Well that sure was an interesting week…

1. After a week of wacky winter weather, it sure would be nice if Spring would hurry up and arrive.  This past week featured a snow day, a 2-hour delay, and an early dismissal… a trifecta of inclement weather situations!  HUGE compliments go out to the students, staff, and families of KCS for keeping a focus on teaching and learning during such a crazy week.  It’s always dangerous when you start complimenting specific groups, because you often unintentionally leave someone out,  but we also have to mention…
2. What a terrific job by the KCS Transportation staff this week!  The drivers, led by Director of Transportation Tommy Starnes, were absolute rock stars this week.  Often facing challenging conditions, their performance was exemplary and displayed a tremendous amount of cooperation, flexibility, teamwork, and skill.
3. The KCS Maintenance and Custodial Staff continued to shine.  As winter weather consistently threw challenges toward our facilities, the KCS staff worked long hours to clear, prep, and ensure students and staff had the best environment to teach and learn.  These are unsung heroes that keep our facilities in tip-top shape, and we thank them for their tremendous efforts!
4. Did your child eat two meals at school on Friday?  It may not immediately pop to mind, but unusual weather and schedule changes can wreak havoc on the School Nutrition Services staff that works so hard to prep and serve two meals a day to thousands of KCS students.  Our staff rolled with the punches and made sure that every child that needed a healthy meal was able to receive one, with a fantastic level of professionalism and skill.  Thank you to our SNS workers!
5. Online TNReady and TCAP assessments were also part of this unusual week.  Due to technical issues on Monday at Measurement, Inc. (the company tasked with implementing the Tennessee Department of Education’s online student assessments this year), all online testing for 2016 that was underway was halted and will now be replaced by paper/pencil assessments.  KCS students had not yet started testing when the issues occurred, though students, teachers, and staff had done great work to be prepared (both educationally and technically) for this year’s tests.  They will now have a chance to show off all that great learning with pencil in hand, when the new testing window opens in late February.  KCS will distribute final revised testing dates in the coming days.
6. One final weather-related item of business, regarding the KCS Junior Band and Orchestra Clinics.  Due to the inclement weather on Friday, 2/12/16, both the Band and Orchestra Junior Clinics were postponed.  They will now take place on Friday, February 19 and Saturday, February 20.