Cougar Chronicles
Kent Center School's Monthly Principal Newsletter
January 2020
Jump Rope for Heart
Geography Bee
Basketball
What's New at KCS?!?
January Student Monthly Challenge:
Students are working hard to help others at KCS! Throughout the month of January, students were recognized for helping their classmates.
Honor Roll Celebration
We want to congratulate the 49 middle school students who made the Honor Roll during Trimester 1. Forty of those students joined us today for a pizza party to celebrate their success.
Absences & Family Trips
Please note: Submission of a request will not guarantee excused absences.
Additional important information to note in the Parent/Student Handbook, the following section:
(pg. 7)
Connecticut State law requires parents to make sure that their children between the ages of 5 to 18 attend school regularly. Daily attendance is a key factor in student success, thus any absence from school is an educational loss to the student. Make-up work is not provided ahead of time. Missed school work must be made up when the child returns to school.
Middle School Math
At the end of their 6th-grade year, students will be given an assessment to help determine Algebra readiness. Teachers will use the results of this assessment in addition to benchmark assessment scores, academic achievement grades, and learning practice grades to assess students' readiness. A letter will be sent home to parents/guardians informing you of the date of the assessment, along with the choice to opt-out of the assessment if you do not want your child to be assessed for Algebra readiness.
Students who are placed on the Algebra trajectory will take a compacted 7th-grade math class and Algebra I in 8th grade. Students who are placed in the compacted math class will be expected to meet proficiency in order to continue on to Algebra I. Students will be notified of their placement before the end of the school year.
Students who are currently in 7th grade will take the assessment at the end of this school year. Teachers will use the same criteria as stated above to assess their readiness for Algebra I next year. The students who are placed in Algebra I may have math work to complete over the summer to prepare for the class. This will be determined at the end of the year.
If you have any questions regarding this process, please email Mrs. Mott.
School Safety Updates
You may have heard your children talk about our new safety procedures. The basic protocol during emergency situations followed by students has remained the same. Teacher responsibilities during these procedures have evolved to improve school safety and make it easier to manage. Utilizing technology, we can streamline safety and connect the important people that make safety happen in our building.
We are very appreciative of the students' patience and flexibility as we navigate our way through this new system. We are confident that the CrisisGo platform is well aligned with the needs of our school and addressing all of the specific components of school safety.
LunchTime Payment Portal
Parents now have access to the LunchTime system from home! Money can be added to your child(ren)'s lunch account using a credit/debit card or bank account routing number. Once a log-in is created, you can also set up low balance reminders. Directions are linked below for anyone that missed the email.
Parents can still send in cash or check with their child(ren) directly to the cafeteria.
Handbook Reminders
We will officially adjust the wording in the handbook for 2020-2021, but students have been warned that AirPods will fall under the wording in the cell phone policy. These items are not necessary to wear in school and students will be asked to remove them at the front door. Thank you for supporting these procedures at home in conversations with your child(ren).
From the Wellness Commitee:
Scenes from January days
T2 FLEX
Grade 2 Field Trip
Student Monthly Challenge
School Uniform Trial
Fifth graders use themselves as research and wear school uniforms to gather firsthand information.
Mystery Readers
Hands on Math
Board of Education
Chairperson: Martin Lindenmayer
Vice-Chairperson: Gonzalo Garcia-Pedroso
Secretary: Dana Slaughter
Member: Scott Trabucco
Member: Melissa Roth-Cherniske
Member: Jenn Duncan
The January Board of Education meeting was held on Wednesday, January 8, 2020
The Board recognized the eighth-grade students who were named as KCS Scholars. Students in eighth grade who have achieved Honor Roll status 8 out of 10 trimesters since fifth grade were recognized.
The Board made a motion to approve a 12:10 dismissal on Friday, April 10 due to an increased number of staff absences.
Pam Vogel and Sam Herrick gave a presentation of all the shared services of the RSSC.
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 5, 2020, in the Kent Center School library.
If you plan to attend meetings, please enter through the exterior doors near the library and computer room.
*Social Media*
There are two Kent Center School Facebook pages- @KCSCougars is the best way to find the right one!
Coming to a school near you in February!
- February 5: 1:00 Dismissal
- February 5: BOE meeting
- February 10: Regional Band/Chorus Concert @ KCS
- February 11: PTO meeting
- February 12: Chocolate Fest
- February 17 & 18: No School
- February 21: Intramural Basketball Starts
About Us
Website: www.kentcenterschool.org
Location: 9 Judd Avenue, Kent, CT, USA
Phone: 860-927-3537
Facebook: facebook.com/kentcenterschool
Twitter: @KCSCougars