WELCOME BACK!!

Knight Nation News is a weekly publication from the Kings Local School District. If you know someone who isn't receiving it but would like to,

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As we all anticipate getting back to school, Kings Superintendent, Greg Sears would like to welcome everyone back. Watch below.

We are excited to welcome our students and staff back next week!

We will be staggering the start of the 2023-2024 school year as you see below. We will welcome our Freshman & Senior class and students in grades 1-8 with last names beginning A-L on Thursday, August 17. Then on Friday, August 18, all high school students and grades 1-8 with last names beginning with M-Z will join us. Finally, kindergarteners and preschoolers join us on Tuesday, August 22.

Please also note that the school start and end times have changed. There was an error in last week's Knight Nation News regarding the start and end times for KHS and KJH. Correct times are below. We apologize for the error.

If your child has a District Chromebook, please be sure to send it to school fully charged and ready to go.

Enjoy your last days of Summer Break. We can't wait to see you!

Feel free to visit our Back-to-School tab on our website for additional information.

There have been some changes in administrative staffing in our buildings.

We'd like to introduce the following:

Mrs. Taylor Rose, former KJH Assistant Principal has moved to Kings High School and will serve as the Assistant Principal.

Mr. Caleb Keeton, former KJH Science teacher has moved into the Assistant Principal role at KJH.

Mr. Ron Corradini, former KHS Assistant Principal will now serve as the Director of Kings Kids Childcare and Summer Camp.

We are excited to have these individuals as leaders in our District! Best of luck!

We are counting down the days until we see our Knights! We'd love it if you'd share your first day of school pictures with us! Share on any Kings social media using the hashtag #Knightselfie.

If you have been anywhere near the Kings Mills area, you have noticed a lot of road construction projects, especially near the high school and in front of KME.

We are very excited about two major Roadway improvements at KHS and KME/KECC. This will greatly improve traffic safety and efficiency at both locations. Both projects will not be totally complete for the start of school so please take your time and watch for cones, barrels, and workers until they are totally completed.

Improvements to Columbia Road in front of the High School include:

• Additional Crosswalks with Flashers
• New Right turn only lane onto Kings Mills Rd. from Columbia with a sidewalk from the North parking entrance of the High School to Kings Mills Rd.

Improvements to KME/KECC include from Eastbound on Kings Mills Rd.:

• Left turn lane into the parent drop-off entrance
• Left Turn lane into the Bus/teacher entrance
• Roundabout in front of the Kings Mansion at the sharp turn to get down to the new bridge. (Estimated to open around the end of the calendar year.)
• From Westbound Kings Mills Rd. Left turn lane to College StreetRight turn only into the KME parent drop-off lane

Our Director of Business, Matt Luecke is in constant contact with the road crews to get updates on their progress. We are getting close to school opening so we ask you for your patience and to plan for extra travel time on school days.

See below for a diagram of what the finished projects will look like.

You can manage your students' pay accounts on PaySchoolsCentral. Here you have the ability to pay your student's school fees and add funds to your student's meal account.

If your family is in need of assistance with meals and school fees, we encourage you to complete a Free and Reduced Meal Application by visiting https://payschoolscentral.com or pick up an application at your student's school building.

If you need assistance, parents will have direct access to a Help Hotline at 1-877-393-6628, where language services will be available for our ESL families. 

Any additional questions can be directed to Jennifer Arlinghaus, Food Service Director 513-398-8050 ext 10027.

After thirty-three years as the Kings Firecrackers head coach, Lynn Kelley, is stepping down.

From humble beginnings to appearances on “Late Night with David Letterman”, the Macy’s Day Parade, President George W. Bush’s Inauguration, and a countless number of halftime shows in front of packed basketball arenas, Coach Kelley’s jump rope journey has truly been legendary. However, her true legacy lies not in the spotlight, but in the profound impact she has made on her student-athletes, their families, and the Kings community. This influence will resonate for many years to come, much like the standing ovations she and her teams consistently received. Perhaps even in Hollywood, as her story is now the subject of a major motion picture screenplay.  

Coach Kelley’s ability to nurture, ensuring no one ever felt sidelined, distinguished her. From heartfelt, personal letters to her jumpers; motivating them throughout the season, to etiquette luncheons, philanthropy, team celebrations, and the numerous hours refining routines as they traveled around the country, she offered more than just her time; she poured in her whole self. This unwavering commitment to the team, even in the face of personal sacrifice, consistently highlighted her deep passion for coaching and the Firecrackers. 

For all involved, the organization is about much more than jumping rope. Thanks to Coach Kelley, it is about character-building, discipline, and empowering everyone to recognize the ongoing opportunity they have to make a positive difference in the lives of others.  

As she entrusts the team to their new head coach, Shaun Hamilton, her legacy is solidly intact. The Firecrackers are not just a team; they are a family, a reflection of Coach Kelley’s unwavering love for her student-athletes. Once a Firecracker, always a Firecracker!

Upon her resignation, Coach Kelley remarked, “I have thoroughly enjoyed the time spent with our student-athletes as well as getting to know their families. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine all that we would accomplish and the fun we would have along the way. These past years have meant the world to me. I have surely been blessed beyond measure!”

The Kings Local School District expresses its heartfelt gratitude to Lynn Kelley for her unparalleled contributions as a teacher and coach detailed herein. May her next chapter be as remarkable as the legacy she leaves behind.

Learn more about Lynn Kelley’s story and check out one of the Kings’ Firecrackers most recent performances.

Following a distinguished athletic career in which he claimed both National and World jump-roping titles, new head coach Shaun Hamilton now serves as the president of the International Jump Rope Union (IJRU). He is “excited to join and coach the Kings Firecrackers…in an effort to continue their tradition of excellence.”

Coach Hamilton will host a second and third meet and greet along with information-gathering sessions for prospective Firecrackers on Monday, August 28, and Tuesday, August 29 in the Columbia Intermediate School cafeteria from 6:15 - 6:45 p.m.

At this time, we ask all parents and students to log in to FinalForms to complete and sign all required forms for the upcoming school year. 

Please carefully review your information and update if necessary and don't forget to sign all forms.

Parents of children who have never attended Kings should click New Account.

If you have forgotten your email or password, please use the appropriate Forgot Email/Password link.

Click here to log in and begin.

The Transportation Department has been working hard to get the bus routes in order. They have had to make several changes. Please be sure to double-check your student's bus route the night before school to be sure that it hasn't changed!

Please be sure that your Finalforms account is up-to-date with the correct address for your student. If you have an address change, please confirm with Transportation to reduce any confusion at the bus stop.

Please read this important information regarding District emergency plans.

The Kings Local School District takes the safety and security of our staff and students very seriously. As a part of an Ohio Revised Code requirement, the District is required to inform students and parents/guardians before the first day of school each year of our emergency parental notification protocols.

In the event of an emergency where an evacuation of the school building is necessary, we have identified off-site locations (reunification sites) to transport students to safety. In emergency situations, we will disseminate information through our All-Call system, as well as use email, text messages, website, and district social media. Additionally, we will continue to provide updates through the above avenues as needed.

The Kings Local School District believes it is as important for parents to know the resources the district will use in the event of an emergency. It should be noted that an evacuation from any given campus may cause your children to be picked up at a secondary location. If this circumstance occurs, we will utilize a parent reunification form to reunite you with your child.

We will ask parents to be sure that their emergency contact information is up to date in our files in order to be contacted in case of an emergency. Feel free to check your account in School Messenger for accuracy, as well.

A Reunification Information Document will be used in the event of an emergency where a reunification process is required. This document will assist us in releasing your child to you at the reunification site. Please take some time to fill out the form and put it in a safe place in your vehicle to be used as necessary.

Thank you to Joshua's Place for providing a free place for students to learn, have fun and enjoy a free meal this summer.

The Kings Food Service Department served over 750 meals over the eight-week program. Students also participated in a summer Reading Recovery Program. Nearly 60 students spent time on phonics and reading.

We appreciate our partnership with Joshua's Place and appreciate all they do to support our community!

Congratulations to Kings Assistant Superintendent of Student Services, Dana Martin, for being nominated for the 2023 Gems of Excellence Awards from the Mason Deerfield Chamber.

Dana was nominated in the category of Excellence in Education. This award was won last year by Kings Superintendent, Greg Sears.

The award is designed to recognize the contributions our schools make to our community. This honor goes to an individual or to an educational institution who demonstrates outstanding contributions to education and the community.

Winners are determined by votes. Voting opens on August 17 at www.gemsofexcellence.com. Your votes would be appreciated!

If you have a 7th or 12th-grade student, you will need to ensure their vaccinations are up-to-date before school.

Students entering 7th grade will need to have one dose of the meningococcal (MCV4) vaccine and one dose of the Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis) vaccine.

Students entering 12th grade will need to have a second dose of the meningococcal vaccine. The second dose must be administered on or after the 16th birthday. If the first dose of the meningococcal vaccine was administered after the 16th birthday, a second dose is not required.

The Warren County Health District offers vaccines. Call for an appointment at 513-695-1468.

The Kings Local School District is still seeking members to join our team! The following positions are ready to fill!

• Before and After School Childcare
• Substitute Teachers and Building Subs
• Substitute Nurses
• Bus Drivers & Bus Subs
• Food Service Substitutes

If you are interested or know someone who may be interested, please contact Tim Spinner at tspinner@kingslocal.net.

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 Board's Regular Meeting for August has changed to Monday, August 28, 2023.

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.

Our Kings Spiritwear Committee is hosting a Districtwide Back-to-School t-shirt sale!

The new design will be available at our school building's back-to-school events. There are limited quantities available. It's a perfect shirt for showing your Kings spirit!

If you miss your chance, you can always 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!

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!

Purchase your 2023-2024 season passes online for all HOME (non-tournament) Jr High and HS events. You can purchase a family all-sport passes, an adult all-sports pass, a student/senior citizen all-sports pass, and 10 game pass. 

The ECC Conference has increased admission fees for games this year. All High School Games are $10 for football games (adults and students), $8 for all other sports for adults, and $5 for students and seniors. JH admission is $5 for football (adults and students), $5 for all other sports for adults, and $2 for other sports for students and seniors. What a great reason to purchase a season pass! Pricing is below. Season passes can be purchased- https://kingsathletics.com/event-tickets

We also encourage you to visit www.kingsathletics.com to see the latest updates for Knights Athletics and see team schedules.