Hello Kirtland Middle School Families!

I hope you and your children had a relaxing spring break. As we enter the final stretch of the school year, we have a lot of exciting events quickly approaching—everything from track meets and state testing to special grade-level end-of-year field trips and celebrations. Please note that the last day to order yearbooks is Monday, March 31, and we have important testing dates and no-school days coming up in April and May. I have included a detailed list of upcoming important dates following my normal two-week “At a Glance.”

I also want to share some uplifting news: one of our students, Evan Lallo, is coming home after successfully completing a six-week plus chemo and radiation treatment in Cincinnati. Tomorrow, he will ring the bell marking the end of his treatment there. Please keep him and his family in your thoughts and remember #EvanStrong as he makes his way home tomorrow afternoon. We here at KMS are so proud of you, buddy!

Additionally, I’d like to celebrate some other wonderful achievements: Eighth-grader Sara Garvin has advanced to the state-level Power of the Pen competition, and our robotics teams—Hungry Hungry Hornets and Steel Stingers—did an incredible job at the state tournament. Finally, don’t forget to have your children submit pictures for the yearbook using the Google form linked below. Thank you for staying involved and supporting your children as we wrap up the school year!

Sincerely,

Mr. Race

Next Two Weeks:

• Monday, 3/31/25 - Last Day to order yearbooks. Please see the information below in the newsletter.

• Monday, 4/7/25 - 7th and 8th grade boys/girls track meet, 4:30pm @ Richmond Hts.

• Wednesday, 4/9/25 - 7th and 8th grade boys/girls track meet, 4:30pm @ Cardinal High School

Future Dates of Note:

• Tuesday, 4/15/25 English (Part 1)

• Wednesday, 4/16/25English (Part 2)

• Friday, 4/18/25 - NO SCHOOL

• Monday, 4/21/25 - NO SCHOOL

• Wednesday, 4/23/25 NO Middle School TESTS / High School is testing

• Friday, 4/25/25 - Science (Part 1 & 2)

• Spring Dance - April 25 from 6pm to 8pm

• Tuesday, 4/29/25 - MS Math /Algebra/Geometry (Part 1)

• Wednesday, 4/30/25 - MS Math /Algebra/Geometry (Part 2)

• Saturday, 5/3/25 - Music in the Parks Festival - Cedar Point 7th/8th grade Choir/8th grade band (contact Ms. Smock and Ms. Bobbitt)

• Thursday 5/8/25 - B'Nai Jeshurun, Face to Face Program - 8th grade class ONLY

• Friday, 5/9/25 - NO SCHOOL

• Tuesday, May 13

• 6th grade Camp Whitewood - Please be at the front of the HS @ 5 to 5:15 am, buses leave at 5:30
• 8th grade Washington D.C. - 6:00am be at the middle school to load the buses, buses leave at 6:30
• Wednesday, May 14
• 7th grade Chicago - 7:00am am be at the middle school to load the buses, buses leave at 7:30am
• Friday, May 16
• 6th grade - 12:00 to 12:15 pm pickup behind the middle school at Recreation Park
• 7th grade - 10:00 pm Arrive back at school with many fond memories.
• 8th grade - 7:00 pm Arrive back at Kirtland High School.
• Tuesday, 5/20/25 - Honors Club Induction at 6 p.m. at KMS Gymnasium
• Thursday, 5/22/25 - Scholars Breakfast (INVITE ONLY) 7:30 – 9:30am KMS Gymnasium

• Friday, 5/26/25 - NO SCHOOL

• Thursday 5/29/25 - 8th Grade Promotion/Parent Picnic - Promotion at 8am Picnic to follow (Early Release)

• Friday, 5/30/25 - Last Day for Students. Last Day of School/8th Grade Cedar Point/6th/7th Picnic (Early Release)

Congratulations to the Kirtland Middle School teams who competed and presented at the state level this past weekend. Hungry Hungry Hornets consisted of seventh grader Naomi Blankenship and four sixth grade students. Naomi was instrumental in leading Cole Prymicz, Crosby Loschert, Ronan Popovich and Westley Kelly to create a working proof of concept for their drone project. They reached out to numerous experts to present their project in order to receive feedback to improve their project. They also designed and programmed a robot for the competition field. They shared their process with their team of judges. Hungry Hungry Hornets represented Kirtland well and finished their season being recognized for their community outreach.

Steel Stingers consists of Audrey Knaus, Dmitri Blodgett, Danny Bryant, Calvin MacGillis, Andrew Urban, Noelle Fisher, and Maja Katic. The team has researched, collected data and shared with experts to develop a presentation about the impact of lack of sunlight on submarine officers. Our First Tech Challenge (FTC) high school students helped Steel Stingers 3D print glasses to help show their concept and develop their idea using the design process. The Steel Stingers also designed and programmed a robot that completed missions on the FLL field. They shared their design process with the judges at the state competition. Steel Stingers ended their season as one of the top teams in the state winning the Innovation Project Award.

Below is the schedule for State End of Course Testing on the dates below, we will be utilizing the Testing Bell Schedule. Testing from 7:30 - 9:50 am

PHOTO DUMP!!
This google form is for you to submit (as many as you want) photos of you, your friends, groups (all photos must be Kirtland Middle School students ONLY).
All photos must be school appropriate (emails are collected with submissions).
Please see Mrs. Camburako with any questions.

Ideas for photo opportunities;
*at school,
*at home,
*at practice,
*at a game,
*outside,

*wherever!!

Hello Parents!

There are a few things I would like to ask for your help with.

Students are not turning in their loaner laptops and/or chargers in a timely manner which leaves some students without a loaner when needed. Laptops are not being charged at night which is very important so that there are loaners available for students whose laptops need to go to tech.

Thank you so much for your help with this.

Mrs. Gordon

The idea for KAA came out of a series of discussions the Building Leadership Team had regarding our desire to help students who need a little assistance every so often, while also trying to hold students with high amounts of missing work accountable. Missing work can have such a profoundly negative impact on student learning and success within the classroom and we want to provide something that can help. We believe that this program is a tremendous opportunity for kids who need help getting back on track, while also supporting students that just need a bit of assistance every now and again.

All KMS students are welcome at KAA. The academic team - including teachers, parents, and administrators - has the discretion to make this program mandatory for students with excessive missing work which negatively impacts student learning and success within the classroom.

In many ways, KAA is homework help, tutoring, and general academic assistance for any KMS student in attendance. KMS students do not need to sign up for KAA. They simply need to show up with things they want to work on, sign in, and get the help they need. We are confident that this process will help these students find great success.

Location: KMS Library

Time: 7:30 - 8:30am

Day: Thursday during Delayed Start

Staff Facilitator: Mrs. Saluan

Thank you Nicole Hollopeter for putting this together.

The link provided will take you the Kirtland Middle School - Important Dates for the 24-25 school year. There are still a few things that need to be added at the end of the school year, but they will be updated in the next couple of days. My goal for the year is to be as transparent as possible to major events taking place down the road at the school. I will continue to add to the important date section of the newsletter for upcoming events, but if you are wanting to plan for things, please refer to this document.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1TCl8Xmv-gALMgSvn69gqfFa83acvNE9EsObDigWkskg/edit?usp=sharing