KESTREL HEIGHTS NEWSLETTER

The Quarter 3 Progress Reports are available on the Powerschool Parent Portal. Please take a moment to sign into your Powerschool Parent Portal and view your child's progress.

For assistance with your password or logging in, please contact Ms. Vargas at Vargas@kestrelheights.org

To access the Powerschool Parent Portal: https://kestrelheights.powerschool.com/public

After 7:50 am, parents are required to park and walk late scholars into the building. Upon arrival parents must sign their scholar in using the LobbyGuard Kiosk in the front office. Ms. Gordon is available in the elementary front office and Ms. Holmes is available in the middle school front office for assistance with the LobbyGuard Sign In.

Please remember the school is a masked environment. Masks are required upon entering.

Please remember to bring your picture ID when you are checking out a scholar. We will not call students for early check out after 2:30pm.

• Please send your scholar to school with a refillable water bottle and one snack. Mrs. Gordon is out of water and snacks in the office. Bottle water will only be provided with lunch, but only for those scholars who pre-order school lunch.

• The Lost and Found is filling up! It will be emptied on Thursday, March 3rd.

Reminder:

We will only serve scholars who have pre-ordered their meals. The Lunchtime System will allow parents to pre-order meals, to add funds and track the meals balance.

KHS will order meals from our catering company according to the meals ordered by parents. We will order the exact number for breakfast and lunch; therefore, there is no way for a student to eat if a parent did not pre-order online.

All parents of scholars who choose to eat from school’s lunch regardless of their status (Free, Reduced or Paid) have to use this system to pre-order the meals. Pre-order meals must be in by 5pm the day before the meal is being pre-ordered.

Please review the attachment below. It contains the information for creating your Lunch Account and how to pre-order meals for your child(ren).

Read it carefully, then click the link below to get started with the setup.

Account Setup Instructions:

https://kestrelheights.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Parents-Guide-to-School-Payment-Portal.pdf

How to pre-order instructions (Lunch Only):

https://kestrelheights.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/How-to-Pre-Order.pdf

Pre-Order Breakfast:

https://forms.gle/nis6YkXHyrA8gu5C7

Meal Charge Policy:

https://kestrelheights.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Meal-Policy.pdf

To view breakfast and lunch menus:

https://kestrelheights.org/lunch-information/

If you need assistance please contact Maureen Gordon at gordon@kestrelheights.org or (919)484-1300 ext.300

Second Grade News:

In ELA second grade scholars continue to work on weekly vocabulary that is introduced in the anchor text. Each week we introduce the following:

1. Phonics skills (ex: er, est, ir, ar, y,ly, ful,tion,ture),

2. Vocabulary Strategy (language idioms, compound words),

3. Comprehension skills (understanding characters in the story, conclusions), Comprehension Strategy (what are reading & summarizing important ideas)

4. Writing Focus (informative/explanatory writing, comparing ,contrast paragraph & informational paragraph.

In math, scholars are learning about the values of coins and how to find the total value of a group of money. We also learn how to tell time on analog clocks and digital clocks.

In celebration of our Black History month, second grade will host a Wax Museum Extravaganza on Thursday March 3. Each scholar will recognize an individual that has made a contribution to the world.

THIRD GRADE NEWS:

The third grade has just finished a unit on Time, Length, Liquid Volume, and Mass, in math. Next, scholars will learn Perimeter and Area.

This week in Reading, scholars learned about describing characters in a story and explaining how their actions contribute to the sequence of events. In the coming week, scholars will focus on the ELA standard: RL.3.1- Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.

Thank you for supporting your scholar learning goals as you continue to encourage/model reading at home, with the ongoing daily practice of multiplication facts and skip counting.

FOURTH GRADE NEWS:

Fourth graders are currently learning these ELA standards:

RI.4.7 Interpret information presented visually, orally, or quantitatively and explain how the information contributes to an understanding of the text in which it appears.

W.4.3 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.

In Math we have continued with our weekly minute quizzes to check for multiplication table memorization (or facts). Scholars have shown TREMENDOUS growth but we are not yet at the level of proficiency that I’d like. Please keep reminding your child to memorize their facts!

FIFTH GRADE NEWS:

Fifth graders are currently learning these ELA standards:

RI.5.7 Analyze how visual and multimedia elements contribute to the meaning, tone, or aesthetics of a text.

W.5.3 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.

In Math we have continued with our weekly minute quizzes to check for multiplication table memorization (or facts). Scholars have shown TREMENDOUS growth but we are not yet at the level of proficiency that I’d like. Please keep reminding your child to memorize their facts!

SIXTH GRADE NEWS:

Science: This week my scholars have been studying volcanoes and the rock cycle. We now know that there are different types of volcanoes as well as different types of rocks. We are taking a closer look this week at sedimentary rocks, igneous rocks and metamorphic rocks as we learn how to distinguish between the three of them.

SEVENTH GRADE NEWS:

Compacted Math 7-8: we are going to be wrapping up our unit on Geometry this week with Surface Area & Volume and then will jump to our last 7th grade unit: Data & Statistics

Math 7: we started out unit on Geometry this week which will consist of: Similar Shapes & Scale Drawings, Geometric Drawings, and Angle Relationships

ELA- Scholars have been learning about the different types of figurative language. We have been reading “From Mississippi Solo” and identifying the different figures of speech the author used throughout the text and how it contributes to the meaning of the text.

Science- My scholars are still learning about the different body systems. This week we learned more about the circulatory system and the respiratory system, their parts and functions. We understand that the circulatory system includes the flow of blood throughout our body. We learned that we breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide.

DANCE AND MUSIC NEWS:

We just finished up Black History Month! In music we learned about black composers from 200 years ago until today making beautiful music for everyone to enjoy. We listened to different instruments and how to make those sounds for ourselves. In Dance we learned about African Americans in Ballet, from 1949 until now! We also learned the history of black social dances so we can all do the Cha Cha slide properly at the next family party!

ART NEWS:

For our K-5 art classes We are working on coloring paper with a variety of oil pastels that we are then painting over with half dish detergent and half black paint to create scratch art!

For our middle school art classes we are finishing up our geometric crystalized animal art

Our SkyZone Spirit Night is March 4th! This is an open gym event, so buying your tickets in advance is a good idea because the gym will be open to the public as well as Kestrel!

We have our own link to purchase tickets:
https://www.skyzone.com/durham/kestrel

There are multiple session options available at different price points. Details can be found in the link to purchase tickets. The more tickets we sell, the greater our percentage will be per ticket, so tell your friends and family!

Scholars are welcome to dress down or dress up for Spring pictures!

​Career Day is the morning of March 25th! We need help recruiting interesting presenters! This event will be hybrid, with in-person presenters and virtual presenters. If you know anyone awesome, please share the sign-up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c4ba9ac28aafd0-khes

From Hawks, To You… Kestrel Heights 4th-5th Grade Community Service Project;

We have one more week to raise money for From Hawks, To You!

• Grade-level Penny Wars continue through March 3rd. The top 3 grade-levels to raise the most money will earn a prize, so keep sending in loose change!

• There is one more paid dress-down day: Thursday, March 3rd. $2 per day or $5 if you participated in all three dress-down days! So far, we’ve raised $620 just from dress-down days!

• SkyZone Spirit Night is Friday, March 4th from 5:00pm-10:00pm! All proceeds will be donated to From Hawks, To You. Tickets can be purchased on-site the night of the event, but we strongly encourage you to purchase tickets in advance because the gym will be open to the public and there is a jump capacity. There are a variety of ticket price points available, depending on how long you want to jump! Click on the link below for more information.

• Purchase Tickets in Advance: https://www.skyzone.com/durham/kestrel

Please feel free to drop off donations at the front desk or send them with your scholar to give directly to their teacher.

Items to consider:

• Disinfectant wipes
• Hand sanitizer
• Disposable masks(Children's size)
• Cases of Water
• Band-Aids - various sizes

• Healthy, peanut free and tree nut free snacks (scholars who do not have a snack)

• Tissues

• Baggies

Ultimate Frisbee Championship!

Please congratulate the players of Kestrel's Ultimate Frisbee team for taking 2nd place in the 2022 Middle School Championship Tournament!

Order your track fan gear here! Orders will be available until 3/31/22.

https://fancloth.shop/XZTCK

100 Acts of Kindness Competition:
To celebrate our 100th day of school on February 10th, we held a 100 Acts of Kindness competition where each class was challenged to be the first to log 100 acts of kindness. Congratulations to our two winning classes: Ms. Carr’s 3rd grade class (elementary school) and Ms. Williams’ 6th grade homeroom (middle school)! We’re so proud of EVERY scholar that practiced a little extra kindness.

Support our school by linking your Amazon account:
Did you know that you can link your Amazon account so that a percentage of each purchase gets donated back to our school? It’s a super easy way to support school projects and initiatives! From the app, you can turn on Amazon Smile in the settings; on a PC just start your purchase at smile.amazon.com

Keeping up with the PTA:

Our next PTA meeting will be held virtually on Monday, March 7th at 6pm. You do not need to be a member to attend PTA meetings, so drop in to see what we're working on. We hope to see you there! https://meet.google.com/ogi-jwan-gdg

Make sure to follow us @khcspta on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for meeting recaps, news, events, and more.

Have you registered your children for complimentary COVID-19 testing? In conjunction with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, we are providing weekly COVID-19 testing on site at our school. We are also adding in weekly, routine screening to ensure the safety of our students and staff.

In order for your student to participate in this free, StrongSchoolsNC COVID-19 testing, you will need to register your scholar.

REGISTER YOUR SCHOLAR TODAY by copying & pasting the link into your URL bar:

https://home.color.com/covid/sign-up/start?partner=tf-kes-2606-students

We strongly recommend all families participate in this free program. COVID-19 variants are spreading throughout the United States and research shows routine testing can reduce the spread of COVID-19 by 50%, especially in large settings such as schools.

How it Works
A parent or guardian must register any minor under 18 years old. You’ll give a one-time consent and HIPAA authorization to share testing results with all necessary parties. All testing information is confidential and results will be available in hours.

Raleigh-based MAKO Medical will administer a nasal swab test that is quick and gentle. (This is NOT the test that tickles the brain!) Check out this video to see our student testing in action. https://makostrongschoolsnc.com/img/testing.mp4

https://docs.google.com/document/d/10AnsRm_ZurJpYa8Fy_EL_zZn0yspZNPW9BoL3SuDed4/edit?usp=sharing

The Parent and Family Engagement Calendar is located on our website at: https://kestrelheights.org/calendar/

March 3:

Paid Dress Down Day

Middle School Grade Level Celebrations

March 4:

Teacher Workday - No School

SkyZone Spirit Night

March 7:

PTA Meeting

March 8:

KHS Board Meeting

March 11:

Spring Picture Day

March 24:

Community Discussion

Spring sports picture day

March 25:

Career Day

End of Q3

Lost and found Pickup

March 28 - April 1:

Spring Break

We are a small, diverse, and inclusive learning community in Durham that empowers our Scholars to sharpen academic knowledge, demonstrate creative expression and expand leadership abilities to prepare for success in high school, college, and beyond.

Email: Vargas@kestrelheights.org
Website: www.kestrelheights.org
Location: 4700 South Alston Avenue, Durham, NC, USA
Phone: 919-484-1300
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KestrelHeightsSchool
Twitter: @KestrelHeights