The Roar
March 2021
Healthy Breakfast for a Great Start
We've all heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but is it really? Breakfast means to break the fast. It refuels the body for the tasks of the day. We would never expect an athlete to take the field immediately after a fast. They need energy for their task. Our students' brains also need energy for the task of learning.
As soon as our students arrive at school, they begin learning different subjects and participating in physical activity. They don't have time for their brains to come awake. They need fuel to wake the brain before they get here.
A healthy breakfast can reduce the risk of childhood obesity, helps increase concentration and problem solving skills, and aids in remembering and retrieving information already learned.
Studies have shown a direct correlation between eating breakfast and test scores. Students who regularly eat a healthy breakfast perform better on their tests than those who skip it or eat poorly.
Give your students their best shot at success by making sure they eat well in the morning. Healthy breakfasts don't have to be prepared feasts. Try some of these choices:
- Whole grain cereal with non-fat milk
- Oatmeal with raisins or fresh fruit
- Fresh fruit like oranges, grapes, mangoes, berries, apples, kiwis, etc., served alone or with yogurt or cereal
- Smoothies
- Omelets
- Bran muffins and low fat milk or orange juice
- Whole grain waffle served with ricotta cheese and fruits
- String cheese and whole grain crackers
Celebrate Reading Week March 1-5
Monday
Mo Willems "I will Surprise My Friend" - dress like a friend in a KG shirt
Tuesday
Eric Carle "Rainbow Fish" - wear colorful socks
Wednesday
Laura Numeroff "If you Give a Pig a Pancake" - wear favorite clolor
Thursday
Marcus Pfister "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" - wear as many colors as you can
Friday
Margaret & H.A. Reyes "Curious George" - wear a fun hat
Online Scholastic Book Fair a Success!
Enrollment is Open Online!
We are so excited about our online enrollment! We have over 100 students currently in the enrollment process, many of them from new families. We're especially excited that our Upper School is growing!
We've added a page on our website for returning family enrollment. You'll find step-by-step instructions about how to enroll under the "Enroll Now" button. Enrollment fee is $350 beginning March 2nd.
Please help us spread the word about King's Gate. We believe families are hungry for an option to public school and may not realize we're here. We have a special link for new families to enroll. Feel free to share it with your friends and family.
Please call us at 405-283-0144 if you have any questions.
Village Community Open House Thurs., March 25
Summer at King's Gate
Cost is $270 (includes enrollment fee). Get enrollment forms here. Summer at King's Gate is open to anyone. Invite your friends and neighhbors!
Amazing gRace April 28
Our Amazing gRace will be held on Wednesday, April 28th at our Surrey Hills campus! How can you support King's Gate Christian School? You can sponsor a student! Amazing gRace packets will go home soon with students and is the easiest fundraiser ever! All you do is address 12 envelopes and return them to the school. Students will address and sign the letters, put them in the envelopes and send them to their family and friends. We will mail the letters from the school. All donations are tax deductible!
Our goal is $35,000. If each student’s 12 sponsors give $30 we will raise nearly $50,000! If your donation is received before April 9th and is over $250, your student's name will be listed on the t-shirt! Businesses are welcome as sponsors too! Sponsorship information is in the packet your student is bringing home.
Here is what we plan to do with your donation. Tuition provides 80 percent of the funds needed to cover a King’s Gate education. Your support of our fundraising efforts through the Amazing Race and annual Gala helps to provide the remaining 20 percent of the funding needed to support our wonderful classrooms. Donations like yours help us hire and keep qualified and loving teachers, maintain and improve our cool playground and Wonderground Outdoor Classroom, as well as obtain furniture and equipment for the Next Generation Building where we’re expanding to 12th grade.
Watch for your packet soon and join us in the Amazing gRace!
Staff Highlights
Meet Witney Harshaw
I teach 3rd grade. This is my first year at King's Gate and my 6th year of teaching. Fun facts about me:
- I love DIY projects and home improvements
- I enjoy competing in sports.
Meet Emma Steedman
My name is Emma Steedman and I've had the joy of being at King's Gate since 2012! I began as a teacher's aide, floating in and out of classes until settling in our early childhood rooms! Teaching preschool has now become my passion and if I could watch my students learn all day every day, I would never leave my classroom! I started my schooling career as a King's Gate Lion and then was homeschooled until graduation, and am now working towards my Bachelor's in Family Life Education-Child Development at UCO. I come from a big family with 4 sisters and I'm so thankful to be close with my family! I'm thrilled to marry my best friend, Hunter, in July of 2021 and look forward to starting our lives together! I hope to be at King's Gate until I'm old and gray and continue being changed by the tiny humans that come to my room.
Fun Facts:
- I have a pet hedgehog named Mable who frequently visits the King's Gate halls.
- My favorite verse is John 1:16 "For from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace."
- My favorite teaching moment is seeing how children respond as I tell them about Jesus! (Carpool is a close second. 😉 )
Meet Cassie Kuykendall
My name is Cassie Kuykendall and I work at the front desk and support our office staff wherever I can. This is my 4th year at King’s Gate. I have been married to my amazing husband Kile for almost 12 years. Our daughter Kaylee is in 2nd grade and has attended King’s Gate since preschool. Currently the only pets we have are in a fish tank with our newest edition Pinchy, the blue crawdad. We love to travel and are scratching places off our bucket list almost every break. We’re currently trying to visit all 63 national parks.
Fun facts about me are:
- I ran my first half marathon in 2017 and I’m hoping to run another as soon as this pandemic settles down.
- I worked as a veterinary technician for 6 years. I was working my way to go to vet school but I met my husband and didn’t want to move to Stillwater 😊 I know now I’m right where God intended me to be.
- Our family dog passed away in August. I steal my neighbor’s dog while they’re at work – with their permission of course. You can often see me in carpool on Tuesdays with Charlie. We’re hoping to get a puppy this spring.
COVID-19 UPDATE MARCH 2021
COVID-19 UPDATE March 2021
In February we had one individual who was positive for the virus. Our 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, and Upper School classes were quarantined due to direct exposure to COVID. None of the individuals, who were quarantined due to direct exposure, ever developed symptoms nor tested positive for the virus. All individuals completed the required period of quarantine before returning to school.
We currently have one individual out due to testing positive, and two classes (Kindergarten and 1st Grade) out due to direct exposure. None of these are school related cases.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION to remember:
A “direct exposure” is one in which an individual is directly exposed (has close contact, i.e. are within 6 feet for ≥ 15 minutes) to a COVID-positive individual. An “indirect exposure” is one in which an individual is exposed to someone else who was previously, directly, exposed to a COVID-positive individual.
Per the Back to School Guidelines, Canadian County Health Department (CCHD) is contacted for notification and recommendation in each situation. For direct exposures, the exposed individuals are required to quarantine for 14 days following their last day of direct exposure, even if they test negative at any point in time during the 14-day quarantine period. For individuals who experience an indirect exposure, quarantine not required, as per CCHD and the CDC, there is “little to no risk” of contracting the virus in this type of exposure.
Notification and follow-up with affected individuals/families takes place in each situation while also maintaining compliance with HIPAA regulations.
We are continuing to grow in our knowledge and experience in responding to exposures, and we appreciate the input and information that many of you have shared with us regarding your own experiences and desire for better and ongoing communication and information.
As always, we pray daily for exceptional health and safety for our students, teachers, and all our King’s Gate families. May God keep you and bless you, each and every one.
Important Dates and Events
March 1st-15th
Celebrate Reading Week
Tuesday, March 9th
Individual & Class Pictures, Surrey Hills Kindergarten-9th Grade
Wednesday, March 10th
Individual & Class Pictures, Surrey Hills Primer, Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten classes
March 15-19
Spring Break
March 25
The Village Open House for prospective families, 5:30pm-6:30p
Friday, April 2nd
NO SCHOOL - Good Friday
Monday, April 5th
NO SCHOOL - Easter Monday
April 19-27
Terra Nova Testing (2nd Grade & Up)
King's Gate Christian School
Email: kgcs@kingsgateschool.com
Website: www.kingsgateschool.com
Location: 12421 N Mustang Rd, Yukon, OK, USA
Phone: 405-283-0144