December 3, 2009

Dear Parents of a Kalles Student:

This document is in regard to a new program we are implementing here at Kalles Junior High School. Z.A.P. (Zeros Are Prohibited) is a program intended to help students be successful in all of their classes. Many times, students are failing a class or have a lower grade due to missing assignments. Maybe the student has a very good reason for why they are missing assignments, i.e.: health issues, family arrangements, personal issues, etc. which has forced them to not be at school for a duration of time. Or maybe, students are not getting the assignments done for a variety of other reasons. In the end, they are missing assignments and it is affecting their overall grade. ZAP is a time to help them complete these assignments, remove that zero from their grade, and help them achieve success in class. The following are details regarding the program:

WHEN: every Wednesday, 8-9am (reminder: we have late start Wednesdays, so this time works great)

WHERE: Kalles library

WHY: to help students achieve success

WHO: students who are “ZAPPED” by their teachers are encouraged to attend. If a student is missing an assignment in class or if a teacher believes a student can benefit from attending ZAP, then they will fill out a ZAP card and submit it with the student’s required assignment. The teacher will inform the student that they are being ZAPPED. A phone call will be made to the guardian letting them know that their student has been ZAPPED. Unfortunately, there is no separate transportation available to get students here; however, we believe that students and parents will make it a priority to find a way for their student to get here at this time in order to take advantage of this opportunity.

Again, our focus is to have another time and place for students to get their school work completed. We will also have student tutors available during ZAP to assist students on their assignments, if needed. We will have teachers coming and going throughout the time, checking in on students, assisting where needed. If you are interested as a parent in volunteering in this program, you are more than welcome to come help out.

Our first ZAP day will be Wednesday, December 9th. If you have any questions, feel free to contact the administration at (253) 841-8729.

Sincerely,

Mario Casello
Principal, Kalles Junior High School

Dear Junior High Parents,
As you have heard, the situation this year with traditional parent conferences is different from that of years past. We sincerely apologize for any difficulty or inconvenience this change may have caused. At the root of the issue was the elimination of one of what had been two state-funded teacher Learning Improvement Days. The use of the time for that Learning Improvement Day varied by levels (elementary, junior high and high school) but for the junior high, at least a portion of time was devoted to evening parent conferences. After discussions with our teachers as to how we might continue this important face to face communication with parents, the resolution, for this year only, was to hold parent-requested conferences on an individual appointment basis. We are confident that mutually agreeable times can be arranged and that next year we are able to return to a more traditional conference model. We do want to emphasize that if you have concerns about your child's progress or just want to touch base with your child's teacher or teachers, you are encouraged to make the conference request at any time during the school year. Again, we apologize for the change but remain committed to our responsibility to communicate with you regarding your child's education.

Kalles Junior High School has been recognized as a “Great School” for being among the top 5 percent of schools statewide that have demonstrated sustained academic achievement in reading and math. Four Puyallup schools are among 104 statewide that were honored during an awards luncheon on Saturday, September 26. Each school received a certificate and banner to hang in their school proclaiming the site as a “Great School 2009.” The schools included, Kalles Junior High, Fruitland, Hunt and Zeiger elementary schools. Kalles was one of only 20 junior highs statewide to be honored. Performance criteria used to select the winning schools is the same as has been used the past two years by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to name Schools of Distinction. Each school had to have scored at or above the state average in math and reading in grades four, seven, or 10 on the 2009 Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL). Schools that met that requirement were then evaluated for academic gains in both subjects as measured by seven years of WASL test scores.

Nearly one third of the more than 100 educators who attended the awards luncheon at the Holiday Inn in Renton represented the Puyallup School District.

School Board President Greg Heath joined Apostle, other central office administrators, as well as school principals, assistant principals, teachers, and other staff members from the four winning schools in cheering and applauding when organizers announced the four Puyallup schools.

2009 Spring semester grades affect Fall 2009 athletic eligibility.

Students who want to participate in sports or selected extracurricular activities in fall 2009 must pass a minimum of five classes and maintain at least a 2.0 grade point average this semester. For more information on eligibility standards, visit the district Web site at www.puyallup.k12.wa.us.


A 7th grade student only has to demonstrate two things when first becoming eligible for Fall athletics at the JH level:

1.) Passed at least 5 subjects the Spring semester of their 6th grade year...and (WIAA 18.6.0

2.) Regular attendance as a FULL TIME STUDENT the Spring semester of their 6th grade year. (WIAA 18.7.0)

Since GPAs are not calculated for 6th grade in the PSD it is not a screening factor for JH Fall sports.

See Athletic page for the complete 2009 Kalles Junior High Fall Athletic Information and Sport Schedules or download the following documents.

New Athletic Requirement - Concussion Information

The new state Sports Concussion Law requires that schools annually require all athletes and the parents/guardians of athletes to sign and return an information sheet related to the nature and risk of concussion or head injury. This information sheet includes the signs and symptoms of concussion or head injury. You can find the information sheet to download on the Athletic page.

Parents/Community Members,

Our number one goal at Kalles is student learning. Our mission here at Kalles helps guide our work towards improving student achievement. Our mission is: LEAD.

• L-eadership: we want to develop leadership in each student.
• E-mpowerment: we want to empower students to be a part of their learning.
• A-ccountability: we are accountable for every student and their learning.
• D-evelopment: we want to develop the whole child and give them the best possible experience.

Our mission is focused on what is best for our students. They are the reason we do what we do! We want to partner with you, as parents/guardians, so that we are serving your son/daughter in the best way. You are welcome anytime to come to Kalles and get involved.

Sincerely,
Mario Casello
Principal, Kalles Junior High School

HAC will be taken offline July 1st, and will return August 31.

To access HAC click on Home Access Center .

To help parents stay informed, a printed one-page 2008-09 calendar will be sent home to Puyallup School District families in the opening days of school. The calendar — one for elementary and one for secondary students — lists holidays, breaks, early dismissal days,
kindergarten attendance information, end of semesters/trimesters, and more. These calendars are also posted on the district Web site at www.puyallup.k12.wa.us. Click the Calendars icon at the top of any district Web page.

Those who do not have access to the Internet may contact the district Communications department at (253) 841-8703 and request that a copy of the one-page calendar be mailed to their home.

The calendar page on the Web site also contains a 12-page black and white printable calendar that includes all of the above information for the school year plus school board meetings, WASL testing days, special observances, and Karshner Museum Family Days. In past years this information has been printed on a color wall calendar. That publication will not be printed this year due to budget reductions.

People without Internet access at home are encouraged to visit their local public library to view and/or print this 12-page black and white printable calendar.

All important dates throughout the year are also featured in the Upcoming Events section on the Home page of the district Web site.

The Course of Study for the 09-10 school year for grades 9-12 has just been released. It was updated this year and will be used for the next 3 years. Download below:

BELL SCHEDULE
M, T, TH, F

*Warning bell rings at 7:45 am

1st Period: 7:55 – 8:55

2nd Period: 8:59 – 9:55

3rd Period: 9:59 – 10:55

4th Period: 10:55-12:25


1st lunch: (10:55 – 11:25) 11:29 – 12:25
2nd lunch: 10:59-11:25 (11:25 – 11:55) 11:55 -12:25
3rd lunch: 10:59-11:55 (11:55-12:25)

5th Period: 12:29 – 1:25

6th Period: 1:29 – 2:25

BELL SCHEDULE
Learning Improvement Calendar
Wednesday

1. 9:30 – 10:12 42 minutes

2. 10:16 – 10:54 38 minutes

3. 10:58 – 11:36 38 minutes

4. 11:36 – 1:06 90 minutes

1st lunch: (11:36 – 12:06) 12:10 – 1:06
2nd lunch: 11:40 – 12:06 (12:06 – 12:36) 12:36 – 1:06
3rd lunch: 11:40 – 12:36 (12:36 – 1:06)


5. 1:10 – 1:48 38 minutes

6. 1:52 – 2:30 38 minutes