MEEKER MIDDLE SCHOOL

12600 SE 192nd St., Renton, WA 98058 253-373-7284 phone 253-373-7560 fax Shannon Nash, Principal Angela Grutko, Assistant Principal

December 2016

Dec. 9 – Season 2 Sports Pictures

Dec. 19–Jan. 2 – Winter Vacation

Jan. 3 – Return to School

Jan. 11 – Late Start - 1 hr. 45 min. late

SCHOOL HOURS

Academic Day is 8:35 am – 3:01 pm

Office hours are 8:00 am – 3:30 pm

Dear Pioneer Families,

Can you believe it? The end of 2016 is upon us. Thank you to all students and families who attended Meeker’s First Annual Student-Led Conferences on November 22nd. We had an excellent turnout. I encour-age you to continue to keep the lines of communication open with all teachers. Please, check your child’s grades regularly in Skyward and contact your child’s teachers often regarding any concerns. Be aware that the end of semester one is January 30th. As we draw closer to that date, it is critical that parents, teachers, and students are all on the same page regarding academics and behavior.

Meeker Afterschool Program: We strongly believe at Meeker that Failure Is Not An Option! The Meeker staff want to make sure that students are getting support. Thus, any student earning below a 70% with missing assignments is encouraged to obtain and complete an application for the after school program and turn it into Ms. Sophia Dinh in room 101. The after afterschool program components are as follows: 3:01 – 3:15 - Snack and Announcements 3:15 – 4:15 - Academic Hour

Students check their Skyward, homework gathering and completion, work on missing assignments, email teachers any questions, complete i-Ready lessons, and access educa-tional websites to supplement learning.

4:15 – 5:15 - Enrichment Hour Program opportunities currently include DJ Music Produc-

tion- CEO Boss Life- Chemistry in the Kitchen- Coding (computer)- Michael P. Anderson- Museum of Flight.

5:15 – Buses Depart Join us for a new program starting in the Meeker Afterschool Program called “ROBOTICS”. Build Lego EV3 Mindstorms, defeat engineering challenges and battle your friends for top Robot. Robotics will be every Tuesday from 3:15-5:05pm. Check out this website to see what you will build and do. https://www.lego.com/en-us/mindstorms/about-ev3.

(continued on page 2)

NO EARLY DISMISSALS

AFTER 2:30 PM

Page 2 – 4 Meeker News

Page 5 District News

Page 6 – 7 Sports

Page 8 – 9 Counseling

Page 10 – 15 PTSA

Page 16 Important Dates/ Phone #’s

Please visit our website for more information:

http://www.kent.k12.wa.us/MK

To report an absence:

Email: MKAttendance@kent.k12.wa.us

Phone: 253-373-7284

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MEEKER NEWS

Winter Vacation: Winter vacation begins Monday, December 19th and runs through Monday, January 1st . Students are back in classes on Tuesday, January 2nd. As we head into the holiday season, I encourage you to make time to celebrate with your families. Include in your celebrations some reflection on your son/daughter’s recent academic and extracurricular experiences and accomplishments. Students benefit academically and emotionally from family interest and involvement in their education. Enjoy the season! Take the time to enjoy yourselves and your families. Have a great winter vacation! As always, you are welcomed and encouraged to remain closely involved in your child’s education. This truly is a team effort.

Sincerely,

Meeker Administration

December 6th

9:00 to 10:00 a.m.

Meeker Library

$12.00

Sizes available:

Youth Large, Small, and Medium

All sales are final.

All proceeds to Meeker ASB. See the Cashier.

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MEEKER NEWS

Helpful Inclement Weather Information for Families

KSD has several different methods of notification when school is closed or delayed due to inclement weather. Notifications In the event of a school closure or delay, notification will be through:

Phone calls: Automated phone calls will be made early in the morning to the primary household number(s) for each family. Please ensure your contact information is current in our Skyward system. In addition, we recommend you choose a telephone option that will operate during a power outage. (Many landlines are now bundled with cable services and do not work during power outages.)

Emails: Emails will be sent to all parents/guardians and KSD accounts.

If you don't receive any of these notifications, please contact the Customer Support Center at 253-373-7030. Web and Social Media KSD will post school closures and delay alerts to the district homepage. Visit us at www.kentschooldistrict.org Information will also be posted to District social media accounts.

Facebook: Facebook.com/KSD415 Twitter: @KentSchools415

Flash Alerts School weather closure information is available at www.schoolreport.org. You can create a FlashAlert Messenger account to receive email messages from KSD or other organizations. You'll also find FlashAlert Messenger in the iTunes store and Android Play to receive push notifications to your phone. Local Media The District will notify local media of any closures or delays. Local radio and television news station information is listed below.

KOMO 4 TV and KOMO 1000 AM Radio KING 5 TV KIRO 7 TV and KIRO 97.3 FM Radio

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MEEKER NEWS

2016-2017

Animal Farm – George Orwell

Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War – Steve Sheinkin

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind – William Kamkwamba & Bryan Mealer

I Will Always Write Back: How One Letter Changed Two Lives – Caitlin Alifirenka

Chains – Laurie Halse Anderson

The Last Town on Earth – Thomas Mullen

The Hired Girl – Laura Amy Schlitz

The Boy in the Black Suit – Jason Reynolds

The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B – Teresa Toten

The Running Dream – Wendelin Van Draanen

Heat – Mike Lupica

The False Prince – Jennifer Nielson

Uglies – Scott Westerfeld

Mila 2.0 – Debra Driza

HIVE: Higher Institute of Villainous Education – Mark Walden

Stranger with my Face – Lois Duncan

Buzz Kill – Beth Fantaskey

Silverfin: A James Bond Adventure – Charlie Higson

Notes from the Midnight Driver – Jordan Sonnenblick

Dogs of War – Sheila Keenan

Roller Girl – Victoria Jamieson

Rain Reign – Ann Martin

Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary "Jacky" Faber, Ship's Boy – L.A. Meyer

Steelheart – Brandon Sanderson

Knockdown – Brenda Beem

Battle of the Books

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The theme for the KSD 2017 Expo is “Inspiring Globally

Competitive Learners” which supports our goals to showcase

student learning, the technology that KSD students are using in

our schools, and current and future technology careers and

opportunities. It’s an event that has something for everyone.

The District’s annual Technology Expo showcases how students

gain college and career skills through classroom projects using

technology tools. At the event, students and teachers will

demonstrate technology in use, speak about what they have

learned, and ask attendees to get involved. Attendees will have

the opportunity to experience Kent School District technology

integration by solving a problem, completing a task, or building

a device with student presenters.

What will this year's Tech Expo bring? Find out on Thursday,

January 19th! We'll see you there!

The 2017 Tech Expo takes place January 19, 2017.

Attendance is FREE. Doors are open between

6:00 and 8:30 pm.

Are you interested in getting involved in the 2017 Technology Expo? Reserve a spot for your student-led booth or for your

business booth.

Last Year's Statistics

At the 2016 Technology Expo, more than 4,200 people joined the Kent School District to learn

about the role technology plays in education from more than 800

students and 154 teach-ers at 102 booths.

ASB/CASHIER HOURS

Monday-Friday

8:00 am — 2:30 pm

Winter Vacation December 19th – January 2nd

Return to classes

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

DISTRICT NEWS

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SPORTS

Girls Soccer

3:45 start time

Varsity Coach: Andy McCorquodale 7th Grade Coach: Kayla Hanus

7th Varsity

Tuesday, Dec. 6 Home @ KR Away @ KW vs. Mattson

Thursday, Dec. 8 Home @ PP Away @ KR vs. Northwood

Tuesday, Dec. 13 Away @ FF Home @ KR vs. Mill Creek

Thursday, Dec. 15 Home @ WF Away @ WF vs. Meridian

Thursday, Jan. 5 Away @ KL Home @ KR vs. Cedar Heights

Tuesday, Jan. 10 Away @ KW Home @ KR vs. Mattson

Thursday, Jan. 12 Away @ PP Home @ PP vs. Northwood

Tuesday, Jan. 14 Home @ KR Away @ FF vs. Mill Creek

WF = Wilson Field KR = Kentridge HS KL = Kentlake HS

KW = Kentwood HS PP = Petrovitsky Park KM = Kent Meridian HS

Season 2 Sports Pictures

December 9th

After school - 3:00 PM

Boys Basketball,

Girls Soccer and

Gymnastics

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SPORTS

Boys Basketball

3:45 start time

(7th grade follows Varsity)

Varsity Coach: Chance Wilton 7th Gr. Coach: Cam Bailey

Tuesday, Dec. 6 Home vs. Mattson

Thursday, Dec. 8 Away @ Northwood

Monday, Dec. 12 Away @ Northwood – LP Game

Tuesday, Dec. 13 Away @ Meridian

Thursday, Dec. 15 Home vs. Tahoma Blue*

Thursday, Jan. 5 Home vs. Cedar Heights

Tuesday, Jan. 10 Varsity seeding to be announced Jan. 6

Thursday, Jan. 12 Varsity seeding to be announced Jan. 6

Wednesday, Jan. 18 Varsity seeding to be announced Jan. 6

*Tahoma Blue and Gold games are played at Tahoma JH (Summit Landsburg Road)

Gymnastics

4:00 start time

Varsity Coach: Kelli Darcy JV Coach: Melissa Stanley

Wednesday, Dec. 7 Away @ Cedar Heights

Wednesday, Dec. 14 Away @ Mattson

Friday, Jan. 6 Away @ Northwood

Wednesday, Jan. 11 Home vs. Mill Creek

Friday, Jan. 13 Home Team (JV) Meet vs. Mattson

Wednesday, Jan. 18 Varsity League Meet @ Cedar Heights hosted by Cedar Heights

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COUNSELING CORNER

Are you stressing the importance of your child’s effort? Every student is capable of his own “personal best.” Answer yes or no to the questions below to find out if you are encouraging your child’s best effort: ___1. Do you point out his effort? “I’m impressed that you are working on your project this weekend!”

___2. Do you encourage your child to take pride in his own effort? “It must make you feel great to know that you hung in there.”

___3. Do you model consistent and diligent effort? “I am working on this report each day this week so I can get it completed by Friday.”

___4. Do you point to effort as the reason for your child’s successes? “That extra half hour a night of studying has paid off.”

___5. Do you avoid focusing too much on results, as long as your child puts forth his best effort

How well are you doing? If most of your answers are yes, you are encouraging your child to strive for his best. For no answers, try those ideas. Reprinted with permission from the December 2016 issue of Parents Still make the difference!® (Middle School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2016 The Parent Institute®, a division of PaperClip Media, Inc.

Improve communication with your child by simply

listening

Many parents of middle schoolers think their kids don’t talk to them enough. But that lack of conversation may actually be because of the parents. Some parents suffer from the same problem they complain about in their children—they just don’t listen.

To improve communication with your child, avoid these common pitfalls: Taking over the conversation. For example, your child says, “You know that new kid at school,

Sarah ... ?” You interrupt and say, “Sarah! I met her parents at the PTA meeting. They seem lovely. You should call her.” Maybe your child was going to share something with you. But she probably won’t now.

Always putting your child off. You can’t drop everything each time your child calls your name. But if your answer is almost always: “Hold on” or “Just a minute,” your child may just save what she was going to say forever.

To increase your chances for a conversation with your child: Let her finish! Don’t assume you know what she is going to say. Think ahead about times when she can have a chance to say what she wants. Time spent in the

car or otherwise doing errands is an ideal time. Be quiet during these times and give your middle schooler an opportunity to break the silence.

Reprinted with permission from the December 2016 issue of Parents Still make the difference!® (Middle School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2016 The Parent Institute®, a division of PaperClip Media, Inc. Source: K.R. Ginsburg and M.M. Jablow, “But I’m Almost 13!” An Action Plan for Raising a Responsible Adolescent, McGraw-Hill Education.

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COUNSELING CORNER

Take a look at your

child’s attendance

December usually contains a win-ter break from school. And once your child returns in January, the school year will be about half over.

This is a great time to review the first part of the year and make plans for the next. Looking at your child’s school attendance should be part of this important pro-cess.

Did your child attend school every day unless she was sick or there was a family emergency?

If so, congratulations! Let her know you’re proud of her strong attendance. Help her keep up the good work for the rest of the year and beyond. Strong attendance is one predictor of success in school.

If not:

Remind your child that regular school attendance is a priority.

Emphasize the need for rest, nutrition and exercise to stay healthy and stay in school.

Consider the reasons you take your child out of school. Can you make some appointments outside school hours?

Create consequences. Let your middle schooler know that skipping school erodes your trust in her.

Reprinted with permission from the December 2016 issue of Parents Still make the difference!®

(Middle School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2016 The Parent Institute®, a division of Paper-

Clip Media, Inc.

Show your middle schooler

that you value and expect

honesty Being honest is the foundation of good charac-ter. It is also vital for your child’s academic suc-cess. Your middle schooler won’t learn algebra if she simply copies her friend’s answers. And she won’t become a better writer if she has a friend write her English paper.

Practice honesty with your child and stress its importance. When your child asks why she should be honest, offer these reasons:

Honest people have self-respect. They

know who they are and they never have to worry about being caught in a lie.

Honest people are respected by others. Family members, teachers and friends will respect her because they know they can count on her.

“Honesty is the best policy” is more than a saying. Being honest will keep your middle schooler out of trouble.

Honesty will earn your child more freedom. When you know you can trust your child, you are more likely to grant her additional privileges. Teachers also tend to give more freedom to students they trust.

Reprinted with permission from the December 2016 issue of Parents Still make the difference!® (Middle School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2016 The Parent Institute®, a division of PaperClip Media, Inc. Source: B. Lewis, Being Your Best: Character Building for Kids 7-10, Free Spirit Publishing.

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PTSA

PTSA News

Upcoming PTSA Events – Mark your calendars!

PTSA General Membership Meeting is December 8th at 6:30 p.m. in the school Library

Applebee’s Dining to Donate fundraiser in January – keep your eye out for more information

Valentine’s Day Dance is after school on February 9th

Thank you to all our volunteers in support of last month’s PTSA Events!

Annual Book fair, November 16 – 22

Staff Appreciation Dinner, November 22

Spirit Wear

Back by popular demand! We are again selling Meeker T-shirts and Hoodies for a limited time (until

December 16). Please complete the attached form and return it to the office to be included in the next

order. We also have spirit socks for sale $12 each. Contact irene2smile413@hotmail.com to purchase.

Volunteers needed for Failure Is Not An Option (FINAO)

Beginning Wednesday, November 30th, our PTSA will begin providing treats for FINAO again this year!

We are looking for treat donations and two volunteers (for 40 minutes, 2:20-3:00 p.m.) to hand out

treats. Treats cannot contain any nut products. Some ideas: plain Rice Krispie Treats, gummy snacks,

candies, Oreos, Nilla Wafer cookies and Cheetos. Please contact Diana at dkpaoletti@gmail.com for

more information.

Fred Meyer and Amazon Smile

Do you already shop at Fred Meyer and/or Amazon.com? If so, you can support your PTSA by signing

up for Fred Meyer Rewards and Amazon Smile. It takes a couple of minutes and is the easiest way to

support your PTSA! Please see attached flyers for instructions.

Membership Update

We added 7 new members in the last month! Thank you for supporting your PTSA! We are now at

7% (of the total number of students). Our goal is to reach 18% by year end. Please consider joining!

By joining before December 15th, you will be entered into a Family Getaway to Great Wolf Lodge! See

attached flyer or contact Arlene at agmagdamit@hotmail.com for more information.

PTSA positions

We filled our Fundraising position – thank you Deanna Lugo! We are still looking for a Programs chair.

Please contact Diana at dkpaoletti@gmail.com for more information.

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PTSA

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PTSA

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PTSA

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PTSA

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IMPORTANT MEEKER DATES

Dec. 3 Kent Winterfest - Band and Choir @ Kent Station

Dec. 8 Winter Music Concert—7PM @ Meeker Gym

Dec. 9 Season Two Sports pictures

Dec. 9 La Chispa Field Trip

Dec. 14 FINAO Wednesday

Dec. 19-Jan. 2 Winter Break

Jan. 3 Return to School

Jan. 11 Late Start - classes begin 10:20 AM

December 2016

Kent School District does not discriminate in admission, access, treatment, or employment on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identi-ty, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, or the use of trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. Student, school district employees, parents/guardians, and community members will not be excluded from participation

in or be subjected to discrimination with respect to any educational program or activity. If you have any questions, please contact one of the following: Our Title IX Office at 253-373-7203, or our Title IX and State Law Compliance Coordinator and Section 504/ADA Coordinator, Randall Heath, Executive Director, Student and Family Support Services. He can be reached at 253.373.7081, by email at Randall.heath@kent.k12.wa.us, or via mail at 12033 SE 256th St. Kent, WA. 98030. Kent School District will also take steps to assure that national origin persons who lack English language skills can participate in all education programs, services and activities. For information regarding translation services or bilingual education, contact Student and Family Support Services at 253-373-7269. Further, the District complies with all requirements and objectives of applicable state and federal laws.

Late Start Days Classes begin 10:20 am

January 11

February 8

March 1

March 22

April 19

May 10

June 7

April 20th

May 11th

June 1st

Buses pick up 1 hour and 45 minutes later than normal.

- No breakfast will be served -

Important District Phone Numbers

253-373-XXXX

Transportation

Special Need/Single Stop Students 7444

General Questions/Comments 7442

Food & Nutrition

Lunch Money Now 7275

Free/Reduced Applications 7802

IT Customer Support 7030

Help Desk for Student Laptops

Safety Services 7256

School Board 7701

Executive Assistant

Kent School District Office 7000