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Parent Communication

Dear Intermediate School Families,

 

We are preparing for the downhill slide of the school year! Over the next three months, many activities will take place at KAIS, including scheduling for the 2023-24 school year, PSSA/Keystone Testing, and Spring Sports/Concerts. This is an exciting time of year… Bring on Spring! 

 

Updates


  1. March 17th - No School (Snow Make-Up Day)

  1. March 24th - End of the 3rd Quarter

Noteworthy Items


  1. FACS Classes - Students in FACS 7 and FACS 8 have been busy baking over the last week. Students practiced their measuring skills by making chocolate chip cookies, stromboli, and blueberry/banana muffins. Students in 8th grade wrapped up their International Foods Project by making crêpes.
    1. Pictures

  1. Math 8 Project - Students were asked to create their own linear city by graphing. Students were asked to write linear equations in slope-intercept form, write linear equations in standard form with integer coefficients, and use the Desmos graphing calculator to graph lines to construct their city.
    1. Pictures

  1. Math Tutoring - Thanks to Ms. Lucas, an after-school math tutoring program has been implemented this year at KAIS.  Students from 7th and 8th grade have been participating after school each Wednesday. The program is designed to assist students with current assignments and to strengthen their basic math skills. Volunteers from KAHS Key Club have been attending the tutoring sessions to aid our students. The Key Club volunteers have been a valuable asset to the learning process.
    1. Pictures

  1. Chinese I Project - This year, the Chinese I students had an exciting opportunity of virtual exchange with New Taipei Zhangshu International Middle School students in Taiwan. They will be able to make friends with the students from Taiwan and learn about the differences between the cultures. Students have just received the first letter from their pen pals.
    1. Pictures
    2. Pictures
    3. Pictures





  1. Kiski Area Winterguard- This past Saturday, all four Kiski Area Winter Guards had fantastic performances at the Three Rivers Winter Ensemble Association competition hosted at Penn Trafford High School. The Elementary guard debuted their exhibition show, "Treat People With Kindness."  The SRA, SA, & SW guards continued their competitive season. The SRA guard placed second in their class with a score of 70.16 while beautifully performing "Your Symphony." The SA guard performed their show "Everything in Knots" and had an incredible first place finish with a score of 74.7. And the SW guard placed first in their class with a score of 77.8 in an amazing performance of their show "Beware the Poisoned Poppy." The guards perform tomorrow in the WGI Pittsburgh Regional competition hosted at Norwin High School. We'd love to see you there; Prelims performance times are SRA @ 10:38 am, SA @ 1:56 pm, and SW @ 3:48 pm.
    1. Pictures



Go Cavs!



Mike Cardamone, KAIS Principal 


John Cortazzo, KAIS Assistant Principal

Dear Intermediate School Families,

 

It’s hard to believe we are at the midpoint of the third quarter. Below are a few updates/ noteworthy items we want to share with our students, families, and community members. 

Have a great weekend!

 

Updates


  1. 3rd Quarter Deficiencies - February 17:  This information will be posted in Skyward at 3:00 pm. 

  1. February 20th- No School for students (Professional Development)

  1. Scheduling Resources - 8th Grade Students & Parents ONLY:  Please take time with your child to review the scheduling resources provided by our High School. The resources include videos explaining course offerings, how to select classes in Skyward, and presentations (use 9th-grade information).

  1. High School Website- Scheduling Tab (Click Here)

  1. High School Scheduling - 8th Grade Parents ONLY:  We are preparing our students for their transition to high school. With this said, our high school administrative team will be holding an 8th-grade parent meeting on February 22 at 6:00 pm. This meeting will take place through Google Mee. Please use the link below for the evening. 

  1. Parent Meeting (Click Here)

  1. High School Scheduling - 8th Grade Students ONLY:  Our high school counselors will be working with 8th-grade students in their Science classrooms on February 23. This process will include completing course requests in Skyward.

Noteworthy Items


  1. Hockey for Heart:  The Hockey for Heart tournament started this week. There are two 7th-grade and three 8th-grade teams competing in this year's tournament. At the end of April, the two winning teams will play in the Championship game during a PM Assembly. All money raised will be donated to the American Heart Association. 

    • ELA 7- Outsiders Projects:  The ELA 7 classrooms just finished a unit on "The Outsiders."  Mrs. Smith's students worked together in small groups. They had fun while learning and collaborating to find evidence about a character from the novel. The task engaged the students in inferring character traits and allowed them to apply their knowledge to create a unique biography. Look at the final results; they were amazing!

Students in Mrs. Volk's ELA 7 class created final book posters for the novel “The Outsiders.”  Students worked diligently creating their posters showcasing their learning of characterization, symbolism, turning points, and theme. They did a wonderful job!


Pictures

Pictures

Pictures


    • Student Council Dance:  We will host a “Through the Decades” dance on March 10. Please complete the form below if you are interested in chaperoning. Completed forms should be shared with Mrs. Kovalcik or Mrs. Blake.

  1. Chaperone Form



Go Cavs!


Mike Cardamone, KAIS Principal 


John Cortazzo, KAIS Assistant Principal

Dear Intermediate School Families,


As we near the end of the first semester, we would like you to take a moment to reflect on something positive about this school year. Overall, we've had many success points during this time, including the return of clubs, high-five Fridays, pep assemblies, the Commendable Cavalier Breakfast, and school dances, to name a few. With that said, we hope your child is enjoying their experience at the Intermediate School and we look forward to an exciting remainder of the year! 

 

Updates


  1. January 16th- No School For Students- Act 80

  1. January 17th- Last Day of 2nd Quarter

  1. January 18th- Second semester elective begin

  1. January 24th- Reports Cards will be posted in Skyward by 3:00 pm

  1. Flexible Instructional Days (FID) or Emergency Instructional Days (EID)- As we enter the Winter months, please make sure you are prepared for the potential of inclement weather. We have various options, including two-hour delays (with students reporting to school) and flexible instruction days. The decision regarding the impact of the weather/type of day will be communicated through an automated call or can be viewed on the news each morning. Please review the expectations for Flexible Instructional Days (FID).  

  1. Our school building will function on a two-hour delay schedule on Flexible Instructional Days (EID). The schedule and expectations can also be found on the Intermediate School website.
  2. All students will be expected to follow their brick-and-mortar schedule; however, their classes will take place through Google Meet. Students must be prepared to start their instructional day at 9:51 AM, the start of first period. Students will sign into Google Classroom (first period class) at this time and simply click on the Google Meet link provided on the Stream page. This will take place for each of their classes throughout the day. 
  3. Attendance will be taken each period throughout the day via Skyward. These days will count towards our attendance procedures/policies within the district. Please make sure your child is participating in his/her classes. If there are any issues, contact the teacher via email. 
  4. 100% Virtual Learning Students will sign into each of their core classes during the same periods they sign into now. There is no change in order or period on these days. Elective teachers will be available if needed during E/I period. 
  5. Office Hours will be held for all students (and parents) during E/I period. Please see each teacher’s Google Classroom (stream page) for specific times. This time should be used for any questions or additional assistance needed. 


Go Cavs!


Mike Cardamone, KAIS Principal 


John Cortazzo, KAIS Assistant Principal

Dear Intermediate School Families,


As we prepare for the holiday break, I wanted to relay my sincere appreciation for your support throughout the first semester. Please take some time to enjoy your family and friends over the holiday season… We will see you in 2023! 


Updates


Flexible Instructional Days (FID) or Emergency Instructional Days (EID)- As we enter the Winter months, please make sure you are prepared for the potential of inclement weather. We have various options, including two-hour delays (with students reporting to school) and flexible instruction days. The decision regarding the impact of the weather/type of day will be communicated through an automated call or can be viewed on the news each morning. Please review the expectations for Flexible Instructional Days (FID).  

  1. Our school building will function on a two-hour delay schedule on Flexible Instructional Days (EID). The schedule and expectations can also be found on the Intermediate School website.
  2. All students will be expected to follow their brick-and-mortar schedule; however, their classes will take place through Google Meet. Students must be prepared to start their instructional day at 9:51 AM, the start of first period. Students will sign into Google Classroom (first period class) at this time and simply click on the Google Meet link provided on the Stream page. This will take place for each of their classes throughout the day. 
  3. Attendance will be taken each period throughout the day via Skyward. These days will count towards our attendance procedures/policies within the district. Please make sure your child is participating in his/her classes. If there are any issues, contact the teacher via email. 
  4. 100% Virtual Learning Students will sign into each of their core classes during the same periods they sign into now. There is no change in order or period on these days. Elective teachers will be available if needed during E/I period. 
  5. Office Hours will be held for all students (and parents) during E/I period. Please see each teacher’s Google Classroom (stream page) for specific times. This time should be used for any questions or additional assistance needed. 

Band & Chorus Assembly- December 21st- We will be running an alternative bell schedule on this date to allow our Band and Chorus students to perform for their peers. This is a great way to celebrate the talents of our students and kick off the holiday break!

Winter Recess- There will be no school for students from December 23- January 2nd. Schools will reopen on January 3rd. 

 

January 16th- Professional Development Day- No School for Students

January 17th- End of 2nd Quarter



Go Cavs!


Mike Cardamone, KAIS Principal 


John Cortazzo, KAIS Assistant Principal

Dear Parents/Guardians,


The 2nd quarter is off to a quick start! Here are a few updates as we head into the last full week of school before Thanksgiving Recess. 


Next Week/Updates


Food Drive- The Kindness Club and School Counselors will complete their Food Drive for the Westmoreland County Food Bank on Tuesday, Nov. 15th. The students at KAIS have done a fantastic job in giving back to our community.  Thank you for your generosity! 

Counseling Corner- This month’s theme focuses on Gratitude. We are striving to teach our students that the ability to show Gratitude can be healthy and beneficial to themselves and others. School Counselors have shared messages with all teachers to be posted in their classrooms and highlighted throughout the month.
 
KAIS Twitter - Please join our school community and check out the events occurring at the Intermediate School. Click HERE to view our Twitter account. 

Student vs. Faculty Basketball Game- Student Council is excited to bring this game back this school year! The game will be played on November 22nd, and we will run a PM Assembly Schedule on this date. Further details will be provided next week. 

Thanksgiving Recess- School will not be in session from November 23rd-28th. Students will resume classes on November 29th. 


Go Cavs!


Mike Cardamone, KAIS Principal 


John Cortazzo, KAIS Assistant Principal

Dear Parents/Guardians,


We couldn’t be more excited about our fun-filled day at the Intermediate School! The first quarter ended with our Commendable Cavalier Breakfast, the first day of clubs, and a pep assembly for Red Ribbon week… What a fantastic way to end the week! 


Next Week/Updates


Commendable Cavalier Breakfast- Please take a moment to celebrate the hard work of our teachers and students by viewing pictures of the breakfast on our Twitter account.   

Parent-Teacher Conferences- Tuesday, November 1st - No School for students.  

Northern Westmoreland Career & Technology Center (NWCTC) - Interested eighth-grade students and families are welcome to attend the NWCTC Open House on November 3. Please see the Flyer for needed information. 

Food Drive- The KAIS Kindness Club is kicking off with a food drive to benefit the Westmoreland County Food Bank. Students should bring donations from Nov 7 - 15 to their homerooms. The 7th grade AND the 8th-grade homeroom with the most donated items will receive a donut breakfast from the Kindness Club and its sponsors, the school counselors. Let's work together to spread kindness in and out of school and help those in need this holiday season! Food Drive Flyer

Report Cards- First Quarter report cards will be posted in Skyward on Monday, November 7th, at 3:00 pm. 



Go Cavs!


Mike Cardamone, KAIS Principal 


John Cortazzo, KAIS Assistant Principal

Dear Parents/Guardians,


The end of the first quarter is coming full steam ahead! Over the course of the next week, we have many exciting events happening at the Intermediate School. We are closing out the quarter on a high note! 


Next Week/Updates


Student Council Dance - Thursday, October 27 - This Halloween-themed dance will take place from 7:00-9:00 p.m. in the KAIS Gymnasium. Tickets are $5 each and can be purchased all week during lunch period. We are looking forward to a “spooky” night. 

Commendable Cavalier Breakfast - Friday, October 28 - We are very excited to host the first Cavalier breakfast of the 2022-2023 school year. This event aims to spotlight students’ success inside and outside the classroom and create stronger relationships with our KAIS students and families. A student may be nominated for academic improvement, academic excellence, superior attendance, citizenship, leadership, extra-curricular achievements, and collaborative efforts/relationship building.  

Red Ribbon Week - KAIS will celebrate this event from October 24-28. Red Ribbon Week is organized by our SAP Team, Student Council, and Fuel Up to Play 60 members. This year’s message emphasizes, “Celebrate Life. Live Drug-Free.”  Red Ribbon Week consists of themed dress days, competitions between homerooms, and a “Minute to Win It” pep assembly. 
 
Monday: Stomp out Drugs! Wear your favorite pair of Boots or Mismatch socks!
Tuesday: Be Drug-Free from Head to Toe! Wear your favorite Hat or Crazy Hair, and Crazy Socks!
Wednesday: National Wear Red Day!
Thursday: Drugs Can’t Find Me! Wear Camo!
Friday: Team Up Against Drugs! Wear your favorite Team’s Sports Jersey! 

STAR Math/Reading Information - Please take a moment to review the parent letter provided by Dr. Mather regarding STAR testing, its purpose, and the use of results. Parent Letter

Northern Westmoreland Career & Technology Center (NWCTC) - Interested eighth-grade students and families are welcome to attend the NWCTC Open House on November 3. Please see the Flyer for needed information. 

Clubs - We will kick off clubs on October 28 during the E/I period.

End of 1st Quarter - October 28

Go Cavs!


Mike Cardamone, KAIS Principal 


John Cortazzo, KAIS Assistant Principal

Dear Parents/Guardians,


We have just concluded our 7th week of the school year. Hopefully, everyone is settled in and enjoying the daily routine of being an Intermediate School student. Over the next two weeks, please take time to speak to your child about his/her academic progress for the first quarter.  We want to make sure our students get off to a strong start when discussing quarterly grades and achievement. If there are any questions or concerns, please contact your child’s teacher or school counselor. 


Next Week/Updates


Building Safety Reminder  
 
Skyward Emergency Contact Information - Please make sure all emergency contact information is up-to-date in Skyward. We will not release your child(ren) to anyone not listed in Skyward. If you send someone to pick up your child(ren) and they are not listed in Skyward (i.e. sibling, grandparent, aunt/uncle, friend), you must send written permission to the office. ID is also required, so please make this known to whoever is picking up your child(ren).
Early Dismissals - Although we understand that last minute appointments arise, please make every effort to send all early dismissal notes with your child in the morning, making sure you include who is picking up your child(ren). Students should bring their notes directly to the office in the morning. Parents also have the option to add early dismissals in Skyward electronically.

Publicity Permission Form - There will be certain times during the school year when publicity about the school clubs, activities, etc. may necessitate using names and/or photographs of students in the local newspapers and/or other methods of publicity.  This includes photographs in the annual Kiski Area Intermediate School Yearbook. Please complete this form if you DO NOT want your child’s pictures or name used for these purposes. GOOGLE FORM

Unity Day (October 19th) - This is a day to celebrate and show “unity for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion and to send a visible message that no child should ever experience bullying.”  All students and staff are being asked to wear orange in support of this day, and students will be awarded for the best orange outfit.
 
Throughout the week of October 17-22, students will be provided an overview of how to handle bullying and how to build self-confidence and resilience.   The counselors, with the help of our teachers, will have students construct a unity chain for display at KAIS.   Students will also be provided positive stickers, activity sheets, and a treat. Information about Unity Day can be found at https://www.pacer.org/bullying/nbpm/unity-day.asp

Parent-Teacher Conferences - Schools will be closed on November 1 for Parent-Teacher Conferences.  This event will take place between 12:00 pm - 8:00 pm.  Please read our parent letter for all the needed information and specific steps to schedule a conference. 

 

Parent Training/Virtual Workshops - This is an online workshop for parents focused on the management of challenging behaviors. Each session consists of a 20-minute presentation and 45 minutes of practice, process, and Question and Answers.  Please see the flyer for presentation topics. 


Go Cavs!


Mike Cardamone, KAIS Principal 


John Cortazzo, KAIS Assistant Principal

Dear Parents/Guardians,


We just finished up another busy week at the Intermediate School.  Our teachers, support staff, and students have been working diligently to ensure a successful learning environment for all. This was evident in our classrooms this week through a variety of instructional practices including results based learning, peer-to-peer activities, and lessons enhanced with technology.  Hopefully, your children are talking about the educational experiences they are being provided at home. Enjoy the extended weekend… We will see the kiddos back in the building on Tuesday! 

 

Schools Closed - October 10 - Staff Development


Kiski Area Water Bottles- Mr. Capanna and the Yearbook Staff are selling high-quality, double-walled, insulated water bottles with laser-etched logos and personalization (if desired). We know you will be very satisfied with your purchase, and this water bottle will last for years to come.  Please send Mr. Capanna an email with any questions.  The deadline has been extended until October 14th. 


Student Council Updates- Our Student Council plays an active role in ensuring that KAIS is a fantastic place for students, parents, and community members. With that said, I wanted to highlight their work throughout August and September. We couldn’t be more proud of their leadership! Thank you!

  • August 4- Gardening Clean Up
  • August 11 & 16- Participated in Summer Building Tours
  • September 16- Organized the Fall Sports Pep Rally
  • Please see our Twitter account for pictures

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our main office at 724-845-2219.

Go Cavs!



Mike Cardamone

KAIS Principal 


John Cortazzo

KAIS Assistant Principal 

Dear Parents/Guardians,


It’s hard to believe this is the last week of July.  Hopefully, everyone is enjoying their summer break and getting excited about the upcoming school year.  Here is a list of upcoming dates/events as we head into August.


  • Student Schedules - Schedules will be mailed home on August 5.  In addition, schedules will be made visible in Skyward at this time.

  • Building Open for Student Visits - The building will be open for students to walk their schedules and set up lockers on August 11 and August 16 from 9:00 am - 2:00 pm.

  • Parent Orientation - Parents of incoming 7th-grade students, please take a moment to review this recording in preparation for the new school year.

  • Meet the Teacher Night (parents only) - Tuesday, August 23 from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm.

  • First Day of School - Thursday, August 25 

  • Cell Phone Usage - Please understand we strive to create an educational environment that is orderly, safe, and secure for all students.  With that said, cell phones are not permitted to be in plain sight or be turned on during the school day unless authorized by school personnel for legitimate educational purposes.  The use of any electronic device is strictly prohibited in restrooms, locker rooms, the health suite, or any other changing area.
 

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our main office at 724-845-2219. We look forward to working with your child and family throughout the 2022-2023 school year.  Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Go Cavs!



Mike Cardamone

KAIS Principal