KAMSC Newsletter

Last Friday, we ended the week with a Challenge Success Meeting between our team here at KAMSC and our coach from Challenge Success. During that meeting we had a chance to recap the conference we attended last month as well as recap all of the initiatives we have begun this year in order to tackle our Challenge Success goals. In that meeting, parent, Jim Johnson asked if I would share with all parents via the newsletter the title of a book that we received at that conference that he had a chance to read already. He said that for him personally, it was a powerful read and that it has him rethinking some moves he is making as a parent. The title of the book is called, "Doing School, How we are Creating a Generation of Stressed out, Materialistic, and Miseducated Students" by Denise Clark Pope. While I have not personally read it yet, the title is certainly provocative and it is on my "to read stack" especially after getting Jim's recommendation. Here is a link to Dr. Pope's faculty Biography from Stanford.

Heather Kortlandt

Director, KAMSC

For open lab, we would ask that if you are picking your child up please do so right at 7:30pm (unless they are staying late for a group they are a part of) on Vine street by the entrance. With it getting darker, we would like less students waiting in the parking lot unsupervised. Please have them wait in the lobby by our security officer station.

If your child is a driver we ask that they not hang out in the parking lot when they are finished. Again, due to safety concerns as we are located in a very urban environment, please have them go right to their cars and head home. We do have on officer patrolling until 8:00 but not after.

KAMSC Earthling leaders Sophia Barnard and Kate Risley were featured on Kalamazoo Earth Day's Podcast "Connecting Communities," an environmental and community building project for Kalamazoo. Sophia and Kate discussed projects like their clothing drive, Kalamazoo River Watershed Curriculum, work with Reforest Vine, and green school certification. They also talked about their KAMSC research, and how they see their environmental passions playing out in the future.

Registration is now open for the GIMSO conference where girls will spend the day here at KAMSC doing projects with math and science professionals and hearing, first-hand how science and math can offer young women many different career opportunities. You can register at this link. Don't have a middle school girl at home? Then, consider passing along the information to someone who does.

We want to recommunicate the hours for our students to receive support for their well being and let you know that we have added some days and times and we've also welcomed a female therapist to KAMSC. We have the following therapists available for individual or group drop in or appointments during the following days and times:

Mondays 7-10 am (starting the week of 11/4) - Mr. Kaliati

Tuesdays 7am-10am (starting the week of 10/28) - Mrs. Hindman

Tuesdays 11am -1pm (starting the week of 10/28) - Mr. Kaliati

Wednesdays during open lab - Mr. Kaliati

Mrs. Hindman's Bio - Mrs. Hindman has been working with children/young adults her entire career in different capacities. She has worked as a special education teacher, a high school counselor, and a private practice therapist. She has raised six children of her own who all attended KPS. She is excited to meet and work with students at KAMSC.

Do you have a talent in iOS programming to work with one of our KAMSC students who is doing a project that includes programming an App? or Do you have a mechanical engineering background and would love to work with one of our KAMSC students on their project in this area? If so, please contact Rebecca Joyce, at rebecca.joyce@kamsc.org

We are in need of volunteers for our GISMO event happening at KAMSC on Saturday November 2 as well as for our Dance on Saturday, November 9. If you would be willing to donate some time, please click the button below to sign up through the signup genius.

SCIENCE FAIR the movie

Wednesday, November 6, 2:00-4:00

KAMSC Presentation Center

Students, parents, and guests are invited to an entertaining, award-winning documentary about student researchers and the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).

KAMSC sends a delegation to ISEF each year!

This movie and National Geographic's Science Fair: The Series are also available on streaming services and are a great way to learn about the world of high school research. You can check out the movie trailer here: SCIENCE FAIR

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.

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.

As our seniors are working on their college applications this month it is timely that you can register for a Challenge Success Webinar titled "A Healthier Approach to College Admissions" by clicking on this link. The webinar is on November 19th and does cost $29, but I think you may find it worth the cost. It is meant for parents of students in high school so anyone can begin to think about how your child and your family might approach this topic, not just parents of seniors.

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

Wednesday, Oct. 23rd Student Advisory Council Meeting

Wednesday, Oct. 23rd- Open lab 6-7:30pm

Friday, Oct. 25th - NO school at KAMSC - records day for 1st marking period

Tuesday, Oct. 29th - PT conferences - 5:30-8:30 pm

Wednesday, Oct. 30th - PT conferences - 5:30-8:30pm

Wednesday Oct. 30th - No Open lab due to conferences

Friday, Nov. 1st - PT conferences - 7:30-10:30am & 11:30-2:00pm

Friday, Nov. 1st - No School at KAMSC