Last week we celebrated Classified Appreciation Week -- showing BIG LOVE to all our classified teammates with daily treats! These outstanding educators serve in roles like our office staff (office manager, attendance secretary, counseling secretary/registrar & ASB bookkeeper), custodians, paraeducators, student security/support, library clerk, food services and bus drivers. It take ALL roles in the schoolhouse to serve students well. Grateful for our ROCKSTAR support team! #GoCubs!

Being in the “middle” often signifies a lot of things -- not the first or the start, not the last or the final. For the teen brain, middle school is a transition point -- and a biologically significant one. Here's an interesting video from Angela Duckworth is a MacArthur “genius” grant winner, researcher, and author of Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance. In the online article of The Science of Grit: Understanding the Psychology Behind Teen Resilience, it describes grit as "...a powerful psychological trait that plays a crucial role in shaping a teen’s future, influencing not only academic success but also emotional health and long-term resilience." Our middle school team is constantly seeking out the latest info to keep up with teen brains growing in a complex world . As we continue to get better at serving the modern teen, we are grateful for your ongoing support and partnership!

Military and Family Life Counseling (MFLC) → Some of our military-connected students may be experiencing increased worry or stress due to the current conflict in Iran and the uncertainty it can create for their families. Please remember that CKMS has access to two phenomenal Military Family Life Counselors (MFLC) -- "Ms. B" and "Ms. Chesnie." If you would like your student to have access to an MFLC, please contact your student’s counselor.

During this week's school administrator meeting, we received summary data for student behaviors across all levels. Student behavior data for high schools indicate that "technology violations" are the #1 reason for behavior referrals. Our Building Leadership Team then reflected on how our CKMS school-wide policy of "off & away in backpacks" for mobile devices can support a transition to high school. Students have already demonstrated TONS of progress towards developing their own "grit" for this behavior, but there's always room for improvement.

How can you help? Please talk with your student about the below points, and about how our school policy is helping set them up for success now and in the future.