Welcome to the KAT Parent/Student Update.  Here, KAT Parents and Students can find information from the KAT Parent Advisory Committee.

 

Mark your calanders KAT Registration will be held on May 23rd.

Registration will be from 4:30pm to 7:00pm

KAT will be at the Bridge again next year with no increase in registration fee!

Check the Classes page for our 2011-2012 schedule and course descriptions


Kalamazoo Area Tutors (KAT) is a home school co-op that meets Mondays beginning September 12, 2011. 

With over 20 tutors and 60+ courses to select from, you are sure to find classes that will enhance your family’s education.  

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OLD NEWS

****LUNCH WITH THE TUTORS ****

Every Spring the PAC has an end of the year luncheon with our tutors. April 25th is the date of this year's lunch. This is a great wrap up of the year and helps equip them for the upcoming year. This year we will slightly expand our lunch period and have a time of encouragement and appreciation from our students for our tutors in our Study Hall. We would ask that all our families and students take some extra time that week and send their tutors a note of thanks.

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Points of information

*No KAT Monday, April 4 2011, enjoy your Spring Break.

*KAT will be at the Bridge again next year with no increase in registration fee. 


*Your whole family is invited to the Spring Parent Meeting at 6:30pm on Monday, May 2nd 2011. Returning and new families are invited.


*Registration will be held on May 23rd following the last day of

KAT from 4:30-7pm.  

 

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KAT   2010/2011  Course Registration Day


2010/2011 KAT Class Registration:


Final registration: Sept. 13,  7:30 am

••Please contact tutors directly to check for open space in each class

(Off U.S. 131, Centre St. exit; for directions, go to http://www.thebridgeportage.org/contact.shtml)


New Parent Orientation: Sept. 13, 9:30am


Place: The Bridge, 7200 Angling Rd., Portage.


Kalamazoo Area Tutoring Association

 Spring Parent Meeting/Open House

 

Date:  Monday, May 3rd, 2010
Time: 6:30 p.m.


Place:  The Bridge, 7200 Angling Rd., Portage, MI

 

(Off U.S. 131, Centre St. exit; for directions, go to http://www.thebridgeportage.org/contact.shtml)


Please join us at the church that will be our new location for the 2010/2011 school year.  This meeting is for all new and returning homeschooling families. Anyone interested in participating in KAT next year must attend this meeting.  Building tours will be offered from 6:00 to 6:30 and following the meeting.  Tutors will have displays advertising their classes, and will be available to answer your questions.  Students and younger siblings are welcome to attend with their parents.

 

 

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December 31, 2009

 

To KAT Families,

 

We trust everyone had a blessed Christmas and a restful break. 

 

Reminders:

-        KAT classes resume this coming Monday January 4. 

-        HPA Choir and Drama classes resume January 18.

-        Second semester classes begin January 25.

 

  Enjoy the rest of your vacation and we'll see you Monday!  

 

Blessings for the New Year, 

KAT Parent Advisory Committee    

 

 

 

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December 12, 2009

 

Dear KAT Families,

 

With the celebration of our Savior's birth just around the corner we have a few (actually quite a few) reminders:

    

CHRISTMAS BREAK - This Monday December 14 is our last day of classes before Christmas.  Classes resume Monday January 4, 2010.

 

CHRISTMAS TREATS -  If anyone would like to bring snacks to share this Monday we will have tables for treats set up at both buildings.

 

TRASH CLEAN-UP - Please remind students to be sure to take care of their trash.  We have had quite a bit of litter left around the gym. 

 

SNOW DAY CANCELLATION - Remember to check Channel 3 News or wwmt.com for either Kalamazoo Public Schools or KAT.

        

LOST AND FOUND -Remind your children to check for any long lost items.

 

MONITOR SCHEDULE - If you have a conflict with your scheduled monitor date and need to trade with someone, please find your replacement and let the Building Supervisor know of the change.  There are copies of the schedule available at the monitor table at each building. 

 

STUDY HALL FEE - If you would like to prepay for 2nd semester the discounted amount is $24.00 per class period per semester.  If you will only need Study Hall for a few weeks after Choir or Drama the fee is $10.00. 

 

KAT DIRECTORIES - There are quite a few directories that have not been picked up yet.  If you still need yours they are available at the monitor table at one of the buildings.

 

DIRECTORY CORRECTION - tutor Jennifer Koning's email address should be Jenlovessoftball@yahoo.com.  The directory has two "n's" as in Jenn.  Please make this correction in your KAT Directory.

 

PICTURE DAY - Mark your calendars, we have tentative dates of February 1 and 8 set up for student pictures.  More details to come.  

 

2ND SEMESTER CLASSES  -  Remember the second semester classes starting January 25 are Economics, Political Science and HS Public Speaking will all be offered 2nd semester.     

 

KAT WEBSITE – The name of the KAT website has been changed to www.katutors.net  rather than katutors.com.  Please write this change in your KAT directory and let your friends know who may be interested in KAT classes in the future.  To email the KAT Parent Advisory Committee or board members please use the address info@katutors.net.

 

Have a Very Blessed Christmas Season,

 

KAT Parent Advisory Committee

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June 15th, 2009

  Dear KAT Parents:

 

 

If you missed the June 1st, KAT registration, you are still able to sign up for classes for next school year!  You can register on the first day of KAT, Monday, Sept. 14th, starting at 7:40 a.m. at West Kalamazoo Christian Church, 454 S. Drake Rd., Kalamazoo.

 

 

Please note:  Tutors will not be available on that day for questions or course information since they will be teaching.  For course information, please visit our website: www.katutors.com and click on the tab for “Classes” then contact the tutors directly in advance.

  

 

If your child will be attending classes at the KAT elementary location, Westwood Church of God on Gorham Rd., please allow enough time to register first at West Kalamazoo Christian Church. 

 

 

Late Registration Procedure:

 

1.    You should contact tutors during the summer to add your child to their class lists.  They will pencil your child's name on their class list/waiting list.  If your child is added to a waiting list, and if an opening becomes available over the summer, the tutor will notify you of that opening. 

2.    You may register beginning at 7:40 a.m. on the first day of KAT (Sept. 14th, 2009).  Please have all your green registration forms filled out before you come.  Please have your payments ready in cash or your check made out to KAT for $60.00.  We suggest you arrive at least a 1/2 hour earlier than your child's class starts so your paper work may be processed and a monitor date and family number may be assigned.  Students must be fully registered with KAT and must have a family registration number before a tutor can allow them to attend any KAT class.

3.    If you have misplaced your parent pack or are new to KAT, we will have copies of the green registration forms for returning families and Parent Packs for first-time families available at the registration table.

 4.    Should you have questions over the summer,  please hit the contact tab on the website which will give you options for contacting us.   

 

 

Wishing you all a safe and enjoyable summer!

 

 The Parent Advisory Committee


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 April 13, 2009

Dear KAT Parents/Students:

  

Please make a note of the following important information:

  

-Parent Meeting/Open House will be Monday, April 27th @ 6:30 p.m. at West Kalamazoo Christian Church, 454 S. Drake Rd., Kalamazoo.

  

-Jr./Sr. High Building Supervisor Update:  For the remainder of the year Dave Bickle will be on duty from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. to help with set-up.  Marsha Kohlhoff will be on duty from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  Should you be interested in the Building Supervisor position for next school year (2009-2010), please talk with Marsha Kohlhoff or Hope Yacullo.  This is the only paid position in the KAT Association.

  

-Lost and found items: We have several articles of clothing and school supplies (including Choir/Drama clothing that has traveled between KAT buildings and from Comstock auditorium).  We will leave these items on display until the Parent Meeting on April 27th; after that they will be donated to the Salvation Army.

  

-May 18th is our last day of KAT, you may bring in finger food to be put out during the lunch period.

  

-June 1st is Registration Day for school year 2009-2010 at West Kalamazoo Christian Church, 454 S. Drake Rd., Kalamazoo.

  

-We are looking forward to seeing everyone at our Annual Parent Meeting/ Open House on Monday, April 27th @ 6:30 p.m.   Please pass the word to anyone who may be interested in taking classes at KAT.

  

God Bless, 

 KAT Parent Advisory Committee

 

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September 7, 2008

 

Greetings KAT families! 

As we start a new school year at KAT, we need to bring to your attention some important items for tomorrow, September 8, 2008:

-Elementary classes meet at Westwood Church of God, 811 Gorham Lane. 

-Jr./Sr. High classes meet at West Kalamazoo Christian Church, 454 Drake Rd. 

-Registration is from 7:35 a.m. till 1:00 p.m. at West Kalamazoo Christian Church on Drake Rd.  This is for families who have not yet registered with KAT and plan on attending either/both Elementary and Jr/Sr High classes.  The fee for new families is $45.00, or   $60.00 for returning families who will now need to pay the late fee.

-When dropping off students for classes, use the back entrances of both churches.  Look for the “Enter Here”  sign. 

-Study Hall is a pre-paid service only.  Any student using Study Hall without a parent present must pre-pay before entering the room.  Stop at the Monitor table to check in. 

-Any High School student driving to KAT and parking in the church parking lot must fill out a vehicle registration form.  These forms will be available the first day of KAT at the monitor table in the foyer.

 -We are asking that any student leaving the facility for lunch has his/her parent’s permission.  We have no way of monitoring this situation at present so parents please communicate your wishes with your student.  Once a student leaves the church building we are no longer responsible for them.

 -We are asking that fund raising not be done at the KAT locations.  The only exception would be if a Tutor uses this as part of their KAT class project.

 -On the first day of KAT classes the Jr./Sr. High students will be having an informational meeting immediately following the lunch period.    Since the KAT Committee will be tied up with registration we have asked Brad Garnaat to meet with the guys in the gym and Bev Bishop will meet with the gals in the Sanctuary.  They will be going over the following items:      

      -Dress Code Guidelines         -Electronic Guidelines            -Car Registration for High School Students            -Study Hall pre-payment policy            -No loitering outside the church or in parked cars, students are to be in class, study hall or in their car heading home.

 If your student is not able to be present at the meeting please go over these items with your student. 

We praise the Lord for another answered prayer.  We now have a Jr./Sr. High Building Supervisor.  Deb Darling has accepted the position and will start Monday 7:00 a.m.; Malissia Chopp will be walking her through the routine on Monday so please give Mrs. Darling a warm welcome! We are currently working on filling the Elementary Supervisor position, please be patient as we continue to seek God's direction in this area. 

We are looking forward to a great Monday!

Sincerely,

KAT Parent Advisory Committee

 

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August 27, 2008                                              Re:  Study Hall

Dear KAT Parents,

As in the past year, the fee to attend Study Hall is $2.00 per student per class period.   This service is offered to aid parents in supervising their children between KAT classes.  Years ago this option was free but misused by parents leaving their children, sometimes for the entire day, without adequate school work or desk work to occupy them. This made it very difficult for the monitoring mothers to keep the room orderly.  Therefore we instituted a service fee hoping to cut down on the number of students left to be supervised.  Now the task of attempting to monitor students who pay vs. those who do not pay has become overwhelming for KAT leadership.  Therefore, a new Study Hall system has been approved for the 2008-09 school year. 

Study Hall may still be used free of charge by students who have his/her parent with him/her at all times.  Students attending Study Hall without this requirement are charged a fee.  At West Kalamazoo Christian Church the gym will be used for the Study Hall and Lunch room.   At Westwood Church of God the fellowship hall upstairs will be used for the Study Hall and Lunch room.   The procedure is as follows:

·        We request that all parents pre-pay a full semester (17 weeks) for Study Hall.  The fee of $2.00 per class period will remain the same, but this year KAT is offering an incentive of $10.00 off per semester for pre-payment, making the cost $24 per class period for 17 weeks. 

 

·        Students who pre-pay will have their name on a list at the monitors table to be checked off by the monitor in order to allow the child to enter the gym/fellowship hall for the specified Study Hall period(s).  The gym/fellowship hall will only be open for Study Hall use and for the lunch period.  Students will be free to come and go during the lunch hour only.  Proof of Study Hall payment will be needed for all other hours of operation.

 

·        Students, who wish to use Study Hall but have not pre-paid, will need to pay a $2.00 per class period fee prior to entering the gym/fellowship hall.  If a student attempts to attend Study Hall, but does not have proper payment, the Building Supervisor or monitor will contact his/her parent or guardian to pick up the student or to bring payment.  No exceptions will be made unless a prior arrangement with KAT leadership has been made.

 

·        Study Hall payments may be sent to KAT, P.O. Box  19886, Kalamazoo, MI, 49019.   Please indicate “KAT Study Hall Payment” and your child’s name on your check.

Thank you for attending to this matter.   Our desire is to provide a structured system that is beneficial to all who participate.   For questions you may email Hope Yacullo at yac23@aol.com  or Rinda Pike at srab4@msn.com.

Sincerely,

KAT Parent Advisory Committee

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Dear KAT Parents: 
 As Building Supervisor for the KAT program, along with the Parent Advisory Committee, I am asking you to discuss the following with your student(s) to ensure their safety while participating in KAT classes: 
  
It has been brought to my attention that some students are taking their friends out to lunch without their parent’s permission and without the other students’ parent’s permission.  Currently, there is no process in place to monitor which students are allowed to leave the church grounds by themselves or with other students. 
   Therefore, KAT supervisory personnel must assume any child leaving the grounds at any time has his/her parent’s permission to do so.  It is each individual parent’s responsibility to instruct their children not to leave unless they have your permission and you are aware of with whom they will be riding and where they are going.  Please remind your children of the importance of making wise choices.   
   As parent volunteers, you & I attend to the safety of the students participating in the KAT program while they are in the church building and on the church grounds.  However, as mothers ourselves, we are concerned about students leaving in groups during KAT hours.  They generally leave around lunch time and come back an hour or so later. I have noticed that the groups are growing larger and the driver is usually a teenager.
   To minimize this increasing problem we suggest that your student not offer rides to other students who may not have permission from their parents to leave the premises.  Students may come and go with his/her parent at anytime. 
   Also, if your student has driven to KAT, we assume you have granted that child your trust to make responsible decisions for him/herself regarding coming and going.  But for those students who do not drive and are not accompanied by an adult, we prefer they stay in Study Hall if they have free time before their last class of the day.
   We are aware that participating KAT parents have differing opinions concerning this matter.  Some feel their teenagers are trustworthy and should not be questioned by parent volunteers when they are leaving the building.  Others feel we should check with each student as they leave and record where they are going and with whom they are riding.  If KAT did have to move to a system of “checking” each student as they leave the building/grounds, each parent would need to sign-up for additional monitoring days along with other duties to facilitate such a process.
  Our foremost concern is the safety of your children.  If you are the parent of a student driver, are you comfortable with having several teens in your child’s car, some of whom may not have permission from their parents? 
   Please help at this time by reviewing with your children your expectations of them while they are at KAT. On another note, the church driveway and parking lot have been very slippery this winter and we have received many complaints regarding unsafe driving.  Please remind your young drivers to slow down and use good judgment, along with being more cautious yourself. 
   Please remember that KAT is a co-op.  As parents working together, we welcome your suggestions and input.  We hope you will address this issue with your children and that this will relieve some of the concerns parents are having. Thank you for your effort in helping the KAT program run smoothly. 
Sincerely, 
Malissia Chopp – KAT Building Supervisor,The Parent Advisory Committee 
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