The Eagle Beak-on

Mrs. Campbell's Notes

As we begin a new year and a new semester, January offers us a powerful opportunity to reset, refocus, and set fresh goals together. A new semester truly is a chance to start fresh, for students and families alike. Strong attendance, limiting screen time, staying on top of grades, and encouraging students to get involved in school activities all play a vital role in student success, and your partnership in these areas makes a meaningful difference. What goals can you and your student make together?

This month, our school is also focusing on Respect, helping students build positive relationships, take responsibility for their actions, and create a supportive school community. With shared goals and renewed energy, we look forward to making 2026 a year of growth, connection, and success for every student. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas break and a great start to your new year. I am excited for students to be back in the building and to continue to grow in our goals together as a school community!

January 12 - BOE Meeting at 6:00

January 16 - No School - Teacher Professional Development Day

January 19 - - No School - Martin Luther King Jr Day

January 26 - 30 - Basketball Homecoming Week

January 31 - Semi-Formal Homecoming Dance

Upcoming Important Dates

February 3 - TTLT Blood Drive

February 11 - 8th Grade Students & Parents Path Finder Night at 6:00

February 18 & 19 - P/T Conferences

Red/White Rotation Calendar

KMHS Bell Schedule

An Evening for 8th grade Students & Parents/Guardians

We are excited to announce that we will once again host a Path Finder Night for all KMS and St. Patrick's 8th-grade students and their parents/guardians. This event is designed to help students and their families navigate the transition to high school by providing essential information about academic pathways and general education courses. During the evening, students will have the opportunity to select their classes for their freshman year.

Date: February 11
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Auditorium/Commons

The goal of this event is to equip students and parents with the tools and knowledge they need for a successful high school experience. Mrs. Campbell will kick off the evening by presenting key information about high school academics, pathways, and course options. Following this, students will have the opportunity to enhance the experience by having a first-hand look into classrooms. Teachers will be set up in the commons area to better explain what classes they have to offer for current freshmen and what classes they may have to take for future classes in high school.

KMS Stuco Winter Gear Drive

Our KMS Stuco is collecting hats, gloves, socks, and gently used coats. They will donate these to the CORES group, Ministerial Alliance, and a shelter in Wichita. Of course, it has to be a competition, so each homeroom will compete to see which one can collect the most items. This drive will start Monday and run through the end of January. Thank you in advance for your donations!

KMHS Accreditation Process

Kansas has a statewide accreditation process that helps school districts continually improve and focus on what matters most for student success. Each district identifies a main priority and puts systems in place to support it. Progress is reviewed each year to make sure students are benefiting from the work being done.

Our district’s main priority is Structured Literacy, which means making sure all students learn to read using proven, research-based methods. Last year, we focused on making sure our schools had the right tools and resources. We met our goals by purchasing a consistent reading curriculum across the district, increasing support for students who need extra help with reading, and providing teachers with specialized training in how children learn to read.

Now that these materials and trainings are in place, our focus has shifted to making sure they are being used well in classrooms. We are doing this by strengthening how we support and evaluate teaching practices. This helps ensure that teachers are using the new curriculum and reading strategies effectively, so students continue to make strong progress in their learning.

This school year, our staff and students have been engaging in meaningful conversations around technology use, guided in part by the book The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. Through this work, we have taken a close look at the growing research on the impact of cell phones and constant connectivity on children and adolescents, particularly related to anxiety, attention, sleep, and social development.

As a school, we have been intentionally moving toward a learning environment that prioritizes focus, face-to-face relationships, and student well-being. For that reason, beginning next school year, we will implement a no cell phone, smart watch, or earbud policy during the school day.

This decision was not made lightly, nor was it sudden. It is the result of ongoing study, reflection, and alignment with best practices emerging across the country. We are also encouraged to see that the state of Kansas supports no-cell-phone policies in schools, reinforcing our belief that this approach is in the best interest of students.

Our goal is not to eliminate technology from learning, but to be intentional about when and how it is used. By removing personal devices from the school day, we believe students will experience:

Improved focus and academic engagement
Healthier peer interactions
Reduced stress and distraction
More opportunities to build independence and resilience

To support families in understanding this shift, we have shared several articles on state legislation related to cell phone use in schools, along with insightful videos from Jonathan Haidt that explain the research behind these recommendations. We encourage you to take time to review these resources and continue the conversation at home.

We are grateful for your partnership as we take this next step together. By working collaboratively, we can create a school environment that supports both learning and the long-term well-being of our students.

8th Grade Grid Paintings

JAG Practicing the Job Interview Process

Attendance Is Not Optional

Let’s be very clear: students cannot learn if they are not in school.

Chronic absenteeism is one of the biggest barriers to academic success, and it is an issue we can no longer ignore.

Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% of the school year. In a typical school calendar, that equals about 16 days. Right now—after just one semester—17% of our high school students are already on track to be reported to the state for chronic absenteeism. That number should concern every parent.

This is not about the occasional illness or emergency. This is about patterns of absence that add up quickly and cause real damage.

The Academic Impact Is Real—and Serious

Research consistently shows that students who are chronically absent:

Fall behind academically and struggle to catch up
Earn lower grades and test scores
Are more likely to fail classes
Are significantly more likely to drop out of high school
Miss critical instruction that cannot be replicated with makeup work

One or two days here and there may not seem like much, but missed instruction compounds. Class discussions, labs, group work, explanations, feedback, and teacher guidance cannot be recreated after the fact. Worksheets and online assignments are not substitutes for being present in the classroom.

By middle and high school, the consequences become even more severe. Courses move faster, expectations increase, and students are expected to manage their responsibilities. When students miss school, they are not just missing content—they are missing accountability, structure, and skill development.

Attendance Is a Parent Responsibility

School attendance is not a suggestion. It is a legal requirement and a shared responsibility between families and schools. When students are repeatedly absent, the school is required to document and report it. Once a student crosses the chronic absenteeism threshold, state reporting and potential interventions are mandatory.

Parents should be asking:

Why is my child missing school?
Am I excusing absences that don’t truly require staying home?
Am I reinforcing the expectation that school comes first?

Allowing frequent absences sends a clear message to students: attendance doesn’t matter. That message has long-term consequences.

The Bottom Line

If students are absent, they fall behind.
If they fall behind, they disengage.
If they disengage, they fail.

Attendance is one of the strongest predictors of student success. Showing up matters—every day.

We urge parents to take attendance seriously, monitor absences closely, and ensure students are in school unless there is a legitimate reason to be home. The path to success starts with being present.

Attendance Policy from the KMHS Handbook