KMS 6th Grade Parent Update
Feb. 20-24
KMS Valentines Pops Concert
Job well-done KMS 6th grade Orchestra!
Grizzly Tickets are handed out to students who are "caught" doing great things. Whether they are demonstrating kindness, respect, citizenship, or any number of awesome characteristics, being awarded a Grizzly Ticket will earn them one entry into our weekly drawing.
Weekly drawing winners get to spend the following week at the KING/QUEEN GRIZZLY lunch table. This table has the privilege of being called first to get their lunch trays and the first to be dismissed to their next class. Occasionally, King or Queen Grizzly will get to use the microphone to dismiss all the other tables, too! CONGRATULATIONS and enjoy your reign!!
*ALL Grizzly Tickets awarded since the start of the school year will be entered in a big prize drawing in May!
Grief Loss Group
Starting on Monday, February the 6th from 2:30p to 3:30p in Room 206 (WIN Cafe), Laura Griffin, Kodiak Island Borough School District School Social Worker & Family Resource Center Coordinator, will be having a grief/loss group for KMS students. This group is for students who have lost a parent, a guardian, grandparent, sibling, a friend or have an incarcerated parent. This grief/loss group will provide students with a space and time to grieve the loss. This will be an ongoing group that will meet every Monday. If you have any questions, please see the counseling department. Students will need a parent pick-up at 3:30 pm
CURRENT RECESS CLUB OPTIONS:
Basketball
Board Games
WIN (Whatever Is Needed)
Music (keyboarding and guitar)
Diversity Club
*EACH CLUB SESSION RUNS FOR 4 WEEKS*
Reminder: We need your Input
Family Survey
The Kodiak Island Borough School District is partnering with the Association of Alaska School Boards to conduct the School Climate and Connectedness Survey ©, a statewide survey taken by students, staff, and families. This survey measures their perceptions of each school’s climate including the engagement of students, staff, and families.
You are an important partner as we work to continually improve each school’s environment. Each parent/guardian is asked to complete one survey during February. If you have more than one child attending this school, you only need to fill out one survey. You may access the survey using the survey button below.
Results from this survey will be used to identify student, staff and family perceptions of school climate issues within our school(s). KMS staff use the results to inform their efforts to ensure schools are safe, supportive, and caring places for all students.
Thank you for your support of Kodiak Middle School.
This week I have been thinking about "Time and Place". The idea that there is an appropriate time and place for all behaviors and words. Simply put, "Time and Place" means that some behaviors are appropriate some times and some places, but not in others. For example, how we act and what we say in a funeral service or award ceremony is completely different than how we might act or speak at a basketball or football game.
They want desperately to contribute to conversations, fit in with their peers, and seem mature and grown up. Many of them learn by doing. They will think about a topic, and plan out this great response in their mind. Then, when they say or do something it comes out completely wrong and not like what it sounded like in their heads and the response they get from peers, and adults in their lives is often the opposite of what they expected. They are embarrassed and often say or do something even more ridiculous.
Recently, Mr. Burton, Principal of KMS, sent a letter to parents regarding the use of profanity and obscenities including racial slurs during the school day. Many of our behavior interventions this year can be traced back to students cursing or saying something mean to another student, most of the time to a friend. This occurs in person, but more often via Chat groups and social media. Much of their attempts at humor are influenced by content that is posted by adults. We know from a developmental perspective 6th graders are unable to grasp the subtle nuances of sarcasm and that type of humor.
So what can be done? I would like to propose a partnership. Here at Kodiak Middle School, our Administrative team, teachers and staff will work to teach and hold students accountable for knowing the appropriate "Time and Place" for their behaviors and words. We ask that you as parents would teach and reinforce with your students the significance of "Time and Place" for their behaviors and words in other places as well as school.
We look forward to finishing the year strong and setting our 6th grade class up to be successful next year as 7th graders. If you have any questions or ideas please let me know.
Thank you.
Mrs. Norton
How to Deal with Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying or cyberharassment is a form of bullying or harassment using electronic means. Cyberbullying and cyberharassment are also known as online bullying. It has become increasingly common, especially among teenagers, as the digital sphere has expanded and technology has advanced.
Check out the two buttons below.
The first one will connect you to Brain Pop's short (4-5 minute) video on Cyberbullying.
The second button will link you to more reading to help facilitate a discussion with your student. There you will find info like statistics, laws, and real-life experiences related to cyberbullying.
Last week in ELA we worked on chapters 5-9 quiz and got started with practicing answering questions thoroughly. We read chapters 10-11 and are having a quiz on Monday. Next week, we’ll be studying characterization and continuing working on answering questions with clear and thorough evidence. Students should have read through chapters 11 for Monday and moving through a number of chapters next week. We’re really getting to some good parts! I would encourage you to ask your student about the book and have them tell you all about the twists and turns that are coming at them!
This week we analyzed a variety of photos to observe cultural traits from around the world. Students discussed cultural diversity and richness at a local and global scale. We also read about cultural change and how it happens through innovation and diffusion, we will dive into that in more detail next week. Students practiced using text-based evidence to support their answer, a skill we are building on from last week. Students should have completed and turned in a Prediction Guide (pg.97-100) by Friday. I will have a sub in my class for 5 days. Grading and email communication will resume Thursday, February 23.
In math, we have continued working on positive and negative numbers. Students made a poster showing places in the world they would like to visit above and below sea level – they came out great! We are going to be starting work on ratios. For homework due next Friday (Feb 24), students should bring a small collection of 10-50 items (playing cards, legos, sea glass, etc.) that we will do an activity with. I will go over this with students in class so they understand what to do. I will be updating many grades this weekend also (before Monday.) Thanks for all your support! Please email me anytime. Aotto02@kibsd.orgMrs. Otto
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Please continue to listen and have conversations with your students. Often, following the Puberty lesson there is an increase in questions, and sometimes behaviors as students test out boundaries and sometime say things that may be surprising, incorrect or even inappropriate. If you have questions or concerns and need some help navigating this process please contact Mrs. Sheila for more information.
HOW TO VOLUNTEER WITH US
1. Email volunteer@kibsd.org that you are interested in becoming a volunteer and let them know which volunteer opportunity you’re interested in.
2. Check your email for a message from Sterling Volunteers (TheAdvocates@sterlingvolunteers.com) and follow the steps in the email. If you don’t receive the email within 3 business days, please contact volunteer@kibsd.org
3. You will receive an email once your background check is complete, with instructions to visit a school site, complete a volunteer agreement form and present your ID to the secretary.
4. Start volunteering!
5. Any questions? Contact KMS Secretary Amanda Transano (Amanda.Transano@kibsd.org)
Contact Information
Email: hnorton01@kibsd.org
Website: www.kibsd.org/kms
Location: 722 Mill Bay Road, Kodiak, AK, USA
Phone: (907) 486-7459