Kickapoo announcements Feb. 12 - 16, 2024

Hello Kickapoo families,

We hope everyone enjoyed the weekend!

It appears winter may make a brief return. Stay warm and safe if we do get inclement weather.

Reminder - we do NOT accept deliveries for students from delivery services of any kind. This includes, but is not limited to, birthdays, holidays, food, drink, etc. Thank you.

As always, I send these announcements via Connect 5 text & email and Canvas inbox each weekend during the course of the school year. These announcements include several important items. However, they are not all inclusive. Please remember to check our social media and website for the most up to date information about clubs, athletics, and other important announcements.

* Stay connected with Kickapoo in the following ways:
Facebook - Kickapoo High School
Twitter - @KickapooChiefs
Instagram - @KickapooHighSchool
Website - kickapoochiefs.org
Daily Announcements on our website and linked HERE. LOTS of info included for students & parents. Please check these frequently as they are updated daily.
* KHS 23 - 24 Bell Schedule
* KHS 23 - 24 Lunch Schedule
* Counseling Corner - Check this link for all things from the Counselors.
* District Scholarship Bulletin - This scholarship list is updated weekly. Questions - Connect with your KHS counselor.

* Senior Seals of Excellence - Seals of Excellence applications are available on the Counselor’s Corner page of the KHS website https://www.sps.org/domain/1016 . Students, complete the application and turn it into the departmental chairperson by Tuesday, February 20th for approval. Please DO NOT take the application to your counselor for completion.

* 2023-2024 School Calendar:
* Senior Prom - Friday, May 3rd at Bass Pro White River Conference Room from 9 - 11:30 p.m.

* Senior Baccalaureate - Sunday, May 12th. More information to come.

* Senior Recognition & Memories Assembly is Wednesday, May 15th.

* Seniors Last Day of Class & Final Exams is Thursday, May 16th.

* Graduation Practice and Senior Clap Out is Friday, May 17th.

* Class of 2024 Kickapoo Graduation will be Saturday, May 18th at 7 p.m. at Great Southern Bank Arena.

* Senior Send Off (formerly known as Project Graduation) - May 18th from 9:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. at Kickapoo. More information to come.

* Senior Send Off Student Survey - Seniors please complete this survey to help us plan prizes and other details for this special event! SeniorSend-Off Survey for Seniors

* SPS High School Final Exam Exemption Requirements. Students are eligible for finals exemption by meeting the following criteria:

• 90% overall attendance (school-sponsored activities do not count as absences) per semester
• Received no ISS or OSS for the semester
• Passing the class with an 80% or greater prior to the final exam
• Exempt students may take the final to improve their grade in a class; in this case, the final grade cannot hurt the student’s overall grade
• Required to attend class during the final exam block and complete optional enrichment tasks provided
• Dual credit, AP, and Launch virtual classes are NOT eligible for final exemptions.

* Student Attendance - Thank you to everyone for being in school everyday. A reminder our goal is for all students to be in attendance 95% or more for the year. Here is where we are as a school and by grade level for Week 23 and overall year-to-date as a school.

All grade levels improved over last week with Juniors leading the way and with a 2.31% increase!!

* Attendance - When should students not attend school? Check out this guidance from our school nurses.

* Sports Physicals & Immunizations - Cox Care Mobile will be at KHS on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. They will be doing sports physicals and immunizations. Please complete the appropriate packet/consent that can be found on the Nurses page at our website kickapoochiefs.org and then contact our school nurse for an appointment.

* NO School - Monday, Feb. 19th for Presidents' Day. 

* 3rd Quarter Ends - Thursday, March 7th.

* NO School for Spring Break - Friday, March 8th - Sunday, March 17th.

* 4th Quarter Begins - Monday, March 18th.

* NO School - Friday, April 26th.

* Last Day of School & Final Exams - Thursday, May 23rd.

* 2024 - 2025 First day of School shirt - Do you have a business you want to be advertised on 2000 + shirts and worn for years to come?? We are looking for sponsors for our school shirts for next school year. If you are interested please contact Amy Moran. $500 is the minimum donation for a small logo and the more you donate the bigger the logo! Help support our school climate and culture and advertise at the same time! Go Chiefs! 

* KHS Student Expectations Matrix - Matrix
* Teen Safety Matters - It is important for us to meet the requirements set forth by Missouri law, Section 170.045, RSMo, which mandates that school districts provide annual trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate sexual abuse training for students in grades 6 through 12.

Our district’s health curriculum covers this training requirement for students in grades 6 - 9. Our district will be partnering with the Child Advocacy Center to facilitate the Monique Burr Foundation for Children’s program, Teen Safety Matters® for the students in grades 10-12.  This program has engaging, and age and developmentally appropriate classroom lessons that educate and empower students to prevent, recognize, and respond appropriately to bullying, cyberbullying, child abuse, relationship abuse, digital abuse, and other digital dangers. Guardians have the right to opt their child out of the training by signing this opt-out form and returning to the counseling center by Wednesday, Feb. 14th.

* Students earn Credits EVERY 9 weeks. Please make sure you are monitoring grades via eSchool Home Access Center under the Classes Tab, then Classwork tab - login here.

* Progress Report - Our second progress report for 3rd quarter will be available by end of the day Thursday, Feb. 15th. Follow the login link above, go to Grades, and then IPR. Make sure you are on the drop down for 2/15/2024.

* Grades in Canvas are NOT the official grades for students. Teachers do grade items in Canvas. However, all grades are transferred to eSchool and these are the official grades.

* FREE Tutoring for all Kickapoo students, seated or online, is available in our library from 3:25 - 4:25 any day we are in session.

* Parent Teacher Conferences - Our Spring parent teacher conferences will be held on Thursday, Feb. 15th from 3:30 - 7 p.m. You may begin to schedule these on Monday, Feb. 12th by calling 417-523-8501 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.

* Explore (Summer School) - High School classes are online only and will be held June 3-28 and July 8-Aug. 2. Sign up for one or both sessions.

Enrollment dates and times are staggered based on students' grade levels. Determine the appropriate date to enroll based on the grade level your child will enter in August 2024. 

March 4 - 7:30 a.m. Grade 12

March 4 - 12 p.m. Grade 10-11

March 5 - 7:30 a.m. Grade 9

When it's time to register, visit sps.org/explore to complete the enrollment process. Use your SPS student ID number and birth date or Home Access Center username and password to log in.

* Financial Information: You may pay fines and fees at the financial office with Mrs. Liston. You may also view financial information and make payments online at https://www.sps.org/spsmyschoolbucks. Fines & fees shown in eSchool are not correct. You MUST go to My School Bucks.
* YEARBOOKS are on sale for $50 now through Jostens.com Cost will increase in March!

* Jefferson Avenue Street Light project - This project should be completed in the next few weeks. Be prepared for slight delays and thank you for your patience and understanding as we get this safety upgrade on Jefferson Avenue!
* Student Parking - All students are to park in their assigned parking spot. If someone parks in your spot – DO NOT park in another numbered spot, (that becomes a domino effect) but park in a visitor spot. Students will then report the issue by filling out the sheet in the attendance office (door 18). Students must have an SPS parking decal and KHS hang tag to park on campus.
No decal or hang tag? Park on Jefferson Street in front of the baseball/practice field.
Do NOT park in STAFF, VISITOR, or HANDICAPPED SPOTS at KHS and do not park at Gillenwater tennis courts. Also the property at 225 E. Primrose is private property and you should not be parking there. They are starting renovations and landscaping. They will start ticketing and/or towing your vehicle. Same for Birch Pointe, it is private property not a place for students to park.  You may be fined, ticketed, or towed at your own expense.
* Have NOT purchased a Parking Permit yet? - We are sold out and have started a waitlist! Students must have a valid driver’s license to purchase a parking permit – no permit drivers are allowed to purchase. Complete this Google form first. After completing the form you may go to the Financial office and see Mrs. Liston before school, during lunch, or after school to pay your $17.50 and pick your parking spot.

* Chromebook repair process - We have created a form for students to request a Chromebook so they can get theirs repaired. It is located in the Tribe Talk course in Canvas.
Please direct students to the link and have them complete the form. We will contact the students to come to the library to pick up or exchange their Chromebook. If they are unable to complete the form, please have a classmate or teacher complete the form for the student.
Let us know if you have any questions.
* Chromebooks - Students should bring a charged Chromebook to school each day. We are limited on the number of loaners we have and first priority goes to students needing repairs. Thank you.
* CANVAS HELP - Need help accessing and checking online learning with your student? Click here for a list of resources from SPS. You can also click here for a guide for “how-to” items for parents. Please be sure to reach out with questions as we navigate online learning.

* Linda Luke Librarian of the Year Nominations - Just a reminder that Nominations for the FSPS Linda Luke Librarian of the Year Award are now open! The nomination deadline is Feb. 16.
To learn more or to nominate your choice for this award, visit:
https://www.supportsps.org/linda-luke-librarian-year-award/
All nominees must be school-level librarians. Previous recipients are eligible to receive the award again. Teachers, principals, peers, parents, students, PTA members, business partners and community members may submit nominations.
If you have any questions, please let me know. 

Lori Finke
Program Director
Foundation for Springfield Public Schools

* Turner Reading Awards - Nominations are now open for the 2024 Turner Reading Awards!
The deadline for nominations is Feb. 29.
Nominees must be full-time, certified teachers employed by Springfield Public Schools.
To learn more about this award and to nominate your choice, visit:
https://www.supportsps.org/turner-reading-awards/
Nominations can be made by teachers, peers, parents, students, PTA members, business partners or interested community members! Please forward this to your staff and community so they can also make nominations.
Lori Finke

Program Director
Foundation for Springfield Public Schools

* Reminders:

• Any students needing WiFi can request a Kajeet hotspot through our library.
• Kickapoo will open our doors at 7:40 a.m. and first block begins at 8:10 a.m. every day Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday.
• Wednesday is late start for students so staff may participate in professional learning. Classes begin at 8:40 a.m. ALL BUSSES WILL RUN AT NORMAL TIMES.
• Classes end at 3:10 p.m. every day.
• All students should leave school/campus by 3:45 p.m. unless directly supervised by a teacher, coach, or sponsor.
• Students should take home Chromebooks every day & Charge them each night.
• Deliveries to school - Parents/guardians may deliver items to school for your student. We ask that you label and leave them on the table inside the office. Please communicate with your student to let them know items have been dropped off for them as we do not contact them.
• ID badges and dress code - ALL students must have an ID every day. Follow all dress code expectations. Cover ALL B's!
• Need a School ID? Request one from a teacher or go to the ID badge room before school, during lunch, or immediately after school.

Again, the items I have listed above are NOT all inclusive. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to reach out to me and I will respond as soon as possible.
Thank you again for your patience, grace, and flexibility. Take care and as always #GoChiefs!
Dr. Bill Powers
Principal
Kickapoo High School