Dicken Family Newsletter
12.1.23
Principal's Corner
Upcoming Dates
Wednesday, December 6 - Early Release - 1:00 Dismissal
Friday, December 22 - Last Day of School before Winter Break
SAVE THE DATE: Tuesday, January 30 - Winter Walk! (Inclement WeatherBack up date of Thursday Feb. 1)
Appreciation
Thank you to Jeanetta Arhin, Lynette Gerido, Katie Bryant and all the amazing parent volunteers for making our Super Science Days such a success!!!
Holiday Help
This year we are pleased to once again offer our families Holiday Support through our "Sponsor a Snowman" program. Each Snowman represents one Dicken student and a list of three items to be purchased: clothing, a book and a fun item such as a board game, a doll etc., we ask that no single item exceed $25.
This year Parents are able to come in the building and pick a Snowman from the office bulletin board as in years past. If you are unable to come in person to pick one, please contact Mrs. Stone by email or phone and we can send one home in your child’s backpack. Snowmen should be available for pick up the week after our Thanksgiving break. stonem@aaps.k12.mi.us or 734-994-1928
We ask that all presents be brought to the office unwrapped with the Snowman attached no later than December 20. Thank you as always for supporting our Dicken families!
From the Art Room: A Heads Up About the Winter Walk!!!
The winter walk is an evening of art out in nature! Students create luminaries and on a snowy winter evening in January you will be invited to walk a path at night lined by the hundreds of glowing art luminaries!
Our 1st - 5th grade artists will be creating luminaries for this year’s Winter Walk
within the next couple months. If you have a child who is in 1st - 5th grade (no young
fives or kindergartners), then start to keep your eyes open for clear glass jars or
vases when you are out on errands.
You will be asked to bring in one wide-mouth clear glass jar (big enough for
an adult hand to fit inside) to the art room by a specific date. Glass jars, or small
vases can be found easily around your home, check your recycling bins (pickle jars
work well). If you cannot find a jar at home, you can get one at many second-hand
stores, Michael’s Craft store or many Dollar Stores. The glass jars or vases must not
have anything on them (just clear glass). If you still are unable to find a glass jar, please
let us know, we will find one for you.
This is just a heads up to let you know to start looking for vases and jars.
Your student will bring home a flyer with a more specific date for dropping off the
vase or jar within the next few weeks.
Thanks so much!
Please email me if you have any questions! ( ericksot@aaps.k12.mi.us )
Sincerely, Ms Erickson (The Art Teacher!)
Parent Feedback Request
Dicken needs your feedback! As a Title 1 School, Dicken needs feedback from all of our families. This feedback is used to help guide TItle 1 program initiatives and areas to focus on for the future. It does not matter if your student receives targeted support or not for this survey. Please answer to the best of your ability, this is an anonymous survey. We appreciate your feedback. The survey can be found here or at the link below: https://forms.gle/u6nLTfsx3F2AvpRE7 Thank you!
After Care Registration
A reminder that today (Dec. 1) is the last day for Registration for After Care at Dicken. Here is the link if you would like to register your child(ren): Dicken After Care Registration. If you have questions please email Kate Porter at porterk@aaps.k12.mi.us or call Michelle Givens at 734-994-2300 ext 53253.
The Character Effect
Our TCE Strength of the Week was Honesty. See the image below for inspiration to use with your children at home. Here are some other pieces shared with the students this week:
“Honesty is the fastest way to prevent a mistake from turning into a failure.” -James Altucher. Being honest helps us to take responsibility for our actions. Taking responsibility helps us to make every mistake a moment we can learn from.
Being honest helps us to feel good inside. Honesty happens when our words and actions match. When we are honest we are who we say we are at home, at school or out with our friends.
Parking Lot Safety
We have seen a number of cars recently driving very fast into and out of the entrance off Runnymede during Arrival and Dismissal and a couple of close encounters with student walkers and bike riders. PLEASE exercise caution around the school grounds to ensure everyone's safety. Thank you!
~~~
All the Best,
Heather
PTO News
Message from the PTO President
Happy Friday Dolphins and Happy December,
Thank you so much to our Enrichment co-chairs Jeanetta Arhin and Lynette Gerido who organized and executed incredible Super Science Days with the Hands On Museum this week! Ask your dolphin what their favorite station was this weekend!
Here are a few ways that the Dicken PTO has used the funds we've raised this year to help our school this week:
- Super Science Day! The Hands On Museum came to Dicken on Thursday and Friday and each class had an hour to explore 10 different stations.
- Winter Gear. This week we purchased additional winter jackets, snow pants, boots, hats and gloves for the office to give to students when they need winter clothing.
- Healthy Snacks. This week we bought healthy fruits and cheese sticks for the office to give to students throughout the day when they are hungry and don't bring a snack from home.
Next week we have an exciting field trip for the lower elementary students to Hill Auditorium to see Jake Shimabukuro and a fabulous ukelele performance (http://www.jakeshimabukuro.com/). The teachers also have a fun craft project that will be happening during pods next Friday that we've provided the supplies for!
Have a great weekend!
-Hallie
—Hallie Jewell, Dicken PTO President
Want to connect with other parents and caregivers outside of school?
Click here for the Dicken Elementary Parents Facebook group.
Find information about events, meeting minutes, and more on the PTO website at www.dickenpto.com
Upcoming PTO Meeting Dates
All PTO Meetings take place on the third Thursday of each month from 7 - 8:30 pm via Zoom.
All Dicken community members are welcome to attend PTO meetings - please email dickenptopresident@gmail.com for the Zoom link!
Thursday, December 21
Thursday, January 18
Thursday, February 15
Thursday, March 21
Thursday, April 18
Thursday, May 16
Thursday, June 20
To see all Dicken school & PTO events in one place, click here for our PTO Google Calendar.
Another helpful link: the AAPS School Calendar.
The Dicken Directory is Here! Still Time to Add Your Info!
The 2023 - 2024 Dicken Directory is here!
Final Call for Spirit Wear
For anyone doing holiday shopping or stocking up on cozy sweatshirts or winter hats, don't forget to look at our Dicken Spirit Wear catalogue!
Orders due December 3.
Community Night Out: Chipotle (Tuesday, December 5)
Get your guac on! Wednesday, December 5th we have a Community Night Out at Chipotle on Stadium Blvd! Get some dinner and support Dicken. 33% of funds raised will come back to the Dicken PTO to help us support our students, teachers and school! Reminder — your online ordering code is: K9YJL6W
New After School Opportunity: The Dicken Green Team
Garden Clean Up - Please Help!
Mabel's Labels Fundraiser!
Support our Fundraiser - Dicken Elementary PTO
Buy Mabel's Labels waterproof, durable labels to help reduce classroom mix-ups and keep your items coming home!
Use code: BTS10 for 10% off your purchase
Search Dicken Elementary PTO (Ann Arbor) on the Mabel's Labels website for a portion of your purchase to go directly toward our school!