Principal's Message
September 2021
Kingsway Regional Middle School
Ed Dubbs, Assistant Principal, 7th Grade
Charae Whetstone, Assistant Principal, 8th Grade
Website: krsd.org
Location: 203 Kings Highway, Woolwich Township, NJ, United States
Phone: 856-467-3300
A Message from the Principal's Desk:
Greetings members of the Kingsway community!
We hope you enjoyed your summer with your family and friends. I certainly had a blast with my wife and kids traveling throughout the Southwest earlier this summer; many memories were created on our journey! This is the first of ten editions of the Principal's Message. This monthly message will be sent out at the beginning of each month, and it will be posted to the Kingsway Regional Middle School website as well. In the Principal's Message, you will receive pertinent upcoming information that will keep you well-informed. Additionally, we will use targeted eblasts often when communicating time sensitive or critical information. Finally, we will utilize our Kingsway Facebook page to celebrate our students and all of their accomplishments and successes. We look forward to working with you and your child this year, and we look forward to meeting you at Back to School Night on Wednesday, September 22nd at 6:30 PM.
Enjoy the last days of summer,
Brian Tonelli
Principal
Once a Dragon, Always a Dragon!
Communication
Monthly Message / School Messenger: Please make sure that your information in School Messenger is up-to-date. Log into your PowerSchool account to access School Messenger. The email addresses and telephone numbers stored in this system will provide us with the contact information that we use to send emails and text messages.
District Website: This is a great source for information. On the district website, you can find helpful links to our middle school website. Additionally, a description of our clubs and activities can be found there as well as our daily announcements.
Parent Conferences: Please contact the guidance office to set-up parent conferences. Conferences occur with your child’s entire team and can be scheduled on Mondays, Tuesdays, or Thursdays throughout the entire school year.
Masks: Masks are required to be worn by all staff and students. This includes during the bus ride to and from school. Masks are not required during PE or while outside.
Parent Communication Protocol: In order for your concerns and questions to be handled in an effective and efficient manner, we encourage parents to first contact the classroom teacher and/or guidance counselor prior to contacting administration in regards to student concerns. Please view our communication protocol which is outlined in the online student handbook on page 4.
MAP Assessments: In an effort to understand the impact of COVID on individual student learning and to provide students, parents, & teachers with important academic feedback, Kingsway Regional School District will be implementing MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) testing beginning during the 2021-2022 school year. Our new 1:1 initiative eases the opportunity for Kingsway to administer MAP assessments in math and ELA as a universal screener for all students with immediate results for educators to use to support learning. MAP is a norm-referenced assessment that measures achievement and growth. It provides teachers with accurate, and actionable evidence to help target instruction for each student or groups of students regardless of how far above or below they are from their grade level. This assessment is not included in a student's course grade, as it is an informative measure implemented to allow teachers to hone in on each student's readiness level. Score reports will be shared with students and families; questions about scores can be directed to your student's guidance counselor.
Fall MAP Administration Dates are as follows:
· Middle School: Sept 8-9
On these dates, all students are required to bring their school-issued chromebook and ensure it is fully charged for MAP testing, which will take place in each student's Math and English classes. More information about MAP Assessments can be accessed on our district website, by clicking here.
Start Strong Assessments: The New Jersey Department of Education is requiring a Fall 2021 administration of the Start Strong assessment. These assessments are intentionally brief, designed to maximize instructional time and quickly provide critical data to teachers and school leaders. Additionally, Start Strong assessments provide schools and districts the flexibility to address students’ unique needs at the beginning of the school year. Families will receive an Individual Student Report (ISR) for each content in which their student is tested during the Fall 2021 Start Strong Assessment. Kingsway Regional School District will administer the Start Strong Assessments on the following date:
· Middle School (Math & ELA): October 4
On these dates, all students are required to bring their school-issued chromebook and ensure it is fully charged for Start Strong testing; more information regarding bell schedules and student testing locations is forthcoming. Additional resources and parent guides related to Fall 2021 Start Strong can be accessed on our district website, by clicking here.
Career Day: We are looking for parent volunteers for Career Day on November 24, 2021. If you are interested, please contact Mrs. Walsh in the guidance office at ext: 3043, fill out the flyer in the main office, or sign up on the guidance page of the website: https://www.krsd.org/Page/1599
1:1 Chrombooks: All incoming 7th grade students will be issued a Chromebook. If the 1:1 Technology Use Agreement Form was completed during the on-line registration process, your child's Chromebook will distributed on day one in homeroom. Hard copy forms will be given to students who did not complete this task through the on-line registration process. Once the form has been completed and turned into your child's homeroom, if you are interested in obtaining a 3rd party insurance for the device, please visit this site for more information. https://www.krsd.org/Page/908
1:1 Chromebooks While in school, students are required to utilize their school issued Chromebooks. Students are not to bring or use their own personal devices at school.
Day 1: Upon arriving into the building on day one and every day after, students will report directly to their assigned homeroom. Many staff members will be located throughout the building to assist them.
Schoology: Kingsway Regional School District uses Schoology (pronounced "Skoo-luh-jee") as its Learning Management System (LMS) to support teaching and learning and to streamline student, parent, and faculty interactions in an all-in-one digital environment. Schoology serves as a convenient one-stop shop for students to access courses, assignments, teachers, grades, school counselor support, and more. Through Schoology, parents can view their student's activity, check grades, and communicate with teachers. We invite you to sign in and access your parent account to stay involved as partners in your child’s education.
Parent Access to Schoology: Parent accounts from last year remain active with the same username and password. Parents of 7th graders and students new to the district should have received a School Messenger email the week of August 9 with an access code and directions to create a Schoology account. If you do not have a PowerSchool Parent Portal account yet, please contact Mrs. April Burger, our central registrar at registrar@krsd.org or at (856) 467-3300 ext. 4283.
Student Access to Schoology: Students access our Kingsway Schoology site at https://kingsway.schoology.com/ and sign in using their Kingsway Google Apps credentials. Google Apps credentials will be mailed to new students in a late August mailing from each school’s principal; additionally, login information will be available to students during the KRHS transition camp, KRMS building tours (Schoology Open House session), and on the first day of school.
Schoology Support, Guides & Tutorials
· Parents: Schoology Guide & Parent Tutorial
· Students: Schoology Support & “Getting to Know Schoology”Student Tutorial
Technical Support: For technical support, assistance with a Kingsway issued device or Schoology, please visit www.krsd.org/technology to submit a helpdesk ticket.
Renaissance Program / After School Activities
Renaissance Program Supporters: During the 2021-2022 school year, Kingsway Regional Middle School’s Renaissance Program celebrated students’ academic success, attendance, positive behavior, and involvement in both school and our community. Program sponsors make the program and recognition rewards possible. Our local business partners provide incentives in the form of discounts and coupons for our students while others donate funding to support field trips and marking period celebrations. We are truly grateful for the support of our 2021-2022 sponsors: Botto’s Italian Line Restaurant, Philly Pretzel Factory, Dragon Run, Pride Custom Concrete LLC, Creamy Acres, Swedesboro Diner, Sweetsboro Pastry Shoppe, Ciconte's The Village Pub, Petals & Paints, WaWa, and Towne Place Suites by Marriott
For information about our Renaissance Program, please visit our website at www.krsd.org/Renaissance.
Parent Volunteers: We will be looking for parent volunteers to be a part of our Renaissance Celebrations, our dances, and our PAC (Parent, Achievement, and Community) committee. More detailed information is forthcoming. We hope you are able to participate!
After School Clubs/Wellness Activities: Our fall after school activities will begin on Tuesday, September 21st. All clubs and activities are offered on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays throughout the school year. There is a late bus on these days to provide transportation home, or parents may pick children up at 4:10 pm. We are proud to host over 30 different clubs and activities, and this year are newly added clubs/activities that are sure to be popular amongst the students. On a typical day, four to six clubs or activities run after school. Clubs take place throughout the year; whereas, wellness activities (intramural sports) run for three to four weeks at a time.
How to Sign Up For Clubs/Wellness Activities:
- Beginning in early September, students should view what clubs/wellness activities are available on our website under Clubs/Activities.
- Students will use the Schoology code to “join” any of the activities in which they are interested. There is no limit as to how many clubs/wellness activities they can “join”.
- Advisors will post dates for the club or activity meetings communicating those dates via Schoology and our morning announcements.
- On the day the club/wellness activity is scheduled to meet, between 7:35 AM and 7:55 AM, the club/wellness activity advisors will send out a sign-up list to all of the students who have "joined" their respective “group”.
- Students will RSVP and request to be put on an attendance list for that date via Schoology.
- Advisors will take up to 30 students per date of activity. This is on a first come first basis.
PLEASE NOTE:
*Students are not locked into an activity for the entire year and can participate in other groups as long as they sign up through Schoology on the given day..
*Students should contact home if they are staying after school.
*Please feel free to visit the middle school website under clubs/activities for a full list. Please note, according to District Policy 5536, in order to attend KRMS after school clubs and wellness activities, parents must provide consent to participate in our random testing for alcohol and other drug use program.
Sports: All Fall sports will begin tryouts on Monday, September 13th. Students must have the proper registration and physical forms completed to try out. Final rosters will be set by the end of that week. Practices will take place Monday through Friday 2:45pm-4:00pm. Once it is determined your child has made the team, you will receive a letter requesting payment for the athletic participation fee of $95. Please be prepared to pick up your child at 4:10 or he/she will be placed on the late bus. Game schedules will be posted on the school activities calendar or by using www.tricountyconferencenj.org in mid-August.
Random Testing for Alcohol and Drug Use: According to adopted District Policy 5536 regarding random drug testing, in order to attend KRMS after school clubs, sports, or wellness activities, parents must provide consent to participate in our random testing for alcohol and other drug use program. This can/shall be done as part of the on-line registration.
Transportation
Student Drop Off Time: The doors to the middle school open each morning at 7:40 a.m. Please use the access road in front of the school when dropping off. The drop-off zone is indicated by two orange cones. When stopped between the orange cones, no matter how far you are from the front doors, please let your child out of the car so we do not cause a traffic back-up on our campus. If everyone abides by the guidelines, the drop off line will move quickly in a safe and orderly manner.
Dismissal/Student Pick-Up: If you plan to pick up your child at the 2:38 p.m. dismissal time, please use the parking lot in front of the middle school. Traffic is not permitted to use the main access road while buses are loading (2:38 p.m. to 2:41 p.m.). Please pull as far forward in the parking lot as possible. This will ensure the buses have plenty of room to line up for afternoon dismissal.
4:15 p.m. Activity Bus: The activity bus runs Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Please keep in mind that this bus may not drop your child off at the normal bus stop. Additionally, we will have a 5:30 p.m. bus on Thursdays for our Extended School Day program.
Rides Home at 4:10 p.m.: If you are giving your child a ride home from an after school activity, please plan to be here prior to 4:15 p.m. Students who do not have a ride when the activity bus is departing will be instructed to get on the late bus. This rule is strictly enforced for the safety of your child.
Bus Assignment: Students often times want to ride the bus home with their friends. This is prohibited due to space on our buses. Only in extreme emergencies will permission be granted. Social conveniences will not be acknowledged as such. If an emergency arises, please have both students provide a note signed by each of the parents, and the request will be reviewed by an administrator.
Miscellaneous
Picture Day: Picture day will be held on Wednesday, September 8. All picture packages can be purchased using the following link: https://lorsstudio.onlinephotocart.com/prepay/28864896?code=22-26KM
School Store: The KRMS School Store is prominently displayed in our front lobby. Students are able to view all of the merchandise daily. Additionally, check out our WEBSITE here for the latest apparel options. Students can order merchandise by obtaining an order form in from their homeroom teacher, filling out the form, providing cash or check, and giving the order to their homeroom teacher.
Dropping off Items: If your child forgets an essential item needed for school, please use the drop off cart located right outside of the front door and ring the doorbell upon approaching the building.
Water Bottles: Water bottles are permitted at KRMS. Water bottle filling stations have been installed at four various points throughout the building. Glass bottles are not permitted.
Backpacks/Bookbags: Backpacks and bookbags should be stowed away in the students' lockers throughout the day. Students are not permitted to use them during the day.
Cell Phones: Students are not permitted to carry their cell phones on their person during the school day. Cell phones should be turned off and locked in your child's locker. Please help us enforce this rule. Students may utilize their device in class as a learning device with teacher approval.
Dress Code: The detailed middle school dress code is located in the online handbook on page 15 . Please review this with your child after the first day of school. Your child will be asked to change if the outfit does not adhere to the dress code, and he or she will be subject to the discipline code. Please help us enforce this rule.
Online Payment System: MySchoolBucks, an online payment system, is available to view cafeteria purchases and schedule automatic payments to your child’s meal account. There is a link to this system on the Kingsway website under the "Parent" tab on the right hand side of web page. More food service information is also available on the District’s food service page under "Departments".
Dance: Our 7th Grade Back to School Dance will be held on Friday, October 8 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets will be sold in advance for five dollars. All proceeds will be utilized to offset the cost of the 7th grade end of year event.
Dragon Run: Please encourage your child to sign up now for the Annual Dragon Run on Saturday, September 25th! This annual race is held in memory of Nathaniel Boerlin, one of our beloved Kingsway Dragons. Sign up for the event by visiting www.naterocksheaven.org. We hope to see you there; this is a fantastic event for the entire community.
Universal Screener: A universal screener (The Behavioral and Emotional Screening System or BESS) will be utilized in the fall and spring to proactively capture the social, emotional and behavioral needs of our students. The 5-10 minute web-based questionnaire will be completed in students’ Physical Education classes in September. The results will tell us where we are as a district and help to inform the development of appropriately tailored interventions and supports.
Upcoming Events
9/2 First Day of School
9/6 School Closed - Labor Day
9/8 Picture Day
9/22 Back to School Night @ 6:30 p.m.
9/25 Dragon Run (Register on-line)
9/27 In-Service - No School for Students
10/8 7th Grade Dance 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Thank you to the following 2021-2022 Renaissance sponsors.
Premier Sponsor
Botto's Italian Line Restaurant
Philly Pretzel Factory
Swedesboro Diner
Major Sponsor
Pride Custom Concrete LLC
Sweetsboro Pastry Shoppe
Contributing Sponsor
Ciconte's The Village Pub
Towne Place Suites by Marriott
Dragon Fund Run
Petals & Paints
WaWa
Creamy Acres