Kulshan Connect
May 21, 2021
In our Kulshan Community, we are courageous, kind, and committed!
Si desea esta información en español llame al 360-676-6456.
REMINDER! Friday, May 21: No School
June 2: MOD Pizza Fundraiser
Save the date! Support Kulshan ASB by getting dinner (or lunch! Or both!) at MOD pizza on Wednesday, June 2, and support Kulshan ASB! Mention "Kulshan ASB" when you order in person or by phone, or use the code GR160387K for online or app orders. https://www.groupraise.com/events/160384
COVID Vaccine Clinics
- PeaceHealth is offering clinics Tuesdays and Thursdays 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Wednesdays and Fridays 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. They recommend scheduling an appointment through their online system. Walk-ins are accepted but patients may experience a wait, depending on the volume. Spanish Medical Interpreters are onsite Thursday evenings from 4:45 – 7 p.m.
- Unity Care is scheduling appointments for Pfizer first doses at their Bellingham clinic this week and have a number of appointments available. Families can schedule by calling the vaccine line (360-746-3098) or using the online scheduling link.
Learning Together
Part of our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion work in Bellingham is examining our curriculum to see if the voices and images of traditionally marginalized students and families are represented. Thank you to the KMS families and students who have recommended books, movies, clips, articles, and personal stories to integrate into our curriculum across all of our content areas. Last year our staff read Zaretta Hammond's book Culturally Responsive Teaching & the Brain, and this year we have continued to integrate more diverse perspectives and curriculum. It has been a joy to hear your thoughts and stories. Thank you.
Free High School Courses
KMS Garden Update!
Our gardening classes are in full swing at Kulshan! You can find our gardening and cooking resources on our website, by signing up for our newsletter, or by following us on Facebook or Instagram @CommonThreadsFarm. We have been planting a lot of leafy greens, peas, carrots, potatoes, and much more in the garden the past couple of weeks. We are looking for Spring and Summer garden care volunteers, if this is something you would be interested in, you can read about it and sign up here!
Please Bring a Water Bottle!
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in BPS
We are happy to share this May 2021 newsletter listing heritage months, cultural celebrations, holidays and other information supporting the important work of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in Bellingham Public Schools. Please visit the EDI webpage for an ongoing dialogue and focus on this key strategy of The Bellingham Promise. You can also reach out directly to the director of equity, diversity and inclusion Janis Velasquez Farmer.
High School Merchandise
Meal Distribution
Meal distribution continues every Wednesday between 4:00 and 5:30 p.m. Families can still pick up a 3 day meal, even if the kids are back 4 days. The 3 day meal includes all the fruit & veg, the scratch cook entree and milk. School locations are now: Birchwood, Happy Valley, Northern Heights, Roosevelt, Wade King, Fairhaven, Kulshan, Shuksan, Whatcom. The community locations are: Evergreen Ridge Apartments, Regency Park Apartment Complex, Sterling Meadows, Sudden Valley Community Center, and Bakerview Mobile Park.
Kulshan Pantry Re-Stock
We are stocking up our pantry for our Kulshan community! Please sign up here to help stock up our pantry for our KMS families in need. Items can be dropped off in our Kulshan main office on Wednesdays 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM, during Wed food pick up from 4:00-5:30 PM, or on Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri from 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM. If you have any questions, please contact Sierra Truesdale, KMS school counselor. If you are a family in need, please don’t hesitate to reach out for support.
District Middle School Math Plan
Sixth grade families: On April 20th, you received an email update from the Department of Teaching and Learning regarding seventh grade math. With a few exceptions based on math assessment data, sixth graders will move into Math 7 next year. Math 7 meets all the learning expectations associated with state standards for seventh grade. We believe strongly in the developmental and academic importance of middle school math courses. Students in Math 7 will be on track to take Algebra 1 in their first year of high school, which is the expected math course for most ninth graders. For more information, please visit our middle school math Q&A webpage, or reach out your student's Math teacher or counselor.
Kulshan Intramurals
Our middle school intramurals will run from Monday, April 19 until Friday, June 11. We are offering Co-Ed Cross Country, Co-Ed Soccer, and Co-Ed Unified Soccer. Practices will take place at Kulshan from 2:30 – 4:00 PM. There are no fees and no sports physical required. Students will sign up using Final Forms. Parents were sent a link to Final Forms link in their email. If you have questions about intramurals, please reach out to Cindy Schuitema or Kevin Terpstra. More information can be found here.
Youth Peace Poetry Contest open for submissions
April is National Poetry Month, and the Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center (WDRC) Youth Peace Poetry Contest is open now for submissions! The contest is open to all youth ages 4 to 18 who live in Whatcom County. For more more information or to submit a poem, please visit the WDRC website. In related Poetry News, Bellingham Public Schools is sharing poems using the hashtag: #BPSPoetry. This is a great chance to share student poems in more public way.
Energy Assistance Available
If you are in need of energy assistance during this ongoing pandemic, please contact 360-255-2912 to schedule an appointment or visit this website.
Now Hiring in BPS
We are hiring in Bellingham! If you have questions about jobs available in our schools, please visit the district website at and click on “jobs”. For assistance with questions about temporary substitute assignments, you may contact Gayle Wright, Substitute Coordinator by emailing or by calling the office at (360) 676-2784 or (360) 398-5572. Questions about other job opportunities in our schools may be addressed by contacting Kara Silsbee, Employment Specialist by emailing or by calling (360) 319-4999.
Health Attestation Form
If you plan on sending your child back to in-person school at Kulshan, parents are required to complete this Health Attestation form before each quarter starts. Daily health screens are mandatory for in-person school to take place. Parents will be expected to screen their students before arriving at school every day. We are required by the state health department, the county health department and the state superintendent of public instruction to have a health attestation. This attestation will be completed quarterly and will be kept on file as evidence of your agreement to the terms. Thank you!
Parent-Student Handbook
Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center
The Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center has many valuable opportunities for families. These include information, education, mediation, conflict resolution, and more. Check our their website for events such as Parent Nights and FREE virtual workshop series for youth (ages 7-12) and teens (13-18). https://www.whatcomdrc.org/
Scholastic Book Orders
Did you know you can access Scholastic Book Orders through the Kulshan Library? Here is a link. Our class (library) code is GLB8R. You can browse flyers here or search for many, many other titles online. Books ordered can ship to homes or to Kulshan for pickup. Ship-to-home is free for orders over $25, and you can also get a free $5 Book Pick with the code READS. Scholastic is a great way to find books for a good price. Every purchase supports the library and classroom collections.
Is Your Information Correct?
Is your contact information for your student up-to-date? You can do this online now through our Skyward Family Access program. Please take a few minutes to log into Skyward Family Access to review your contact information, mailing address, emergency contacts and to complete the Annual Health Concerns form for your student. If you need your login and password information for Skyward Family Access, please contact me and I can provide that information. Please note that if you need to correct or update your address and/or mailing address, you will have to contact me with the new information (families do not have permission to update addresses online). If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our registrar Viry Ferreira.
KMS Counselor Corner
We acknowledge that these are challenging times for our students. Our school counselors, Sierra Truesdale and Aaron Tiger, want to provide you with some information and resources. Feel free to reach out to our counselors via email or phone as well so we can give you specific resources for your situation.
Aaron Tiger - Counselor (cell 360-739-3991)
Sierra Truesdale - Counselor (cell 360-739-4138)
Viry Ferreira - KMS Registrar
Updated WA State COVID Recommendations
Check this WA State COVID website for updates regarding restrictions and social gatherings. Specific information about travel recommendations can be found here. Bellingham Public Schools have also added their own COVID 19 dashboard, available on the district website and at this link. Governor Inslee's news and media releases can be found here. The CDC has listed their mask updates here.
Free COVID Tests in Whatcom County
Did you know that our Whatcom County Health Department has free, drive-up COVID tests? To arrange a COVID test, visit testdirectly.com or call 360-778-6075. Also, our Kulshan school nurse is Amy Eisenhauer, BSN, RN and she can be reached at 360-303-4667.
It's Easy to Join KMS PTSA
LGBTQ Support for Families and Youth
Weekly Announcement Videos
Power Outage?
If there is a power outage, our staff will help your student catch up. Please notify Jeneen Durand, our Attendance Secretary by calling 360-647-6877 or emailing kms.attendance@bellinghamschools.org . If a teacher loses connection during a class, students should stay on the class for a few minutes while the teacher logs back in. Then check students’ email and MS Teams for instructions from the teacher. More information can be found here on our KMS website.
Skyward/ Family Access
Are you in need of family support?
If you are in need of services or help with domestic abuse or sexual assault the local agency DVSAS (Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services) is able to help. Here is a link that helps to explain their role and provides contact information. You can also call our KMS Counselors Aaron Tiger 360-739-3991 or Jen Newbauer cell 360-739-4138.
Bellingham Food Bank Schedule
Folks may visit twice per week and may choose among all locations which they visit. They will join a car queue and when it’s their turn, volunteers will provide pre-packed food boxes without requiring person to person contact. There will be a bike or walk-up option as well. Pick up for up to 2 families per visit, no paperwork required. Check out the Bellingham Food Bank to learn more or to make a donation.
District Resources Website
Kulshan Contacts
Kevin Terpstra, Assistant Principal
Jeneen Durand, Attendance Secretary
We love you and we miss you and we hope you are staying safe and healthy!
Kulshan Middle School 1250 Kenoyer Drive Bellingham, WA 98229 360-676-4886