Dear Glengary Families,

As we make our way through the month of November, I invite you to join me in practicing the character strength of gratitude. Despite the challenging times so many of us have been enduring, there is much to be grateful for! I find that as I really stop to think about what I am grateful for, it refocuses the lens in which I view things and has the power to completely change my attitude and ultimately, the kind of day I have. Join me in taking on the November challenge below. You will feel better for doing so!

As always, the Glengary Staff is here to support you. Should you have questions or if concerns arise, please reach out to your child's teacher or myself and we will work together to find a solution. I can be reached at rosaleighjohnson@wlcsd.org or at 248-956-3100.

Here's to a GREAT week ahead!

RosaLeigh Johnson, Principal

November

11/9: PTA Meeting @ 6:30 pm

11/10: Panera Fundraising Event (4:00-8:00 pm)

11/10: Wellness Wednesday Event (Details Below)

11/10: Creativity Night (4-5) in Media Center (info below)

11/11: Last Day for Food Drive (Hosted by Glengary Student Council)

11/12: OPTIONAL Vaccine Clinic at WLC

11/13: Ski and Snowboard Swap at WLC

11/15: Picture Re-take Day

11/15 Reflections Due Date

11/17: Parent/Teacher Conference Sign Up Opens to Families

11/25 & 11/26: Thanksgiving Break

December

12/1: Half Day of School (Staff PD) 12:25 PM Dismissal

12/6: Parent/Teacher Sign Up Closes to Families

12/9: Parent/Teacher Conferences (early dismissal)

12/21: Final Day for Students (Winter break begins at close of school day)

The character strength of focus this week is Bravery (Nov 7-12th). The following 2 weeks (Nov 12-Nov 27), the character strength of focus will be Gratitude .

Please take a look at the links below for each strength as they will provide you with the knowledge and tools needed to partner in this important work. The resources in the links below were created to help parents reinforce this important learning at home. Thank you!

Our Kindergarteners have made fantastic growth and just recently finished their Unit 1 of Reading-We are Readers. To honor and celebrate their accomplishment, this past Friday, November 5th, the 3 kindergarten classes paraded through our hallways. Our Glengary Community of Students and Staff cheered and clapped on our young readers to celebrate them and the encourage our young readers to keep learning. Here are a few pictures of the special parade. We are so proud of our Kindergarten readers and our entire student body for their encouragement and enthusiasm.

Please complete by Friday, 11/12.

If you are looking for Holiday support for your child(ren), consider applying for the Lakes Area Youth Assistance Adopt A Child program. Click on the link below for more informaiton.

Lakes Area Youth Assistance (LAYA) is proud to let you know that we will again be sponsoring the Holiday Shop With a Hero event in December! The deadline to apply is Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021. One application per family and one parental consent form per child is required to be filled out and returned to the LAYA office along with a copy of the family’s 2020 Income Tax return, by Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021 in order to qualify. Click on the second link below.

As you know, we are experiencing a temporary postponement of several bus routes within the Walled Lake School District. This week, bus #173 was impacted, requiring parents to drive students to school. Please know that I understand how highly frustrating this is as it has required parents have had to adjust schedules, make carpool arrangements, and wait in unusally long lines for arrival and dismissal.

Thank you to everyone for your continued patience, flexibility and grace. I kindly ask that you continue to follow the recommendations below in an effort to ensure as smooth as a process as possible.

• We know that there will be increased traffic but please do not block driveways. These must remain unblocked so residents can access their homes.
• Please be conscious of your activity in the line and do your best to remain distraction free to ensure a consistent flow of traffic.
• Please remember to remain in your vehicle and pull forward to the cone. For drop-off, a student safety will open your passenger door. Staff will also be positioned at cones and distributing Apple Pick-Up signs to families who do not have one. For Pick-Up, an adult will release your student to your vehicle and a student safety will open the passenger door. If you need to assist your student with buckling, please pull into a parking space. We cannot have adults exit their vehicles while in the line or a traffic back-up will ensue.

Friendly reminder that drop-off begins at 8:50 AM. We will have staff positioned outside for drop-off until 9:10 AM as we know there will be increased traffic. Pick-up begins at 3:45 PM and we will plan to have all cars cleared out by 4:05 PM.

***If your child is going home with someone who is not the parent, please send an email to the classroom teacher and CC Melissa Roth (melissaroth@wlcsd.org) and Cheryl Maten (cherylmaten@wlcsd.org). If there is any way to give this person your Apple Pick-Up Sign on the day that they are picking up, this would be extremely helpful to our team.

Linked HERE you will find the Arrival/Dismissal Procedures from the start of the year.

I understand how problematic and frustrating this is for our families. Thank you for your flexibility, patience and grace. We will continue to work together to keep things running as smoothly as possible.

As you know, Romeo came home to teacher and handler, Laura Locke, on Thursday, October 28th. Romeo also made a guest appearance at the Board Education Meeting on Thursday, November 4th. Addtionally, Romeo has spent time with Mrs. Locke and a strong bond has been formed in just a few short weeks. Romeo is comfortable and happy at home and is excited to begin his transition to school. Please note that the transition will be gradual and intentional, as we prioritize the needs of Romeo and our students.

-Monday, November 8th, students will watch a video prepared by Mrs. Locke and Mrs. Johnson which will help students understand what to expect and how to interact with Romeo (i.e., calm body and voices).

-The Glengary Staff will be trained by Maple Lane Kennel Trainer, Fred Saber on Tuesday, November 9th during a staff meeting. Romeo and Champ, therapy dog at Mary Helen Guest, will be part of this training.

-Romeo will remain at Glengary on Tuesday, November 9th in Mrs. Locke's classroom. It is important for Romeo to become comfortable with Mrs. Locke in the school setting and to practice being with our Gators. Romeo will go home at lunch.

-Romeo will return for a half day of school on Thursday, November 11th. For each week following, Romeo will attend school for an additional half day. (Week of Nov. 15th, Romeo will attend school for 3 half days, Week of November 22nd, Romeo will attend for 3 half days as this is a short week of school, Week of November 29th, Romeo will attend for 4 half days and week of December 6th, Romeo will attend for 5 half days.)

*Mrs. Locke and Mrs. Johnson will monitor Romeo's response to his transition and determine when he is ready to begin attending full days at Glengary. This may occur in December or January.

**Please note that during these transition days, Romeo will be visiting different classrooms and areas of the building (i.e.-PE, Media, recess). This will be a very flexible and fluid schedule initially, as we work to build Romeo's stamina, comfort and confidence. A more concrete schedule will be developed in the new year.

Sign up for virtual Parent/Teacher Conferences will begin soon. Dates are listed below. Click on the link below for step-by-step directions for how to sign up using Skyward Family Access.

Sign-Up Opens for Parents

Wednesday, November 17 at 7:00 a.m.

Sign-Up Closes for Parents

Monday, December 6 at 7:00 a.m.

As you begin to think about the conference schedule that may work best for you, please note the following considerations:

-If you have multiple children, I suggest you do not have your conferences back to back, as we all know that sometimes conferences run behind. Try to build in a time slot buffer between conference times for your children.

*Please note that the conference day is slated for one conference per child. I kindly ask that two family homes do their best to collaborate and attend a joint conference.

The PTA is proudly sponsoring a Creativity Night next Wednesday, November 10th from 4-5 PM. The purpose is to foster an environment where students can explore their creativity and complete a project that could be submitted to Reflections.

The National PTA’s Reflections program has helped students explore their own thoughts, feelings and ideas, develop artistic literacy, increase confidence, and find a love for learning that will help them become more successful in school and in life. Each year, over 300,000 students in Pre-K through Grade 12 create original works of art in response to a student-selected theme. In response to this theme, students create works of art in one or all the available arts categories:

1. Dance Choreography

2. Film Production

3. Literature

4. Music Composition

5. Photography

6. Visual Arts (2D and 3D)

7. Special Artist (must qualify)

This year's theme, "I Will Change the World By...," calls for students own unique interpretation through the arts.

Please check out the attached flyer below and RSVP to Andrea Halimi by 11/7 . A hard copy was also sent home on Wednesday, November 3rd.

If your child was absent on Picture Day or you were unhappy with how the pictures turned out, we will be having a picture retake day on November 15th.

**If partaking in retakes, please send the original picture packet back to school on 11/15. Please also email the classroom teacher so that they are aware that you would like picture retakes.

**Preschool students will be taking school pictures on the 15th for the first time.

With the recent Emergency Use Authorization of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for youth aged 5-11, all school-aged youth (aged 5-18) can now receive the COVID-19 vaccine. WLCSD has partnered with Oakland County Health Division to hold an optional vaccine clinic at Walled Lake Central High School on Friday, November 12 from 4-7:30 p.m. If you would like to make an appointment, please email OaklandCountyVaccine.com or call 1-800-848-5533. Anyone under 18 must have a parent/guardian present.

The County is also investing in additional advertising for pediatric COVID-19 vaccines so please keep an eye out for that if our clinic location does not work for your schedule. The Health Division has additional community vaccine clinics available on their website, OaklandCountyVaccine.com. Visit Oakland County Health Division’s ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ webpage to learn more about vaccine safety, eligibility, and what to expect at your appointment. Oakland County’s Nurse on Call is also available Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. to answer any health-related questions at 1-800-848-5544.

As we prepare for the colder fall/winter weather to hit, please take a moment to review the recess wear guidelines.

Please make sure your child has an appropriate coat or jacket for the weather. Many classes have an early morning block recess and we are looking ahead at some chilly mornings.

Hopefully we are still a ways away from snow, put please note that IT IS ESSENTIAL that students have boots and snow pants when there is snow on the ground.

If you need help providing winter wear for your child, please reach out to me and we will help you! We want all of our Gators to have the items that they need!

Please click on the button below for the Walled Lake District Update.

Check out the link below for a variety of Community Ed classes that are offered through WLCSD.

Join us for our November PTA meeting as we recap the Fun Run and discuss our events for the next couple of months, including the Giving Tree and winter events! Glengary Media Center 11/9/21 at 6:30 p.m.

Order online at panerabread.com and enter code PRFUND at checkout. You can also bring the flyer below or show a digital version to the cashier when ordering at the cafe to ensure Glengary gets a portion of the proceeds.

Our Membership contest has come to a close -thank you to all of the families who have joined already (but you can always sign up to be a member)! The top classes with the most membership were Mrs. Stout, Mrs. Reed and Mrs. Cebluski's classes!

With the exciting news of being able to allow parents in school again, it opens up the opportunity for room parents! If you’ve never been a room parent, here’s what you can expect!

A room parent’s main task is to facilitate communication between other parents and the teacher, the school parent group and occasionally school administration. This can vary widely from class to class & teacher to teacher! For the most part, as a room parent you will solicit donations ( paper goods, snacks, decorations, etc.) from parents for classroom celebrations and events, at the request of the classroom teacher, collect money for teacher gifts during holidays and teacher appreciation week in May, organize volunteers for classroom for events or enrichment/education and other tasks, as decided by the teacher.

Our goal is to identify one Lead Room parent who can act as the go to person and liason between the teacher and other parents for whatever needs the teacher may have. Additionally, we realize that many parents desire to support the classroom so our goal is to identify other parents who wish to support and can correspond/coordinate with the Lead Room Parent, while the Lead Room Parent communicates with the teacher.

If you have interest in either role, please complete the form below by Monday, November 15th. Please note that if more than one parent says they wish to be the Lead Room Parent, there will be a lottery to determine which individual will take on this role. Please also remember that the role of the Room Parents will vary by teacher and the needs that they identify.

PTA Volunteer Coordinator, Wendi Oliver, will be in touch over the next few weeks regarding the room parent groupings and some ideas for how to facilitate with the classroom teacher.

Thank you!

If any parents that volunteered took pictures and would like to share, please email them to glengaryfunrun@gmail.com so we can review them for the yearbook!

Are you someone who is interested in helping with this year's yearbook?! Being back in school and having events like the Fun Run and Trunk or Treat make putting the memories together, fun and totally worthwhile.

If any parents are interested in starting to work on the yearbook, please reach out to alisonburke521@gmail.com or come to our meeting in November!

The future of the Glengary Yearbook lies with you! If you would like to volunteer to help put

together the yearbook, the committee is forming now - please sign up at the meeting or reach

out to Alison Burke at alisonburke521@gmail.com!!! If you were able to take pictures at the Fun Run and have not yet done so, please email them toglengaryfunrun@gmail.com for yearbook

consideration!

Does your child enjoy art, music and dance or have an interest in writing, producing films and taking photos? If so, have them join us and have fun unleashing their inner artist with PTA reflections!

National PTA’s Reflections program has helped students explore their own thoughts, feelings and ideas, develop artistic literacy, increase confidence, and find a love for learning that will help them become more successful in school and in life.

Each year, over 300,000 students in Pre-K through Grade 12 create original works of art in response to a student-selected theme. In response to this theme, students create works of art in one or all the available arts categories:

1. Dance Choreography

2. Film Production

3. Literature

4. Music Composition

5. Photography

6. Visual Arts (2D and 3D)

7. Special Artist (must qualify)

This year's theme, "I Will Change the World By...," calls for students own unique interpretation through the arts.

To learn more, check out the videos below.

If your student is interested in submitting an entry, complete the below form by November 15, 2021.

Please contact GlengaryReflections@gmail.com or call / text parent, Yoko Metcalf at (734) 837-3984.

At Glengary this year, we are teaching all students about the Zones of Regulation.

Here are some skills taught during The Zones of Regulation:

• Identifying your emotions by categorizing feelings into four zones (more on this below)
• Self-regulation: Achieving the preferred state of alertness (zone) for a situation. This is all about regulating your body and emotional regulation.
• Identifying triggers: Learning what makes you “tick” and why
• Coping strategies: Various techniques and strategies that help achieve emotional regulation and manage strong emotions
• Size of the problem: Introduces the idea that the size of your reaction should match the size of your problem, how to identify the size of your problem, and strategies for problem-solving.
• Expected behavior vs unexpected behavior: This also covers perspective taking and how your behavior affects the thoughts and feelings of the people around you.

Click on the link to learn more! This is a GREAT tool and language to use at home as well!

Please take note of the symptoms below. Based on guidance from the Oakland County Health Department, if a student presents the following symptoms, they may be suggestive of COVID-19.

1. Is this student currently experiencing ONE or more of the following symptoms unrelated to a known pre-existing condition (e.g. asthma, allergies)?

* New Cough

*Shortness of breath

*Difficulty breathing

*New loss of taste or smell

2. Is this student currently experiencing any TWO or more of the following symptoms unrelated to a known pre-existing condition (e.g. asthma, allergies)?

*Fever (100.4 degrees +)

*Chills

*Diarrhea (2x in 24 hours)

* Fatigue

*Congestion/runny nose

*Headache

*Muscle aches

*Sore throat

*Nausea/Vomiting (2x in 24 hours)

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) COVID-19 testing is strongly recommended. Contact your medical provider and get tested for COVID-19.

For the student to return back to school, there are three options:

1. Receive COVID-19 testing, and return to school with proof of a negative PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test result, provided symptoms have improved and fever resolved for 24 hours without fever reducing medicine. Rapid test results are not acceptable.

2. Exclude from school until 10 calendar days have passed since symptom onset and at least 24 hours fever free without fever reducing medicine.

3. Provide a note from your physician indicating a clear alternative diagnosis (e.g. positive strep throat, urinary infection, etc.). Must be fever free for over 24 hours without fever reducing medicine with improvement in symptoms.

We continue to urge all families to check your child's health daily and make decisions that will help ensure we keep our students, staff and community healthy and safe.

Daily Health Checks: Please check your child(ren) daily for ANY signs of illness before attending school. Check for the following symptoms:

• Fever/Chills
• Cough
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing
• Muscle of Body Aches
• Headache
• New loss of smell or taste
• Sore throat
• Congestion
• Runny Nose
• Nausea or Vomiting
• Diarrhea

If your child has any of these symptoms, please err on the side of caution and keep them home until they are feeling better! We appreciate your partnership as we continue to work together to keep our community healthy and safe!

For the 2021-22 school year, breakfast and lunch is free for all students. If you would normally fill out a form to receive free or reduced lunch, we ask that you do so for accounting purposes. Forms are available on the district food service web page.

Below you will find the breakfast and lunch menus for October. You will also find the contact information for our Food Service Department.

SKYWARD FAMILY ACCESS

It is critical that parents keep an updated email address and let us know if it changes as soon as possible. Parents may update this information for us on Skyward Family Access. All teachers at Glengary utilize Skyward Family Access to communicate with parents.Report cards, lunch account information, progress reports, attendance, and other important information will always be posted on Skyward Family Access. If you are a new family to Walled Lake Schools or have misplaced or lost your Family Access ID and password, please click HERE to get connected.

Glengary Gazette AND School Web Page

Our Glengary Gazette newsletter will be sent electronically to families. This is typically a bi-weekly communication filled with all important school and PTA updates. As we begin the year, the communication may be sent on a weekly basis if needed. An archive of newsletters will be posted to our school website. Please visit this page often for information about our school. You will find links to important documents, websites and blogs from your child's classroom, PTA forms and information, and important updates and forms that you will need to access.

PTA Website and Updates

Our PTA has an excellent website with upcoming events, fundraiser information, PTA membership links, and other pertinent information and forms. PTA information and updates are also shared with the Tuesday Tidbits.

Social Media

Glengary Elementary also has a Facebook page, Instagram, and Twitter which are linked below!

Principal: rosaleighjohnson@wlcsd.org

Cheryl Maten

Principal's Secretary: cherylmaten@wlcsd.org

Melissa Roth

Building Secretary: melissaroth@wlcsd.org

Important Phone Numbers:

Main Line: 248-956-3100

Fax Line: 248-956-3105
Attendance: 248-956-3190