Email Blasts

September 27th, 2023

Message from the Assistant Principal

Well, Fall is officially here, and we have almost made it through our first full month of school.  Curriculum night was last Wednesday and we had a great turnout!  Thank you to all our community who showed up on a Wednesday evening after probably a long day to sit in classes and learn about Kenmore.  Dr Robertson and I enjoyed getting to chat with many parents between classes and sit in classes with them.  We hope you enjoyed the opportunity to walk through your student’s schedule and meet the adults who will be working with them this year.   

Dr. Robertson and I are working our way through all of our Social Studies classes discussing some important discipline reminders on being a member of a community, managing conflict, and how we work together to stay safe and have a welcoming campus where everyone feels like they belong.   We changed our format to be a little more interactive this year.  We have some scenarios for our students to discuss and vote on the correct answer.  I was impressed at our students' ability to discuss and come to agreement on the best answers for each of the scenarios.  Overall, Kenmore students know what they need to do.  Sometimes however, they do make mistakes and it is our job to re-teach our expectations and hold them accountable and help them learn and grow.   We also emphasized that if the students just follow our pillars of being respectful, responsible, safe and engaged they will not have to worry about getting into any sort of trouble while at school.  Our district Rights and Responsibilities booklet is posted on our website as well as on the district website if you ever have questions or need to refer to it.     

By this point, your student should be settled into their classes and have a routine for “doing school”.  Just a reminder that this might be a good time to check in with your student to make sure they are still fully stocked on school supplies, and have conversations about how your student is doing in their classes.  If you have concerns - try to coach your student to come up with a plan to address missing work or academic challenges.  If they are struggling to be able to do that, contact their teacher(s) and let them know you are concerned.  As Ms. Bettelyoun stated at Curriculum night, if it is one class - contact the teacher.  If it is multiple classes that might be a good time to reach out to their counselor.  Parents and teachers need to work with our students to support them and help them grow academically.  We are enjoying getting to work with your students every day.  Thank you for sharing them with us. 

Sincerely,

Jennifer Hernandez
Assistant Principal

Events

9.27.23:     PTSA General Meeting 7pm
09.29.23:  COLT Spirit Day for students (Wear Colt Gear!)
October:   Clubs starting - More info to come
10.02.23:   Inglemoor Boys Select Basketball Tryouts
10.04.23:   KMS Choral Music Boosters Fundraising 2-4pm
10.04.23:   NSD Latino Families Celebration 6:30pm @ Admin Bldg
10.11.23:     Vision and Hearing Testing (Grade 7 Only)
10.19.23:    International ShakeOut Day
10.20.23:   KMS Choral Music Boosters Fundraising Event 2-4pm
10.24.23.   Picture Re-Takes
10.30.23:   Season 1 Sports End.
10.30.23:   Spirit Week
11.03.23:    Spirit Assembly - Afternoon
11.06.23:    Season 2 Sports Start
11.10.23:     NO SCHOOL - Veterans Day Observed
11.22.23     Half Day - Release time, TBD
11.23.23     NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Day
11.24.23     NO SCHOOL - Native American Heritage Day

Bus Passes

BUS PASSES WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL OCTOBER

The office cannot accept bus passes until mid October. NSD Transportation needs to assess an accurate rider count before they can accept bus passes. We will notify students and parents when we can start issuing bus passes.

Music

CHOIR FALL FUNDRAISER 
This year the KMS Choral Music Boosters will be sponsoring a new fundraising event to help off-set some of the costs of the Choral program this year.  Please see the attached document for more info.

Clubs

KMS Speech and Debate

Another debate season has arrived!  Students, if you hope to join our team this year, you MUST complete this simple SIGN-UP FORM before this Friday. Parents, please make sure your child has completed this to the best of their ability!

The details for ALL:

We meet on Fridays, starting Oct. 6th in Room 206 from 2:45-4pm. The after-school activity bus is available for bus riders. If your child plays a fall, winter, or spring sport, this is never an obstacle for debate as I actively communicate with coaches to balance the Friday after-school workload.

If your child likes debate and wants to compete with 2 other KMS students (a 3-person team), our first competition is on Saturday, November 18th at Seattle University. Save-the-date! More details coming soon.
Lastly, parents, we NEED judges. If you know a high school student who is need of community service hours and can come to Seattle University for our first competition or YOU want to judge, please let me know ASAP. It is incredibly easy and fun…but we NEED judges in order to compete. I actively recruit judges from ALL the NSD high schools but we always need more!

More info is on the way! Students, don’t forget to sign up on the official form (link above!).  Parents, send me any questions or concerns!  Let’s go DEBATE! Thank you for your support!

Computer/Coding/Video

Computer science students from UW Bothell will present unique lessons to club members that teach a variety of video game programming techniques using Scratch. Members are also free to work and get assistance on personal projects in their preferred programming language.  This is a great way to have fun, learn about programming, and show off your creations.
Computer Club will meet on Thursdays after school October 26 from 2:35 - 4:05 in room 437.  Watch for the sign up in October!  

Drama

The 1st Quarter KMS Drama Club will begin on Monday, October 9th, continuing 10.16, 10.23, and 10.30. If you like to act in plays or do improv this is a great opportunity to meet some friends. You may come all four days, or just one - whatever fits your schedule. Drama Club meets on the stage and activity busses are available. 
Sign up by clicking HERE.  For more information, please contact Mrs. Flahiff  @ jflahiff@nsd.org

Art

The purpose of the Art Club is to provide an opportunity for any interested Kenmore Middle school students to meet after school to work on special art projects and to share art experiences with their fellow students.  

 The goal of art club will be to:

  • Provide an opportunity for art students to further their art making experiences.
  • Allow students not currently enrolled in an art class to pursue art interests.
  • Provide service to the school and community.
  • Allow students a forum to share their creative endeavors with other students. 
  • There are no restrictions to attend Art Club, membership is voluntary, 

Art Club will meet for 6 weeks on Thursdays starting October 12, after school from 2:45- 4:00 in room 429. Students will have the opportunity to sign up for the Art Club again for 6 weeks, after a 2-week break.

Gay Sexual Alliance

Starting October 10, Tuesdays in room 404.

Rubiks Cube

Starts October 10, Tuesdays in room 247.

Counseling - Student Schedules

School Counseling Services

Parent Notification Forms

Annually the District provides parents/guardians with notification of forms that must be acknowledged, including:

  • WA State Attendance Letter
  • Rights and Responsibilities Handbook
  • Weapons Letter
  • Student Housing Questionnaire.

We ask that you login to ParentVUE today to view and acknowledge these forms. These forms must be completed no later than October 15. Thank you!

Sports Information

SEASON 2 SPORTS ARE OPEN FOR SIGN UPS.   Boys Basketball - 6th Grade, NO CUT - 7/8 Grade will have tryouts.  Please make sure you have an up to date physical on file!

INGLEMOOR BOYS SELECT BASKETBALL TRYOUTS - October - Please see the attached flyer for more information.

Attendance

Starting Monday, Oct. 2nd:  Lunch Duties will be assigned for unexcused tardies to school. Now that students have learned how to move about campus, we are beginning our procedure of assigning lunch duties for unexcused tardies to school. On time daily attendance and active participation in each class is a critical part of the learning process.

We know traffic is bad. Please plan ahead. Locust Way construction will continue through October. Please utilize school buses if your student has bus service. School buses are the ultimate carpool and reduce traffic congestion.  We are here to help. Please reach out if your student has extenuating circumstances preventing them from regular, on time attendance. We can provide bus information, connect your student to their counselor and help in a variety of other ways. We don’t want to start the day without your student.

Unexcused tardies to school (less than 15 minutes) will be assigned a lunch duty. Missing more than 15 minutes of school is considered an absence (arriving after 8:05am) and you will be assigned a 1.5 hour detention.

If your student has 3 unexcused tardies in a month, your student will be assigned a 1.5 hour detention.

To excuse a late arrival or a full day absence, you may either:

  • Call the 24-hour attendance hotline: (425) 408-6410

  • Email: KMSattendance@nsd.org

  • Send you with a written note that is dated and signed by your parent/guardian.

  • Have your parent/guardian walk into the office with you to excuse your tardy.

Remember, the first bell rings at 7:55am and students can be here as early as 7:40am.

Nurse News

COVID Refresher

COVID is still persistently hanging around and cases are still out there. The Washington State Department of Health has provided no new guidance for schools this Fall. We are following the last guidance posted in May of 2023. 

https://doh.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2022-03/820-229-SymptomExposureFlowchartK12SchoolsChildCare.pdf  

The following recommended guidance applies to all students, staff, and volunteers:

What if my child has symptoms?  

Students who have one or more symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, muscle or body aches, new loss of taste or smell, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, sore throat, congestion, or runny nose) are recommended to stay home and test for COVID-19. 

  • Home antigen tests are recommended. Individuals with one or more recent symptoms should have a negative COVID test , be fever free, AND have a significant improvement in symptoms prior to returning to school.  

If your child wakes up in the morning with a new symptom, do NOT send your child to school to see if your child will feel better at school. Students who come to school with new symptoms or develop symptoms at school are still going to be separated from non-ill students and sent home. 

Masks are still required in the school health room/nurse's office for anyone feeling ill with any COVID like illness symptoms at school while waiting for parent pick up. 

What if my child tests positive?  

A student or staff member who tests positive for COVID-19 is recommended to isolate regardless of vaccination status. The positive individual may return after 5 full days of isolation if they are asymptomatic or their symptoms have improved and they have had no fever for the past 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications. Additionally, the recommendation is individuals should wear a mask when around others for days 6–10. 

We would appreciate reporting a positive test to the school nurse, Manuele Mayer, at mmayer@nsd.org. Please report the date of the positive test and the date of the onset of symptoms, if present. Day zero is the onset of symptoms and/or the date of positive test. Schools are still monitoring our immediate communities for outbreaks and this partnership with reporting helps nurses keep tabs on level of community spread in the school.    

What if my child is exposed to COVID?  

Individuals who are exposed to COVID should monitor for symptoms, test frequently, and wear a mask around others. For exposures in the same household with continuous exposures, it is recommended to test every 24-48 hours until 5 days after the last positive household member’s isolation has ended. Exposed individuals can continue coming to school as long as they are symptom free and remain COVID test negative. 

More info at the links below: 

Washington Healthy Youth Survey

Northshore School District will be participating in the Washington State Healthy Youth Survey (HYS) during the month of October 2023. The HYS is designed to gather information from students in Grades 6, 8, 10, and 12 on a variety of topics, including:

  • Physical activity and diet

  • Unintentional and intentional injury

  • Substance use

  • Sexual behaviors

  • Abuse

  • Student risk and protective factors

  • Access to school-based services

The survey is entirely voluntary, and students' answers are kept anonymous. The information collected is used by our schools, communities, and state agencies to plan programs that support the well-being of our youth and reduce their risks. Your child's participation can contribute to the development of initiatives aimed at improving their overall health and safety.

We understand that some topics covered in the survey may be sensitive, but please be assured that the data collected is intended solely for the purpose of improving the well-being of our students. We encourage open and honest conversations with your child about the importance of participating in this survey.

You may review examples of the survey items on the Washington State Healthy Youth Survey webpage https://www.askhys.net/Resources/SurveyQuestionnaires.  

Northshore Latino Families

Welcome back and Celebration

Northshore School District is hosting a Northshore Welcome Back Celebration, a special event for Spanish-speaking families. The evening’s program includes food, an opportunity to talk with Superintendent Michael Tolley, guest speakers, and student performances. 

  • October 4, 2023 | 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. 

  • Northshore Administration Center (3330 Monte Villa Parkway, Bothell, WA), Board Room

Login Assistance

PARENT LOGIN INFORMATION:

  1. TOUCHBASE (Online Payments for sports/yearbooks/ASB card) - https://wa-northshore.intouchreceipting.com/
  2. PARENTVUE (Student Info/Contact Info/Grades) – https://wa-nor-psv.edupoint.com/
  3. FINAL FORMS (Sports Registration) - https://northshore-wa.finalforms.com/
  4. LINQ Connect (ADD funds to student lunch account) - https://linqconnect.com/
  5. FREE & REDUCED APPLICATION/FEE WAIVER LINK Page - Fill out the Online Application for free and reduced meals AND fill out the Fee Waiver form. - https://www.nsd.org/schools/get-started/food-services/free-and-reduced-price-breakfast-lunch
  6. PARENT SQUARE (NSD & School Communications

Volunteer Opportunities

POPCORN FRIDAYS - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084BACA92EA6F9C16-44623439-popcorn

To make popcorn Fridays successful, we need parent volunteers! The above link will take you to the sign-up genius. The kids love popcorn Friday!!!

PTSA News

1st PTSA GENERAL MEETING of the Year TONIGHT!

Join us at 6:30 in the library to chat with our new Principal Mr. Robertson! He will also give us a school update during our general meeting.  You won't want to miss out!  Plus we will have some treats there too!

Date: Wednesday 9/27/23

Where: In the KMS Library (located in the admin building) 

Zoom:. https://us06web.zoom.us/j/8383613578

Meeting ID: 838 361 3578
 

PASS THE HAT

We are happy to share that we are at $3345 which is 56% to our goal of $6000! Thank you to everyone that has donated, you are making a difference for our staff and students at KMS.  Haven't donated yet?  Please use the link below!


There are many ways to give to PTSA throughout the year. Pass The Hat is our primary fundraiser of the year and provides for about half of our total budget. Keep an eye out for dine out nights or purchase Spirit Wear as an additional way to support PTSA. We accept company match if you have that available to you as well. 

Donate to Pass the Hat Fundraiser

LET'S FUEL THE TEACHERS' BREAK ROOM!  

The Amazon wish list is a perfect way to donate and make it possible for our staff to have a savory snack, a cup of coffee, or a healthier snack option.  For October, let's fill the break room! 
If you would like to help decorate, organize, or have ideas, please email: staffappreciation@kenmoreptsa.org.  All are welcome.
Stay tuned for an opportunity to donate and celebrate our teachers' at the next staff appreciation luncheon on Friday, November 3rd. 
Amazon Wish List
 Wish LisA

THANK YOU KMS PARENTS!!!!

A special thank you to our KMS parents for the amazing post curriculum breakfast for our KMS staff!  It is so meaningful knowing how many parents are supporting our staff with generous donations of food and time. Panera of Bothell (100 assorted bagels) and Woods Coffee in Bothell (coffee) very generously donated for KMS staff members.  If you happen to dine at these restaurants, thank their managers for supporting our staff. A special shout out to the following parents for their generosity that made this happen:

Becky Dennison, Christie Lounsberry, Claudine Miller, Carol Parrish, Ashley Wilson, Julie Vance, Kris Somol Hamasaki, Jennifer Clarke, Lisa Batholomew, Patty Brown, Amanda Sics, Julie Vance, Christine Roehnelt, Cristi Christy

Thank you to our amazing Amazon Wish List donors!  Your support is so helpful to keep our staff break room stocked.

mazon Wish

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