KPMS Newsletter

Dear KPMS Families,

I wanted to take a moment to emphasize the critical importance of regular school attendance. We take great pride in our students wanting to attend school each and every day!

Attending school regularly is a fundamental aspect of your child's educational success. When

students are absent, they miss out on valuable learning opportunities, interaction with teachers and peers, and vital classroom experiences. Consistent attendance not only impacts academic achievement but also helps students develop important life skills, such as time management, responsibility, and commitment.

To ensure your child's success, we kindly request that you make every effort to support regular attendance. If your child is unable to attend school due to illness or another valid reason, please notify our school office as soon as possible. We understand that unexpected circumstances may arise, but keeping absences to a minimum is essential for your child's educational journey.

Our dedicated staff is here to assist and support your child's educational needs, so if you are experiencing any challenges that affect attendance, please reach out to us. Together, we can

work on finding solutions to ensure your child's consistent presence at school.

Thank you for your commitment to your child's education, and for partnering with us in promoting good attendance. We look forward to a year filled with academic growth and success.

Sincerely,

Michelle Kreuzer

KPMS Principal

If your child will be absent from school, please contact the main office before 8:20 AM. You can report absences by phone at (508) 541-7324 or by email at MSAttendance@kingphilip.org.

When leaving a message, be sure to include the reason for your child’s absence. If your child is absent due to a medical appointment, please provide a doctor’s note for our records. Also, let us know if your child will be arriving late or needs to be dismissed early.

For a list of excused absences, please refer to page 26 of the KPRSD Student Handbook.

Thank you!

• Late buses will be available for both the High School and Middle School on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, starting on Tuesday, September 24.

• KPMS students must have a late bus pass from a teacher, club advisor, or administrator to board the bus.

• There will be three late buses. They will shuttle students from the Middle School to the High School around 3:15 PM, and then depart from the High School at approximately 3:30 PM. Each bus will follow a specific route with centrally located stops.
• Due to the large area we cover (nearly 48 square miles across three towns), the late buses will not provide door-to-door drop-offs.
• The specific routes are published on the transportation page of the web site, at the end of the document listing the regular bus routes.

Please contact Larry Azer, Director of Finance & Operations, with any questions about student transportation: azerl@kingphilip.org

Do you like challenges? Do you like to compete? Are you a strategic thinker? Are you a problem solver? Can you think of creative ways to approach math problems? Then the Math League is for you! During Math League meetings, students will work on brain teasers, logic puzzles, and complete practice problems to prepare for upcoming math competitions.

There will be an informational Math League meeting after school on Tuesday, October 1st. Math League is open to all 7th and 8th grade students. The meeting will take place in Room 123 from 2:20 pm – 3:00 pm with Mrs. Kriegsman. Students can take the late bus home.

Please note that Math League will meet weekly (on Tuesdays) throughout the year from October to March (or longer if students qualify for additional competitions). Students who participate in Cross Country or other Fall sports are welcome to join when the season ends. Please contact Mrs. Kriegsman if you have any questions.

Are you looking for an opportunity to get involved at King Philip? Please consider the King Philip MS/HS Parent Teacher Organization. For more information or to donate to the organization, please see their welcome letter.

King Philip PTO Welcome Letter

Dot Pearl, Director of Wellness for Norfolk, Plainville, Wrentham & King Philip Schools puts together periodic updates which include family wellness news and resources. Please take a look at her latest update from September 24, 2024:

Family Wellness News & Resources for King Philip, Norfolk, Plainville and Wrentham Schools

Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth (MPY) is offering the free MPY Parenting Solutions Library in partnership with Peace At Home Parenting Solutions, a non-profit located in Mansfield, Connecticut. Peace At Home Parenting Solutions is a dynamic hub of trusted knowledge and compassionate support that inspires parents to create positive change for their children, their families and themselves. Through this new partnership, MPY is pleased to offer proven resources to help students’ families thrive.

Peace At Home Parenting Solutions specializes in empowering parents with evidence-based strategies to foster nurturing connections that safeguard their children's mental well-being. When parents grasp the interconnection between the brain, body, and behavior, they experience reduced stress levels, resulting in less stress for their children.

The Peace At Home Parenting Solutions team, comprised of experts with advanced degrees, stays abreast of the latest advancements in child development. With more than 30 specialists focused on child and adolescent development, including specific issues such as difficulties in school, mental health challenges, neurodiversity, LGBTQ+ identity formation, handling racism, navigating grief, and other matters parents and our partners identify. These experts present easy-to-use strategies for long-lasting change.

Parents can watch or just listen to experts who get right to the point solving big and small challenges. The 24 library presentations focus on the topics below. Each presentation includes a 10-minute videos and handouts.

• Inspire School Success for Elementary, Middle and High School Students
• Parenting Principles for Progress Not Perfection
• Mental Health Knowledge and Skills
• Support Your Anxious Child Library
• ADHD and Autism: How to Help Your Child Thrive

The MPY Parenting Solutions Library can be accessed using the button below. No log in or passcode is needed.

7th Graders in our new Project Lead the Way Design and Modeling class just wrapped up building and rating their Ankle Foot Orthosis designs. Students worked in small groups to design prototypes, chose the group's best design, and built it with limited supplies. Afterward, the classes rated the designs using the decision matrix, rating them based on the design requirements.

Thank you to Mrs. Orlando & Dr. Hall for submitting the picture.

Monday, September 30: Chicken Parmesan, Whole Grain Pasta, Broccoli; Bacon Cheeseburger

September 15, 2024

Reminders for the First Day: September 4, 2024

August 29, 2024

Welcome Back - July 2024

• Friday, October 4 - Term 1 Progress Report Posted (by 5:00 PM)
  
• Wednesday, October 9 - State of the School Assembly; Special Schedule (new date)
• Monday, October 14 - No School, Columbus Day
• Wednesday, October 16 - Early Release (11:00 AM), Staff Professional Development
• Wednesday, October 30 - Picture Day - Retakes
• Tuesday, November 5 - No School, Election Day; Staff Professional Development Day
• Wednesday, November 6 - State of the School Assembly; Special Schedule
• Thursday, November 7 - Term 1 Ends
• Friday, November 8 - Term 2 Begins
• Monday, November 11 - No School, Veteran's Day
• Friday, November 15 - Term 1 Grades Posted (by 5:00 PM)
• Wednesday, November 27 - Early Release (11:00 AM); Thanksgiving Recess
• Thursday - Friday, November 28-29 - No School, Thanksgiving Recess

Michelle J. Kreuzer, Principal

Jay Donovan, Grade 7 Assistant Principal

Shawn Connors, Grade 8 Assistant Principal

Website: https://www.kingphilip.org/MiddleSchool
Location: 18 King Street, Norfolk, MA, USA
Phone: 508-541-7324

KPMS Instagram: kingphilipms