Dear Kahoa Families,
Welcome back students and parents! We are looking forward to an exciting and enjoyable year of learning and growth.
This past year, the Lincoln Public Schools District changed standardized achievement tests in grades three and five from the Metropolitan Achievement Test (MAT) to the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS). Once again, our students demonstrated that they have the skills and ability to perform in excellent fashion on such examinations. The fifth graders scored the second highest in the district in the tested areas of reading, math, language, and core battery. In third grade, Kahoa students also did very well, finishing sixth overall in the core battery of tests. This is only one measure of academic success at Kahoa.
The Kahoa attendance area is increasing in school age population. For the first time in well over a decade we are projecting a population of 500 or more students, or approximately 35 more children than last year. We will have five Kindergarten sections. Overall, class sizes continue to grow as the district tries to control the budget. Last year, the average class size at Kahoa was 22.19 students per room (4th highest in the district). This year we are projected to be at an average class size of 22.9 students per room. As recently as 2003, Kahoa’s average class size was just 20.24 students per room. Below are the projected class sizes for each grade for the 2009-2010 school year. Ideally, the primary grades (K-2) would have class sizes no larger than the 20-21 students per room. At the intermediate level (3-5) the number of students per room would be no greater than 24.
Kindergarten: 20/20/20/20/19 First Grade: 20/20/20/19
Second Grade: 21/21/22/22 Third Grade: 28/28/28
Fourth Grade: 26/26/26 Fifth Grade: 25/26/26
There will be a few new teachers replacing retiring, resigning, or re-assigned staff at Kahoa this year. Mrs. Stacey Meier will be a second grade teacher. Stacey comes to us from Roper Elementary where she has been teaching grade two. Mrs. Jane Janesch is moving to Kindergarten from second grade this year. Mrs. Becky Dittmer and Mrs. Christine Carroll join us as Kindergarten teachers. Becky previously taught Kindergarten at Norwood Park and Christine taught Kindergarten at Belmont. Our new school psychologist will be Ms. Kyndra Bendickson. Kim Hoke joins us as a one-on-one paraeducator.
“Professional Learning Communities” (PLCs) for LPS staff development will continue again this year. This will result in early release dates for Kahoa and all LPS schools on the last student Tuesday of each month (with the exception of May). School will dismiss at 2:18 p.m. (Aug. 25, Sept. 29, Oct. 20, Nov. 24, Dec. 15, Jan. 26, Feb. 23, Mar. 20, and Apr. 27,). Please mark your calendars. LPS recognizes that an early release on these days may be a disruption in your family’s schedule. We want to assure you that we believe this time is very important for our teachers to work together to help each student be a better learner. We appreciate your support of our teachers in this work. Your help in seeing that your students are promptly picked up on these days is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Russ Reckewey
Principal
P.S. The first week of school (Aug. 19 - 21) classes dismiss one hour early at 2:38 p.m.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
KAHOA HANDBOOK
All parents and guardians must read the Kahoa handbook. This helps you understand the proceedures and guidelines at Kahoa for a better learning environment for your student. Please sign and return the document stating you have received and read the handbook.
ELEMENTARY STUDENT CENSUS INFORMATION
We will send home an Elementary Student Census Information sheet with your child(ren) the first day of school. Please make any corrections or additions in a color other than black ink and return them with your child(ren) to the school as soon as possible.
“CONSISTENT EXPECTATIONS”
The primary goal is to teach consistent expectations for behavior that students understand. These expectations will be taught throughout the student's educational experience at Kahoa and many other Lincoln Public Schools from the time a student enters Kindergarten through graduation.
The Consistent Expectations taught at each school will focus on three Guidelines for Success. These Guidelines for Success focus on the three B's - Be Safe, Be Responsible and Be Respectful. At Kahoa School, we have focused on addressing problem behaviors that occur during unstructured times of our school day. We have implemented the guidelines for success during times when students arrive at school, when students are at lunch, and when students are dismissed from school. As a result, there are high expectations for student behavior during the times of Arrival, Lunch and Dismissal.
It is important to note that Consistent Expectations will impact times when parents can bring their student to school and when their student will be expected to leave campus. Students will be allowed on campus during identified periods of the day and parents are asked to comply with these specified times.
The primary purpose of our plan is to clearly define expectations that will help improve the level of safety while your student is at school. Defining and making clear key expectations for students provides a foundation upon which to further improve and sustain the school environment. Clear expectations not only addresses safety but also maximizes time spent on learning.
IMPORTANT DATES
Parent Teacher Conferences: ......................Oct. 20 and 22
Parent Teacher Conferences: ................Jan. 28 and Feb. 2
Individual Pictures:..............................................Sept. 18
Class Pictures:...........................................................TBA
ITBS Testing:.............................................................TBA
PLC Early Release Dates for Students (1 hour and 20 minutes early @ 2:18 p.m.)...Aug. 25, Sept. 29, Oct. 20, Nov. 24, Dec. 15, Jan. 26, Feb. 23, Mar. 30, and Apr. 27
VISITING OUR SCHOOL
You are always invited to visit our school and classrooms. You must check in with the Security Entrance Monitor during each visit. This procedure provides safety and security for all our students. We also ask that you keep classroom visits to 20 minutes. Half-day and all-day visits can distract from the instructional program. If you want to visit with a teacher or staff member at a time other than Parent Teacher Conferences, please don’t hesitate to call the school to make an appointment. We ask that you make an appointment outside of instructional time, so that classes are not disrupted.
VOLUNTEERS
We welcome adult volunteers to Kahoa School to help teachers and students. We hope you will consider giving of your time and energy by volunteering at Kahoa. If you would like to volunteer anywhere throughout the school, contact your child’s classroom teacher or stop by the office and let us know. We will have sign up sheets for volunteers in the classrooms at Safe Walk/ Open House night. We love our volunteers!
- The Main Building Entrance will continue to be the southwest doors across from the staff parking lot.
- All visitors must first check in with the Secured Entrance Monitor who will be located in the same location as last year on the south side of the Media Center
- There will very little sidewalk area for drop-off or pick-up in the drive through lane.
- Students may not be dropped-off or picked-up on the staff parking lot side of the drive through lane.
- Students may not be dropped-off or picked-up in the staff parking lot.
- All Kindergarten students will line up and enter the building from the southwest doors across from the staff parking lot.
- All grade 1 students will line up and enter the building from the south doors.
- All grade 2 students will line up and enter the building from the southwest doors across from the staff parking lot..
- All grade 4 students & Mrs.Brown's 5th grade class will line up and enter the building from the northwest doors.
- All grade 3 & 5 students will line up and enter the building from the east playground doors.
- Drivers must follow the guidelines of the city Traffic Flow Pattern for Kahoa.
- Suggestions: Drop-off or pick-up students a block or two away from school. Have students walk to and from school together. Stagger your pick-up time by five minutes to let some traffic clear out.
Following these simple procedures will help make for a much safer arrival and dismissal for students.