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September 21, 2007

September 21, 2007

The KCPTA would like to begin a rolling food drive to benefit the local food pantry. Each month there will be an article of food that can be contributed, for example, October might be “canned vegetables”. There will be a box in the lobby for contributions. The PTA will be sending out a flyer about this effort…we hope to have lots of contributions as this will benefit people locally. Stay tuned for more information.

 

No students who are not signed up with the after school rec program can be on the grounds or in the building after school. The only exceptions to this would be if they are here with a parent or by prior appointment with a teacher. Thank you.

 

Please note this change: The third annual Back to School BBQ will be held on September 28th at 6:00 if weather permits. The following day, September 29th, will be the Spiff Up The School Workday. We hope to see lots of families at both events. And if you come over on the 29th, stop in to the Designing Women Craft Show to benefit our wonderful Graves Library. The show will be in the gym from 9:00 until 4:00.

 

Beginning the week of September 24th, and extending through the week of October 9th,grades three, four and five will be taking the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP), an on-line assessment. Because the assessment is given in the technology lab, it is necessary to spread the sessions out over an extended period of time. Each student will take one assessment in reading and one in math, and each assessment is about 45 minutes. The MAP provides teachers with immediate information, and, since the students take it in the fall and spring, individual growth is easily documented. In the past, grade four has not taken the MAP…that grade was added this year to ensure that we have on-going information about the progress of each student. More information is being sent in a separate letter, and don’t hesitate to call if you have questions.

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT KCS AND REC FIELD TRIPS: It is critical that written permission slips be returned for any and all field trips. In the past, we have been willing to call parents and receive verbal permission if the child does not return the permission slip. Due to liability issues we can no longer do this. If a permission slip is not returned, we will call to receive verbal permission, which will then need to be emailed or faxed to us so that we have permission in writing. If we are unable to reach you, or one of the emergency numbers you annually provide, unfortunately, your child will not be able to attend the field trip. Please remember that this practice applies to both school and rec field trips.

 

Thanks for the great response to our Stories for Shiloh used book sale! Remember that the reading incentive has been extended until next Thursday, September 27th. Keep those pledges coming!!

 

We are going paperless!! Please subscribe to the blogs, and remember to send me a note if you DO NOT have access to our website at home. Thanks!

 

PLAN AHEAD:

September 27th: Reading incentive ends

September 28th: 8:30 FMM…6:00 Back to School BBQ

September 29th: 9:00 Spiff Up The School workday

September 17, 2007

September 14, 2007

We want to welcome both of our new Kindergarten classes to our school community. They were introduced at last Friday Morning Meeting and have been a great addition to our school already! Also introduced last Friday were some new students in grades 1 through 5 that we are happy to welcome:

in grade 1: Abigail Thibeau, Derek Smith, Matthew Sullivan…

in grade 2: Lenore Famosi…

in grade 3: John Bloss

in grade 4: Benjamin Bloss, Patrick Sullivan…

in grade 5: Skye Crump, Kaitlin Thibeau.

We hope you have a wonderful experience at Kennebunkport Consolidated School!

 

The MSAD #71 Adult Education Program is off and running under the direction of Paula Abramson. Along with a wide array of wonderful course opportunities, they are especially interested in assisting individuals experiencing English as a second language and those seeking to obtain their GED. If you know of anyone needing any of the many services provided by Adult Ed, please share this information…they will find the staff warm and welcoming. The Adult Education office can be reached at 985-1116.

 

News from the GATES Program at Kennebunkport Consolidated School (KCS): The beginning of the year brought some changes to the GATES Program at Consolidated School. Erin Neale, has moved to Sea Road School and Valerie Glynn will be the Teacher of the Gifted, here at Consolidated two days a week, Mondays and Thursdays, and at KES, the other times. Since school began, she has been busy scheduling classes, meeting with teachers and students in preparation for classes beginning on September 17, 2007. She will be working with all grades K-5, consulting in kindergarten classes, teaching classes in grades one and two on a rotating basis, teaching in-class lessons in grades three through five on a weekly basis, working directly with identified students in grades four and five, and coaching the Consolidated Math Team for the Southern Maine Elementary School League (SMESL).Please feel free to contact Val at vglynn@msad.net  if you have any questions or concerns.

 

We want to remind everyone about the Kennebunkport Consolidated School Library Gift Book Program under the direction of librarian Barbara Vennell. This program allows individuals to donate a book to commemorate events such as the birthday of a child, the memory of a loved one, a special accomplishment, etc. Donations are reflected in a special bookplate. This program is a way to build the library collection and support literacy in a very personal way. If you are interested, brochures are available in our library, or you can email Barbara: bvennell@msad71.net.

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT KCS AND REC FIELD TRIPS: It is critical that written permission slips be returned for any and all field trips. In the past, we have been willing to call parents and receive verbal permission if the child does not return the permission slip. Due to liability issues we can no longer do this. If a permission slip is not returned, we will call to receive verbal permission, which will then need to be emailed or faxed to us so that we have permission in writing. If we are unable to reach you, or one of the emergency numbers you annually provide, unfortunately, your child will not be able to attend the field trip. Please remember that this practice applies to both school and rec field trips.

Many thanks to all the parents who have volunteered extra hours during the past two weeks to ensure a smooth start for all of our students! We appreciate your support!

 

We are planning eventually to have Friday’s News and other information coming home from school be on line only…our hope is to become paperless. There are two things you can do to help us achieve this goal: first, please send me a note if you do not have internet access at home, and we will be sure you have a paper copy. Even more important, subscribe to the K’Port News blog and the individual teacher blogs, which should be up and running by October 1. You will automatically receive Friday’s News and any information the classroom teachers sends. Thanks!

 

PLAN AHEAD:

September 17: 9:30-11:30 Grade 3 to Kennebunk Plains

September 21: Used Book Sale all day in the art room…9:45-12:15 Grade 1 to Harris Farm


September 06, 2007

KCS Mission and Expectations

                       Kennebunkport Consolidated School Mission Statement

 

The mission of Kennebunkport Consolidated School is to provide a quality, caring and supportive educational community in which our students reach their full potential as independent, responsible learners and citizens.

 

                               Kennebunkport Consolidated School Expectations

 

 Each of our students will become:

     A Clear And Effective Communicator

A.        uses oral, written, visual, artistic, and technological modes of expression;

B.        reads, listens to and interprets messages from multiple sources; and

C.        uses English effectively.

     A Self-Directed And Life-Long Learner

A.        participates in activities that reflect personal and academic goals, interests and skills; 

B.        demonstrates the ability to work independently; and

C.        finds and uses information from libraries, electronic data bases, and other resources.

     A Creative And Practical Problem Solver

A.        clearly and accurately defines problems and appropriately frames     

    questions; 

B.        identifies patterns, trends and relationships in problem solving;

     and

C.        generates a variety of solutions and determines the best   response.

     A Responsible And Involved Citizen

A.        understands, and participates in, service to the community;

B.        understands the importance of accepting responsibility for personal decisions and actions;

C.        seeks to achieve personal health and well-being; and

D.       recognizes and respects the diversity of society.

     A Collaborative And Quality Worker

A.        recognizes and practices skills needed to work with people of diverse interests, abilities and values;

B.        demonstrates reliability, flexibility and concern for quality whether working independently or with others; and

C.        understands that strong interpersonal skills and a positive work ethic are vital to successful career building.

     An Integrative And Informed Thinker

A.        demonstrates knowledge and skills in and across subject areas; and

B.        understands that there are diverse ways of teaching and learning.

 

 Adapted from the Maine’s Guiding Principles and the MSAD #71 Expected Results document

Friday's News: Spetember 7

On behalf of the staff, I want to welcome everyone back to another wonderful school year! We hope that all of our families had opportunities to spend time together enjoying the beautiful season of summer in the great state of Maine. Perhaps because summer goes so quickly the time is even more precious. We hope it was a restful and relaxing time for all of you, and we are happy to see you back at Kennebunkport Consolidated School for the 2007-2008 school year.

 

The summer was a busy one for staff, with many of them taking advantage of the time to pursue exciting professional development opportunities. In the building our wonderful custodians, Shawn Henderson and Diane Doughty, were busy getting the building ready for September. Our new phone system was installed and painting and new flooring was accomplished in the lobby, entrance hall and main bathrooms. We want to give a special thank you to Tom Maines, Dan Coakley and the maintenance and custodial staff members for their hard work. Kathy Hirst, secretary extraordinaire, was on the job keeping everything running smoothly, as she does all year long. Thanks, Kathy…we all appreciate you!

 

Our results from the March administration of the Maine Educational Assessment were received in July. We were extremely pleased with the results. Over 82% of our students, grades three through five, achieved in the “meets standards” or “exceeds standards” categories in all subjects tested. This is a huge accomplishment, and students, parents and staff should be recognized for their hard work and support. MEA information will be sent home to parents of students in grades four and five at the beginning of next week. I think you will be very pleased as well when you see the individual reports.

 

Huge congratulations and many, many thanks to everyone who participated in the wonderful Circus Smirkus this summer! Once again this terrific community event was both extremely enjoyable and financially successful! This year the hard work of the KCPTA raised $17,500 for our school! Enrichment experiences, assorted field trips, school programs, including the new K-2 Classroom Spanish for Kids, equipment and improvements have been the result of the KCPTA fundraising efforts. All of our students have been the beneficiaries, and we encourage all parents to become involved and give your support to this terrific group. Many thanks to all the Smirkos from all of us!

 

“Walk to School Fridays” have resumed! Parents and students meet at 7:45, or so, in the parking lot at the North Street Fire Station. This is very informal…come if you can, but, please, all students must be accompanied by an adult.

 

On September 22, the KCPTA is sponsoring a “work day” at Kennebunkport Consolidated School followed by our annual Back to School cookout for all of our families. A flyer will be coming so stay tuned for more information, but mark your calendars now and please join us!

 

Please remember to return the information in the first day packet as soon as possible. Thanks!

 

As many of you know, Kennebunkport Consolidated School is in the process of self-study to achieve our decennial accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. The first step of that self-study was to review and revise our mission statement, which was originally written when we went through the initial accreditation process in 1998. In August, the Board of School Directors approved the revised mission and expectations for Kennebunkport Consolidated School. A copy is being sent home and you will also find it on the blog in the K'Port News section.