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,

As we enter another exciting week at MMK, I'm filled with pride reflecting on the incredible experiences our students have had recently and looking ahead to meaningful opportunities for connection and growth.

Celebrating Student Success

Last week's Taste Washington Day was a wonderful reminder of the power of connecting students to their local community. Watching our Owls crunch into Washington-grown apples and enjoy stuffed potatoes from the Columbia Basin brought smiles all around. These Farm to School experiences teach our students valuable lessons about where their food comes from while supporting the hardworking farmers in our state.

I'm also thrilled to share that our high school students attended the Try-a-Trade event at Satsop Business Park, where they explored 18 different skilled trades through hands-on experiences. A heartfelt thank you to Mrs. Cole for organizing this opportunity. Whether our students pursue university education, technical training, apprenticeships, or direct entry into the workforce, we're committed to ensuring every Owl graduates college AND career ready.

New Communication Tools

By the time you read this message, you should have received your personal invitation to Rooms—our new home-school communication platform built right into the Mary M. Knight app. This secure hub will streamline how you connect with teachers, receive classroom updates, access materials, and celebrate your child's achievements. If you haven't received your invitation from Apptegy yet, please check your spam folder or contact the office at (360) 877-5463.

Looking Ahead: Parent-Teacher Conferences

Mark your calendars for Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences on October 29-30. These conversations are essential partnerships in your child's success. Both days feature afternoon conferences (1:00-3:20 PM) following early dismissal at 12:30 PM, with evening conferences available Thursday, October 30 (5:00-7:00 PM). Your child's teacher will reach out soon with scheduling information. Please plan for alternative childcare, as students cannot be supervised during conference times.

This Week at MMK

We have another busy week ahead with fall sport pictures on Monday, volleyball and football competitions throughout the week, and our traditional Late Start Wednesday for staff collaboration. Don't forget—Saturday brings HS Football vs. Clallam Bay at 1:00 PM!

As always, our mission guides everything we do: ensuring that all students have the knowledge, skills, motivation, and confidence to be successful citizens. Together, as a community of learners and leaders, we continue enriching the lives of all our students.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership in your child's education. Let's make it a great week!

Go OWLS,

Josh Stoney
Principal, Mary M. Knight School District

Monday 10/13

• Fall sport pictures

Tuesday 10/14

• HS Volleyball vs. Naselle

Wednesday 10/15

• Late Start
• MS Football @ Oakville

Thursday 10/16

• VB @ Wishkah 4:00 PM

Friday 10/17

• HS Football vs. Clallam Bay (Saturday) 1:00 PM

Check Your Email Today for Your Personal Invitation!

Dear Mary M. Knight Families,

This week we've been sharing exciting news about Rooms, a powerful new feature in our Mary M. Knight School District app. Your personal invitation to Rooms will arrive in your inbox by the end of today!

What is Rooms?

Rooms is a secure communication platform built right into our district app. It's your one-stop hub for staying connected with your child's education.

With Rooms, you'll be able to:

• Stay Connected with Teachers - Have two-way conversations with teachers, staff, and coaches in one place
• Receive Classroom Updates - Get announcements, reminders, and important classroom information delivered directly to you
• Access Materials Easily - View and download classroom materials, assignments, and resources organized by class
• Celebrate Student Success - See behavior celebrations and academic achievements from teachers
• Communicate in Your Language - Automatic translation ensures every family can stay informed

Why It Matters

We know juggling multiple apps and communication tools can be overwhelming. Rooms brings everything together in one convenient place alongside the district news, events, and menus you already access through our app.

Everything you need. One simple app. Better communication.

Your Invitation is Coming TODAY!

Watch for an email from Apptegy with your Rooms invitation. The subject line will mention "School Training" or creating your Rooms account. Check your spam/junk folder if you don't see it right away!

Getting Started is Easy

When your invitation arrives:

1. Click "Create a password" in the invitation email
2. Complete your registration by creating a secure password
3. Open the Mary M. Knight School District app and tap "Rooms" to get started!

Don't have our app yet? Download it free from the App Store or Google Play—search for "Mary M. Knight School District."

Once you're logged in, explore the features, set your notification preferences, and consider sending a hello message to your child's teachers. We're excited about how Rooms will strengthen our home-school partnership!

Quick Reminder:
✅ Watch for your email from Apptegy today
✅ Check spam/junk if needed
✅ Contact us with questions—we're here for you!

So good you can almost taste it just by looking at it!

This week we celebrated Taste Washington Day, where schools across the state serve up meals made with ingredients grown right here in Washington!

🥔 Lunch: We dug into stuffed baked potatoes made with Eagle Eye potatoes from Mattawa — these spuds come from rich Columbia Basin soil, giving them that perfect fluffy-inside, crispy-outside bite!

🍎 Washington Apple Crunch: At noon, our students joined the statewide "crunch heard around Washington" as everyone bit into crisp, juicy apples from Washington Fruit in Yakima — a family-owned farm that's been growing some of the state's tastiest apples for over a century!

The cafeteria was full of laughter, crunches, and happy faces — and our students proudly showed off their Farm to School stickers!

We'd say Taste WA Day was a smashing (or should we say crunching) success! 🎉

A huge thank you to our incredible food service team for bringing fresh, local flavors to our students' plates. What a wonderful way to teach our Owls about where their food comes from while supporting Washington farmers!

#MMKOwls #TasteWashington #FarmToSchool #WashingtonGrown #MMKStrong

Career Exploration Takes Flight at Satsop Business Park

We're thrilled to share that our MMK OWLS recently attended the Try-a-Trade event on October 9th at Satsop Business Park in Elma! This incredible hands-on learning experience gave our high school students the opportunity to explore dozens of construction trades, connect with industry employers, and discover exciting career pathways right here in our region.

Why Career and Technical Education (CTE) Matters

At Mary M. Knight, we believe that every student deserves to graduate ready for their future—whether that means entering the workforce, pursuing an apprenticeship, or continuing their education at a two- or four-year college. Career and Technical Education programs like Try-a-Trade are essential because they:

✨ Provide real-world context for classroom learning
✨ Help students discover their passions and strengths through hands-on exploration
✨ Build connections with local employers and industry professionals
✨ Open doors to high-demand, well-paying careers in skilled trades
✨ Develop essential workplace skills like communication, problem-solving, and teamwork

Exploring 18 Skilled Trades

Our students had the chance to engage with professionals from a wide variety of trades, including:

• Electricians and Plumbers
• Ironworkers and Operating Engineers
• Carpenters and Bricklayers
• Sheet Metal Workers and HVAC Technicians
• And so many more!

Students walked away with new perspectives on career opportunities they may have never considered before. As one participant from last year shared: "Having the opportunity to meet with all of the companies there, discuss their work, and see examples of some of it" made all the difference in understanding what these careers truly entail.

A Heartfelt Thank You to Mrs. Cole

We want to extend our deepest gratitude to Mrs. Cole, one of our dedicated CTE teachers, who organized and accompanied our students to this valuable event. Mrs. Cole's commitment to preparing our OWLS for life after graduation is evident in everything she does, and we're so fortunate to have her leading our CTE programming!

Looking Ahead

Experiences like Try-a-Trade are just one of the many ways we're working to ensure our students are college AND career ready. Whether our OWLS choose a university path, a technical college, an apprenticeship, or direct entry into the workforce, we're committed to giving them the tools, experiences, and confidence they need to succeed.

Go OWLS! 🦉

Dear Mary M. Knight Families,

We're looking forward to connecting with you at our Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences on Tuesday, October 29 and Wednesday, October 30!

Why Conferences Matter

Parent-teacher conferences are a valuable opportunity to:

• Celebrate your child's successes and growth
• Discuss academic progress and classroom performance
• Set meaningful goals together for the remainder of the school year
• Strengthen the home-school partnership that supports your child's learning

Schedule Overview

Both Days (October 29 & 30):

• Early dismissal at 12:30 PM
• Afternoon conferences: 1:00 PM - 3:20 PM

Thursday, October 30 only:

• Evening conferences: 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

What's Next?

Your child's teacher will be reaching out soon to schedule your conference time. Please watch for communication about scheduling procedures and available time slots. We encourage all families to participate, as these conversations are essential to your child's success.

If you have questions or need assistance with scheduling, please don't hesitate to contact your child's teacher or the office at (360) 877-5463.

We look forward to this important time together!

Note: Please plan for alternative childcare arrangements, as students will not have supervision during conference times.

GRIT Award Winners - Week of October 6, 2025

At Mary M. Knight School District, we celebrate students and staff who demonstrate GRIT - Growth, Resilience, Initiative, and Teamwork. This week, we're proud to recognize the following outstanding Owls:

Student GRIT Winners

Raegyn Ayres (2nd Grade) - Raegyn showed compassion and GRIT by helping Sunny up when she got hurt. What a wonderful example of being a great friend and caring classmate!

Matthew Hett (2nd Grade) - At the beginning of the year, Matthew found it challenging to show and explain his work. Through weeks of persistence and taking ownership of his learning, he has become a "master" at demonstrating his work and growth! Matthew's effort is leading him toward excellence. We're so proud of you, Matthew!

Rosalynn Austin (PreK) - Rosalynn is a persistent and attentive student who learns quickly and recalls what she's been taught. She even helped her teacher by reciting the three steps from our bully poster when it was needed to reinforce MMK's No Bullying policy. Great work, Rosalynn!

Jasper Severson (2nd Grade) - Jasper shows GRIT every day by demonstrating kindness to his teacher and being a good friend to his classmates. Keep up the wonderful work!

Sadie Wulf (5th Grade) - Since joining her class, Sadie has shown tremendous growth in her work ethic. She gives every assignment her all, even when it's challenging, and perseveres through difficulties to complete her work. Keep it up, Sadie!

James Horn (4th Grade) - James is a daily example of leadership in his classroom. He focuses his attention where it needs to be, kindly reminds others to pay attention, and gets right to work when it's time. He shows his classmates the power of focus and responsibility every single day!

Adam "AJ" Vogland (9th Grade) - AJ has shown maturity and ownership by reflecting on how he can improve his academic standing and discussing the importance of advocating for himself with his teachers. He has independently reached out for additional time and help to raise his grades and has taken initiative in class by asking questions, finishing work ahead of time, and staying on top of assignments. We're proud of your willingness to grow, AJ!

Jasper Garner (1st Grade) - Jasper demonstrates true ownership of his learning! When he finishes his work, he doesn't wait to be told what to do—he independently gets out his flip books and practices blending words. Jasper takes charge of his own learning every day!

Staff GRIT Winners

Mr. Ron Larson - Mr. Larson demonstrates teamwork and willingness to help others by training our new custodial staff member with friendly and respectful mentorship. His collaborative spirit strengthens our entire MMK team!

Mr. Brandon Laughery - Welcome to MMK, Mr. Laughery! His teamwork and collaboration during training show he's a wonderful addition to our custodial team.

AP S. Bell - AP Bell embodies mentor mindset leadership! She has improved our school systems and makes staff feel supported while teaching new approaches. Her positive impact helps create a stronger learning environment for our students. Thank you for your leadership!

Ms. Tawnya - Nominated by student Jaxson Blanchard: Ms. Tawnya has shown growth in helping students when they need her support, and she's a great teacher. Thank you for all you do!

Miss Ferguson - Nominated by student Allie Finch: Miss Ferguson is always there to help and makes sure students are doing okay. Her caring presence makes a difference every day. Thank you!

Congratulations to all our GRIT Award winners! Your determination, kindness, and commitment to learning inspire our entire MMK community. Keep showing what it means to be an Owl!

🦉 #MMKPride #GRITAwards #OwlExcellence

🍽️ This Week's Lunch Meno

• Monday: Deli combo sandwich
• Tuesday: Tater Tot Casserole
• Wednesday: Soup of the day
• Thursday: Chicken & waffles
• Friday: beef nachos

🏃‍♂️ Athletics This Week

• Monday:
• Tuesday: HS volleyball vs. Naselle 5:30 PM
• Wednesday: MS Football @ Oakeville 4:00 PM
• Thursday: Volleyball @ Wishkah 4:00 PM
• Friday:
• Saturday: HS Football vs. Clallam Bay 1:00 PM

📋 Important Reminders

🔗 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