KMS Up2Date
March 19, 2021
Principal's Message
I hope that everyone has had a good week. With Daylight Savings Time now in effect the days are longer, but we wish that they were a bit warmer!
The week of March 22 - 26 will be “School Spirit Week” here at KMS. Students, both in-person and virtual, will have the opportunity to participate in fun activities and friendly competitions. Please see the slide below for the themes for the week.
RICAS is coming! State testing begins on Monday, March 29 with ELA session 1 (full schedule shared below). The results of these assessments provide us with valuable data that helps us to adjust instruction, plan for professional development and curriculum improvement, for example. Mrs. Clifford, Mrs. Mary Cabral, and I were able to visit each team this past week to meet with the students to explain how and why the assessments would be administered. We are very encouraged by the growth our students have been exhibiting through their iReady assessments and we are confident that our students will continue to show improvement. Here at KMS teachers are teaching and students are learning each and every day. I would like to personally thank you for the support you have shown your children and to the adults of our school community.
I am asking that all families please take a moment to fill out the free and reduced lunch form that is shared below. Although you feel that your family will not qualify, it’s important to have as many families apply because federal funding and assistance for certain programs is based solely on the number of applications. Additionally, since the pandemic has changed the qualifications for assistance, your family may indeed be able to receive help once the grant for free lunches has expired. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions.
We have started with a new daily activity called “Teacher/Staff Positive Thoughts”. Students submit a name of a teacher or staff member whom they feel deserves public recognition. These nominations will be shared daily during announcements and we will highlight some with you all in the weekly update.
Wishing you a great week ahead,
Dennis Morrell
Principal
Monday, March 22 is "A Day"
Testing Updates
Rhode Island Statewide Assessment Program
Each spring students statewide participate in the Rhode Island statewide standardized assessments program. Students are tested in mathematics, English language arts, and science. Schools participate in these assessments in order to meet federal requirements. Assessments given include the Rhode Island Comprehensive Assessment System (RICAS) in English Language Arts/Mathematics and the Next Generations Science Assessment NGSA. Assessment results provide valuable information about students learning the knowledge and skills addressed in the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).
Test results are used to track student progress over time and inform decisions to support teaching and learning.
Learn more about our statewide assessments by clicking on the following link.
Please visit https://www.ride.ri.gov/InstructionAssessment/Assessment/ResourcesforFamilies.aspx#42781840-what-are-content-standards for more information on statewide standardized testing.
2021 Testing
This spring student participation in the statewide assessment program is more important than ever. Due to the impact of Covid, testing in Math, ELA and Science will provide us with much needed information. At this time the RI Department of Education expects that all students participate in the state assessment program so that we can:
Identify learning gaps
Learn where to target instruction
Provide additional programming for all students
Free Meal Program for Students Continues
All students enrolled in Bristol Warren Schools will continue to receive free meals through June 2021 regardless of eligibility status. However, it is important that families continue to submit updated applications if there are any changes in income or household size. The lunch application can be found here on our website. Distance Learning Grab & Go breakfast and lunch meals are offered daily for pick up at Mt. Hope High School and Kickemuit Middle School from 9:30am-10:30am. Please see these attachments for information on additional resources
8th Grade Hppenings
Virtual Future Husky Night
SurveyWorks Family Survey
Dear Parents:
The Rhode Island Department of Education is currently administering its annual SurveyWorks Family Survey, which is an opportunity for family members to provide feedback about our school community and our children’s opportunities to learn. The survey results are most useful when all families participate, so I am writing to ask you to participate in this survey.
Your views on matters like the safety of your child at school, the way students are taught, the condition of the school, and how connected you feel to this school are important. By taking this short survey, you can help our school leadership and school community to make improvements. Responses are anonymous and cannot be linked to any individual; no one can tie your responses back to you.
You can take the short survey online now thru March 31. To take the survey, visit bit.ly/ridefamily . Choose your school from the dropdown list.
Our goal is to have 250 families participate! If we meet that goal, each family will be put into a drawing for one of the four Swarovski-Touchstone Crystal gifts. The drawing will take place the week of April 5th.
Thank you,
Frank DeVall
Dean of Students
SurveyWorks Coordinator
Husky Happenings
Scoliosis Screening
Rhode Island State Law 16-21-10 requires that all school children in sixth through eighth grades are screened yearly for scoliosis by a certified school nurse-teacher. Students/families that have submitted a current yearly physical exam completed in the last 12 months by their primary MD will be exempt from the requirement.
If you prefer NOT to have your child screened at school and have your child’s primary care physician perform the screening, please complete GOOGLE FORM https://bit.ly/3qbGWyT
Your decline will remain in effect for your child's tenure at the middle school.
Contact school nurse if you wish to change your election to decline scoliosis screening.
Scoliosis is a lateral curvature of the spine, which occurs most often during adolescence. Scoliosis screening in school is performed to recognize the problem at its earliest stages. Students will view a 10 minute video, “Catch the Curve,” that explains what scoliosis is and what to expect during the screening.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-9A0OuEr14 You can view this at home with your child.
The screening consists of a visual exam of the student’s spine, shoulders, ribs, and hips both in a standing and leaning position, by the school nurse-teacher. Students will be screened individually with boys and girls done separately during PE class in the locker room. If further evaluation is recommended, parents of students who are found to have signs of a possible spinal abnormality will be notified and asked to see their own physician for consultation.
For questions, I can also be reached @ 401-245-2010 ext 2009 EMAIL: erin.welchman@bwrsd.org
Erin Welchman RN
School Nurse-Teacher
Chromebook Insurance
KMS Spirit Gear Order Form
School Improvement Team
Community Information
RI NOW’s Second Annual Contest for Rhode Island Students in grades 6-12
We are celebrating our second annual mixed media contest! We know how brilliant and inspiring the youth of Rhode Island are and we want to hear from you! Whatever type of feminist creator you are, we welcome you to participate! The best part? Your work will be rewarded and awarded throughout our state, and beyond. Tell a friend and get started on your next masterpiece!
All entries should be submitted as a PDF to rinowstudentcontest2021@rinow.org. In the email include the student’s name, grade, school, title of artwork or essay/poem, and contact details, along with name of parent or guardian and their contact information.
DEADLINE IS APRIL 1, 2021 AT 5 PM
https://www.rinow.org/art-writing-contest
Sesame Street in Communities (SSIC) Workshop Series
Rhode Island PBS Education Services is excited to announce the Sesame Street in Communities (SSIC) Workshop Series! Presented in both English & Spanish, in collaboration with RI Kids Count, Massachusetts Strategies for Children and RI & MA SEIU Education and Support Fund, SSIC’s goal is to support parents, caregivers and community providers with FREE tools and resources from Sesame Street that help increase successful outcomes for children, both in school and in life. Participants receive a complimentary Sesame Street care package, along with a certificate for PD hours, approved by the Center for Early Learning Professionals.
This workshop is intended for adult caregivers, parents and guardians, not for participation by children. Please register for either our English or Spanish sessions. Project made possible with generous support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB.)
Rhode Island Virtual Tutoring
Our names are Julia Hasseltine and Eli Weisbord and we are two RI high school students who recently created Rhode Island Virtual Tutoring (RIVT.) Our vision for RIVT is to organize and provide free one on one weekly tutoring sessions between high school tutors and younger students, giving older RI students an opportunity to share their knowledge. We hope to create a network of students of all ages around the state of Rhode Island. Tutoring in all of the general elementary level courses and many middle school classes will be offered at the program’s launch.
The two of us are extremely excited to share this project and we hope that the program continues to grow until we can ensure that no motivated student is left without the resources they need to thrive intellectually. Please pass this on to anyone whom you feel could benefit from this opportunity!
Plant a Tree
The Mt. Hope High School Environmental Club has partnered with the nonprofit organization, TreePlenish. We are hosting an event to offset the paper usage at the high school by planting trees. You can order trees through our website. We will deliver (Bristol and Warren residents only) and plant the sapling on May 1st (adhering to all Covid-19 protocols). If you’d prefer to pick up your tree (or live outside of Bristol or Warren), that’s an option as well. You can learn more about the 2 species of trees we are offering, to ensure you have the right space and environment for the tree, by visiting our website. We appreciate your support as we work to build a more sustainable future.
Place your orders by 4/1/2021 though our website:
https://www.tree-plenishevents.org/hope
Free Tutoring Opportunity Launching with Schoolhouse.world
Schoolhouse.world is a new online platform from Sal Khan, the founder of Khan Academy, that matches students around the world with free tutors. The tutors provide small-group math and SAT prep tutoring for students in grades 6-12, building on the Khan Academy curriculum. Rhode Island is one of two state-level partnerships offering this opportunity to students across the state. Registration is now live on the All Course Network (ACN) and students can sign up here on EnrollRI. There is no deadline for students to sign up (though schools will still need to approve their enrollment via the ACN), no cost to LEAs or students, and no requirement to participate. Please help us spread the word to your students, teachers, parents, and communities! More information on the partnership can be found here.
EBCAP
We at East Bay Community Action Program are pleased to be part of the COVID-19 response in Rhode Island’s east bay region. With a wide array of health and human services, we are uniquely suited to support recovery efforts in the cities and towns we serve. We are writing to you to affirm our commitment to our communities and remind you of the many services we provide which may prove helpful to you or your colleagues/contacts/constituents.
We offer integrated behavioral health and primary healthcare services (which has expanded to include COVID-19 testing, respiratory clinics, and COVID-19 vaccinations for eligible patients), dental care, a Recovery Center for individuals struggling with substance use disorder, Head Start, literacy training, food pantries, family advocates, case managers, senior services, youth services, home heating and weatherization assistance and so much more. The attached brochure provides a listing of our programs for your reference. We have also attached our highlights report of major accomplishments and activities during the past year.
Please think of East Bay Community Action Program when you need help for members of your community. We invite you to visit our website (www.ebcap.org), and if you have questions please email us at communication@ebcap.org.
Please forward this email to individuals who may benefit from our services. Best wishes to you, your staff/colleagues, and constituents for a healthy and safe 2021. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Rogers Free Library
We are excited to announce the “Healthy Body + Healthy Mind = Happy Life Challenge!” just in time to beat the February doldrums and celebrate American Heart Month! We encourage you to invest time in your mental and physical health by taking part in this month-long program! Patrons of all ages can register for the challenge. Earn badges online, and enter to win prizes! Simply put, once you have signed up in the Beanstack app, choose one healthy activity each day (for body or mind) to earn one of 28 badges.
Visit our site to get started: https://rogersfreelibrary.beanstack.org/