Newsletter – Issue 25

Events that Warmed up the Winter!

During the cold winter season, students stayed active! Did you and your family go to a fun event? Literacy Night was so much fun at Lincoln. Students enjoyed books and stories. They even got to take home new books to keep! Everyone had fun playing games with teachers.

Milwood Middle School had an extra special Around the World celebration. Did your family go? Did you have a favorite activity, a favorite food, or a favorite performance at Milwood Around the World? The winter was cold and grey, but Kalamazoo Public Schools were warm, colorful, and exciting!


Headlines

Lincoln Literacy Night 

Parents, families, and students had a great time at Lincoln Elementary’s Literacy Night!  The theme of the evening came from the book, The Lemonade War, by Jacqueline Davies. Students were able to make pretend lemonade, taste different lemonades, and invent their own lemonade recipe. Everyone had fun celebrating books and reading!


Headlines

Milwood Around the World

Milwood Middle School had the best party in Kalamazoo! Many students came with their families and friends to enjoy a fun evening of music, dancing, activities, and food! Many tables had arts and crafts, free prizes, and games. The event celebrated literacy, too, with many activities sharing a love of books and reading.


Ideas

What college can mean for you

By Mphumelelo Khaba

In some parts of the world, especially in the United States, going to college is normal. Many people think college is only about studying, getting good grades, and paying a lot of money. But college can be more than that. Some students go to college to become better at sports. They might play basketball, swim, or play soccer. Others go to college to show their creativity. They might play music, paint, or make videos. For many people, college is also a place to grow. They learn more about themselves, become more confident, and make friends that can last a lifetime. You do not need to know what job you want in the future. Many students change their minds after college. They find new things they love, and college can help them do well in their new path. If you have the chance to go to college, go. Be open to new ideas and new experiences. You may be surprised by what you enjoy!


Ads and Resources

Get outside at Milham Park!

607 E Kilgore Rd, Kalamazoo, MI 49001


Kalamazoo Public Schools Calendar

Logo of Kalamazoo Public Schools
DateActivities
April 23-24High School Conferences
April 256-8 Half Day
May 16-8 Half Day
May 23Last Day PEEP and Graduating Seniors
May 26Memorial Day; All Buildings Closed
May 27KAMSC Senior Recognition

Contact and Acknowledgements

A picture of the KPS teachers

Lincoln Lower Elementary

Austyn Sabin
sabinA@KalamazooPublicSchools.net

Lincoln Upper Elementary

Prajakta Apte
aptePS@KalamazoopPublicSchools.net

Lincoln Kindergarten

Courtney Horn
hornCB@KalamazooPublicSchools.net

Milwood Middle

Saratha (MS.Charu) Ramanathan
Ramanathans@KalamazooPublicSchools.net

Phoenix High School

Mariam Samit
samitM@KalamazooPublicSchools.net

Melissa Ottensen
ottesenMA@KalamazooPublicSchools.net

Kalamazoo Central High School

Ayat Rizeq
rizeqAN@KalamazooPublicSchools.net

Loy Norrix High School

Bright Egwim
egwimBO@Kalam9zooPublicSchools.net

Jen Kruger
krugerJL@KalamazooPublicSchools.net

Julie Zabik
zabikJA@KalamazooPublicSchoofs.net

Oakwood Adult ESL

Maria Garcia
garciaMD@KalamazooPublicSchools.net

Coordinator of Multilingual Services and World Languages

Dr. Wessam Abdelaziz
abdelazizWi@KalamazooPublicSchools.net

Acknowledgements

Teaching Volunteers

  • Elizabeth Aquino Lopez
  • Courtney Joaquin Martinez
  • Ali Armin
  • Martha Diaz Chavez
  • Inma Melon Dominguez
  • Sa’Niyah Bedell
  • Madyson Groth
  • Jerry Menez
  • Camila Benavides
  • Gus Horvath
  • Alex Mungai
  • Sotirios Bougioukos
  • Macy Ivins
  • Mary Oduor
  • Eleni Bougioukou


  • Kamani Jones Jr.
  • Mauricio Posey
  • Matthew Butterly
  • Braeden Lavis
  • Lisa Raddatz
  • Chris Cayton
  • Malick Lo
  • Sara Reathaford
  • Savannah Chapie
  • Alondra Lopez
  • Micahaia Reynolds
  • Josee Cooke
  • Dasia Lopez
  • Jaycee Rider
  • Nicklaus Coseo
  • Allan Martinez
  • Morgan Shearer


Instructor

Candace Bailey Combs

Design Director

Kathryn Lightcap

Layout

Calia Scivally

Editor

Mphumelelo Khaba

Newsletter – Issue 24

Paper! Pencils! Let’s Write!

Do you like to write? Writing can be fun! Practice writing every day. You will see your writing get better and better.  

  1. Write about what you know. You know many things. Write about your day or your school or your home. You know this well. It is easier to write about something familiar.  
  1. Write about what you like. Do you like sports? Art? Food? Write about it! It is more interesting to write about something you enjoy. 
  1. Write about what you see. Look around. Do you see a busy classroom? What are people doing? What sounds do you hear? What colors do you see? Add details. 

Headlines

What English Means to Me

By Seonha Lee 

I learned English by talking with friends. It wasn’t always easy for me. It was helpful for me to keep practicing my skills. I talked with friends online, and I used English all the time. I practiced writing and spelling by texting. 

English is more than just talking and texting. Words can change how people understand the world and each other. Words can make people feel included. Practice writing and speaking and learn new vocabulary! English can help bring people together. 

Do you speak English with your friends? You can speak English with us! KLIPs enjoy speaking English with students.  You can practice with us, learn new words, and become more comfortable using English with friends.  


Ideas

Write Your Own English Story!

What does learning English mean to you? There are many answers. You might have lots of ideas. Your feelings might change.  

Writing a cinquain poem is one way to brainstorm ideas and words.  

A cinquain poem looks like this: An example of cinquain poem about learning English:  
One noun  English 
Two adjectives New, different 
Three gerunds (words + ing) Reading, talking, learning 
A short phrase Helps me make new friends 
A one-word summary Future 
Now write your own!  
 One noun  
Two adjectives  
Three gerunds (words + ing)  
A short phrase  
A one-word summary  

 


Arts and Crafts

Slope Practice with Whiteboards

In Ms. Loftis’ class, students are learning algebra. Phoenix students enjoy math. Ms. Loftis makes it fun. They are learning difficult math ideas like slope. They work equations using whiteboards and markers. Students find the slope by calculating rise over run. Ask a Phoenix student how they do it! They help each other, show their work, and problem solve together with whiteboards. Ms. Loftis can see answers quickly and provide help. Using white boards is something students enjoy, and it helps them practice their math.  


Arts and Crafts

Reading with Ms. Samit

In Mrs. Samit’s class at Phoenix High School, students have been reading. They read and read and read! With practice, students are improving their reading skills. They are learning new words every day. Read 180 Language books and computer programs are helpful. The Read 180 computer program is different for every student, because the program changes based on how students respond.  

When students are not on the computer, they work individually, in groups, and as a class to practice new English words, sentences, and grammar. Reading practice helps students improve language skills. They also develop confidence and pride when they can read new texts and see their progress. 


Arts and Crafts

Kindergarten Creates! 

Ms. Horn’s Lincoln kindergarteners love art class! They are excited to create beautiful art. Art class is also important for students’ learning. They look like they are just having fun, but they are also growing. They made a heart charm from clay, and then the next week, they used beads to make a colorful necklace. This artwork helps with fine motor skills, so students can use their hands and fingers better to write, draw, and color. Choosing colors and shapes helps students solve problems. Talking about their work helps grow their English skills. Art is fun AND important! 


Ads and Resources

Word Challenge

Link to picture


Kalamazoo Public Schools Calendar

Logo of Kalamazoo Public Schools
DateActivities
March 5PEEP/Kindergarten Orientation
March 7PK-12 no school
March 12K-12 half day
March 27K-5 half day
March 28PK-12 no school; no county programs
March 31–April 4Spring Break

Contact and Acknowledgements

A picture of the KPS teachers

Lincoln Lower Elementary

Austyn Sabin
sabinA@KalamazooPublicSchools.net

Lincoln Upper Elementary

Prajakta Apte
aptePS@KalamazoopPublicSchools.net

Lincoln Kindergarten

Courtney Horn
hornCB@KalamazooPublicSchools.net

Milwood Middle

Saratha (MS.Charu) Ramanathan
Ramanathans@KalamazooPublicSchools.net

Phoenix High School

Mariam Samit
samitM@KalamazooPublicSchools.net

Melissa Ottensen
ottesenMA@KalamazooPublicSchools.net

Kalamazoo Central High School

Ayat Rizeq
rizeqAN@KalamazooPublicSchools.net

Loy Norrix High School

Bright Egwim
egwimBO@Kalam9zooPublicSchools.net

Jen Kruger
krugerJL@KalamazooPublicSchools.net

Julie Zabik
zabikJA@KalamazooPublicSchoofs.net

Oakwood Adult ESL

Maria Garcia
garciaMD@KalamazooPublicSchools.net

Coordinator of Multilingual Services and World Languages

Dr. Wessam Abdelaziz
abdelazizWi@KalamazooPublicSchools.net

Acknowledgements

Teaching Volunteers

  • Elizabeth Aquino Lopez
  • Courtney Joaquin Martinez
  • Ali Armin
  • Martha Diaz Chavez
  • Inma Melon Dominguez
  • Sa’Niyah Bedell
  • Madyson Groth
  • Jerry Menez
  • Camila Benavides
  • Gus Horvath
  • Alex Mungai
  • Sotirios Bougioukos
  • Macy Ivins
  • Mary Oduor
  • Eleni Bougioukou


  • Kamani Jones Jr.
  • Mauricio Posey
  • Matthew Butterly
  • Braeden Lavis
  • Lisa Raddatz
  • Chris Cayton
  • Malick Lo
  • Sara Reathaford
  • Savannah Chapie
  • Alondra Lopez
  • Micahaia Reynolds
  • Josee Cooke
  • Dasia Lopez
  • Jaycee Rider
  • Nicklaus Coseo
  • Allan Martinez
  • Morgan Shearer


Instructor

Candace Bailey Combs

Design Director

Kathryn Lightcap

Layout

Calia Scivally

Editor

Mphumelelo Khaba

Newsletter – Issue 23

a boy looking at the camera carrying a book

Staying Cozy with a Book 

It’s cold and snowy outside! Stay warm inside and read a book! What do you like to read? Do you have a favorite book?  

“Non-Fiction” books are true and can be about real people and places. “Fiction” books are imagined by the author. Do you like fiction or non-fiction? Ask your teacher, your principal, or your librarian about their favorites! 

Go to the library and take home a few new books. When it’s cold, sit in a comfortable chair with pillows, blankets, and a book! Reading can take you anywhere, even if you’re staying cozy at home. 


Ideas

Celebrating Black History Month With a Great Story

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats was published in 1962. A boy named Peter plays in the snow and builds a snowman. The book won many awards and is still enjoyed by readers today! 

Jerry Pinkney illustrated over 100 books! He won many awards for his art. The Lion and the Mouse is a favorite! 

Jacqueline Woodson writes books and poetry for children, teenagers, and adults. S One of her most famous books, brown girl dreaming, is an autobiography written in poetry. She writes about her life growing up as an African American girl in the 1960s.  

a book: the snowy day by Ezra Jacj Keats

A pictue of a lion close up

a picture of a black man signing a book and smiling

Photo Credit: Jerry Pinkney 2019 Texas Book Festival” by Larry D. Moore is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/?ref=openverse


Ideas

From Brown Girl Dreaming

reading

I am not my sister. 
Words from the books curl around each other 
make little sense 
until 
I read them again 
and again, the story 
settling into memory. Too slow 
the teacher says. 
Read faster. 
Too babyish, the teacher says. 
Read older. 
But I don’t want to read faster or older or 
any way else that might 
make the story disappear too quickly 
from where it’s settling 
inside my brain, 
slowly becoming 
a part of me. 
A story I will remember 
long after I’ve read it for the second, 
third, tenth, 
hundredth time 

 

A book: brown girl dreaming by Jacqueline

A black woman smiling and facing direclty on the camera. She is wearing an orange sweater


Arts and Crafts

Make your own Valentine 

Valentine cards are small and simple. They are easy to make. Valentine cards can be shared with people you love. Friends, family, classmates, and teachers love alentines Show your friends and your family that you love them with a Valentine!  

Write and draw pictures with Valentine colors like red, pink, and white.  

What can you write? You can write something sweet or something funny. Some common Valentines phrases include: 

I love you! 

You’re sweet! 

I love you more than pizza! 

What can you draw? You can draw hearts, flowers, and candy. The next page has ideas! 

a picture of a yellow heart held by a hand

a picture of a pink heart drawn with a crayon and the crayon next to it

A picture showing arts and craft stationery


Ads and Resources

Valentine’s Day Doodles!

a doodle of a valentines envelope with a heart

Link to picture


Kalamazoo Public Schools Calendar

Logo of Kalamazoo Public Schools
DateActivities
February 19K-12 half day
February 26PK-5 Literacy Night at Lincoln Elementary
February 27Milwood Around the World
February 276-8 Literacy Night
March 5PEEP/Kindergarten Orientation
March 7PK-12 no school

Contact and Acknowledgements

A picture of the KPS teachers

Lincoln Lower Elementary

Austyn Sabin
sabinA@KalamazooPublicSchools.net

Lincoln Upper Elementary

Prajakta Apte
aptePS@KalamazoopPublicSchools.net

Lincoln Kindergarten

Courtney Horn
hornCB@KalamazooPublicSchools.net

Milwood Middle

Saratha (MS.Charu) Ramanathan
Ramanathans@KalamazooPublicSchools.net

Phoenix High School

Mariam Samit
samitM@KalamazooPublicSchools.net

Melissa Ottensen
ottesenMA@KalamazooPublicSchools.net

Kalamazoo Central High School

Ayat Rizeq
rizeqAN@KalamazooPublicSchools.net

Loy Norrix High School

Bright Egwim
egwimBO@Kalam9zooPublicSchools.net

Jen Kruger
krugerJL@KalamazooPublicSchools.net

Julie Zabik
zabikJA@KalamazooPublicSchoofs.net

Oakwood Adult ESL

Maria Garcia
garciaMD@KalamazooPublicSchools.net

Coordinator of Multilingual Services and World Languages

Dr. Wessam Abdelaziz
abdelazizWi@KalamazooPublicSchools.net

Acknowledgements

Teaching Volunteers

  • Elizabeth Aquino Lopez
  • Courtney Joaquin Martinez
  • Ali Armin
  • Martha Diaz Chavez
  • Inma Melon Dominguez
  • Sa’Niyah Bedell
  • Madyson Groth
  • Jerry Menez
  • Camila Benavides
  • Gus Horvath
  • Alex Mungai
  • Sotirios Bougioukos
  • Macy Ivins
  • Mary Oduor
  • Eleni Bougioukou


  • Kamani Jones Jr.
  • Mauricio Posey
  • Matthew Butterly
  • Braeden Lavis
  • Lisa Raddatz
  • Chris Cayton
  • Malick Lo
  • Sara Reathaford
  • Savannah Chapie
  • Alondra Lopez
  • Micahaia Reynolds
  • Josee Cooke
  • Dasia Lopez
  • Jaycee Rider
  • Nicklaus Coseo
  • Allan Martinez
  • Morgan Shearer


Instructor

Candace Bailey Combs

Design Director

Kathryn Lightcap

Layout

Calia Scivally

Editor

Mphumelelo Khaba

Jan 2024 Issue: A Season of Learning and Community

As Public Schools transition from autumn to winter, our 13th newsletter issue highlights this seasonal change and our vibrant school life. Some of the articles showcase our community’s warmth, focusing on the school’s initiative to provide winter coats. This effort reflects our commitment to student welfare and the collective spirit of preparing for the cold.

“Winter Activities / December is Near!”, turns the classroom into a festive wonderland. The anticipation of holiday activities and crafts infuses joy and creativity into our learning environment, making each day a celebration of the winter season.

In a fascinating look into Ms. Mohammed’s social studies class, the author captures how the study of climates turns into an exciting adventure. Students explore diverse ecosystems through interactive lessons, from icy poles to tropical rainforests, bringing the world’s climates to life in the classroom.

The article introduces the concept of ‘Brain Breaks’ in Ms. Sabin’s class, emphasizing the balance between learning and creative play. These breaks foster teamwork and innovation among students, highlighting our school’s holistic approach to education.

Finally, some of the articles on learning strategies stress the importance of revision and staying ahead. Innovative techniques like games and visual aids make learning more effective, while support systems ensure every student thrives.

This issue is a testament to Public Schools’ dynamic and nurturing environment, where each season brings new opportunities for growth and community building.