KMS WEEKLY UPDATE

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Yesterday, Thursday, October 12, we had a situation at Kodiak Middle School at the beginning of the day. At no time were the students' or staff's safety a concern. We conducted a school-wide "HOLD" to protect the dignity of individual students who needed support. The school contacted the parents and guardians of the students involved as soon as possible, and a message was sent to all families.

I recognize that this can be stressful for families and students. I hope this correspondence helps reduce that stress moving forward.

A "HOLD" is announced over the intercom system when we need staff and students to remain in their classrooms and conduct class as usual. During a HOLD, the halls clear until an "ALL CLEAR" is announced. This emergency action is taken when the school needs to protect the dignity and privacy of an individual experiencing an issue.

A "SECURE" is announced when there is a concern for safety or threat outside the school. During a SECURE students and staff will return to the inside of the school. School will continue as usual with increased awareness.

A "LOCKDOWN" is announced when there is a concern for safety or threat inside the school. During a LOCKDOWN, staff will lock and secure their classroom door, turn out the lights, move away from sight, and maintain silence. We ask that students follow the direction of the adult, remain quiet, out of sight, and not open the door.

As always, we take these situations seriously to ensure your students' safety remains our top priority. We also appreciate students being honest and helpful in situations like this.

Sincerely,

Geoff Smith, Principal

Rena Rankin, Assistant Principal

This is where we will have a quick reference for the upcoming week. More info is usually listed lower in the newsletter, if needed.

This week, Nurse Amber will begin growth and BMI screenings for 6th graders on Friday, 10/20.

Each student will be screened privately during their PE class.

If you would like to opt your child out, please fill out the form below.

If you have questions or

would like to volunteer to help with the screenings,

please contact Nurse Amber: 486-7470

We will announce winners of individual prizes and the Advisory Class Pizza or Ice Cream Party on Friday, October 20!!

Get ready! The Scholastic Book Fair is coming our way (YAY!).

Choosing their own books empowers kids and inspires them on their journey to becoming lifelong readers. AND—as always—every purchase at the Fair benefits our school.

Here’s what you need to know about the big event, which will take place on October 25-27, 2023 from 10:00AM-7:30PM at Kodiak Middle School Library (Room 200):

Say goodbye to cash and hello to eWallet—your child’s digital payment account. Before the Fair, set up eWallet for worry-free, cash-free purchases. Anyone can contribute! Share each child’s eWallet so friends and family can add funds and give your kids more books to enjoy.

If you can’t make it to the Fair, then shop at our school’s Book Fair online which will be available from October 23 until November 5, 2023. All orders ship directly to your home, and shipping is free for book orders over $25. Every online purchase will also benefit our school.

Visit our Book Fair homepage to learn more and get started with eWallet and online shopping: https://www.scholastic.com/bf/kodiakmiddleschool

The countdown to more Bookjoy is on! Catch you at the Fair!

Please make sure your student has a reusable water bottle to bring to school each day.

Thank you!

During the course of the school day, teachers and staff like to recognize students who are caught exhibiting the KMS values of Respect, Integrity, Citizenship, and Kindness. We do this by giving out Grizzly Tickets. Every Grizzly Ticket goes into a bucket and from that bucket, we draw two winners per grade. The winners get to sit on the stage with up to 7 of their friends for the rest of the week!

THIS WEEK'S GRIZZLY TICKET WINNERS:

6th grade:

Table 1- Angelina Selman for Kindness

Table 2- Julian Gatter for Citizenship & Kindness

7th grade:

Table 1- Jake Sanford for Citizenship

Table 2- Danica Wolfe for Citizenship

8th grade:

Table 1- Boe McCarthy for Kindness & Leadership

Table 2- Deagan Heglin for Citizenship

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES AND ACTIVITIES

Mrs. Lhotka will be taking her 4th and 6th periods Skills Class to the Kodiak Public Library on Tuesday, October 17. Permission slips are attached, please return to Mrs. Lhotka.

Multimedia students are busy bees! They have been creating business cards, posters, stickers, videos, stop animation, t-shirt designs, and recently have been hired by teachers to create a variety of multimedia projects. We are having so much fun in our new elective.

A reporter from The Kodiak Daily Mirror came by to cover Mr. Steele's 1st period project. They are building bat houses for Port Lions.

7th graders in Mr. Pendon's Math 7 Class have been learning all about integers with number lines and math manipulatives.

"Egg-celent news!

We received the live chicken eggs today and Mrs. Johnson's Agriculture class will be incubating them in the classroom!

Today is day 1, we checked the eggs using a method called candling (shining a bright light into the egg to check on development), got our incubators set up and placed the eggs into the incubator. If all goes well, we will hopefully have baby chicks hatching in 21 days!

These are broiler chickens that will be raised on a farm in Kodiak once they are hatched.

Students in Agriculture class also learned how to plant hydroponic lettuce seedlings into our Farm Wall (our vertical hydroponics system). In about a month we will have fresh, delicious hydroponic lettuce ready to harvest."

In PE this month, 8th graders began a swim unit, at the City of Kodiak Swimming Pool located behind the middle school. During classes, students will walk over, change into their swim wear, have their lesson in the pool, dry off, change back into their school clothes, and return to the middle school.

The first day, Monday, October 2, students will not be in the water. This day will be for an orientation to the pool facilities, student expectations, and pool rules.

The following days, students WILL be in the water and are expected to bring a towel, swim wear, and a bag to contain their wet belongings:

10/3-10-5

10/11-10/13

10/17-10/19

Here, we will post a variety opportunities for all families to support KMS.

If you are interested in how you can pitch in, keep an eye out for something that works for you!

We appreciate ALL support, no matter what form it takes.

Thank you!!!

The KMS SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR NEEDS VOLUNTEERS!

Our librarian is asking for parent volunteers to help set up, manage, collect payment, and break down the book fair. We will also have student volunteers.

Sign-up here if you are able to help any day 10/24-10/27.

Thank you so much for your support and participation.

If you would like to help with donations, we have an Amazon Wishlist posted HERE.

Also- gently used clothing, especially bottoms, all sizes.

We are happy to launder them.

Donations can be dropped off at the main office.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

Mrs. King’s 8th graders went on a field trip to help secure marine debris in order to refurbish the bus ramp art.

Good news is that our beaches are clean, the bad news is that we still need plastic donations.

We are looking for cleaned shampoo & conditioner bottles, water bottle and Gatorade lids, wipes containers, detergent jugs, condiment/coffee/syrup and other food containers that are made from a heavier colored plastic.

Please do not throw these away, but collect them for us and send them to the office with your student.

Thank you so very much!

The PTSA would like to provide dinner for the teachers on the first night of Parent/Teacher Conferences. We appreciate all they do for our students!!

If you are able to bring a dish or some toppings, please let us know by clicking here!

Thank you so much!!

Here you will find events that will be happening in the next couple of months, but not during the coming week.

We want to give our families plenty of time to plan around our activities and opportunities.

Details will be posted later in this newsletter and/or another newsletter in the near future.

• 10/23: KMS Dance Team Parent meeting at 5:45pm in KMS Commons
  
• 10/23: Spirit Week/Red Ribbon Week
• 10/23-10/27: Scholastic Book Fair in KMS Library
  
• 10/25: PTSA Providing Dinner for Teachers prior to Parent/Teacher Conferences
• 10/25-10/26: Parent/Teacher Conferences
• 10/27: 7th & 8th Grade Halloween Dance

• 11/7: School Picture Re-Takes
• 11/9: No School, District In-Service
• 11/22-11/24: No School, Thanksgiving
• Late November: Cookie Dough Distribution/Pick-up

• 12/5: KMS PTSA Meeting, 6pm - meet in Commons, Move to Library
• 12/8: Friday Night Live
• 12/18-1/1: No School, Winter Break

• Volleyball - Information coming soon
• Wrestling - Information coming soon

• 3/18-3/22: No School, Spring Break
• Track - Information coming soon

If you would like to help with our Book Fair please click here to sign up.

WHO: 7th and 8th Grade Students at KMS

WHAT: Halloween Dance/8th Grade Fundraiser

WHEN: Friday, October 27 from 6:00-8:00pm

WHERE: KMS Commons

COST: $3 Per Student, plus concessions, if desired

Sign-in and Sign-out will be required. Only parent/guardian can sign student out before end of dance.

School-appropriate costumes are encouraged!

If you want to re-take school pictures, we have a date!

Re-takes will start first thing in the morning on November 7.

Here we will post announcements, opportunities, and resources for our KMS Parents and Guardians.

• Academic Reading & Notetaking - Tuesday & Thursday, 12 pm - 1 pm

• Beginning English Language (ELL) - Monday, 7 pm - 8:30 pm

• English for CDL - late starting - Thursday, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm

• English for Citizenship - late starting - Wednesday, 7 pm - 8:30 pm

• English for the Health Care Workplace: 1 free CEU - Tuesday & Thursday, 10 am - 12 pm

• Intermediate English Language (ELL) - Monday, 7 pm - 8:30 pm

• Tuesday Evening Topics - Tuesday, 7 pm - 8:30 pm

Academic Reading and Notetaking

• T & Th, 12 pm - 1 pm

Alternative High School Diploma Topics

• Science, Social Studies, Language Arts: Intensive RLA Prep -
• In-person & distance options island-wide
• Free practice & test vouchers, & more!

.

• Customized Study Plan
• Taught in 2 - 3 week units
• M & W, 9 am - 10:30 am, or M, 7 pm - 8:30 pm

• Thursday, 6:30 - 8:00 pm

• 1 free CEU
• 10 hours
• TBA T & Th

• Thursday, 3:00 - 4:00 pm

Building Strong Readers at Home

Tuesdays @ 5:30pm

Main Elementary Cafeteria

Enter through the door in the courtyard (down the stairs)

For more info, email Angie Hietala

*If your student arrives after the morning bell please direct them to the main office entrance, to see the attendance secretary, Mrs. Tricia. All tardies will be marked unexcused unless a parent calls the attendance line (907-486-7460) and leave a message to excuse them.

Students will not be marked tardy if there is a bus delay.

Your student's lunch account can be paid via cash/check to main office, or online via the PowerSchool Parent Portal.

FOR INFO ON FREE/REDUCED MEALS, CLICK HERE

Click the button below for directions to set up a new account, check balance, or add funds.

To make sure you are receiving all communication from KMS, please take a moment to verify that your emails and phone numbers are correct in the PowerSchool Parent Portal.

This is the main way we will send home general school-wide information.

If you do not have a PowerSchool Parent Account, click <<HERE>> for instructions on how to set one up.

If you do not know the ACCESS ID and Password for first-time set-up, please call our main office secretary at 907-486-7460.

If you have already set up your PowerSchool Parent Portal, click <<HERE>> to sign in.

Feel free to bookmark this link for a quick way to see your student's :

• grades
• assignments
• lunch balance, etc.

If your student has an allergy or asthma that is not on file, please call our school nurse and update your student's info.

KIBSD-issued iPads are to ensure each student has the technology to participate and complete the coursework for each of their classes. If you would like to enable parental controls to manage your student's device, the app below is free to use and compatible with iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Android.

The graphic below is clickable, as well.