Middle School Principal's Message
September 2022
Kingsway Regional Middle School
Ed Dubbs, Assistant Principal, 7th Grade
Rob Miles, 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 relaxing on the beaches of North Carolina and taking a fun-filled road trip to New York with my wife and kids. At the beginning of each month, both the middle school and high school will be sending out a message from the principal. In the Principal's Message, you will receive pertinent upcoming information that will keep you well-informed. We look forward to working with you and your child this year at Kingsway Regional Middle School, and we hope to see you at Back To School Night on Thursday, September 29, 2022 at 6:30 p.m.
Sincerely,
Brian Tonelli
Principal
Communication
Monthly Message / School Messenger: Each month you will receive a link to the monthly “Principal's Message” via email through our School Messenger system. 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.
Voicemail/Teacher Websites/Email: All voicemail and email contact information is available on our website---www.krsd.org.
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.
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 prior to contacting administration and guidance in regard to student concerns. Please view our communication protocol which is outlined in the online student handbook on page 8.
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, and 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.
Career Day: We are looking for parent volunteers for Career Day on November 23, 2022. If you are interested, please contact Mrs. Earley 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: www.krsd.org/CareerDay
AM/PM Binders: All students will be required to purchase two binders this year--one A.M. binder and one P.M. binder. The A.M. binder will be used for your child's first four classes of the day, and the P.M. binder will be used for your child's second four classes of the day. Binders can be 2 or 3 inches in size.
Physicals: All incoming 7th-grade students must have a completed, up-to-date (less than 365 days old) physical on file as new students to the district. If no physical is on file, students will not be able to attend the following: field trips, clubs, wellness activities, dances, extracurricular activities/events.
KRMS Student Handbook: Please be sure to read through the KRMS Student Handbook with your child prior to the first day of school.
1:1 Chromebooks: 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.
Sports: All Fall sports will begin tryouts on Monday, September 12. 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-4:10pm. 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 4:10pm 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.
MAP Assessments: In an effort to provide students, parents, & teachers with important academic feedback, Kingsway Regional School District will be implementing MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) testing. 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 12-23
Start Strong Assessments: The New Jersey Department of Education is requiring a Fall 2022 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 2022 Start Strong Assessment. Kingsway Regional School District will administer the Start Strong Assessments on the following date:
· Middle School (Math & ELA): September 27
Clubs & Activities
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, Nathaniel Boerlin Scholarship Fund & Dragon Run, Spirit Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram, Kiwanis Club of Greater Swedesboro, Pride Custom Concrete, LLC, Sweetsboro Pastry Shoppe, Philly Pretzel Factory, and Tractor Supply. For information about our Renaissance Program, please visit our website at www.krsd.org/Renaissance.
Renaissance Night Out: SAVE THE DATE----Sunday, Oct. 2 through Thursday, October 6. KRMS's Renaissance Program has partnered with the Village Pub in Logan and the Cinder Bar in Clarksboro. If you dine out at either location during the week of October 2, 15% of your total bill will be donated to the KRMS Renaissance Program.
Parent Volunteers: We will be looking for parent volunteers to be a part of our Renaissance Celebrations, our dances, and our PACC (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 20. 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 4:15 pm. We are proud to host over 30 different clubs and activities. 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 serve 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.
Woolwich Clean-up Day
The African American Experience
Red & Black Day
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 (2:35 p.m. to 2:45 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 PM Late Bus: The activity bus runs Monday through Friday. No after school activities will take place on Mondays and Fridays. Please keep in mind that this bus may not drop your child off at the normal bus stop. We will no longer have a 5:30 PM late bus.
Rides Home at 4:10 PM: If you are giving your child a ride home from an after school activity, please plan to be here prior to 4:10 p.m. Students who do not have a ride when the activity bus is departing will be instructed to get on the 4:15 PM 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.
Please Utilize the Buses: In order to alleviate traffic on our campus, please have your child take the bus to and from school. Lateness to school was our number one disciplinary offense last year (20% of all incidents); using the buses assures that students are on time.
Cornhole Tournament
Staff vs Students Basketball Game
Volleyball Tournament
Miscellaneous
Picture Day: Picture day will be held on Monday, September 26. All picture packages can be purchased using the following link: https://www.krsd.org/domain/247
Electronic Devices: Students are not permitted to carry their electronic devices during the school day. Cell phones, iPads, smart watches … should be turned off and locked in your child's locker. Please help us enforce this rule.
Dress Code: The detailed middle school dress code is located in the online Student Handbook on page 16 . 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.
Student Lunches: Student lunches are $4.00 for the 2022-23 school year.
Online Payment System: My School Bucks, 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 7 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 Activity Day in June.
Dragon Run: Please encourage your child to sign up now for the 16th Annual Dragon Run on Saturday, September 24! 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.
Please click here for more information regarding our universal screening process. This survey will be taken at school during the week of September 12. You may choose to opt your child/children out of participating in the brief wellness screening by emailing Ray Philipp at philippr@krsd.us by 2:45 pm on September 8.
School Store: School spirit is important to us here in the Middle School and we wear red and black on Fridays. Kingsway gear is available to purchase through our school store. We have a display cart located in the main foyer where students can browse some of our merchandise. Order forms will be provided to students during homeroom and can be ordered all year long. We accept cash and checks made payable to “KEF”. If you would like to use a debit/credit card, please visit our website and shop through “Martell’s Corner Store”. If you have any questions, you can contact Dina Fanelle at fanelled@krsd.us
GO DRAGONS!
Upcoming Events
9/7 First Day of School
9/24 Dragon Run (Register on-line)
9/26 Picture Day
9/29 Back to School Night @ 6:30 p.m.
10/7 School Dance 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Thank you 2022-23 Renaissance Sponsors
Premier Sponsor
Botto's Italian Line Restaurant
Nathaniel Boerlin Scholarship Fund & Dragon Run
Spirit Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram
Major Sponsor
Kiwanis Club of Greater Swedesboro
Pride Custom Concrete, LLC
Sweetsboro Pastry Shoppe
Contributing Sponsor
Philly Pretzel
Tractor Supply