KMS NEWSLETTER

Dear Middle School Families,

As we shared last week, one of the most important factors in helping students stay successful is regular attendance. Research shows that students who attend school every day are more likely to succeed academically, build strong relationships, and develop lifelong habits of responsibility and commitment.

• Regular attendance means attending school 95% or more of the time (missing no more than 8 days across the year).
• Chronic absenteeism is missing 10% or more of the year (18+ days) — that’s just 2 days a month, and it adds up quickly. Students who are chronically absent are at higher risk of falling behind in reading and math and facing challenges in later grades.

Now, we'd like to share KMS September Attendance Data (see graphic below):

• 67% of KMS students are on track with Regular Attendance (greater than 95%).
• 16% are At Risk for Chronic Absenteeism (90–95%).
• 11% fall into Chronic Absenteeism (80–90%).
• 5% are in Severe Chronic Absenteeism (80% or less).

How Families Can Help:

• Keep a consistent bedtime and morning routine.
• Limit nighttime distractions like phones, iPads, or TVs.
• Schedule appointments outside school hours whenever possible.
• Avoid extended trips during the school year.
• Let us know if your child is experiencing challenges that impact attendance; we are here to help.

When to Stay Home

Students should stay home if they have a fever (100.4 or higher), vomiting, diarrhea, severe cough, unexplained rash, or a reportable infectious disease. They may return once symptoms improve and they are fever-free for 24 hours without medication.

We are committed to working together with families to ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed. Thank you for making daily attendance a priority for your child and for our Kodiak Middle School community.

Sincerely,

Rena Rankin, Principal​​​​​​​

Judith Bruns, ​​​​​​​Assistant Principal

Student assessment results from the Spring AK STAR state assessment are being sent home with students Friday, October 3rd. 6th grade students are also bringing home their AK Science Assessment results.

If your student is absent today, the report will be sent home on their next school day or mailed to the address on file.

For more information on these assessments, including how they are designed, what the scores mean, and how to support your child, please visit the Alaska Department of Education’s assessment page: https://education.alaska.gov/assessments

If you have questions about your student’s results or how to support learning at home, please contact the KMS office at 907-486-7460.

Pink Areas = Student Drop-Off & Pick-Up Zones

You may use Powell Street, Rezanof Drive, or the KMS Playground Lot

Students should enter/exit the vehicle on the sidewalk side only.

Black Area = No Drop-Off or Pick-Up

This lot is reserved only for school buses and faculty parking.

For everyone’s safety, please do not drop off or pick up students in this lot.

Reminder that Morning Intramurals in the gym start at 8am and Breakfast in the Commons starts at 8:20am. Your student is welcome to join either of these morning activities to get inside out of the weather until the bell rings to go to their lockers at 8:40am. They may enter using the doors near the playground, as indicated with yellow arrows in the map below.

Thank you for helping us keep our students safe and traffic running smoothly!

• Student Gov't, Mondays, 8:20-8:40am, Room #103 - All students welcome! Elections for Secretary and Treasurer are coming soon!
• Cookie Dough Fundraiser Packets due back to 1st period teachers

• Academic Organization with Ms. Lucy, Tuesdays during Flex, Room #202

WEDNESDAY, 10/8

• 6th Grade Lunch Bunch, see flyer below for permission form and sign-up, Room #201
• GRACE Group with Ms. Lucy, Wednesdays during Flex, Room #202
• Early Release, 2:45PM

THURSDAY, 10/9

• Yearbook Committee, 3:50 - 4:30, Room 104 (Now meeting BI-WEEKLY)

• Cookie Dough Order Counting, 5:30-7:30, KMS Commons

SATURDAY, 10/11

• Elks Lodge Hoop Shoot, Registration 10-11am, Main Elementary Gym

SUNDAY, 10/12

KMS PTSA’s annual Cougar Mountain Cookie Dough Fundraiser is ending this weekend!

Keep an eye out for KMS students raising funds for prizes, activities, and events that benefit all students at Kodiak Middle School.

Every student who sells at least 2 tubs will be entered into a random prize drawing.

The 1st period class with the highest average sales per student wins a juice/donut party!

How to Sell:

1. Find an adult (not a fellow student, or your little brother) who wants to order cookie dough.

2. Write their order and contact info on the form. Remember, you will be delivering this dough, so you need to be able to contact them in November when it arrives.

3. Collect payment and secure it in the envelope.

4. Turn everything in to your 1st period teacher on Monday, 10/6.

Cookie dough will arrive in Kodiak the week before Thanksgiving (around 11/18). Students will deliver tubs directly to their customers. (Orders of more than 5 tubs will be picked up in front of the high school.). We will give you a copy of your order form when you pick up your dough tubs!

Parent Reminders:

• Please be sure that the payments match the order form totals.

• Fill out the order form COMPLETELY with all student info before turning it in.

• Be sure to put your student's info on each order form in case they become separated.

These students work so hard, and we want them to be rewarded for their efforts, so in addition to the Friday Night Lives and other benefits, check out the prize photo gallery below! Our top sellers will get to choose their prize!

See flyers below for more info on the two new Flex options with Ms. Lucy:

GRACE Group and Academic Organization

Students will sign up using SmartPass.

Space is limited; see Ms. Lucy with questions.

See flyer for parent permission and sign-ups.

Sara Bruce, KMS 6th grade counselor, will lead a weekly lunch bunch. At times she will be joined by KIBSD district-wide school social worker, Tania Silva-Johnson.
Lunch Bunch will meet during lunch (20 minutes) once a week, providing a quiet lunch space, games/icebreakers, and support students with anxiety, academic stress, conflict, friendships as well as other stressors and supports.

During the course of the school day, teachers and staff like to recognize students who are caught exhibiting the KMS core values of Respect, Integrity, Citizenship, and Kindness. We do this by giving out Grizzly Tickets. Every Grizzly Ticket goes into a bucket and from that bucket, we draw two students to celebrate per grade.

Guest Plant lore Specialist, Gayla Pedersen, made Yarrow and Plantain salve with the students.

Culture Quest students also went on a Near Island Archaeology adventure with local Archaeologist Molly Odell who works for the Alutiiq Museum.

They got to visit a 7,100 year old fish camp and learned about the artifacts and re-creating the history of the people who once inhabited it.

Tania Silva-Johnson (KIBSD) and her daughter Veronica Johnson (Koniag) co-presented to sixth graders about the history of boarding schools in Alaska, the importance of honoring Orange Shirt Day, and how we can respect and celebrate all cultures.

A big "thank you" for sharing with us!

By completing all of their IXL assignments, Ms. Gray's Flex class earned a pizza party!

It’s time to finalize our Cougar Mountain Cookie Dough orders, and we could use your help to ensure everything is accurate and organized.

Volunteers will assist with sorting, counting, verifying totals, and entering information into a spreadsheet.

WHERE: KMS Commons

WHEN: Friday, October 10

TIME: 5:30–7:30 PM

Please park in the playground lot and enter through the Commons Door.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP!

Your support helps us wrap up this gigantic fundraiser efficiently and successfully! Thank you in advance for lending a hand!

We love having volunteers in our building! Even if you aren’t able to help with specific events, there are always flexible opportunities that can fit your time and schedule. If any of the options below interest you, please reach out for more information!

• 10/13-10/15: Modified Bell Schedule
• 10/16 & 10/17 - Schools Closed, In-Service
• 10/20-10/24 - Scholastic Book Fair
• 10/22 & 10/23 - Parent/Teacher Conferences
• 10/31 - End of Quarter 1
• 11/7 - 7th & 8th Grade Fall Ball

Right now, many families at KMS are facing food insecurity. Your contribution to our food pantry can make a real difference. We're collecting non-perishable food items throughout the entire school year to fill our pantry and provide meals for those KMS families in need to take home every Friday.

Drop-off at KMS:

Monday-Friday

8:30am - 4:00pm

For questions contact:

Nurse Amber

907-486-7470

amber.bunker@kibsd.org