Welcome back to the 2022-2023 school year! A big thanks to our teachers, administration, staff, students, and parents for working diligently to make sure we are ready to hit the ground running this fall. From school supplies to registration to Meet the Teacher, we recognize that the demands of starting a new year can be a challenge. KISD appreciates the efforts of our parents and students in preparing for the new school year and setting each child up for success. To support you, we've included a variety of helpful information for KISD students and families in this month's issue of the Wildcat Wire.

May this year bring each of you new opportunities to find joy as we continue to work together to make KISD a great place to learn, work, and grow!

The KISD Curriculum and Student Services Team

Curriculum and Student Services (CSS) values collaborative partnerships with our most important partner in education – parents. This year, CSS will be offering a variety of opportunities to engage with parents and families, building mutual trust and a strong, shared responsibility for our students’ learning. Continue to visit the Important Dates and Reminders section of this Wildcat Wire newsletter throughout the year for events, and please join us when you can!

KISD teachers were active learners during the first two weeks of August! They participated in a variety of training sessions related to academic content and instructional resources-- and many of them spent hours getting their classrooms ready to welcome students in anticipation of the return of students. We are thankful for the efforts of our amazing KISD staff!

The KISD campuses were filled with the sound of joy and engagement as students returned to school and were greeted by teachers and staff! We are proud of our student Wildcats and happy to see them as they start their new year of academic and social growth and reunite with friends.

Looking for resources to help your child with homework or information about ESL or Bilingual programs? Visit the Parents and Families page of the Supporting English Learners website. You may view flyers, videos, and newsletters on the site, and translation is available.

On July 16th, the National Suicide Prevention Line changed! The once 11-digit number is now shortened to three digits 9-8-8. When people call or text #988 they will be connected to trained counselors with the lifeline network.

In 2020, Congress designated the new 988 dialing code to operate through the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s (1-800-273-8255) network of over 200 locally operated and funded crisis centers across the country. The vision for 988 is to have additional crisis services available in communities across the nation, much the way emergency medical services work. This transition to the 988-dialing code offers an unprecedented opportunity to strengthen and expand the existing Lifeline.

As 988 rolls out across the country it is vital that the unique needs of children, youth and young adults are considered to ensure that crisis response services are not traumatizing for children, services are age and developmentally appropriate, and services stabilize the situation to keep children in their homes and with their families.

As students move into high school there are multiple opportunities to take tests that determine college readiness. Below are the offerings that Kennedale High School has for students.

SAT - The SAT is an entrance exam used by most colleges and universities to make admissions decisions. The purpose of the SAT is to measure a high school student's readiness for college, and provide colleges with one common data point that can be used to compare all applicants. College admissions officers will review standardized test scores alongside your high school GPA, the classes you took in high school, letters of recommendation from teachers or mentors, extracurricular activities, admissions interviews, and personal essays. Kennedale HS offers a free opportunity for students to test on campus, either in the spring of the 11th grade year or the fall of their 12th grade year. The test is offered year round on select Saturdays through www.collegeboard.com.

ACT - The ACT is an entrance exam used by most colleges and universities to make admissions decisions. The purpose of the ACT test is to measure a high school student's readiness for college, and provide colleges with one common data point that can be used to compare all applicants. College admissions officers will review standardized test scores alongside your high school GPA, the classes you took in high school, letters of recommendation from teachers or mentors, extracurricular activities, admissions interviews, and personal essays. How important ACT scores are in the college application process varies from school to school. Kennedale HS offers an opportunity for students to take the ACT on campus during a school day, once in the spring for a fee. The test is offered year round on select Saturdays through www.act.org.

PSAT - The PSAT does not identify whether a student is college ready, but it does give students practice in taking a test similar to the SAT. Students can take the PSAT in the 9th and 10th grades for a small fee. All 11th grade students are given the PSAT/NMSQT, which gives valuable information and experience for students to prepare for the SAT. Depending on results, students are eligible for scholarships and awards. Students register through the CCMR department at the high school.

Kennedale ISD no discrimina por motivos de raza, color, origen nacional, sexo, discapacidad o edad en sus programas o actividades y brinda igualdad de acceso a los Boy Scouts y otros grupos juveniles designados. La siguiente persona ha sido designada para manejar consultas sobre las políticas de no discriminación: Stephanie Devlin, Director of Counseling Services, 120 W Kennedale Pkwy, Kennedale, Tx 76060, 817-563-8000, devlins@kisdtx.net.

Partner Resources Network and Region XI will be hosting the annual S.W.A.P. Symposium. This is a one-day symposium supporting parents.

Topics of discussion: Special Education, Parent Involvement, Conflict Resolution, FBAs/BIPs, Mental Health and Anxiety, Guardianship/Trusts, and Dyslexia

Location: ESC Region 11 — 1451 S. Cherry Lane, White Settlement, TX 76108

Date/Time: September 17, 2022, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Registration link: https://forms.gle/A1wAqzdP74vuF4M8A