KAMSC Newsletter

It has been an action-packed week at KAMSC filled with exciting hands-on learning and valuable skill-building across our school. We had three fantastic field trips take place this week—students headed to the Cybersecurity Summit in Novi with Dr. Edwards and explored nature at the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary for AP Environmental Science with Mrs. Hohler. These experiential learning opportunities not only make learning fun, but they also help students transfer classroom concepts directly to the real world around us.

In addition to our off-campus adventures, a huge thank you goes to Ms. Joyce and her Student Ambassador team for delivering an outstanding study skills presentation during Open Lab. I cannot stress enough how employing these strategies will help students decrease stress, prioritize sleep, and increase time for PDF (Playtime, downtime and family time). One of my favorite takeaways from the evening was a student sharing that they like to study at least two days before a test so they can get a full night's sleep in between, knowing that research shows the brain consolidates learning while we sleep. All of these organization and study skill strategies directly support our Challenge Success goals for KAMSC student well-being, helping our kids build habits that keep them healthy, supported, and successful.

Heather Kortlandt

Director, KAMSC

Parents of KPS students: Due to the PD day on Oct 20th being a no school day for the partner high schools of Loy Norrix and Kalamazoo Central, there will be modified bussing to KAMSC as KAMSC does have school that day. Busses will run as normal for 9th and 10th grade students, but there will be NO bussing for 11th/12th grade students. The afternoon students will need to find a ride to school that day.

Our fall KAMSC Dance is November 14th from 8-11 pm here at CEC in the gym. We are in need of several parent volunteers. Please click the button below and sign up.

Future Scholars Night, scheduled for Monday, October 19th at Kalamazoo College, has been canceled due to no RSVPs.They still welcome questions from prospective applicants. If you know of students considering the Heyl Scholarship, please encourage them to contact heylfund@kzoo.edu.
Dr. Wraegen Williams
Executive Director, Heyl Foundation

Every year Ms. Joyce sets up many visits from College reps here at KAMSC. Click the button below to view the schedule so that you can come speak to them.

Last year three of our students in HOSA, Hannah Bippley, Sarah Cho, and Aichatou Salifou presented at an open lab alongside the Alzheimer's association on connections between healthy lifestyle choices to Alzheimer's prevention. They announced at that time that they would be forming a KAMSC team to participate in the Kalamazoo walk to fight and end Alzheimer's Please see their flyer below and consider signing up to join the team in the walk and to donate to the great cause. The walk is: Saturday, October 17th at Bronson Park, 200 S Rose Street, Kalamazoo, MI.

Tutoring is available now. If you are in need, click the button below and sign up!

Handbook and sign the acceptance form through PowerSchool. Here is a direct link to it again. I would invite you to be sure that you have read through the MTSS support procedures. I will pull grades to see what students have a C or lower in any class which indicates a need for support to us or if a teacher recommends additional support regardless of grades. If your child is showing that need, Mrs. Allbee or I will email you and the child to set up support provided by KAMSC. This is required for a three week interval and then we pull grades again to review. Our hope is always that that three week interval is enough support but students will sometimes move in and out of support throughout a semester. Please know, that this is meant to be a supportive measure. We take our responsibility of helping your child achieve the high standards of KAMSC seriously.

We have completed our first attendance pull to monitor cronic Absenteeism. Our next review of that data will be November 20th. Please remember that it is vital for your student to attend daily as our curriculum relies on active participation, rich discussions, and lab work that can't be replicated outside the classroom

We wanted to institute a private way that you could report any type of bullying at KAMSC. Mrs. Allbee has created a report form to do so. Either she or Mrs. Kortlandt will follow up if enough information is provided. We have not had an issue with bullying at KAMSC but we want to make sure there are channels open for reporting in case there were to ever be an incident. This will live in our newsletter, every, single week.

If you are dropping off or picking up your student at KAMSC, please do so at the Vine Street entrance. Please find a safe place to pull over and then have you student proceed to the Vine street entrance. If students are driving themselves:

1. They need to acquire a parking pass from the KAMSC office - please fill this out

2. They need to park by the El Sol playground off of Dutton Street (but then walk to Vine street entrance)

3. They should be reminded to not keep anything valuable in their car and to keep their cars locked at all times.

4. The building will have a campus security officer at the Vine Street entrance during times of arrivals and dismissals.

Sat. Oct. 17 - Alzheimer's KAMSC Team walk

Wed. Oct 21 - Open Lab 6-7:30

Wed. Oct. 21 Parent Org Meeting 6:15-7:15

Tues Oct 27 - APES field trip to Cemetery

Wed. Oct 28 - Open Lab 6-7:30

Friday Oct 30 - No students, Teacher Records Day