Dear KJHS Families:

 

We have had a great start to the year!  Our current KJHS enrollment is 1,089 students, our largest number of students since we opened in 2003.  Our hallways are crowded, but we are working with students to walk on the right side and keep hands and feet to themselves (sometimes a challenge for young adolescents).

 

On Wednesday, September 1, we would like to remember a former KJHS student, Kirby Brittain, who passed away on that date in 2008.  We will honor her memory by wearing her favorite color, pink, that day.  Her brother, Spencer, is an 8th grader at KJHS.

 

Measurement of Academic Progress (MAP) computer-based testing will begin on Thursday, September 2 and run through Friday, September 24. 

Testing will take place in the morning for three teams each day.  Students will be assessed in math, reading, and language arts.  Students will be made aware of their scores and use them to set goals for growth in each subject area.  MAP testing began last year at our three middle schools.  This is the second year of its implementation, and we plan to enhance our use of the information to focus on specific learning skills for individual students.

 

Please help us by having your students arrive at school on time every day!  All students should be in the classroom at 7:45 a.m. with all of their materials and be ready to learn.  Breakfast is only served from 7:20 – 7:40 a.m.

 

Our first Activity Night, sponsored by the Pom Pons, will be held on Friday, September 10 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. for KJHS 7th and 8th grade students.  Tickets must be purchased in advance during lunch ($3.00 each).  Students must be in attendance the entire day to attend any after school events.  All students must arrive on time and be picked up by 8:10 p.m.  No student will be allowed in after 6:10 p.m.   A DJ will provide music for dancing, the cafeteria will have concessions and games, and Neuman Gym will be available for basketball and volleyball.

 

We are still collecting new and gently used books to begin our “Cavaliers Charge through a Good Book” classroom library book drive. Our goal is to provide 9,200 books for our classroom libraries.  Thank you to those who have contributed to our drive so far! 

 

KJHS will also be holding a Barnes and Noble Book Fair on Saturday, September 25 from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m.  A percentage of all purchases that are recognized as being in support of for KJHS, will go back to the school to purchase additional books. 

 

Some confusion has resulted over the request from the PE department for students to purchase a heart monitor strap for $7.  I apologize that this information was not made available for you last spring for mail-in registration or at the August walk-in registration.  All three middle schools are asking students to purchase this strap that will be used through high school with the heart monitors that the district has purchased. 40 additional straps will be available at KJHS if a student is unable to purchase one.  All straps will be kept at school by the PE teachers and washed every day that they are used.  They will be returned to students who have purchased them at the end of the school year for use the following year.  The PE departments are working together in an effort to show growth and monitor physical activity in our effort to continue to promote wellness among our students.

 

Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the late start days this year.  Our first two late start days will be Wednesday, September 15 and Wednesday, September 29.  School will begin at 8:45 a.m.  Students should not arrive at school before 8:15 a.m. on late start days.  All staff members will be participating in 90 minutes of professional development during this time.

 

The volunteer screening process should be easier this year. People who have already been through the electronic screening will only need to fill out a paper form, which will continue their monitoring.  A copy of this form is located under the News Links listed below this letter on the webpage.  Please return the completed and signed copy to the KJHS Office.

 

New volunteers will need to sign up for a background check before working in the school.  There are two ways to complete this process.  The first is to come into the school during office hours and register online on a computer in our IMC with Mrs. Ahlers.  (This only takes a few moments).  The second method is to e-mail Mrs. Knowles, our receptionist, requesting to register as a volunteer.  You will need to supply her with your full name (no “nick” names) and an e-mail address that you check frequently.  Your information will then be submitted to Bushue Background Screening by Mrs. Knowles.  You will receive an e-mail with the directions on how to complete the process.  This information will be forwarded to our Unit Office for processing.  An individual ID card will then be created and sent to KJHS for distribution.  You will be notified when this occurs, so you can stop by the KJHS Office to pick up your ID card.

 

All volunteers must have their ID card every time they come to volunteer at school. 

 

The 7th Grade Open House will be held on Monday, September 13 from 6:00-7:30 p.m.  The 8th Grade Open House will be held on the same day from 7:45-9:00 p.m. 

 

Thank you for your continued support of our school!  As always, please contact me if you have further questions, concerns, or compliments.   mehalllh@unit5.org. 

 

Sincerely,

Dr. Lynette Mehall