As you can see by the beautiful new banner, Good Morning KM is now officially sponsored by the Culver’s in Wales! Culver’s has been a tremendous partner of all things KM and we’re excited to add them to the morning show. As you can see, today’s flavor of the day is Peanut Butter Cookie Dough!

Thanks again to our friends at Culver’s for sponsoring Good Morning KM our daily announcement video!

On March 2nd, World Teen Mental Wellness Day aims to raise greater awareness of mental health issues among teens, as well as provide education about removing stigmas surrounding preventative mental health.

According to the American Psychological Association, Gen Z has the worst mental health of any generation. However, teens are dedicated to making a difference.

According to YPulse, 64 percent of Gen Z say they want to achieve a healthier lifestyle for overall happiness, including a stronger self-care routine. Also, 94 percent consider mental health very important to their well-being. Ultimately, raising awareness about mental health and the importance of self-care can help improve an entire generation’s mental wellness.

Teens around the world are encouraged to use March 2 as an opportunity to practice self-care and silence their self-doubt – whether that’s through exercising, meditating, listening to music, and more. Online, teens can demonstrate how they’ll recharge on Instagram and Twitter with #WorldTeenMentalWellnessDay.

March is Women’s History Month. The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in commemorating and encouraging the study, observance, and celebration of the vital role of women in American history.

Women’s History Month had its origins as a national celebration in 1981 when Congress passed Pub. L. 97-28 which authorized and requested the President to proclaim the week beginning March 7, 1982, as “Women’s History Week.” Throughout the next five years, Congress continued to pass joint resolutions designating a week in March as “Women’s History Week.” In 1987 after being petitioned by the National Women’s History Project, Congress passed Pub. L. 100-9 which designated the month of March 1987 as “Women’s History Month.” Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year as Women’s History Month. Since 1995, presidents have issued a series of annual proclamations designating the month of March as “Women’s History Month.” These proclamations celebrate the contributions women have made to the United States and recognize the specific achievements women have made over the course of American history in a variety of fields.

This month, information about the women we honor will come from a number of sources that will be linked in each inspiring message.

March 2, 1880: Gillette Hayden, a pioneering dentist, and periodontist was born today in 1880. She founded the American Academy of Periodontology and served as its president.

This executive managed one of several lightning-speed efforts to successfully develop a COVID-19 vaccine.

Kathrin Jansen knew she was taking a big risk. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, vaccines based on messenger RNA were an unproven technology. No firm had managed to win approval to use one in humans before. But with the death count mounting around the globe in March, Jansen went all-in on the new vaccine platform.

As head of vaccine research and development at US drug firm Pfizer, Jansen led a whirlwind, record-setting effort to show that the company’s COVID-19 vaccine was safe and effective in people. Her team managed that feat in just 210 days, from the beginning of testing in April to the completion of phase III clinical trials in November.

Thousands of scientists across the world, from academia and industry, have been involved in developing and trialing dozens of preventive vaccines to combat the new coronavirus. And several companies have reported developing effective vaccines, a list that will grow as more trials are completed.

Managing a 650-person operation — often through Zoom calls from her New York City apartment — Jansen has spent the past year troubleshooting clinical issues with the COVID-19 vaccine trials, sorting out manufacturing logistics around cold-storage requirements, and, most recently, navigating regulatory affairs on the next steps for vaccine roll-out.

The work paid off. On 2 December, health authorities in the United Kingdom approved the company’s vaccine for emergency use, paving the way for mass inoculation. It was the first COVID-19 vaccine to be approved on the basis of Phase-III trial data; approvals from other countries soon followed.

The success is in large part due to Jansen, says Uğur Şahin, co-founder and chief executive of BioNTech, Pfizer’s partner on the vaccine, based in Mainz, Germany. “She is relentless,” he says, but also “extremely data-driven”, with scientific curiosity and an openness to divergent opinions. “She is diligent,” Şahin says, “and she listens.”

“She’s absolutely fearless as a scientist,” adds Edward Scolnick, former head of Merck Research Laboratories in West Point, Pennsylvania, where Jansen worked from 1992 to 2004. “She has complete confidence that she can technically and intellectually solve any problem that might get in the way of a project like that.”

Jansen has a track record of taking on nasty pathogens under challenging circumstances. While at Merck, she initiated a project to tackle human papillomavirus (HPV) — a sexually transmitted infection that causes cervical cancer — even as many colleagues told her the research was a waste of time and money. That effort ultimately yielded the world’s first HPV vaccine, Gardasil, which is expected to save millions of lives through cancer prevention.

Jansen worked on anthrax and smallpox vaccines at a now-defunct company called VaxGen, before joining Wyeth, which later became Pfizer after the firms merged. There, she improved the company’s pneumococcal vaccine, nearly doubling the number of bacterial strains covered, from 7 to 13 — and slashing rates of pneumonia, bloodstream infections, and meningitis in the process. The resulting product, Prevnar 13, is now the world’s top-selling vaccine. Gardasil ranks as number two. In 2021, sales of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine could eclipse both combined.

But Jansen doesn’t flout her many accomplishments, says Scolnick: “She is extremely down to earth.”

Şahin says the intensity of the vaccine collaboration bonded the two of them like soldiers in battle. On a Sunday in early November, just before researchers at Pfizer and BioNTech would learn whether their vaccine candidate had succeeded at preventing cases of severe COVID-19 in its pivotal clinical test, Jansen called Şahin to take stock of everything they had achieved together.

“She said, ‘Regardless of what the data tell us, I wanted to let you know it was always a pleasure to work together’,” Şahin recalls. “Luckily, it was not the end of the collaboration.”

Later that day, they would learn that the vaccine was more than 90% effective. Jansen got teary-eyed. She enjoyed a glass of champagne with her husband. Then it was back to work doing what she has done for the past 30 years: trying to immunize the world against another deadly pathogen.

This week we welcome Mr. Plum!

Role: Mr. Plum is currently the Director of HS^2 and teaches science. Mr. Plum is also the incoming Superintendant for the Kettle Moraine School District!

Favorite thing(s) to do outside of school: Mr. Plum enjoys beekeeping! Mrs. Plum gives away a few hundred lbs of honey a year.

Friendly advice: Be resilient - even though it is especially hard because we can't predict the future. Maintain your drive, and enjoy what you do!

FINAL REMINDER - Auditions for KM Drama Club's Spring Play Escape the Dawn produced in collaboration with Chicago based EDGE of Orion Theatre will be TOMORROW, Wednesday March 3 after school. Come be a part of this exciting new play that tells the story of amazing Allied pilots on a secret mission during WWII! There are multiple roles suitable for new and experienced actors alike; students from across the KMHS campus are encouraged to audition.

Check out details linked HERE or contact Ms. Kean with questions.

Best Buddies wants your support! Don’t forget to stop by the Best Buddies table at lunch on Tuesday or Wednesday to sign the banner and pledge to spread the word to end the use of the R-word!

Are you interested in earning your CNA this summer? WCTC will be hosting two information nights regarding their Summer YA CNA offerings. The first is Wednesday, March 3rd from 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm, and the second is Tuesday, March 9th from 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm. The more students we get to attend one of these evenings, the more slots KM will receive. If you are interested in the possibility of becoming a CNA please attend. See this flyer for the Zoom link and more information.

For more information see Mr. Rortvedt, or your counselor.

Attention all AP students who are planning on taking an AP Exam. Payment for your exam, whether you signed up 1st or 3rd term is due Friday, March 5th. If you do not pay by the end of the school day that day your exam will not be ordered. Emails have been sent out to those students who have a balance due, and reminders will continue to be sent up until the 5th. If you wish to no longer take your exam, and have already signed up and paid for one, please cancel in Total Registration.

If you have questions please reach out to Mr. Rortvedt or your AP teacher.

The Wisconsin Leadership Seminar (WILS) will once again be holding its annual leadership seminar for outstanding high school sophomores from across Wisconsin this coming May 21-22. The 2021 conference will be virtual.

Criteria:

The seminar will be at no cost to the student selected to represent Kettle Moraine School District.

Go to the KM Counseling Page under Student Opportunities to complete the application and get more information.

Applications are due no later than 3:00 pm on Wednesday, March 24th. KM will select one student to represent KM at the Wisconsin Leadership Seminar, as well as one alternate student.

Today is Mrs. Zuelke’s birthday! Happy birthday!

Dough not miss this one... we are partnering with Pizza Guy for a fundraiser, in ONE WEEK, from 3:00 pm - 8:00 pm, on March 9th - National Meatball Day!

Did you know Pizza Guy has been delivering a genuine dining experience that encourages family and friendship for 23 years now? They have built relationships with their customers and fallen in LOVE with this community over and over again.

Let's show them our love and order an awesome meatball sandwich, or anything else from their menu that looks good to you, including their famous, absolutely delicious pizza! Don't forget to pick up an order of their stuffed breadsticks you can dip in their homemade ranch dressing!

A portion of the proceeds of all qualifying sales will be dedicated to helping fund a transformation for athletics and activities.

For your order to qualify, mention Kettle Moraine High School or show the Facebook post when ordering. You can also call ahead to place your order (262) 968-4900 and then pick up your order at 323 N. Wales Rd, Wales, WI 53183. Note: Cannot be combined with other offers or discounts. Not valid for delivery.

FINAL REMINDER - All boys interested in participating in track and field; there will be a short informational meeting after school TOMORROW, Wednesday at 2:45 pm for freshman and sophomores and Thursday for juniors and seniors at 2:05 pm. This meeting will take place in the middle gym, and only take 10-20 minutes. Please bring a cell phone or chrome book.

The KM Football Laser Bash will be held Saturday, May 22nd at Ella’s Public House on Hwy 18. There will be food, live music, raffles, and a silent auction. Help and donations are needed.

For more info about the event go to kmsd.edu/laserbash or contact: Sue Spencer sspencer6@wi.rr.com; or Jenny Rife rifejen6@gmail.com.

We have no scheduled sporting events until mid-April when our spring sports season begins.

Regular staff participants at morning basketball: S. Voigt, B. Bestor, K. Buntman, J. Bestor, M. Voigt, P. Rortvedt, A. Strom, M. Forbes, R. Tomczyk, and S. Mattke.

Thursday's MVP: S. Voigt

Staff winner: Mr. Cassini

Student winners: Claire M., GladyAnna A., Ava S.

Review the parking regulations outlined in the student handbook on page 24 to keep them fresh in your minds. Violations of the parking regulations may result in the loss of a parking permit, or towed and/or ticketed vehicles.

Please make sure you are bringing your own masks to school, and wearing them properly!

Be sure to follow your classroom cleaning expectations to help us all stay as safe as possible!

Our bubblers are turned off, but the refill stations are still on. Remember to bring your reusable water bottles to stay hydrated!

Please remember to wear your student ID every day, and at all times while you are in school. It is very important that you use those IDs (examples: lunchroom, signing in and out, etc.) so we reduce any unnecessary contact.

Please stay 6 feet or more apart, and do NOT leave your Advisory to seek face-to-face help, instead, use google meet to work with your teachers.

Hold the delivered pickles, hold the lettuce, anything outside the school cafeteria or your home-prepared meal does upset us.

Parents/guardians and students are asked not to bring/deliver food or beverages from any outside commercially prepared eating establishments to school to be consumed by students during their regular mealtimes, or any school hours.

It is noted in the student handbook that food from area restaurants will not be accepted during the school day. In addition, in our August 14, 2020 campus welcome back letter, we mentioned “Special food deliveries will not be allowed during the school day. Special deliveries sent to the school will be sent back with the person delivering the food, and will not be accepted or delivered to the student. When a parent/guardian needs to drop off a delivery for a student, the parent/guardian must communicate that to the student. Students will not be called down to the office to pick up their delivery. They will be required to pick it up during passing time or during their lunch break. Students will be required to turn the product over to office staff for disposal upon entering the building and will then be sent to class.