KES Family Newsletter

As the Halloween costumes are packed away and the leaves continue to fall, we enter a special time of year, one that invites us to pause, reflect, and appreciate all that we have. At KES, gratitude fills our halls! We’re thankful for a strong start to the school year, for our dedicated staff who pour their hearts into supporting every KES student, and for our incredible families and community members who partner with us every step of the way. This season reminds us how fortunate we are to learn, grow, and celebrate together as one KES family. Be sure to keep reading each month to stay connected to all the great things happening in our school!

At KES, we are proud to continue our tradition of recognizing and celebrating the courage, service, and sacrifice of our Veterans. This special time of year reminds us of the importance of gratitude, not only in words, but in action.

We’ll be honoring Veterans through two meaningful events this November:

🎩 Hats Off to Veterans
Our KES Student Council is once again leading our “Hats Off to Veterans” fundraiser to support local Veterans. Students are invited to wear a hat to school each Friday in November by donating $0.50 per day. Donations can be sent in all at once, and families are welcome to give more if they wish. Watch for an information sheet coming home soon with all the details!

🎖️ Veterans Day Program
We warmly invite all Veteran family members of KES students to join us for our Veterans Day Program on Tuesday, November 11 at 9:00 a.m. in the KES Cafeteria. This event is a highlight of our school year, a time to honor those who have served and to show our deep appreciation as a KES community. Please see the link to our KES Veterans Day Program Form for more information.

The holiday season is a time for kindness, connection, and community. Our district is offering support to families in need, including holiday meals and gifts, to help make this season a little brighter. If your family could use some extra help this year, or if you’d like to donate to support others, please reach out to Raeann Gentner at rgentner@kingstonk12.org or contact either main office as soon as possible. Together, we can make the holidays special for every child and family in our district!

As the weather turns colder, we also want to ensure that every student in our district stays warm and comfortable this winter. If your family is in need of warm clothing, such as coats, hats, gloves, or boots, please reach out to Raeann Gentner at rgentner@kingstonk12.org or contact either main office. Together, we can make sure every child is bundled up and ready for the season ahead!

Mark your calendars! On Wednesday, November 19th at 6:00 PM, we’re hosting our Annual Turkey Bingo Night in the KHS cafeteria — and you won’t want to miss it!

Bring the whole family for an evening of laughter, friendly competition, and festive fun. Bingo winners can take home everything from local gift cards to a complete turkey dinner! Plus, we’ll have a variety of Thanksgiving-themed activities for our elementary students and their families to enjoy together.

Come celebrate the season with us — we can’t wait to see you there!

As you may have heard, the recent federal shutdown is expected to impact families who receive SNAP food benefits during the month of November. To help provide guidance and support, our Regional School Health Coordinator from the ISD, Tracy, has put together a Food Support Newsletter with helpful information and local resources.

Inside, you’ll find:

• Places where families can access free or low-cost food options

• Tips for stretching current food budgets

• Community programs offering additional assistance

We encourage all families to take a few minutes to review the newsletter and share it with anyone who may find it helpful.

👉 Thumb Food Resources

The recent elimination of Great Start (32p) funding from Michigan’s budget has deeply impacted our local Family Enrichment Center (FEC), which provides parenting support, playgroups, and essential items to families in need.

Due to these cuts, the FEC has had to reduce hours and limit resources. To help keep this vital program running, the Caro Moose Lodge is hosting a fundraiser to support the Center.

If you’re able, please consider attending, donating, or spreading the word about this fundraiser. Every bit of support helps local families continue to receive the supports provided by the FEC. Please see the attached graphic for more fundraiser details.

The safety of our students and staff is always our top priority during morning drop-off. We’d like to remind all families to be extra mindful when approaching the crosswalk near our front entrance.

Over the past year, we’ve added crosswalk signs and enhanced lighting to help make pedestrians more visible—especially during darker mornings. These improvements have already made a positive difference, but it’s still essential that all drivers stay alert, slow down, and yield to anyone using the crosswalk.

Whether you’re dropping off your child or just passing through, please take a moment to scan for staff and students crossing the street. A few extra seconds of caution helps ensure everyone starts the day safely. Thank you for doing your part to keep our KES community safe!

2025-2026 Student Handbook

2025-2026 District Calendar

KES Classroom Supply Lists

KES Breakfast Menu November 2025

KES Lunch Menu November 2025

-11.11.25: KES Veterans Day Program (9am KES Cafeteria)

-11.14.25: 12:10 Dismissal (Afternoon PD for Staff)

-11.19.25: Turkey Bingo Night (6:00-7:30 in KHS Cafeteria)

-11.21.25: Popcorn Friday!

-11.25.25: Great Start Family Enrichment Center Fundraiser Dinner (@ Caro Moose Lodge from 5pm-7pm)

-11.26.25: 12:10 Dismissal

-11.27.25: No School (Happy Thanksgiving!)

-11.28.25: No School (Thanksgiving Break)

-12.3.25: Winter Band Concert (7pm in KES Cafetorium)

-12.8.25-12.19.25: Acadience/NWEA/Writing Benchmark Assessments

-12.11.25: KES Christmas Program (1:30pm and 6:00pm in KES Cafetorium)

-12.18.25: MP2 Positive Behavior Reward: Cozy Movie Afternoon

-12.19.25: 12:10 Dismissal (Christmas Break Begins)

-12.19.25: End of MP2

-1.5.26: School Resumes

-1.5.26: Begin MP3

-1.26.26-1.29.26: KES Cheer Clinic in Cafeteria 3pm-4pm

-1.30.26: Popcorn Friday!

-1.30.26: KES Cheer Clinic at Varsity Game

-2.13.26: 12:10 Dismissal

-2.16.26: No School (Presidents' Day)

-3.12.26: March is Reading Month Assembly with Cameron Zvara

-3.13.26: No School (County Wide PD)

-3.13.26: End of MP3

-3.16.25: Begin MP4

-3.27.26: 12:10 Dismissal (Spring Break Begins)

-4.6.26: School Resumes

-5.6.26: Spring Band Concert (7pm in KES Cafetorium)

-5.11.26-5.22.26: Acadience/NWEA/Writing Benchmark Assessments

-5.25.26: No School (Memorial Day)

-6.3.26: 12:10 Dismissal (Last Day of School)

Kingston Elementary: 3644 Ross Street, Kingston, MI 48741

Email: jcampbell@kingstonk12.org

Phone: 989.683.2284

Website: kingstonk12.org