Visitors take in a house meeting

Auction / Talent Show Brings in $5500. Thanks King Families!

Popular Links Daily announcements King PTO Portland Schools calendar New health clinic policy Report an absence Update your contact info After school HW support

Students and staff host National Site Seminar at King May 9
Read comments from seminar participants

More than 75 educators from 14 states were welcomed by students and staff this week for King's 11th National Site Seminar. The seminar was sponsored by Expeditionary Learning Schools and gave educators from around the country a chance to find out what makes King a great place to learn and work.

Read what participants had to say about King.

Join us for King's Celebration of Learning at Portland Expo on Thursday May 8th May 2

King students and teachers will be showcasing work from the entire school year for members of the community to view from 9 am - 2 pm at the Expo building. Student guides will be on hand to give explanations about their work and other aspects of school life at King. We hope all of our families will be able to visit that day.

And They're Off!
King Students are On Expedition April 10

With the March assessments out of the way and the weather warming, our students have kicked-off nine learning expeditions in each grade and ELL. To get an overview of what's happening around the building-- and in the field-- visit On Expedition.

Student Views of the Expedition: River to the Sea on the web in multimedia
March 19

River to the Sea was the fall expedition for Windsor 7. We explored the health of the Fore River ecosystem, which flows from Capisic Pond, through Stroudwater Marsh, and finally drains into the Casco Bay at Portland's commercial waterfront. Learn all about it here.

Student Views of the Expedition: Takin' Care of Business on the web in multimedia March12

Taking Care of Business is a learning expedition for students in York 6.  We learned about what it takes to run a small business, we created our own businesses, and tested our ideas in a business carnival for fellow-students and families. Learn all about it here.

PTO meeting the second Tuesday of every month March10

All are invited to our Parent Teacher Organization meeting on Tuesday, March 11. The agenda for the evening will be focused on upcoming fundraising events for King.

For more information about the PTO, or to sign up for the PTO mailing list, visit the PTO weblog.

Student Views of the Expedition Windsor 6 All Stars on the web in multimedia March 4

During the course of expeditions, each house has a web crew that documents the learning along the way. See the work of the Windsor 6 team for the expedition Windsor 6 All Stars.

Portland Music Festival choral concert Thursday evening at Deering High School Feb 27

King's chorus will be joining with singers from around the district for our annual Portland Music Festival. The concert is this Thursday, Feb 28, at Deering High School at 6:30 pm.

Wishing all of our families a safe and happy winter break! Feb 25

School resumes on Monday, February 25th, 2008.

PTO meeting Tuesday evening at 7 pm Feb 11

A group of parents is embarking on an effort to create a PTO to support King Middle School. The group will be having a meeting at King on Tuesday, February 12, at 7 pm.

Stay in touch with the work of the PTO or sign up to join the mailing list at kingpto.wordpress.com. Permanent links to the PTO can now be found in the right column of King's homepage, as well as in the Community Connection section of our web site.

Food donations requested for this Friday's Dance

Proceeds from the Feb 9 dance support the English Language Learning classrooms

Donations are needed for the King Middle School Valentine's Day Dance, which will be held this Friday, February 9, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The school is seeking donations of snacks or canned drinks to be sold as part of a fundraiser during the dance. All proceeds from the dance and food sale will benefit King's ELL classrooms. Parents or community members who wish to contribute can contact ELL Teacher Catherine Paul at paulc@portlandschools.org.

All KMS students are welcome at the dance. Advance tickets are available on the first and second floors before homeroom. The price is $3 per student. No tickets will be sold at the door.

Progress reports distributed to all students this week Jan 31

Parents are reminded that all students have been issued midterm progress reports this week. Please review your child's report with your child, sign the report, and have your child return it to his or her homeroom teacher as soon as possible.

For more information, contact your child's house chair.

New semester begins this week for students in 7th and 8th grade Jan 25

Although King is on a trimester schedule for grades, students in the 7th and 8th grade switch classes this week at the midpoint of the academic year. Courses change as follows:

The sixth grade schedule remains unchanged until the trimester ends later in the winter.

For a complete look at our schedule and school design see Vertical Housing and Program Design.

Students readying to take the stage Thursday evening for Around the World in 80 Minutes Jan 22

Over 60 King students, whose heritage spans six continents, will be performing songs, dances, and stories from their native cultures at King's annual multicultural celebration, Around the World in 80 Minutes. Some featured performances will include Congolese drumming and dancing, Brazilian capoeira, Korean taekwondo, and British pop music.

All are welcome at the evening performance on Thursday, January 24 at 6:30 pm. Tickets are $3.

Student wins second straight King geography bee Jan 21

Kate Suslovic of Windsor 7 won the school geography bee for the second year in a row. Paley Burlin of York 8 came in second. Kate will now attempt to qualify for the state bee. More...

Snow adding days to the end of school year Jan 15

The snow day on Monday, our fourth for the year, has moved the finish day for students into the third week of June. Students are now scheduled to end their school year on Monday, June 15.

Keep track of the official calendar for Portland Public Schools on our front page under Popular Links.

Busy days... Jan 10

Teams around the building finalizing work for expeditions

While the students and teachers of Windsor 7 are taking a breather after their culminating event at City Hall this week, half of the school is still racing to get products finished for approaching expedition culminations.

Warming Waters, the York 7 expedition, will have its culminating event at King on Thursday, January 17th, starting at 9 am. WIndsor 8 are planning their culminating event for Truth or Consequences on the next day at King. And York 8 are making plans to hold their culminating event at the Maine College of Art during the last week in January.

As always, families and the public are encouraged to attend.

Windsor 7 heads to City Hall to present findings on Fore River Jan 4

Join the River to the Sea culmination in the City Council Chambers on Wednesday, January 9 at 10 am.

Windsor 7 students will be presenting their data on the health of the Fore River ecosystem to the Mayor of Portland, members of the school committee, researchers from the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, and other city officials at the culminating event for River to the Sea, to be held in the City Council Chambers at City Hall on January 9th at 10 am. The public is invited.

Wishing All of our Families Safe and Happy Holidays 12/21/07

School resumes on Wednesday, January 2nd, 2008.

Culminate, Culminate, Culminate 12/19/07

It's the end of the calendar year, and just like at home, many houses are busy at King wrapping up projects and expeditions.

Please celebrate the season and our community by joining us at the King Middle School holiday concert, this Monday at 6 pm in the cafetorium.

Community members invited to participate in forums about the future of King and Portland Schools Nov 28

Several public forums have been scheduled by Portland Public Schools to lay the groundwork for budget deliberations. These forums will be held in December and January at PATHS, in advance of a city budget referendum on April 8. The public is encouraged to attend. Complete information is available here.

Additionally, the Portland Education Partnership, and Building Bridges, a community-based education development organization, are sponsoring a forum on Expeditionary Learning to be held on Thursday, November 29 at 7 p.m. at East End Community School. The Interim Superintendent, staff from King Middle School, Casco Bay High School and the East End Community School, as well as Expeditionary Learning staff will be in attendance to present information and answer questions. Complete information is available here.

Student-led conferences this week and next Nov 13

All King students and parents will be sharing student work at our fall student-led conferences that begin before the Thanksgiving break. Please make sure that you and your child know your appointment time. If you have any questions or need to reschedule the conference, please contact your child's homeroom teacher.

7th and 8th grade students have opportunity to take home laptops

Parent meetings set for November 13th and 14th at 6:30 PM at King Nov 6

A much-anticipated moment for students will start in December, as 7th and 8th grade students will have the privilege to take home their laptop computers. We feel that the laptops can be used to enhance student work after they leave school. Before the laptops can be brought home the parents are asked to attend a meeting where school staff will explain the policies involved in the program and answer questions about laptop take home. Students cannot bring home their computers home until parents have attended a meeting or have met with the school technology teachers and sign paperwork.

At the meeting parents will have 3 options to consider:
1. Purchasing insurance ($25 for 1 child $40 for more than 1 child)
2. Covering damage out of pocket
3. Choosing not to participate in the take home program
Insurance can be purchased and paperwork can be signed at the meetings.

If parents can not attend the 2 scheduled meetings they can meet with the school technology teachers in room 208 during parent conferences to sign paperwork and purchase insurance.

Windsor 8 students discuss the media's coverage of King's Health Clinic with Portland Press Herald columnist Bill Nemitz and principal Mike McCarthy.

In a panel discussion with principal Mike McCarthy, and Portland Press columnist Bill Nemitz, students in Windsor 8 were given the chance to ask questions about changes at the health clinic, and how the media reports, and sometimes distorts, the truth.

The conversation became the source of Mr. Nemitz column in the Saturday edition of the Press Herald. Read the whole story here.

Letter to King families from Principal Mike McCarthy explains new Health Clinic policy at school Oct 19

As most families at King are aware, recent changes at the King Health Center, changes that provide equal services to students who rely on the clinic as their primary care facility, have become the focus of local and national media.

In the attached letter, Mr. McCarthy clarifies the changes at the clinic.

King parent meeting scheduled for Thursday, October 18, to explore the development of a King PTO Oct 12

Parents are invited to join King staff for a meeting on Thursday from 6:30 - 8:00 pm in our cafeteria to explore how the development of a formal parent organization can support learning for all students at King.

The schedule for the evening includes an overview of the school's history, mission and development; a collaborative discussion about how a parent organization can help King in its mission; and time for organizing next steps.

This is the first meeting. All parents are welcome. Please direct questions and inquiries about the event via our weblog.

In a Climate of Shrinking Budgets and Growing Student Enrollment, King Makes Development Plans

Finding Ways to Deliver Great Learning Expeditions and Maintain a Resource Rich Environment September 25

In spite of budget decreases, enrollment growth, and increasing costs passed down by the district, King is moving ahead with programs and expedition plans that include the essential components of our expeditionary learning model: integrated off-site fieldwork, collaboration with experts in the field and at school, student access to contemporary production resources and professional tools, and a commitment for all students to produce and publish high-quality products in a variety of media.

The school is considering a variety of strategies to meet program costs for the year. For an overview of King's budget reductions, and to see how community members can help, please read the letter from Mike McCarthy. Your comments and suggestions are also welcome via our weblog.

King Houses Are On Expedition Sept. 28

With beginning of the year business out of the way, King houses have begun a series of 7 learning expeditions in each grade and ESL. To get an overview of what's happening around the building, visit On Expedition.

After School Supervised Homework Support Available Through Portland West September 21

King students can receive daily supervised homework support through Portland West's Community Learning program. The service is free. In addition to academic support, Portland West provides snacks, arts and crafts, games, and field trips.

The hours of the program are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 3 - 5 pm; and Wednesday from 2 - 4 pm. Portland West is located at 181 Brackett St, across the street from the basket ball courts at Reiche School.

The program is open to all students in grades 3 - 8. For more information call Amy at 775-0105, ext. 173.

Open House this Wednesday; 7th Grade Camp Kieve Trip on the Agenda September 17

Please join us at King Middle School for our beginning of the year Open House on Wednesday from 6:30 - 8:00 pm.

A representative from the Camp Kieve Leadership School will be at King to provide information about the upcoming 7th grade program and answer questions.

7th Grade Parents Please Note: All Camp Kieve paperwork is due on September 27th.

Beginning of the Year Information

• Please Update Your Contact Information:
  If you are a returning King family with new contact information, please send an email with changes to Laura Mannette at mannel@portlandschools.org, or call 874-8140.
• New Portland Schools Bus Policy:
  Bus services are limited to students living 2 miles or further from school. Stroudwater and Casco Bay Lines services available only. For more info call 874-8240.
• If Your Child Will Be Absent:
  Please send an email to Caroline Dhams, dahmsc@portlandschools.org, or call 874-8140.
• Early Release Starts in October
  As was the case last year, students will be dismissed at 1:25 on Wednesdays, beginning on the first Wednesday in October.
• Drop Off and Pick Up Safely
  The school traffic circle is for buses only during drop off and pick up times. Be sure to observe the 15 MPH speed limit to avoid tickets in excess of $200.
• Fall Sports Schedules Available
  Download sports schedules and find directions to games, as well as a list of student clubs and activities, in Student Life.

Mark Your Calendar for Opening Events and Important Dates

King Staff Ready for New Year and New Students August 20

Nearly all faculty were in attendance August 15 - 17 for King's annual Summer Institute. New expeditions were planned, old expeditions were retooled, and teachers made plans to welcome students in September.

To learn more about our expeditions, see On Expedition and follow the links.

News Highlights from Last Semester

Learn about King's Banner; Meet the Artists Feb 12

Click here for the whole story.

8th Graders Present Showcase Portfolios June 8

In an annual rite of passage, King eighth graders celebrated their accomplishments by presenting their showcase portfolios to panels of students, teachers and visitors. The eighth graders led their audiences through a reflection on their respective strengths and challenges, touching on their most memorable experiences and favorite expeditions. Presenters shared examples of their work, chronicled their growth, and discussed their plans and goals for high school.

Among visitors were Superintendent Mary Jo O'Connor, Assistant Superintendent Jeanne Whynot-Vickers, Susan Steele of the Portland Education Partnership, and Principal Carol Dayn from the East End Community School.

"It struck me as I watched students present their portfolios... their commitment to learning, their expression of personal growth, and a love for their school, what a wonderful gift it was to share all of that." -- Tom Lafavore, Director of Educational Planning for Portland Public Schools

King's Celebration of Learning, May 10th at the Expo May 3

Come one come all to King's annual Celebration of Learning, held at the Portland Expo during the school day on May 10th. More...

King Auction / Talent Show Raises Nearly $3000 for Seventh Grade Retreat May 1

Thanks to the teachers, parents, and community partners for a wonderful evening of performances and fund raising. More...

Students Ready to Take the Stage with Annie Jr. April 4

Nearly one-fifth of King students are participating in this year's spring drama club performance -- Annie Jr. More....

King Middle School Welcomes Visitors for Expeditionary Learning Schools National Conference March 20

More than 750 visiting educators will be in Portland for the four day conference. King teachers will be attending and presenting master classes... More...

New Student Pages Section Gives Students a Chance to Publish their Work

The King website has hundreds of examples of student work from expeditions. A lot of great work done by students, however, isn't part of any expedition product, and hasn't found a place to live on the site. Now that has changed.

To learn how you can create your own pages and publish your original songs, art, poetry, etc., visit Student Pages.