KMS Family Newsletter
December 2023
MISSION: IGNITING A PASSION FOR LEARNING
Message from the Principal
As we approach the holiday season, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude for the unwavering support you have shown the KMS community. Your involvement and dedication to your child's education make our school a special place.
In the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas, it's crucial to maintain a sense of focus and adhere to established routines. With various festivities and distractions, it's easy to lose track of our daily rhythms. By staying focused and maintaining a routine, we can ensure that our students continue to thrive academically during this joyful season.
Additionally, we hope this message finds your family in good health. As we navigate the ongoing challenges, it is essential to prioritize the well-being of our community. Please take the necessary precautions to keep your family healthy, and if anyone in your household is unwell, we kindly remind you to keep your child home from school.
Your cooperation in this matter contributes significantly to the overall well-being of our school community. Let's work together to create a safe and nurturing environment for everyone.
Wishing you a joyful and healthy holiday season!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Skelton
Giving Tree, Urgent Need
We're excited to share that we've expanded our Giving Tree to include more families in need. There are numerous needs to fulfill, and if you're able to contribute, we would greatly appreciate your support. Giving Tree ornaments will be available for pick up starting Monday, December 4. Your generosity will make a significant difference in brightening the holiday season for those in our extended school community. Thank you for considering lending a helping hand!
Upcoming Dates
DECEMBER
12/4/2023- KMS Holiday Choir Concert - 6th grade 6:30 pm; 7th-8th grade 7:15 pm
12/11/2023- KMS Holiday Band Concert - 6th grade 6:30 pm; 7th-8th grade 7:15 pm
12/25-1/1/2024- No School - Christmas Break
JANUARY
1/2/2024- Classes Resume
01/15/2023- Incoming Freshman Night
1/18/2024- Parent/Teacher Conferences 3:00 - 7:00 pm
1/19/2024- No School - Professional Development Day
Communication Spotlight
i-Ready Home Access
Students have been engaging in their i-Ready lessons at school that help them receive extra practice in the areas of reading and math based on their strengths and areas that need improvement. This program can also be accessed from home and if you and/or your child are interested in how to engage in this program at home, please click on this link for directions.
Get Involved at KMS!
We appreciate that being a parent of a middle schooler can be incredibly busy. Between driving them to activities and constantly running errands, it can be challenging to find time to get involved in their school. However, KMS understands your situation and wants to provide opportunities for you to be involved in your child's education, no matter how busy you are.
To make it easier for you to participate, we have created a spreadsheet that offers various ways for you to get involved at KMS. This spreadsheet will replace our previous KMS Parent Group, and we will only meet as subcommittees when necessary. By using this spreadsheet, you can choose the involvement options that suit your schedule and interests.
Opportunities to get involved:
We will be hosting a field trip on December 22 for all of our students. Chaperones are welcome! Please be sure to fill out the background check form soon if you plan to attend! More information will be coming soon!
Employment Opportunity
KHS is currently seeking someone to fill its Attendance Secretary position. The position is school year only, with hours of 7:00 am - 3:30 pm. Please refer anyone interested to job listing 184658 on the WECAN website, or contact Mark Bingham at mbingham@kewaskumschools.org.
Club- Activity-Sport Updates
Sports:
Girl's Volleyball (season starts in February)
Wrestling (season starts in February)
KMS Athletic Worker Sign-up-- We invite adult family members to work our athletic events during the year. If you can help us out please sign up on the spreadsheet. This spreadsheet can also be found on the KMS Family Information Hub under Sports.
Reminder
*Students should be wearing their Student IDs during the day. If they have lost their ID and cannot find it after 3 days, a new one should be purchased in the KMS office for $5.
*Students are expected to have earbuds, please ask your child if they know where theirs are located.
*Student dress code expectations: Students shirts should touch the top of their waistband at all times, they should not have to tug their shirt down or pull their pants up to make it touch. If students do not have appropriate attire on they will be asked to changed.
*Lately, we've noticed an uptick in parent emails ending up in our spam folders. While we do our best to diligently check these folders, occasionally, a message may slip through. Your communication is crucial to us, and to ensure we address your inquiries promptly, we kindly ask that if you reach out to a teacher or myself and don't receive a response within two working days, please consider following up with a phone call. We appreciate your understanding and proactive approach, as it helps us maintain effective communication channels and ensures we can assist you promptly.
*The KMS Builders Club is holding a winter clothes, jackets, hats, gloves and mittens drive in the month of December. We will be collecting new or slightly used items from December 4th through December 15th to give to various community organizations for people in need. Please send items with your child or them off in the office during this time.
*The New York trip planning and fundraising is well underway. However, there is still room for more students and/or adult family members to attend. If you are interested, please call 1-800-468-5899 or go to worldstrides.com/register and enter our trip ID #212660. Any questions please email Mrs. Dreher at kdreher@kewaskumschools.org.
Survey Results
We extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who participated in our recent survey. Your insights are invaluable to us, and we are thrilled to share some key findings that shed light on how we can continue to enhance our communication and engagement.
Newsletter Engagement: 42% of parents reported reading the newsletter regularly, and an overwhelming 94% affirmed that it provides them with necessary information.
Remind Group: A commendable 70% of respondents are part of our Remind group, with 60% finding it to be a helpful communication channel.
Family Information Hub Usage: A majority, 55%, reported using the Family Information Hub frequently or sometimes, while 25% specifically utilize the classroom newsletter section.
Walk the Schedule Night: We were pleased to see a strong attendance of 41% at Walk the Schedule Night, with 68% finding the event useful in gaining valuable insights into their child's academic journey.
Parent-Teacher Conference Night: Thirty percent attended Parent-Teacher Conference Night, and interestingly, 27% expressed a preference for the team approach.
Based on this feedback, we will be making the following changes:
1. Removal of Classroom Newsletter: We have decided to remove the classroom newsletter portion of the Family Information Hub to streamline information and improve accessibility.
2. Open Scheduling for P/T Conferences: Moving forward, we will implement an open scheduling system for Parent-Teacher Conferences to provide greater flexibility for every teacher.
3. Continuation of Walk the Schedule Night: Due to the positive response, we are pleased to announce that Walk the Schedule Night will continue as part of our efforts to foster a strong school-home partnership.
Your active participation and candid feedback underscore the strength of our collaborative community. We want to assure you that your suggestions are heard, and we are committed to finding ways to incorporate them into our practices. As we move forward, we will continue to refine and tailor our communication strategies to better meet your needs.
Once again, thank you for your time and input. Together, we are creating an environment where every voice matters.
SPEAK UP SPEAK OUT
Created by the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of School Safety (OSS), the SPEAK UP, SPEAK OUT Resource Center is a comprehensive, one-stop place to turn with important concerns, offering a Threat Reporting System, Threat Assessment Consultation, Critical Incident Response and General School Safety Guidance.
Students, parents, school staff, or any community member can submit a school safety concern or threat. Resource Center staff work 24/7 to respond to tips and to deploy a response locally by communicating directly with school administrators, counselors, and law enforcement.
Visit their website at https://speakup.widoj.gov/ for more information.
Always call 911 in the case of emergencies.
KMS Spirit Wear! (Store is Open Year Round!)
Greetings KMS Families,
KMS has our very own Spirit Wear Store!
Holiday Sale Info
The 2023 Holiday Sale is just around the corner! We will have new designs and product lines that will make great gifts for the entire family. We will provide you with custom ads and a printable flyer to distribute in the coming weeks. All Holiday Sale orders are guaranteed to arrive by December 23rd!
- Sale Dates: November 6th - December 8th
From the Desk of Mr. Langenkamp, School Counselor
KMS is excited to welcome Mr. Langenkamp, our new school counselor. He will be joining us part time until January, when he will serve the students at KMS full time.
Mr. Langenkamp is a graduate of Manitowoc Lincoln High School, UW-Whitewater, and UW-Milwaukee. Over the last 19+ years, he has served as a School Counselor. Mr. Langenkamp started in education as a middle/high school Business & Computer teacher. During that time, he also coached high school Track & Field and middle school Cross Country for 4 years. Most recently, he just finished his first season coaching 6th grade Volleyball!
Professionally, Mr. Langenkamp enjoys working with students, celebrating their successes, and helping them come up with plans to tackle new challenges. He looks forward to connecting with all students, setting goals, and seeing their growth each year as they develop their strengths and talents.
Personally, Mr. Langenkamp loves spending time with his family: wife, two daughters (in 6th grade and 1st grade), and a 4 year old yellow lab named Mya. His interests include hiking, traveling, going to concerts, and following all Wisconsin college and pro teams (along with cheering on his kids at their dance and volleyball competitions)!
KMS Spotlight
Congratulations to Claire P. (flute), Owen A. (clarinet), Zoey J. (alto sax), Lillian W. (tenor sax), Ruby M. (percussion), Emma J. (trumpet), Henry L. (trumpet), John R. (trombone), Wyatt L. (tuba), and Nate H. (tuba).
Contact Information
Email: jskelton@kewaskumschools.org
Website: www.kewaskumschools.org
Location: 1676 Reigle Drive, Kewaskum, WI, USA
Phone: 262.626.3104