KSTM Newsletter November 2024

Key reminders for the month of November:

• Reminder there is No School on Tuesday, November 5th, it is a TEACHER WORKDAY.
• Reminder Harvest Night is from 5:30-7:00 on November 13th. This is our Title I-Community Partnership Parent Night. The school will show case our programs, host community partners, and there will be dinner served while supplies last in the cafeteria.
• THANKSGIVING RECESS - Students are on Thanksgiving Recess from school the entire week of November 25th to November 29. There will be No School for students during that week. The building will be closed on November 28th and November 29th.
• If you are interested in your student attending after school tutoring at KSTM, reach out to Nicole Benson - Nicole.Benson@ops.org or call at 531-299-7030 for more information regarding Tutoring at KSTM.
• Please be sure to check the KSTM website found here for upcoming events, the staff directory, and other important information. https://www.ops.org/kingscience

#KSTMPROUD,

Jane Laughlin

Principal

Any items not picked up from the LOST & FOUND will become part of the Wildcat Clothing Closet on November 15, 2024. We will have a table out of all LOST & FOUND items at our Harvest Night Event for families to sort through for items.

Wildcats Club (WCC) Afterschool Academic & Enrichment Program Updates

What We’ve Been Up To
October has been packed with fun and learning for our Wildcats! Students had the opportunity to participate in several memorable field trips, including:

• Lights On Afterschool: Celebrated on Saturday, October 12th, this event highlighted the importance of afterschool programs.
• Skinny Bones Pumpkin Patch: A day filled with autumnal fun on Thursday, October 17th.
• Tech Activities at AIM Institute's Brain Exchange: A hands-on experience with technology on Friday, October 18th.

New! Wildcats Club Parent Advisory Board
We’re excited to announce the formation of a Parent Advisory Board for Wildcats Club, which will start meeting in early December. Parents interested in shaping WCC activities and priorities are encouraged to join! Please contact Staci Wise, WCC Site Director, at 402-881-0092 or swise@aiminstitute.org by November 8th to participate.

Upcoming Wildcats Club Events

• Bring-a-Friend Day: Thursday, November 7th
  Wildcats members are invited to bring a friend to experience all that WCC has to offer! Please submit permission slips by Tuesday, November 5th.
• Harvest Night Family Night: Wednesday, November 13th
  Celebrate fall with family-friendly activities, and learn more about our new Parent Advisory Board.
• Winter Wonderland Family Night: Thursday, December 5th
  Kick off the holiday season with festive activities for the whole family.
• Non-School Day Field Trip: Saturday, December 7th
  WCC students will head to Lincoln for the Hour of Code and Tech Fair at UNL—a fantastic way to engage with tech and innovation!

No Wildcats Club Dates
Please note there will be no Wildcats Club on November 5th, November 13th, and November 22nd.

Thank you for your continued support of Wildcats Club, where we’re building brighter futures through fun, learning, and community!

For more information, please reach out to Staci Wise, WCC Site Director at 402-881-0092 or swise@aiminstitute.org.

Attention 8th Grade Families!!

It's time to start thinking about high school! Save the date for this year's high school showcase! High school showcase is the kickoff event of the school selection process. It allows you and your student the opportunity to explore academies and pathways available at each OPS high school. Staff and students from each school will be available to talk about course offerings, advanced academics, world languages, performing/fine arts, and extra-curricular opportunities. The event is Monday, December 9th from 5:30-7pm at the Scott Conference Center on UNO's campus.

Minute Meetings

We recently concluded minute meetings with all KSTM students. Every student has individually met with their school counselor to get to know them, communicate their needs, and have questions answered. Your student can request to meet with their school counselor at any time by emailing us, requesting to meet with us via the QR codes posted in classrooms and throughout the buildings, or by asking any staff member to email us on their behalf.

Look-Listen-Link Lessons

This month 6th grade students were taught their Look-Listen-Link introductory lesson, and the 8th grade students received their refresher lesson. The bulk of curriculum is four lessons for 7th grade students, who received the first with Mrs. Hixson last week. The goals of these conversations are to define stress and anxiety, identify their causes and symptoms, as well as demonstrating healthy ways to deal with them. They also understand facts about teen depression, recognize symptoms, and identify adults to go to for help. They also demonstrate three skills: look, listen, and link, in order to help a friend in need. Below are some tips from the curriculum for continuing these conversations at home!

Kim Thomspon, 6th & 7th (Last Names A-H) Grades

School Counselor

531.299.7389

kim.thompson1@ops.org

Alex Hixson, 7th (Last Names I-Z) & 8th Grades

School Counselor

531.299.7705

alex.hixson@ops.org

8th Grade Administrators:

• Ms. LaDeidre Jackson: 531-299-4016 LaDeidre.Jackson@ops.org
• Mr. Odell Santos: 531-299-3774 Odell.Santos@ops.org

7th Grade Administrator

• Ms. Nicole Benson: 531-299-7030 Nicole.Benson@ops.org

6th Grade Administrator

• Ms. Roxana Silva: 531-299-9049 Carmen.Silva@ops.org

Instructional Facilitator (all grade levels)

• Mrs. Kelcey Schmitz, 531-299-8027 Kelcey.Schmitz@ops.org

Contact AD Odell Santos with questions regarding sports activities or events at 531-299-3774

Attention Students and Families: There are 415 minutes in the school day, and every minute counts! Tardies to class disrupt the classroom, interrupt the lesson, and put students at risk of falling behind. The school will send daily emails to parents and guardians of students who were tardy to one or more classes.. BE RESPONSIBLE, WILDCATS! Get to class on time.

Just a reminder, we do not let students carry around large backpacks at KSTM. Students may carry around draw-string bags (one was provided to every student), small backpacks, side satchels, small purses. Students must put all large backpacks or personal items in their lockers.

The OPS Parent Survey link is open all year long.

SURVEY LINK: http://www.tinyurl.com/OPSParentVoice