KSTM Newsletter November 2025

Thank you to all our families that came out to PT-Conferences this fall, we enjoyed seeing so many of you here. For your advanced planning, please mark your calendars for our Spring Conferences which will be held on Thursday, March 12th from 12-7pm.

Also, here are a few reminders about upcoming events in November:

• Reminder there is No School on Tuesday, November 4th. This will be used as a teacher preparation and planning day.
• Our annual Title I Parent-engagement night "HARVEST NIGHT" is on Wednesday, November 12th from 5-6:30 p.m.
• No school the week of November 24th for students due to Thanksgiving Recess. Students will be off from school that entire week November 24th to November 28th.

• We offer both Homework Help and High Dosage Tutoring on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3:15-5:00pm. Questions regarding either Homework Help or our High-Dosage Tutoring Program, please call Ms. Nicole Benson at 531-299-7030.

#KSTMPROUD,

Jane Laughlin

Principal

Attention Students and Families: There are 415 minutes in the school day, and every minute counts! Tardies to class disrupt the classroom, interrupt the lesson, and put students at risk of falling behind. These reminders started on Monday, September 15th and will go out daily. The school will send daily emails to parents and guardians of students who were tardy to one or more classes. BE RESPONSIBLE, WILDCATS! Get to class on time.

For the end of Quarter 1, we took a moment to recognize students for their Quarter 1 accomplishments. Students that were recognized are on track with their grade level course work, are in regular attendance and have zero Code of Conduct Violations. Bravo students, keep up the outstanding achievements!

Our community provides many resources to assist families. You can find a list of local programs and services below. For help connecting with any of these supports, please reach out to the school social worker, Kasia Piercy, at (531) 299-8537.

🌟 What’s Happening with WCC!

King Science & AIM Institute Academic Enrichment Program

📚 What We’ve Done

Our first session of Sip, Read, Repeat wrapped up with amazing participation!
Students were challenged to read 320 minutes over 8 weeks (40 minutes per week) for a free meal from Panda Express.

🏆 Congratulations to Jozlyn Gordon!
Jozlyn clocked in 425 minutes and earned 2 free meals to Panda Express plus an AIM powerbank to keep her devices charged. Way to go, Jozlyn!

🎮 Recent Highlights

• Oct 3: Students had a blast with Legos, E-sports, and Virtual Reality activities.

• Oct 11: We joined the National Lights On Afterschool Celebration at UNO’s Sapp Fieldhouse!
  Basketball, soccer, dodgeball, pickleball, dunk tank, skateboarding, tattoos, and more — what a day!

• Oct 17: WCC students faced their fears at the Rose Theater’s Goosebumps: Phantom of the Auditorium performance.
  They also prepared their own nacho bar and lemonade lunch — hats off to our young chefs!

🔮 What’s Coming Up

No WCC Program on the following dates:
🗓️ Oct 31 | Nov 4 | Nov 12 | Nov 21 | Nov 24–28

📖 Save the Dates

• Nov 3: Start of our next Sip, Read, Repeat Book Challenge!
  Every Thursday, students can join Book Club, enjoy a warm cup of hot chocolate, and log their reading minutes.
  🏀 Student athletes who read at least 20 minutes per week and turn in their reading logs will also earn hot chocolate rewards!

• Nov 4: Iowa Western Community College Tour

• Nov 12: Harvest Family Night – Fun, food, and family time

☕ Keep Reading, Keep Growing!

WCC is proud of all our readers, creators, and leaders.
Let’s keep the energy going as we head into our next round of learning, laughter, and literacy!

Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s),

These are the days your teen will want to remember forever. Help make their year unforgettable by purchasing a 2025-2026 yearbook. For only $20.00, your student will have a book that will be enjoyed for years to come.

Buy Online with a credit card, debit card or PayPal at yearbookforever.com or at school with cash or check in the front office. Order now so your child won’t miss out when the books are distributed.

As an adult, you know how important memories become. Don’t let your child’s memories fade; make sure they get a yearbook today!

Sincerely,

Jennifer Buser

Yearbook Adviser, King Science Technology Middle School

If you have any questions about the information included from the KSTM Health Office, please call our nurse, Pam Anderson at 531-299-2381

Dear 7th grade Families:

We are so excited to welcome your student to 7th grade this fall! We are sending this reminder message to all incoming 7th grade families that students need a physical exam and to be up to date on all immunizations before school begins. This is a requirement based on Nebraska state law. We recommend contacting your child’s healthcare provider now, as spots can fill up quickly. Families can also visit a school-based health center. Bring copies of health information to school prior to the start of the school year OR have the health care provider fax records to the school – Attention: School Nurse. If you have already submitted this information, no additional paperwork is needed. If you have any questions, please contact the school and ask to speak with the school nurse.

The phone number for the nurse's offices is 531-299-2381

Estimadas familias de estudiantes de 7º grado:

¡Estamos muy emocionados de darle la bienvenida a su estudiante al 7o grado este otoño! Enviamos este mensaje a todas las familias que ingresan al 7º grado como recordatorio de que los estudiantes necesitan un examen físico y estar al día con todas las vacunas antes de que comiencen las clases. Este es un requisito basado en la ley estatal de Nebraska. Le recomendamos que se comunique con el proveedor de atención médica de su hijo ahora, ya que los lugares pueden llenarse rápidamente. Las familias también pueden visitar un Centro de salud en las escuelas. Traiga copias de la información de salud a la escuela antes del comienzo del año escolar o haga que el proveedor de atención médica envíe por fax los registros a la escuela – Dirigido al: Enfermero(a) escolar. Si ya ha enviado esta información, no se necesita papeleo adicional. Si tiene alguna pregunta, comuníquese con la escuela de su hijo. Tenga en cuenta que las llamadas se responderán esporádicamente mientras el personal esté de vacaciones de verano. Las secretarias escolares regresan el 1ro de agosto.

This summer, our district notified families that students at King Science will continue to receive lunch at no cost, regardless of income, through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).

We encourage our families to complete an Educational Benefits Form by Sept. 24 to see if they qualify for additional benefits including:

• Discounted home internet services

• Discounted or waived fees for SAT, PSAT, ACT, AP and other academic tests

• Waived or reduced college and postsecondary application and course fees

• Scholarship options

• Access to career, internship and other community programs

Log in to SchoolCafe and click “Apply for Benefits” to complete the form. It only takes a few minutes to complete if you have your household income details handy.

One form covers all students in your household. If you have already completed an Educational Benefits Form or Free and Reduced Meal Application through SchoolCafe, you can check your eligibility status on your account dashboard.

Please reach out to our office if you need help completing your application.

8th Grade Administrators:

• Ms. LaDeidre Jackson: 531-299-4016 LaDeidre.Jackson@ops.org
• Mr. Odell Santos: 531-299-3774 Odell.Santos@ops.org

7th Grade Administrator

• Ms. Nicole Benson: 531-299-7030 Nicole.Benson@ops.org

6th Grade Administrator

• Ms. Roxana Silva: 531-299-9049 Carmen.Silva@ops.org

Instructional Facilitator (all grade levels)

• Mrs. Kelcey Schmitz, 531-299-8027 Kelcey.Schmitz@ops.org

Contact AP-DP Ms. LaDeidre Jackson at 531-299-4016 w/ questions regarding the Parent Portal

Contact AD Odell Santos with questions regarding sports activities or events at 531-299-3774

MTSS-B stands for Multi-Tiered Systems of Support for Behavior. MTSS-B focuses on behavior Expectations that are prioritized and used all through King Science.

The framework for MTSS-B is:

• A Problem-solving framework for behavior

• A systematic standardized implementation of evidence-based practices

• A framework with standardized practices that has tiers of increasingly intensive supports that increase the likelihood students are academically, emotionally, behaviorally and socially successful.

At King Science with have two tiers of MTSS-B.

Tier 1 serves every student through our school wide expectations “The King Way”

• Be Respectful

• Be Responsible

• Be Safe

Students who show positive behaviors that match The King Way can be awarded Wildcat Bucks, which they can exchange in our Wildcat Store every few weeks.

Tier 2 serves a smaller portion of students who need more support than Tier 1. The Tier 2 team gives instruction to students on how to solve peer conflicts and helps them improve their attendance.

Attention Students: There are 415 minutes in the school day, and every minute counts! Tardies to class disrupt the classroom, interrupt the lesson, and put students at risk of falling behind. Beginning this week any student who has 3 tardies during the week will be assigned an afterschool detention the following week. BE RESPONSIBLE, WILDACTS ! Get to class on time.

• Cell Phones and Personal Devices must be off and out of sight during the school day from 7:40-3:05
• Student failure to comply may result in their personal device being confiscated by administration.
• Parent Communication and Code of Conduct consequences may be applied for repeated violations of the No Cell Phone/No personal device policy.
• If you have any questions regarding this, please call the grade level administrator.

Personal devices (headphones, earbuds, cell phones) and big backpacks are to be put away during the school day. String backpacks are available for purchase in the main office for $10 in Wildcat Bucks.

Please assist the school in making sure that students are not bringing any items to school in their bags, backpacks, or purses that would be considered a weapon. If found in possession of a weapon at school that Code of Conduct consequences will apply.

The OPS Parent Survey link is open all year long.

SURVEY LINK: http://www.tinyurl.com/OPSParentVoice