KN Counseling Newsletter
APRIL 2024
CHARACTER WORD OF THE MONTH:
April Panther Pantry & Closet
APRIL IS MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD
MOMC DRESS UP DAYS
KNE - Amie Wheeler & WE - Jennifer Watson
April Lessons:
Week 1 (K-1st):
Class Discussion: Service
Book: Just Help by Sonjia Sontomayor
Week 1 (2nd-5th):
Class Discussion - Service
Video - Kindness 101 with Steve Hartman
Activity - Service Checklist
Week 2: MAP TESTING
5TH GRADE FAMILIES - SEE IMPORTANT TRANSITION INFO BELOW!
KNMS - Heather Wallace & Taylor Morrison
5TH GRADE FAMILIES
Your child will be visiting KNMS this month (see dates below) PRIOR to SELECTING THEIR ELECTIVES THE NEXT DAY IN CLASS. It will be CRUCIAL that families discuss the elective options with their child prior to students selecting them as schedule changes can be difficult.
WE Visit to KNMS - April 16th
KNE Visit to KNMS - April 18th
Check out the elective offerings below:
*Be on the lookout for an email with more information*
6TH & 7TH GRADE FAMILIES
Mrs. Morrison will be conducting ELECTIVE ENROLLMENT in class on the dates below. It is CRUCIAL for families to discuss the elective options PRIOR to these dates as schedule changes can be difficult.
6th Grade - April 15th
7th Grade - April 11th
Check out the elective offerings below:
*Be on the lookout for an email with more information*
8TH GRADE FAMILIES
We will taking your child to tour SFCC on Friday, April 5th with a return time of 12:00.
CALENDAR REMINDER:
8th Grade Girls - Pink Panther - Saturday, April 13th 1p-12a
8th Grade Boys - Level Up - Wednesday, April 24th 4p-8p (PERMISSION SLIPS DUE APRIL 5TH)
*Both at KNHS
ALGEBRA I STUDENTS - EOC Testing will take place on April 23rd & 24th with makeups on April 25th
MAP TESTING @ KNMS STARTS APRIL 30TH
KNMS SEXUAL ABUSE PREVENTION LESSONS
April 15th - 7th/8th Girls in Health
April 16th - 7th/8th Boys in Health
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO AND TO OPT YOUR CHILD OUT.
*for rising 9th graders taking Health, as well
KNHS - Hailee Wickham & Amie Wheeler
April 9th - Sexual Abuse Training
April 17 - French Seal of Biliteracy
April 18 - Spanish Seal of Biliteracy
April 22 - EOC testing Begins - Biology Students
April 23 - Algebra I and Algebra B EOC
April 24 - ELA II and ELA II-9 EOC
April 25 - Algebra II Honors EOC and Government EOC
April 26 - No school
April 29 - Personal Finance (Embedded Class only) EOC
April 29 - May 3 - Make Up EOC testing
Your KNHS Counselors send out weekly emails with a variety of amazing opportunities for students! Encourage your child to look at those in case one would be a great fit for them!
Home Discussion - The Season of Testing
Standardized tests currently play a major role in the United States public schools. Your child may take one or more standardized tests during the school year, and your child’s teacher may spend class time on test preparation throughout the year. As a parent, there are a number of ways that you can support your child before and after taking a standardized test, as well as a number of ways you can support your child’s learning habits on a daily basis that will help her be more prepared when it’s time to be tested.
While many parents, educators, school leaders, and policymakers disagree about the kinds of tests administered, how the scores should be used, and how frequently students should be tested, it is important to be supportive of your child’s efforts on standardized tests, and to help her do her best. You can also learn more about testing from teachers, parent liaisons, and your local PTA organization to better understand how testing is being carried out at your child’s school, and how the results are being used.
Please note that these tips have been adapted from articles published by Scholastic, Inc., the National Parent Teacher Association, and the International Reading Association.
BEFORE TESTING
BE PREPARED
Be on the lookout for emails and other forms of notifications from your school/teachers about what subjects your child will be tested in & what the schedule for testing will be for each class/grade level.
HELP YOUR CHILD IN AREAS THAT ARE DIFFICULT FOR THEM
If your child has struggled with a particular area or subject in the past, you may be able to help them overcome some of that difficulty by providing some extra practice. Reach out to their teacher(s) for some extra practice resources!
COMMUNICATE WITH TEACHERS
Discuss your concerns or ask questions prior to testing, so that you and child will feel prepared & confident about how testing will look and what will be tested.
ON TEST DAY(S)
MAKE SURE YOUR CHILD GETS A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP & EATS A HEALTHY BREAKFAST
Many teachers report that students who don't do well on tests haven't gotten enough sleep, and haven't eaten breakfast on the morning of. Doing these things will ensure your child is working at full capacity.
MAKE SURE YOUR CHILD IS PREPARED
Students will likely not be allowed to have cell phones, smart watches, and other electronic devices in the testing site and only be allowed their laptop. Make sure you and your child knows the testing schedule & is at school on time. If your child has to be absent on a testing day, contact the school to ensure they prepare makeup testing for them.
REMAIN POSITIVE & ENCOURAGING
Staying calm will help your child stay calm. If they get nervous about the test or is likely to experience anxiety during the test, help them practice some relaxation techniques that they can try once they're taking the test. Remind your child to do their best, but that this test does not define them.
AFTER THE TEST
THE RESULTS
Assessments vary from test to test, but the test scores should include information that helps you interpret the results. Talk with your child’s teacher if you have any questions about the test results.
DECOMPRESS
Check in on how your child felt the test went & stay positive. Tests can be a huge stressor in a child's education & it is important to teach students how to decompress and cope with their stress in a healthy, productive way.
ON A DAILY BASIS
In addition to these strategies, there are a number of ways that you can maximize your child’s learning capabilities throughout the school year, which can lead to confident test-taking. Some of these strategies include:
- Ensuring that your child is completing all assignments during the regular school year, which provides a snapshot of knowledge gained
- Helping them to develop good study habits, thinking skills, and a positive attitude towards education from an early age
- Ensuring that your child has good attendance at school
- Staying in communication with your child’s teacher
- Encouraging your child to read as much as possible, and to increase her vocabulary — even reading magazines, newspapers, and comic books regularly will help improve her reading skills
- Looking for educational games and programs that engage your child
- Helping your child learn how to follow directions carefully
Finally, remember that standardized tests and grading systems are not perfect; each format has its own limitations. As you help your child do her best on the tests she takes and in all of her schoolwork, also remind them that testing is just one part of their education. With your support and involvement, they will be well on their way to their own bright future.
CONTACT US!
KNE - Amie Wheeler - awheeler@knr8.org
WE - Jennifer Watson - jwatson@knr8.org
KNMS - Heather Wallace - hwallace@knr8.org
KNMS - Taylor Morrison - tmorrison@knr8.org
KNHS - Hailee Wickham - hwickham@knr8.org