Mustang Messenger
2020-2021 School Year: Volume 36: Week of June 7th
Be the Best YOU at Grandview!!!
It's the Final Countdown!!
Dear Families,
Friday marks the last day of the 2020-2021 school year. We have 4 more lunches to make, 5 more alarm clocks to set, and a year long reflection of great memories and learning in so many different ways and platforms. So please take time to celebrate a wonderful year with your child. This will be a year that we will always remember where we were and what we did during this COVID year. So please celebrate all the successes that happened this year no matter how big or how small. In the end, we made it.
I also want to take time to say thank you to all of you for this school year. Thank you for trusting us with the important task of educating your child. You have lots of choices in schools, so thank you for choosing Grandview. Thank you for getting your child to school and on time. Thank you for supporting the learning environment at home.
This year was a great year for Grandview. I am already excited for all that we are preparing for next year. We are proud of all of the accomplishments from this year, but I am even more excited for next year and all that is planned for next year and maybe have some sense of normalcy next year.
This week has a little bit of a normalcy feel. We have Field Day on Monday. We are celebrating our 5th graders this week with a virtual graduation and a car parade that we hope the ENTIRE Grandview community comes to celebrate our 5th graders. There are lots of us that made a difference in the lives of these graduates.
Congratulations to our 5th grade graduates. Thank you for making a mark at Grandview. Now go and paint the world and make a difference! Our future depends on you and we are counting on you!
Now let's end on a powerful and positive note Grandview!!! Continue to stay healthy and happy!! Let's make it another great week at Grandview!!!
Your Proud Principal,
Melissa Carruth, Ed.S
Another Week of Learning!!
Ms. V is the best!!
Career Day Fun!!!
1st grade farmers
Field Day is TOMORROW, Monday, June 7th
Field Day is on Monday, June 7th. This is a much smaller event than Field Days in the past. We will still be adhering to all COVID guidelines for this event and the the students will still be masked and cohorted. They will only go out for an hour for field day, but after the year that we have had, we will take whatever we can get. Please do your rain dance that we get the events in before the rain as Tuesday, our rain date, actually looks worse than Monday. Mr. Mair will be chairing this wonderful event. We are NOT having parents in for the event. We hope to return to our big field day next year.
Please remember the following......All children MUST wear gym shoes to participate in the games. They should also bring a water bottle with their name on it and wear a hat. It will be hot on Monday.
Please put sunscreen on your child before they come to school –one of the best ways to prevent skin cancer!
The weather looks questionable, but we are going to do everything we can to get through this event tomorrow.
Career Day Recap
Do you have a graduate in your home? If so, mark your calendar....
Do you have a kindergartner in your home?
- Due to COVID protocols that will stay in effect through the remainder of the school year, we have decided to do all kindergarten graduation celebrations within the classroom with the teacher and students. There will be momentos, keepsakes, and photos sent home to commemorate this milestone with your child and to celebrate your child's success in kindergarten. No need to mark anything on your calendar, just keep checking that backpack!!!
Do you have a 5th grader in your home?
- If so, mark your calendar for the following events.......A virtual graduation on Thursday, June 10th at 9:30 am. The Google Meet link will be shared with you closer to the day. Friday, June 11th, there will be a school clap-out for our 5th graders. We will have the 5th graders walk around the school OUTSIDE for one last time. The students, in other classrooms, will be socially-distanced around the school and will be cheering the 5th graders, out of the school, on their last day. Parents may come up to school and stand and participate in this tradition. They can clap their children out too. Please remember that parents may not come into the building, but they may take their child home after the clap-out. Finally, a 5th grade graduation parade for Friday, June 11th at 1:00. The parade will leave from Botsford and will follow the Homecoming route to the middle school. This year, Grandview will lead the parade and Botsford will end the parade. The parade route is below. Please invite others to join us and cheer on our 5th graders along the path!!! Details to follow soon. So get those decorations ready and let's have some fun!!
SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES
What is Summer Slide?
“Summer slide” is the tendency for students, to lose some of the achievement gains they made during the previous school year. A few key facts about summer slide:
- Learning and achievement are perishable. The average student loses a month of academic-calendar learning each summer.
- Students see greater academic dips in math than in reading.
- Children not reading over the summer can fall on an average of 2 months in reading during the summer. And, summer slide is cumulative, with these learning losses building up each summer.
- Students from households with access to books over the summer see significantly more gains in reading scores from spring to fall than students from households without access to books
- Differences in children’s summer learning experiences during their elementary school years can ultimately impact whether they earn a high school diploma and continue to college.
How can your Child Not Fall Victim to the Summer Slide?
Here are a few ways to address and prevent summer slide....
- Access to books is critical. The public library is an excellent free resource for families to have access to books of a wide range of interests and reading levels, as well as librarians to guide children and families in selecting great books.
- Look for the Kids Read Now Materials being sent home to your children. They will receive 6 books throughout the summer. Read the books with your child, ask your child questions about what they are reading.
- When children select reading materials themselves and read for enjoyment, they receive the most gains in reading achievement, including better reading comprehension, writing style, vocabulary, spelling, and grammatical development.
- Summer programs, such as those offered at Grandview (Summer S.L.A.M.) and the public libraries, that allow and encourage children to choose what they read are likely to be most successful.
- Children and teens tend to read more when adults in their lives encourage them to read, and also when they see those adults reading often themselves.
- Children that feel that reading is fun tend to read more often, so summer programs that help make reading enjoyable and social are most successful.
- Reading just 4 to 6 books over the summer has the potential to prevent a decline in reading achievement scores from the spring to the fall, so even small steps are very beneficial. Remember that 6 books will be sent to all K-4 Grandview students throughout the summer.
- Preventing summer slide is most effective when community organizations—including schools, public libraries, community centers, parent groups, social service agencies, and others—work together to encourage kids to read, make reading fun, and to reach families about the importance of reading over the summer.
- Parents, caregivers, and other adults can help stem summer slide by reading themselves, as children that see adults in their lives reading often tend to read more themselves.
Summer S.L.A.M.
Clarenceville is offering a summer learning program. For students K-4, they will be attending their home school, unless they are enrolled in summer camp. It will be held at both elementary schools. The program will run from 9-12, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for eight weeks starting June 22nd and ending August 12th. The program will focus on Reading, Math, Science, and STEM. Each week will offer different engaging activities to have your child excited about coming each day. We know that families go on vacation over the summer. We are just happy when they can participate in the program. If you missed the enrollment, please reach to myself or call the Grandview office to see if there are slots for your child. We already have 150+ students. You do not want your child to miss out on this great opportunity!!
This program is full!! The deadline has passed.
Other Ideas
Looking for other ideas or are unable to attend Clarenceville Summer S.L.A.M. Program, here are a few other ideas that you can partake in this summer. Mrs. Frost, Grandview and Botsford Informational Technology teacher, has put some fabulous digital resources for families to keep the learning going. She shared these resources at the last GV Parent Virtual Cafe. It is linked to the GV Parent Website.
Summer Kids Read Now!!
We have Kids Read Now for ALL K-4 Clarenceville Students over the summer. 6 reading level specific books will be sent to ALL Clarenceville homes for your child to ensure that the students are reading over the summer. Each book will include a discovery sheet for general information, as well as, a digital parent guide to help support your child with reading comprehension skills. Students that engage in this program will receive rewards and celebrations from me when they return to school in the fall. We will also be calling families throughout the summer to ensure that you are receiving the books. So if you have moved, please be sure Ms. Tammy has your correct address!! More information to come on this!!!
We are excited that within the next week, Kids Read Now will mail your students their first book! Ahead of their book arriving, each family will receive a copy of our Parent Guide (see below) in their mailbox to learn more about Kids Read Now.
Each student will also be receiving a copy of our custom illustrated writing journal (My Stories) along with their six books!
Chromebook Return
Thank you to the families that have already turned in their Chromebooks. We have almost ALL of the Chromebooks for our face-to-face families. We are giving a popsicle reward to the classrooms that get all of their Chromebooks returned.
ALL elementary CVA
If they are virtual, there will be a drop off day for those families. Please bring them to the Grandview office starting Friday, June 11th. All CVA Chromebooks are due to the GV office by Friday, June 18th. The GV office hours are from 8-4:00.
All Chromebooks are returned to the office to be checked in so that all necessary paperwork can be updated. Remember that there was a contract signed, so families are responsible for any damaged computers or Chromebooks not returned.
Grandview Garden -- We Need HELP!!
In order to make this a community garden, we need your help. We are looking for the following help:
- Lawn bag donations (just drop the bags off at the GV office)
- Weed, weed, and more weeding. You can be on the school property outside during the school day for weeding. We have lawn bags stashed outside to help support GV families that can come up and help weed. You can also be on school property in the evening and on the weekend, if you are helping to weed. All of our students know how to recognize a weed and how to get to the root of the weed!!
- Once summer hits and you are walking by GV, feel free to water any of our GV boxes if they look thirsty.
Please remember that the Grandview garden is a community garden. It is open to everyone in the Grandview community!
Yearbooks
Mrs. Hayes and Mrs. Thomas did a wonderful job including all of our students, even if they were virtual learners all year. The yearbooks feature both our Grandview Virtual students, as well as, our face-to-face students. #allmeansall
Schools of Choice Application is OPEN!!!
A few answers to a few questions you may have about Schools of Choice.....
- You do not have to fill out a Schools of Choice application each year. Once you are accepted, you are part of the Clarenceville Community.
- If your child is going up to the Middle School, you do not need to fill out a Schools of Choice application. Again, once you are accepted, you are part of our district, not just the school.
- I have been at Grandview and want to stay and I am afraid to fill out the application and not get accepted. Reach out to me and let me know that you are filling out an application. I will do everything to work with Mr. Shepich to have your application accepted.
- If your child attended preschool or GSRP at Grandview and you live out of the district, you STILL need to fill out a Schools of Choice application. Attending those programs did not require you to fill out a Schools of Choice application.
- When do you "accept" Schools of Choice? It is unlimited, so you should not have a problem getting into the district and there should be space for your child. Just be timely in completing your registration.
- If I fill out my application, will I have to go to Botsford. We do not want to have to move students that are already established in a school community. So please specify on the form which school you want your child to attend.
In the end, DO NOT miss the deadline. If you do and you live outside of the district, you will not be able to attend Grandview for the 2021-2022 school year.
Enrollment for the 2021-2022 School Year
- One button, entitled Schools of Choice, is for people who do not live in district, but would like to enroll their child into the Clarenceville School District for the 2021-2022 school year. Please note that new to the process this year is that parents must send an affirmation of discipline record form to the school their child most recently attended and that school must return the form to our central office. The form is found on the schools of choice webpage.
- The other button, entitled Pre-enrollment, is for incoming kindergarten in-district families or new families that moved into the district.
- The third button is entitled Kindergarten. This is to guide you through the kindergarten enrollment process. Note.....If you are an incoming kindergarten family, that does not live in the district, you still need to fill out the Schools of Choice forms, even if you have another child attending Grandview. After you have your forms completed, you need to supply the Grandview office with the necessary residency documentation. Questions on any of these enrollment forms, please contact the Grandview main office.
Be the "I" in Kind - SPREAD Kindness
The Clarenceville School District has displayed a "Be Kind Livonia" Banner at Shaw Stadium located at Clarenceville Middle School. We are encouraging our learning community to get behind & support this campaign by stopping by & taking a photo where "you" represent the "I" in KIND. Please share your picture on your social media accounts using the hashtag #BeKindLivona.
During a vital period of time, let us come together & spread KINDNESS throughout our school district & the city of Livonia. Mr. Shepich, Superintendent of the Clarenceville School District has challenged our learning community to have the MOST images posted on social media with the hashtag making the city aware that we support this campaign. SPREAD KINDNESS.
Individual #BeKindLivonia lawn signs will also be available to the public for a $20 donation, with proceeds supporting the Blessing Bag Project. Get your own Be Kind Livonia sign at the UPS Store #3011 on Five Mile at Newburgh.
COVID Update
The CDC has come out to make a changes effective June 1st. Aspects that affect the Grandview community is mask wearing, social distancing distance (6 feet to 3 feet), outdoor gathering (no limit), and quarantine duration (14 to 10-days). They have stated that vaccinated people do not need to wear masks, as well as, mask wearing is not required outside.
In the end, we have been safe and do not want to make any changes to the existing protocols these last two weeks that could affect our students and allow them to be in school. In the end, teachers and students will stay masked at all times,. We will adhere to the 6 feet social distancing and will keep the 14-day quarantine. Even though our staff is vaccinated, we will stay masked.
Thank you for supporting us down the home stretch. We do not want to interrupt the great things that are happening at Grandview to ensure our students stay safe.
Kindergarten Registration
Looking for new Kindergarteners or Junior Kindergarteners for this fall!
If you have a child who will be five years old by December 1, 2021, he/she may be eligible for Kindergarten or Junior Kindergarten next fall. Please complete the Round Up Registration form online by visiting this link https://forms.gle/tRdGGq6FchLFjYF77. Please pass this link along to friends and neighbors who have a future Kindergarten student but do not have siblings at Grandview.
For Questions, contact the Grandview Office: 248-919-0404
When should I keep my student home??
Thank you to everyone for being so diligent in screening your child and keeping them home when symptoms appear. We also appreciate the transparency and communication with your classroom teacher and the office to ensure that it is safe to send your child to school.
Remember that if your child just has a runny nose or allergies, you can send them. We want our children in school learning as much as possible!
Free Breakfast and Lunch
On Friday, students will have a choice to bring two breakfast and lunch meals home with them from school. Your child can bring the meals home on the bus. Milk will be sent home too. This is a choice, but strongly encouraged as meals will be made for all parents. If you do not wish to have the food be brought home, please contact your student's teacher or contact the office so that we can put your child's name on the do not send list.
On Thursday, 7-day meal distributions will still happen at the High School. This is a great way for our CVA students to receive meals. Please remember if you cannot get up to school to pick-up your meals, please reach out to Grandview and we will deliver the meals to your home.
Meals for this week:
Monday: Breakfast: Cinnamon Apple Toast, Peaches, and milk
Lunch: Classic pepperoni Pizza, Crinkle carrots, pears, and milk
Tuesday: Breakfast: Mini maple pancakes, apple, and milk
Lunch: Chicken Cordon Bleu sandwich, spiced green beans, tomatoes, orange slices, and milk
Wednesday: Breakfast: Cocoa Puffs cereal, applesauce, and milk
Lunch: Ground beef soft tacos, mexicorn, broccoli & cauliflower, orange, and milk
Thursday: Breakfast: Vanilla yogurt with graham crackers, orange slices, and milk
Lunch: Chicken tenders with roll, tater tots, veggies, applesauce, and milk
Friday: Breakfast: Fluffy French Toast, apple, milk
Lunch: Cooks Choice.....It will not be served.....bagged meals will be sent home.
Remember to also visit Food Service Website for up-to-date menu changes and to help with planning ahead.
Arrival and Dismissal
Please remember to stay in your car when you drop off and have your child sitting on the right side of the car so that it is easy for them to get out of the car and for the staff to assist the students. Also, please be patient as we will have more cars in the back and we will need to retrain everyone as we are back to five-day a week instruction.
If your child is a car rider, you should have a tag by now to hang in your car. If you have not received one, please reach out to the office or the classroom teacher. Displaying these in your car makes the process go by faster.
If your child is a walker, please put it in writing and send it in an email to myself and/or the teacher or a written note. Your child will be dismissed from the back with the car riders.
Remember that in the back, please form three lines to help us to get more cars through quicker and more efficient. Do not get out of the car, there will be staff on site to help get your child out of the car.
Bus Schedule
If your child is not riding the bus, they have to be dropped off and picked up in the back of the school. We will NOT allow for parent drop off before or after school. We need to monitor social distancing and that not occur if parent walk up is happening amongst our bussers.
School Attendance
For the students that are returning to school, attendance is taking two times a day. Students are marked tardy starting at 8:40. Please be timely so that absences do not add up.
Truancy laws will be upheld. Under State of Michigan legislation, truancy is defined as a child who has 10 or more unexcused absences per school year. If you are option 1 - hybrid remote, teachers will take a morning and afternoon attendance, just like in brick and mortar. If you are in option 2 - virtual academy. You have a little more flexibility, but daily contact with the teacher is still expected. You can still call into the attendance line to excuse your child, but please do not get yourself into trouble with attendance. Attendance is mandatory.
Parent Support Learning Sessions
There are a ton of amazing sessions on super relevant and impactful session!!! I encourage you to take time out of your schedule to support yourself to support your children.
Take a look and let me know if you attend and what you learn!!!
Clarenceville District and Elementary Calendar
Tuesday Night Night - 1 more for this school year!!
Grandview Sports
In the meantime, check out this great communication piece for our families!!
Important Dates and Upcoming Dates
June Calendar Events
7: Field Day
8: Field Day Rain Date
10: 5th grade virtual graduation ceremony @ 9:30 am
Board of Education Meeting - Virtual @ 6:30 pm
11: Last day of school -- 1/2-day for students, dismissal at 11:30
5th grade clap-out @ 11:00 am -- line up around the school, parents may NOT enter the building
5th grade car parade @ 1:00 -- starts at Botsford