KMS Friday Principal's Press

Happy Friday....and a reminder that there is no school on Monday, January 20th in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day! Here is some important information from KMS:

Marking period 2 ends on Wednesday, January 22 with report cards going home with students on Tuesday, January 28. Please encourage your students to check Schoology and Skyward to ensure all assignments are completed and submitted.

KMS is proud to announce that 7th grader Kai Adeel will be representing Kennett Middle School at the Chester County Spelling Bee on Monday, February 10. We had a tie for second place between 6th grader Hayaa Shah and 8th grader Eliza Pendleton. Our third place award went to 8th grader Muhammad Adeel. We are so proud of all of the preparation and poise these students demonstrated. Congratulations, all! Good luck with the next round, Kai!

We are so proud of our students! As of today, we have finished benchmark testing for both math and ELA. We will use next week to prepare reports to send home to families on January 28 with report cards. We will send a reminder when reports go home.

Exciting news for science education at KMS! Our new master schedule has extended all Science classes to 65 minutes, a significant increase from the previous 40-minute periods. This expansion aligns with research on effective learning practices. For instance, a study by Patall et al. (2010) in the Review of Educational Research found that additional learning time can lead to improved student achievement, particularly in subjects requiring hands-on activities like science.

KMS Science teachers are leveraging this additional time, along with the TWIG program, to create richer, more engaging learning experiences for all students. The extended periods allow for:

• More in-depth laboratory experiments
• Enhanced collaborative learning opportunities
• Deeper exploration of scientific concepts

Here are some pictures that showcase see how KMS teachers are using more time and the TWIG program to boost scientific inquiry and understanding among our students!

6th Grade: will be featured next week!

7th Grade: Students recently worked on a unit about how materials move in and out of cells. The students investigated a variety of real world examples to better understand how different kinds of molecules move in and out of cells.

8th Grade: Students are working on a unit titled "Turtle SOS." They are creating exothermic reactions to produce the ideal temperature for hatching turtle eggs. Miss Pizzini, Miss Hodges, and Mr. Dublan are reinforcing science safety as students handle various chemicals and science equipment.

On Friday, February 21st, KMS will host our 3rd annual Glow Dance! We had over 500 students attend last year and it was a blast. We cannot make this happen without your help as volunteers and with donations. Please see below for more information and for volunteer & donation signs ups.

• Glow Dance Flyer
• Volunteer Sign Up
• Donations

On Monday evening, I reported the results of the Listen, Learn, Lead Entry Plan effort to the School Board of Directors at their monthly public meeting. The report featured the strengths, challenges, and opportunities I discovered while meeting with so many of our stakeholders in the District since August. While I acknowledge the challenges our District faces, I also highlight the many strengths and opportunities I discovered through interviews, focus groups, surveys, and observation during school visits and by reviewing documents and data. Please take the time to watch my presentation, if possible, at the link provided below that is available to all families of every Board meeting. This meeting is especially important. I hope you can view it.

The full report of my findings will be made available to the entire KCSD community soon via email, on our website, and in printed form across the District.

I will also be holding in-person presentations of the report on January 25th, at 10 a.m. via Zoom. (Information regarding registration and information on translation services for the Zoom meeting will be shared soon.)

Thank you for your support and we look forward to working with you all in the months to come to build a strategic plan that addresses the strengths, challenges, and opportunities you all shared with me.

In 2025, technology plays an important role in your child's learning. Protect your student's district issued learning device with our comprehensive Chromebook Protection Plan, designed to shield families from unexpected repair costs. Our affordable coverage ensures that accidental damage, drops, spills, and screen cracks won't interrupt your child's education or create financial stress. This $50 plan provides 100% coverage for repairs or replacement of the Chromebook that would otherwise be the responsibility of the student and/or parent/legal guardian.

Meet Phil Faiss!

Phil has been an educator for 28 years. He started in Kennett in 1999 as an 8th grade physical science teacher. Before landing in his current position as a 6th grade social studies teacher, he also taught 7th grade reading and 8th grade American History.

Mr. Faiss's favorite thing about working in Kennett is our students. The kindness they show and the diversity they represent creates a beautiful environment to learn and work.

Outside of school, Phil enjoys walking his dog and hanging out with his wife and 3 daughters, ages 11, 19, and 21.

We are so glad he's on our team!

Tuesday, January 21 - Home v. Patton

Wednesday, January 22 - Away v. Stetson

Saturday, January 25 - County Tournament @ Downingtown West High School

Wednesday, January 22 - Home v. Great Valley

Thursday, January 23 - Away v. Stetson

Monday, January 27 - Home v. North Brandywine

Wednesday, January 29 - Away v. North Brandywine

Friday, January 31 - Away v. Downingtown

Monday, February 3 - Home v. Lionville

Friday, February 7 - Away v. Fugett

Monday, February 10 - Away v. Penns Grove

Thursday, February 13 - Home v. Avon Grove

Wednesday, February 19 - Home v. Chichester

Click below for a reminder regarding tryouts, coaches, and more.

• Monday, 1/20 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (District Closed)

• Tuesday, 1/21 - 8th Grade Visit to KHS

• Wednesday, 1/22 - End of 2nd Marking Period

• Wednesday, 1/22 - PTO Meeting @ 7:30 PM

• Friday, 1/24 - Teacher In-Service (No School for Students)

• Monday, 1/27 - Curriculum Committee Meeting at 7:00 PM at MDLKC

• Tuesday, 1/28 - After-the-Bell Winter Session begins

• Wednesday, 1/29 - KMS Instrumental Concert

• Thursday and Friday, 1/30 and 1/30 - ACCESS testing begins for ELD students

• Wednesday, 2/5 - Teacher In-Service (No School for Students)

• Monday, 2/10 - KCSD School Board Meeting @ 7 PM

• Monday, 2/17 - President's Day (District Closed)

• Friday, 2/21 - KMS Glow Dance 6 PM - 8 PM

2024 KMS Schools To Watch Video

2024 KMS Back To School Night Video

iReady Math Family Resources

Aimsweb Plus Overview

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(610) 268-5800

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