March 21, 2025

Good morning parents and guardians of our World Changers! Please note the following procedure began March 10, 2025. The Student Lobby door will now open at 7:25 a.m. All students are required to enter through either the upper-classmen door or freshmen door located by the cafeteria. These doors open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 7:25 a.m. Students who arrive after 7:25 a.m. will remain in the Student Lobby until they can be released with a late pass. We ask that students arrive to the building on time. Thank you for your support with ensuring our World Changers arrive on time and enter through the designated doors.

The week of April 7th we will be conducting State testing. We ask that parents remind their students to charge their Chromebook every night in preparation for the next day. Parents please note that we will be a closed campus during testing hours. You will not be able to enter the building to pick up your child early.

Tuesday April 8th- SAT- Juniors and those Senior that need to test. Dismissal is at 1pm. All other students are virtual.

Wednesday April 9th-MStep- once again only Juniors and select Seniors. Dismissal at 12:30. All other students are virtual.

Thurs April 10th-ACT workdays- Juniors and select Seniors. Dismissal at 12:05. All other students are virtual.

Tues April 14th- PSAT 10- Only Sophomores will be allowed on campus. Dismissal is at 11:40. All other students are virtual.

Wed April 15th-Mstep 9- Only Freshman will be allowed on campus. Dismissal is at 11:40. All other students are virtual.

The Kalamazoo Central Track and Field teams kicked off their season with a bang this week at Grand Valley State University, bringing home lots of hardware for their stellar performances.

For the boys, Maurice Streeter placed second in the 60 meter dash with a time of 6.88, the fastest in school history. Right behind him was Jeremy Dixon, who finished third. Streeter also finished fifth in the 200 meter dash with a personal best time of 22.52. Aquarius Johnson was 5th in the 400 with a personal best 51.05. Sam Baker was a champion in the 800 running his personal best time of 1:57.19 and Jamar Dobbins was was 6th in the 60 meter hurdles with a personal best time of 8.61. Rounding things out for the boys was the 4x300 meter relay team of Jeremy Dixon, Aquarius Johnson, Tazir Baraka, and Curtis Whitfield, who took home gold with the fastest time in school history, 2:25.97.

On the girls side, Kynnedi Patterson was 5th in the 60 meter dash, and first in the 200 meter dash, where she ran a personal best time of 26.24. In the 800 meter run, senior Annie Alkema left her competition in the dust, running a personal best time of 2:14.40, shattering her own school record by nearly six seconds. Aaliyah Young was 5th in the 60 meter hurdles with a PR of 9.88, and the relay team of Patterson, Young, Alkema, and Winter Owens brought home a medal of their own with a time of 2:58.24, the fastest in school history.

The Giants are in action at home against Gull Lake at 4:00 on Monday. Hope to see you there!

Don't miss out on this year's memories—buy your yearbook today before it’s too late! Thursday March 27th is the last day to order your yearbook. You can bring cash or a check to Mr. Douglas, order online using the QR codes on the posters in the hallway. (Link to online ordering https://yearbookordercenter.com/product/yearbooks JOB# 13723


If you would like to be a part of next year's yearbook staff see Mr. Douglas for a yearbook application.

"The KC Personal Finance Club will meet again on Tuesday, March 25, in room 244 after school until about 3:15 pm."

Jasmine Crockett is a dedicated attorney, civil rights advocate, and U.S. representative for Texas’s 30th congressional district. Before serving in Congress, she made a name for herself as a passionate defense attorney, fighting for marginalized communities and protecting voting rights. In the Texas House of Representatives, Crockett was a vocal advocate for criminal justice reform, reproductive rights, and expanding access to healthcare. As a congresswoman, she continues to champion those policies uplifting communities.

“Our democracy depends on protecting the civil liberties of all Americans, and I will continue to fight for those principles in every decision I make.”

Good Morning, Class of 2025!

We’re on a roll, Seniors! Our chocolate boxes are flying off the shelves—134 are already out, and only 65 are left to sell! We’re more than halfway there, and thanks to your hard work, we’re adding an extra prize for 4th place!

Here are our top sellers so far:

1st place: Alayna Harvey -14 boxes!
2nd place: Ja'Moni Williams- 10 boxes!
3rd place: Johnique Woods – 5 boxes!

4th place: Camri Grady, Kennedi Patterson, Maddison Bush, and Matai Stanfill –4 boxes!

Remember to turn in your money ASAP!

Let’s keep pushing, Class of 2025! Every box sold helps fund your senior experiences. We are Giant Nation, and together, we can finish strong!

Make it a great day!

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!

We want to make sure everyone has a smooth and safe school day, so here’s a quick reminder about our food procedures:

No DoorDash, Grubhub, or Fast-Food Deliveries – Managing food deliveries during the school day is a safety issue and disrupts the routine. We also cannot call students out of class to pick up food.

Packed Lunches from Home Are Allowed – Students are welcome to bring lunch from home, but outside food purchased during the school day cannot be brought into the building.

Food Brought in Will Be Discarded – To keep things running smoothly, any outside food arriving during school hours must be thrown away.

Thank you for understanding and helping us keep our school safe and focused on learning!

The Grad Bash Committee is offering customized yard signs to celebrate our seniors. These signs are distinct from those provided by the district and can be personalized with your senior’s name and photo or just their name.

All proceeds from this fundraiser will directly support the Class of 2025 Grad Bash. Orders will be available for pickup on April 23rd, 24th, or 25th between 2:00 and 3:00 PM outside the main office.

Order yours today to honor your senior while contributing to a memorable celebration!

Order link: https://varsitygraphics.net/kchs/

1. ATYP’s Summer Camp Registration Portal is now open! This year we will be holding 16 camps for middle and early high school students, and three sessions of Writing the College Admissions Essay for rising high school seniors. Partial scholarships are available for students who qualify for free or reduced lunch. We invite you to share the brochure (attached) or to send students to the website, www.wmich.edu/precollege/atyp/summer-programs, for more information.
2. As you work to schedule students for the fall of 2025, don’t forget that ATYP offers AP Computer Science A in-person on WMU’s campus. Students do not need to qualify for ATYP to take this course; the only prerequisite is Algebra 1. We hope you will share this information with interested students. It is a great opportunity for students to learn more about computer programming and to potentially gain college credit if they score high enough on the AP Exam. A flier is attached. Students and counselors who would like more information about APCS should contact the office at atyp-info@wmich.edu .
3. The Michigan Association for Gifted Children’s Spring Conference will be held on Saturday, April 26, at the PARC Building in Plymouth, Michigan outside of Detroit. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Matt Zakreski. You can learn more at www.migiftedchild.org/conference, or see the flier above. We hope teachers, counselors, administrators, and parents will come and learn more about gifted education!

It’s time to celebrate your next steps! Share your college decisions, military enlistments, or career plans on the @KCHS2025decisions Instagram page.

To be featured, head to the profile and fill out the Google Form linked in the bio. Let’s show off the Class of 2025’s future!

Our Muslim folks who will be observing Ramadan this year, this announcement is for you! We are excited to inform you that KPS food services will be preparing meals to be taken home by those secondary students participating in fasting during Ramadan! (Feb 28th-March 28th). Students wanting to participate in take-home meals should complete the form (link will be sent out in the announcement email) so we know how many meals we need to prepare and at which locations. Meals will be available for pick up at the end of the day. We will provide more details on pick-up of meals and menu soon.

https://forms.gle/bdp1JmpGfr2txaYK8

Chess Club is meeting every Wednesday in room 221 from 2:30- 3:30. Any and all levels are welcome.

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.

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.

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