:
  • Fancy: Kindergarten, 1st, 4th, 6th, 7th, 9th, 10th
  • Comfy: 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 8th, 11th, 12th

• Tuesday: Tropical Day. Bring that tropical vibe!

• Wednesday: Anything But a Backpack. Think outside the backpack and get creative with how you carry your things.

• Thursday: Sports Day. Rep your favorite team!

• Friday: Dress Like an Owl / School Spirit. Wear your green and show your OWL Pride for our Homecoming Pep Assembly at 2:05 p.m.

Homecoming Dance (Grades 8–12)
Saturday, October 24, 8:00 p.m.

Same school. Brighter together. GO OWLS!

The first quarter wraps up next week. Here are the dates to plan around:

• Tuesday, October 27: Last day of the first quarter
• Wednesday, October 28: Conferences, 1:00–3:20 p.m.
• Thursday, October 29: Conferences, 1:00–4:00 p.m. and 5:00–7:00 p.m.
• Wednesday–Friday, October 28–30: Half-day dismissal at 12:25 p.m.

How to schedule:

• Elementary families: Conference sign-ups are open now through the conference scheduler in Skyward Family Access. Sign up early to get the time that works best for your family.
• Secondary families: If your student needs a scheduled team conference, your student’s advisory teacher will contact you to set a time. All other secondary families are welcome to drop in during conference hours.

Conferences are one of the most valuable conversations we have all year. They give families, students, and teachers a chance to sit down together, look at growth, and set goals for the rest of the year.

Two things you can do now:

• Plan ahead for the half days. If your family needs to arrange pickup or childcare for October 28–30, now is the time.
• Come in knowing where things stand. Check Skyward with your student this week. That leaves more time at conferences for the conversation that matters most: what’s next.

Fall Conferences are Wednesday, October 28 and Thursday, October 29. This is one of the most important conversations of the year. You and your child’s teacher will look at how the first quarter went, where your child is growing, and how we can work together on what comes next. Every conversation helps make sure no child’s progress is a surprise.

Elementary families schedule conferences online through Skyward Family Access. Here’s how:

1. Log in to Skyward Family Access. You may see fewer tiles than other families do, and that’s okay.
2. Click the Fall Conferences tile to open the Conference Scheduler.
3. Select your child’s homeroom teacher. In Step 1: Select a Teacher, choose only your child’s primary classroom teacher. You can ignore specialty classes such as Music or PE.
4. Choose a time slot. In Step 2: Select a Time Slot, click any available time.
5. Click “Done Scheduling.” That’s it. You’re booked.

A few helpful notes:

• More than one elementary student? Repeat these steps separately for each child.
• Need to change your time? Click the small trash-can icon next to your scheduled conference to cancel, then pick a new slot.
• Prefer a walkthrough? Watch our short how-to video: [VIDEO LINK]
• Need help? Reach out to your child’s teacher or the school office at 360-426-6767. Teachers can also schedule a time for you.

Secondary Families (Grades 7–12)

All parents and families are welcome and encouraged to drop in to meet with staff. If a staff member has a specific concern regarding your student, they will reach out to you directly to schedule a conference.

Schedule reminder: October 28–30 are half-day dismissals.

We look forward to sitting down with you. Thank you for partnering with us to help every OWL finish the first quarter strong and keep growing.

What a fun-filled week in the Mary M. Knight cafeteria! Our Food Service team brought some delicious meals into the spotlight, and our students showed up ready to eat!

This week's star-studded lineup included:

• Tuna or Ham & Swiss Bagels
• Jamaican Jerk Chicken
• Baked Spaghetti
• Breakfast for Lunch
• Mini Corn Dogs or Chicken Salad
• And the crowd favorite was... BREAKFAST FOR LUNCH!

Breakfast for Lunch stole the show, bringing in our highest lunch participation of the week! Apparently, breakfast food isn't just for mornings!

From trying new flavors to enjoying familiar favorites, this week was all about celebrating the importance of nutritious school meals and the amazing team that makes them happen.

A HUGE round of applause for our hardworking Food Service crew, who work behind the scenes every day to keep our Owls fed and ready to learn!

And thank you to all our students who joined us under the big top this week!

At Mary M. Knight, our students are the stars, and school lunch deserves a standing ovation!

As we prepare for Veterans Day in November, we would like to create a special hallway display in our high school lunchroom to honor the veterans and currently serving service members who are part of our school community.

We would love to recognize military members connected to our students, families, staff, and alumni.

Please complete this form by Friday, October 23. Submitted information and photos may be printed and displayed as part of our school’s Veterans Day recognition.

Thank you for helping us honor the men and women who have served and continue to serve our country.

Our October CharacterStrong trait is Responsibility: taking action and understanding the impact of our choices. In week one, we defined it. In week two, we focused on following through. Last week, we looked at how our choices affect others. This week, we close out the month with the truest test of Responsibility: what we do when no one is checking.

It’s easy to be responsible when a teacher is standing nearby or a parent is asking about homework. Real Responsibility shows up when nobody is watching: finishing the last problem carefully instead of rushing, being honest about what’s done and what isn’t, or putting something back where it belongs. As the quarter wraps up, these quiet habits make the biggest difference.

What this looks like at MMK:

• Using work time well, even when the teacher is helping someone else
• Finishing an assignment completely, not just enough to turn it in
• Being honest about missing work and making a plan to fix it
• Picking up after yourself without being asked
• Keeping a promise, even a small one

Conversation Starters for Home:

• What’s something responsible you did this week that nobody asked you to do?
• Is it harder to make good choices when no one is watching? Why?
• What’s one thing you could finish this week without needing a reminder?

Try This Together as a Family: The Quiet Win
This week, each family member looks for one responsible thing they did that no one asked them to do. At dinner on Friday, everyone shares their “quiet win.” Adults, go first. The goal is to help students see that Responsibility isn’t about being noticed. It’s about who we are.

As we close out the first quarter, this week’s GRIT students show what our October focus looks like every day: owning their learning, setting goals, sticking with hard things, and lifting up the people around them.

Elementary

Leona Davis | PreK
Leona took ownership of her learning by completing her weekend homework pages. She made sure the work was in her backpack and turned it in on Monday. That’s Ownership with Growth.

Athena Lewis | PreK
Athena took her weekend work home at 11:00 a.m. and had it back to her teacher by 3:00 p.m. the same day. She’s also a natural leader in her classroom. She watches the jobs chart, knows what she and her classmates are responsible for, follows class procedures, and always gives her best effort. That’s Intentional Effort and Leadership with Intensity.

Annabelle Lounsbury | Kindergarten
As Teacher’s Helper, Annabelle led the calendar routine with clear focus and kept her class on track from start to finish. She led “Days of the Week” at a pace everyone could follow. That’s Leadership with Intensity.

Robbie Metzger | 1st Grade
When Robbie finishes his work, he doesn’t wait to be told what’s next. He finds something to work on and gets right to it. He brings that same drive to recess, where he spent an entire recess working to jump rope without pauses. When he reached his goal, he set a higher one. That’s Ownership with Growth and Intentional Effort.

Harper Finch | 2nd Grade
Harper has been working hard in both math and reading. She keeps a great attitude when things are tough and knows that mistakes help her brain grow. She’s also a great team player who works well with her classmates and always participates. That’s Intentional Effort.

Yuri Gutierrez | 2nd Grade
Yuri embraces new challenges with purpose. She is working hard to learn her letters and sounds so she can communicate more deeply with the people around her, and she keeps going even when she feels frustrated. She always has a smile to share. That’s Willingness with Resilience.

Nicholas Horn | 3rd Grade
Nicholas stays on top of his work, tries his best every day, and is a great listener. He goes above and beyond by helping classmates follow directions. A classmate also nominated him for being a great friend who makes others feel happy. That’s Ownership with Growth.

Abby Botha | 5th Grade
Abby set her own goals to improve her writing, both her penmanship and keeping up with notes and assignments in class. Her self-reflection has helped her better understand 5th-grade content and manage her time, and she’s excited nearly every day to meet her goal. That’s Ownership with Growth and Success with Tenacity.

Ben Curry | 6th Grade
When a day doesn’t go the way he wants, Ben owns it. Then he comes back ready to reset. He started this week locked in and had a great day. That’s Ownership with Growth.

Secondary

Lexi Hulford | 9th Grade
Lexi has shown incredible growth this year by staying on top of her work and completing every assignment. When she finishes, she’s willing to help classmates and her teacher. That’s Ownership with Growth and Intentional Effort.

Harley Garcia | 10th Grade
During a choir project, Harley struggled at first to find a song and connect its lyrics to his vision. Instead of giving up, he worked collaboratively, considered different options, accepted support, and adjusted his plan until he finished. That’s Ownership with Growth and Intentional Teamwork.

Marissa Mikeska | 11th Grade
Marissa noticed that wanting her music visual art project to be perfect was making it hard to finish on time. She worked with her teacher on a new plan: writing out her entire song and using creative fonts to highlight key words. She finished on time and still showed her creativity. That’s Ownership with Growth and Intentional Problem-Solving.

Shout-Outs

• Aaliyah McCartney (3rd): for not giving up on her work and always listening to her teachers.
• Kimber Rivard (3rd): for being a kind and caring friend every day.
• Raegyn Ayres (3rd): for inviting a classmate to play at recess. A classmate says that one simple invitation changed their whole school year.
• Carmyn McCartney (Kindergarten): for coming to school happy and ready to learn every day.

Homecoming Week in MMK Athletics

Monday, October 19: Middle School Volleyball vs. Taholah (rescheduled), 5:00 p.m.

Tuesday, October 20: High School Volleyball vs. Taholah, Senior Night, 6:00 pm

Wednesday, October 21: Middle School Flag Football vs. Taholah, 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, October 22: High School Volleyball @ Lake Quinault (rescheduled), 6:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 24: High School Football vs. Lake Quinault, Homecoming, 1:00 p.m.

Senior Night: Honoring Bella Buck
On Tuesday, we’ll recognize senior Bella Buck before our home volleyball match against Taholah. Bella has been playing volleyball for seven years, and as she shared in our first Senior Spotlight, she’s focused on making her final season count and lifting up her teammates. Come out, fill the stands, and help us celebrate Bella!

Homecoming Game
Saturday is Homecoming! Wear your green, bring the family, and cheer on our Owls as they take on Lake Quinault at 1:00 p.m.

Come out, cheer on our student-athletes, and help create a positive, respectful environment that represents MMK with pride. GO OWLS!