KAMSC Newsletter

Hello! At the this point we have two weeks left before winter break and before the new calendar year starts. I like to call this period "halftime". Just like in the any of the big games, it's a great time to stop, reflect, and make adjustments. This afternoon, just before I sent this, we had a Challenge Success Team meeting with our "coach". Our focus was relooking at our goals (reflecting) and renewing our commitments to those we are still working on by creating a targeted plan forward. The team is energized and ready to continue with our goals for the rest of the school year. Just to re-communicate and give recognition to our team members they are Katelyn McCarthy (teacher), Sam Miller (10th grade student), Jim Johnson (parent), Colleen Chapoton (teacher), Lizzy Holmes (11th grade student), Eiden Jonaitis (12th grade student), Theresa Cox (parent), Aryaman Mishra (12th grade student) and Rebecca Joyce (teacher).

We are pleased to announce that there is a school store now open with products coming out before the holiday season. Clothing is being printed by Kalamazoo Sportswear in downtown Kalamazoo, who has agreed to do our order in two batches. Clothing orders that come by December 8th will be put on a rush order, with the plan of being able to distribute to students (or parents) on December 20th, while orders that come in later than the 8th will be available in January.

Additionally, each item that is purchased will raise $2 for KAMSC. Click the button below to check out the store. Note at the end select "pick up at group location" (which is KAMSC) if you want to avoid delivery fees. For an added fee you can get it delivered to you.

We are excited to welcome several alumni from all through the years back to KAMSC for a reception on December 20th from 1:00-2:00 and with undergraduate panels from 11:20-1:00pm. Traditionally, the reception is organized, set up, and cleaned up by the parents. The food is served 1:00-2:00 for all of our afternoon students plus about 100 alumni. Below you will find a sign up for a way you can contribute. We are looking for volunteers as well a food donations.

This is a reminder that we do have school on Dec. 20th in the afternoon and part of our programming is bringing in alumni to give talks to our seniors in breakout rooms that afternoon. Attendance is required and students may only be absent for illness.

Due to weather, we have rescheduled. We will be looking for volunteers to help out again since not all that were able to this week will be able to make next week work. Click the button below for a general sign up for both parents and students. We are looking for at least 10 more volunteers to "host" a room at KAMSC after the presentation. As guests come up stairs they will be assigned to a room and will come to ask questions of parents and or students or staff in the room.

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 food drive kicked off this Monday, December 2nd and will conclude on Friday, Dec. 13th. The KAMSC goal is to collect 6,283 lbs of food! At Wednesday Open Lab (Dec 11) bring your bulk items you don't want to carry up the stairs to the Vine entrance and someone will collect the food the first 20 min and last 20 min. But, you can also bring in food any day! Click the button below for more details.

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.

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

For those that drop off and pick students up, if you choose to pull into the CEC parking lot off of vine, please pull all the way in (and do a quick loop and then back out) and either drop students off in the parking lot or drop them off on your way back out. I have received some feedback that since it is such a blind entrance that this would be a safer scenario, rather than pulling in part way, dropping off, then backing out. Thank you for your understanding as we are trying to keep everyone safe and traffic flowing especially as the mornings are getting darker now.

If you 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

Wed. Dec. 11th -Mrs. Kortlandt's Student Advisory Council meeting - 4:45-6

Wed. Dec 11th - Open Lab 6-7:30

Thurs. Dec 12th - 8th grade open house 6-7pm - no open lab---- rescheduled due to weather last week

Friday, Dec 20th - Alumni Day (PM only)

January 13th -AM Math Exam

January 14th - AM Science Exam

January 15th - PM Math Exam

January 16th - PM Elective Exam

January 17th - PM Science Exam