Principal’s Message

Dear KDM Parents,

As the fourth quarter approaches the students and staff are all working diligently to achieve academic excellence and to continue to build a very positive school climate. For our older students the NJ ASK state assessment is just a few weeks away. For our younger students they are working just as hard to finish the year in a very positive manner.   As I visit our classrooms it is very rewarding to see your children working so well with our dedicated faculty to learn as much as possible each day.  There is excitement in the air in every classroom as the students focus upon their lessons and eagerly participate in the class discussion or activity.   However the students always take a moment to say a quick hello or to give a brief wave to their principal.  Being with our students and watching them learn and grow each day is always a very special and rewarding experience for me.

During the lunch and recess meetings of our student council we continue to plan ways to build both school spirit and strong character at KDM.  We celebrated Saint Patrick’s day together by having live   bagpipers visit the school and not only play for our students but also take the time to explain the history of bagpipes and the mechanics of how they are played.  The students and faculty not only have worked hard together each day but also took time out to play together and raise money for a very good cause.  When we returned from spring break we had our first ever KDM student faculty basketball game.  The game was sponsored by the student council to raise money for Autism awareness.  The students were represented by players in the fourth and fifth grades who played against their grade level teachers and other KDM staff members that made up the faculty team.  Our school mascot was very active on the sidelines leading cheers for both students and staff.  It was an electric atmosphere as the students took the lead toward the close of the first half. The second half was just as exciting as the score went back and forth and a great time was had by all.  This game was so well received that it will become an annual KDM event and several other student council sponsored faculty student events are being planned for the future.  April has also seen the birth of baby chicks in the first grade, and a wide range of exciting activities on every grade level such as our fourth grade solar system project on display in our lobby.  Our mall pride exhibit and concert was absolutely terrific and we enthusiastically look forward to our KDM spring concert in just a few weeks.

This “Sports Skills” program for interested fourth and fifth grade students has been a big hit in the third quarter and enrollment is up for the fourth quarter.  We are also exploring the possibility of having a digital photography club in the last quarter if we have enough interested students.

In the coming months we look forward to several student council activities to promote respect, support our community and increase school spirit. We also look forward to our traditional spring activities such as DARE Day, our KDM field day, and a number of special events for our fifth grade students as their time at KDM is coming to a close.   I am sure the last quarter will be an exciting one as we learn together, and grow closer together as a kind and caring KDM community.

Mike Valle

Principal 

Our KDM MASCOT "The Katydid"