KAMSC Newsletter

Prioritizing Balance & KAMSC Heads to Stanford’s Challenge Success Conference

We are excited to announce that a team from KAMSC will be heading to Stanford University to attend the Challenge Success Conference! Challenge Success is a research-backed organization out of Stanford’s Graduate School of Education that partners with schools and families to promote student well-being, engagement, and a healthier definition of success. We can’t wait to bring back fresh insights, strategies, and key learnings to share with our entire KAMSC community.

One of the central tools from Challenge Success that we frequently reference is the concept of PDF: Play time, Down time, and Family time. These three elements are essential components of a healthy routine that directly protect mental health, spark creativity, and improve academic stamina.

A Lesson in Time Management from One of Our Students

Earlier this week, I had a wonderful conversation with one of our students while reviewing her planner. She pointed out her strategy for managing the KAMSC workload: she deliberately tackles the bulk of her homework and studying on Friday nights. By getting ahead before the weekend fully begins, she successfully protects her Saturday and Sunday for rest, passions, and family without school stress hanging over her head.

Seeing a student actively structure her schedule to protect her well-being is a powerful reminder that effective time management isn't just about fitting more work in—it's about preserving time to recharge.

How Parents Can Help

We encourage all KAMSC parents to partner with us in helping our students build habits that protect their health:

• Protect the PDF: Talk with your teenager about where Play time (unstructured hobbies), Down time (unplugged rest), and Family time fit into their weekly routine.

• Prioritize Sleep Above All: A high-school brain needs 8–10 hours of sleep per night for memory consolidation and emotional regulation. Late-night cramming yields diminishing returns compared to a well-rested mind.

• Co-Create a Weekly Schedule: Help your student look at their week as a whole—just like the student mentioned above—so they can front-load tasks, break projects into manageable chunks, and intentionally schedule guilt-free downtime.

Together, we can support our students in achieving high academic standards while maintaining the health and balance they need to thrive. Stay tuned for more updates after our trip to Stanford!

Heather Kortlandt

Director, KAMSC

Help us reach our goal of raising $15,000! Currently we have 44 students registered on Fundhub, 32 donations from 6 different states totaling $2635 raised (this includes money raised outside of Fundhub as well)-- A huge thank you to those that have signed up and sent out the link! We hope to get 100 students signed up by Monday!

Join us for Kilometers for KAMSC on October 7 at Kalamazoo Central. Participants can walk or run laps while learning practical Challenge Success strategies for building healthy habits and reducing stress. We hope you'll join us for an evening of fitness, fun, and community as we support KAMSC together! The event will kick off with a Cricket Match from 5:00–6:30 p.m. at the Kalamazoo Central High School baseball field. Whether you're an experienced player or simply want to cheer on the participants, everyone is welcome! Those interested in playing should sign up with Mr. Sinclair in advance. The Kilometers for KAMSC Fun Run will begin at 6:00 p.m. on the Kalamazoo Central track and continue until 7:00 p.m. Participants can run or walk at their own pace while enjoying a fun-filled evening featuring games, prizes, and activities.

KAMSC families are warmly invited and encouraged to join us for this exciting community event. We look forward to celebrating health, wellness, and school spirit together!

Funds raised through Fund Hub will support a variety of KAMSC programs and student needs, including our annual student planner project, research and classroom supplies, food for school events, lab aide positions, and other important initiatives.

How to Participate

• Please register your child by clicking on this link.
• Share your student's fundraising page with at least 10 friends or family members via email.
• Donations by check are also welcome. Please make checks payable to KAMSC and bring into the office. Please include the student's name so fundraising totals can be credited. Student fundraisers will be eligible for prizes.

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.

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 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.

Wed Sept 30 - Open Lab 6-7:30

Wed. Oct 7 - Kilometers for KAMSC Kalamazoo Central - Cricket begins at 5 and the fun run begins at 6.

Friday Oct 9 - Fundraising closes for Kilometers for KAMSC

Wed. Oct. 14 - Open Lab - Study Skills Session provided for students 6-7:30

Wed. Oct 14 - APES to travel to Bird Sanctuary 11-2pm

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