This is the final Knight Nation News for the 2023-2024 school year. We will be back in August.

Have a great summer!

Congratulations to the Kings Lady Knights Lacrosse Team who had a history-making season.

They ended their season on Monday, June 3 with a loss in the State Semi-Final match against defending state champion, Upper Arlington by a score of 18-11.

The Kings community showed up in a big way to send off the team.

This was the team's best season in Kings girls lacrosse history.

Check out this photo gallery from the semi-final game.

We are still working on back-to-school event dates such as meet the teacher and open houses. You will receive an email this summer with those dates. As it gets closer to the start of school, you can find the latest back-to-school information on the front page of our website.

See below for the first days of school staggered start schedule.

Have a great summer break! Don't forget to read!!

In an era where hands-on experiences are increasingly valued, Kings High School took a step forward this past school year by launching our new Internship Program. The program bridges the gap between classroom learning and practical application by providing students with invaluable real-world experiences. This program is open to seniors with a cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.0, a good attendance record, and no discipline history. The process for placement and interviewing begins during scheduling in the second semester of the junior year. 

During 2023-2024, our first year, we partnered with nine companies. For the 2024-2025 school year, we increased that number to over 20 community partners in the areas of Medicine, Art and Design, Animal Services, Education, Community, Law, and Engineering, and several specially designed internship experiences in Business and Journalism. This allows our students a diverse array of opportunities to explore their interests, gain practical skills, and develop a deeper understanding of the professional landscape. Additionally, two pre-apprenticeship students will be joining the program in 2024-2025 in the automotive and carpentry fields. 

One of the defining features of this program is the emphasis on personalized, experiential learning. Students follow their regular course schedule in the morning and then travel to their internship site in the afternoon. Rather than merely observing from the sidelines, students work in their placement location for 8-10 hours a week and are actively engaged in meaningful projects and tasks. By experiencing authentic work environments, our interns can refine their problem-solving abilities, enhance their communication skills, and cultivate the adaptability necessary for success in today's dynamic workforce.

While the students receive on-the-job feedback, another crucial aspect of the program is the Monday classroom sessions where we discuss how to have hard conversations, deal with challenges, speak to supervisors, and navigate professional, sometimes intimidating, work environments. We also practice interview skills and work through workplace scenarios in a safe environment. Additionally, regular check-ins and reflections encourage students to reflect on their experiences, identify areas for growth, and set meaningful goals for their future endeavors.

One of the most meaningful conversations this year was when two of our interns realized that they did not want to pursue Physical Therapy in college because their exposure to Occupational Therapy had been so meaningful. This level of awareness is significant because it streamlined their focus in selecting a college program and avoided wasting time and money. Our Pharmacy, Flight, Medical, and Design interns solidified their interests and are a step ahead of their peers because of their experience. 

The benefits of the internship program extend far beyond the classroom walls. By forging connections with professionals in their fields of interest, students gain invaluable networking opportunities that can open doors to future career prospects, put them a step ahead on college and scholarship applications, enhance their resumes, and set them apart in a competitive job market.

As Kings Local Schools continues to grow its internship program, the opportunities for student growth and exploration are limitless. By fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and experiential learning, this program is a clear example of how education must meet the evolving needs of students and industries alike, one internship at a time.

In case you missed it, Ohio Gov. DeWine has extended the sales tax holiday that will take place later this summer.

Instead of the three-day holiday, it will be extended to 10 days to allow tax-free purchases.

This year, Ohio's sales tax holiday will run from 12:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 30, until 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, August 8.

In the past, sales tax holidays included only school-related items and lower purchase price limits. This year, the expanded sales tax break will apply to back to school necessities as well as other substantial purchases.

The holiday will not include exemption from sales tax for services or any purchase of watercraft, outboard motors, motor vehicles, alcoholic beverage, tobacco, vapor products, or any item that contains marijuana.

For more information visit here.

The Kings Local School District Food Service Department in partnership with South Lebanon Community Center/Joshua's Place is participating in a FREE Summer Meal Program.

The program will provide FREE meals and nutritious snacks to children 18 and younger and for youth ages 19-21 who have a mental or physical disability and who participated in the program during the school year.

Meals will be provided on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. now through July 17 at the South Lebanon Community Center, 83 N. Section Street, South Lebanon. Additionally, FREE meals will be provided every day, Monday through Friday, the week of July 22.

If you have any questions, please contact Kings Food Service Director, Jennifer Arlinghaus at 513-398-8050, ext. 10027.

Little Knights on Broadway camp was held at Kings High School on Saturday, June 1. Forty-three campers in grades kindergarten through sixth attended the camp where they learned songs and choreography from instructors Katie Hayward and KHS Alumni Morgan Reece Gerald.

KHS students students served as counselors for the day. Technology was provided by Scott Hayward.

The camp is hosted by Kings Stagelighters with funds raised going back into the Kings Theatre Program.

The Summer Slide is a decline in reading ability and other academic skills that can occur over the summer months when school isn't in session. Numerous studies show that kids who don't read during summer break actually slip in reading ability by the time autumn rolls around.

We have provided you with some Summer Reading Programs in our area to help your students. Thank you for supporting your student to prevent the Summer Slide! Thank you to Mrs.Bowman for providing this list!

The Food Service Department wants to thank students and their families for their support in our School Lunch Program. We want to remind all parents/guardians that any remaining funds on student meal accounts will transfer to the 2024-2025 school year. The balances will remain on the students accounts when they return in August.

If a student is graduating or transferring out of the Kings Local School District and your student has a remaining balance, please contact the Food Service Department at 513-398-8050 ext 10027 or you can email us directly at jarlinghaus@kingslocal.net and a refund will be issued to you.  If you currently have an account on PaySchools Central for your graduate and it is set up for auto deposits, it is advised that you access the PaySchools Central site and delete the "auto-deposit" feature from your graduate's meal account.

If you have a graduate that has a remaining balance and you have another child/student in the District the remaining funds from your graduate can be transferred to thier younger sibling. Please contact the Food Service Department to make this request and they would be happy to assist you.

Any student that currently has a balance due can forward payment by cash, check or payments are also accepted from our online portal, PaySchools Central.  Forms of payment of cash or check can be sent to the students' school or they can also be mailed directly to the Food and Nutrition Department at 1797 King Avenue, Kings Mills OH 45034. Checks can be made out to: Kings Local School District Food Service. 

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 will meet only once in June and July. A combined Work Session and Regular Meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 11 and Tuesday, July 9. Both meetings will be held at 6:00 p.m. and will be livestreamed on the Kings Youtube channel.

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

King Avenue, between Riverwalk Drive and College Street, will be closed during the nighttime hours of 8:00 pm to 6:00 am on Thursday, June 19, 2024, for three (3) nights, weather permitting. The closure is for the installation of a water main.

The detour for the closure will utilize College Street, Miami Street and Walnut Street.

For more information, visit http://www.wceo.us/ or contact WCEO at (513) 695-3301.

If you are looking to purchase Kings Spiritwear, visit the Kings Online Spiritwear Store provided by our partner ROKKITWEAR or Lemons and Limes Boutique Deerfield. Kings Spiritwear can also be found at the Landen CVS.

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

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!

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.

Registration is open for this summer's Athletic Camps. Visit this link to sign up.