Falcon Family Newsletter
November, 2024
Hello Falcon Families,
October has come and gone and your students have been extremely busy here at KAMS. Time is flying by as we march through the first semester. This month we have a number of events coming up that we are especially excited about.
On Friday, November 8th, we have our Annual Veteran's Day Assembly at KAMS. This is a special day for us as we celebrate and remember all of those who have served or are currently serving this country. We will have veteran family members in attendance and be able to hear from both veterans and staff on how they have been affected.
On Thursday, November 14, we will be joining in the EGUSD recognized Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day. We will have activities during the day to honor Ruby Bridges and her civil rights movement where she stood for equality and desegregation. We are excited to have this day celebrated throughout the whole region at elementary schools as well as at Pleasant Grove High School. Please plan on wearing purple that day in support!
On Monday, November 18th, we will be sending out Progress Reports to families to notify families how their students are progressing. This is halfway through the quarter and a good time to check your student's grades and have conversations with your child about how they're doing. Families are still the number one factor that affects student achievement and we appreciate you checking in with your child!
- Please remember that on Monday, November 11, school will be closed in remembrance of Veteran's Day.
- Monday, November 25 - Friday, November 29, school will be closed for Thanksgiving Break.
KAMS was recently notified that we were again recognized by the California PBIS Coalition for successful implementation of PBIS at the GOLD level. This is the highest level we can currently achieve. We are very proud of the systems and strategies we have in place here at KAMS to support ALL our students and continue to make sure we are making students feel a part of this campus. For more information about our PBIS Program, please click HERE.
Sincerely,
Chris Rauschenfels
KAMS Principal
Upcoming Events
Red Ribbon Week
Monday, Oct. 28 - November 1
BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse Fundraiser
November 5 from 11:00am-9:00pm
Veteran's Day Assembly
Friday, Nov. 8
Advanced Musical Theatre
Something Rotten Jr.
Friday, Nov. 8 & Saturday Nov. 9
Sheldon Performing Arts Center
Veteran's Day-No School
Monday, Nov. 11
Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day
Thursday, Nov. 14
KIDS CAN Collection
Tuesday, Nov. 12 - Wednesday, Nov. 20
School Site Council Meeting
Tuesday, November 19
Falcon Family Lunch
Thursday, Nov. 21 & Friday, Nov. 22
No School
Monday, Nov. 25 - Friday, Nov. 28
BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse Fundraiser
November 5th from 11am to 9pm, KAMS is having a fundraising dinner day/night at BJs Restaurant and Brewhouse in Elk Grove. Below is the flyer with the address. You must have the flyer digitally or printed to participate in the fundraiser. Funds raised from these fundraisers are used to support our PBIS program and the incentives that are given directly to students who earn points for demonstrating positive behaviors on campus. During the first quarter, our students were recognized over 23,000 times. Students redeemed over 4,000 BEhavior points in exchange for a variety of snacks and prizes. The funds also go to support our Student of the Month lunches. So far, 181 students have been recognized with many more to come. KAMS students are exhibiting the 3BEs and making 24-25 Their Year to Thrive!
Performing Arts
Advanced Musical Theatre
Our Advanced Musical Theatre has its first performance, Something Rotten starting Friday, November 8 at 7:00pm at the Sheldon Performing Arts Center. This is the first time KAMS and any middle school has been able to perform at the Performing Arts Center. There will be two shows on Saturday, November 9 at 2:00pm and at 7:00pm. Students have been working hard after school for countless hours in preparation for this show. To purchase tickets or for more information about this performance and the Katherine Albiani Theatre Company, please click HERE.
Family Lunch on the Quad
This month, our Family Lunch on the Quad days will be on Thursday, Nov. 21st and Friday, Nov. 22nd. We've had over 350 family members join us last month. Just a couple reminders: Please park in designated spaces or along the pick up lane. Please do not park in a way that blocks traffic or other cars from movement in the parking lot. Also, please make sure to dispose of trash in garbage cans.
As always, please sign in at the table when entering through the gate. In the event of inclement weather, we will send out a message that morning if we have to cancel the event.
8th Grade Lunch: 11:50am - 12:20pm
7th Grade Lunch: 12:50pm - 1:20pm
Drama Club
Thank you to everyone who supported Drama Club by selling or purchasing Butter Braids or Wooden Spoon cookie dough! Items will be delivered frozen to Albiani, Room MC-6, on Tuesday, November 12. Students who sold must pick them up immediately after school to deliver them to customers. (If you ordered directly from our website, you may pick your order up at the same time.)
We are currently raising funds for theatre festivals, master classes, costumes, props, scripts, and more. Please consider contributing to our SchoolFundr campaign by clicking HERE.
Yearbook
A yearbook ad is the best way to commemorate this big year. Reserve a space for your student as a special gift for this year and for years to come. They'll remember your support and treasure their yearbook! You can also advertise your local business! Go to yearbookordercenter.com and use school code 16281 to place an order or to order a yearbook!
Visual & Performing Arts
Theatre Leadership Award
Congratulations to our very own Michelle Campbell who was awarded the Theatre Leadership Award from the California Educational Theatre Association. Michelle works tirelessly to put on performances for our students and we are so proud that her work was recognized. One area she was nominated for was the Middle Stage Fest which is a state-wide stage festival for middle school theatre programs.
Video Production
Video Production classes will be competing in the SEVAs again this year. The theme this year will be centered around information on how to vote. Our Video Production team always does an amazing job and is yearly recognized as one of the top programs in the region and state.
VAPA teachers Iielita McTizic and Michelle Campbell
California Educational Theatre Association Award Winners
Athletic Updates
Wrestling started on on Monday, October 28.
- Must be cleared to participate
- Open to all 7th and 8th grade boys and girls
- Open to 4th, 5th, 6th grade boys and girls at feeder elementary schools
Clearance Info
https://kams.egusd.net/Programs/Athletics/Athletic-Offerings-and-General-Information/index.html
Basketball games
Adults $4 and Students $2
(11/7-11/21 Girls @ 4:15, Boys immediately following)
Thursday, November 7
Albiani @ Harris
Tuesday, November 12
Albiani @ Jackman
Thursday, November 14
Rutter @ Albiani
Tuesday, November 19
Albiani @ McCaffrey (scrimmage)
Thursday, November 21
Albiani @ Smedberg
(12/3-12/12 Boys @ 4:15, Girls immediately following)
Tuesday, December 3
Johnson @ Albiani
Thursday, December 5
Kerr @ Albiani
Tuesday, December 10
Albiani @ Eddy
Thursday, December 12
Pinkerton @ Albiani
Elf Jr.
The Katherine Albiani Theatre Company is proud to present Elf Jr. The Musical. There will be three shows.
- Friday, December 13 @ 7:00pm
- Saturday, December 14 @ 1:00pm
- Saturday, December 14 @ 7:00pm
Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. For tickets and information, please click HERE.
Attendance
Students are expected to attend all scheduled class sessions.
Please contact the Attendance Office at 916-686-5210 for attendance related questions or to clear a student absence.
7th Grade: please use extension 30013
8th Grade: please use extension 30012
If email is more convenient, please email kamsattendance@egusd.net with student name, ID number, your name and relationship to student and reason for absence.
For all information related to attendance, including classification of absences, arrival/dismissal policies, early dismissal policies, campus hours, extended absences for vacation, and how to clear and absence, please click HERE to access the KAMS Handbook and got to the Attendance section starting on page 13.
Guidelines for Extended Absences Due to Vacations
The Secondary Division of the EGUSD firmly believe that a strong home and school partnership will help our students achieve in a positive and effective academic environment. To that end, your assistance is critical in ensuring that your child misses as little school as possible. There is great academic value in a student being present in class, in participating in the lessons, hearing the explanations of teachers, and in discussing subjects with other students. While there may be instances when extenuating circumstances require you to pull your student out of school, please make every effort to plan any family vacations during the scheduled breaks.
Because family vacations are defined by California Educational Code as unexcused absences, teachers may elect to provide makeup work for the student, although they are not required to do so. In the event that students have two or more concurrent weeks of unexcused absences, they may be dropped from their school and may need to re-enroll upon their return.
GATE
Our Gifted and Talented Education Program at KAMS has a new coordinator. Ms. Jennifer Aguilar will be taking over as GATE Coordinator for the 2024-2025 school year. We thank you for your patience as we make the transition. Ms. Aguilar is extremely excited about heading the GATE Program at KAMS and the tentative enrichment opportunities. The KAMS Community will soon receive more information regarding the GATE Program and Application process in the upcoming weeks.
If you have any questions in the meantime, please feel free to reach out to Ms. Aguilar at jgaguila@egusd.net
Counseling
Counseling Staff Team Members:
- Mr. Caston (M - R)
- Mr. Mendez (F - L)
- Mr. Mendoza (A - E)
- Ms. Miller (S - Z)
Other Resources and Tips:
Please visit the KAMS Counseling Connection page for articles, ideas, tips, and other resources to support you and your child in having a successful middle school experience. Please note that you do not have to have your parent account established in order to access our counseling page – just visit the KAMS homepage and click on the counseling tab.
Library
Library Hours & Services
PGHS/KAMS Library is open 30 minutes before school, during lunch breaks, and 10 minutes after school ends. While at the library, all students are expected to follow our library 3B's rules that are posted on every table in the library. Due to limited seating, we ask that students come to the library with a school-related purpose, such as:
- Quiet study of complete homework assignments
- Check out a book or textbook required for class
- Use a computer for school-related assignments
- Attend a library related event and/or library club meeting.
EGUSD Chromebooks
All KAMS students are expected to bring their EGUSD assigned Chromebooks to school daily for academic use. If you have a damaged or lost Chromebook, please come to the PGHS/KAMS Library to get a replacement. All damaged and lost Chromebook issues will be reported to EGUSD Technology Services.
PGHS/KAMS Library also provides daily Chromebook loaners for students who may have forgotten their Chromebooks at home. Students must return their daily loaner to the library at the end of the school day. (Loaners can NOT be taken home.) Students are asked to limit the number of Chromebook loaners requested from the library during the school year.
Library Website
Have you visited the library website at http://kamslibrary.info to see all the great resources available to support classroom assignments, recommend reading lists, student homework help resources, textbook information, library video, and more! The library website is available 24/7 to all KAMS students.
Athletics
Falcon Athletic Information
- KAMS Athletics Website
- Athletic Director, Traci Seto
- Please click HERE to enter the Athletic Clearance Website. (For help with the online application, please click HERE.)
ELIGIBILITY
All student athletes who wish to participate in an athletic activity in the Elk Grove Unified School District must meet the following requirements:
INITIAL ELIGIBILITY
- Have earned a 2.0 GPA or better on the previous grade of record.
CONTINUING ELIGIBILITY
- Have earned a 2.0 GPA or better on all grades of record and progress report grades.
- Satisfactory citizenship
- Must not be on No Activities list
Key Contacts
KAMS Administration and Student Services Offices
Hours 7:30am - 4:00pm
(916)-686-5210
(916)-686-5538 fax
Activities: Donna McNeel & Mary Hazdovac
Athletics: Traci Seto
Food Services
(916)-686-7735
Student Attendance
(916)-686-5210
Synergy/ParentVue
(916)-686-5210 Student Services Office
Transportation
(916)-686-7733
Counselors-contact directly.
- Concerns about your student's performance in two or more classes.
- Concerns about your student's transition to middle school, socialization, emotional development.
- Questions about college/career guidance programs, middle school credits toward promotion, course requirements, schedule.
Teachers-contact directly
- Questions about work, student performance, or behavior.
- Questions about curriculum.
- Questions about course placement.
- Classwork/Homework/Grades
The classroom teacher should always be your first point of contact. Most times, the classroom teacher can answer your questions and address concerns. If you do not believe your child's teacher has satisfactorily resolved your concern, contact your child's counselor. If your child is having problems in several classes, you may request to meet with each teacher, and/or you may contact the counselor and request a consult regarding the next most appropriate and effective steps to take in the process of addressing the problem. It is our goal to return all calls and email messages within 48 hours. If you do not receive a response within that time, please contact administration.
Administration
(916)-686-5210 Administration
(916)-686-5538 Fax
- Concerns about discipline or negative interactions between students.
- Concerns about teachers.
Vice Principal, Rosa Laine
Vice Principal, David Pires
Teacher-In-Charge, Megan Grigsby
Principal, Chris Rauschenfels
- Any concerns that the above Administrators have not adequately addressed (including not responding to phone calls/emails within 48hrs).
Important Links and Documents
2024-2025 EGUSD Calendar
Katherine Albiani Middle School
9140 Bradshaw Road
Elk Grove, CA 95624
Phone: 916-686-5210
Fax: 916-686-5538
Chris Rauschenfels, Principal
Rosa Laine, Vice Principal
David Pires, Vice Principal
Megan Grigsby, Teacher-In-Charge
Cheryl Russell, Secretary