Middle School of the Kennebunks

FROM THE PRINCIPAL'S DESK......

2008-10-10T20:51:49Z

With winter right around the corner, it is important to know that next Tuesday evening, October 14th, the Kennebunk Selectmen will be discussing the possibility of reducing the amount of sidewalks being plowed this winter. The meeting will be held on the third floor of the Town Hall beginning at 6:00 p.m. The Selectmen's full agenda for the evening can be found at www.kennebunkmaine.us (click calendar of events/October 14th).

Also, "good luck" to all of the Kennebunk High School teams that will be competing during this weekend's homecoming festivities.

And finally, isn't it great that we can still be talking about the Red Sox during the second full week of October? Go Sox!

Enjoy the day off from school on Monday, and have a nice long weekend.

Jeff Rodman

FROM THE PRINCIPAL'S DESK......

2008-10-03T19:50:05Z

When we instituted the new drop/off procedure last week it was our intent to make sure that all of our students were being dropped off in areas that were safe and convenient. As it turns out, the new area is neither safe nor convenient. For a variety of reasons the new plan has not worked out as planned.

Therefore, beginning Monday, October 6th, parents may return to dropping their children off in front of the main entrance to the middle school. However, we ask drivers to adhere to the following:

• Do not drive through or drop off in the front parking lot

• That all vehicles use the traffic loop right in front of the building

• That drivers pull forward as far as possible when dropping students off

• Finally, please remember that driving past a bus whose red lights are blinking is a traffic violation and you will be ticketed by the police department.

Please note, it is still okay to drop students off on the north side of the building, particularly if you are coming from that direction on Thompson Road.

I apologize for any inconvenience that the new traffic procedure may have caused and hope that returning to the old pattern (with some changes) will assist us in our efforts to make the traffic flow safer for our students.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Jeff Rodman

PERC - Parent Effectiveness in Resolving Conflict

2008-09-29T18:23:13Z

We know it isn’t easy—and there is a class that can help!

Join our six-week series to learn about adolescent development, develop strategies to respond to conflicts and challenges, explore ways to improve your relationship with your teen, prepare to handle drug and sexuality issues and connect with community resources for parents.

Parent Effectiveness in Resolving Conflict

With Your Teen

Where: TBA

When: Six Tuesdays, starting October 14, 2008 6:30-8:30

During this six-week program you will:

Learn how taking care of yourself helps the parent-child relationship

Explore the developmental tasks of adolescence

Develop communication skills and new tools for problem solving

Prepare to handle drug and sexual issues

Sponsored By: Youth Alternatives, Inc.

Kennebunk/Kennebunkport Youth Services

Cost: $40 - $120 ($140 per couple) sliding scale, includes all course materials

Sliding scale and full scholarships available, just ask

Register by contacting the instructor

Rachel Phipps, Kennebunk/Kennebunkport Youth Services Coordinator at

985-2102 x1343 or rphipps@kennebunk.maine.org

From the Principal's Desk - 9/26

2008-09-26T19:03:02Z

8th grade bike trip
I was fortunate enough to participate in the 8th grade teams' 19-mile bike trip through the back roads of Kennebunk and Wells. The trip was followed by a potluck dinner in the middle school cafeteria.

It was an amazing adventure. The weather was great and the 177 kids who made the trek were even better. The number of parents and staff that volunteered was equally amazing. There were 115 parents and middle school staff members who helped out in various roles. We had intersection monitors, water station attendants, medical staff, sag van drivers, and potluck planners. The entire 8th grade would like to give special thanks to Ruth Hickson, Moira Whalen, and Jeff Behrens for their help with the organization of this activity.

The Hunt for Ed October
Speaking of amazing events, the Educational Foundation of the Kennebunks is sponsoring an "adults only" scavenger hunt, The Hunt for Ed October on Saturday, October 18th. Below is a description what promises to be a fun and exciting time.

The Hunt for Ed October” – a Scavenger Hunt
To Benefit The Education Foundation of the Kennebunks

Before you jump to any racy conclusions, this is purely PG-rated entertainment…but way too much fun to bring the kids along! Round up a carload of friends for an old-fashioned scavenger hunt with a slightly modern twist. Read on...

Teams can include any number of people – as long as you fit in one car. Each team chooses a captain, must bring one digital camera, and has to stay together at all times. Teams travel locally throughout the Kennebunks looking for answers to their clues. Some are hard - and some are easy, but each item has a designated point value. The team to gather the most points wins!

“The Hunt for Ed October” begins and ends at the White Barn Inn’s new facility, Chase Hill Meetings & Events (former location of Windows on the Water). Teams gather at the Event Center at 3:30, learn the rules (and strategize!), and depart promptly at 4:00 p.m. Return time is 6:00 p.m., and then Round Two of the fun begins – hors'd oeuvres and a cash bar, as well as bragging rights for the winners and socializing with fellow scavengers.

Join us on October 18th for an unforgettable day of fun! Tickets are $50 each and benefit the kids in our Kennebunk and Kennebunkport school system through hands-on learning experiences made possible by The Education Foundation of the Kennebunks. Tickets are available at The Clam Shack, Old House Parts, and Sea Road School.

For more information, call Jeni Kingston at 967-3006 or visit:
www.educationalfondationofthekennebuns.org

Let The Games Begin.

School Advisory Committee
By policy, each school in MSAD71 is required to have a school advisory program that allows the school's community to assist in reviewing and defining quality education and to review the measures of success or failure of the local educational system. I am seeking one parent volunteer from each grade level to participate on the middle school's advisory committee.

Meetings are typically held quarterly during the year and will be scheduled a month in advance. I would like to hold these meetings in the late afternoon. If you have an interest, please let me know as soon as possible. If more parents apply than necessary, I will make a decision based upon ensuring equity at each grade level.

Thank you, Jeff Rodman

"Congratulations Red Sox"

GO RAMS!

From the Principal's Desk:

2008-09-18T17:46:40Z

School Website
I hope that you will spend some time navigating through the middle school's web site (http://msk.msad71.net). The website is an easy and useful tool that can keep you up to date on the "happenings" at the Middle School of the Kennebunks. A new feature on the web site is the Team Blog link. Each week, each team will be putting together a brief synopsis or overview of upcoming events and activities as part of their blog. It's new, it's informative, and it's a practical way to find out what is going on at school.

Our website also includes a calendar of events that are happening throughout the district. Also, any last minute announcements or cancellations will be posted on the site. Over the next few months we will continue our efforts to upgrade and improve upon the schools web page.

After School Activities
All students are expected to go home at 2:00 p.m. unless they have a pre-arranged plan, i.e.; homework help, an after school activity/sport, or they are staying with a specific teacher. There will soon be a new link on our website identifying homework help and enrichment programs offered after school.

Bike Riders
If able, I strongly encourage students to either walk or ride their bikes to school. It is a great way to get in some exercise before the beginning of the school day and a great way to unwind after a long work day. However, for those students riding their bikes to school it is imperative that they wear a helmet. The streets and intersections are busy with traffic during the times school is getting ready to begin and again at dismissal time. It makes great safety sense and it is the law.

A student who does not wear a helmet when riding his/her bike to school will lose the opportunity to ride his/her bike to school.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Jeff Rodman