The Eagle Beak-on

March is here, bringing with it the excitement of spring and a busy season of academic and extracurricular activities! As we approach the end of the nine weeks, our focus remains on helping students thrive—academically, socially, and personally. With state assessments on the horizon, we encourage students to stay engaged, complete assignments on time, and seek help when needed. Please read further into the newsletter on how we've adjusted WIN times to help aid our students in their success.

This month, our character focus is courage. I can't think of a better time to be focusing on courage as we approach our important state assessment tests. We encourage students to try their best, to face challenges with confidence, and to push through when things get tough. Whether it’s speaking up in class, tackling a difficult test, or just simply showing up, we want our students to be bold in their efforts and face adversity with courage.

Beyond the classroom, spring sports, concerts, competitions, and school events are in full swing. While this can be a hectic time, it’s also a great opportunity for students to build time management skills and balance their commitments. Your support in reinforcing the importance of responsibility and perseverance will help them finish the year strong.

Together, let’s make March a month of growth, courage, and thriving in all aspects of school life!

On Wednesday, April 2nd, KMHS is scheduled to host the Central Plains Middle School League Music Festival as part of the school rotation. This event will feature middle school students from across our league performing vocal and instrumental large group pieces, ensembles, and solos for musical judges.

Due to many classrooms being used for performances, KMHS students will not have school that day (KES will still be in session). Please mark your calendars! All middle school choir and band students are required to attend the festival to perform and assist with running the event. More details will be communicated to those students by Mr. Avila and Mrs. Knapic.

3/9 - Daylight Savings Time Starts

3/10 - KMHS presents at the BOE Meeting @ 6:00 @ District Office

3/11 - KHS Band and Madrigal Music Competition in Douglass

3/13 - End of the third quarter & Driver's Education Information Sent Out

3/13 - Junior Booster Club Trivia Night in KMHS Cafeteria @ 6:30

3/14 - No School - Teacher Work Day

3/17-3/21 - Spring Break

3/27 - TTLT Blood Drive @ KMHS

3/28 - First Session of 8th Grade Science State Assessment

3/30-4/1 - FBLA State Conference in Topeka

3/31 - Final 3rd quarter grades will be posted

Upcoming Important Dates

4/1 - Second Session of 8th Grade & Both Sessions for Junior's Science State Assessment

4/7-4/11 - 7th, 8th, & 10th Grade Reading State Assessment

4/14-4/16 - 7th, 8th, & 10th Grade Math State Assessment

On Wednesday February 26th, 18 seventh grade and 10 eighth grade students traveled to Belle Plaine to compete with other league schools in the subject areas of math, science and art. Our students were well behaved and had a lot of fun competing with other schools. Look for a full list of students who placed in these events coming soon!

State assessments play a crucial role in measuring student learning, ensuring accountability, and guiding future building initiatives. These high-stakes tests are not just about numbers—they reflect the knowledge and skills students have gained throughout the year. For middle and high school students, these assessments determine their readiness for the next grade level, impact future course placements, and determine intervention strategies. For staff, the results help shape curriculum decisions, identify areas for growth, and demonstrate the effectiveness of instruction. Because of this, it is essential that students approach these exams with focus, determination, and a commitment to doing their best.

Taking these assessments requires courage. They challenge students to showcase their learning under pressure, a skill that will serve them well beyond the classroom. Test results can open doors to academic opportunities, scholarships, and future success, making them a critical milestone in every student’s educational journey. While these exams may feel overwhelming, students must trust in their preparation and give their best effort. Success on state assessments not only validates hard work but also reinforces the importance of perseverance and personal accountability—key traits for success in both school and life.

We need your help! How can parents/guardians help their child perform better on state assessments?

1. Encourage a positive mIndset.

2. Ensure attendance prior to testing for preparation & review and during the testing weeks.

3. Ensure adequate rest and nutrition - requiring students to turn in cell phones/devices before 10:00 pm for a good night's rest without distractions.

4. Talk about the tests at home and the importance of trying their best, taking their time, and reading directions.

5. Enforce school expectations that we need EVERYONE'S best effort and that's it's not just another test, but a test in which you, your teachers, and school are graded by the State.

6. Dress like they have a job to do. Leave the pajama bottoms at home and dress for success.

I would like to address the Facebook post that I believe many of you are aware of or read about in regards to our two schools', KMS & KHS, letter grades based off state assessment scores. The data the Kansas Policy Institute (KPI) used in figuring our letter grade is accurate information. Our state assessment scores are public knowledge and can be found on our district website.

Here is how the KPI determined the letter grades directly from their website: https://a-f.kansaspolicy.org/

Establishing letter grades based on cut scores is the first step in calculating the letter grades presented on the “A-F Grading for Kansas Schools.” The second step is to get grade level data for every school and assign each grade level within a school four separate grades based on the average scale score for each of these categories:

• Math results for low income students
• Math results for all other students
• ELA results for low income students
• ELA results for all other students

The next step is to calculate an average for those grades based on a four-point scale:

• A – 4 points
• B – 3 points
• C – 2 points
• D – 1 point
• F – O points

Finally, that arithmetic average is translated back into one letter grade based on these ranges:

• A – 3.5 to 4.0
• B – 2.50 to 3.49
• C – 1.50 to 2.49
• D – 0.50 to 1.49
• F – Below 0.5

KPI only looks at our percent of students scoring at a level 3 or 4 when figuring our proficiency rating. However, if a student scores at a level 2, they are still at grade level, just with a basic understanding.

KMS scored a 0.9, which is equivalent to a D grade for the 23-24 school year (we were a F for the 22-23 school year). Do we still have work to do? Yes! But we are making improvements.

KHS scored a 1.5, which is equivalent to a C grade for the 23-24 school year (we were a D for the 22-23 school year). Do we still have work to do? Yes! But we are making improvements.

Look at the chart below in regards to the percentages of schools receiving each letter grade.

Our staff and students work hard and continue to move the needle in proficiency. I encourage everyone to research and look at the website linked above for more information.

Intensive Study Hall - High School & Middle School (every day): Student with grades below a C in any class.

Extension (IXL, Read, Study Hall, ACT Prep) - High School & Middle School (M-Th): Students with passing grades who just need some time to complete work, read, or focus on getting better.

Intervention - High School & Middle School (M-Thurs): Teachers pull in students who need extra support in the core classes. Students can ask to be pulled in or core teachers assign students.

Students who have a grade of a D or F in any class will be assigned to an Intensive Study Hall until they are able to raise their grade to a C or higher. Once their grade reflects a C in Skyward, the intensive teacher will remove the student from their WIN, allowing them to have choice again. Core teachers can pull students from intensive WIN if they need more intervention or guidance in their class.

On Friday - Any students not in Intensive Study Hall will be allowed to participate in fun WIN sessions. All Extension and Core teachers will create fun WIN sessions for both morning and afternoon WINs.

We have already seen improvement with students' grades. Many times, students earn D's or F's due to a "will" issue. They just don't complete the assignments or don't turn them in for a grade. Making the WIN choice for them has forced them to focus on their learning and holding them responsible to complete assigned homework. The fun WINs are to reward our students who are making C's or above in all their classes. Hard work should pay off!

Website: https://www.knusd331.com/o/kmhs
Phone: 620-532-3136
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/usd331kmhs
Twitter: @usd331khs