Kulshan Connect
November 10, 2022
In our Kulshan Community, we are courageous, kind, and committed!
Important KMS Dates
Thursday, Nov 10: KMS Fall Festival 3:45-5:30 PM
Friday, Nov 11: No School/ Veteran's Day
Monday, Nov 14: Pre-Winter Sports start at KMS
Donations Needed
The Kulshan Food Pantry & Student Resources is in need of food, personal items, and emergency clothing for students. Keep in mind that the food is for feeding students during weekends so please make sure to buy only shelf stable food/drinks and to keep the sizes of the food to individual serving sizes and personal items to travel size if possible. Sign up here for food, personal items, and clothing. If you would like to donate funds for staff/PTSA to purchase needed items, click here to donate.
Pre-Winter Sports at KMS
Our Pre-Winter sports season is just around the corner! If you haven’t registered your student for the upcoming season in Final Forms, please do so now! Our upcoming sports are:
- 7th and 8th Grade Boys Basketball: Starts Monday, Nov 14 @ 4:00-5:30 Mon-Fri
- Dance & Tumbling: Starts Monday, Nov 14 @ 4:00 - 5:30 pm in Commons
- Unified Basketball (Please click here for more information about Unified Sports) Practices will be from 4:00-5:00 on Mondays and Wednesdays in the KMS Gym
If you have any questions, please contact our Athletic Assistant, Lisa Scott or KMS Assistant Principal, Nikki Lockhart.
World Cup Club!
The biggest sporting event in the world, the FIFA Men’s World Cup, starts on Sunday in Qatar. Mr. Shaffer is hosting World Cup Club in the library Next week on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and after the break every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday morning, 8-8:45 am (not Wednesdays). Students are welcome to join us for some morning footy.
Dec 1: ASB Fundraiser @ MOD Pizza
The next Kulshan ASB MOD Pizza fundraiser is coming up! On Thursday, December 1, eat at MOD and earn money for Kulshan ASB. Just mention "Kulshan ASB" when you pay for your order, or use the code MODF11167 when ordering online or through the app. Kulshan ASB funds clubs, athletics, events, and much more at Kulshan. Eat some pizza for a cause!
A Great Place to Work
Bellingham Public Schools continues to need staff and substitutes across our schools and needs your help in finding great people to fill these vacancies. If you or someone you know are looking for a new opportunity on a school year schedule, we encourage you to apply. We are looking for paraeducators and substitutes, as well as classified and certificated staff. Paraeducators work one on one or with a small group of students in a school. They often assist teachers and support students in classrooms and at recess. Please review the Human Resources webpage or click on “jobs” in the top row of quick links off our district homepage for a list of current openings.
Veteran's Day Assembly at KMS
Thank you to our Kulshan ASB for an amazing Veteran's Day Assembly. Our students did a read-aloud of the book At The Mountain's Base, a fictional children's book that pays homage to the true history of Native American U.S. service members like WWII pilot Ola Mildred “Millie” Rexroat. Our students then led a panel of our 5 KMS staff members who have served or are serving in the military. Finally, we watched a slide show that highlighted the veterans who are related to our current KMS students and staff. We thank you for your service.
Become a PTSA Member
Become a PTSA member to ensure you get PTSA activity updates, have a vote on PTSA issues, and show your support for our great Kulshan community. If you sign up between now and 10/31- you will be entered to win a $10 gift card! Drawings will be each Monday so join now!
Winter Weather Procedures
It’s that time of year to think about snow and our procedures and impact of weather-related school cancellations. Depending on conditions, school could close for the day; open two hours late with regular bus routes or snow bus routes; or open on time with snow bus routes. We send weather updates via ParentSquare (which pulls your info from Skyward). We also post on @BhamSD on Twitter, @bellinghamschools on Facebook and @bellinghamschools on Instagram. Please familiarize yourself with our weather procedures here and we encourage families to know their bus snow route.
Kulshan Clubs
Scholastic Book Orders
Do you remember Scholastic Book Clubs? A few times a year you can order books through Scholastic and support our library and classrooms at the same time. Orders ship free to school, where Mr. Shaffer will distribute to students. With a $25 order, you can pick a FREE $5 Book (use code: READS). Class Order Due Date for this round: Thursday, November 17. Shop Our Class Page. or Shop Digital Flyers for Our Grade with Your Child. Many, many books for all ages and interests are available online. Our "class" code is GLB8R. Let Mr. Shaffer know if you have any questions!
After-school dinner program begins for all kids
Bellingham Public Schools serves hot dinner at no cost to all children 18 and under and to those served in the Community Transitions program. These meals are offered from 5 to 5:45 p.m. Monday to Thursday now through June 15, 2023. Dinner is served in the Shuksan Middle School cafeteria, located at 2717 Alderwood Avenue (at the corner of Northwest and Alderwood). It does not matter what school you attend in the district. Accompanying adults are charged $4.75 per meal — please bring cash or check. Please plan to eat onsite in the Shuksan cafeteria. The daily Monday through Thursday dinner menu is listed on the school menu webpage by day after the lunch listing. Please note: Dinner will not be served on school holidays or on the following all school early dismissal days: Nov. 3, Nov. 25, Dec. 8, Feb. 9, March 9 and April 27.
Want to know more about how to support youth?
Bellingham Public Schools is partnering with local community organizations to offer Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) classes throughout the winter and spring. All community members, parents and staff are invited to register and attend. There are four upcoming opportunities for classes this school year. These online or in-person classes are designed to teach adults how to help adolescents ages 12-18 who are experiencing mental health or addiction challenges or are in crisis. The course reviews common mental health challenges for youth and typical adolescent development and teaches a five-step action plan for how to help young people both in crisis and non-crisis situations. The course is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people, and the time commitment is approx. six-seven hours. A certificate is earned upon completion and clock hours are available for staff. Learn more by reading this flyer or visiting the Mental Health First Aid website. Space is limited to 30 participants, first come, first served. Classes typically fill very quickly. Registration is required. Available dates and registration links:
Free Boys and Girls Club Memberships
Support KMS through AmazonSmile!
Support Kulshan Middle School just by shopping this winter! Please sign up for AmazonSmile and a percent of your order will be donated by the company to the PTSA at no cost to you!
1. Sign into smile.amazon.com
2. Go to "Your account" and select "change your charity"
3. Select "Kulshan Middle School PTSA"
Remember to always sign into smile.amazon.com
Yearbook Photos!
Do you have Kulshan sports photo or other photos to submit to our Kulshan Yearbook? Please email them to our yearbook advisor, Cynthia Johnson.
Nutrition Services at KMS
Are you wanting to add money to your student's lunch account? Just visit the My Payments Plus website to add funds - or send a check or cash with your student. Though meals were free in the past, they are no longer free at Kulshan. Click here to apply for free or reduced meals. School menus are available online. We have a Chocolate Milk day coming up at the end of September, and if a student wants a milk that day, they must have money on their account or a completed application.
Unified Sports
Are you interested in Unified Sports? Unified Sports is a Special Olympics program that brings together students with intellectual disabilities (called athletes) and those without intellectual disabilities (called partners) to play and compete together on the same team. If you are interested, get signed up in FinalForms and your coach will contact you!
Got Absences? Leaving Early?
Please join us in welcoming MacKenzie Lee to our Kulshan Front office! Reach out to MacKenzie if your child is going to be absent. You can use KMSattendance@bellinghamschools.org Please remember to excuse your child's absence within 24 hours by phone or email. Also, if you need to pick up your student early, please send a note with them so that they can be ready when you arrive. Thank you!
Medications & Health Services
If your child had medications or health services requiring doctor’s orders, we need those orders before the first day of school. New orders are required every school year and can be found on the district’s website under “Forms”. New orders are required every school year. Your health care provider should complete and sign the form. Your signature is also needed. Then, deliver these completed forms and any medications to be given at school to the school before the first day of school.
2022-2023 District Calendar
We thought it might be helpful for you to have a list of key dates and trainings for the 2022-23 school year. Please mark your calendars as needed. Online School and District Calendars: https://bellinghamschools.org/calendars
Kulshan Contacts
Nikki Lockhart, Assistant Principal
Tatiana Samora, Registrar Я говорю на русском языке.
Jeneen Durand, Principal's Admin Assistant
MacKenzie Lee, Main Office/ Attendance
Elsa Powell, Family Liaison Hablo español.
Kulshan Middle School 1250 Kenoyer Drive Bellingham, WA 98229 360-676-4886