PANTHER PRESS
Weekly Edition, 9/7/2018
Golden Circle College & Career Fair
Students of all ages are encouraged to visit the annual Golden Circle College and Career Fair. Whether you're a freshmen or sophomore just starting to explore career options, or a junior or senior narrowing your list of college choices, Golden Circle College & Career Fair is the perfect opportunity for you to gather knowledge, make connections, and begin to make informed decisions about your future.
- Date: Sunday, September 23, 2018
- New Location: Iowa Center for Higher Education Activities Center - 2280 Bell Avenue, Des Moines (map)
- Time: 12:30 - 3 pm
College Funding Programs for Students & Families
Sept. 4–Oct. 21: Save Now, Save Later: College Savings Plan Parent Giveaway
- Open to: Parents and guardians of Iowa students in grades 6–12.
- Awards: Fifty $1,000 deposits into College Savings Iowa accounts.
- Requirements: Visit the Parent Handbook guide for important college financing information and enter contact information to register for a random drawing.
- Start at: www.IowaStudentLoan.org/SaveNow
Oct. 22–Feb. 22: Iowa Financial Know-How Challenge: Senior Scholarship
- Open to: Iowa high school seniors who will attend college in fall 2019.
- Awards: Thirty $2,000 college scholarships plus $250 to each recipient's high school.
- Requirements: Register online and then follow emailed instructions to complete two online components and a related assessment. Scholarships are awarded to the 30 students with the highest scores. A tiebreaker may be required.
- Start at: www.IowaStudentLoan.org/SeniorScholarship
March 18–April 30: College Funding Forecaster Giveaway
- Open to: Iowa high school seniors attending college in fall 2019 and their parents or guardians
- Awards: Ten $1,000 awards sent directly to each student’s college for fall 2019
- Requirements: Complete the College Funding Forecaster tool to estimate total college costs over four years and enter contact information to register for a random drawing.
- Start at: www.IowaStudentLoan.org/Giveaway
KHS Drama Department Spring Musical
Saturday Sept 8th from 10am to noon in KPAC!
Of course we want students ON Stage, but we also want students BACK Stage in areas such as...Props Design and Management, Costume Design and Management, Stage Management, House Management/Ushers, Lighting, Sound, Hair/MakeUp/Wig Design, Program/Poster Design, Promotions and MORE!
We will find a place for you to be involved!!
Any questions please email knoxvillehsdrama@gmail.com
Follow Us on Twitter and Instagram KnoxHSDrama or Like Knoxville High School Spring Musical on Facebook.
I look forward to meeting you!
Heidi Feldman, KHS Drama Sponsor
NEWS FROM 7TH GRADE
Language Arts
Seventh grade English Language Arts is taught by Mrs. Cole and Mrs.Van Wyk this year. It is the study of skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Students will develop comprehension and communication skills. Students will develop reading strategies that they will be required to apply during independent and classroom reading. Students will use the writing process to communicate effectively and efficiently. First, students will use skill taught in previous year to review and build upon, they then will develop and learn new skill and concept within the English Language Arts field.
This year in 7th grade Language Arts we will be exploring many topics from descriptive writing to poetry to two novel studies. The first unit we will be venturing through in class is centered around plot. We will be discussing the elements of plot and different types of conflict through reading three different short stories.
Math
Welcome to the 2018-19 school year. My name is Mr. Uitermarkt and I teach both 6th and 7th grade math. So far this year, we have been learning many rules and procedures for my classroom, as well as, recently starting to learn our normal classroom routines. I have spent lots of time trying to get to know your students also through various class activities. I believe in building relationships with all my students so a great deal of time has been spent in that area. I will communicate mainly by email this year, but will call when something is urgent. I always invite you to reply to any email I send home, and I value your input in your child's education. We are now fully into our curriculum and the students will start to have more work to do. Much of the work can get done here at school if the students use their time wisely while in math. I am looking forward to a great year. Please don't hesitate to email me if you have any questions. jim.uitermarkt@kcsd.k12.ia.us
Students in Mr. Vander Veer's math class have been learning about adding and subtracting integers. Students have been calculating changes to lunch and bank accounts, scores in golf and cards, and changes in temperatures.
Social Studies
Hello! My name is Mrs. Kinnamon and I teach 7th grade social studies. The main focus of 7th grade social studies is geography and global issues. Throughout the year, we will investigate many aspects of human and physical geography and makes connections to our students, school and community. Some topics that we will address include the effects of natural disasters on communities, climate change, issues with population and migration and many more. To help students begin to think like geographers, the beginning of the year will focus on defining geography and exploring tools that a geographer would use. Students did a getting to know you activity where they created graphs and mapped locations that were important to them.
If you have questions about social studies or your child’s education, please contact me at katie.kinnamon@kcsd.k12.ia.us
Science
7th grade Science will be utilizing a new web based curriculum this year called StemScopes to meet the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). In the next few weeks, students will be given their usernames and passwords for this online tool. We will be using the 5E model to learn; Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate. Over the last few weeks we have been working on procedures for using our science notebooks, working collaboratively together, learning classroom expectations, preparing to practice safety as we work on labs, and practicing problem solving. We are fortunate this year to kick the year off with a student teacher, Mr. Neal Caylor, from UNI in our classroom. The students are enjoying getting to know him and look forward to him teaching a unit focused on how organisms interact with each other in ecosystems. We are looking forward to a great year filled with new learning in science!
Below is a picture of a recent activity. The goal with this activity was to allow the students to practice using collaboration, problem solving and persevering through adversity- all important skills to use when we work together to learn more about science! Additionally, through the activity and six challenges students were forced to use both verbal and non verbal communication skills. So far only one group has powered through to accomplish mastering all six challenges! Way to go team!!!
2nd grade students practicing place value.
School Picture Day: Sept 19
We encourage parents and community members to share their time and knowledge with our students by becoming authorized volunteers. Complete a volunteer application today and return to any school building.
Elementary PTO News
Yearbook early bird discount
There is a 15% discount on the yearbook for parents who order the yearbook before Sept. 30th.
Below is the flyer with the code to our yearbook through Treering.com for purchase. Anyone who would still like a copy of last year's yearbook may still purchase one until October as well. The 15% off discount is only good on the the current yearbook which will be published sometime in May 2019. Enter our school's passcode: 1015064502971783.
Elementary PTO Meeting Minutes are posted on our page on the district website. Click here to read and please join us at our next meeting: October 4th at 5:30pm at West Cafeteria.
Thank you!
Sarah Adams, Elem. PTO Secretary
NAMI Basics Class Advocates for Mental Illness in Families
The Well is excited to host NAMI Basics beginning on September 25, led by volunteers Bev and Steve Roozeboom. NAMI Basics is a free, six-session program designed for parents and other family caregivers of children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral difficulties. The class helps parents and other family caregivers understand the illnesses that are causing those behavioral difficulties, and the family’s critical role in helping with the treatment of those illnesses.
The Roozeboom’s are passionate about what they teach through NAMI Basics because of their own personal experiences with a child with mental health issues. “As parents of a son with a mental health diagnosis, we often felt lost and alone, not really understanding what he was experiencing or why his behaviors were as they were,” Bev Roozeboom says.
“We wish we would have discovered the NAMI Basics class when our son was younger. It is an excellent resource for parents. In NAMI Basics, parents will learn the facts about mental health conditions and how best to support their child at home, at school and when they're getting medical care. Equally important, parents will learn they are not alone. We know what they’re going through, because we have been there,” said Bev Roozeboom.
NAMI Basics will run each Tuesday at The Well starting September 25 through October 30th from 6:30-9:00 pm. The class will meet at The Well Resource Center in Pella, Iowa. There are several spots still available to attend the class. If you’re interested in participating, please call 641-621-0164 ext 706, or email info@thewelliowa.org. The Well is located at 419 E. Oskaloosa Street in Pella, Iowa.
About The Well - The Well’s mission is combining the love of Christ, the help of our communities, and the strength in every person to find hope for life. The Well is an organization of people from area churches, non-profits, businesses and foundations interested in more effectively ministering to those in need in the Pella area. Through volunteers and partnerships with churches and social service agencies, we hope to be a place of encouragement and support that connects people to necessary resources.
For more information, go to: www.thewelliowa.org
Or contact: Eden Youngberg, Director of Advancement and Marketing at edeny@thewelliowa.org or call 641-621-0164 Ext 713
4H Animal Science Club
Please see the information below regarding our Animal Science Club
Lauren Petersen | Office and Horticulture Assistant
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
210 N. Iowa St., Knoxville, IA 50138
(O) 641.842.2014 (C) 515.201.1082
Parents Asked to Give Insight on Childcare Needs
Please find below PDF regarding a press release with information on the countywide child care needs project. Please contact me if you have any questions.
Cordially,
Carla Eysink, IOM
Executive Director, Marion County Development Commission
KCSD ADMIN. OFFICE
The Panther Press is a weekly collective newsletter for parents & community members. If you have an article or flyer to share, please submit to Lisa.Willis@kcsd.k12.ia.us for consideration.
Stay connected by frequenting our website or following us on social media!
- High School: www.facebook.com/KHSPanthers/ & twitter.com/KHS_Panthers
- Middle School: www.facebook.com/PanthersKMS/ & twitter.com/Panthers_KMS
- Northstar: www.facebook.com/NorthstarElementary/ & twitter.com/MrKeitges
- West: www.facebook.com/knoxvillewestelementary/ & twitter.com/pantherswest
Email: lisa.willis@kcsd.k12.ia.us
Website: www.knoxville.k12.ia.us
Location: 309 W Main St, Knoxville, IA, United States
Phone: 641-842-6551