KESTREL HEIGHTS NEWSLETTER

We all know Kestrel Heights School is a great option for families!

Please assist our recruitment team by talking with your neighbors and friends about the great things happening at Kestrel Heights School! Refer them to our website where they can learn more and complete the online application.

A bonus for you! Each time you refer a family to our school, and their scholar enrolls, you will be entered to WIN Kestrel Swag!

www.kestrelheights.org/apply-now

Early Pick-up Early pick-up interrupts the instruction for the entire class and results in missed instruction for the scholar who is picked up early. For this reason, early check-outs will accumulate with tardies and result in the same consequences as tardies. A note signed by a parent stating the time and valid reason why the scholar needs to leave early must be presented to the school office on the day of the early departure. A parent must sign out the scholar at the front office. Scholars checked out before 11:25 AM and who do not return to school are marked as an unexcused absence. Proper written documentation must provided within three (3) days for the absence to be considered excused.

Kestrel's Scholar of the Week - Celebrating scholars who SOAR above and beyond!

1st grade

Math: Ten More, Ten Less, Comparing Numbers: Greater Than, Less Than, Equal To

ELA: Making Predictions with pictures and within a text

Social Studies: Black History Month Figures/Shows: Barack Obama, Fredrick Douglass, Madame CJ Walker, The Proud Family

2nd grade

Math: We are coming to a close in Chapter 6 with 2-3 digit addition and subtracting with and without regrouping. Please continue to work on addition and subtraction flashcards with your scholar at home to increase accuracy with facts. We are moving into Chapter 7 working with money.

ELA: We are working on reading comprehension, placing commas in the proper place, understanding the long and short vowel sounds, and identifying words with “ar”. Please continue to encourage your scholars to read each night for 20 minutes. If you can please ask them questions from the reading to strengthen their reading comprehension skills. As always thank you for your support.

Social Studies: We are continuing to learn about African American achievers in history. We have learned about Jesse Owens, Sojourner Truth, and Ruby Bridges so far. We will learn about George Washington Carver, Rosa Parks, Mary Mcleod Bethune, Harriet Tubman, and Obama.

Fourth grade

Math: This week 4th grade finished multiplying fractions and whole numbers. Next, we move into relating fractions and decimals.

Social Studies: This week students will examine how North Carolina changed in terms of developing a new state capital, improving roads, and creating more public schools during the early days of its statehood.

Fifth Grade:

Math: This week 5th grade finished fractions (although we will continue to work with them so it stays fresh in their minds for the EOGs!). Next, we move into Coordinate Grids and graphing.

Social Studies: This week scholars will learn the importance of note taking and citing sources to prepare for an upcoming research paper

Sixth Grade:

Social Studies: We are finishing the unit on India by taking a look at non-violent protesters of the 20th century, and ancient Indian literature, a station activity that acts as a final or summation of the content of the unit.

Science: Science class engaged in learning, How it Works: The International Space Station.

Eighth Grade:

Science: Scholars are engaged and learning new biotechnology vocabulary words such as artificial selection, deoxyribonucleic acid, trait, gene, gene therapy, diabetes, and bacteria to name a few. To help understand what Biotechnology is composed of.

Visual Arts: Our 6-8th graders have been working hard for the last two weeks on various art projects culminating in some really excellent pieces of artwork!

The counseling department is pleased to announce the winners of our Acts of Kindness Coloring Contest! There were so many wonderful entries that we doubled the number of winners. Please

1st Grade: Asa

2nd Grade: Cassie

5th Grade: Elizabeth and Andy

6th Grade: Aldo

7th Grade: Leila and Siwaar

We have decided to hold a Read-a-thon this year for our annual fundraiser!:

Read-a-thons actually get your scholar excited about reading and it gives friends and family the opportunity to encourage your child to read even more.

Our Read-a-thon starts Monday, March 6, 2023.

About one week before our Read-a-thon starts we will send home instructions on how to activate your reader's personal page. This is where you will be able to view and record their progress.

We encourage you to activate your reader’s account today by clicking on https://www.read-a-thon.com/readers/r/DQYBaH/1 and following the simple instructions.

We've chosen Read-a-thon because it will not take much of your time, gives your child a reason to read, and helps in the development of stronger reading skills.

We hope EVERYONE participates!

There’s just one week left to sign up for Durham Book Club! Are you a 5th-8th grade scholar who loves to read, wants FREE books, and would enjoy meeting new friends? Kestrel scholars are encouraged to join Durham Book Club: a student-led group created by the non-profit StrongHER TogetHER that unites middle school youth from all over Durham through the power of reading.

From April through July, Durham Book Club will meet once a month for author visits, book-related games, and to make new friends. To learn more about Durham Book Club or to sign up, please visit https://www.durhambookclub.org

*The deadline to sign up is March 1st

We had so much fun seeing all of the creative 100th Day of School outfits! Below are the winners we’ve selected:
Kindergarten: Azai, Ayden, and Ava
1st Grade: Marcus and Asa
2nd Grade: Nyjum and Cameron
3rd Grade: Lia and JJ
4th Grade: Spencer and Jordan
5th Grade: Abi and Edwin
6th Grade: Eliza, Alex, Taylor, and Zarina
7th Grade: Elizabeth, Camryn, Carsyn, Jahziya, Sophia, Sarai, Amal, and Shaun

8th Grade: Yuliana and Manahil

We are also pleased to announce the winning homerooms of our 100 Acts of Kindness Challenge are: Ms. Manching’s 3rd Grade and Ms. Devlin’s 7th Grade.

You can become a PTA member or make a donation at our membership portal: https://khcspta.square.site

Our next PTA meeting will be held virtually on Thursday, March 16th at 6 pm. You do not need to be a member to attend PTA meetings, so drop in to see what we're working on. We hope to see you there! https://meet.google.com/ogi-jwan-gdg

Make sure to follow us @khcspta on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for meeting recaps, news, events, and more.

Scholar-athletes interested in trying out for spring sports must have a completed 2022-2023 Athletic Packet on file with the athletic office (THIS INCLUDES AN UP-TO-DATE MEDICAL PHYSICAL), physicals are good for one calendar year. Please email hess@kestrelheights.org with any questions. Scholars can also pick up a packet from the main office or from Coach Hess.

When the Athletic Packet is submitted scholar-athletes will be officially registered with the athletic department and eligible to try out for any sport during the year. Scholars are

expected to attend each day of tryouts. See the packet with the form attached or you can find it on the Hawk’s athletic website under “files and links”

https://kestrelhawks.bigteams.com

Spring Tryout Information

Co-ed Track and Field

March 7, 8, 9

TBA

Kestrel Heights School

4700 S. Alston Ave

Dale Edmonds

edmonds@kestrelheights.org

The 2023-2024 School Calendar has been approved and may be found on our website at:

https://kestrelheights.org/calendar/

Greetings! Our staff would like to request supply donations as we approach the second half of the school year. If you would like to donate, here is a list of the most requested items by teachers:

• Tissues*

• Two-pocket folders*

• Disinfecting wipes*

• Whiteboard markers and erasers*

• Individual dry-erase boards

• #2 Ticonderoga pencils

• Pencil top erasers

• Sharpies

• Paper towels

• Crayola markers

• Colored pencils

• Non-latex disposable Gloves

*Most Requested Items

Thank you for all of your support!

Individuals interested in joining the KHS Board of Directors are encouraged to complete an application. https://forms.gle/iTE889LvqrokWcmJ6

Substitute teaching can be an ideal way to supplement your income while setting your schedule. It will also allow you to improve your classroom skills by trying different grade levels and instructional methods. If interested, please click on the link below and submit your substitute teacher application. https://kestrelheights.org/careers/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/KestrelHeightsSchool/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/KestrelHeights

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/kestrelheights/

NextDoor: https://nextdoor.com/pages//pages/kestrel-heights-charter-school-durham-nc/recommend/

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/school/kestrel-heights-school

Tuesday, March 14, 6:30 pm

Kestrel Heights Board of Directors Meeting

Thursday, March 16, 6:00 pm

Kestrel PTA Meeting

Friday, March 24

End of Quarter 3

Monday, March 27-Friday March 31

Spring Break

Thursday, April 6

Q3 Report Card Day

Friday, April 7

Holiday - No School

Monday, April 10

Teacher Workday - No School

We are a small, diverse, and inclusive learning community in Durham that empowers our Scholars to sharpen academic knowledge, demonstrate creative expression and expand leadership abilities to prepare for success in high school, college, and beyond.

Email: Vargas@kestrelheights.org
Website: www.kestrelheights.org
Location: 4700 South Alston Avenue, Durham, NC, USA
Phone: 919-484-1300
Facebook: facebook.com/KestrelHeightsSchool
Twitter: @kestrelheights