Thank you to the community members who completed the Master Facilities survey from the first Community Forum. Nearly 600 responses were recorded.

In the survey, the community was asked to give their feedback on eleven possible building plans. The SHP staff is now gathering all of the information collected to bring the results to the next Community Forum that will be held on Saturday, October 28 at 10:00 a.m. at Kings High School Auditorium.

After the Forum, the community will have another opportunity to weigh in on the new options. To learn more about the Master Facilities Planning project visit here.

NEXT WEEK Dr. Daggett will be in the District. Don't miss this one!



The Kings District is excited to host Dr. Bill Daggett on Thursday, October 19 at 7:00 p.m. at Kings High School to present - The Future of Education - Preparing Students For Their Future, Not Our Past. Learn how A.I. and emerging technologies impact the skills, knowledge, and attributes students need to succeed in the changing workplace and society.

For over 30 years, Dr. Daggett has crisscrossed the nation and the industrialized world to lead school reform efforts to effectively prepare students for their future. He is recognized worldwide for his proven ability to move pre-K-12 education systems towards more rigorous and relevant skills and knowledge for all students.

His message aligns with the District's Power 5 Future Skills Strategy and Action Plan that provides our Kings students with all the tools to navigate an ever-changing world and to be highly competitive and prepared for success beyond the walls of our school district. Those skills are critical thinking, collaboration, communication, problem-solving, and career, college, and life readiness. 

This session is free to the community and sponsored by High Aims. We hope you'll join us!

The Kings Local School District encourages all families to submit an application for free- or reduced-price meal eligibility regardless of family income. Students will qualify for free or reduced lunches if the household income falls within the limits of the Federal Income Guidelines.

Students who qualified last year are required to complete a new application each year to extend their eligibility. Parents or Guardians will be responsible for paying for any charges that incur until the free or reduced meal application is fully processed and notification of eligibility is determined. 

Free and Reduced Meal Applications can be obtained in the front office of each school building, as well as the Kings website. Parents can also apply for the program online at https://payschoolscentral.com. Check your eligibility by completing an application TODAY.

There are always reasons to celebrate at Kings! On Wednesday, October 11, we honored our students of the quarter and other outstanding students at our first of three yearly District Celebrations. District Administrators and School Board members were on hand to celebrate these fantastic students. Congratulations to the following:

J.F. Burns Elementary  - 1st Grade – Emma Duncan, June Null, and

Samuel Pennimpede; 2nd Grade – Olivia Dittman and Declan O’Connor;4th Grade – Thomas Eriksen.

Kings Mills Elementary  -  1st Grade – Sitara Anugu; 2nd Grade – Archie Macks and Jasmarjoya Makaya; 3rd Grade – Wesley Haus and Beau Kleis;

4th Grade – Jabir Sadiq and Brooklyn Schmidt.

South Lebanon Elementary  -  1st Grade – Rithwin Rajeshwaren; 2nd Grade – Olivia Neal and Julia Neal; 3rd Grade – Hudson Goode; 4th Grade – Addie Boatrite and Sarah Burkhouse.

Columbia Intermediate  - 5th Grade – Jakob Duncan, Garima Gupta, Sophia Mitchell, McKenna Neville, Patrick Smiarowski, and Boden Wang; 6th Grade – Morgan Howard, Jillian Molloy, Brice Siereveld, and Isabella Zaragoza-Molina.

Kings Junior High  -  7th Grade – Vander Hernandez, Lucy Miniard, and

Connor Cutright. 8th Grade – Violet Baker, Addison Reppeto, Brynlee Aulick, and Lila Woolery.

Kings High School  – Seniors Mackenzie Beck, Jessica Earle, Cooper Tinsley, and Johnathan VonAllmen.

Congratulations!

Just this week alone, Kings High School students had the opportunity to visit two local businesses and learn more about both medical and biomedical careers.

Students in Mrs. Katie Endress' classes visited AtriCure for Manufacturing Day. The students learned about several Biomedical careers while exploring the life-saving biomedical devices that are made right down the road from the high school.

Additionally, seniors in Mrs. Endress' Medical Interventions class visited Beacon Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine for an unforgettable experience!

The students worked beside Dr. Fishbeck and several Athletic trainers. They learned about career opportunities, and performed dissections, suturing, and arthroscopy of the knee!

Thank you to AtriCure and Beacon for your partnership and for giving our students these educational experiences.

A new program at Kings High School and Kings Junior High School called Sources of Strength will help create a culture of promoting wellness and spread messages of hope, help, and strength.

Sources of Strength is an evidence-based youth mental health promotion and suicide prevention program designed to harness the power of peer social networks to create healthy norms and culture. Sources of Strength aims to empower a well world and prevent adverse outcomes by increasing well-being, help-seeking, resiliency, healthy coping, and belonging.

The program will be led by Peer Leaders who have been nominated by staff and peers. Recently, the peer leaders from both schools spent time with representatives from 1N5 and their school advisers to complete leadership training

Sources of Strength moves beyond a singular focus on risk factors by utilizing an upstream approach for youth suicide prevention. This upstream model strengthens multiple sources of support, or protective factors, for young people so that when times get hard, they have strengths to rely on. The curriculum is rooted in eight strength factors that research has shown are protective factors against suicide risk such as generosity, spirituality, physical health, mental health, family support, positive friends, mentors, and healthy activities.

Throughout the year, KJH and KHS students will learn more about the strength factors that will be led by our Peer Leaders. Kings Social and Emotional Health Coordinator, Kim Sellers said, "They are truly an incredible group of young people!"

Kings Peer Leaders include KHS - Jorie Allison, Ephraim Amoah, Lily Austin, Myles Baker, Daniela Balbi, Drew Burdine, Casey Byrdwell, Parker Carroll, Nolan Clark, Jack Combs, Cristian Corro-Zambrano, Zach Doubet, Charlie Doubet, Ryan Doughman, Dane Drake, Asher Ewing, Leah Fisher, Eli Fladung, Zane Gardner, Ava Gendreau, Madeline Hartke, Molly Hering, Chloe Hong, Lila Huecker, Kassie Ingram, Toriano Johnson, Taylor Kleis, Rachel Kohler, Lucy Kohls, Carson Lindholm, Thomas Lu, Kate Luckett, Corina Macy, Mia McFaline, Chloe McKee, Sofia McLain, Mary Myerly, Riley Platter, Bekah Reed, Lainey Ritter, Charlotte Roe, Lauren Rubel, Henry Sander, Ayla Steele, Lily Ann Takle-Flach, Emma Titler, and Henry VonAllmen.

KJH - Camden Livingston, Lydia Pennimpede, Jasmina Ulmasova, Dennys Castellanos, Parker McDonough, Sahana Sivakumar, David Harder, Lucy Stovall, Carson Sweeney, King Thomas, Sydney Fisher, Philomena Walsh, Violet Baker, Eli Duinkerk, Paul Eckstein, Liam Froah, Payton Hawk, Madison Smith, Cameron Zistler, Madeline Bruns, Rylee King, Ryan Miranda, and Evie Spaeth.

Advisers include Margie Coleman, Heidi Murray, Andy Endress, Joh Froah, Megan Apple, Brooke Brunner, Katie Gould, and Erin Hackman.

Congratulations to Kings High School Senior Elaina Lord who has been selected as a member of the Ohio Attorney General's Teen Ambassador Board.

The Attorney General’s Teen Ambassador Board provides Ohio’s future leaders with an inside look at Ohio law and government. Board members are high-achieving young people interested in improving their schools and communities.

The Board gives Ohio teens an unparalleled opportunity to engage in government and law. Students will address some of the greatest issues facing our state and develop solutions to improve the lives of Ohioans. Ambassadors will have the opportunity to receive training on important and pertinent matters, meet with elected officials, and interact with Assistant Attorneys General.

What a great way to represent Kings!

Three graduates from the Kings High School Class of 2023 received scholarships from the Cincinnati Scholarship Foundation.

• Evan West, $2,075 from the Kroger Cincinnati/Dayton Scholarship Fund
• Alana Subramaniam, $1,000 from the L.B. Zapoleon Scholarship Fund
• Kanushi Navaneethakrishnan, $1,700 from the Carl H. Lindner Family Fund

The Foundation is under new leadership and is interested in helping students with financial need for college. Visit their website for more information.

The students in Ms. Dwyer’s special needs class at Kings Junior High School have been busy doing a community service project for Pink Ribbon Girls' 7th Annual Pink Pumpkin Sale! 

The students have been working hard to create their own masterpieces!

The Pumpkin Sale will be held on Saturday, October 21 from 12:00-4:00 p.m. at the Monkey Bar and Grille.

The last few months of the year can bring on the "Winter Blues." Kings Therapist, Emily Daniel shares some warning signs of increased depression and possible indications of suicidal ideations that can happen with the change of seasons.

Here are some positive mental health habits to maintain this autumn/winter:

• Stay active
• Make an intention to get sunlight while the sun is still up. Also, consider a SAD light.
• Practice gratitude.
• Embrace the winter months by embracing nature, creating a cozy space, spending time with loved ones, getting creative, creating family traditions, and practicing gratitude.
• Practice healthy sleeping habits.
• Stay connected with others. Texting or calling an old friend and just saying “I am thinking of you” can go a long way.
• Connect to a therapist if you wish. 
• Reach out when you need help. You are loved. 

If you have a serious mental health emergency, do not hesitate to call “988” and get the help you deserve.

The holidays are nearing. If you were planning on adopting a child or family this year, please keep Kings Holiday Help in mind.

We typically serve over 300 children at the holidays and are hoping to get some help from our community to help our own. Individual and corporate sponsors are welcome! Stay tuned for ways you can help our Kings families this year.

We are looking to bolster our Kings Alumni database. Are you a Kings High School graduate or know someone who is? Please share the form with your fellow graduates. This will help our reunion committees and keep you updated on what is happening at your alma mater!

Please complete this Alumni Roundup Form.

Board Members

Kings Board of Education (L-R): Janelle Groff, Board Member; John Skerl, Board Member; Deb Cowan, Board Member; Stacie Belfrom, President; and Peggy Phillips, Vice-President.

The Board of Education meets on the 2nd Tuesday of every month for a Work Session at 5:30 p.m. and the 3rd Tuesday of every month for a Regular Meeting at 6:00 p.m.

The next meeting of the Kings BOE will take place on Tuesday, October 17 at 6:00 p.m. in Conference Room 2 of the Kings Education Center. You can watch live here.

Visit the Board of Education page on our website for meeting dates, meeting recordings, and agendas.

All meetings are live-streamed on the Kings Youtube channel.

If you are looking to purchase Kings Spiritwear, visit the Kings Online Spiritwear Store provided by our partner ROKKITWEAR. All items will be printed and sent out within 5 business days! You can also personalize any item in the store!

Keep in touch with all things Kings Spiritwear by following our Facebook page!

The District is in great need of substitute teachers, childcare aides, paraprofessionals, food service workers, and bus drivers. 

KME is in need of a 2.5-hour lunch/recess aide. If you know anyone looking for work, please pass this along.

Visit our Human Resources page today and join our team!

In an effort to be "green," the District does not send paper flyers home. We use a platform called Peachjar that houses flyers of community programs and resources. 

Parents receive approved flyers via email, and they are posted on our digital flyerboard for easy retrieval. Any organization can distribute information to our community by creating an account!

Do you know someone worthy of being inducted into the Kings Athletic Hall of Fame?  We are accepting Athletic Hall of Fame nominations.  Athletes must be a graduate of Kings High School and have lettered in a minimum of one sport and have been selected All-Conference at least once in that sport. Athletes do not qualify until 5 years after graduation. 

Please complete this form with a document explaining why you feel this person is worthy of consideration for induction into the Kings High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Include a biography of the candidate being nominated, as well as information relative to the nominee’s high school and post-graduate (collegiate if applicable) careers and present-day information. The use of statistic sheets, newspaper clippings is encouraged to support your nomination.

The deadline for nominations is Friday, November 3rd. Documents can be mailed to the athletic office (see nomination form) or scanned and emailed to etaylor@kingslocal.net.