KP Connection
March 2, 2018
Need to Know Dates
Friday - 3/2 - Chinese New Year Celebration @ Hibachi - 5 to 7pm
Monday - 3/5 - Emotions Matter Parenting Workshop - 6:30 to 8:30pm
Wednesday - 3/7 - Parent Conferences - 1:30pm dismissal
Wednesday - 3/7 - Artbeat Exhibition begins
Thursday - 3/8 - Parent Conferences - 12:45pm dismissal
Friday - 3/9 - Mock Trial to UCONN Law School - 1 to 4:30pm
Friday - 3/9 - KP Cares Shelter Dinner @ Immaculate Conception - 5:45pm
Monday - 3/12 - Coffee with the Principal - 9:05am
Tuesday - 3/13 - Faculty Meeting - No late buses
School News
Lead Learner Highlights
This week I have encouraged staff to focus on acts of kindness and empathy that will reverberate in our school community and beyond. One example is the picture above highlighting the heartfelt notes students wrote to the staff and students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Our 6th grade is welcoming March Madness with a focus on acts of Kindness, and I hope what you will see over the remainder of the year is our community moving in action and hope with acts of kindness. We hope that you will join us at home and share your ideas with us as well.
I hope to see many parents/caregivers on Monday night. We will have visitors from the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, and it would be great for them to have a great audience of KP Parents and Caregivers.
Spring Conference Dismissal Times
The following are our dates for Spring Conferences. If you are coming in for a conference, please take this opportunity to check the Lost & Found in the small cafeteria for any items your child may have misplaced or lost.
Wednesday, 3/7 - 1:30PM
Thursday, 3/8 - 12:45PM
If you have not received the letter about conferences, please reach out to your child's team leader.
New: Improv Club meeting every other Tuesday -Co-advised by Hall Students and Mrs. O'Reilly and Mrs. Swenson
Water for South Sudan
Turquoise Team Student Efforts in 2015 & 2016
March Intramural Offerings
We've gathered almost 200Lbs of Film Plastics!
Parent Information
www.WHSEPTO.org Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/West-Hartford-SEPTO - Follow us on Instagram at @whsepto
March 2018 Events
Friday, March 2 @ 9:30am
Coffee & Conversation
Come join some members of SEPTO for a casual get together to meet other people in town. Sit down, grab a cup of coffee or a bite to eat and mingle with other parents, caregivers or family members of children receiving special education services in West Hartford.
LOCATION: Panera, Bishops Corner
Wednesday, March 21 @ 7pm
To Medicate or Not?
Discussion and conversation with Dr. Lisa Namerow, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist from the Institute of Living.
LOCATION: King Philip Middle School, Media Center
Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/West-Hartford-SEPTO - Follow us on Instagram at @whsepto
Special Notice to current 6th and 7th Grade Parents
Bristow Middle School Enrollment
Bristow Middle School expects to have a limited number of openings for students entering grades 7 and 8 in the 2018-2019 school year. Bristow Middle School is a school of choice, drawing its diverse population from all neighborhoods in West Hartford. In the 2018-2019 school year Bristow will have an enrollment of approximately 420 students.
Students who attend King Philip or Sedgwick Middle Schools, or non-public schools who would like to be part of our enrollment for 7th and 8th grade must apply for inclusion in the process by March 21, 2018. In order to help parents make an informed choice two informational meetings will be held at Bristow Middle School on Monday, March 5, 2018 and Thursday, March 8, 2018 at 6:30 pm. Parents can choose to attend either of these meetings. Students are invited to attend these meetings with their parents.
The application form as well as more details about the process for all grades is on our website at http://bristow.whps.org/
If you would like more information about Bristow and its programs please email or call the principal, Steven Cook, at Steven_Cook@whps.org, or 231-2100.
Rethinking School Start Time Committee
Rethinking School Start Time Committee
UPDATE
New Dates: Stakeholder Surveys/Family Information Night
The Rethinking School Start Time (RSST) Committee which consists of a group of volunteer parents, students, teachers and administrators, is studying the issue of changing school start times. At the request of the Board of Education, the committee is examining the impact a change will have on all aspects of the educational program.
One important aspect of the committee’s work is to gather information from stakeholders. To that end, the committee will issue a survey for parents, teachers, and secondary school students. Originally, the committee planned to administer the surveys in February and March. The committee has secured the services of the Hanover Research Group to support the creation of a survey personalized to West Hartford’s needs. Hanover will administer the survey and work with the RSST Committee to analyze the results. The new survey window is May 1-May 15. A Family Information Night will held at 7:00 p.m. on May 3 in the auditorium at Town Hall, 50 South Main Street.
The survey and family information night are two ways for stakeholders to communicate their questions, comments and concerns about this important issue. If you prefer to use email, please direct any comments to RSST@whps.org . You are always welcome to attend a Board of Education meeting and address the Board of Education members in person during the public comment portion of the meeting.
Community Events
Microsoft Honors Women's History Month
This free, 2-hour DigiGirlz workshop is an engaging interactive way for young women ages 8-15 to understand more about how the opportunities computer science and coding open up for them. They will learn about woman who work in space; and find out that a successful career in Space Aeronautics and technology is within their reach. They will also get a hands on introduction to coding, creating their own project. Don’t miss this opportunity to meet new role models, get inspired by the pros, and get a hands-on introduction to the world of coding. -- three dates in March. Click here for more.
CT Autism Speaks Walk
Greater Hartford Walk/Rentschler Field, East Hartford
Sunday, June 3rd
March 25, 2018
10:30 am
Blue Back Square West Hartford
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in “Style”!
Run, Walk, Push Strollers or just Be Festive!
Bagpipers send you off and welcome you home!
Prizes for Best Irish Garb!
Face Painting/Irish Music/Irish Dancing and much more!
Silent Auction and After-Party at Rizzuto’s Restaurant and Bar!
Proceeds Benefit 3 Children’s Organizations
Covenant Preparatory School of Hartford
Molly Ann Tango Memorial Foundation
The Miracle League of Connecticut
Registration, Donation & Corporate Sponsorship
www.facebook.com/johnnysjogforcharity
Johnny's Jog for Charity is inspired by the short but powerful life of Johnny Moran. Johnny was born with Wieacker Wolff Syndrome, a rare debilitating condition that affects the central and peripheral nervous systems. Johnny's spirit of strength and love rose far above his many limitations. His warm smile and positive attitude toward life affected all who came to know him. The goal of Johnny's Jog for Charity 5K is to continue to share Johnny's spirit by bringing the community together with a grand St. Patrick's Day themed 5K event benefiting 3 local non-profit children's charities.
"Public Act 16-189
We believe that it is vital for all students in West Hartford Public Schools to be able to efficiently and effectively use digital tools that empower them in all phases of the learning process, including research, problem solving, content creation, communication, and collaboration. We also believe that we must be committed at all times to protecting students' privacy and providing them with a powerful and safe educational experience. To that end, the West Hartford Public Schools follow the legal requirements of Public Act 16-189 to promote the safety and security of all students and staff.
In compliance with Connecticut State Law, we update online programs used within the district that house student data. The programs may be used district-wide, in a very small number of classrooms, or with individual students. The list will be updated each time the district enters into a new contract where student data is housed. For more information on the specifics of Public Act 16-189 and updates of vendor agreements, visit www.whps.org/pa189."