Falcon Family Newsletter
September, 2024
Falcon Families,
Welcome to the Falcon Family Newsletter! Each month, we will send out information and updates from KAMS. We hope you'll spend some time reading through the newsletter to learn more about KAMS and any important updates.
As school is now in full swing, it is so wonderful to have students back on campus. Our first two days were filled with activities to support our Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program here on campus. Students were able to learn about our Three BEs (Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be Responsible) and participate in their first rally. And that was just the first day! Students have been busy getting to know their teachers and earning their positive Behavior Points. These Behavior Points are given to students when they are "caught" doing something positive, following our behavior expectations, or simply helping each other or staff members. To date, staff have given out over 11,000 Behavior Points for students helping to make this the best middle school in the area. And 96% of our students have received at least one! These Behavior Points can be used at the Nest to purchase a variety of goodies to reinforce these positive choices. We appreciate all the positive things that our amazing students do on a daily basis!
Thank you to all of you who joined us on campus this past week. On August 28, we had a campus full of families and students as teachers gave presentations about their classes at our annual Back to School Night. Engaging teacher presentations combined with food trucks made it a great night to be a Falcon!
During the last week of August, 26 & 30, we were able to welcome over 350 family members to our Family Lunch on the Quad. We are so fortunate to have such supportive and involved families in this community! If you missed the Family Lunch on the Quad, we will be having monthly opportunities for you to join your child while here at KAMS.
Please read through the rest of this newsletter to see updates from the start of school as well as opportunities and events coming up!
Sincerely,
Chris Rauschenfels
KAMS Principal
Upcoming Events
No School
Monday, Sep. 2
Labor Day Observance.
PGHS Homecoming Parade
Friday, September 6
Welcome Back Dance
Friday, September 20
3:30pm - 5:30pm
School Site Council Meeting
Tuesday, Sep. 24
3:30pm - 4:30pm
Picture Retakes
Wednesday, Oct. 2
Retake/Make Up Pictures
Retake/Make Up Picture Day is Wednesday, October 2nd, on the MP Stage.
- 7th Grade will take pictures during 1st period.
- 8th Grade will take pictures during 2nd period.
Only students who were absent on Picture Day (8/15 & 8/16) or are new students will be allowed to take Make Up pictures.
Other than being absent or being a new student, you can only take Retake Pictures if:
- If you purchased photos and you did not like them. Bring back those photos or you will not be able to take them.
- If you want to purchase them and you forgot to purchase them.
More information will be sent in the coming weeks.
Important Links and Documents
Drop Off & Pick Up
Pleaser remember, with over 1,400 students at KAMS and over 2,500 at our neighboring PGHS, mornings and afternoons are very busy times with a lot of cars! While drop off and pick up traffic is so busy, we appreciate your patience and helping to keep the lines moving as steadily as possible. When staff are out and helping, please do your best to follow any prompts as staff tries to get everyone in and out as quickly and safely as possible. To see a video highlighting best practices, please click HERE.
Parking is also extremely limited based on our staff size and limited spaces. Please go slow, give space, and act safely! Our students' and staff's safety depend on it.
- Please stay in line and do not pull around another car and get back in line to drop off your student.
- Traffic moves slowly, BUT steadily if all drivers pay attention and act safely.
- The inner loop (left lane) is not to be used for drop off or pick up. Please drop off and pick up all students along the Drop Off Curb.
- Once your student has exited/entered the car, it is safe to pull away from the curb and proceed to exit if other cars are aware.
- Please use your signal lights!
- Please follow the directions of any staff member directing traffic in the crosswalk and be aware of pedestrians!
- Under no circumstances park and block traffic/parking spots/emergency lanes and leave your car unattended.
The Importance of Praising Your Child
The EGUSD Family and Community Engagement (FACE) office is happy to present their first parent presentation of the 2024-2025 school year. They will be focusing on the importance of praising your child.
Please join on Zoom September 10, 2024 from 4:00pm - 5:00pm. To register, please click HERE.
Educational Benefits Form
Please remember to fill out your Educational Benefits application in ParentVue or in our school office. (One application per family) This form helps our school secure crucial funding to help with many areas beyond just school meals. It provides additional support for counselors and wellness providers, helps to lower the cost of transportation, helps to purchase school equipment and supplies, and funds tutoring and enrichment programs.
Accurate income information ensures we can continue to offer free and reduced-priced meals to eligible students. All information provided is confidential and used solely for funding purposes. Your privacy is our priority, and the date is securely managed according to all regulations.
Forms are simple to fill out and are available on ParentVue. When logging into ParentVue, you will be prompted to answer a few simple questions regarding your household size and income range.
For information on filling out the form and the benefits from completed forms, please click HERE.
Homecoming Parade Bell Schedule (September 6, 2024)
Career Fair
This year, KAMS will be holding our annual Career Fair on October 25 during student lunches. Presenters from a variety of careers will be setting up booths and showcasing their careers to our students. Many presenters have interactive activities and do giveaways for students. Last year we had 25 presenters and we are hoping to grow this year.
If you are interested in presenting your career to our students, please click HERE or on the link below to sign up to present. Or, if you know someone who would be great to present, please pass the link along to them.
All presenters will be in the quad during both lunches (11:50-12:20pm and 12:50-1:20pm) with gates open as early as 10:50 to set up. You will be provided a table to set up and if you need additional supplies reach out to Meghan Miller at mmmiller@egusd.net.
Thank you!
Falcon Family Lunch
This month, our Falcon Family Lunch days will be on Tuesday September 17 and Friday September 20. 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.
7th Grade Lunch: 11:50am - 12:20pm
8th Grade Lunch: 12:50pm - 1:20pm
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
8th Grade History
The 8th grade history classes are wrapping up their Colonial America unit and are about to start the American Revolution unit.
Coming soon will be the Constitution unit where students take a verbal exam of 65 questions without any notes. We encourage you to ask your student about the constitution unit when it begins and help them prepare for their exam.
Physical Education (PE)
Falcons – PE is finally getting into full swing. As a reminder, students are expected to have their athletic PE clothing, athletic shoes, and a lock on their lockers each day for class. Beginning Friday September 6th, any PE locker without a lock will be re assigned to a student who did not receive a locker. We have more students than lockers and are trying our best to utilize all our space efficiently. If your student was assigned a locker, please ensure they have a lock to properly lock up their items. Locks and other PE items can be purchased or picked up in the snack shack beginning Tuesday September 3rd.
Hope Squad
As we begin the second year of Hope Squad on campus, we wanted to remind students and families that Hope Squad is an evidence-based, peer-to-peer youth suicide prevention program, dedicated to spreading hope and creating a school culture that promotes connectedness and inclusivity. Hope Squad members are students selected by their peers for their kindness, approachability, and trustworthiness.
This program is dedicated to preventing suicide through public awareness and education, reducing the stigma surrounding mental health and suicide, and serving as a resource to those affected by suicide. Hope Squad members are not expected to take on the responsibilities of a school counselor or other mental health professionals. Instead, members learn the skills needed to spot signs of suicide, intervene, and refer their peers to both local and national mental health resources.
Research shows that young people who might be struggling with their mental health or contemplating suicide are more willing to talk to a peer than a teacher or a coach. Please discuss the benefits of Hope Squad with your student, so they are aware of this wonderful mental wellness resource. For more information, please visit the Hope Squad website.
Hope Squad advisor: Kate Nuttall, School Social Worker, knuttall@egusd.net, (916)686-5210 ext. 30060.
Yearbook
The Falcon Nation Yearbook Staff is excited to offer you a $10 savings on your 2025 Yearbook Preorder and Ad purchases! Don't miss out on this special Falcon Fest pricing! No coupon or discount code is necessary to take advantage of this savings, just go to yearbookordercenter.com and use school code 16281. (You can also click this link or scan the QR code.)
Don't miss out on this limited offer! Purchase your full-color yearbook today before prices go up on September 8 and guarantee that you will get a book at the end of the year! Personalized, engraved nameplates, student dedication ads, and business ads are also available!
Please contact Mrs. Campbell via TalkingPoints or Synergy with questions about Yearbook or Theatre.
Theatre Arts
We have an active Theatre Arts Program and Drama Club here at KAMS. Students are welcome to participate in a variety of events on the stage (cast) and behind the curtain (crew). Here are some highlights of what we have planned for this year:
- KAMS Advanced Musical Theatre class production - Something Rotten JR - November 8-9, 2024
- Night of the Arts: A Celebration of Semester 1 - December 6, 2024
- Elf The Musical JR - December 13-14, 2024 (This was incorrect in my 8/27 email!)
- Shakespeare In The Quad: Macbeth - April 25, 2025
- TBA - KAMS Advanced Musical Theatre class production - May 9-10, 2025
- Night of the Arts: A Celebration of Semester 2 - May 14, 2025
Please contact Mrs. Campbell via TalkingPoints or Synergy with questions about Yearbook or Theatre.
Athletics
Fall
Girls Volleyball - 7th & 8th
Coed Cross Country - 7th & 8th
Winter
Girls Basketball - 7th & 8th (tryouts 10/21-23)
Boys Basketball - 7th & 8th (tryouts 10/21-23)
Coed Wrestling - 7th & 8th
Spring
Boys Volleyball - 7th & 8th
Coed Track and Field - 7th & 8th
In order for a student to participate on an athletic team, you must complete the Athletic Clearance ONLINE and receive a notice that you are cleared at least one day prior to participation! https://kams.egusd.net/Programs/Athletics/Athletic-Clearance/index.html
Additional Information
Athletic Director, Traci Seto, tseto@egusd.net, Room MC-10
https://kams.egusd.net/Programs/Athletics/index.html
Cross Country
The boys and girls cross country season is underway!
Meet Dates
Saturday, August 24 - Eagle Invite @ PGHS Elk Grove, CA
Saturday, August 31 - Lagoon Valley Invite @ Vacaville, CA
Saturday, September 7 - Bradshaw Christian Speed Trail @ Sacramento, CA
Saturday, September 14 - Josh Ruff Memorial Invite @ Willow Hill Folsom, CA
Saturday, October 26 - Flat Sac @ Gibson Ranch Regional Park
Wednesday, October 16 - EGUSD Cross Country Championships @ Elk Grove Park
Girl’s Volleyball
The girls volleyball season has already begun!
The schedule below displays the dates and times for upcoming games.
Game Dates
7th Grade: 4:15pm / 8th Grade: 5:15pm
Thursday, September 12 - @ Harris
Tuesday September 17 - @ Jackman
Thursday, September 19 - vs Rutter @ HOME
Thursday, September 26 - @ Smedberg
8th Grade: 4:15pm / 7th Grade: 5:15pm
Tuesday, October 1 - vs Johnson @ HOME
Thursday, October 3 - vs Kerr @ HOME
Tuesday October 8 - @ Eddy
Thursday, October 10 - vs Pinkerton @ HOME
Monday, October 14 - 8th Grade Playoffs @Toby Johnson
Tuesday, October 15 - 7th Grade Playoffs @Albiani
Thursday, October 17 - 7th/8th Grade Championships @Sheldon High
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.
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).
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.
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