Dicken Family Newsletter
5.13.22
Principal's Corner
Upcoming Dates
- Monday, May 16 - Disability Awareness Workshop (Grades 4 and 5)
Wednesday, May 18 - Early Release Day, 1:18pm dismissal
School of Choice Window Open
AAPS’s School of Choice window is open. It will be open through May 31, 2022. If you live outside of AAPS’s attendance boundaries and if you have a new student to enroll, please apply. If you have any questions about enrolling students in AAPS, please contact our enrollment office at enroll@a2schools.org.
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Events
The Ann Arbor Public Schools’ Asian, Pacific Islander, South Asian/American Parent Advisory Group has organized two exciting district wide events in celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Featured events include:
Author virtual visit with J. Torres for students in grades 4-8, May 20
Poetry writing collaboration with poet, Carlina Duan for students in grades 6-12, launching May 4th.
You can learn more HERE.
Heather
Message from the PTO President
We are looking forward to several great events over the coming weeks! The Disability Awareness workshop on Monday, the Dicken Auction on the 22nd, and the Ice Cream Social on June 2nd. We are also starting to talk about the class pizza parties earned during the Read-a-Thon, and planning for end of year picnics (info on those coming soon)! Read below for more about these events and how to get involved.
—Jenifer Miller, Dicken PTO President
Dicken Elementary parents’ Facebook group
Upcoming Event Dates:
PTO Silent Auction - May 22
Ice Cream Social - June 2
Disability Awareness Workshop
Disability Awareness Workshop is next Monday, May 16 - We still need a handful of volunteers. All grade levels welcome, we can’t do it without you!
The DAW is a one day program hosted by the Center for Independent Living to teach students an empathetic understanding of physical, developmental and learning disabilities. The hands-on activity based workshop is designed to help the students develop knowledge of not only how difficult and complex daily living can be for individuals with disabilities but also how innovative and resourceful they are at finding solutions. Traditionally, this is a 4th grade only event. However, since our 5th graders did not get a chance to participate last year, this year's workshop will include both 4th and 5th graders. Weather permitting, the event will be held outside on the black top/basketball court. We will need plenty of parent volunteers and parents from all grade levels are welcome! No special knowledge or experience with specific disabilities is needed. Please sign up here.
If you up for this workshop you must also be sure to complete the Dicken volunteer registration form prior to May 16 if you have not already done so! Dicken Volunteer Registration Form.
May is Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month!
Also this month, the the APISA/A (Asian, Pacific Islander, South Asian/American) Parent Advisory Group for Ann Arbor Public Schools is coordinating a book drive. Their goal is to add 320 books featuring Asian lead characters to the 32 AAPS school libraries (or at least 10 books at each school). Click here for more info and how to donate.
Dicken Auction - Parents Night Out: Please RSVP!
The Dicken Auction will be held Sunday, May 22nd at 5:30pm at Bill's Beer Garden in downtown Ann Arbor. This adult-only event is open to Dicken parents and guardians, teachers and staff who would like to come together to celebrate our Dicken students. There is no cost to attend this event and the first drink ticket is on us!
Are you planning to attend the auction this year? Please take a moment and RSVP by filing out this form.
Look for backpack mail this coming Monday with the formal invitation and links to the auction website! We look forward to gathering on May 22nd.
End of Year Ice Cream Social
We're so excited for the Ice Cream Social on Thursday, June 2nd, 6-8pm and we need all kinds of help to make it awesome. If you (or even your kiddos or neighbors) are able to help, please sign up for a volunteer slot in the SignUpGenius here.
We will also be sending home backpack mail next week with a chance to preorder tickets for the games and ice cream/popsicles. 10 free tickets will be included for each student, but feel free to order more for more fun games and ice cream! These preorders will need to be returned by Friday, May 27th and can be picked up at the front of the school on the day of the event.
Ray’s Red Hots will be at the event for purchasing food (no tickets, cash/card only; they also have vegetarian options!) and you are welcome to bring your own picnic food as well. There is no rain date so we will have fun whatever the weather!