KAMSC Newsletter

One of our Challenge Success Goals framed as a "how might we" question is: How might we lower experiences of discrimination reported and experienced in our KAMSC community?

Update : Due to inclement weather, this has been postponed, new date to be determined.

One of the ways the Challenge Success team wanted to work on this goal is to start to have some training on the topic. We will invite Kemmel Palmer in to KAMSC to give an interactive talk with the following objectives in his presentation on building cultural humility.

Kemmel Palmer is a licensed professional counselor & licensed psychologist in the State of Michigan where he currently serves as a Mental Health Facilitator at Phoenix High School and Milwood Magnet School. He is also a graduate student at Western Michigan University working towards his doctorate in Counseling Psychology and Supervision and will defend his dissertation on the topic "Historically Minoritized Racial Groups at a Midwestern University: Behaviors, Attitudes, and Beliefs Toward Mental Health and Well-Being".

We will continue to do more around this topic to make sure KAMSC is a safe and welcoming space for all.

Our very own Mr. Houtrouw has won the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching through the National Science Foundation. Mr. Houtrouw learned of this honor just this week. He wins the award in the area of Mathematics, because the NSF includes Computer Science in that category. If you would like to read his profile on the NSF site, click here. We are excited for Mr. Houtrouw. KPS will honor him at a board meeting on January 23th.

The First (founding) meeting of a new "Rainbow Alliance" will be held January 29th before open lab from 5:30-6 pm in room 424. We're looking forward to welcoming all that wish to participate and to begin conversations about naming the club and thinking about what activities students might like to do. Ms. Fisher and Mrs.Chapoton will be the advisors. All are invited.

Are you starting to plan your summer for 2025? It's never too early to think about all the things your child may want to do or experience. Mrs. Joyce has put together a beautiful lists of options in case you are looking for opportunities such as these. Click the button below.

If you or someone you know are looking for ways to give, then look no further. We are beginning to raise funds for Sizzlin Summer Science Camp 2025. Your donation will go towards the program as a whole with costs that include materials, staffing and reduced costs for families in need.

The next open lab will be January 29th.

On Friday, May 2nd KAMSC staff will put on a conference for all KAMSC students called Searching for Health. There are dynamic keynote speakers and breakout sessions planned for our students to attend. More to come on that as we get closer. But, in preparation, perhaps you would be willing to sign up to volunteer set up, organizer, serve and clear up lunch. It is a fairly easy job with usually box lunches available to students. We are looking for 10 parent volunteers. Please use the button below to sign up.

We have received some very positive feedback from students and families on the virtual study table that was provided for students needing just a little extra support. We also know that it frustrated a few. Please know, we are taking in all of the feedback and weighing it and discussing it. The MTSS structure is in place to help provide extra support as early as possible. We aim to be as supportive in the learning process as possible and to make students aware of support that we offer. We hope that the system forms a great check-in process with their teachers and gets students support if they are in need. To review the structure, click the button below.

We are excited to announce that the KAMSC has now become certified to hand out the Presidential Volunteer Service Award (PVSA)! Thanks to the hard work of our Student Senate students for researching the program and bringing it my attention.

This award is an opportunity for all students at KAMSC to be recognized for volunteering within their communities

KAMSC plans to give out these awards, which includes a medallion, during Project Day Awards Night, after submitting the applications to the government in early-April. The PVSA is also amazing for students who want to build an application for college, or want one award to recognize all of their various volunteer engagements.

Every student is welcome to sign up to the Google Classroom, which will house each individual’s Google Sheets to keep track of their volunteer events and hours. - The Google Classroom where you will log your hours and provide your evidence is up and running and the code for that is: 2sonss5

Further information about the PVSA is available at their website: https://presidentialserviceawards.gov/

If your student is going to be absent from school you must notify both your partner school and KAMSC (if they are gone all day) and always KAMSC if they are gone during their KAMSC classes. Please remember that attendance is vital as the content moves fast and we want students to have as much of their classroom experience as possible. To notify KAMSC call (337-0004) or email kamsc.office@kamsc.org.

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.

KAMSC follows the KPS code of conduct for student discipline. Please be advised of it, it is linked here. Specific behaviors we would love your help with talking with your child about at home are:

• Academic Integrity
• Bullying
• Name calling/inappropriate language

No open lab on 1/22/25

Jan 23 & 24 - No Students at KAMSC - teacher records days