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Dear KDM Community,

It was another great week at KDM! Students completed their iReady ELA Assessments, and we are already reviewing the data to inform our instruction going forward. Reading Assessments (Acadience and Fountas and Pinnell) will continue through February 7th. Thank you for sending your students in ready to take on the day and put their best foot forward!

Next week, KDM will participate in the Great Kindness Challenge! Please check out the daily themes as we join the district in cultivating a culture of kindness!

As the temperatures continue to drop, please be mindful to dress your students warmly. Illnesses are common, so please review Nurse Ana Mendez's letter that was sent home earlier this week to determine when to send your child to school and when to keep them home. As always, please reach out to Nurse Mendez or me with any questions or concerns.

Please keep an eye out for the Spring Club listing. We're excited to provide our final round of enriching after school activities!

Stay warm!

Warm Regards,

Brian Rawlins

Principal

"Success is not about being better than the other person. Success is about being a better person than I was the day before." --Anonymous

• Great Kindness Challenge: KDM will be participating in the Great Kindness Challenge next week with schools all across the country! The Great Kindness Challenge is one week dedicated to creating a culture of kindness on school campuses nationwide. KDM is proudly participating in this proactive, positive initiative! Spirit Week flyers will be in mailboxes later today!

• Coat Drive, January 21st - January 31st: Our Student Council is partnering with the KDM PTA for a Winter Coat Drive. This is a great opportunity to support our community and help provide warm clothing for those in need.

• Character Strong Newsletter: Check out this month's theme (Empathy). En Espanol.

• TREP$ Marketplace, March 7th: Don't miss this exciting event as our student entrepreneurs open their businesses to the public for the first time! Come support our young business moguls!

• Tardy Students: If your student is arriving to school late, please have them stop by the front office, so we are aware of their arrival and can mark them present.

• Cafeteria Online Orders: Maschio's Food Services would like to remind parents that ordering at least 24 hours ahead ensures that your child will receive the lunch of their choice. When online orders come in the day of, availability is not guaranteed. Here's a link to review how to place orders.

• Safety Alert: If you are dropping off your child in the morning, please do not drop them off in the parking lot and send them unescorted into the building. Either escort your child all the way to the building or follow the procedures of driving through the parent drop-off lane. Please help us keep your children safe.
  
  
• Late Arrivals to School: If your child is late to school due to a medical appointment, please provide a doctor's note so it will be considered an "excused tardy."
  
  

• Parent Pick-Up Procedures: On the days that parents pick their child up from school, we ask that they email their child's teacher and our attendance secretary, Christina Markowitch (cmarkowitch@rocktwp.net) or Jude Wallin (jwallin@rocktwp.net) by 12pm. This ensures that your child is in the appropriate place for dismissal and eliminates confusion. Please use the visitor's spots in the front lot or the parking lot across the street.
  
  

• Genesis Parent Portal: HERE you will find vital information regarding your child’s schedule, teacher’s name, and bus assignments.
  
  

• Communication Framework: Click HERE. In order to ensure that all communications are directed to the right person, please use this framework with regard to all school-related inquiries

"The third-grade class learned about the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his inspiring vision for equality and justice. After discussing his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, students reflected on their own dreams for making the world a better place. Each student wrote their dream in an "I Have a Dream" bubble, sharing ideas like helping others, protecting the environment, and spreading kindness. Their dreams are now proudly displayed in the hallway and classroom for everyone to see and be inspired by." - Third Grade Team

"The third-grade class learned about government by holding their own election for class president and vice president. Each candidate gave a speech, sharing their ideas and why they would be a great leader. After listening to the speeches, students cast their votes in a secret ballot. Once the votes were tallied, the winners were announced, and everyone celebrated the democratic process. To make the experience even more special, each student received an "I Voted" sticker to proudly wear, just like in real elections!" -The Third Grade Team

Print and Save for your reference! January KDM PTA Calendar--This calendar reflects PTA events and activities. Please refer to the "Upcoming Dates" section below for the full listing of school events.

• February 12th (Wednesday): Early Dismissal - Staff In-Service
• February 17th (Monday): District Closed in Honor of President's Day