Dicken Family Newsletter
3.21.21
Principal's Corner
Dear Families,
Happy Spring! We are looking forward to welcoming our Young Fives and Kindergarten hybrid students on Thursday and Friday of this week!
Upcoming Dates
- Thursday, March 25 - Kindergarten Cohort 1 - In Person Hybrid
- Friday, March 26 - Y 5 / Kindergarten Cohort 2 - In Person Hybrid
- Friday, March 26 Spring Break Begins at end of school day
- Monday, April 5 School Resumes
- Friday, April 9 Report Letters emailed home (pushed back from original March 26 date)
Asynchronous Lessons Reminder
As we prepare to launch our hybrid model, I just wanted to remind everyone about our asynchronous days. In order to give teachers time to set up their classrooms before launching hybrid instruction, there will be three asynchronous days of learning prior to each phase. This means, our young 5s class, and kindergarten classes will have asynchronous days on March 22, March 23, and March 24. First and second grade will have three asynchronous days on March 24, March 25, and March 26. Third, fourth, and fifth grade classes will have asynchronous days on April 7, April 8, and April 9. Teachers will provide work for students to complete, but there will be no synchronous classes on these days.
In addition, specials teachers will be providing asynchronous lessons next week. They’ll be using the time to prepare their classrooms and to support all Stage 1 returning students. Students are expected to complete their assignments during their normal specials times.
School Breakfast and Lunches
Student breakfast/lunch will be offered free of charge for the rest of the school year but you must order lunch for your student! First, you must register for the program at sendmoneytoschool.com
Families will then need to order student lunches using the new
AAPS Online Student Lunch Ordering system.
Questions? Contact AAPS Food Service at 734-994-2265.
Noon Hour Supervisor Positions
We are 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
Changes to the Daily Schedules
With the launch of hybrid, ALL students will experience shifts in their schedules. Families can expect shifts in the times students attend specials and the times students attend lunch as well as other shifts. Classroom teachers will communicate their specific class schedule to families prior to the launch of each phase.
This district video will give you a snapshot of what Hybrid Learning / What In-Person School Will Look Like.
Arrival / Dismissal Plans for Return to Hybrid
We will be sending out a Family Handbook for Return to Hybrid plans. I wanted to highlight some of the important pieces:
Dicken Transportation survey: Please fill this form out which will help teachers plan for arrival/dismissal:
Driveline:
We will be using a system called Driveline for parent pickup. This video gives you a snapshot of what Driveline looks like in action. This letter explains the new process. You will receive a hangtag with your family ID on your youngest child’s first day.
Each FAMILY should hang their family ID tag on their rearview mirror for easy identification. Parents do not need an app.
Staff will use the Driveline app to notify teachers.
- Students will use designated exits and walk to their car.
Parent Drop off / Pick Locations (see map below)
Grades 3 - 5 families: Carol St. entrance and loop
Grades K - 2 families: Runnymede entrance - first loop
Y5 families: Dicken Drive
Buses: Runnymede entrance - second loop
Students will enter and exit Dicken through the designated doors, assigned by classroom teacher. (See map below)
Equity
This week, I am thinking about how the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities have faced a significant increase in hate crimes this year, even before the tragedies of this past week. On behalf of our entire staff, I am sending support and healing to Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. We know that our children can and should be leaders in the important work ahead of us. I hope you will consider books from this list of carefully curated and reviewed titles for young people. Beyond the books we expose our children to, our actions of course are what matters most. When we start by learning about and celebrating one another’s identities, both the unique stories that make us who we are as well as the universal themes that connect us, we find ourselves equipped and inspired to act in more just and inclusive ways.
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
Dicken Garden Needs You!
The garden is a fantastic way to bring school outdoors, and we need help to get it to its full potential. No gardening experience is necessary. This spring we need volunteers to help lay weedblock fabric (to keep the thistle out), make temporary repairs to beds, pick up free compost and mulch (pickup trucks work best!), install garden fencing, start seedlings (soil, seeds and containers will be provided), and prepare beds -- all to get ready for planting!
Contact co-coordinators Anne Erickson, amcerickson@gmail.com, or Kristin Dickinson, kad341@gmail.com, if you are able to help in any way! You can also join the facebook group Dicken Elementary Garden to hear about all of the opportunities to get your hands dirty!
Gym Kits for Students
Gym is challenging for kids to do at home, even more so when they are not at home. To help make gym fun for everyone, we are planning to compile gym kits with supplies regularly used in Mr. Maier's gym class. These will be supplied to Peace Neighborhood Center, and available to individual students who attend school in other centers and do not have access to materials such as a small ball, paper cups,and paper plates. If you would like to donate, the wish list is here: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/29F11Q23DJLH?ref_=wl_share
This list will make 30 kits. Items can be shipped directly from Amazon, and drop off or pick up will be arranged if purchased elsewhere. Items are being collected by Anne Erickson to be assembled and delivered. Any questions, email: amcerickson@gmail.com.
PTOC Meeting Monday, March 22nd
All are welcome to attend PTOC meetings!
Ann Arbor PTO Council: Surviving Together - Engaging, Thriving, Inspiring!
Please join us for our next PTO Council Member Meeting 2020-21!
DATE: Monday, March 22
TIME: 7:00-8:30 pm
MEETING TOPIC: Restorative Justice Practices in Schools
Representatives of the Skyline Sky Squad and the Dispute Resolution Center
LOCATION: Virtual Zoom Meeting: PTOC GENERAL MEETING MARCH 22, 2021 https://a2schools.zoom.us/j/96281241187?pwd=bXg0dkFmbUhnTUVaV0lObkxsNEZQZz09
Meeting ID: 962 8124 1187
Passcode: 685155
Teacher Wishlists
Our teachers are working hard to prepare for our students’ return to in-person learning. If you are able, please consider purchasing items on your student’s teacher’s wishlists. Teachers may have requested additional items which will be noted by your class’s homeroom parent. Make sure to take a look at the non-classroom teachers as well!
Young 5s
Ms. Brogno - wishlist
Kindergarten
Ms. Harris - wishlist
Mrs. Gargaro - wishlist
1st Grade
Ms. Lypka - wishlist
Mrs. Rossi - wishlist
Mrs. Thomas - wishlist
2nd Grade
Mrs. Maus - wishlist
Mrs. Posey - wishlist
Mrs. Bahr - wishlist
3rd Grade
Mrs. Hubbard - wishlist
Ms. Concannon - wishlist
4th Grade
Ms. Miller and Ms. Brann (team teaching) - wishlist
5th Grade
Ms. Chartier - wishlist
Mrs. Hane - wishlist
Non-Classroom Teachers
Lauren York (Building Literacy Expert) wishlist
Liz Bauman (Special Education Teacher Consultant) wishlist
Original Works Art Fundraiser
WHAT: ORIGINAL WORKS ART FUNDRAISER
WHO: Any Dicken Students, Parents, or Siblings
WHEN: Deadline to submit artwork is April 23, 2021, but orders will be filled as they are placed, so the sooner you order, the sooner you'll get your items.
Original Works is a company that takes our children's art and reproduces it on a wide variety of items. They donate a generous portion (33%) of the cost of the items to Dicken. This is the only fundraiser that specifically supports our art programming at Dicken.
In year's past, Ms. Erickson, our esteemed art teacher, led students in each grade to complete specific artwork for this project. This year, children will make art at home and send a digital copy of the art to Original Works and you can order online. Please let me know if you have any questions or need help ordering. Janine Hutchinson 734-913-9418 or jmhutch@umich.edu
Original Works Flyer - English
Original Works Flyer - Spanish
Dicken Girl Scout Troops
Now that the weather is warming up, Dicken Girl Scout troops are planning some fun outdoor activities. We have existing troops for girls in grades 2-5, and we have a few girls interested in a Daisy troop for girls in Kindergarten and 1st grade.
If you have a daughter in K or 1st, and have time to help lead a troop, please contact Jenifer Miller at timandjenm@gmail.com. Jenifer is happy to help you get set up, and come to any meetings you have this year to help you figure out how to lead the troop. Girl Scouts has lots of great resources to help leaders, and the troop has some money in the bank to get started with.
Have an item for the blast? Email it to dolphinsblast@gmail.com. Blast items kindly requested by 5 p.m. Friday.