Kelly Middle School News
December 3, 2014
In This Issue
ParentVue
Community Links
Mark the Date
Winter Weather
Grants Galore
Art of the Food Fight
Día de la Familia
Become a Host Family
Office Reminders
Quick Links
New Volunteer/Vistor Sign in System
The HelpCounter program is a very simple, user friendly program designed for the volunteer/visitor to sign in and out themselves.  Background checks will now be required every two years and that process can now be done online. Just click here to complete that process if you don't have a current background check on file. 
ParentVue
a plus
ParentVue to view your students grades is now available. You can stop by the front office and pick up your activation code or email  Terri Hunt  and she will email you your activation code.  Please remember that teachers are still learning the system and how to attach grades and assignments. Different teachers are in different places with implementation of this system, and we ask for your patience during this process.

 

Community Links
clay-snowman.jpg
9th Annual Holiday Meal
Prepared by
MLK Education Center  Culinary Arts Program

What: A FREE holiday meal for the community, FREE raffle for cool prizes, and FREE food boxes.

When: Thursday, Dec. 11, 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Where: Lane County Youth Services/Carmichael Room
2727 MLK Blvd
Eugene, Oregon
Across from Autzen on the Serbu Youth Campus

Why: What could be more fun?! Enjoy a great  
meal with friends, family, and the community. Eat Delicious turkey n' fixings, baked ham, and pie!

The Holiday Meal began as a U of O Family and Human Services student senior project 9 years ago. Thank You Debra Smothers for all your hard work!

Questions?
Call Becca 541-682-2419
No RSVP Required


Pulitzer Prize Author Sonia Nazario

LCC, the Multicultural Center and the Puertas Abiertas Leadership Academy will be hosting a free lecture by Sonia Nazario, Pulitzer Prize Winning Author of "Enrique's Journey", the story of a young boy's journey from Central America to the United States to reunite with his mother after 11 years of separation. Ms. Nazario's talk, will be followed by a book signing of "Enrique's Journey".

 

December 2,  7 p.m. @ Building 17, Rooms 308-309 LCC Main Campus

 

 This timely topic dealing with the issues of immigration, exploitation and child abuse is part of larger narrative on the challenges faced by Latino/Latina communities in Oregon and beyond.



4J School District 
Common Core &
Smarter Balanced
Information Night

When: Monday, Dec. 15 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Who: Parents of students in Special Eduction.

What: A venue to learn more about CCSS and Smarter Balanced, and get answers to your questions

Where: Ed Center  
Auditorium,
200 N. Monroe St.
Eugene, OR

CCSS Standards were adopted by Oregon in 2010. These new standards show what students should know and be able to do in English Language Arts and Math. For the 2014-15 school year, Smarter Balanced is replacing OAKS as the new annual State Assessment. It is administered in Grades 3-8, and Grade 11. Smarter Balanced was developed by a consortium of states, and is a significant change from the old OAKS tests. Please come join us to learn more about CCSS and the new Smarter Balanced assessment that your child will soon be taking. 


After surveying all of our teachers, numerous families, and receiving unanimous agreement from our School Site Council, Kelly Middle School will start implementing an early release schedule on certain Fridays throughout the year. The dates of the specific early release Fridays are already on the school calendar, with the first one taking place next week on Friday, December 12. On these early release Fridays, students will be dismissed at 12:45 p.m., and busing will be provided. Teachers will use the afternoon time to focus on professional development and teacher collaboration time necessary to improve instruction for our students. We appreciate all of the families and site council members who took part in this decision-making process.
Mark the Date  
Kelly Co-Pilots . . . Dec. 8; 7 p.m.
mark the date
7th & 8th Grade Band Concert at NEHS . . . Dec. 9; 7 p.m.

Site Council . . . Dec. 10; 3:40 p.m.

Early Release . . . Dec. 12; 12:45 p.m.

6th Grade Band Informance . . . Dec. 16; 6:30 p.m.

Winter Fest . . . Dec. 19
 
Winter Vacation . . . Dec. 22 - Jan. 2

Classes Resume . . . Jan. 5

Kelly Co-Pilots - North Night . . . Jan. 12; 7 p.m.
We are excited to welcome North Eugene High School to Kelly to talk about their programs and answer questions about next steps for middle schoolers as they prepare for high school.

Kelly Calendar
On the front page of our website is the Kelly calendar. Our days off don't always match with the district calendar so please check our calendar for days off and other school activities.  
Wondering About Winter Weather?
Sign up now for weather-related school closure alerts!

When we have to close or alter our school or bus schedules due to hazardous winter weather, you want to know as quickly as possible. There are several ways to find out about weather-related closures, delays and 4J bus route changes on snowy or icy days:

*    Text-message alerts via Twitter
     ( www.4j.lane.edu/weather to learn how to sign up)
*    4J website, www.4j.lane.edu
*    KRVM-FM 91.9
*    Other radio and television news stations

If there is a change in the school schedule or bus routes due to inclement weather, Eugene School District 4J will announce the change. If school is in session and on regular schedule, the district will NOT make an announcement. Students who ride school buses that sometimes use snow routes have been informed of what to do when snow routes are in effect.

 

Weather-related school closure decisions normally are made early in the morning and announced via all methods by 6:30 a.m. These decisions are made district wide and are the same for every 4J school.

 

If school is in session, families are encouraged to consider road conditions in their areas and make their own decisions based on safety; parents' individual decisions about school attendance will be honored.
Grants Galore!
The Kelly science teachers are thrilled to announce that they recently received two mini-grants through the Selco Community Credit Union, and the Kids-In-Need Teacher Mini-Grants. The Science team plans to use the nearly $1000 in funds to purchase innovative science-inquiry sensors and probes from Vernier so that students can collect real-time digital data on temperature, light, voltage, and velocity. This instructional technology should also support the new 4j district science curriculum adoption that will address the new Next Generation Science Standards. 
Art of the Food Fight
Kelly Middle School, UO students paint a mural on a graffiti-covered wall at a Eugene business.

By Josephine Woolington
The Register-Guard 

For some Kelly Middle School eighth graders, "food fight" was the perfect theme for a mural outside of a north Eugene kitchen appliance store.

The mural covers about 30 feet of wall outside of Valley Restaurant Equipment, a store off Maxwell Road that was frequently covered with graffiti. Students illustrated a food fight through the eyes of food and kitchen items. A piece of broccoli sitting on a kitchen countertop functioned as a sling-shot, hurling a strawberry with two "X's" for eyes toward a carrot.

"It's supposed to be funny," 14-year-old Robyn Laskaris said. "I think it turned out really well."

Students put the finishing touches on the mural, alongside several University of Oregon students - including two student-athletes - who they've been working with for six weeks to flesh out their ideas. The students will revisit a blank wall next to the mural in the spring to add more, said Martha Montgomery, who teaches the students in the school's college preparatory class known as Advancement Via Individual Determination, or AVID.

The UO Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art's "Thinking Through Art" program helps students learn critical thinking and literacy skills through visual art at no cost to the school district, said Lisa Abia-Smith, the museum's director of education. The goal is to use art to help students grow socially or academically, she said, and to connect with the community.

Student Alyssa Martinez said it felt good to express herself through painting and to do something for the community.

"I walk by here on my way to school, and now it's cool that I get to see something that I helped create," the 13-year-old Alyssa said. "We got to put our mark on Eugene."

Follow Josephine on Twitter@j_woolington.Email josephine.woolington@registerguard. com.
Día de la Familia Offers a Free Day of Art for the Entire Family  
Coinciding with the Feast Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe, Día de la Familia is sponsored by a grant from the Oregon Arts Commission.

The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art invites families to spend a fun-filled day at the museum enjoying free family-friendly activities at Día de la Familia on Saturday, December 13, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Supported by a grant from the Oregon Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency, Día de la Familia coincides with the Feast Day of the Virgin Guadalupe.

 

Art activities include creating pre-Columbian pendants with artist Sam Becerra, musical instrument making, ex-voto painting, and holiday card printmaking.

 

Performances, scheduled throughout the day, include music by Springfield High School's Mariachi del Sol, story time with the Eugene Public Library in English and Spanish and the JSMA's Dragon Puppet Theatre will perform "El Tigre y El Padre." Family-friendly museums tours will be offered in English and Spanish.

 

"Our free family days provide visitors with family-centered activities where they can make art, explore the galleries and enjoy watching performances together," says Lisa Abia-Smith, JSMA Director of Education. "Thanks to a grant from the Oregon Arts Commission, we are delighted to be able to bring today's event to the community in Spanish and English."

Reach the World Right Where

You Are ... Become a Host Family!

Discover the rewarding world of hosting students in your own home this winter! 

 

What: Middle and High School Age Chinese Students participating in the 18th bi-annual 

Music/English Camps at the University of Oregon.

 

When:  February 1-8     (7 nights)
            February 3-10   (7 nights)

            February 10-17  (7 nights)  

Families may host 1 or 2 camps, depending on dates selected
                                                  
Note: The host family provides transportation, breakfast and dinner on weekdays; 3 meals a day on the weekend and occasional sack lunches. Students may share a room but must have their own bed.

Students spend only evenings and the weekend at home. Host families are strongly encouraged to take 2 students.  

 

   

Stipend*: $125/person for 7 nights or $250 for two people

                        

*Stipend should cover expenses for meals, transportation, laundry and all activities.  The number of days may vary slightly due to travel arrangements; stipend will be prorated accordingly.

Website: www.gpyinternational.org/hostfamily_short.html

 

Contact: luannlangford@gpyinternational.org   or  

              Phone 541.517.5915 for additional details

 

We are Looking forward to having Your Family

Join in the Fun with Us!

Office Reminders
Dropping your student off at school
With cooler/wetter weather upon us, please be remremindersinded that doors open for students at 8:30 a.m. As such, students are encouraged to plan on arriving to school between 8:30-8:45 a.m. Many students arriving early walk, ride their bikes, or ride LTD. If your student fits into this category, please discuss with him/her plans to leave the house a bit later. Similarly, if you drop your child off, please do your best to delay the drop off until 8:30 a.m. or later.

Reminder to keep bus loading zone clear
The bus loading zone in the front of the school is for buses only. Please use the west end parking lot (off N. Park) for drop off and pick up.

Contacting Teachers 
Do you have questions about how your student is doing? You can reach teachers through an email or a phone call. Simply go to the CONTACT US page on the Kelly website. There you will find staff email addresses and phone numbers. You might want to bookmark our address and check it regularly. We post updates about school activities, have the calendar for the entire school year and provide other helpful information.