Kulshan Connect
October 28, 2022
In our Kulshan Community, we are courageous, kind, and committed!
Important KMS Dates
Thursday, Nov 3: Student-Led Conferences 12:30 - 4:00 PM
Friday, Nov 4: Student-Led Conferences 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Wednesday, Nov 9: Student-Led Conferences 4:00 - 8:00 PM
Thursday, Nov 10: KMS Fall Festival 3:45-5:30 PM
Friday, Nov 11: No School/ Veteran's Day
Sign up! Kulshan November Conferences
Our November student-led conferences are right around the corner! Your family will be invited to choose a conference date and time via your student’s T-Bird Time teacher. Check your email (ParentSquare) for an invite using the Bookings platform. Students will have time in their T-Bird Time classes to prepare for the conference and they will share an update with you for all of their classes. Kulshan November Conference dates and times:
- Thursday, Nov 3: Conferences 12:30 - 4:00 PM
- Friday, Nov 4: Conferences 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM
- Wednesday, Nov 9: Conferences 4:00 - 8:00 PM
If you haven’t scheduled a November conference, please check in with your student’s T-Bird Time Teacher. We look forward to seeing you! Thank you!
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.
A Great Place to Work
We are continuing to need staff and substitutes across our district, and we are asking for your help in finding great people to fill these vacancies. We hear from recent hires that they started working for Bellingham Public Schools because someone they know works here and encouraged them to apply. Our recent hires also share that they want to contribute, help fulfill The Bellingham Promise and give back to our community. If you know someone who loves kids and wants to learn, please encourage them to apply! We are actively looking for paraeducators and substitutes, as well as classified and certificated staff. Share this webpage or ask them to click on “jobs” in the quick links of our website.
PTSA News
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!
Next PTSA Meeting: November 15th 7:00pm via Zoom, including KMS staff discussing vaping and drug use, we hope to see you there.
Volunteers Needed
Veteran's Day
Our Kulshan ASB is planning our Veterans’ Day Assembly for Thursday, November 10. If you have relatives who are veterans and would like to highlight them in our slideshow, please email a photos and short description to Mr. Shaffer. (i.e. Hayley Fritz' grandfather served in the Army during Vietnam)
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
KMS Food + Pantry
Our Kulshan pantry is running low! This is a resource for our Kulshan families in need of basic toiletries or extra food over the weekend. Please consider donating via the link below so that we can continue to offer this resource. Reach out to our KMS counselors if you would like more information on how to receive support. For any additional questions, please feel free to reach out. If you would like to donate, please click here for the Sign Up Genius link.
Sign Up for Fred Meyer Rewards
Support Kulshan Middle School just by shopping! Please sign up for Fred Meyer rewards, a percent of your order will be donated by the company to the PTSA so we can provide additional funds for activities and events for our kids.
Fred Meyer:
1. Login to https://www.fredmeyer.com/account/
2. Login to your account with your username and password
3. Click on "My Account> Community Rewards> "
4. In the search field type in "Kulshan" and select "Kulshan PTSA 8.3.82" organization number "IU099."
Signing up to support Kulshan PTSA does not take your reward points away!
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.
Hey Students! Want to Become a Pilot?
YMCA Youth Events!
Free! Teen Drop-in Center (Starting Oct 3rd) from 3:00-6:00 pm Monday - Friday for students from grades 6-12 at the Downtown Y. Our staff available to support you in homework and resources. Youth can also participate in art, rock climbing, and games. More information is available by CLICKING HERE. Youth can also receive a FREE YMCA Youth Membership.
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.
Getting to and from school
ParentSquare
TDAP Reminder
For the 2022-2023 school year, all students attending grades 7 through 12 must have had one dose of Tdap vaccine. For students in 7th through 9th grade, the Tdap vaccine must be given at or after age 10 to be accepted for school entry. Skyward Family Access will have a current list of the vaccinations we have received for your child. Please login to your Skyward account to check if we have received record of this vaccine for your child. To update your child’s Tdap immunization record at the school, you will need to turn in a medically verified immunization record to the Counseling Office. Thank you!
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