KPS News

Dear KPS Staff and Families:

I wanted to provide you an update on the mask mandate. At the May 4 Board of Education meeting, I recommended that on Monday, May 9, KPS masks will be optional at KPS outdoor spaces. This includes activities such as outdoor classes, recess, etc.

I further recommended that masks will be optional at KPS indoor locations starting Monday, May 30. This recommendation was approved by the Board.

For our mothers, grandmothers, and other special family members of our students, Happy Mother’s Day.

Sincerely,

Dr. Rita Raichoudhuri

Superintendent

Kalamazoo Public Schools celebrated the passage of a $197.1 million bond proposal on Tuesday. The bond, the largest in KPS history, passed by a huge margin of 71 percent yes voters vs. 29 percent no voters.

The bond will help ensure the district has the resources necessary to provide our children with safe and healthy learning environments and that they have access to the technological tools they need to be competitive in the 21st century.

Thank you to everyone in the district for their support and help in ensuring the passage of this essential proposal. KPS students are lucky to have a community that consistently demonstrates its belief in their potential to learn and grow. Please share our thanks with your family and friends.

The El Sol staff celebrates the passage of the bond, which will fund the building of a new school!

On Monday, Dr. Rhonda Marcum presented Phoenix High School Principal Mark Hill with the Michigan Alternative Education Organization's Outstanding Program of the Year award for the school's popular HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) Fair, which attracted more than 400 guests in March.

Hill thanked and honored his Phoenix Student Ambassadors for their work helping set up and greet guests during the event. He also thanked math teacher MIchelle Wilson-Banks, office aide and homeless liaison Renita Ellis, and coach Talisha Bridges-Newson for their support of the event.

Wishing the best of luck to the Kalamazoo Central Mock Trial team, which will be competing as an alternate in the National Mock Trial contest being hosted remotely in Kalamazoo this weekend. Team members are: Maya Alkema, Annalise Alkema, Sheldon Chambliss, Nate Evans, Lillian Mielke, Katherine Risley, and Ian Webster.

This year's fictional case is a civil case of negligence. The deceased plaintiff was in a crosswalk when she was struck by an autonomous test taxi vehicle. Was this accident ultimately the result of corporate mismanagement? Unreasonable engineering decisions? The safety driver's inappropriate cell phone use? Perhaps it was caused by the pedestrian's distraction along with her lack of care and attention?

From today through May 7, the Michigan Center for Civic Education will virtually host the champion teams from each state and the territories at the 2022 National High School Mock Trial Championship. A winner will be announced on May 7.

Members of the Young Educators Society at Maple Street Magnet School for the Arts visited Woods Lake Elementary last week to help lead lessons. These future educators got great hands-on experience - and the even younger students got to see see some cool, big kids demonstrating their leadership skills. A win for everyone.

Join art teachers Jamie McKinney and Kellen Deau at Art Hop tonight, May 6.

Indian Prairie's McKinney will showcase her paintings at Pedal Bike, 611 W Michigan Ave. The exhibition is part of Pedal's celebration of Kalamazoo Bike Week and honors artists who contribute to the cycling community. Works will include acrylic, printmaking, watercolor and sculpture. Reception 6-8 p.m .

Deau's CTE Art & Design student will be the stars of the first Art Hop in the new Kalamazoo Promise offices, 180 E. Water St. The woodblock prints on display were created with an Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo Kalamazoo Artistic Development Initiative grant, which allowed students to work with guest artist Charles Coates. Deau teaches out of Kalamazoo Central High School. The reception is 5-8 p.m.

The Art Department is holding its second annual Bronson Park Outdoor Art Show May 20-29 in downtown Kalamazoo. An opening celebration will be 2-4 p.m. Sunday, May 22. The event will include face painting, free books, and food trucks.

Email: communications@kalamazoopublicschools.net
Website: https://www.kalamazoopublicschools.com/
Location: 1220 Howard St., Kalamazoo, MI, 49008
Phone: (269) 337-0100
Facebook: Facebook.com/KalamazooPublicSchools
Twitter: @KPSschools