Here is a tentative outline of the activities for the early release day on Wednesday, October 26th:

• 11:45 - 12:45 - Lunch

• 12:45 - 1:45 - Building Based SIP Time

• 1:45 - 2:15 - Review of e-learning expectation and planning

• 2:15 - 3:45 - PLC Time

Here is the October Family Kingsley Connection.

So much October fun awaits us!!!!

11th-TShirt Tuesday.....favorite color

14th- Cunningham's Caramel Apples!

20th-Dress Alike Day....olive green and black

21st-Faculty Meeting......Mr. T will be available for Team Photos

26th-Room Service during PLC time....yay it is back by popular demand

31st-Team Challenge Dress Up Day(more details soon)

In lieu of individual student costumes, we are asking KJHS grade level teams to choose dress up themes for Monday, October 31st. The team with the most students and staff in theme costumes will win prize. Staff members not on a grade level team can either choose a theme with their staff team or use the theme of the grade level team with whom they teach advisory.

Just reminder that the first quarter grade level celebration will the morning of Wednesday, October 26th.

There is an all school cafeteria competition for the month of October. Each grade level starts with 1,000 points. The challenge is to keep as many points as possible. Grade levels lose points for exhibiting unwanted behaviors in the cafeteria during the lunch hour. Here are the behaviors students lose points for: cell phone/electronics use, excessive volume, being out of seats unnecessarily, messy tables, untucked chairs, and being tardy to lunch. If a grade level's point balance falls below 200 points, they will be given the opportunity to earn back points through service.

The winning class will be awarded a lunch party with a dj on Friday, November 11th.

Per e-mail from Dayna Brown on 10/6/2022:

As you may already be aware, Unit 5 will have a referendum question on the November 8, 2022 ballot. The informational message below will go to parents later this evening, and we wanted to share with staff members, as well.

We also wanted to remind everyone that Unit 5 has adopted board exhibit 2.30-E1 , which pertains to actions employees can take as related to the referendum.

Restrictions cited in that exhibit center around using school/district/taxpayer resources to campaign for the referendum. The district and its employees may not advocate for (or against) the referendum using district resources. District employees should not use their distinct issued devices (laptops, phones, etc), paper, or copying machines to create or distribute items that try to persuade voters for or against the referendum.

The district, and its employees, may speak to the referendum and the items within the referendum in an informational, fact-based, unbiased manner at any time, as these are considered voter education activities. They may also encourage people to participate in the electoral process, such as voter registration and “get-out-the-vote” drives, as long as these are conducted in an unbiased manner.

When not being paid by the district, such as during breaks or off-school hours, district employees are considered private individuals. Private individuals and organizations are under no such restrictions and may advocate for the referendum as much as they wish as long as they are not using district resources or on district property, though there are specific restrictions on charitable organizations that are detailed below.

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District e-mail sent to families on 10/6/22:

Good evening

To put Unit 5 on more stable financial footing and ensure our students continue to have access to the quality education they deserve, Unit 5 will have a referendum on the ballot in the upcoming November 8 election.

Here is a link to a presentation by Superintendent Weikle explaining some factual information regarding the referendum.

If successful, Unit 5 will be able to:

• Responsibly Solve Unit 5's Financial Challenges

• Avoid Having to Increase Class Sizes, Decrease Staff, or Cut Programs

• Provide Safer and Improved Learning Environments for All Students

To learn more about the proposed plans, Unit 5 is hosting information sessions:

• Tuesday, October 11, 6 p.m. - Normal Community High School

• Tuesday, October 25, 6 p.m. - Virtual (information on signup will come closer to the date)

Here is a link to additional information

Please call (309)557-4000 district@unit5.org if you have questions.

We have been asked by the district office to remind staff that while discussions of election events and processes are certainly welcome in the classroom, there should be no promotion of specific candidates or parties by staff. This does include room decorations.

From time to time, a student safety issue comes up that we feel we need our KJ families need to be aware of and this is such an issue. There is a new version of fentanyl targeting school aged students. The narcotic is designed to look like candy, often described as looking like Sweet Tarts. The DEA has issued an alert that can be reviewed here and there is an image of the candy in the article. They are generally stamped with the letter 'M' or the number '30'.

We would like to be clear that we have not seen any evidence of this at Kingsley. We just want to make staff aware as this is a highly dangerous substance and is being marketed to target school aged students, especially through platforms like SnapChat.

The Kingsley PTO has a new online Spirit Store open now through November 4th! Check out this LINK to see what is available and place your order.

All items purchased will be delivered to the school and will be available for pick up by December 1st. All proceeds from these orders will be used by PTO to support the students and programs at KJHS. Happy shopping!

Dr. Weikle will be here on Wednesday, October 12, from 8:15 am - 8:45 am for a Meet & Greet in the KJHS IMC.

Data Day is Friday, October 21st. Please plan on your entire team being present for your assigned time slot. Teams will only have one time slot that day. The Data Day Guide will was sent out by Elisa on Monday, October 3rd and can also be found on the KJHS Staff Dashboard. Team recommendations should be completed by Tuesday, October 11th and all diagnostic testing should be completed by Friday, October 14th.

We have been given funds from BN Parents to purchase supplies to help students deal with stress. Although exact items have not been selected, eligible would include items like a quiet timer, worksheets, coloring books with colored pencils, pillows, alternate seating choices—bean bag chair, fidget devices, stress balls, music with headphones, books, calming lotion scents, and mint gum. If you would like any of these purchased for your room, please send Elisa the relevant information (item(s), number, cost, ordering info, etc.) by Tuesday, October 11th.

Update from Mrs. Dierkes...

If you are offering virtual family/teacher conferences please let me know what time the virtual conferences will be offered. Let me know if you are sending links to families or if you are using 1 link with a waiting room. If you are using one link, I will send that link to the families on your behalf. If you'd prefer each family have their own link, please send those to each family. If you have questions please let me know.

Family/Teacher conferences will be November 7, 2022 8:00am - 4:00pm.

Please send Jennifer Dierkes the following information by October 3, 2022:

• Conference type (regular, student led, tea, or open house)

• Conference schedule

• Lunch and break times

• Meeting room #

We will launch the conferences on October 17, 2022 at 8am . Information will be linked to the KJHS website and a school reach call will be sent out. If the parents do not have internet access, they can call the guidance office at 309-557-4899 to set up an appointment.

On the note you send home, please state what type of conference the parent is invited to and if they need to sign up for a conference. The parents do not need to sign up if they are invited to a tea or open house. Please ask the parents that you are wanting to meet with to register using the online scheduler link on the KJHS website. Please email Jennifer Dierkes a copy of the note you are sending home and the list of students invited to the open house/tea so she has it to reference if parents call with questions.

Here are the directions for the online conference scheduler that will be put on the website:

Again this year we are using an online scheduling system to schedule family/teacher conferences. Click on the link under Cougar News or the link under the Parents tab on the KJHS website. Select the conference you want and then enter the student's name, your name, and email address. Next, an email will be sent to you inviting you to sign up for conferences. Click on the link and select the conference(s) you prefer. If you are going to attend a tea or open house you do not need to sign up.

Jennifer has the option of putting in all the teacher’s email addresses so the conference scheduler will send your family/teacher conference schedule to you weekly. If you do not want your email added, please let her know.

Infraction Tracker: The PBIS Committee is finding the minor classroom teacher-managed data to be helpful in determining targets for KJ. Here are some reminders about the infraction tracker:

• Tracker will reset Monday, Oct. 3.

• If you want to make a new tab at the bottom of your team's tracker, go for it.

• Students will be ineligible to attend the PBIS Celebration if they have 3 classroom detentions (in all) by Wed., Oct. 26. (Separate from ISS or OSS)

Cougar PRIDE: October is "I" for Integrity month. Lesson(s) on this Cougar characteristic will be sent out soon.

Please welcome the following individuals to the Kingsley staff...

• Haley Nichols: Science, Team 6-2 (long term sub for Kayla Leake)

• Tanesha McQuirter: Math, Team 8-1 (long term sub for Ranae Ernat)

• Kristen Pruitt: PE (long term sub for Dawn O'Dell)

We greatly appreciate these individuals helping us to continue the excellent education of our KJHS students!

Parker Andrew Leake was born on September 24th. He weighed in at 8lbs, 6 oz, and measured 19.5". Both Kayla and Parker are home and doing well. Congratulations to the Leake family!