Mary M. Knight

Mission (our purpose):
Our Mission is to ensure that all students have the knowledge, skills, motivation, and confidence to be successful citizens.

Vision (who we must become):
We are a community of learners and leaders united to enrich the lives of all our students.

Dear MMK Families and Community,

What an extraordinary week we've had at Mary M. Knight! As I reflect on our recent Spirit Week and Homecoming celebration, I'm reminded of something truly special happening within our school community—our students are not just celebrating together, they're growing together.

This past week showcased the heart of who we are as an Owl family. From the creativity and joy of Spirit Week to the pride radiating from our fall sports teams and the electricity of our Homecoming dance, our students demonstrated the very essence of our GRIT values: they showed up with enthusiasm, they supported one another with genuine kindness, and they represented Mary M. Knight with character and pride.

But beyond the pep assemblies and football field, the real magic happens in our classrooms and hallways every single day. This week's GRIT Award winners remind us that growth comes in many forms—from the student who stays after school to improve their grades, to the kindergartener showing incredible work ethic on their first days at MMK, to our students standing up for one another with courage and compassion. Our staff continues to see the whole child, creating spaces where students feel heard, valued, and challenged to reach their potential.

This brings me to this week's most important opportunity: parent-teacher conferences on Wednesday and Thursday. These conferences are where partnerships flourish. I encourage every family to join us—whether you've scheduled a specific time or drop in during available times. Come ready to celebrate your student's strengths, discuss their growth, and collaboratively set goals for continued success. We're also excited to help you connect through our Rooms app during conferences, so you can stay connected with classroom updates and teacher communication all year long.

As we move into the final weeks of October, I'm grateful for the commitment our families show by staying engaged with your student's education. Together—families, staff, students, and community—we're building a culture where Owls soar high and grow with intention.

Thank you for being part of our Mary M. Knight family.

Go Owls!

Josh Stoney
Principal, Mary M. Knight School District

Monday 10/27

• School board meeting 6:00 pm

Tuesday 10/28

• 
  

Wednesday 10/29

• Normal 8:00 am start time.
• Early release 12:25 pm
• Afternoon conferences 1:00 - 3:20 pm
• MS football vs. Ocosta 3:15 pm
• HS volleyball @ Wahkiakum 4:30 pm

Thursday 10/30

• Early release 12:25 pm
• Afternoon conferences 1:00 - 4:00 pm
• Evening conferences 5:00 - 7:00 pm

Friday 10/31

• Early release 12:25 pm
• HS football @ Crescent 1:00 pm (Saturday)

Conference Schedule:

• Wednesday, October 29: 1:00-3:20 PM
• Thursday, October 30: 1:00-4:00 PM and 5:00-7:00 PM

Elementary Families (PK-5): If you haven't scheduled your conference yet, please log into Skyward Family Access today to select your time slot. Need help? Call the office at 360-426-6767.

Secondary Families (6-12):

• If your student's advisor has contacted you about a scheduled conference, we look forward to seeing you at your appointment time.
• All families are welcome to drop in during available times to connect with teachers. Check our website and Facebook page for teacher availability.

What to Expect: During your conference, we'll discuss your student's progress, celebrate their strengths, and create goals for continued success.

Questions? Contact the school office at 360-426-6767.

We look forward to partnering with you this week!

We're Here to Help You Set Up Rooms

As we look forward to seeing you at parent-teacher conferences on October 29 and 30, we want to make sure every family is connected through Rooms in our Mary M. Knight School District app.

Already Set Up? You're All Set!

If you've already downloaded the MMK District app and signed into Rooms, you're ready to go! Thank you for taking that step to stay connected with your child's teachers and classroom updates.

Not Set Up Yet? No Problem!

Haven't had a chance to download the app or sign into Rooms yet? We've got you covered! Your child's teacher will have a simple setup guide available during conferences and can walk you through the process in just a few minutes.

What You'll Need at Conferences

Bring your smartphone to conferences, and we'll help you:

1. Download the MMK District app (also called the OWLS app)
2. Open the app and find Rooms
3. Sign in using your phone number or email
4. Set up your notification preferences
5. Start connecting with teachers!

The entire process takes just a few minutes, and you'll leave conferences ready to receive important updates, messages from teachers, and classroom announcements—all in one convenient place.

Why Rooms Matters

Once you're connected, you'll have access to:

• Direct messaging with your child's teachers
• Classroom announcements and updates
• School news and events
• Materials and resources shared by teachers
• Everything in one secure app!

Questions?

Your child's teacher is ready to help you get set up during your conference time. We want to make sure every family has the tools to stay connected with their student's education.

We look forward to seeing you at conferences!

Parent-Teacher Conferences
📅 October 29 & 30
📱 Bring your phone - we'll help you get connected!

What a week of pure Owl pride and community spirit! Our Mary M. Knight School community came together in an unforgettable celebration that showcased the heart and soul of our amazing students and staff.

Spirit Week: Creativity and Fun Unleashed!

From pajamas to pink awareness to the most creative costume pairings, our students brought incredible energy and imagination to Spirit Week. The hallways were filled with laughter, creativity, and school spirit that truly exemplified the Owl Way!

Dress-Up Day Highlights:

• Pajama Day saw students rolling out of bed and into school in their comfiest attire
• Pink Out Day raised awareness and showed our community's support for breast cancer research
• Rhyme Without a Reason Day produced some of the most hilarious and creative costume combinations we've ever seen
• Into the Woods Day transformed our campus into a sea of camouflage
• Teacher Look-Alike Day proved that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery

Volleyball Senior Night: Lady Owls Triumph!

Thursday night was nothing short of spectacular as our Lady Owls volleyball team pulled out a big win against Ocosta during our Senior Night celebration. The team demonstrated incredible skill, determination, and school spirit, making our entire community proud!

Pep Assembly: Electric Atmosphere!

Friday's Pep Assembly was a celebration of our fall sports teams and school pride. Each class brought their A-game, showcasing their spirit, creativity, and Owl pride.

Homecoming Football Game: Owls Soar to Victory!

Saturday's Homecoming game against Lake Quinault was an absolute thriller! Our football team made a crucial stop and secured a memorable win, sending our fans into a frenzy of excitement and school pride.

Homecoming Royalty Court

At halftime, we proudly recognized our Homecoming Royalty Court:

• Freshman Court
  • Dayton Triggs
  • Alivia McCair
• Sophomore Court
  • Hunter Gilmore-Hulford
  • Allyiah Wood
• Junior Court
  • Ryder Lake
  • Bella Buck
• Senior Court
  • Deakyn Bullington
  • Brooke Mirka

Each of these outstanding students represents the very best of Mary M. Knight - leadership, spirit, and community.

Homecoming Dance: A Night to Remember

Following the game, students gathered in the MMK gymnasium for a memorable Homecoming dance. The night was filled with music, dancing, and the joy of our school community coming together.

A Special Thank You To our students, staff, parents, and community members who made this week so incredible – THANK YOU! Your spirit, support, and enthusiasm make Mary M. Knight more than just a school – we're a family.

GO OWLS!

Celebrating OWL Values: Perseverance, Ownership, and Community

Dear Mary M. Knight Community,

Another week of exceptional growth and positive choices! We're thrilled to share the latest nominations that showcase our students' and staff's commitment to our GRIT values and the inclusive culture we're building together.

Student Highlights:

High School Perseverance

• Nicholas Wulf (10th Grade) demonstrates what true GRIT looks like. Over the past month, he has consistently stayed after school to complete his coursework, showing remarkable perseverance and responsibility. His dedication to improving his academic standing and taking ownership of his learning embodies the spirit of what it means to be an Owl.

Elementary Leadership and Positive Change

• Emmett Cruz-Vizena (5th Grade) has shown tremendous growth in persevering through difficult assignments and isn't afraid to ask for help. His leadership in small group learning and games has inspired those around him.
• Ben Curry (5th Grade) turned his day around by demonstrating ownership, completing his work with care, and showing maturity in how he redirects his peers—with kindness, not harshness. His ability to acknowledge his behavior and make positive changes is truly commendable.
• Kyra Coleman (5th Grade) shows ownership by openly acknowledging when activities challenge her and actively working with her teacher to find solutions. Her willingness to adapt demonstrates remarkable resilience.

Early Learning Ownership and Work Ethic

• Dominic Franco (1st Grade) demonstrates true GRIT by taking ownership of his learning! When introduced to a new syllable strategy, he immediately applied it throughout his entire book, breaking down challenging words with focus and determination.
• Amelia Lounsbury (PreK) exemplifies our Culture of Work and GRIT. On October 21st, she stayed focused on her assignment until completion without leaving her seat. A special thank you to her mom, Elizabeth Lounsbury, for reinforcing these values at home—what we permit, we promote!
• Remi Rivard (Kindergarten) is new to our school and has shown incredible willingness to jump right in, learning our routines with wonderful work ethic. She asks for help when needed and fixes her mistakes—that's true GRIT!
• David Finch (Kindergarten) demonstrates excellent collaboration and teamwork. He's always ready to help others and brings calm, creative problem-solving to our classroom.

Responsibility and Problem-Solving

• Kimber Rivard (2nd Grade) welcomed herself to MMK by demonstrating responsibility. When she noticed a classmate wasn't following bathroom rules, she did the right thing and told a teacher. Thank you for being a problem-solver and helping others learn to do better!

Kindness and Community Care

• Bailee Mock (4th Grade) shows GRIT every single day! She stands up for students being bullied, is always there to help, and is a wonderful friend to those around her.
• Alaina Dunnington (4th Grade) has a gift for caring for others. She's incredibly supportive and brings warmth to our classroom community.
• Koda Mali (5th Grade) demonstrated both GRIT and kindness by stopping someone from picking on a classmate. True leadership!

Peer-to-Peer Recognition We also want to celebrate our students recognizing each other! Nominations from Raegyn Ayres, Nicholas Horn, Sunny Baughman, Chloe Finch, Xavier Lingnau, and Allie Finch show that our students understand the importance of lifting each other up, showing kindness, and celebrating each other's efforts. This peer culture is what makes MMK special!

Staff and Community Recognition:

Culture of Work and Student Connection

• Garrett Johannes demonstrates dedication to Culture of Work by implementing insights from our professional development right away. His commitment didn't stop in the classroom—he invited administration to join him with 9th graders to facilitate a meaningful discussion about what it means to be "heard." His willingness to try multiple approaches to connect with students shows the persistence and care we admire at MMK.
• Molly Heidt showed Culture of Work by facilitating an incredibly meaningful conversation that gave a student the opportunity to be truly seen and heard. Her thoughtfulness created space for deeper understanding and has already positively impacted how we interact with this student. Thank you for the gentle reminder to see the whole child!

Inspiring Excellence and Future Vision

• Jackie Jewett shows excellence through engaging and inspiring students outside of her classroom. She connected with a 9th grade student and helped him identify strengths and aspirations he hadn't recognized in himself. These caring interactions shape our students' futures and create the positive school culture we all treasure. Thank you for your impact on our greater school community!

Reflections on GRIT

This week's nominations remind us that GRIT comes in many forms—staying focused on a challenging assignment, showing up for a friend, making positive choices even when it's difficult, supporting each other through struggles, and most importantly, creating spaces where students feel heard and valued. Our Owls are soaring because they're learning that growth happens when we embrace challenges, own our actions, build community together, and are supported by educators who genuinely see them and invest in their success.

Thank you to all our students, families, and staff for creating a culture where Owls want to grow!

Keep soaring, Owls!

Nominate a student, staff member, or community volunteer for next week's GRIT celebration! Email [principal contact email] with stories of Ownership, Leadership, and Growth.

🍽️ This Week's Lunch Meno

• Monday: Chicken and Black Bean Chili
• Tuesday: Chicken Philly Sandwich
• Wednesday: Hot Ham & Cheese Sandwich
• Thursday: Breaded Chicken Drumstick
• Friday: Pepperoni Pizza

🏃‍♂️ Athletics This Week

• Monday:
• Tuesday:
• Wednesday: HS Volleyball @ Wakiakum 4:30 pm
• Thursday:
• Friday:
• Saturday: HS Football @ Crescent 1:00 pm

📋 Important Reminders

• Conferences Wednesday & Thursday
• Early release Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday

🔗 District Website: Access to district website

🔗 Skyward Family Access: Access grades and attendance

🔗 Athletic Schedules: MMK Sports Hub

🔗 Character Strong Resources: Available on district website

📧 Questions? Contact us at (360) 426-6767 or visit marymknight.com

Email: jstoney@mmk.wednet.edu
Website: https://www.marymknight.com/
Location: 2987 Matlock-Brady Road, Elma, WA, USA
Phone: (360) 426-6767
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MMKOwls