February 24, 2015

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Spring ISTEP+ testing begins next week.  ISTEP+ Part 1 (Applied Skills) will take place during the week of March 2, 2015.   We will test at Kesling on Tuesday (3/3) and Wednesday (3/4) in grades 6-8.  ISTEP+ Part 2 (Short Answer) will take place during the week of April 27, 2015.  Please understand that ISTEP+ has changed as there are new College and Career Ready Standards in Math and English.  These standards require much more out of students as they are being challenged at a new level of understanding.  The Kesling Middle School staff is excited about the new ISTEP+ challenge and all of the learning opportunities that await your children during 2015.  The link to the Indiana Department of Education website for ISTEP+ information is as follows:  http://www.doe.in.gov//assessment/istep-grades-3-8

The following are important items regarding testing that will help your child be more successful:

• Please make sure your child gets plenty of rest starting on Sunday.

• Please make sure your child eats breakfast.
• Please make sure your child is in attendance each day during ISTEP+ testing.  We ask that you reschedule any appointments that will interfere with testing.
• Please discuss with your child the importance of doing his or her best on the ISTEP+ exam.
• Please visit our school web page or the Indiana Department of Education website for practice ISTEP+ questions and other helpful hints for your child to be successful on the ISTEP+ 2015 exam.
• You can work with your child at home using both Acuity and Study Island via the internet.  Students just have to log-in using username and passwords.  The Acuity website is as follows: www.acuityathome.com.

 The results of the ISTEP+ exam will be used to determine how we can help all students who attend Kesling Middle School achieve academic success. 

Please do not hesitate to contact me by phone (219) 362-7507 or by e-mail bwilmsen@lpcsc.k12.in.us, if you have any questions regarding testing or questions in general regarding your child’s education at Kesling Middle School.  Thank you for all that you do to help your child be successful in school.

Respectfully,

Bill Wilmsen

Principal, Kesling Middle School

Kesling Parents and Students,

Kesling Middle School, at different times during the school year, will send out Blackboard Messages to the community about what is happening at Kesling.  Blackboard Messages are the messages you receive from the principal on your phone.

We are aware that sometimes you did not hear the entire message or did not hear the message when you received it.  If you find yourself in that position, please call this number 1-855-473-7529 to replay the message.  Thank you for your cooperation.

Bill Wilmsen

Friday, March 13, 2015 will be scheduled as a regular school day to replace the January 9, 2015 school cancellation day.

Thursday, June 4, 2015 will be scheduled as a regular school day to replace the February 2, 2015 school cancellation day.

Friday, June 5, 2015 will be scheduled as a regular school day to replace the February 12, 2015 school cancellation day.

Monday, June 8, 2015 will be scheduled as a regular school day to replace the February 19, 2015 school cancellation day.

All school and corporation offices will be open and both students and staff will report to school.

Homework Help

Attention ALL Kesling Students!  Do you need help with your homework?  Then Homework Help is the place for you!  Teachers will be here after school, until 3:30, on Tuesday and Thursday to help you with homework in any subject. Snacks are provided.  Learning can be fun!  Come and join us!

Where:  Room 237 (Computer Lab)

When:  Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday

Time:  2:45 to 3:30

Who:  All Kesling Students!

Needed: Homework or Class Project, Textbook, Paper & Pen/Pencil

Rides should be prearranged and at Kesling promply at 3:30!

Attached is a newsletter that "provides busy parents with practical ideas that promote school success, parent involvement, and more effective parenting".

 

Middle Years - March Issue

Kesling Academic ICU Program

During the 2014-2015 school year we have worked very hard as a staff to hold students accountable for their own learning.  We are very excited about the continuation of having students take ownership for what they need to complete to be successful in school.  We call this program the Kesling Academic ICU (Intensive Care Unit) program.  In this case, the student’s academic grade is in need of intensive care to become academically healthy.  To increase communication with parents, we will use a data base tracking system where all staff will input student missing assignments into the ICU data base. Once the assignment is entered into the system, parents will get an automated e-mail or text message from the teacher letting them know what assignment is missing.  Parents will get a second e-mail or text message once the assignment has been completed.  The students can take advantage of various opportunities before, during, and after school to receive the help needed to complete the missing assignments.  Students who have multiple assignments missing may be excluded from attending after school functions, Fun Nights, or participating in extra-curricular activities until the student is taken off the ICU list by completing the missing work that is considered quality work by the teacher.  We believe the implementation of the Kesling Academic ICU program will help all students become proficient in the Indiana Academic Standards in all subject areas.  Please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher, a counselor, or administrator, regarding the ICU program.

The Kesling PTSA is sponsoring Pizza Hut give back nights on the following dates:

Feb. 4, March 4, April 1, and May 6.

Print off a copy of the attached flyer and when you order pizza on the nights listed, use the flyer to give back to Kesling Middle School.

Thank you for your support!

Give back flyer

WORK ETHIC

2014-2015

The Work Ethic program was developed to inform students of the characteristics that are valued by potential employers.

This program is voluntary, and encourages the traits and habits that are often looked at by employers when they are considering hiring a person. Participants are expected to do community service, have good attendance and good behavior, and show responsibility, cooperation, punctualityand respect for others.

The hope is that the program will help students develop the habits needed to be a good employee, and, at the same time, help them set and reach goals for achievement in school. Students who fulfill all of the requirements of the program will receivea certificate at the awards ceremony in June.

IMPORTANT DATES:

October 9 :  Meeting to inform students about the program

October 28:  Deadline for turning in Intent-to-Participate forms (signed by parent and student)

January 16:  Deadline for submitting minimum of 3 hours of verified Community Service

April 17:  Deadline for submitting any additional hours of Community Service

After the January deadline, we will begin to review records to determine if students are still eligible in the areas of grades, attendance and discipline. In early April we will begin the process of evaluation of students by teachers in the areas of punctuality, respectfulness, teamwork, and organization. The students will have a deadline to meet at this time.

(This deadline will be announced later.)

Students who expressed an interest were given a flyer for parents which explained the program more specifically.

Athletic Handbook Forms & Physical Forms 

Dear Parents/Guardians,

With so many students signing up for  Winter Sports, we would just like to send out a reminder of the requirements your student must meet to be able to participate.

There are several forms that need to be completed before they can even try out for or begin practice in ANY sport.

These forms are divided into 2 separate packets:

1. The Athletic Handbook includes10 Pages, with 3 Forms that need to be filled out COMPLETELY and SIGNED. Please do not remove these forms from the Athletic Handbook. We need the Athletic Handbook stapled together. This way, the forms are easier to file, and therefore, easier for the coaches to access. Some of these forms need the STUDENTS’ signature as well. Please be sure to have them sign before they turn their forms in.
2. There are 4 Pages included with the Physical Form. A History Form (completed & signed by Parent/Guardian), a Physical Form (completed & signed by child’s Doctor), IHSAA Eligibility Rules, and a Consent & Release Certificate (signed by Student & Parent). These Pages should also not be separated, making them easier to file, and access.

These forms are available in the Front Office at Kesling, and should be turned in to Ms. Pointon, Computer Lab Room 237.

We are PROUD of our Athletes and their accomplishments, and look forward to your child being a part of our team!

Thank you for your cooperation!

Go Kesling!

Please click on the link below for the immunization requirements for the 2014-2015 School Year.

2014-2015 Immunization Requirements

New School Colors!

The school board has approved for both middle schools to change their school colors to match the high school. The reasons for the change are for parents and students to save money purchasing items that will be black and orange, community cohesiveness from both middle schools using the same color, and for our school corporation to align with other DAC schools that have colors the same from middle to high school. The process for change will take approximately five years to complete. So, there will be a transition time that will include some things being blue and gold for a few years and new items, clothing, or uniforms purchased from now on being changed to the black and orange. We appreciate your patience in this transition time period and if you have any other questions contact an administrator at Kesling Middle School.

As families go shopping for school clothes, we want to make sure that all parents and students are aware of some changes to the Kesling student dress code.  The two biggest problems we have had regarding student dress is shorts and skirts that are too short and the wearing of pants and shorts that sag and not secure around the waist.  Therefore, the following changes have been made to the Kesling handbook.

Students wearing skirts or dresses (if shorter than the knees) to school must have on leggings (not shorts) under the garment.  The length of any shorts worn to school must be longer than the edge of fingertips of the student.  Any shirts worn to school must have sleeves.  Pants must be of appropriate size that match the stature of the individual and must be worn at the waist. NO holes in pants between the waist and knees.

Leggings permitted as undergarments, but not as pants.

We appreciate everyone following the student dress code, as it will be strictly enforced.  Students will be asked to change clothes to meet the dress code guidelines.  Working together as a team, we are confident that the dress code will be followed and that this will be another great year at Kesling.

Dear Kesling Parents,

The Kesling online event calendar provided by DynaCal is used to communicate school, athletic events, announcements, updates and more. There is a feature in the DynaCal system called My DynaCal. This feature offers instant communication by sending you emails and/or mobile phone text messages* in case of cancellation, postponement, or rescheduling of an event.
 

My DynaCal is easy and simple to set up. As an attachment at the bottom of this letter you can find more details about DynaCal and how to setup the My DynaCal feature.
 

By setting up a My DynaCal profile you will be able to:
• Enter your contact information
• Select which types/categories of events you would like to receive notifications about
• Create customized views of school events, based on what your children are involved
• Create multiple calendar views based on each child’s involvement
• Share those calendar views via email with anyone that would like your child’s schedule
 

You can access My DynaCal at www.dynacal.com/lpcsc .  We hope you find this information helpful and the service beneficial to keep you informed. 
 

Sincerely,
Bill Wilmsen
Principal, Kesling Middle School

*Mobile carrier charges may apply for text message alerts. Be sure to verify your text message options and rates on your mobile plan.
 

Instructions for My DynaCal

Please click on the icon below to access information about reporting problems at Kesling Middle School.

Hotline Information

Rose-Hulman's Homework Hotline provides FREE math and science homework help to Indiana students in grades 6-12. Students may contact the Homework Hotline from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time), September through May toll-free at 1-877-ASK-ROSE or online at www.AskRose.org.

ask rose hotline