KP Friday Focus
May 1, 2015
Things we noticed this week . . .
- Colleagues helping colleagues to help make the SBAC process run smoothly.
- School counselors working with student tour guides to showcase KP during 5th grade visitations.
- Students applying their knowledge of the Inuit and sharing their own creation stories.
- The Diamond Team decorating flower pots, planting flowers and delivering them to St. Mary's Home.
- The excitement of parents, teachers and students as they boarded buses and when they returned from Chinatown.
- Students applying their knowledge at a deeper level as they tackled quadratic equations.
- The dedication of many students as they rehearsed and performed in the musical, Legally Blond Jr.
- 6th grade students showcasing our school like seasoned tour guides.
- A great deal of positive comments regarding the program presented by True Colors where the needs of transgender youth was discussed.
- Citizenship in action as teachers, students and families donate to families in Nepal.
Upcoming Events
Monday-Tuesday
- SBAC Testing Continues
Friday, May 1
- Drama Performance - 7:00PM
Saturday, May 2
- Drama Matinee - 1:00PM
Monday, May 4
- Principal Coffee for Parents/Guardians of Incoming 6th Graders - 7PM
- DS (Townwide) Meeting - 8:30AM
- CSI - Building --Evaluating the Year and Planning for Next
- Sapphire Team to Chinatown - 7AM to 8PM
- 6th Grade Concert - 7PM
- PTO Teacher Appreciation Breakfast
- Garnet Team to Science Center - 8:45AM to 1:15PM
Traffic Detour Information
Beginning week of May 4 all southbound traffic on King Philip Drive will be detoured. If you drive to work going south on KP Drive you have two options.
- Take North Main Street instead; take a left on Huron; Left onto KP Drive to be able to get into the faculty parking lot.
- From KP Drive going south, take a left onto Lyman Rd; Right onto Mohegan; Right onto Mohawk; Right onto KP Drive to be able to get into the faculty parking lot.
Click below to see official notice.
Gems Awards to:
- Denise deMello from colleague Nancy Faulkner for spending a period with my language students and teaching them why it's important to read. Denise asked them to help her create a bulletin board outside the library. Please stop by when you have a chance to check it out! Denise made my students feel important and now, most importantly, some are starting to read on their own. Thank you Denise!
- Jess Kerelejza, Nancy Faulkner, Shoshana LaPointe, Danielle Drozd, Margie Scobbo, Eva Liebl, Cindy Kent, Megan Cassidy, Marnie Paulus, Erin Rauseo, Kathy Shoemaker, Monique Heavren, Paul Duquette, Josh Satlof and Nancy Barlow from Susanne Torcasio for graciously agreeing to host a Hall High student and arranging for them to follow a student from their MA for the day.
- Ashley Carlson and Liz Anderson from colleague Marc Kotler for staying for an extended time to meet with a family.
- Ed D'Addio from colleague Marc Kotler for staying for an extended time to meet with a family on a Friday evening.
- Janel Aquadro from administration colleagues for covering for administration while administrators were at a leadership meeting.
- Stacy Genova and the Turquoise Team members and students from administration colleagues for raising over $3,000 for the Water for South Sudan Project.
- Sally Nyhan from administration colleagues for spearheading the Nepal fundraiser.
- Justin Gusy from colleagues Joy and Marc for his hours of organization and full throttle implementation of SBAC.
- Marisa Tamayo from colleague Joy Wright for going above and beyond in making sure a student knew she was not forgotten.
- Denise DeMello, Kim Harrell, and Libby Wallace from administration colleagues for organizing and implementing Battle of the Books and creating a rich literary experiences for our students.
Turquoise Team Awesome Fundraising Efforts
In December, the 6th grade students on the Turquoise Team read the book, A Long Walk to Water, by Linda Sue Park, as part of our social studies class. After reading the book, based on the true story of a Lost Boy, Salva Dut, we were inspired to take action. We brainstormed ways to help out and decided on raising money for Salva's organization called Water for South Sudan. Water for South Sudan was founded by Salva and has been digging wells to give the people of South Sudan access to clean water for the past ten years. WFSS just completed its 250th well.
We have created an online donation site, with the help of our social studies teacher Mrs. Genova, and have been collecting money through that site since December. Also, we have been collecting empty water bottles from our school cafeteria's, participated in a 6th grade basketball event to raise money, held a bake sale AND we will be sponsoring a Walk for Water later this month! Details will be coming soon! We have raised $2876 of our $6,000 goal. We're almost there!
Please consider donating to this worthy cause as we work to co-sponsor a well in South Sudan. One well could bring clean safe water to thousands and allow villages to grow into communities with markets and schools!
Our fundraising site can found by clicking on the following link: http://www.gofundme.com/kj9zgg
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Students of the 6th Grade Turquoise Team
CT Race in the Park
Please join the KP Cares Team for the CT Race in the Park on May 9. All funds raised support breast cancer research here in Connecticut. Our team is very small this year and we haven't received as many donations as usual. Please consider joining us for the 5k run, 4k walk, or kids' events. If you can't join us at the event, but would like to donate, you can do so online (by supporting one of the KP Cares Team members, or you can put a check in my mailbox made out to CT BHI (CT Breast Health Initiative).
The CT BHI website, where you can donate directly or register for the event is:
http://www.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=1129281
When you are registering, please be sure to select "Join a Team" after you select "Register Here" and "I agree"....it will allow you to scroll down at the bottom of the page to choose KP Cares.
Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you for your ongoing support of breast health research here in CT, as well as your support of so many of your friends, family, and KP colleagues. I promise a moving, meaningful experience if you can join us in person on May 9.
The deadline to register online as a member of the KP Cares Team is Sunday, May 3!
Thank you for your consideration. Go Team KP Cares!
Laura Nichols
Annual KP Art Show
King Philip Art Show will run from May 7 to May 20. Click on link below for more info.
Foundation for WHPS update
The Foundation for WHPS will be sending out notification letters for our mini -grant and in-residence grant programs at the end of May. Principals and the lead teacher for each grant application will be notified at that time. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
Sherry Feinglass and Jo McGinnis
FWHPS
Distribution Committee
Bike to School Day is May 6
Please share the attached flyer with your members, coworkers, area businesses, community groups, friends, and family.
Please also consider adding these bullets to your web announcements and Facebook account.
· Bike to School Day on May 6, 2015 is a national effort—Schools can register at www.walkbiketoschool.org. Registering provides the chance to win ten Schwinn bicycles and twenty Schwinn helmets for a school or student-focused organization in your community – see the website for details.
· Incentives and Technical Assistance —Thanks to the Connecticut Safe Routes to School Program’s federal funding source, incentives, ideas and technical assistance are also available to schools registering Bike to School Day events by contacting the team via email (bboucaud@vnengineers.com). Check out the CT SRTS website (walkitbikeitct.org) for details and a fillable form for requesting incentives for your Bike to School event.
· Share Your Story — Also, the CT SRTS wants to know how your local SRTS program is going. Tell your story and share your photos on walkitbikeitct.org.
As the State’s Safe Routes to School Coordinator, I ask for your help spreading the word for this great event – it is fun and healthy. Consider joining a neighborhood school in supporting students bicycling and walking to school.
Also, don’t forget that Bike to Work Day is just around the corner on May 15 and coincides nicely with Transit Week. If you can participate in any or all of these initiatives, it is a great example to the next generation.
Carla A. Iezzi
Transportation Planner II, Bureau of Policy and Planning
Public Access and Planning Tools Coordinator
Local Technical Assistance Program Bureau Representative
Safe Routes to School Program Coordinator
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B8VH2Eh7ZcftdUd3d2lTMHNTZG8&authuser=0
Walk for HARC to honor former KP student Peter Ladd
Where has the time gone? We are very slow this spring in getting the word out about the HARC Walk 2015. Normally we set up a site with HARC but we have lost track of time. HARC Walk 2015 is this Sunday, May 3rd at Rentschler Field. HARC provides services for children and adults with developmental disabilities and this event raises money for their respite programs. Our son Peter benefited from HARC's Camp Bulova program for many years. Camp Bulova provides recreation and socialization two Saturdays a month during the school year for children with developmental disabilities. It also provides a day of well-needed respite for families of children with special needs. HARC, like many services for disadvantaged populations, is constantly struggling with budget cuts. Any support you can provide would be greatly appreciated.
The HARC Walk is a fun event with activities for children including face painting, games, music and a bounce house. It is open to the public whether or not you choose to make a donation. The competitive 5K road race has a registration fee of $25. The Ladds will be at the Walk representing Peter's Platoon and we would love to have your company. Look for the Peter's Platoon sign.
Registration begins at 9am and the Walk and road race begin at 10am. If you would like to support this fundraising effort but cannot attend, you may send us a check payable to HARC Walk 2015 to 31 Holbrook Road, West Hartford, CT 06107 or you can go to the link below and donate online (please mention Peter's Platoon if possible or in memory of Peter Ladd).
www.harcwalkrun2015.kintera.org
Please let us know if you have any questions. Below are a few pictures of Peter and family at previous Walks. Thank you and pray for good weather.
Mary Ellen and Patrick Ladd