KAMSC Newsletter
August 16th, 2024
This week was full of teaching and learning, with a little fun mixed in. A quick reminder to parents: exam week begins the second week after we return from break in January. Teachers still have important content to cover, so please encourage students to stay focused through the finish line. If your family is traveling over the holidays and plan to miss school, be sure to submit a prearranged absence form so students can connect with their teachers about missed work.
For a bit of fun, KAMSC’s Student Senate held its annual cookie-baking contest. Thirteen students entered, each creating their own take on a chocolate chip cookie. Entries were judged on appearance, chocolate, texture, and taste. This year’s winners were:
1st - Urijah Barnes.
2nd - Sam Zhang
3rd - Lane Isom
Heather Kortlandt
Director, KAMSC
Join Mrs. Hindman in the presentation center at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 16th to learn some relaxation techniques that you can practice during the winter break and use during stressful times! Please drop in even if you can't make it by 11:00. Looking forward to seeing you!
Exams will be the week of January 12th at KAMSC. Please see the calendar below for the schedule. We believe there will be a minor conflict with some Portage students on Jan 13 and 14, we expect that they may arrive late since Portage Exams are expected to run until 11:50. Please try to arrive by 12:30-12:45. We will allow additional time post 2 pm to make up for your late arrival. Please discuss your plans with your teachers and sign in if you arrive late to KAMSC.
Exam Review Sessions provided to you by the Student Senate. We will have structured review/study sessions hosted by student senate representatives on:
Friday, January 9 from 2-6 pm at KAMSC
Here is a link to which sessions will be held in each room and who that session will be guided by.
We have a wonderful group of parents (calling themselves the "treat crew" organizing some fun students snacks to take place approximately once per month on Fridays. The first one will be Friday, January 9th as a welcome back from holiday break. and will be a popcorn bar for a sweet and salty treat. They have gotten a wonderful donation from the Woodbridge Hardings for the popcorn and the parents will volunteer to come set up and host the event, but they are looking for some support from others to sign up to provide some sweet toppings. Please use the sign up genius below and bring your contribution to the KAMSC office by Thursday, January 8th. Thank you for helping this team bring some joy to KAMSC!
GALS is a free grade summer science program for high school students across Michigan. The program is designed to expand opportunities for students who identify as female or gender-nonconforming, students of color, students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, and others historically excluded from STEM fields. All students are welcome to apply. Her is the link to the program website https://galsmi.weebly.com/ and a blog about the first year's program https://www.kbs.msu.edu/2025/10/gals-program-first-year/
Selected participants spend two weeks in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, learning science through hands-on fieldwork alongside Michigan State University researchers. We especially encourage applications from students who have had limited exposure to outdoor learning or field-based science. Academic performance is not considered in participant selection—our focus is on students who would thrive in an experiential, supportive learning environment.
The 2025 application window opens December 1 and runs through March 2. Here is a flyer with additional details, and we hope you can help spread the word to Michigan science teachers, potential applicants, and your broader community networks.
I hope that you all have had a chance to review our KAMSC 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 review the 3.0 requirements and use that as a gauge to get more support for students. 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.
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.
December 19 - Alumni Day for PM students 11:30-2
December 20-January 4 - Winter Break (KAMSC Closed)
January 7 - Open Lab 6-7:30
January 12 - Math Exam AM & PM students
January 13 - Science Exam AM students and Elective Exam PM Students
January 14 - Science Exam PM students