KP Connection
February 16, 2018
Need to Know Dates
Monday & Tuesday - 2/19 & 20 - Winter Recess - no school
Monday - 3/5 - Emotions Matter Workshop for Parents/Caregivers - 6:30-8:30pm
Wednesday, 2/21 - 7th Grade Dinner at Ginza
Thursday, 2/22 - 6th Grade Chinese New Year Event - 3:00PM
School News
Spring Conference Dismissal Times
Wednesday, 2/28 - 1:30PM
Wednesday, 3/7 - 1:30PM
Thursday, 3/8 - 12:45PM
If you have not received the letter about conferences, please reach out to your child's team leader.
Mark Your Calendars -- March 5th --6:30-8:30pm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-Imagine yourself when you were in middle school.
-What were you like socially? Emotionally? What were your interests? Challenges?
What was school like for you emotionally?
“Emotions Matter” for Middle Schoolers – they impact:
- Attention, memory, learning
- Decision-making
- Relationship Quality
- Physical and Mental Health
Come to this workshop to explore Four Developmental Tasks of Adolescence
- and what it’s like to be a middle schooler, “from the inside out.”
Congratulations . . .
Congratulations to Zhengie Guo for winning the Outstanding Contributor Award for demonstrating dedication and support to the Why Learn Chinese Competition by encouraging the most number of competition participants. This competition would not be possible without her help! Over one-fourth of our entries came from her or the West Hartford School District. They were impressed with the work of students.
We Are Still Collecting!
Cereal Drive!
Hi. I am Sam Sorkin. I am organizing a cereal drive from February 1st to February 23rd for the Anja Rosenberg Kosher Food Pantry. Cereal is important because many kids do not have a chance to eat breakfast, especially on weekends and school vacations. Medium-sized boxes are best. Favorites include:
● Plain Cheerios
● Apple Cinnamon Toast Crunch
● Life Cereal
● Raisin Bran
● Oatmeal
● Rice Krispies
● Kix
Thanks for helping out!
Please drop off the cereals in the drop-off box near the office.
Student Opportunities
Where: KP 6th Grade Gym
Food Sampling (dumplings, spring rolls, Chinese snacks)! Chinese fan dance, dragon dance, Pingpang and more. Click for the permission slip.
Parent Information
Special Notice to current 6th and 7th Grade Parents
Bristow Middle School Enrollment
Bristow Middle School expects to have a limited number of openings for students entering grades 7 and 8 in the 2018-2019 school year. Bristow Middle School is a school of choice, drawing its diverse population from all neighborhoods in West Hartford. In the 2018-2019 school year Bristow will have an enrollment of approximately 420 students.
Students who attend King Philip or Sedgwick Middle Schools, or non-public schools who would like to be part of our enrollment for 7th and 8th grade must apply for inclusion in the process by March 21, 2018. In order to help parents make an informed choice two informational meetings will be held at Bristow Middle School on Monday, March 5, 2018 and Thursday, March 8, 2018 at 6:30 pm. Parents can choose to attend either of these meetings. Students are invited to attend these meetings with their parents.
The application form as well as more details about the process for all grades is on our website at http://bristow.whps.org/
If you would like more information about Bristow and its programs please email or call the principal, Steven Cook, at Steven_Cook@whps.org, or 231-2100.
www.WHSEPTO.org Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/West-Hartford-SEPTO - Follow us on Instagram at @whsepto
February & March 2018 Events
Wednesday, February 28
Assistive Technology, Screen time & Your Child
7pm
During this presentation, Nicole Feeney, Director of AT Services at NEAT, will discuss some of the most common topics in Special Education and Assistive Technology. Join us for a relaxed conversation, where questions are welcomed. Some of the talking points will include:
· Discuss the concerns and benefits surrounding screen time, especially for children and student with special needs;
· Digital citizenship and student privacy resources;
LOCATION: King Philip Middle School, Media Center
Wednesday, March 21 @ 7pm
To Medicate or Not?
Discussion and conversation with Dr. Lisa Namerow, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist from the Institute of Living.
LOCATION: King Philip Middle School, Media Center
Ongoing
Membership Drive & Book Club
Your 2017-2018 membership dues of $15 earn you a great deal this year: a paperback copy of Ross Greene's Raising Human Beings. The book will be discussed at our April meeting, as West Hartford Schools personnel share their training in Greene's Collaborative and Proactive Solutions model. Please visit www.whsepto.org/membership.html to join or to renew your membership.
SAVE THE DATE!
Wednesday, March 21 @ 7pm
To Medicate or Not?
With Dr. Lisa Namerow, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist from the Institute of Living
Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/West-Hartford-SEPTO - Follow us on Instagram at @whsepto
Community Events
CT Autism Speaks Walk
Greater Hartford Walk/Rentschler Field, East Hartford
Sunday, June 3rd
March 25, 2018
10:30 am
Blue Back Square West Hartford
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in “Style”!
Run, Walk, Push Strollers or just Be Festive!
Bagpipers send you off and welcome you home!
Prizes for Best Irish Garb!
Face Painting/Irish Music/Irish Dancing and much more!
Silent Auction and After-Party at Rizzuto’s Restaurant and Bar!
Proceeds Benefit 3 Children’s Organizations
Covenant Preparatory School of Hartford
Molly Ann Tango Memorial Foundation
The Miracle League of Connecticut
Registration, Donation & Corporate Sponsorship
www.facebook.com/johnnysjogforcharity
Johnny's Jog for Charity is inspired by the short but powerful life of Johnny Moran. Johnny was born with Wieacker Wolff Syndrome, a rare debilitating condition that affects the central and peripheral nervous systems. Johnny's spirit of strength and love rose far above his many limitations. His warm smile and positive attitude toward life affected all who came to know him. The goal of Johnny's Jog for Charity 5K is to continue to share Johnny's spirit by bringing the community together with a grand St. Patrick's Day themed 5K event benefiting 3 local non-profit children's charities.
Rethinking School Start Time Committee
Last year, the West Hartford Board of Education directed West Hartford Public Schools to establish a research committee to investigate the challenges and benefits of adjusting school start times. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Medical Association (AMA), the Center for Disease Control (CDC), and other health organizations support later school start times because of the positive role adequate sleep has on adolescent mental and physical health. The Board’s decision to research this issue is in response to these recommendations.
In the fall of 2017, the Rethinking School Start Time (RSST) Committee, a group of volunteer parents, students, teachers and administrators, began a one-year study of the issue. The committee is examining the impact a change will have on the educational program and is providing the West Hartford Board of Education updates on its work throughout this school year.
One important aspect of the committee’s work is to gather information from stakeholders regarding possible changes to the current school start and end times. To that end, the committee will issue a survey for parents, teachers, and secondary school students at the end of February. Remaining open through the end of March 2018, the survey will provide an opportunity to collect important information that will be presented to the Board of Education at the May 2018 meeting.
The survey is one way for stakeholders to communicate their questions, comments and concerns. If you prefer to use email, please direct any comments to RSST@whps.org Please be aware that every Board of Education meeting includes the opportunity for public comments. You are always welcome to attend and address the Board of Education members in person.
"Public Act 16-189
We believe that it is vital for all students in West Hartford Public Schools to be able to efficiently and effectively use digital tools that empower them in all phases of the learning process, including research, problem solving, content creation, communication, and collaboration. We also believe that we must be committed at all times to protecting students' privacy and providing them with a powerful and safe educational experience. To that end, the West Hartford Public Schools follow the legal requirements of Public Act 16-189 to promote the safety and security of all students and staff.
In compliance with Connecticut State Law, we update online programs used within the district that house student data. The programs may be used district-wide, in a very small number of classrooms, or with individual students. The list will be updated each time the district enters into a new contract where student data is housed. For more information on the specifics of Public Act 16-189 and updates of vendor agreements, visit www.whps.org/pa189."