KP Connection
March 18, 2016
Things to KNOW
MARCH
- 3/21 - 5th to 6th Orientation - 6:30 to 8:30pm (SPED & QuEST at 6:00pm)
- 3/21 - World Down Syndrome Day
- 3/23 - Midfest Rehearsal at KP
- 3/24 - 7th Grade LL Author Skype - James Preller
- 3/24 -- NO LATE BUSES due to long weekend
- 3/24 - Bridge Parent Presentation - 7 to 8pm
- 3/25 - Good Friday - No school
Lead Learner Highlights
Lead Learner Highlights
We will be celebrating World Down Syndrome Day on Monday and I am asking everyone in the KP community to don their crazy socks (because we are all different but beautiful) and the color pink. In case we have a snow day (pretend I didn't write that), we will celebrate on Tuesday. We have a group of 7th graders who have really committed themselves to unified practices throughout the year and have worked to promote the day throughout the school under the direction of Alana Cosgrove.
We are looking forward to our second 6th grade orientation night on Monday and hope you are able to attend the Bridge Family Workshop presentation on Thursday.
Please peruse the newsletter for the awesome things our students are doing, announcements and resources.
Have a great weekend.
Important Reminders of Note
At 7:40am, students enter a Ready to Learn Zone and are asked to put away and turn off cell phones, earbuds and to remove hats/hoodies. If you have messages for your child, please support our efforts to keep students focused on learning by calling the main office at 860-233-8230 rather than calling your child's cell phone or texting them between 7:40am and 2:50pm.
In addition, we reminded students they should go to the nurse if they are ill instead of texting parents/caregivers to pick them up. It is important that the nurse evaluate students when they are not feeling well. They will most certainly call you to pick up a child as needed.
Finally, we reminded students that as they change over their closets in preparation for warmer weather, they should review the dress code guidelines so they are in compliance. It is always good practice to have a change of clothes in a student's locker just in case.
We appreciate your partnership and support.
Students in Action
KP's Learning in Pictures
KP Student Places 3rd in the CT State Spelling Bee
Congratulations to 6th grader Anthony H. from the Turquoise team for representing KP last Saturday at the Regional Scripps Spelling Bee at Quinnipiac University. Anthony joined sixty-three students in the competition and placed 3rd among the top spellers.
Please enjoy a few great pictures of our powerful essayists! They attended the Rotary Writing contest celebration today. They did a wonderful job with this year's theme, "Be a Gift to the World," and represented King Philip as kind, thoughtful students and citizens.
Congratulations to: Kaitlyn C., Monica W., Samantha A., Lauren S., Steven T., Kali D., Peyton J., Charles W. and Helena S.
Unified Basketball Brings Home the Gold!
Student Donation Request
Hello, this is Jordan Shefsky. I am collecting art supplies for the residents at the Hebrew Home and Hospital for a community service project. I have a box by the front office and am collecting used t shirts, new and unused foam sheets, glue sticks, shrinky-dinks, grocery store bags, colored pencils, brushes, crayons, colored tissue paper, markers, and used & new dollhouse furniture. I will be collecting these items through the end of March. Thank you in advance for your support.
Parent/Guardian/PTO NEWS
Thank you from Lend-A-Hand
SHOP4KP
Save the Date and Buy Tickets!
West Hartford's Cookin' 2016
April 2, 2016
6:30 - 9:00pm
West Hartford Town Hall Auditorium
Join West Hartford's "Celebrity" Chefs as they don chefs' aprons for an evening of food sampling, fun and silent & live auctions to benefit the Foundation for West Hartford Public Schools. To buy tickets click here.
Camp Fair on March 19th
Click on the link for more information: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B8VH2Eh7ZcftSkVwSmlrbF9rRDdVSkNUdThjb05QUWZud0hF.
Family/Friends Dash
The idea is “The Amazing Race” or “Urban Challenge” meets the Mandell JCC!
The Family/Friends Dash will be Saturday, March 19th from 5:30-7:30PM.
Click on the link for more information: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B8VH2Eh7ZcftWDAwV095X21BQlE.
Fern Street Community Kitchen - Free Community Breakfast & Lunches
The Fern Street Community Kitchen has free community lunches and breakfasts for neighbors in need at The Universalist Church, 433 Fern Street, West Hartford.
Community Breakfast
Every other Monday, Foodshare Mobile Truck will be distributing food in our back parking lot from 8:45 - 9:30am.
Breakfast is served from 9:00 - 10:00am on March 28, April 11, April 25.
Community Lunch
12:00 - 1:30pm - March 19, April 16.
For more information about the Fern Street Community Kitchen,860.233.3669, communitylunch@westhartforduu.org, communitybreakfast@westhartforduu.org.
Parent/Guardian Resources
Articles/Blogs of Interest
Events to Attend
West Hartford Special Education PTO (SEPTO)
Wednesday, March 23 at 7pm
Finding Your Advocacy Style
For many parents, navigating the special education process is extraordinarily overwhelming. It can become even more so when disagreements arise between the parents and the school team about the child’s program.
As seasoned professionals who work with parents and school districts in PPT & IEP meetings almost every day, Attorney Jennifer Laviano and advocate Julie Swanson have learned which parental advocacy styles are effective, and which ones are not. Further, having insight into what drives administrative decision making can be a valuable tool for parents as they strive to have their child’s educational needs met. Join us for this informational and entertaining session, Finding Your Advocacy Style with Jen and Julie.
Advocate Julie Swanson and Special Education Attorney Jennifer Laviano are of co-founders of YourSpecialEducationRights.com
Location: Sedgwick Middle School, 128 Sedgwick Road, West Hartford (Enter through Wardwell Rd entrance)
Saturday, March 26 at 2pm
Farmington Miniaure Golf & Ice Cream Parlor’s 20th Anniversary Easter Egg Hunt
This year’s event will feature a Sensory-Friendly Easter Egg Hunt at 2pm after the crowds have gone and the music is turned off. Hosted by Mike Stacy of Lite 100.5 it will be a fun event for everyone! Farmington Miniature Golf and Ice Cream Parlor is located at 1048 Farmington Avenue, Farmington CT 860-677-0118
Coming up in April…
Friday, April 1 at 9:30am
Coffee & Conversation at Panera - Bishops Corner
The first Friday of the month, parents of children receiving special educations services meet for coffee and a chance to talk & make new friends in a casual setting.
In the Community
The Addams Family, March 18 & 19
The Addams Family features an original story, and it's every father's nightmare. Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family. A man her parents have never met. And if that weren't upsetting enough, she confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must do something he's never done before - keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday's "normal" boyfriend and his parents. The weird and wonderful antics come to devilishly delightful life in Conard High School's production of The Addams Family. Come join in the fun. We'll leave the lights off for you.
Performances will take place in the Conard High School Auditorium (110 Beechwood Road, West Hartford) on March 18 at 7:00, and March 19 at 7:00. Tickets are $15.00 and are available at the door, however to insure availability purchasing your tickets in advance is recommended: www.conardhighschoolmusical.com
*There is a limited number of wheelchair accessible handicap seating in the Conard High School Auditorium.* Questions? Please contact Anne Coon at conardmusical@whps.org
Hall High School's Pops 'n Jazz Extravaganza
March 18, 19, 7:30 PM
The 58th annual production of Pops 'n Jazz, featuring Hall High School's acclaimed jazz bands, dancers, and singers, opens March 11, with additional performances March 17, 18, and 19. Doors open at 7:00 p.m.and performances begin at 7:30 p.m.
New online ticketing system with ASSIGNED SEATING. Ticket Website: http://hallhighjazz.tix.com. Tickets are $18 for adults and $14 for students. Tickets may be purchased in person at the Hall High box office and online. Box office hours will be Monday - Friday, 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Saturdays 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., and Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 7:00-8:30 p.m. For more information, please call the Pops 'n Jazz hotline at (860) 929-5151, or visit www.hallhighjazz.com.
Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day on Tuesday, April 12th from 12:00 to 8:00pm!
ALL children and families are invited to Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day on Tuesday, April 12th from 12:00 to 8:00pm! Since 1979, Ben & Jerry’s has been saying “thank you” to fans around the world by sponsoring Free Cone Day. This year, Ben & Jerry’s of West Hartford Center has selected Connecticut Children’s Medical Center as their charity of choice for their Free Cone Day Celebration! On this special day, the register doesn’t open. One hundred percent of event proceeds benefit the kids at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center.
Free Ice Cream Cones, Live Music & Much More! Enjoy the Sounds of The Rivermud Band from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.