Rocket Review
Week of January 11, 2019
Chilly January
We had a treat with the spring-like weather last week, but are back to January now. Our students will be heading outside for recess unless the temperature falls below 15 degrees or the windchill becomes too low. Make sure kids have their winter coats, boots, hats, and mittens. See our recess temperature guidelines below in this newsletter.
If you are missing winter clothing, check out the Lost and Found at Morgan! It was emptied just before the holiday break and has already filled up again! There are snow pants, boots, hats, scarves, mittens/gloves, coats and hoodies in the Lost and Found that are hoping to be reunited with their rightful owners.
NWEA testing continues this week, and through February 1. Winter testing gives a measure of how our students are progressing since they first took the test in the fall. Check with your child's teacher for your child's results and progress when testing is complete.
If you like the chilly, winter weather, the Plymouth Ice Festival kicks off tonight. Bundle up and check out the ice sculptures and family friendly activities that are happening in Plymouth this weekend.
Have a great week!
Mrs. Lasky
8 Keys Weekly Ticket Winners!
Grade 1:
- Joseph---Balance
- Easton--Balance
- Ben H--This is it!
Grade 2:
- Kaitlyn--This is it!
- Ryan--Commitment
- Jaxson--Speak with Good Purpose
Grade 3:
- Cece S.--Ownership
- Caleb W--Flexibility
- Zoe N--Ownership
Grade 4:
- Alison P--Commitment
- Kara L--Commitment
- Ella G--Commitment
Grade 5:
- Emma R--This is it!
- Marshall M--Ownership
- Lily--Ownership
Grade 6:
- Jimmy M--Ownership
- Max R--Commitment
- Ava R--Commitment
Recess--Inside or Outside?
20°F Recess is held outside
15-19°F Wind conditions will determine
14°F or Below: Inside Recess
“Weather.com” for updates.
If temperatures are between 15° and 19°, the
wind chill factor will be considered.
It is important that children dress appropriately: boots, hats, gloves/mittens and a warm coat. All students are expected to participate in recess. Fresh air and physical play help develop fitness and increase children’s ability to focus during learning times. Generally, if a child is well enough to attend school, they are well enough to go outside for a short break and to get some fresh air.
Band-o-rama Winter Concert
6th Grade Winter Bandorama Concert
Eisenhower High School- Performing Arts Center
Tuesday January 29th at 8:00 PM
Duncan, Messmore, Morgan, Switzer, and Jr. High and High School Bands.
Notes from Nurse Becky--UCS District Nurse
When Should Your Child Stay Home From School?
Protecting your child’s health and preventing the spread of illness to other students is one of our parental responsibilities. Please keep your child at home if you notice any of the following illnesses:
Contagious Diseases
Inform the school immediately if your child develops any of the following diseases: Chicken Pox, Hepatitis, Mumps, Strep Throat, Scarlet Fever,
Impetigo, Scabies, Lice, Flu, Pink Eye, Rheumatic Fever, Ringworm, Hard Measles, or German Measles
Elevated Temperature (Fever)
Your child should be fever free for a full 24 hours before returning to school.
Vomiting and/or Diarrhea
Your child should be symptom free for a full 24 hours before returning to school.
Cold or Symptoms of Upper Respiratory Infection
Such as persistent cough, green nasal discharge, sore throat and
congestion.
Suspicious Skin Rashes or Suspicious Infections
We appreciate your support in this matter. If you should have any questions regarding your child and an illness, please do not hesitate to call the school.
Fourth Grade NAEP Testing
Morgan was randomly selected as a participating school for this year and will be tested by representatives from NAEP on Tuesday, January 29. A team of testing administrators from NAEP will arrive at Morgan that morning to administer the assessments, which will either be electronic (on tablets) or with paper and pencil. Students are randomly selected for testing sessions and for electronic/paper pencil versions.
Morgan will not receive specific results on this assessment, but will have some information shared on overall student progress. This is not a measurement of Morgan Elementary or individual Morgan students, but a sample of fourth graders from around the United States to receive an average of how fourth graders are doing with mastery of grade level content.
If you have any questions about the testing, please contact Mrs. Lasky at 586-797-5800, or through email: sue.lasky@uticak12.org.
More information for parents on the NAEP can be found at the link below.
Save the Date!--Kindergarten Round Up 2019
UCS Kindergarten Round Up 2019
(PLEASE--Parents Only)
More information will come soon!
Please share the date with friends and neighbors who have future Morgan Rockets at home, but do not have students presently enrolled at Morgan.
Morgan Lunch Monitors
Morgan continues to look for additional support during the lunch hour. While our building is allocated a certain amount of paid EduStaff lunch monitors, we can take additional support in the form of volunteers. Students really enjoying seeing their parent/grandparent/aunt/uncle at school during the lunch time helping in the lunchroom or walking around the playground with the kids.
If you are interested in becoming a paid lunch monitor, please click on link below to start an application with EduStaff. EduStaff certified lunch monitors are paid an hourly rate each day they work. EduStaff employees can also complete additional, free, online training sessions and become substitute paraprofessionals for additional paid hours of work.
Morgan also takes volunteers with a current background check on file. If you filled out a Volunteer Sheet within the past few years, you should be able to volunteer for field trips, classroom help and lunch supervision. If you are unsure about your volunteer status, please contact the Main Office and Sharon or Melissa can check for you: 586-797-5800.
If you are interested in volunteering during the lunch hour, which runs from 11:30 AM until 12:15 PM each day, please contact Melissa in the main office and let her know what days you are available to volunteer. Grandparents/aunts/uncles/neighbors are all welcome once we have a background check on file.
If you have any questions, please call Morgan at 586-797-5800 or email Mrs. Lasky at sue.lasky@uticak12.org.
McDonald Restaurant Night
Morgan School Spirit Days
The Morgan Student Council has announced our School Spirit Days!
Friday, Jan. 25: 1/2 Day--Pajama Day
Monday, Feb. 4: Class T-Shirt Day
Thursday, Feb. 14: Wear Red/White/Pink
Monday, March 4: Class T-Shirt Day
Friday, March 29: Wear Dr. Seuss Gear
Monday, April 8: Class T-Shirt Day
Friday, April 26: Wear Favorite Sport Team Shirt/Jersey
Monday, May 6: Class T-Shirt Day
Friday, May 31: Crazy Hair Day
8 Keys of Excellence
INTEGRITY – Match behavior with values
Demonstrate your positive personal values in all you do and say. Be sincere and real.
Living in integrity means that everything we say and everything we do are true reflections of what we value, what’s important to us. Think about what your behavior says about you. Does it clearly show others what you value? Do you show up as honest and committed, or dishonest and indifferent? Are you spending your time with the people and activities you value, or is your focus elsewhere?
When we live in integrity we are sincere and true to ourselves—we don’t say or think one thing and do another. People trust and respect us, our relationships are solid, and we feel good about ourselves. Those positive feelings from others and within ourselves reinforce our values and build our reputation and self-esteem, leading us to greater success in all areas of our lives.
View failures as feedback that provides you with the information you need to learn, grow, and succeed.
When we live the Key of Failure Leads to Success we see failures as feedback, we learn from them and make the changes needed to be more successful in the future.
To live this Key successfully we may need to change the way we think about failure. Rather than viewing failure in a negative way where we put ourselves down and think WE are a failure, think of failure as a valuable learning experience. When we look at our mistakes with a view to learning from them, rather than sending ourselves negative messages, we are on the path to success.
We may be reluctant to try different things because we’re afraid of failing. Fear of failure does nothing but keep us in our comfort zone where we stick with the familiar, the “safe” choices where we don’t “risk” another failure. When we step out of our comfort zone—when we’re willing to try something new—that is when we take a step toward success.
The only real failure is not learning from our mistakes. The key to success is to look carefully at what went wrong, change what we did the first time, and try again by applying what we learned.
Think before you speak. Make sure your intention is positive and your words are sincere.
Words are powerful! They have the power to uplift and enlighten or put down and depress. A few cutting words spoken in a moment of anger can affect us for a long time, perhaps even a lifetime. On the other hand, a few kind words can make a very positive difference in how we feel about ourselves … sometimes for a lifetime.
What we say to others—and to ourselves—can have a huge impact. Speaking with good purpose is about always considering the intention of our words. It’s about communicating directly, clearly, honestly, and with a positive purpose. The first step is awareness. If we always think before we speak instead of just blurting out whatever comes to mind, we can learn to consider the reason for our words and make sure we are speaking with good purpose … will our words build someone up or put them down? We all sometimes have negative thoughts, but we don’t have to say everything we think.
There will be times when we need to share critical thoughts. At these times, if our purpose and how we phrase our words is considered first, sharing honest and direct feedback can be very positive and powerful, and build trust.
Speaking with good purpose is the cornerstone of healthy relationships. This Key fosters a positive emotional environment where people are happier, more productive, and more likely to succeed.
Focus your attention on the present moment. Keep a positive attitude.
This Is It! is about focusing on NOW instead of later, or next week, or next month, or next year, or yesterday, etc., and making the most of it. A positive This Is It! attitude can make everything we do and every day productive, fulfilling, and fun!
Life is full of distractions and opportunities to do something else, something other than what we’re doing now. Many of us spend a lot of time thinking about those other things. Instead of making what we’re doing now “it” our focus is often elsewhere—on things we wanted to do, could have done, should have done, or want to do “sometime.” Whenever our thoughts are occupied with something other than what we’re doing, we miss what’s going on around us in the moment … while we’re waiting for the next moment to arrive the present moment slips away.
When we live in the NOW we have power! With a This Is It! attitude we make the present “it” and find joyful moments that we might otherwise have missed!
Take positive action. Follow your vision without wavering.
Commitment is the breathtaking moment of making a compelling decision, jumping in, and going forward with gusto. Once a commitment is made, indecision is eliminated—there is no more “Should I or shouldn’t I?” … “Will I or won’t I?” A commitment is not made lightly—it’s about making a decision so strong that there is no going back … like a skydiver who has jumped from the plane!
The decisive act of making a commitment—when we decide to do “whatever it takes” to reach a goal—sets in motion an energy field that propels us forward on our path. At each step along the way, our commitment inspires us to take positive action and overcome obstacles, and pushes us on until we “make it happen.”
Be responsible for your thoughts, feelings, words, and actions. “Own” the choices you make and the results that follow.
Ownership is our willingness to take responsibility for the choices we make. When we take responsibility for our choices, others know they can count on us and we earn their respect.
If you tell a friend you’ll meet him at a certain time but you’re two hours late because you were hanging out with another friend, take responsibility for your choice. Don’t make up excuses like “I couldn’t help it … Billy just wouldn’t let me go.” Take ownership by saying, “I was wrong not to meet you as planned or call you when I realized I’d be late.”
When we take ownership of everything we do and say and stop blaming things outside ourselves for situations that occur in our lives, we have greater control. We may not be able to control everything that happens in our lives but we can control how we respond to what happens. By taking ownership of our actions we create a huge shift in our life.
Ownership is a whole-life concept. We can take ownership of our education, our relationships, our fitness, our fun—all areas of our life. And when we take ownership we take pride and feel confident and fulfilled.
Recognize what’s not working and be willing to change what you’re doing to achieve your goal.
Flexibility is the willingness to try something different when we realize that what we’re doing isn’t working. Many times a day we are faced with situations that are different from what we had originally planned. One way to deal with these situations is to be rigid and continue to do things in the same way over and over—another is to handle them with flexibility. Being flexible is responding to changing or new situations in ways that move us forward.
Flexibility is about not getting locked in to one way of doing something. If we’re trying to achieve something (like getting up on time in the morning) and it’s just not working, we try another way (like moving the alarm clock to the other side of the room so we have to get up to shut it off). Flexibility is about recognizing all kinds of habits or patterns or activities in our life that aren’t working and changing them, and even changing them again until we find the one that works!
Be mindful of self and others while focusing on what’s meaningful and important in your life. Inner happiness and fulfillment come when your mind, body, and emotions are nurtured by the choices you make.
When we’re in balance we make time for the things that are important to us. Staying in balance is an ongoing process about choices. We’re constantly making choices about what we do, what we say, how we feel, what we think, etc.
When questions arise about how we spend our time, we make choices depending on what’s important in the moment. We may choose to give up time with friends to finish a project for work or school, or we may choose to put aside something we’re doing to help a friend. Many of the choices we make every day—choices about school, work, hobbies, sports, family, friends, health, etc.—are about balance.
Balance is not about rigidly devoting equal time to everything that matters to us, and it’s not about totally immersing ourselves in one area of our lives to the exclusion of all others.
Balance is about considering everything that’s meaningful and important to us when we make choices about how we spend our time and energy. When we find the right balance we are happy, healthy, productive, and fulfilled.
Mark Your Calendar!
Calendar Dates
Monday, Jan. 14: PTO Meeting 6:30 PM @ Hamlin Pub on 25 Mile/Van Dyke
Friday, Jan. 18: Winter Wonderland School Dance 6:30 - 8:30 PM @ Morgan Elementary gymnasium
Monday, Jan. 21: NO SCHOOL
Thursday, Jan. 24: 1/2 Day of School--11:29 AM Dismissal
McDonald Restaurant Night from 4-8 PM at the McDonald's on 26 Mile and VanDyke
Friday, Jan. 25: 1/2 Day of School--11:29 AM Dismissal
End of 2nd Marking Period and 1st Semester of School
Tuesday, Jan. 29: NAEP Testing for Morgan 4th Graders
Thursday. Feb. 7: Winter Conference Evening--Teachers will send home notes for conference appointments.
Friday, Feb. 8: Morgan Volunteers Winter Bingo night 6:30 - 8:30 PM in the gymnasium
No School--February 16 through February 24
School Resumes on Monday, February 25
UCS News and Updates
TODAY is the Last Day for Advanced Ticket Sale Prices for Winter Wonderland!
Morgan Volunteers PTO is hosting a school dance!
Time: 6:30 - 8:30 PM
Where: Morgan Elementary gymnasium
Why: To bring Morgan families together for an evening of fun and dancing
Cost: $5 per student in pre-sale tickets; $7 per student at the door--provided the dance is not sold out. Tickets are limited to the gym capacity per fire marshal. Parents are expected to attend with their student---this is NOT a drop off event
Morgan Elementary
Mission: Morgan is dedicated to developing lifelong learners through the working relationship of students, staff, and community.
Email: sue.lasky@uticak12.org
Website: http://morgan.uticak12.org/
Location: 53800 Mound Road, Shelby charter Township, MI, USA
Phone: (586) 797-5800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ucsmorgan/
Twitter: @MorganElementa3