Kaneland Harter Middle School Newsletter

October 2023

School Picture Retakes

School picture retakes are Friday, October 6th. If your child has already taken their picture, you are able to order pictures and choose their picture for the yearbook. Please use the link below to do this.

https://www.vipis.com/group/5db3547c/kaneland-harter-middle-school

Fall Fundraiser

The tentative pick-up date for all fundraising items from the fall fundraiser is November 1 starting at 3:00 p.m. All frozen items, no matter if sold online or in person will need to be picked up on that day. Customers that purchased popcorn or tumblers online had a choice between paying extra and having them shipped to their home or shipping them to school for free. Those items sent to school will also be available for pickup at that time. Please keep in mind that we do not have freezer space to store frozen product. If you are unable to pick up the items on November 1, please make arrangements for someone else to pick it up for you.

Yearbook Information

If you are interested in ordering your child a yearbook, see below for details.

Click on the following link: yearbookordercenter.com
Harter's order number after clicking on the link is: 14512

MTSS (Multi-Tiered Systems of Support)

Each grade level has two dedicated MTSS teachers that support students academically. We also have a Behavior Facilitator that supports students in grades 6-8. We have talked to the students about how to access these supports. Our KAL screen (don't worry, your child knows what this is) has an app to request extra assistance and we encourage all students to use this when necessary. We are lucky to have these types of supports in place for our students.

PTO

Our next PTO meeting will be Wednesday, October 11th at 7:00 p.m. It is a virtual meeting and you can join the meeting by clicking here. The PTO is continuing to offer a prize to the homeroom that has the most parents attend the PTO meeting.

The next No Cook Knight is Thursday, October 19th at Open Range in Sugar Grove from 5:00-10:00 p.m. You can find more information on the KHMS PTO website.

End of 1st Term & Report Cards

The End of the 1st Term is October 13. Report Cards will be viewable in Infinite Campus on October 20. A separate email will be sent with instructions on how to view the report card.

Linked here is the information you'll need to better understand your child's scores. For some of our yearlong core courses, your child may score a 2. Please don't be alarmed. Your child is on track. If a student is struggling academically, our teams/teachers will reach out to you.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Since Parent-Teacher Conferences take place right away in November, we wanted to send out information now. P/T Conference will be held on Wednesday, November 1 (3:00-7:00 p.m.) and Thursday, November 2 (10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.). Students do attend school on November 1st, but do not have school on November 2nd & 3rd. More information, including how to sign up for a conference, will be communicated from your child's team and teachers in the near future.

We will follow the student-led conference format. To learn more about this process, an informational doc has been created: Student-led conferences

Kaneland 302 District Communication

The Kaneland Connects rollout of the strategic plan continues and we are in year three of the five year plan. We are providing an update on the plan's progress along with information on upcoming events.

Standards Based Grading (SBG) is one of the five commitments. SBG reports on the level of proficiency that students are able to demonstrate through a variety of assessments and projects, with grade reports falling on the continuum level from Needs Support to Proficient. Additionally, our high school grade span can earn a grade of Excellent (4). Standards based grading is an effective way to evaluate student progress and encourages continuous improvement.

Standards based scales are typically 1-4 at Kaneland High School (KHS) and 1-3 in grades K-8. Scores reflect students' increasing skills:

1 - Needs Support
2 - Approaching
3 - Proficient
4 Excellent (this score is reserved only for our high school students)

There is a link between multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) and social emotional learning (SEL). MTSS encompasses academic knowledge and functional and behavioral support for students, improving organization, function, and planning, and those needing regulation in a school setting. MTSS staff collaborate with social workers, psychologists, and behavioral facilitators to analyze and problem-solve support for a student. If you are looking for behavioral support for your child, don't hesitate to contact an MTSS coordinator or principal in the building. Contact information can be found on the following web page: Staff Directory

As a parent, you are the best support system and advocate for your child's education. Checking your child's grades, reviewing their learning progress, communicating with teachers, and researching ways to support your child in their learning journey are some of the recommended tips. By doing so, a child achieves academic success and develops strong self-esteem and confidence. Please contact the Directors of Educational Services, Mr. Patrick Raleigh, at 11509@kaneland.org or Dr. Sarah Mumm at 10358@kaneland.org, with any questions, concerns, or comments.

Contact Dr. Sarah Mumm if you would like to be a part of the Kaneland Connects Committee. We will meet three times this school year, starting September 27, 2023, then on January 31, 2024, and April 23, 2024, at Kaneland Meredith Academic Center (KMAC) from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Our committee is focused on evaluating the progress of the five commitments outlined in our strategic plan, available on the following webpage: Kaneland Connects. We recognize the importance of closely monitoring these commitments and ensuring we meet our goals. We are dedicated to ensuring that our schools provide the best possible support for our students, and we're excited to continue working towards these important goals.

In our school district, we strive to ensure that every student is given an equal opportunity to succeed, regardless of the course in which they are retaking an assessment. To achieve this, we have implemented a standardized retake process that involves a conference between the student and teacher. Targeted practice activities are identified during this conference, and a deadline is set for the student to complete these activities. Once completed, the student can then move on to their reassessment. This approach helps promote fairness and consistency while giving students the support they need to succeed.

The upcoming Homecoming Parade in Sugar Grove is on October 4th, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. The Kaneland District will participate with a float showcasing our connections and commitments through Kaneland Connects. It will be a great time, so join us along the parade route!

KORT Community Service Program

Kaneland Harter Middle School has a long tradition of celebrating student commitment to community service. Not only does this program give students the opportunity to learn more about the services of the community and supports the district's mission of graduating students who are college, career and community ready, it also supports the Kaneland Core Values of Citizenship, Responsibility and Commitment to Excellence. Students who accumulate at least 30 hours over their career at Harter are recognized at the end of their 8th grade year and are given a Knights of the Round Table chenille shield and certificate of recognition. If your child is interested in participating in this program, please read the information here.

Halloween Dance

The Harter Middle School Student Council is sponsoring a Halloween dance on Friday, October 27 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. All Harter Middle School students are invited to attend and dress in a costume. Costumes must be school appropriate as outlined in the student handbook and students should not include any toy or fake weapons. Masks will not be allowed as it is imperative that staff are able to see students' faces. Face paint is allowed.

Entry to the dance will cost $5 and students must present their ID. Pizza, snacks, and drinks will be available for purchase. Only Kaneland Harter Middle School students are allowed to attend the dance. Students from other middle schools, high schools, or elementary schools will not be allowed to attend.

Halloween Day

Due to the fact we are offering a Halloween Dance, Halloween costumes will not be allowed to be worn at school on Halloween day. Costumes present a distraction to the learning environment. Students are asked to attend the Halloween Dance to show off their costumes.

Red Ribbon Week

Red Ribbon Week is scheduled for the week of October 23rd. The Red Ribbon Campaign supports healthy, drug free kids. We have a variety of activities planned for our students this week.

Awesomeness Around Harter