KMS 6th Grade Parent Update
Spring Break
Thoughts for the week:
Hello,
Conferences this last week, make the first week back after Spring Break a long week. KMS seemed to have a good turnout. I'd like to say a special thank you to KMS PTSA for organizing the Parent-Teacher Potluck on Wednesday and to all the families who brought a dish to share. The food was delicious and the teachers and staff greatly appreciated the meal.
Upcoming social events for 6th graders will include Friday Night Live (6-8th grade), a 6th/7th grade end of the year dance, and a Friday Night Live for next year's 6th graders. If you are available to help with any of these events, give the office a call.
As always, if you have questions or concerns please call or send an email.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Norton
Grizzly Tickets are handed out to students who are "caught" doing great things. Whether they are demonstrating kindness, respect, citizenship, or any number of awesome characteristics, being awarded a Grizzly Ticket will earn them one entry into our weekly drawing.
Weekly drawing winners get to spend the following week at the KING/QUEEN GRIZZLY lunch table. This table has the privilege of being called first to get their lunch trays and the first to be dismissed to their next class. Occasionally, King or Queen Grizzly will get to use the microphone to dismiss all the other tables, too! CONGRATULATIONS and enjoy your reign!!
*ALL Grizzly Tickets awarded since the start of the school year will be entered in a big prize drawing in May!
6TH GRADE RECESS CLUBS
Music (Wed/Thu/Fri)
Mr. Gibson
WIN (What I Need)
Mrs. Kondro
Board Games (Tue/Thu)
Ms. Doud
G & L GROUP
Mondays
2:30 - 3:30pm
WIN Cafe
TUTORING & HOMEWORK PROGRAM
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays
3:45 - 5:00pm
KMS Commons
CHESS CLUB
Wednesdays
3:30 - 5:00pm
KHS Room 127
YEARBOOK CLUB
Tuesdays
3:30 - 4:15pm
Room 217
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Wednesdays
3:30 - 4:30pm
Room 103
Next week of March 27-31, we will watch the movie, The Mighty, which is the movie adaptation of the book we’ve been reading for the past several weeks, Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick. This movie was rated PG-13 over 20 years ago in 1998 when ratings were much more strict than they are today. You can watch the trailer here. I really like the movie and past students have, as well. I feel it is an appropriate movie and that it would give us a great place to jump into necessary skills our students need.
The purpose of viewing this film is to practice the skill of compare and contrast, as well as to use this as a common “text” for us to discuss persuasive/argumentative writing before taking the AK Star. We will be using the prompt, “Which is better: the book or the movie?” or “Which does this this scene/part better?”. With these prompts, we will be reviewing thesis statements, providing evidence, and connecting back to our thesis. Having common texts that we have all read and watched will give us the ability to practice the skill together before taking the test. We will be returning to the skill of persuasive writing at the end of the year.
According to the Motion Picture Association of America, this movie is rated PG-13 for “elements of violence and peril”, which directly reflect the action that we’ve already read in the book. If you would like further information on this film, please review Common Sense Media Rating 12+ and/or the IMDB Parent Guide. I encourage you to review it if you are concerned about its rating. Parents on the website recommend the movie for kids ages 10+.
Please send me an email if you would NOT like your child to view this movie, and other accommodations will be made for the student to compare Freak the Mighty to another movie or short story TBD. My email is abby.franks@kibsd.org.
If you have any questions or concerns, please email me.
This week students posted their Culture Videos to Flip. We spent time attending the “Virtual Culture Fair” by viewing and evaluating videos. We practiced giving relevant and appropriate feedback in the form of comments, questions, and connections. Students answered questions related to our unit on culture to prepare for participation in a Socratic Seminar, a respectful dialogue to deepen understanding of a topic.
In math this week, students completed a poster on equivalent ratios and did a beautiful job! If your child has not completed this, they should talk to me ASAP about when they can do this. We have been working on making equivalent ratios using tools like number lines, diagrams, and tables to support our thinking. We will continue to work on decimal division during “multiplication and division Mondays” and next week we will be getting into unit rates (“how much for 1 of something?”) and then percentages. Students did not have written homework last week because of parent-teacher conferences, but they WILL have a written math assignment next week. Additionally, I encourage students to work on IXL for ten minutes a day on weekdays on their recommended sections for math or any 6th grade content. Thanks for your support!
Students are continuing to work through the swim unit in PE class this week. They will need to bring their swimsuits and towels to class daily. If a student is unwell, or unable to participate in the pool, they may still earn credit for the day by completing the "dry-land training". Please email Mr. Bechtol with questions or concerns.
This week in GT, students are continuing to forge forward in their work on their individual enrichment projects, for those who have chosen to embark on them. If there is anything I can do to support your GT learner, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at kyle.deuling@kibsd.org!
HOW TO VOLUNTEER WITH US
1. Email volunteer@kibsd.org that you are interested in becoming a volunteer and let them know which volunteer opportunity you’re interested in.
2. Check your email for a message from Sterling Volunteers (TheAdvocates@sterlingvolunteers.com) and follow the steps in the email. If you don’t receive the email within 3 business days, please contact volunteer@kibsd.org
3. You will receive an email once your background check is complete, with instructions to visit a school site, complete a volunteer agreement form and present your ID to the secretary.
4. Start volunteering!
5. Any questions? Contact KMS Secretary Amanda Transano (Amanda.Transano@kibsd.org)
Contact Information
Email: hnorton01@kibsd.org
Website: www.kibsd.org/kms
Location: 722 Mill Bay Road, Kodiak, AK, USA
Phone: (907) 486-7459