Extra, Extra Prep

We are excited to offer our final extra hour of prep this school year! Extra, Extra Prep will be available the week of May 18-22. We hope this will help you complete all your EOY tasks.

If you won “extra prep” as your casino prize, you may sign up for 2 hours of extra, extra prep!

Please note:

       ·        This is for salary staff, however, if an hourly staff needs additional time, please see your dean.

       ·        We will do our very best to make sure that you get your prep(s), however, if too many people call off on a particular day, we may need to reschedule your extra prep.

If you are a classroom teacher and would like to have an extra hour of prep, please follow the steps below.

     1.    Click HERE by 3:45 on Tuesday, May 12.

     2.    Pick one time slot.

     3.    Prepare lesson plans for a sub. 

Finalized schedule will be emailed Friday, May 15.

We love doing these EXTRA things for you

ABCDE Goal-Attendance

I want to take a moment to celebrate the incredible progress we are making with student attendance. Our MICIP attendance goal is to decrease our total number of student absences by 10% over three years, moving from 8,406 absences in the 2023-24 school year to 7,566 absences or fewer by 2027.

I am excited to share that we are currently exceeding our goal. At this point in the year, we have reduced total absences to 5,674.

This growth is not accidental. It is the result of your consistency, relationship-building, communication with families, and commitment to creating classrooms where students want to be each day. Every phone call, attendance conversation, morning greeting, and effort to engage students matters. However, because this is a three-year goal, it is important that we maintain this progress and continue building on the systems and practices that are helping us succeed.

As we head into the final four weeks of school, we must continue holding families accountable and reinforcing the importance of students being present every day through the end of the school year.

 

ABCDE Goal-Attendance

 

Congratulations to Mrs. Shroff’s class for spelling the word, PRESENT and Ms. Khafagi’s class for spelling the phrase, Show up strong, all year long!

Affirmations

 

Andria and Sally for going above and beyond to make sure I had a winner. Thank you for taking this off my list when I was drowning in deadlines.  

Robyn and Tameka for capturing photos at our after-school dances and allowing our parents to share in these special moments.

Emily for nominating us for a grant. Thank you for spotlighting Keystone and seeking opportunities to bring additional resources to our school community.

Monique for taking the initiative to wash the dishes in the sink. Even though this week is about celebrating staff, you still chose to step up and help where it was needed. That kind of selflessness doesn’t go unnoticed.

Tameka, Monique, Cayla, Kim J., Stefanie, and Kathleen for staying after school to attend the silent dance party. Your presence helped create a joyful experience for our students.

Cindy for submitting all documents to ensure we remain in compliance. Your attention to detail and consistency helps keep everything organized and on track.

Robyn M. for serving as acting principal in my absence. Thank you for keeping everything running smoothly.

Sally for scheduling all the retention meetings for the K-2 hallways. 

This Week

 

Sunday, May 10:

     ·       Amanda’s Birthday

     ·       Mackenzie’s Birthday

     ·       Theresa’s Birthday

Monday, May 11:

     ·       NJHS Induction Ceremony

Tuesday, May 12:

     ·       Staff Meeting

     ·       Staff Meeting Snacks-3^rd Grade

Thursday, May 14:

     ·       8^th Grade Wax Museum

     ·       Morning Assembly Presentation Due (Memorial Day)-Layton

Friday, May 15:

     ·       Social Media Post Due to Jorvonna-8^th Grade

     ·       Payday Breakfast-6^th Grade

Happy Birthday

 

Important Dates

 

May 19: Band Concert @ Bethany Church 6:30 PM

May 19: 8^th Grade Science Fair

May 20: NHA’s Reginal 3^rd & 4^th Grade Spelling Bee

May 21: Morning Assembly Presentation Due (Mental Health Awareness)-F. Higgins  

May 22: Spirit Day and Popcorn $1.00 each

May 25: No School-Memorial Day

May 26: Team PLC

May 26-29: 8^th Grade DC Trip

May 27-29: 6^th Grade Camp

May 28-29: 7^th Grade Mackinaw

May 29: Field Day

May 29: Payday Breakfast-4^TH Grade

May 29: Amy’s Birthday

May 29: Robyn’s Birthday

June 1: Tri 3 School Store

June 2: Tri 3 School Store Reward

June 2: Move Up Day

June 2: Staff Meeting 

June 2: Staff Meeting Snacks-Leadership Team

June 3: Perfect Attendance Rewards

June 3: 8^th Grade Picnic

June 3: All Grades Entered

June 4: Purple Club

June 4: 8^th Grade Promotion

June 5: ½ Day-Dismissal at 11:20 AM

June 5: End of Tri 3-Last Day of School

June 5: Kinder Promotion

June 5: Report Cards Sent Home

June 5: 8^th Grade Clap Out

June 9 Ja’Rayl’s Birthday

June 11: Danielle D’s Birthday

June 12: Ann’s Birthday

June 13: Sandy’s Birthday

June 14: Cayla’s Birthday

June 15: Alex’s Birthday

June 28: Gloria’s Birthday

 

*If you have an event to add or something has been forgotten, please let me know!  

August PD Theme

 

As you know, every year, the leadership team selects a theme for August PD. With your support, we carry this theme throughout the school year for events such as the 12 Days Before Break, Moral Focus bulletin board, Anti-Bullying Month, MOYA, SAW, etc.

Well, in typical Keystone fashion, we thought it would be fun to turn this into a friendly competition. If you correctly guess our next August PD theme, you will win a prize. There will be a HUGE prize if you correctly guess both the theme AND the teambuilding activity that we intentionally aligned to create a cohesive experience. You must be present to win (meaning, we hope you return 😉).

We do NOT repeat themes, so to assist you in making an informed decision and increasing your likelihood of winning, I’ve provided the past seven years’ themes and activities below. Click HERE by Wednesday, May 6 to submit your guess.

Intent to Return

 

Believe it or not, the time has come to think about next school year. I hope you all decide to stay, but I understand that various circumstances may prevent this from occurring. If you are not planning to return to Keystone for the 2026-27 school year, it will be very helpful for us to know now so that we have ample time to find a suitable replacement. Remember, even if you are not planning on returning to Keystone next school year, you will get paid through August 15 and benefits through August 31 as long as you worked until the last day of school.

If you are planning to return, keep in mind that the leadership team hopes to make final teacher placements by the end of May.  Ideally, teachers will be placed in their desired position, but sometimes changes are necessary to best meet the needs of our students.

Please click HERE to complete the form by Wednesday, May 6. If you have any questions or concerns, please speak with me as soon as possible regarding your plans for next year.

ABCDE Goal-Attendance

Congratulations to Ms. Jordan’s class for spelling the word, HERE.

Affirmations

 

Ellen for your organization of the free book fair. You not only coordinated the event but also managed setup, breakdown, and running the fair. I appreciate you handling all communication with our grants consultant, Scholastic, and staff throughout the process. Your efforts helped foster equity and a love of lifelong learning.

Andria, Jane, and Cindy for your support in setting up, running, and breaking down the free book fair. Your teamwork and willingness to step in where needed helped everything run smoothly from start to finish. We truly appreciate your effort and the positive impact you made on the event.

Sally for submitting the master schedule and for the independent work you put in to complete it. Your initiative, attention to detail, and follow-through were a huge relief to leadership, as this is a task that has historically been a challenge each year. Top of Form

Robyn for your leadership and support with all things NWEA and PSAT. Your attention to detail and coordination helped ensure both assessments went smoothly from start to finish.

Tameka for your planning and communication in supporting M-STEP. Your organization helps guarantee the assessment runs efficiently and effectively for both students and staff.

Stacey Reed for finding the information I needed to bring some fun to Keystone.

Stephanie for taking the initiative and ordering chairs for the parent room.

Kathleen for my morning surprise. You put the biggest smile on my face.

Steve, Mark, Robyn, and Diane for staying after school and chaperoning the middle school dance. Thank you for providing our students with these memorable experiences.

Sarah G for attending multiple attendance meetings back-to-back. Thank you for coming prepared and emphasizing the importance of attendance.

This Week

 

Monday, May 4:

     ·      Staff Appreciation Week (May 4-8)

     ·      Staff may wear jeans for SAW

Tuesday, May 5:

    ·      Staff may dress down for SAW

Wednesday, May 6:

    ·      Perfect Attendance Awards

    ·      Staff may dress down for SAW

Thursday, May 6:

     ·      3^rd-5^th Grade Silent Dance Party

     ·      Purple Club

     ·      Staff may dress down for SAW

Friday, May 7:

    ·      Morning Assembly Presentation Due (Asian Pacific Month-What and Why?)-Reaume 

    ·      Staff may wear jeans for SAW

Birthdays

 There is a special gift in the mailboxes of all the people who celebrate their birthdays in 

Important Dates

 

May 10: Amanda’s Birthday

May 10: Mackenzie’s Birthday

May 10: Theresa’s Birthday

May 11: NJHS Induction Ceremony

May 12: Staff Meeting

May 12: Staff Meeting Snacks-3^rd Grade

May 14: 8^th Grade Wax Museum

May 14: Morning Assembly Presentation Due (Memorial Day)-Layton

May 15: Social Media Post Due to Jorvonna-8^th Grade

May 15: Payday Breakfast-6^th Grade

May 19: Band Concert @ Bethany Church 6:30 PM

May 19: 8^th Grade Science Fair

May 20: NHA’s Reginal 3^rd & 4^th Grade Spelling Bee

May 21: Morning Assembly Presentation Due (Mental Health Awareness)-F. Higgins  

May 22: Spirit Day and Popcorn $1.00 each

May 25: No School-Memorial Day

May 26: Team PLC

May 26-29: 8^th Grade DC Trip

May 27-29: 6^th Grade Camp

May 28-29: 7^th Grade Mackinaw

May 29: Field Day

May 29: Payday Breakfast-4^TH Grade

May 29: Amy’s Birthday

May 29: Robyn’s Birthday

June 1: Tri 3 School Store

June 2: Tri 3 School Store Reward

June 2: Move Up Day

June 2: Staff Meeting 

June 2: Staff Meeting Snacks-Leadership Team

June 3: Perfect Attendance Rewards

June 3: 8^th Grade Picnic

June 3: All Grades Entered

June 4: Purple Club

June 4: 8^th Grade Promotion

June 5: ½ Day-Dismissal at 11:20 AM

June 5: End of Tri 3-Last Day of School

June 5: Kinder Promotion

June 5: Report Cards Sent Home

June 5: 8^th Grade Clap Out

June 9 Ja’Rayl’s Birthday

June 11: Danielle D’s Birthday

June 12: Ann’s Birthday

June 13: Sandy’s Birthday

June 14: Cayla’s Birthday

June 15: Alex’s Birthday

June 28: Gloria’s Birthday

 

*If you have an event to add or something has been forgotten, please let me know!  

SAW is Approaching

So many amazing things are awaiting you for Staff Appreciation Week! The items below are just a sneak peek of what’s to come. This glimpse doesn’t even begin to cover everything we have planned for you—there’s even more we can’t wait to surprise you with!

Make sure to sign up using the four links below. All orders must be submitted by Wednesday, April 29 at 12:00 PM (no exceptions).

 

Sweet Winnings🍩 

"Donut” bet against our teachers. Choose two donuts for a delicious treat from the leadership team—click HERE.

High Stakes Gift 🃏 

The leadership team is dealing out the winnings, so you get to select one lanyard you’d like to be dealt—click HERE to claim your prize.

Roll Out to the Parking Lot 🎲 

Get ready to cash in on a sizzling experience because we’re turning up the heat with a Hibachi food truck from our School Board. Place your order HERE.

Café Royale ♠️♦️

It’s time to ante up and treat yourself to Tom’s Coffee Truck. Whether you’re looking to go all in with something bold or keep it smooth with a sweet pick-me-up, you can place your order HERE.

PLEASE NOTE: When ordering from Tom’s Coffee Truck, you’ll place your order and proceed to check out. Then you’ll be prompted to select a pick-up time—please make sure to choose carefully, as your drink will be ready at that exact time. After adding your drink and/or waffle to the cart, you can customize it by selecting “Add Extras/Flavors” beneath each item. To choose your options, simply tap the orange circle next to each flavor or customization you’d like, and it will be applied to your drink.

Chime In Survey

We know how much you all look forward to this opportunity, so as always, if you send your dean a screenshot of your completed employee engagement survey (see image below) and we hit 100% participation by noon on Tuesday, April 28, staff will earn a full week of dress down May 11–15!

P.S. I know it’s no longer Glint, but I don’t have an updated image for Chime In, but you know what I’m looking for. 😊

ABCDE Goals-Attendance

Congratulations to Mrs. Jeng’s class for spelling the word, PRESENT and Mrs. Baker’s class for spelling the word, ATTENDANCE. 

Affirmations

 

Ellen and Andria for taking the time and initiative to create a calm, welcoming, and productive learning environment for students. It makes a real difference when students walk into a space that is ready for them to focus, learn, and feel cared for. Your teamwork and attention to detail are truly appreciated.

Stacey Ramirez for the creativity, time, and care you put into designing all of the SAW graphics and flyers. Your work brings the entire weeklong event to life and helps build excitement across the school. The visuals you create don’t just communicate information—they set the tone, highlight the energy of the event, and make everything feel intentional and engaging. I also truly appreciate your support in helping me with this process along the way.

Stephanie and Ja’Rayl for taking the time to attend the school photography meeting and for your commitment to improving the experience for our families. Your willingness to be involved and provide input helps ensure that we are creating a smoother, more positive process for parents and students alike.

Tameka, Robyn, Sally, and Stacey Reed for your thoughtful planning and creativity in planning an amazing Front Office Appreciation Week. Because of your effort and coordination, we were able to surprise Stephanie and Stacey twice each day with meaningful touches that matched our theme and made the week feel special. I also truly appreciate you giving your time on Friday after school to decorate the front office—your willingness to go above and beyond did not go unnoticed and made a big impact on creating a warm and celebratory week for them.

Yasmeen for your initiative and willingness to step in and help on Friday when you saw the leadership team decorating the front office. Your offer to assist—especially hanging umbrellas—made a real difference. Because of you, we were able to complete everything quicker than anticipated.

Stephanie for taking the time to come into my office and make it a safer space for me. You stepped in to do something that wasn’t part of your job description, but you did it because you cared and saw a need.

Andria and Ellen for recognizing the need beyond your small group and stepping in to support the entire class with whole group instruction. Your ability to assess the bigger picture and respond accordingly shows strong instructional awareness and a deep commitment to student success. Because of your flexibility and proactive approach, more students are receiving the academic support they need.

Stacey Reed, Robyn, Tameka, and Sally for facilitating ½ day PD. Thank you for the amount of time that you put into planning professional development based on the feedback from our staff.

Jen D and Amanda for sharing out at our last staff meeting. Your contributions make our team better.

This Week

Tuesday, April 28:

     ·       Free Book Fair (April 28-30)

     ·       Team PLC Meetings

Friday, May 1:

     ·       Middle School Dance 6 PM

     ·       MTSS/IAT Meetings

     ·       Dress Down & Hat $1.00 each

     ·       Payday Breakfast-Specials