Kopachuck Middle School


		Free Immunizations--February 1, 2012
		Franciscan Health System will provide free immunizations for students through the age of 18 on Wednesday, February 1, 2012, from 3:00-5:00 p.m. at Key Peninsula Middle School. A parent or guardian must accompany the student and bring the student's shot record to the immunization clinic.

		School Board - We ♥ You!
		KMS Coyotes say THANK YOU to our hard-working School Board! Through their efforts, our students are supported and encouraged to reach their highest potential. We truly appreciate the Board's hard work in making this a great school district!

		Highly Capable Testing
		Students currently in grades four through seven have the opportunity to participate in CogAt testing to determine eligibility for the Peninsula School District's Highly Capable Program. If your child is not currently identified as highly capable and you wish to have them participate in the testing, please complete a parent nomination form. These forms are available in the school office or on the PSD website under Central Services/Assessment. Please return the form to the school no later than March 9, 2012. Testing will take place at school on Friday, March 23rd at 8:15 am. Students can only participate in this testing process once yearly.

		Kopatime Reading Workshop and Homeroom
		Kopatime is a literacy improvement curriculum we incorporated at Kopachuck last year to support our students in developing lifelong skills and a passion for reading. Kopatime is the first class every morning. Students are clustered into Kopatime classes based on their skill level in literacy, class performance and trends in MSP scores. Some students are grouped into literacy/math support Kopatime classes based on their most recent MSP scores and teacher recommendation. We include a math component for students who are not meeting standard in math on the MSP but have met the reading standard. Students participating in a math Kopatime class will have opportunities to expand math skills. Kopatime is graded with a pass/fail system using criteria such as arriving to class on time each day, being prepared each day with required materials and supplies, participating and cooperating with all members of the class and completion of all work, written or oral, to the best of the student's ability. Kopatime activities include partner, individual and group reading, literature discussion groups, current event reading using Scholastic resources and various newspapers with discussion, vocabulary development using online resources to improve academic vocabulary aligned with SAT and college readiness standards: www.wordgeneration.org. During these activities, the teacher presents strategies to the reader that guide and improve comprehension and fluency. Teachers focus on a different reading strategy each month: September - Prediction and Goal Setting, October - Visualize, November - Summarize, December - Connections, January - Inference and Goal Check, February - Self-Monitoring & Comprehension, March - Questions & DIvergent Thinking, April - Similarities & Differences, May - Synthesize, June - Reflection & Goal Check Kopatime also serves the function of a daily homeroom period with activities such as morning assemblies, competition for the ASB sponsored fundraising events, election of student council representatives, community building activities, emergency evacuation procedures and Coyote Care mentoring program.

		SHARE Has Started!
		SHARE (Students Helping and Respecting Everyone) is a program supported by the KPTSA which enables students to volunteer their time and talents to help others in our community. Started over 20 years ago by KMS teacher Jim Vaughn, SHARE is currently led by parent volunteers from KPTSA. The next SHARE meeting days are January 31st and February 1st. Just a reminder to students participating in SHARE to be sure to get your permission forms in to the office. And...parent drivers and chaperones...be sure that your volunteer paperwork/thumb printing are up to date.

		Class Fees DUE NOW
		Students currently enrolled in art, woodshop, design and engineering, digital photo and family and consumer classes have class fees that are due now. If you have not paid this fee(s), please do so ASAP.

		Important Student Communication
		Important School Communication: In order to conserve resources and take advantage of our school technology, most school-to-parent communication is accomplished through School Messenger phone call and e-mail. Please check your home e-mail to be sure that communication from KMS is not “blocked.”

		ParentPortal
		ParentPortal is a web-based site to monitor your student's progress throughout the year. Parents are able to view real-time grades in most classes, check test results, check for missing assignments, etc. Parents are strongly encouraged to continuously monitor student grades throughout the year. Although KMS does not mail out report cards at the end of each trimester, parents will receive a School Messenger phone call when final trimester grades are available for viewing. Please notify the school office if you would like a hard copy of a report card.

		After School Programs
		Both the Boys and Girls Club and the YMCA after after-school programs for middle school students. The Boys and Girls Club also offers bus transportation from KMS to the Club. For more information, please pick up a flyer in the school office.

		School Pictures
		Did you forget to order a picture package of your student? Did you know you can order photos up to a year after picture day (which was September 8th) by going to www.mylifetouch.com. Picture day ID is LS211542YO. Picture packets have been handed out to students at lunchtime and for those that did not pick them up, through their Kopatime teachers. Check with your child if you have not seen them yet!

		Tardy Policy Explained
		Please be aware that students who are late for school for any reason other than a medical/dental appointment will be marked as an unexcused tardy, even if a parent asks to have the tardy excused. Reasons for tardies such as running late, missed bus or over-sleeping are not accepted, and students may receive an infraction. This is a friendly reminder to parents to please call the school office whenever your student is absent for any reason and also to inform us that your student will be tardy.

		Are You Moving?
		Are you moving out of the Kopachuck service area? Please be sure to notify the school office. Students may not enroll at any other school without first withdrawing from Kopachuck. Be sure to collect all textbooks, library books and other school property and return these items to the school before leaving us.

		Extended Absences
		If family plans call for your student to miss three or more days in a row, student must complete an "Extended Absence" form available from the school office. Student obtains each teacher's signature, parental signature and student signature and must return the form to the school office PRIOR to the student's absence. If you have any questions, please call Leslie Miller, 530-4106.

		If you plan to Volunteer...
		Washington State Patrol clearance is required if you wish to volunteer at the school, participate in school events or chaperone a field trip. The clearance is good for two years. If you are new to the school or you don't remember the last time you filled out a form, please stop by the office and ask for the expiration date of your volunteer clearance. If need be, you can fill out the form then. Forms must be filled out at least one week before a field trip or event.

		Help provide free supplies!
		Office Depot will help provide free supplies for our school each time a parent, student or school supporter gives the following ID number when buying qualifying school supplies: #70106435. Kopachuck then receives credits equal to 5% of the qualifying purchases to use for Free Supplies! Thank you for participating!

		YMCA Middle School Program
		The Gig Harbor YMCA has an after school program set up just for middle school students. Click here to view the flier: Middle School Program Brochure