Kulshan Connect
November 23, 2022
In our Kulshan Community, we are courageous, kind, and committed!
Important KMS Dates
Wednesday, November 23: Early Release @ 12:00
Thursday, November 24: No School
Friday, November 25: No School
Thursday, Dec 1: ASB Fundraiser
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!
Kulshan Progress Reports Sent Home
Looking for an update on your student’s progress? Paper copies of your student’s progress were sent home in your child’s backpack last Wednesday, November 16. You can also view your student’s progress in Skyward. If you have questions about your Skyward log in or password, please reach out to our KMS Registrar, Tatiana Samora. Thank you!
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.
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.
MAD HOPE
Beginning the week of Nov 28, we are lucky to have MAD HOPE educators, a suicide prevention organization, lead our T-Bird Time classes. They present in T-bird classes from Monday to Thursday on their scheduled week. "Our mission is to eliminate youth suicide by empowering school communities with opportunities for interpersonal connectedness, accurate information about youth suicide and practical tools designed to prevent it." To learn more about MAD HOPE, click here.
Babysitter / Childcare Needed
Want to earn some extra money? We are looking for a childcare worker! Our Strengthening Families meetings start Monday, February 6. We need a helper in our Kulshan Library from 5:30-8:00 pm for about 8 weeks. Let us know if you or someone you know would like to help! Email or call Aaron Tiger. Thank you!
Pre-Winter Sports at KMS
Our Pre-Winter sports season has started! 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.
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
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.
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.
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