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 Mary M. Knight Families,

Welcome to another exciting week at MMK! As we continue our journey through January's theme of "New Beginnings - Integration Check," I'm eager to share what's ahead and celebrate the incredible GRIT our students and staff are demonstrating daily.

This Week's Highlights:

We have an action-packed week with several opportunities for you to connect with our school community:

• 7th Grade Families: Please join us Monday at 4:00 PM in Ms. Ehler's room for an important family meeting. This is a valuable opportunity to discuss classroom expectations, procedures, and how you can best support your student's success at home.
• Wednesday Late Start: Remember our late start schedule on Wednesday as our staff engages in important professional development focused on student voice and belonging.
• School Board Meeting: Join us Wednesday at 6:00 PM to hear Todd and Patrick present on our Advisory program—one of the ways we're building strong relationships and supporting every student.
• SkillsUSA Competition: We're cheering on our students competing at regionals this Saturday! Good luck to our participants!

GRIT in Action:

I'm continually inspired by how our OWLS embody Growth, Resilience, Intensity, and Tenacity. This month, we're spotlighting Intensity and Focus, and your students are showing us what deep engagement and perseverance look like. From Harper Finch conquering her fear on the diving board to Cash King taking ownership of his learning, our students remind us daily why we do this work.

A special congratulations to Nurse Linda, who received a GRIT nomination from student Raegyn Ayres. As Raegyn beautifully said, "She is very kind and she helps everyone feel better." This is the culture we're building together—one of care, excellence, and unwavering support.

Looking Ahead:

As we navigate this week, I encourage you to talk with your students about what "intensity" means in their learning. What does it look like to push through challenges? How do they stay focused when work gets difficult? These conversations at home reinforce the growth mindset we're cultivating at school.

Thank you for your partnership in ensuring every MMK student has the knowledge, skills, motivation, and confidence to be successful citizens. Your engagement makes all the difference.

Let's make it a great week, OWLS!

Monday 1/26

• HS Basketball vs. Wahkiakum/Agape Christian 5:30 pm
• 7th Grade Family Meeting 4:00 pm in Mrs. Ehler's room.

Tuesday 1/27

• Art club 3:00 pm
• HS Basketball @ Lake Quinault 4:00 pm

Wednesday 1/28

• Staff PD/PLC (Belonging)
• School Board Meeting 6:00 pm

Thursday 1/29

• MMK SPED team meeting 8:00 am

Friday 1/30

• HS Basketball vs. Wishkah 5:30 pm

Saturday 1/31

Dear Mary M. Knight Families,

I hope this message finds you well as we begin an exciting new chapter in our school year. This week marks the start of second semester, and with it comes a wonderful opportunity for all of our students to start fresh academically. Whether your child had a strong first semester or faced some challenges, the second semester brings renewed possibilities for growth and achievement.

For our secondary students, this semester is particularly important as they work toward on-time graduation. Every grade, every assignment, and every day of learning counts as they build toward their future goals.

Partnering Together for Student Success

As we embark on this new semester, I encourage you to take an active role in monitoring and supporting your child's academic progress. When families and school work together, our students thrive. Here are three simple but powerful ways you can stay connected to your child's learning:

1. Connect with Your Child's Teachers
Reach out to your child's teachers via email or phone to introduce yourself (or reconnect) and share how you'd like to receive updates about your child's progress. Our teachers are your partners in your child's education and welcome open communication.

2. Access Skyward Family Access
Make sure you can log into Skyward Family Access, where you can check your child's grades, attendance, and behavior information anytime. If you need help accessing your account or have forgotten your login information, please contact our office—we're here to help!

3. Talk with Your Child Regularly
Set aside time to ask your child about what they're learning, what assignments they're working on, and how they're feeling about their classes. These conversations help you stay informed and show your child that their education matters to you.

Let's make this semester one of growth, achievement, and success for every student at Mary M. Knight. Thank you for your continued partnership in your child's education.

Dear Mary M. Knight Families,

We want to remind you about Rooms, a powerful communication tool available right in our Mary M. Knight School District app! Rooms makes it easy to stay connected with your child's teachers and classroom activities.

What You Can Do in Rooms:

Message Teachers Directly - Have a question about homework, an upcoming project, or your child's progress? Send a message right through Rooms and get a response from your child's teacher.

Stay Updated - Receive classroom announcements, reminders, and important updates delivered straight to your phone.

See the Learning - View photos, celebrations, and highlights from your child's school day that teachers share.

Access Materials - Find assignments, resources, and materials shared by teachers, all organized by class.

How to Access Rooms:

1. Open the Mary M. Knight School District app on your phone
2. Tap "Rooms" at the bottom of the screen
3. Browse your child's classes and send messages to teachers

Need to Get Started?

If you haven't set up Rooms yet, it only takes a few minutes! Check your email for your invitation from Apptegy, or contact our office and we'll help you get connected.

📞 Office: 360-426-6767
📧 Email: jstoney@mmk.wednet.edu

Rooms is here to make home-school communication easier and more effective. We encourage you to explore this valuable tool and connect with your child's teachers!

Quick Tip: Set your notification preferences in the app so you receive updates in the way that works best for you—text, email, or both!

We're thrilled to announce two outstanding after-school enrichment programs that will give our students additional hands-on learning time in our Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs this semester!

After-School Woodworks

Schedule: Most Thursdays, 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Location: Mr. Cole's Room
Eligibility: 8th-12th grade students who have completed at least one semester of woodshop or construction class

This program provides students with extended workshop time to refine their skills, work on personal projects, and explore advanced woodworking techniques in a supportive environment.

After-School Metals

Schedule: Every Wednesday, 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Location: Mr. Plaisance's Room
Eligibility: 9th-12th grade students who have completed Semester 1 Metals

Students will have the opportunity to continue developing their metalworking skills, tackle more complex projects, and gain valuable experience working with metal fabrication equipment.

Why These Programs Matter:

Both programs offer students meaningful opportunities to deepen their technical skills, build confidence, and create portfolio pieces that showcase their craftsmanship. These experiences support career exploration in skilled trades and provide valuable hands-on learning that complements classroom instruction.

Questions? Please contact Mrs. Cole (Woodworks) or Mr. Plaisance (Metals) for more information, or reach out to the main office at360-426-6767.

We're proud to offer these enrichment opportunities to our MMK students!

Dear MMK Families and Student Drivers,

As we begin the second semester, I want to reach out about an important safety requirement for all students who drive to school. If your student drives and parks on campus, they must have a completed and approved Student Parking Registration form on file in the high school office.

We know that many of our students rely on driving to get to and from school, especially given our rural location. We're glad to provide this option, and we want to make sure it remains safe and available for everyone.

Why This Matters

Student parking registration isn't just paperwork—it's a critical part of keeping our campus safe. The registration process helps us:

• Meet our insurance requirements and protect the district
• Verify that all student drivers are properly licensed and insured
• Create clear safety expectations that prevent accidents
• Maintain emergency access for buses and first responders
• Know who to contact in case of an emergency or concern

What You Need to Do

If your student drives to school, please stop by the high school office as soon as possible to complete or update their registration. The process is simple and quick:

1. Bring two documents: Your student's driver's license and an insurance policy cover sheet showing that your student is listed on the policy with current coverage dates
2. We'll make copies at no cost and return your originals right away
3. Complete the registration form with your student, which includes acknowledging our parking lot safety rules
4. Your student receives approval to continue parking on campus

Key Safety Expectations

Our parking lot is a shared space used by students, staff, buses, and emergency vehicles. To keep everyone safe, students who drive must follow these expectations:

Safe driving: Drive slowly (10 mph speed limit) and carefully. Unsafe driving can result in temporary suspension of parking privileges.

Closed campus: Students may not return to their vehicles during the school day without permission from the office or a staff member. Vehicles are not gathering spaces during class or passing time.

Riding with others: All students who ride in private vehicles during the school day must have a permission slip on file. This helps us ensure parent awareness and student safety.

Fire station access: The fire department has asked that students not park at the fire station, as those spaces must remain open for emergency response.

Important Note About Compliance

Starting next week, we will be checking parking lot compliance to ensure all student drivers have current, approved registrations on file. Students without proper registration may temporarily lose parking privileges until the process is completed. Our goal isn't to be punitive—it's to ensure we're meeting safety and insurance requirements that protect everyone.

Questions?

If you have any questions about the registration process or parking expectations, please don't hesitate to contact the high school office at 360.426.6767. We're here to help make this easy for you.

Thank you for partnering with us to maintain a safe campus. Your cooperation helps us ensure that student driving remains a safe and available option for our MMK community.

Monday, January 26 | 4:00 PM | Mrs. Ehler's Classroom

Dear 7th Grade Families,

We're halfway through the school year, and it's time to connect! We're inviting all 7th grade students and families to join us for a 30-minute mid-year check-in on Monday, January 26 at 4:00 PM in Mrs. Ehler's classroom.

Why This Meeting Matters

The second semester is a fresh start, and we want to make sure every student has what they need to be successful. This meeting is an opportunity to:

• Reset expectations together as we begin the new semester
• Align our support systems between home and school
• Strengthen communication so nothing falls through the cracks
• Answer your questions about grades, assignments, and school expectations

What We'll Cover

Academic Success

• Understanding the grading scale and expectations
• Strategies for staying on top of homework and missing work
• How to monitor grades effectively

Behavior & School Community

• Reviewing schoolwide expectations for respectful conduct
• Reinforcing appropriate language and interactions
• Creating a positive, safe learning environment

Support Systems

• At school: advisory, check-ins, behavior support, and restorative practices
• At home: weekly grade checks, homework routines, and organization strategies
• New communication tools: Apptegy Rooms

Why We're Checking In Now

As we review the first semester, we've noticed some areas where students could use additional support—particularly with staying organized, monitoring grades between advisory periods, and keeping up with assignments. We've also seen an increase in behaviors that don't reflect our community values. These are normal mid-year challenges, and together we can address them effectively.

Please Come Prepared

Bring any questions you have about your student's progress, grades, or school expectations. This is your time to connect with us.

RSVP

Please reply to this email if you can attend. If you have questions or need to connect before Monday, contact your child's advisor or our main office.

We strongly encourage all 7th grade families to attend with their students. Your partnership makes all the difference in your student's success.

Looking forward to seeing you Monday!

Weekly GRIT Spotlight: Week of January 20, 2026

At Mary M. Knight, GRIT represents the qualities we value most in our students and staff: Growth, Resilience, Integrity, and Tenacity. This week, I'm proud to recognize the following students and staff members who exemplified these values in meaningful ways.

Student GRIT Nominees

Elementary Highlights:

Our youngest Knights are showing us what courage and perseverance look like! Harper Finch (1st grade) faced her fears head-on during Swim Week, standing on the diving board and ultimately trusting herself enough to jump. Harper, your willingness to push past fear is exactly the kind of growth mindset we celebrate!

In Kindergarten, Bryson McCartney and Lucas Frostad demonstrated remarkable problem-solving skills during play center time. When disagreements arose, both students calmed themselves, listened respectfully, and worked together to find a compromise. This kind of empathy and collaborative spirit builds the foundation for lifelong success.

Also in Kindergarten, Elli Miller continues to set an exceptional example through her focus, responsibility, and dedication to quality work. Her consistent engagement and quiet perseverance make her a role model for her peers.

In 4th grade, Becky Fischer is taking true ownership of her learning during math. She's not just completing work—she's making sure she understands it, asking for help when needed, and showing her classmates what determination looks like.

Lewis Baughman (4th grade) has returned from winter break with renewed energy and participation. His willingness to raise his hand, ask questions, and engage actively in lessons shows his classmates the value of being a curious, involved learner.

Secondary Success:

Cash King (9th grade) demonstrated responsibility and tenacity by taking charge of his learning, completing missing assignments, and actively working to improve his grade. Cash, this is exactly the kind of ownership that will serve you well throughout high school and beyond!

Staff GRIT Nominee

Nurse Linda received a special nomination from student Raegyn Ayres, who recognized her consistent care, kindness, and dedication to making everyone feel better. Thank you, Nurse Linda, for embodying GRIT every single day and being someone our students can count on!

These nominations remind us that GRIT isn't just about big moments—it's found in daily choices to try again, help others, ask questions, and push through challenges. Congratulations to all our nominees, and thank you to the staff members who took time to recognize these wonderful examples of growth and resilience!

🍽️ This Week's Lunch Menu

• Monday: Hamburger
• Tuesday: Breakfast for lunch
• Wednesday: Chicken Tortilla Soup
• Thursday: Sweet & Sour Chicken with Rice
• Friday: Pepperoni Pizza

🏃‍♂️ Athletics This Week

• Monday: HS Basketball - girls vs. Wahkiakum 4:00 pm / boys vs. Agape Christian 7:00 pm
• Tuesday: HS Basketball @ Lake Quinault 4:00 pm
• Wednesday:
• Thursday:
• Friday: HS Basketball vs. Wishkah 5:30 pm
• Saturday:

📋 Important Reminders

• End of Semester 1 grading term - January 22, second semester begins

🔗 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