KMA November Newsletter

Dear KMA Families,

Happy November! It is hard to believe how quickly the school year is moving along. As we enter a new month, I want to take a moment to thank our families for your continued support and partnership.

This month, we are looking forward to our upcoming Parent/Guardian Conferences! These conferences provide a wonderful opportunity to connect with teachers, celebrate student progress, discuss areas for growth, and work together to support each student's success. We look forward to seeing everyone and having meaningful conversations about your student's learning and progress.

As we head into the holiday season, I also want to express my appreciation for our KMA community. We are grateful for the opportunity to work with your children each day and value the relationships we continue to build with our students and families.

Thank you for being an important part of our school community. Wishing you and your families a wonderful November!

Warmly,

Principal, Keough Memorial Academy

Parent-Teacher Conferences - We look forward to connecting with families during our upcoming parent-teacher conferences! Conferences will be held on the following dates:

Based on feedback from families last year, we have streamlined the conference sign-up process. Rather than receiving multiple emails from individual teachers, families can now find all teacher conference sign-up links in one convenient location below.

Please use the links below to schedule conferences with your child's teachers. We encourage all families to take advantage of this opportunity to connect with teachers, discuss student progress, and celebrate successes!

Mr. Morde (English Language Arts) 

Tuesday Appointments -  https://calendar.app.google/vQMWLtxevAQd4pwPAy

Thursday Appointments - https://calendar.app.google/1dCuQudPm27pBqmu6 

Mr. Acerra (Art) 

Appointments: https://calendar.app.google/girLUuWXBCcZcvoM9 

Ms. Sugden (Science)

Tuesday Appointments -  https://calendar.app.google/grYL93Qt3nmtdsZJ8

Thursday Appointments -  https://calendar.app.google/fnpkjCriZsmBZxNy9

Mr. Doiron (History)- 

Tuesday appointments: https://calendar.app.google/mQ5bY7SNQhcja954A

Thursday appointments: https://calendar.app.google/mQ5bY7SNQhcja954A

Mrs. Kazijian (Mathematics)

Appointments: https://calendar.app.google/hydasWQTV7u6wmr66 

Mrs. Stacy (SEL)

Appointments: https://calendar.app.google/b8PokjUeRZAwudjz6 

Mr. MacPherson (Intervention)

Appointments:  https://calendar.app.google/ckhSjpdP2QBpySRx7 

Mrs. Clark (Guidance and Transitions)

Appointments: https://calendar.app.google/dzkkqjgVn3R9qEeU7 

We look forward to seeing you at conferences!

Report Cards - Report cards will be issued on Friday! Students will receive a printed copy, and an additional copy will be mailed home to families. Report cards are also available for viewing through Infinite Campus. We encourage families to review their student's progress and reach out to teachers with any questions or concerns.

Attendance Matters! - Improving student attendance is one of our major priorities this school year. We know that consistent attendance plays an important role in students' academic success, social-emotional growth, and connection to our school community.

As part of our ongoing efforts, I will be sharing weekly attendance percentages with families each month. Our goal is to celebrate our progress, identify opportunities for improvement, and work together to ensure students are attending school consistently.

October Weekly Attendance:

Thank you for your continued partnership in helping students make attendance a priority. Every school day matters, and we appreciate your efforts to support consistent attendance!

The Student Council has had an exciting and productive start to the school year! On October 30th, we welcomed the arrival of autumn by hosting our annual AutumnFest celebration. We would like to extend a sincere thank-you to all students and staff who participated and helped make the event such a success!

As we approach the colder months, the Student Council is already planning several upcoming initiatives. These include a Gratitude Gathering during the week of November 23rd, a school-wide Spirit Week before the holiday break, and continued efforts to develop new ideas and initiatives that will make KMA an even better place for everyone.

We also hope to welcome Bellingham's Director of Nutrition to an upcoming meeting to discuss school lunches and explore opportunities for improvement. Additionally, we will continue working toward strengthening and promoting KMA's core values throughout our school community.

We are always looking for new voices and ideas! Any student who is interested in becoming involved is still welcome to submit an application. We encourage everyone to get involved and help make a positive difference at KMA! If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Gorman or Mr. Doiron. 

Happy November. As we continue to move through the cold and flu season, please consider having your student vaccinated for the flu. Please remember if your child is ill and has a fever, please keep them home from school. The number one thing you can do to limit the spread of infections is handwashing. 

Reminder: I am still missing emergency forms. If you have not filled it out, please complete it asap. If you do not have one please let me know and I will send it home with your student. These emergency forms are important for emergency dismissal and medication administration.  

Throughout November, our therapeutic counseling groups will continue focusing on the Wayfinder skill of Self-Awareness. Students will explore their emotions, strengths, values, personal choices, and how their behaviors affect themselves and others. Through discussions, reflection, and interactive activities, students will strengthen their ability to recognize emotions, make healthy decisions, practice emotional regulation, and advocate for their needs. 

This month, students will participate in the NOSO (National Social Media Detox Challenge) during group counseling. Students will explore how social media and screen time can influence their emotional well-being, self-esteem, relationships, and daily habits. Through group discussions and activities, students will reflect on their personal technology use, explore healthy digital boundaries, and identify ways to create a better balance between online and offline activities. 

Educators from the District Attorney’s Office will visit KMA to provide students with an educational presentation focused on vaping awareness and prevention. Students will learn about the health risks associated with vaping, the influence of peer pressure, and the importance of making informed decisions. This presentation supports our ongoing commitment to promoting student health, safety, and responsible decision-making. 

During parent conferences, the District Attorney’s Office will offer Hidden in Plain Sight, a parent education presentation designed to increase awareness of potential signs of adolescent substance use and other risky behaviors. Families will have an opportunity to learn about warning signs, prevention strategies, and ways to support healthy communication and decision-making with their teenagers. 

In recognition of World Kindness Day, KMA students will participate in a school-wide positive message activity celebrating kindness, compassion, and connection. Students will create and share uplifting messages that encourage positivity, belonging, and respect throughout our school community. This activity reinforces how small acts of kindness can make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. 

We look forward to a meaningful month of learning, reflection, and community connection as students continue developing self-awareness, healthy relationships, and positive decision-making skills. 

11/3 - No School

11/11 - No School

11/10 - Evening conferences (6:00-8:00)

11/12 - Early Release; Afternoon conferences (12-2:30)

11/13 - Early Release

11/25 - Early Release (At 10:30 ← note different time than usual)

11/26 - No School

11/27 - No School