KMA October Newsletter

Dear KMA Families,

Happy October! It is hard to believe we are already entering our second month of school! September was a wonderful month of building relationships, establishing routines, and creating a positive school community. I am excited to see our students settling in, engaging in their classes, and continuing to grow both academically and socially.

Thank you to all the families who joined us for Meet the Teacher Night! It was a pleasure connecting with you and sharing the exciting things happening at KMA. Strong partnerships between home and school are essential to student success, and we truly appreciate your continued support.

As we move into October, our focus remains on student engagement, academic growth, and creating a safe and supportive learning environment where every student can thrive. We are also looking forward to some exciting opportunities this month, including the start of our YMCA Physical Education program, School Picture Day, and continued community-building activities.

With mid-quarter progress reports just around the corner, October is also a great time to celebrate student accomplishments, reflect on progress, and set goals for the remainder of the term. Our staff is committed to working closely with students and families to ensure every student has the support they need to be successful.

Thank you for being such an important part of our KMA community. I look forward to another great month together!

Warmly,

Dr. Emily Luuri

Mid-Quarter Progress Reports - Our teachers are currently preparing mid-quarter progress reports to provide families with an update on their child's academic performance and progress. Reports will be emailed to families on Friday, October 9, 2026.

We encourage families to review these reports with their child, celebrate successes, and identify areas for continued growth. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your child's teachers. We value your partnership in supporting student success!

Attendance Matters -  Important Reminder - Regular school attendance is essential to student success! We want to remind families that, according to KMA's attendance policy, students who accumulate more than six unexcused absences in a term are at risk of losing academic credit and failing their courses.

Every school day matters, and consistent attendance helps students stay engaged, keep up with coursework, and make progress toward graduation.

We appreciate your partnership in making school attendance a priority. If your child is experiencing challenges that are impacting their attendance, please reach out so we can work together to provide support.

YMCA Physical Education Begins This Week! - We are excited to announce that KMA students will begin attending the YMCA next week for their Physical Education classes!

Students who have completed the required YMCA registration paperwork will be able to participate. Students whose paperwork has not been completed will remain at KMA until their registration is finalized.

Please note: It is essential that all families complete the required paperwork, as participation in Physical Education is necessary for students to earn their PE credit.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping us provide this opportunity for all students!

MCAS Retake Opportunity - Students who did not meet expectations on last year's MCAS have an opportunity to retake the assessment. If you are interested in having your child participate in the MCAS retake, please contact Dr. Luuri.

School Picture Day – October 20th - Legacy Studios will be at KMA on Tuesday, October 20th, for School Picture Day! Families will receive an email with additional information about ordering photo packages. We look forward to capturing those smiles!

Senior Portraits - All KMA seniors will have the opportunity to get senior portraits done through Legacy Studios on Thursday, October 8th at 1:00 pm.  Portraits will be available in poses that will include head and shoulders and 3/4 of the body and in one outfit. Clothing should be school appropriate. Seniors who live in Bellingham will have the opportunity to have their photo included in the Bellingham High School yearbook if they choose to do so. (Only senior portraits from Legacy Studios are allowed to appear in the yearbook.)

Mrs. Clark will transport them to the high school from Keough and have them back in time for dismissal.  Legacy Studios will email the families their gallery links once the photos are available online.

Keough Student Picture Day  - Legacy Studios will be coming to Keough on Tuesday, October 20th 9:30-11:45 for School Picture Day. All students will be encouraged to have their pictures taken so that they can get a school ID which can be important for a photo form of identification for employment and other purposes.

National School Lunch Week! - National School Lunch Week celebrates the importance of nutritious school meals and the amazing people who prepare and serve them every day!

We want to give a special THANK YOU to Kelly, our wonderful KMA lunch staff member! Kelly works hard to ensure our students are fed and cared for each day. We appreciate her kindness, dedication, and all that she does for our school community.

The Student Council had our first meeting last week. At our inaugural meeting we discussed a variety of community building activity ideas, our core values as a student organization, and planned for our student body election which was held on 10/1. Congratulations to our winner! For the upcoming meeting on 10/6 we are working on developing an Autumn whole school field trip and continuing our goal of increasing KMA’s core values of safe, kind, and responsible. Any interested students are still welcome to join.

As fall approaches and we move into cold and Flu season please consider getting your child a Flu shot. Reminders if your child will be out sick please contact the front office. 

Throughout October, our therapeutic counseling groups will focus on the Wayfinder skill of Self-Awareness. Students will explore their emotions, strengths, values, needs, and personal responses. Through discussion and interactive activities, students will build a better understanding of themselves and how self-awareness can support healthy decision-making, emotional regulation, relationships, and self-advocacy. 

KMA students will participate in an all-school field trip to Unity Farm Sanctuary in Sherborn. This experience will build upon our work around empathy by encouraging compassion, kindness, and respect for animals and other living beings. In preparation for our visit, we will also hold a stuffed-animal donation drive, giving students and families an opportunity to contribute to this school-wide effort. 

In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, DPH-funded educators from New Hope will visit KMA for a four-part educational series focused on awareness, healthy relationships, respect, boundaries, and available supports. 

Students will also be invited to participate in New Hope’s “What Does Hope Look Like?” community art project. Students will create artwork representing what hope means to them. Their artwork will be donated to New Hope and featured in exhibits at area art studios. 

We look forward to a meaningful month filled with opportunities for students to strengthen self-awareness, empathy, compassion, creativity, and connection to their community.

10/12 - No School

10/30 - Early Release - Dismissal at 11:15