Mary M. Knight School District

🎣 Exciting News from MMK! 🎣 School districts have the option to order local food through commodities for just a small processing fee — and we jumped at the chance! Mary M. Knight School District secured an entire box of Coho Salmon for only $7.29! 🐟 Thanks to this opportunity, our students got to try Iraqi Five Spiced Salmon, made with salmon sourced from Muckleshoot Seafood Products, proudly owned by the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe. Showcasing our region’s naturally resourced ingredients has become one of our favorite ways to treat our students — and celebrate local culture! 🌿 ✨ Ask your student what they thought of the dish — we love hearing their feedback! #LocalFood #FarmToSchool #MMKMeals #SupportLocal #MuckleshootSeafood

📚🍎 Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! 🍎📚 This week, from May 5–9, 2025, we celebrate the incredible educators who shape our future. National Teacher Day falls on Tuesday, May 6. Let's take this opportunity to express our gratitude to the teachers who inspire, guide, and empower us every day. Let's come together to honor and support our teachers—not just this week, but every day. 💖 #TeacherAppreciationWeek #ThankATeacher #NEA #SupportEducators

📣 Blanket Fundraiser Extended! 🛏️ The MMK PTO blanket fundraiser has been extended to May 23rd! Come check out the full-size sample on display at the school to see just how cozy and high-quality these blankets are. 🛍️ Purchase yours here: https://fundraise.team/products/mary-m-knight-pto?variant=44297994109104 🗓️ Blankets are expected to arrive around May 30th and will be available for pick-up at the school. All proceeds go to support our Parent Teacher Organization and the amazing work they do for our students and staff. Thank you for your continued support! 💙 #MMKPTO #Fundraiser #SupportOurSchool

MMK construction students proudly set the first beam across the new pergola they are building next to the district office. These hard-working owls are making great things happen on our campus.

🦸‍♂ It’s School Lunch Hero Day! 🦸‍♀ Today we celebrate the everyday superheroes behind the lunch lines—our amazing school nutrition professionals! 💪🍎 From serving up healthy meals with a smile to making sure every child is nourished and cared for, these incredible individuals make a HUGE impact on our students' lives every single day. 💛👩‍🍳👨‍🍳 Let’s give a big THANK YOU to our school lunch heroes! Drop a ❤️ or a 🙌 in the comments to show your appreciation! #SchoolLunchHeroDay #ThankYouLunchHeroes #EverydayHeroes

☀️❄️ Heads up, MMK families! Mary M. Knight School District will have school on Monday, May 5th to make up for a snow day. We’re looking forward to seeing all our students there! 💙📚

Our Elementary Owls Soared to Success! We're thrilled to share that our elementary students have earned their special reward through our Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program! For the past two weeks, our young Owls have been working diligently toward their goals of reducing office referrals, improving attendance rates, and meeting their i-Ready learning time targets. Their hard work paid off today as they enjoyed extra recess time and special treats while soaking up the beautiful sunshine. It was wonderful to see our students celebrating together and enjoying the rewards of their collective efforts. The PBIS program continues to encourage positive behavior and academic engagement throughout Mary M. Knight, and we couldn't be prouder of how our elementary students rose to meet their challenges. Congratulations to all our elementary Owls! Your dedication to positive behavior and learning shows what makes our MMK community so special. #MMKPride #OwlsSuccess #PBISWorks

📢 Have you been patiently waiting for details about Summer-EBT (S-EBT/SUN Bucks)? The wait is over! ✅ Information is now available through: 🔹 OSPI: Summer EBT FAQ (PDF) 🔹 DSHS: www.dshs.wa.gov/sunbucks 📞 For questions, call the SUN Bucks Contact Center at 833-543-3230 (TTY: 800-833-6348), Monday–Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (excluding holidays). Please share with anyone who might benefit! ☀️🥪

📢 FREE Immunizations for Kids! 🩺💉 The Shelton YMCA is hosting a No-Cost Immunization Clinic for children ages 6 months to 18 years! 📅 Date: Thursday, May 2nd 🕛 Time: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM 📍 Location: Shelton YMCA ✅ No cost to families ✅ Pre-registration recommended to save time ✅ Protect your child’s health and stay up to date on school-required vaccines! Spread the word and help keep our community safe and healthy! 💪

🎪 Old Timer's Fair is THIS weekend! 🎡 We hope to see you out there enjoying the fun! 🎉 Be sure to stop by and check out all the amazing things our ASB booths are selling — you won’t want to miss it! 🍭🛍️🎈

🎉 With all the excitement happening around OTF this weekend, we didn’t want you to miss out on Mary M. Knight’s monthly newsletter! 📬 Get the latest updates, events, and school highlights—available now on our website: 👉 https://www.marymknight.com/page/monthly-newsletters Take a peek before the weekend kicks off! 💚🤍 #MMKNews #StayInTheKnow

🎡 Reminder for Mary M. Knight Families! 🎠 This Friday, May 2, is a half day to kick off the start of Old Timer's Fair weekend! 🎪 🕧 Students will be dismissed at 12:25 PM. Wishing everyone a fun-filled weekend — we hope to see you at OTF! 🍿🎉

🎉 2nd Semester Pickleball Champions! 🏆 We’re so proud to announce our winners for this semester’s pickleball tournament! 🥇 7th Grade Winners: Madilyn Horn & Kheiron Sjolie 🥇 8th Grade Winners: Peyton Hughes & Madi Cook Way to go, everyone! Your hard work, teamwork, and sportsmanship were amazing to see on the court. 👏🏓 #PickleballChamps #StudentAthletes #MiddleSchoolPride

🌟 CELEBRATING OUR STAFF: TEAM MARVEL TAKES THE WIN! 🌟 Today, we wrapped up our Staff Appreciation Week with tons of excitement as Team Marvel soared to victory in our superhero-themed assembly! Our wonderful staff joined in various fun challenges, such as the "Infinity Gauntlet Grab" and "Thor's Hammer Lift." They showed everyone that teachers can unleash their fun side too! This special week was dedicated to honoring the true superheroes of Mary M. Knight—our fantastic staff. They are the ones who teach, support, transport, nourish, and care for our students every single day. The photo captures so much joy—big smiles, Hulk hands, and all the superhero spirit! We feel truly blessed to have such a devoted team of professionals who consistently go the extra mile for our beloved MMK Owls. Let's come together and express our gratitude to ALL our staff members for their remarkable efforts throughout the year. Their commitment to our students' success is nothing short of heroic! #MMKRealHeroes #StaffAppreciation #TeamMarvel

🚌 TRANSPORTATION HEROES: The First & Last Heroes Students See Each Day! 🦸‍♀️ Our amazing bus drivers don't just transport students - they protect, encourage, and inspire them every day! These caped crusaders brave all weather conditions, maintain perfect safety records, and still have the energy to greet each student with a smile at the start and end of their day. From early morning routes to afternoon journeys home, our Transportation Heroes ensure MMK students arrive safely and on time, ready to learn and grow. Thank you to our incredible transportation team for embracing our Staff Appreciation Week superhero theme and for being real-life heroes to our students year-round! #MMKRealHeroes #TransportationHeroes #StaffAppreciationWeek Love seeing them in superhero attire! Those masks and capes show they've fully embraced the spirit of the week! 💛💜

🚌 HEROES WHO FUEL AND TRANSPORT OUR FUTURE! 🍎 Today at Mary M. Knight, we celebrate our incredible Nourishment & Navigation Squad - the transportation and food service heroes who make education possible every day! Meet Our Transportation Superheroes: These amazing drivers ensure our students arrive safely to school each day, navigating rural roads in all weather conditions: Mrs. Rothrock has been safely transporting MMK students for 16+ years! As she says, "I'm the first person to greet each of the kids who get on my bus each day, and the last to tell them to have a great day." With Wonder Woman's honesty and a utility belt stocked with "candy/food and a smile," she creates a safe, positive start and end to each student's day. Ms. Gerou has dedicated her "entire lifetime" to transportation, serving MMK for 17 years! She chose "Wonder Woman or simply being Myself" as her superhero identity because of her "integrity and courage." Students describe her as the "Best Driver Ever!" and she loves "everything that I do for our district, students, co-workers, staff, and community." Mr. Lane, our Transportation Director, embodies multiple superheroes because his job requires "Hulk's strength, Flash's speed, Batman's preparedness, and Professor X's mind-reading abilities!" His superpower? "Staying calm under pressure and solving problems on the fly." He takes pride in helping implement one of the first electric school bus fleets in Washington State! Ms. Ralph brings her enthusiasm and commitment to our transportation team, ensuring our students arrive safely each day with a smile and positive attitude. Her dedication to student safety makes her an essential member of our Navigation Squad! Ms. Thompson provides reliable transportation for our students, creating a welcoming environment on her bus and building meaningful connections with students along her route. Her consistent care helps students start and end their school days on a positive note. Mr. Bailey combines dependability with a friendly demeanor to transport our students safely through all weather conditions. His steady presence and dedication to safety make him a valued member of our transportation team. Ms. Hart brings warmth and reliability to her role in our transportation department, creating a positive bus environment where students feel welcomed and secure. Her dedication ensures our students arrive ready to learn each day. Meet Our Food Service Superheroes: These culinary heroes ensure our students have the nutrition they need to learn and grow: Ms. Lofgren has been our Head Cook for an incredible 19 years! She stays at MMK because of "the kids" and approaches each day with dedication to providing nutritious meals that fuel learning. Ms. Freeman brings Professor X's leadership to her food service role, with adaptability as her superpower. She loves "seeing the excitement on students' faces when we introduce something fun and unique in the food service department" and finds joy in "helping people learn and grow in ways that truly impact their lives." Mrs. Oien has served in our food service department with dedication and care, ensuring our students receive nutritious meals that power their learning throughout the day. Her warm presence and attention to detail make her an essential part of our Nourishment Squad. Ms. Wertz brings creativity and enthusiasm to our food service team, preparing meals with care and ensuring our students have the energy they need for academic success. Her positive attitude and dedication to nutrition make her a valued member of our food service heroes. Why These Heroes Matter: Our bus drivers navigate miles daily across rural routes They're the first and last school employees students see each day Our food service team prepares nutritious meals daily They accommodate dietary needs while keeping meals kid-friendly These teams work in all weather conditions, often arriving earliest and staying latest Today, our students are creating special thank you notes for these essential heroes, and our staff lounges have been stocked with a "Hero's Feast" of special treats to honor their contributions. We invite our MMK families to join us in celebrating these behind-the-scenes heroes who fuel bodies and safely transport minds! Without them, education simply couldn't happen. #MMKRealHeroes #NourishmentAndNavigationSquad #StaffAppreciationWeek

💥 COMMAND CENTER HEROES IN ACTION! 💥 KAPOW! When our office, administrative, and maintenance staff transform into superheroes, MMK truly becomes the safest headquarters in the galaxy! Today we celebrate these incredible team members who keep our school running smoothly behind the scenes. With their powers of organization, problem-solving, and maintaining our facilities, these Command Center Heroes make education possible every day! From managing essential communications to ensuring our building systems function perfectly, these masked crusaders deserve all our appreciation. Their superpowers might not be visible to the naked eye, but their impact is felt throughout MMK! Thank you to our amazing Command Center crew for embracing the superhero spirit and for everything you do for our students and staff! #MMKRealHeroes #CommandCenterHeroes #StaffAppreciationWeek Who knew our administrative team had such superhero potential hiding beneath their everyday identities? 😊

🏢 COMMAND CENTER HEROES: The Operational Masterminds of MMK! 🛠️ Every superhero team needs a headquarters - a central command where missions are coordinated, communications are managed, and facilities are maintained. Today at Mary M. Knight, we're celebrating our administrative, custodial, and maintenance team members who make our "headquarters" function flawlessly each day! Meet Our Command Center Heroes: Mrs. Barbe Beste - K-12 Secretary (21 Years of Service!) Like the Green Lantern, Mrs. Beste uses her powers of organization and problem-solving to keep our secondary operations running smoothly. Her superpower? "Being supportive and helping people find the light." Known for being caring and an amazing multi-tasker, she always keeps a large supply of Coke Cola handy to fuel her heroic efforts! Students and staff alike benefit from her ability to handle multiple challenges simultaneously while maintaining her supportive spirit. Ms. Tiara McCartney - Elementary Secretary With Wonder Woman's compassion and strength, Ms. McCartney creates the warm, welcoming environment that greets our elementary students each day. Her superpower is "The Power of Compassion," which she uses to help students navigate their school day. In just one year at MMK, she's already made a tremendous impact, citing "making a positive impact and connection with the students" as her favorite part of the job. Mrs. Shantell Freeman - Executive Assistant & Food Service Manager Mrs. Freeman brings Professor X-level leadership to her dual roles at MMK. With her superpower of adaptability, she ensures both district operations and student nutrition run efficiently. She finds joy in "seeing the excitement on students' faces when we introduce something fun and unique in the food service department" and uses her organizational talents to support our entire school community. Mrs. Laurie Seymour - Business Manager With the resourcefulness of Catwoman, Mrs. Seymour has managed our district finances for over 5 years (with 18 years in education). Her superpower? "Most of the time I can find the positive side of things." Known for being efficient and consistent, she works behind the scenes to ensure our district's financial health, enabling all our educational programs to thrive. Mr. Scott Dewey - Maintenance/Custodial/Safety Channeling Aquaman's powers for 8 years at MMK, Mr. Dewey dedicates himself to "listening and caring for others" while maintaining our school facilities. Students describe him as caring, honest, and funny, and he always carries "hugs, snacks, and jokes" in his utility belt. When not ensuring our school is safe and well-maintained, he's been working on his stand-up comedy routine! Mr. Ron Larson - Custodial Staff For three years, Mr. Larson has kept our campus "clean and presentable for staff and students" with Spider-Man's dedication. His greatest superpower is "the ability to listen," and students know him as "on time, motivated, and friendly." One of his favorite memories? "Standing out in the field and waiting for the drone to take a picture of our campus" - a true behind-the-scenes hero capturing our school at its best. Mr. Ron Schmitz - Maintenance With Underdog's problem-solving abilities, Mr. Schmitz has been "keeping things running and working" at MMK for 7 years. His superpower? "Coming up with solutions to problems" that keep our school facilities in top shape. Students describe him as "old, knowledgeable, and friendly," and he always keeps a knife, screwdriver, and fresh ideas in his utility belt. Fun fact: he likes old cars! Why Command Center Heroes Matter: While our teachers and para-educators work directly with students, our Command Center Heroes create the foundation that makes education possible by: Creating a welcoming first impression for students, families and visitors Managing essential communications and paperwork Ensuring district finances are handled properly Maintaining clean, safe, and functional facilities Making repairs and solving maintenance problems quickly Creating an environment where teaching and learning can thrive Today's Celebration: As part of our Staff Appreciation Week, students are creating special thank you cards for our Command Center Heroes, and we've provided themed treats in our staff lounges including "Top Secret File" cream-filled donuts, "Power Button" sprinkled donuts, a "Command Center Coffee Station," and "Administrative Ambrosia" fresh fruit to fuel our office superheroes! We invite our MMK families to join us in recognizing these behind-the-scenes heroes! Consider sending a quick email or note of thanks to these incredible staff members who do so much to support our school community. #MMKRealHeroes #CommandCenterHeroes #StaffAppreciationWeek

💥 SUPER SUPPORT SQUAD: The REAL MVPs of MMK! 💥 Holy helper heroes, Batman! Have you seen these SUPER HUMANS in the halls of Mary M. Knight? They're faster than a speeding paper jam, more powerful than a challenging math problem, and able to leap tall curriculum obstacles in a single bound! That's right, folks - it's our PARA-EDUCATOR SUPER SQUAD, sporting their superhero masks and ready to save the educational day! 🦸‍♀️🦸‍♂️ While they may look like ordinary citizens in disguise, don't be fooled! These educational avengers possess extraordinary powers: The ability to calm a frustrated student with a single reassuring word X-ray vision that spots when a child needs help before they even raise their hand Super-patience that would make even Batman jealous The uncanny power to be in seemingly three places at once "Aha-moment" vision that helps students see solutions they couldn't before When our OWLS need a hero, these cape-less crusaders swoop in! From one-on-one reading support to small group math missions, from lunchroom logistics to playground patrol - our para squad ensures no student is left behind! As one para hero put it: "Being the voice for those who cannot speak for themselves" is their greatest superpower. Another describes their special ability as "building great rapport with students" - clearly, relationship-building radiation exposure during their origin stories! This week, we're celebrating these educational superheroes who make Mary M. Knight the amazing school it is! So if you see a para-educator in the halls, remember: they may look like regular humans, but they're actually saving educational worlds one student at a time! #MMKRealHeroes #SupportSquadSpotlight #ParaPower #ThankAPara