Dear Lion Families:

I hope this message finds you and your loved ones healthy, safe, and feeling blessed!

We are almost at Winter Break Lion Families. What a ROCKING year it's been so far! We have so many things to be proud of. Our scholars are growing and showing all they know on the MAPS assessment and on unit assessments in Reading, Writing, Math, and Science. They are setting goals, working hard to reach those goals, and celebrating when achieved. It is a great time to be part of KHEMS! I love seeing our scholars learn that FOCUS and HARD WORK pay off.

Parents, we are trying to beat the number of students at other schools who participate in Winter Break Learning. Let's get KHEMS to the top of the list! Next week, you will receive the Winter Break packet of activities. Please set aside time over the break to have your LION do the review learning activities that will help them maintain the amazing growth momentum they had before the break. We will have a tiered system of reward for participation. The top percent of activities completed will participate in outside play time that includes getting to try and hit Principal Boyd with a water balloon. Please visit Dojo next week for more information about Winter Break learning activities.

Parents you are a huge part of that success. Thank you for being ROCK STAR role models and having high expectations for your scholars. You are APPRECIATED parents!

Sincerely,

Principal Boyd

Parents, last month I listed the October Students of the Months but titled it November. Sorry for any confusion.

Pre-K

Ryker DeHann, Amina Karim, Elijah Johnson, Alexys Reyes, April Crawford, Fernanda Perez

Kindergarten

Cordarius Bryant, Kevin Carrillo, Allessandro Gomez

First Grade

Lupita Donu-Cruz, Pryce Moody, Jessica Jaquez

Second Grade

Gael Buexguahi-Marcos, Dines Krivdic, Ava Melvin

Third Grade

Aniyah Williams, Damoni Townsend, Arely Buexjuahi-Silis

Fourth Grade

I'onna Henry, Nathan Cox, Lilyan Rosenburg

Fifth Grade

D'ondre Miles, T'Vontrey Jackson

MESSGE ABOUT STEM CLUB

STEM Academies for all 2nd through 5th graders!

I am very excited to announce that KHEM will offer an incredible redesigned STEM program again this year, with new socially distanced guidelines, more materials, and fun new hands on learning! Applications were sent home before the break and are due back to Ms. Rubenstein by Friday 12/4/2020.

STEM will begin next week for bi-weekly sessions starting 12/8 for 4th grade, 12/10 for 5th grade, 12/15 for 3rd grade and 12/17 for 2nd grade. Space in each group is limited in order to maintain social distancing, so please return your applications right away to make sure to have a spot in the group.

We are looking forward to biweekly sessions from December through May 15th when all STEM Academy students will be invited to participate in the county wide STEM Expo at PTC St. Pete. This is sure to be an incredible day of hands on STEM excitement to wrap up our time together!

5TH GRADE will be focusing on building and programing ROBOTS, and with our increased materials all students will be able to build their own machine! We will meet every other Thursday from 3:45-5:30 starting next week 12/10/2020.

4TH GRADE will be working on robotics as well with amazing machines to build and program. 4th grade will meet every other Tuesday 3:45-5:30 starting on 12/8/2020.

3RD GRADE will be working on programing robots to follow codes and test out their skills by "driving' their machines through courses they create. We will meet every other Tuesday starting 12/15/2020 from 3:45-5:30.

2ND GRADE will be using a new program to begin coding and robotics design as well and have hands time with the machines from 3:45-5:30 every other Thursday beginning 12/17/2020.

Please email me at rubensteind@pcsb with any questions and be sure to return your application ASAP either to school or electronically to me. Applications will be posted right here on Class Dojo for each grade level.

Debbie Rubenstein
rubensteind@pcsb.org

STEM Academy Facilitator
Kings Highway Elementary Magnet School
Center for Innovation and Digital Learning
727-223-8949

7-day free meal distributions resumed on Thursday, Dec. 3 at NEW times with revised locations.

Elementary & high school distribution sites will be open 4:00-6:00 p.m.
Middle school distribution sites will be open 4:45-6:00 p.m.
Distribution sites at John Hopkins Middle & Madeira Beach Fundametal have been closed.

🍎 Find out more at pcsb.org/food!

The state provides a set of standards in order to prepare students for success and make them competitive in the global workplace. Each Florida Standard provides clear expectations for the knowledge and skills students need to master in each grade and subject so they will be prepared to succeed in college, careers and life.

Resources:

• The Florida Department of Education provides information about the Florida Standards at www.flstandards.org.

• Florida Department of Education resources for Florida Standards

Florida Standards Brochure

The Florida Department or Education's Florida Standards Brochure provides information on the benefits of the Florida Standards as well as resources for everyone who impacts the student learning experience.

Resources for Parents

• Florida Standards

  These documents from the Florida Department of Education show the revised Florida Standards and indicate which standards have been added, deleted or amended.

  • Language Arts Florida Standards
    
  • Mathematics Florida Standards
    

  
  

  National PTA

  These guides, available in English and Spanish, explain changes in standards for English language arts (ELA) and Mathematics. Guides are available for students in kindergarten through eighth grade and for students in high school.

  • Two-page Parents Guides to Student Success
  • Four-page Parents Guides to Student Success

  Council of the Great City Schools

  These road maps, available in English and Spanish, help inform parents what their children will be learning in each grade. These guides are also available for students in kindergarten through eighth grade and for students in high school.

  • Parent Road Maps for English Language Arts
  • Parent Road Maps for Mathematics

  Florida Department of Education

  • Just for Parents Newsletter

IMPORTANT....If your child is not feeling well, please keep them home.

We ask that you sincerely commit to doing this to help keep our students and staff healthy. All staff will complete a self screening tool to affirm their wellness each day before entering our school building.

If a student gets sick during the school day, our nurse will assess your child and consult with you. If a student exhibits illness beyond the normal stomach ache or “boo-boo”, we will request that you pick your child up. I strongly encourage you to make back-up plans for pick up. Please provide the front office with several people for us to contact on your behalf. Students who exhibit Covid -19 symptoms will be isolated in a designated area in our administration building until you arrive to pick them up.

The District has established a COVID-19 team that will work closely with the Pinellas County Health Department to assist schools with making COVID-19 health decisions.

We are not allowing any visitors on campus that do not have essential business for the operation of the school. We will let you know as soon as the superintendent opens schools back up. We so greatly appreciate your support in keeping all of our Lions healthy and safe!

We will continue to have before and after care through R' Club. There are limited seats because of social distancing guidelines. Please contact Ms. Rebecca at 727-238-0340 or

ze-kingshwy@rclub.net with any questions about R'Club.

We are looking for parents who are willing and able to participate in our School Advisory Council (SAC). We have a monthly virtual meeting via ZOOM that lasts only about 30 minutes. It is a meeting to gather input and give information. If you are interested in joining us, please email Principal Boyd at boydga@pcsb.org.

Most of last Year's PTA board has moved on to middle school with their child. We still have our amazing PTA President, Cynthia Watkins. She needs some help parents! If you are interested in joining our PTA board, please contact Cynthia at cwatkins@pinellascounty.org.

There will be no PTA in person meetings any time soon.

727-223-8949 School Phone Number

727-314-3096 Google Number to Text

boydga@pcsb.org (preferred communication tool)