Kulshan Connect
May 15: Weekly Newsletter during School Closures
In our Kulshan Community, we are courageous, kind, and committed!
Si desea esta información en español llame al 676-6456.
Staff Appreciation Week
We wanted to thank our 8th graders for making this amazing video last week for our Kulshan Staff. I know it made many staff members cry - like happy/sad "we miss you" tears. It's not too late to join in with a note of appreciation. If you feel inspired, feel free send a short email of appreciation to your child's teacher(s) and other staff in Bellingham Public Schools this week. If you are posting a Thank You on social media use the hashtag #lovebhamschools.
We Are Here for You
Principal: meagan.dawson@bellinghamschools.org
Assistant Principal: kevin.terpstra@bellinghamschools.org
Registrar: viry.ferreira@bellinghamschools.org
Counselor: jennifer.newbauer@bellinghamschools.org
Counselor: aaron.tiger@bellinghamschools.org
KMS ASB Elections
Attention 6th and 7th graders! We will still hold our elections for ASB officers this spring. No matter what school looks like in the fall, we want to have student leaders in place ready to help make sure Kulshan continues to be a great place to learn and grow. Application packets are available here and are due by Friday, May 29. Candidates will submit their speech on FlipGrid, which are due by Monday, June 1. Voting will take place in early June. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Shaffer or Ms. Newbauer.
BHS Dance Tryouts
Are you going to BHS next year, and do you want to be on the award winning Dance Team? Well, the BHS Dance Team is having VIRTUAL tryouts this month! Applications are due May 26th and the tryouts will be online June 1 - 6. To find out more and to receive the application, visit us on Instagram to find the link in our profile. Or fill out the form online here. There are some steps to take care ahead of before May 26, so get started as soon as you can! If you have any questions, you can email Coach Ronni Weston .
WEB: Where Everybody Belongs
Do you want to be a WEB leader next year? WEB is our transition program that helps our new 6th grade students transition into Kulshan. Watch this WEB video to learn more! Typically, we take current 7th graders (next year's 8th graders) only, but this year we will also be accepting a few applications from current 6th graders who would like to help out. If you are creative, hard working, and kind, you are the perfect WEB leader. Here is the 7th grade application. And here is the 6th grade application! Questions? Please email Lacey Bachman, Ashlea Shepherd, or Aaron Tiger. Applications are due May 22.
Don't Forget: Register for next year!
Attention current 6th and 7th graders - - We sent an email this week with a form to choose your enrichment classes for next year. Don't forget to open that email and fill out the online form so that you have some choice in your classes! It’s quick, easy, and we would like to have these back by May 15. If you did not receive the email, or if it is buried in your inbox, reach out to us and we will resend you the link.
Online Writing Club!
Kulshan Writing Club with Sudden Valley librarian Marie Guenette is back! The club will meet on Tuesdays at 1:30 pm, via Zoom. The first meeting is May 5! Contact Mr. Shaffer if you have any questions. Join the Zoom Meeting here. Meeting ID: 454 081 8328 Password: booksrock
By May 16: Order Your Kulshan Yearbook!
Yearbooks are still available online through May 16th! You can purchase your $10 copy of the Kulshan Yearbook by clicking this link. The district has waived the credit card fee. Families will be able to pick up their yearbook when they return their district laptop for updates. If families do not pick up their yearbook, they will be mailed home, so please check that your address in Skyward is current. If you are not sure if you have already purchased a yearbook, please email Cindy Schuitema and she will confirm the status of your order.
Kulshan Library is Online!
Use this link to access our Library OneNote, where you will find how-to videos, links to activities, podcasts, virtual field trips, and more. I am also reading a poem every day on FlipGrid: click here. Comment on the poem, share one of your own, or just check in! I would love to hear from you, either on FlipGrid, email, or Instagram (@kulshanlibrary)!
Lunchtime Book Talks
Jennifer Lovchik, Teen Services Librarian at the Bellingham Public Library, invites all Shuksan and Kulshan MS students to join her for a virtual “Lunchtime” book club! During these sessions, we’ll share what we’ve been reading/watching/doing during our “stay at home” time. Join us on Wednesdays at 1:30 PM. Join the Zoom Meeting here. Meeting ID: 954 1152 4805 Password: 699134
Kulshan Daily Announcements!
Kulshan Counseling
Our counselors now have the ability to conduct virtual counseling sessions with students either by phone or by using video conferencing via Zoom. If your student would like to arrange a counseling session with Mr. Tiger or Ms. Newbauer, they can fill out a self-referral form by using this Link. If you are a parent or guardian and you would like to request counseling for your student(s), you can email Mr. Tiger or email Ms. Newbauer . Counselors will arrange counseling sessions by either emailing or calling students and/or families. Starting next weeks, counselors will have office hours (to be announced) and will be available by phone (phone numbers will also be announced). Online resources are also available here.
Sehome Cheer Tryouts
Counseling Connections
Our counselors really miss meeting and checking with our students so they have started a Flip Grid page to try to connect with kids. Each week they will be releasing 2-3 videos ranging in topics from self-care, establishing good routines, to Mood Meter Check-ins. Here is a link to their Flip Grid Page; to see more of their videos click on "Topics.” They have also started an Instagram Page and you can follow them here.
Students: Big 4 for Wellness at Kulshan
What are you doing to stay active and well? Your PE/Health teachers want to know! Each week we are asking to students to submit a record of what they are doing to stay healthy. There are two formats they can use, which are found in Microsoft Teams under the assignments tab. The Big 4 recommendations can help you as you move through the week. We hope you will join us in striving for wellness! If your student is having trouble finding any of these PE/ Health resources, please email Carrie Pasquale or Jason Sytsma. We hope you will join us in striving for wellness!
Families: Big 4 for Wellness Districtwide
Wellness in on our mind! The district wants to support our families as they seek wellness. Each week on the district web-page there are Big 4 tips listed. These include mental/emotional wellness, physical activity, social connection and reflection. Try one or all of the activities. Students can use the guidelines for the Health/PE log (above). Parents are also welcome to join in! Go to our District Mental Health page and then click on the "Self Care Big 4" tips (at the bottom). New ideas and activities will be posted each week. Follow Bellingham Public Schools on Facebook to view new ones every Wellness Wednesday through June 17. If you need help finding any of these Wellness resources, please email Carrie Pasquale.
A Message from Nurse Barb
Do you have a general student health question during our school closure? Nurse Barb is available by phone (360) 201-6390 or you can email Barb by clicking this link. We have many COVID related health questions and answers on our district website here. COVID educational materials are available in 26 languages at the Washington State Department of Health website.
Free School Lunches - ages 0-18
Bellingham Food Bank Locations
Tuesdays: Shuksan Middle School from 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Wednesdays: Christ the King on Meridian from 3:00-6:00 p.m.
Thursdays: Civic Field from 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Check out the Bellingham Food Bank to learn more or to make a donation.
Recipes, Nature Journaling, and Garden Resources
Edible Education for the Home Classroom: We love the work done by The Edible Schoolyard and are excited to share their resources for home learning around food. Follow the link to subscribe to their newsletters to receive new activities and inspiration each week. Earth Month Challenge. It’s April and one way we are celebrating our planet is by participating in a challenge dreamed up by our partner site, Oxbow Farm and Conservation Center. Engage your students by “challenging” them to find something outside to nature journal about or use Oxbow’s prompts. We recommend this resource, How to teach Nature Journaling. Kids Gardening has declared April “Garden together at home” month, and they’re hosting a contest. Feel free to encourage your students to participate.
Thunderbird Cross Country
Hey Cross Country Thunderbirds! We want you to know that you will be receiving updates from us, your coaches, with information about safe activities that you can do from home while practicing physical distancing! We will have Walk-Run challenges, workouts, and surprises for you! Stay tuned, stay connected, and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram for updates!
District Resources Website
We Miss you!
Kulshan Office Hours
Kevin Terpstra, Assistant Principal
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