KDHSA Middle School Families,
Happy 2019! I hope this message finds you well as we enter 2019 and Winter Break comes to an end! Please note classes will resume Monday January 7, 2019. To view the January 4, 2019 Principal’s Message which includes an embedded link to the January 2019 Middle School Newsletter, click on the link below:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1o7ISy7SugYHjrwFU0qgRZOKbYYM3jp5EZq_QUGapuqs/edit
Thank you for being our partners in education.
With H.E.A.R.T.,
Dr. Watson
Happy New Year, Parents and Guardians,
We hope you have enjoyed time with your family this holiday season and your 2019 is off to an amazing start. Because our PreK teachers and staff will be attending a Professional Development on Monday, Dec. 7th, class will resume Tuesday, January 8th for all Pre-K students at the DEC campus. All other Kenner Discovery students will return to classes on Monday, January 7, 2019.
Thank you!
Lower School Newsletter: Notes From the Owls’ Nest, December, 2018
It is so difficult to believe that another school quarter has flown by, and it is almost time for Winter Break! Our little Swamp Owls have been so busy experiencing and learning so many new and interesting things. We are so proud to share our adventures with you. Our Winter Music Concert, directed by Danielle Greer and Ron Totora, featured our first through fourth grade students singing about holidays and traditions around the world. I hope everyone was able to experience this amazing Lower School event.
Our Discovery Education PreK students have learned what it means to be an awesome Swamp Owl. They visited the Sugar Roots Farm and had an opportunity to explore their five senses. They have been discovering the “Land of Make Believe” learning how to use new words such as enormous, grateful, gigantic, and amazing. Students sang winter songs and rhymes in a holiday showcase for their parents.They decorated a train boxcar for the Polar Express. Second grade students visited the DEC campus and shared different station activities with our youngest students such as making reindeer food and decorating gingerbread men.
In Kindergarten, on our Rivertown Campus, our Kindergarten students visited the food bank and the fire station learning about community helpers and how they support the community. They have compared numbers, identified the number that come before and after, written numbers, and solved problems. Kindergarten students have learned about different family holiday traditions and cultures. For our Winter Fest, our Kindergarten students have been rotating centers doing different activities such as playing musical dots, making beaded candy canes, decorating cookies, and having a dance party. Recently they were able to explore the Children’s Museum and all the wonderful activities there.
Our first grade students wrote personal narratives and stories about themselves which they read aloud to their friends in class. They completed animal research projects where they worked in small groups to discover different animals’ body parts and animals’ habitats going to Global Wildlife as a culminating activity. Additionally, they used what they knew about biomimicry to solve problems. For a service project, our first graders made over a hundred Kindness Bags with blankets which were delivered to people in need during the holiday season.
Our students in second grade have been synthesizing stories for better understanding of what was read and have used the computer programs LEXIA, Achieve 3000, Reflex Math and Moby Max successfully. Students visited the Audubon Zoo where they learned so many interesting things about animals such as animal habitats. In Math, our second grade students learned how to regroup while adding two digit numbers and in Social Studies we focused on Native Americans. Second grade students held a pajama drive and donated to the needy during this holiday season. They also went to visit our DEC PreK students and supported buddy reading, math activities, and the celebration of the holiday season.
Our third Grade Swamp Owls are beginning to master multiplication facts by using drill practice and Reflex math. In science, they have completed climate dioramas and completed a STEM project of engineering a storm proof house. They have also been researching and writing essays about “Holidays Around the World” where they learned about different cultures and customs. They read, Because of Winn Dixie asking and answering questions by citing evidence from the text. Additionally, students explored the writing style of Chris Van Allsburg through an author’s study and composed an original narrative sequel to Jumanji.
Our fourth grade students have been developing skills that will take them to Middle School and beyond. In math, fourth grade students solved two digit by two digit multiplication, practiced long division, and completed a unit on geometry. They read The Whipping Boy citing and explaining text evidence. To culminate the medieval learning project, students visited the Renaissance Fair to discover how people actually lived in the Middle Ages. For science, our fourth grade students learned about invasive species and discovered the human impact on ecosystems participating in the Non-point Source Pollution Poster Contest. Additionally, our fourth graders learned many interesting facts about explorers and American colonization.
Our Lower School Students have been involved in so many amazing learning opportunities this quarter. We sincerely appreciate you entrusting your children to us and being our partners in their education. Our KDHSA family is awesome! We wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season and a joyous New Year!
Lyn Kelly, PreK - 4th Grade Principal
Early Dismissal Reminder - Wednesday, 12/19/2018
KDHSA Families,
This message serves as a reminder we have early dismissal at the the DEC, Rivertown, Maine, and Vintage Campuses Wednesday, December 19, 2018. Students will be dismissed as follows:
Early Dismissal Times by Campus:
Discovery Education Center (PreK) 1:40 pm
Rivertown Campus (K) 1:50 pm
Maine Campus (1st-8th) 2:00 pm
Vintage Campus (9th-11th) 1:00 pm
All campus pickups are at the normal location.
Community Works after school enrichment will be provided for students who have signed up. Please make the necessary arrangements for student pick-up. Bus service will be provided.
Thank you in advance for your attention to this message.
KDHSA Admin TEAM
PBIS Black and Gold Day Monday, Dec. 17th, $1.00
Lower School Students may wear a Saints Shirt with uniform bottoms on Monday, Dec. 17th for $1.00. Let's show our Saints pride by wearing black and gold shirts this Monday! Who Dat!
1st Grade students must wear their uniform as they are going on a field trip to Global Wildlife.
Middle School $2 for 4 Dressdown - $2 for 4 dress Down Days” December 17 - 20, 2018
KDHSA Middle School Families:
Let’s celebrate the first half of the school year!!!All 5th - 8th grade students have the option to participant in the “$2 for 4 dress Down Days” December 17 -20, 2018. Please click on the link below to view the flyer.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1An3X7wbPpUjnhvERegFsFCdrYj-CoEswjJNSUfRtfVE/edit?ts=5c12c4fb
*Parent Coffee Chat Reminder*
KDHSA PreK- 8th Grade Families:
Two “School Culture” Parent Coffee Chats are scheduled Wednesday, December 12th in the Maine Campus library. The first will take place at 8:30am and the second at 5:30pm. Donuts, juice, and coffee will be provided by KDHSA PBIS. PreK - 8th students who have a parent or guardian attend will be allowed to wear shoes of choice and/or socks of choice. Thursday, December 13, 2018.
Click on the link below to RSVP.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScTeql6gTFeEkLDHUw4LNp7YAJPAk7lqmY4G_CHXu4spCkhkQ/viewform?usp=sf_link
The Coffee Chat flyer can be viewed at the link below :
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yF140EoYDjMcAhyyVqaCbf-P5njvvKWlfWFpBaz5wNk/edit
We look forward to seeing you Wednesday!
KDHSA Admin
KDHSA MIddle School Families:
To view our upcoming events in the month of December, click on the link below view our December 2018 Middle School Newsletter.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1b46ARH-Uich0w48fIDglGMwi2BLRbc1RsLtjzSwT4WM/edit
As a reminder our End of 2nd Quarter Assessments are scheduled December 10 - 14. Please be sure your child is present, well rested, and prepared to do his/her best work.
As always, thank you for being our partners in educating your children.
With H.E.A.R.T.,
Dr. Watson
KDHSA Winter Holiday Concert
Starring 1st-4th grade students
with guest performers from the 5th and 6th grade keyboarding classes
Where: Vineyard Church
4340 Sal Lentini Pkwy, Kenner, LA 70065
When: Tuesday, December 11, 2018, 6 PM
Performing students should arrive by 5:40 PM
Cost: Free! Please consider bringing a canned vegetable to donate to Vineyard’s food pantry.
*Students should wear nice holiday attire.
*Participating students should be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
PreK-8th Grade College Shirt Day Friday December 7, 2018
You are scholars and college bound! Friday, December 7, 2018, all PreK - 8th grade students may a college shirt or sweater with normal uniform bottoms. Click on the link below to view the College Shirt Day flyer:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1x_kyonBZbKKk86fK4-hLfizq12eKdiK_6opS1x-I6FQ/edit
KDHSA PreK - 8th Grade Families:
Our next Parent Coffee Chat highlighting “School Culture”, will be presented by our Lower School and Middle School Deans at the Maine Campus Wednesday, December 12, 2018 at 8:30am and again at 5:30pm in the library. Please click on the link below to view the flyer. We look forward to seeing you! https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yF140EoYDjMcAhyyVqaCbf-P5njvvKWlfWFpBaz5wNk/edit
PreK - 8th grade children of parents attending either of the coffee chats will be allowed to wear shoes of choice and/or socks of choice Thursday, December 13, 2018.
12/3/2018
KDHSA Families,
In order to maintain organization throughout our campuses, we have created new emails for each location office. We are requesting that all parents use the new office email addresses to communicate with each front office. Please see the chart below for the email address you will use to communicate with office staff for absences, tardies, doctor’s appointments, transportation changes, and any other information needed to be shared with the school offices. This new system will allow us to consistently receive important information, in the event that a substitute is filling in for any office staff member.
Please begin using this new system as of Wednesday, 12/5. As we transition over the next few weeks, the office secretaries will check both inboxes to ensure all information is received. As of January 14th, 2019, the office secretaries will no longer check their personal Discovery email accounts for parent communications. Please send all communications using the email addresses shown below.
Location
Email Address for Office Staff
Rivertown
OfficeRivertown@discoveryhsf.org
Discovery Education Center (DEC)
OfficeDEC@discoveryhsf.org
Maine - Lower School (1st-4th grade)
OfficeMaineLS@discoveryhsf.org
Maine - Middle School (5th-8th grade)
OfficeMaineMS@discoveryhsf.org
Vintage
OfficeVintage@discoveryhsf.org
Thank you for your cooperation with this request.
With HEART,
KDHSA Admin Team
Maine Campus Update 11/29/2018
KDHSA Families:
Please note an incident occurred this afternoon at the Maine Campus that resulted in the City of Kenner Police Department being called out to review. Two adults, one male and one female, visiting one of the entities located near the Maine Campus were observed attempting to photograph middle school students on the blacktop. KDHSA staff and administration were quickly notified and quickly intervened. Kenner Police responded swiftly to resolve the situation. No one was harmed during this incident. License plate, driver’s license information, and car description were obtained by police. They were warned by police not to be on the grounds of the school or photograph students again.
As always, your child’s safety is paramount. Thank you for being our partners as we continue to carefully manage all matters as it relates to the safety and welfare of your child at KDHSA.
Kindly,
KDHSA Admin Team
KDHSA Middle School Families:
Please click on the link below to view a message from Dr. Watson. Have a happy holiday!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hoyx29b_s5zkayDhazQZOlj01d85N8VHVehlcvTVEX8/edit?usp=sharing
Volunteers Needed! Fun Thursday Snack is tomorrow since students will be off on Friday and we need your help! Please come share in the excitement with the students before they leave for break. See the sign up link below:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090F48AFAA29A0FB6-maine
Book Fair Late Night Shopping Tomorrow
Please join our Librarian, Ms. Emily Rogers, from 4:00 - 6:00 pm in the library on Maine Campus for late night book shopping on Wednesday, November 14th. Come shop for holiday gifts by entering the building from the Cafeteria entrance after carpool.
PreK - 8th Grade Cold Weather Uniform Guidelines
KDHSA PreK - 8th Grade Families:
We hope you are off to a great week! As you may know, cold temperatures are expected throughout this week. Please use the link below to access our cold weather uniform guidelines.
https://docs.google.com/docume...
Thank you for your attention to this message!
With H.E.A.R.T.,
KDHSA Admin
KDHSA 3rd - 11 Grade Families:
Our next Parent Coffee Chat titled, “Student Cyber Safety”, will be presented by the KDHSA Counseling Team at the Maine Campus Wednesday, November 14, 2018, at 8:30am. Please click on the link below to view the flyer. We look forward to seeing you!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gdpxhFzu4bb8p8pyh3uRFN_xb-OqntRvu2syPKLbVZc/edit
Kenner Discovery Parents and Guardians:
On Thursday, School Performance Scores were released. I waited until the weekend to send this message, so I had time to fully understand the new accountability system and series of scores.
2018 School Performance Score (SPS) – B*
2018 School Assessment Letter Grade- B
2018 School Progress Letter Grade- A
* The SPS is a combination of the School Assessment Grade and the School Progress Grade
2018 Top Gains Honoree YES
The Louisiana Department of Education is transitioning to a new, more stringent accountability system to measure schools and districts. Under the new accountability formula, Kenner Discovery’s overall 2018 School Performance Score (SPS) is a “B”. The new system measures students’ performance on annual tests and students’ progress toward attaining Mastery on tests. Kenner Discovery’s Performance Grade is a “B’ and Progress Grade is an “A”. Kenner Discovery is also a Top Gains Honoree which recognizes our ability to grow students toward the Mastery goal.
As listed in this nola.com article, (http://s.nola.com/og4KuIG) of Jefferson Parish’s 60 elementary schools, Kenner Discovery is the 6th highest performing school. The top 4 schools are selective admissions academies. Consistent with the last 4 years, Kenner Discovery is the 2nd highest performing open enrollment school in Jefferson Parish.
We support more stringent accountability, and this year our performance is as a B/A (performance/progress) school. With 69% Economically Disadvantaged students, 14% Special Education students, and 151 additional students, we are proud of our academic achievements. As always, we will strive for higher achievement in the 2018-19 school year and an A/A (performance/progress) school score.
We appreciate every coffee chat you attend, every night that you help with homework/projects, and every volunteer hour that you give. Parents and Guardians, thank you for being our partner as we move down the new road of school accountability and school growth.
With a Proud HEART,
Dr. Glaser
No classes on Friday... what better way to tire out the kids than KDHSA Skate Night on Thursday!
6:30pm to 8:30pm (doors open 6:15pm)
Airline Skate Center in Metairie
$5 per skater, skates included but feel free to bring your own if you prefer. If you have non-KDHSA friends or family who want to join in the fun, please bring them along.
*Parents who are not skating do not need to pay to get in.*
Food available for purchase, no outside food/drinks allowed. Extra cost to rent the walkers for kids who aren't proficient in roller skating.
As long as we have at least 100 people skating, we get 50% donated back to the KDHSA PTO!