Dicken Family Newsletter
5.2.21
Principal's Corner
Dear Families,
Happy May! We are thrilled to welcome back many of our fourth and fifth graders this week for their long awaited return! This week is also Teacher Appreciation Week. Thank you to the PTO for organizing various ways for students to show their appreciation for our amazing staff each day this week!
Upcoming Dates
- Monday, May 3rd- 4th/5th Grade Cohort 1 begins in-person
- Tuesday, May 4 – Full day of school (it was originally a no-school day because of the election)
- Thursday, May 6th- 4th/5th Grade Cohort 2 begins in-person
- Friday, May 21 - Early Release for report writing, dismissal at 10:53am
- Monday, May 31 - No School: Labor Day
M-Step
For those who have opted in, students will test during the following weeks:
- May 3 - 7 Third Grade
- May 10 - 14 Fourth Grade
- May 17 -21 Fifth Grade
- May 24 - 27 Make-ups, if needed
For Cohort 3 students, Mrs. Halabu will communicate directly with families about specific times. Please note due to time constraints and the testing windows, some students will need to test in both the morning and afternoon on a given day. This will be the case for all fifth graders, as they have four content area tests to complete.
If you have any change in plans for opting in, please contact Mrs. Halabu.
A reminder that teachers will be administering the NWEA or other benchmark tests (lower elementary) on students at-home days.
Slauson PTSO Letter
For parents of fifth graders attending Slauson in the fall, please find this Slauson PTSO Letter to Incoming Families. Thank you.
Summer Learning Opportunities
AAPS Summer School enrollment is open!
- Enrollment will be on a first come, first served basis, and dependent on staff availability.
- 2021 Remote Learning Expeditions Enrollment Form (remote, synchronous)
- 2021 A2 Virtual Elementary Summer Success Program Enrollment Form (remote, asynchronous, self-paced)
- These programs are open to all currently enrolled AAPS students, Y5-4th grade.
- Learn more about these programs on our AAPS Summer Learning Program website.
- Enrollment closes on Friday, 5/7
Fall 2021
A reminder of the district's plans for this fall:
- Full Fall, 2021 Back to School Opening
- 5 days per week in-school learning
- Quality AAPS teachers & staff
- Academic programs, world languages, performing & visual arts & sciences
- Early childhood through 12th grade will be offered
- Spring enrollment continues in progress - Kinder round-ups occurred during March & transition activities are now in progress at all schools
- No hybrid instruction is a part of AAPS programming for Fall, 2021
- Students & families will continue to have the choice of a fully virtual learning program.
Rec and Ed Summer Camps
Registration is open for early childhood through 8th-grade summer camps. Half-day and full-day options are available starting June 14th. Scholarships are available, and camps are expected to fill quickly. More information, including camp descriptions and direct links to registration here.
Outdoor Recess Reminder
Please help your child to dress appropriately for the weather. If there is a light rain, we will still play outside. If it is pouring rain or there is thunder or lightening, we’ll have indoor recess. Plan each day as if your kids will go outside. Thank you!
Enrollment at Dicken: Spread the Word
If you live in Dicken's attendance area, and you have a new student to our school for next year, please complete your enrollment application as soon as possible. Enrollment is ongoing for families who live in our attendance area. Help us spread the word to your friends and neighbors as well. We are in the process of planning for next school year and having accurate numbers for the number of students likely to attend helps us plan for the number of classrooms we need. Even if you’re not 100% certain if you’ll be sending your child to Dicken, please still complete the enrollment process. You can learn more at www.a2schools.org/enrollment.
Noon Hour Supervisor Positions
We are still looking to hire Noon Hour supervisors for our return to in person hybrid school. If you are interested the job posting can be found here. Please feel free to reach out to Mrs. Dorris if you'd like to learn more. dorris@aaps.k12.mi.us
Student & Family Help Desk Live Hours
The Student & Family Help Desk is available 7:30AM to 5:00PM, Monday through Friday. As always, families can leave a voicemail after hours as well as send an email to the help desk. 734-997-1222. Ayuda en Español: 734-997-1246
Helpful Links on the AAPS Website
- The AAPS Community Resource page
- Food Distribution Plan
- AAPS 2020-21 Calendar
- COVID-19 Metrics Dashboard
- COVID- 19 Cases Dashboard
All the best,
Heather
PTO News
Teacher Appreciation Week
Teacher Appreciation Week is this week, May 3rd-7th! Let’s show our Dicken teachers and staff just how much they mean to us! Each room parent should have contacted their class to share which teachers and staff they will be celebrating and ways to participate. This is a time to get creative as we have students who are in-person as well as learning virtually throughout the week.
Here are the themes throughout the week:
“Chalk Our Gratitude” - ***RESCHEDULED to Wednesday, May 5th*** chalk the sidewalks at Dicken with our appreciation (please remain socially distant & wear masks)
“You Make Us Bloom” - bring in fresh flowers, paper craft or drawings - can be sent virtually via seesaw or email
“My Teacher’s a Treat” - bring in favorite snack, beverage or sweet, or share your favorite recipe
“Teachers Are Noteworthy” - write your teacher a special note, make a card, send an email, create and submit a card via seesaw
“Thanks Are In The Cards” - gift cards to favorite stores, restaurants, coffee spot, e-gift cards
We hope you have fun sharing your gratitude for our amazing Dicken teachers and staff!
Ways to Help Our Dicken Garden
It's time to get our hands dirty and bring back our garden! How can you help? Here's what we are doing now: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0844ABAC2FA0F94-dicken
Dicken Fundraiser - Community Night Out
Pick up dinner and raise money for Dicken! Chipotle on Stadium Blvd. will be donating 33% of proceeds to the Dicken PTO for purchases made on Tuesday, May 4th from 4:00-8:00 PM. Pick up orders can be placed on Chipotle.com, you must use the promo code RWWTFGG for your purchase to count towards the fundraiser. If ordering in person you can just tell the cashier you're supporting Dicken!
Plan to pick up some tacos, chips and guacamole (YUM!!!) and support your Dicken Dolphins. Be sure to tell family, friends and neighbors too! School spirit tastes great!
Chipotle Fundraiser Online Instructions
Have an item for the blast? Email it to dolphinsblast@gmail.com. Blast items kindly requested by 5 p.m. Friday.