Let us both start and end with this thought... summer vacation begins 3 weeks from today!
Elisa, Sylvester, Dennis & Cory
The KJHS PTO has planned a great week of deliciousness for all of you! Check out the the Llama-zing line up they have planned for you! Many thanks to our community sponsors who made these events possible!
May 17th is our final data day for the 22-23 school year and will set up what 7th & 8th graders will be in interventions starting in Fall 23. Here is the Data Day Cycle 5 Schedule and support information.
The 8th Grade Dance is coming up on May 12th and we could use some staff volunteers to supplement parent volunteers. If you can help out, please visit the Volunteer Sign Up Genius to sign up. Thanks in advance for your assistance!
KJHS will be hosting a BOGO Book Fair in the IMC May 15 - 18.
The KJHS PTO want to recognize one KJHS staff member who helps our community of learners grow in positive and innovative ways by spread kindness and care to all at Kingsley based on your nominations. Nominate that colleague who just popped into your head by completing the PTO Kingsley Staff Member of the Year nomination form.
If you are teaching Language Arts next year, please enroll in the LA Google Classroom (access code hv3buze) and complete the LA Department Needs Survey.
PBIS Field Day is on Monday, May 22nd and there will be no advisory that day. Field day will be held during 6th, 7th, and 8th hours. Here are things teams need to be aware of...
Teams need to start collecting $5 from all students to cover costs of Inflatables & Kona Ice.
There will be 3 rotations during Field Day. Come Back rooms will be during 6th and 7th hours with those students then being sent to participate in the third rotation (8th hour). Here is the rotation schedule with maps.
Students and teachers will need to clean up at their last station and students will be dismissed for the day from that station.
Teachers are to actively remain with their team and assist with the stations.
In event of rain: 1 station would have to be classrooms/Arends.
Rotation Supervision will be coming out soon.
This is the LAST 22-23 Tech Update. There is A LOT here!
RETIRING/LEAVING TEACHERS/STUDENT TEACHERS
SPRING CLEAN-UP
LAPTOP COLLECTION
SENIOR INFORMATION
POSTING GRADES
Here is the draft of the 23-24 master schedule. The schedule has been formulated around five things:
1. Courses taught by teachers that we share with other schools.
2. Having a plan period adjoining lunch whenever possible.
3. Addressing special education needs.
4. Ensuring we have lunch supervisors.
5. Balancing work loads whenever possible.
While I know that this may not be ideal schedule for some of you, the factors listed above do make pleasing everyone a challenge. If you have significant concerns you would like to discuss, let me know and we'll set up a time to meet.
Val's retirement reception will be held after school on Friday, May 19.
From Elisa...
The Child Protection Network is having its annual CASAnova Competition for the Crown fundraiser and I am one of the "CASAnovas" this year. For those of you who don't know, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) works with children in McLean County who have been victims of abuse. They walk with them through the entire legal process, from preliminary interviews to court appearances. This organization has assisted several of our own students and, while this is out of my comfort zone, I am happy to be helping to raise money for this wonderful organization.
If you would be interested in supporting this outstanding organization (and helping me meet my fundraising goal), please consider visiting my CASAnova page and voting by donation. Thanks so much!
Megan Peterson sent out an email on 4/18 on notifying staff that the Public Health Emergency legislation regarding COVID is set to expire on May 11, 2023. This means that:
Unit 5 employees will no longer be able to use COVID sick time.
Any illness that leads to an absence will need to be covered by regular “Sick” time.
Staff are no longer required to report any COVID case(s) to the Unit Office.
Staff should follow “traditional” sickness protocol after May 11.
The KJHS May Countdown Calendar has been published!
May 11: 6th Grade Welcome Night (6:00 - 7:30 pm)
May 12: 8th Grade Dance (6:00 - 8:00 pm)
May 17: Data Day
May 19: 7-2 Field Trip (3rd - 5th hour)
May 19: Val's Retirement Reception
May 22: PBIS Field Day (6th- 8th hour)
May 23: Butcher Block Food Truck
May 23: 7-1 Field Trip (2nd - 5th hour)
May 24: 6th Grade Field Trip
May 25: 8th Grade Awards (1st - 3rd hour)
Chromebook Collection
UPCOMING DATES...
May
8 - 12: Teacher Appreciation Week
11: 6th Grade Welcome Night
12: 8th Grade Dance
15-18: BOGO Book Fair
17: Data Day
19: Last Day of 5th Grade Music
19: Val's Retirement Reception
19: 7-2 Field Trip (3rd - 5th hour)
22: PBIS Field Day (6th - 8th hour)
23: Butcher Block Food Truck
23: 7-1 Field Trip (2nd - 5th hour)
25: 8th Grade Awards Ceremony (8:45 - 10:00 am)
25: Last Day of School/Early Release
25: Chromebook Collection
Please welcome Aldihir Cruz to the Kingsley Community for the 23-24 school year! Mr. Cruz will be teaching math on Team 8-1.
Writing Spring Benchmarks should be underway with a deadline of 4/27 in EduClimber. Please reach out if you have any questions. What do you do with the remainder of the class period? May I recommend "Sparks" - short, purposeful writing prompts developed by 826 Digital. I've used these as transitional activities between units, sub plans, and have even grown some out into larger pieces of writing looking at specific standards such as word choice. I encourage you to check out 826 Digital for ideas!
Sincerely,
Janel Sebeny
Please be sure to put absences in Tyler as soon as possible. Kim has had to enter many absences on behalf of staff members lately in order to process payroll in a timely manner.
Please do not enter The Gathering Place on Wednesdays unless you are attending an IEP meeting. Students needing something from the Promise Council store room will need to wait. We are planning on moving that store room for next year.
PBIS Tier 1 Data & Instructional Committees met to discuss March data and our April/May targets. We developed a similar theme to what we did last year about this same time with some updates including this year's data. What is that target? You guessed it: finishing strong. Please teach this lesson in core classes during the week of 4/24. There will be no lesson in May; however, we encourage staff to revisit student goals (slide 16) and discuss how they can hold one another accountable. Because our Cougar PRIDE letters in April in May are Determination (Finishing Strong) and Excellence (Celebrating Successes), we feel this is especially applicable. Feel free to make it your own to reflect your students.
PTO is hosting a Gobena Coffee Fundraiser. Please check out the flier for more information.
If you are planning field trips for your class please be aware that Unit 5 Food Service can provide sack lunches for all students. Sack lunches must be offered to ALL students participating in the field trip. Those who qualify for free or reduced-price meals must not be singled out or identified in any way.
A sack lunch includes the following items:
PBJ Uncrustable (EZ Jammer may be substituted for peanut allergy)
Sunflower Kernels
Whole Grain Crackers (e.g. Goldfish, Cheez-its, or Animal Crackers)
Baby Carrots*
Celery Sticks*
Apple Slices
Apple Juice
Choice of Milk (students’ choice)
* If sack lunches are ordered on short notice, cold vegetables on hand may be substituted.
To request sack lunches, please notify Lisa Branch two weeks prior to the date needed (to allow time for ordering needed supplies) and include the following information.
Date and time needed
Estimated number of lunches
Is pick up time more than 2 hours before students will eat? If so, a cooler with ice will be needed to keep milk cartons cold.
Student lunch accounts will be charged for the meal. Sack lunches may be picked up using one of the following options:
Each student comes to the lunchroom to get a meal, chooses milk, and presents their student ID to be scanned.
Lunches and milk are packaged and prepared for pick up. The food service provided class roster can be used to provide a list of students requesting lunches. The list will include the following information:
Student first and last name
Student food service account PIN number
Class code
Milk choice (chocolate or white) – can provide a total of each flavor per class
Lisa must verify that students are present before distributing lunches.
The April KJ Family Connection was sent out to our KJ families on Wednesday, April 5th.