Volume 10, Issue 26

Newsletter ~ March 28, 2014

Kelly Mill Celebrates Rewards Day

Today, 728 students received a Respect Reward at lunch for displaying positive behavior during the past month. Thank you and congratulations to these students! Dawn Nguyen, a 6th grader, received a flat screen TV for maintaining positive behavior throughout the entire school year. Dawn's name was randomly drawn from a pool of students who have not received a referral or an ASD this whole school year!

Kelly Mill soccer highlights

This week the KMMS boys and girls soccer teams continued to work hard. Although the girls team was defeated at Muller Road earlier in the week, they bounced back with a commanding win at Longleaf. Please come out and support KMMS soccer next week for two home games. Girls play Monday at 3:00 against Blythewood and Wednesday against EL Wright. Go Waves!

Abby Griffin was a key defender in the game against Dent.

Erica Zippel and Alexis Mims dribble down the field in the game to defeat Dent Middle School.

Honor Band receives Superior ratings at SCBDA Concert Festival

Congratulations to the Kelly Mill Honor Band for earning straight Superior ratings at the SCBDA Concert Festival! This is the highest possible score they could have received! The kids played incredibly well and were fantastic ambassadors for our school. Go Waves!!

Kelly Mill students perform in opera

Three Kelly Mill Chorus Students were chosen to participate in an opera at USC. The opera was The Second Hurricane. It is a parable set in the years after the Great Depression in middle America. Chandler Cooper, Kyndall Donalson and Diamond Gaston were part of the performing ensemble and did a great job representing Kelly Mill. Go Waves!

KMMS Music Department to take pictures April 2 & 3

Carolina Shutterbug Photography will be at our school Wednesday and Thursday, April 2 and 3, to take portraits of the KMMS music department students in their official uniforms. Karen and Neva, the owners and photographers, pride themselves on providing affordable, quality portraits. The order envelope explains pricing and package opK M tions as well as add-on items. Packages can be split between Chorus, Band and Orchestra so that students will receive photos from both ensemble. For the KMMS music program, this is an opportunity to get large wall composites of all students to display in our school. The composites will be a source of pride for our program for now as well as many years to come. If 35% of our students order a portrait package, we will get the composite at no charge. If we get less than 35%, there is a sliding scale for the cost depending upon level of participation. We strongly encourage everyone to participate so we can reach 35% and get beautiful composites to hang with pride in our school. All students will be photographed. Payment is due when the portraits are taken. Care is given to make sure a beautiful portrait is made of each student, but Carolina Shutterbug Photography has a money back guarantee policy if you are not entirely satisfied with your portrait.

Kelly Mill students finish 1st and 3rd K in SC Spring Finance Challenge
Kelly Mill came in 1st and 3rd place in the South Carolina Finance Spring Challenge. This was a very competitive competition this time going up against other Richland 2 Schools like Dent (TLC) and private schools from Charleston.
1st place team: Shawn Wallace, Joey Gonzales, Alexis Mims, Wade Fletcher

3rd place team: Abby Griffin, Taylor Williams Ansley Rabon, Caleena Greene,

Male Call students visit college campuses

On Wednesday, March 26th, the members of Male Call visited the campuses of Benedict College, Allen University, and the University of South Carolina. The purpose of the field study was to expose these young men to different types of college environments and the programs that are offered. Students were able to compare factors such as the campus size, demographics, and even cost. Male Call will visit the campuses of the Citadel, the College of Charleston, SC State University, and Claflin University during the weekend prior to Spring

KM

Kappa Mu places 3rd in the Camden City Arena step show

Ms. Cammisas students create AVID body maps

Students created AVID body maps after reading The Outsiders. Students worked together to gather and compile information and draw their interpretation of the character. They worked very hard together to create fantastic body maps and to demonstrate their understanding of the characters and the changes the character underwent throughout the novel.

Brainwaves complete latest project The Secret Life of the American Teen
The 6th grade Brainwaves students have just completed their latest project: The Secret Life of the American Preteen. They identified personal struggles they face, and addressed how those struggles affect them emotionally, academically, behaviorally, etc. Students wrote argumentative letters to various audiences urging others to take these strugKM gles into consideration, and then they created anonymous postcards that represent their struggles (based on Frank Warren's national PostSecret project). Come by Miss Patterson's class to check out the student creations! If you'd like to address your own middle

school struggle, come on in to room 115 and pick up a blank postcard, then add it to the wall

Google Geeks seek advice on imK proving help desk

The Google Geeks worked with Alex Vibber, a Blythewood High School student, to improve our help desk. Alex shared some of his ideas and techniques for running a successful help desk. He also gave us feedback on our website.

Male Call gets some practical advise

Deputy Aul and Mr. Peterson visit Male Call. Mr. Peterson showed the guys how to tie a tie and Deputy Aul spoke to the boys about the legal system .

April is The Month of the Military Child

April is The Month of the Military Child and April 15 is "Purple Up" day. Purple Up Day is a "Nationwide effort to show support to our military youth. South Carolina youth and adults will come together by wearing purple in honor of our service members' children. Nationwide, more than two million kids have a parent or parents serving in our Armed Forces.

Health Room News

RICHLAND SCHOOLDISTRICT TWO Mr. Jeff Temoney, Principal 1141 Kelly Mill Road Blythewood, SC 29016 803.691.7210 www.richland2.org/kmm

from Doris Gier, RN

Fight off that winter cold with food!

You are sick. Youre hacking and coughing away. Its that time of year when more than 200 viruses hit their peak and make you and your family miserable. Your doctor said antibiotics dont help viruses. What will? Heres a list from health experts:

Reminder: School fees are due!

Eat at least two cups of fresh fruit each day. Peel that orange! Bite into those strawberries! Your blood will soon be streaming with nutrients such as vitamin C to fight that nasty cold. Vitamin C also inactivates histamine, the substance responsible for your runny nose and congestion. Eat at least two cups of something green, red or bright orange (M & Ms dont count) for lunch or dinner. Brightly colored greens and other vegetables contain large doses of immune-enhancing substances that fight disease. Crush a couple of cloves of fresh garlic into your food or salad dressing each day. Garlic can stimulate your immune system to better fight off viruses. Wash your hands with soap and warm water. Often. It keeps viruses from spreading. Add nutrient-rich foods to your diet. Spinach for example. One cup is just 7 calories and is loaded with vitamin A from beta carotene a potent antioxidant that protects your precious cells from infections. Get enough protein to reinforce your bodys defenses. Zinc works with protein to strengthen your immune system as well. So, eat up and stay healthy!

If you have questions concerning fees. Please contact Ms. Vilches, ext. 3003

Spring MAP Testing Begins Next Week at Kelly Mill

MAP assessments are adaptive achievement tests in Mathematics and Reading that are taken on a computer. The difficulty of a test is adjusted to the student's performance, so each student sees different test questions. The difficulty of each question is based on how well the student has answered the questions up to that point. As the student answers correctly, the questions become more difficult. If the student answers incorrectly, the questions become easier. MAP tests are aligned to the content and structure of state standards. The test data will be used to set goals for the year and design lessons that address strengths and weaknesses. MAP Testing Schedule 8th Grade Tuesday, April 1st and Wednesday, April 2nd 7th Grade Thursday, April 3rd and Friday, April 4th 6th Grade Tuesday, April 8th and Wednesday, April 9th Reminders: Please make sure your child arrives to school no later than 7:25 AM. Students should eat a good breakfast. Students should get plenty of rest the night before testing.

MAP Celebration Scheduled

The morning of Friday, April 11th will be our grade-level MAP celebrations at Kelly Mill Middle School. Students who have made their goal in one of the two tested subjects will be invited to attend the celebration. Those students who meet both goals will get an extra treat during the celebration. Teachers will be conferencing with students on what their goals are prior to testing. We hope to see ALL students at the celebration!

from Deputy Aul

Signs & Symptoms of Drug Use Parents do you know the signs that your teen is using drugs or alcohol? It is important to keep in mind that if your teen starts to show any symptoms, it does not necessarily mean that he or she is using drugs or alcohol. The presence of some of these behaviors could be the product of adolescent stress. Others may be symptoms of depression or a host of other problems. Whatever the cause, they may warrant attention, especially if they persist or if they occur in a cluster. A mental health professional or a caring and concerned adult may help a youngster successfully overcome a crisis and develop more effective coping skills, often preventing further problems. According to the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, about 22 million Americans use illegal drugs. 21.5% are aged 18 to 25 years old and 10% are aged 12 to 17, bringing the total of young illegal drug users to 35.5%. Thats almost 8 million drug users who are mostly in their teens. Whats more alarming is the number of high school students who uses drugs even during school days. According to a survey done by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse in Columbia University (CASA Columbia), New York in 2012, about 17% or roughly 2.8 million high school students use drugs even on school days. The survey was done among American high school students, and a staggering 90% of the participants confirmed that a number of their classmates do use illegal drugs during school days. The key is change; it is important to watch for any significant changes in your child's physical appearance, personality, attitude or behavior. Listed are a few signs to watch out for. Physical Signs Loss of appetite, increase in appetite, any changes in eating habits, unexplained weight loss or gain. Slowed or staggering walk; poor physical coordination. Inability to sleep, awake at unusual times, unusual laziness. Red, watery eyes; pupils larger or smaller than usual; blank stare. Cold, sweaty palms; shaking hands. Puffy face, blushing or paleness. Smell of substance on breath, body or clothes. Extreme hyperactivity; excessive talkativeness. Runny nose; hacking cough. Nausea, vomiting or excessive sweating. Tremors or shakes of hands, feet or head. Irregular heartbeat. Behavioral Signs Change in overall attitude/personality with no other identifiable cause. Changes in friends; new hang-outs; sudden avoidance of old crowd; doesn't want to talk about new friends; friends are known drug users. Change in activities or hobbies. Drop in grades at school or performance at work; skips school or is late for school. Change in habits at home; loss of interest in family and family activities. Difficulty in paying attention; forgetfulness. General lack of motivation, energy, self-esteem, "I don't care" attitude. Sudden oversensitivity, temper tantrums, or resentful behavior. Moodiness, irritability, or nervousness. Silliness or giddiness. Paranoia Excessive need for privacy; unreachable. Secretive or suspicious behavior. Chronic dishonesty. Unexplained need for money, stealing money or items. Change in personal grooming habits. Possession of drug paraphernalia.

Signs and Symptoms of Drug Use Continued

from Deputy Aul

Talking to your teen about drug use It can be hard to talk to your teen about drug use. Start by choosing a comfortable time and setting when you're unlikely to be interrupted. If you're anxious, share your feelings with your teen. You might also consider sharing the responsibility with another nurturing adult in your teen's life (Ex your teens Sports coach). Here are some tips for talking with your teen about drugs : Ask your teen's views. Avoid long, boring lectures. Instead, listen to your teen's opinions and questions about drug use. Observe your teen's nonverbal responses to see how he or she feels about the topic. Encourage your teen to talk by making statements instead of asking questions. For example, saying, "I'm curious about your point of view" might work better than "What do you think?" Discuss reasons not to use drugs. Avoid scare tactics. Emphasize how drug use can affect things important to your teen such as sports, driving, health and appearance. Explain that even a teen can develop a drug problem. Consider media messages. Some television programs, movies, websites or songs glamorize or trivialize drug use. Talk about what your teen has seen or heard. Discuss ways to resist peer pressure. Brainstorm with your teen about how to turn down offers to use drugs. Be ready to discuss your own drug use. Think ahead about how you'll respond if your teen asks about your own drug use. If you chose not to use drugs, explain why. If you did use drugs, share what the experience taught you. Don't be afraid that talking about drug use will plant ideas in your teen's head. Conversations about drugs won't tempt your teen to try drugs. Instead, talking about drug use lets your teen know your views and understand what you expect of him or her. Discovering your teen is using Drugs. Discovering your teen is using drugs can generate fear, confusion, and anger in parents. Its important to remain calm when confronting your teen. Explain your concerns and make it clear that your concern comes from a place of love. Its important that your teen feels you are supportive. Five steps parents can take: Lay down rules and consequences. Your teen should understand that using drugs comes with specific consequences. But dont make hollow threats or set rules that you cannot enforce. Make sure your spouse agrees with the rules and is prepared to enforce them as well. Monitor your teens activity. Know where your teen goes and who he or she hangs out with. Its also important to routinely check potential hiding places for drugsin backpacks, between books on a shelf, in DVD/game cases or make -up cases, for example. Explain to your teen that this lack of privacy is a consequence of him or her having been caught having and using drugs. Encourage other interests and social activities. Expose your teen to healthy hobbies and activities, such as team sports and afterschool clubs. Talk to your teen about underlying issues. Drug use can be the result of other problems. Is your child having trouble fitting in? Has there been a recent major change, like a move or divorce, which is causing stress? Get Help. Teenagers often rebel against their parents but if they hear the same information from a different authority figure, they may be more inclined to listen. Try a sports coach, family doctor, therapist, or drug counselor.