Bobcat Buzz "News to Know"
Volume 2, Week 32 April 28, 2019
Welcome to Our House "Where Character Matters"
Botsford Families,
Over the next several weeks you will likely hear your child mention NWEA, DIBELS, DRA or even the M-Step. With all the testing taking place and the struggles our students might face it is not surprising that you might hear your son or daughter say "I am not good at math!" or "Reading is just not something I like". Grappling with a problem or failing at something is part of the learning process.
Kids actually benefit from experiencing failure. We know this and yet it’s hard for adults to accept. In fact, many parents equate good parenting with preventing their kids from struggling.
In The Gift of Failure, author and teacher Jessica Lahey details the consequences of this approach. She says challenging experiences are the only way we develop certain coping and problem-solving skills. If we shield children from adversity, key brain connections cannot develop.
“Allowing for small failures now teaches a child the skills to deal with, and perhaps even avoid, bigger ones later.”
- Jessica Lahey
Give kids space to fail. They (and you) will become stronger for it. As they say, “Failure isn’t fatal.” FAIL is actually the "FIRST ATTEMPT IN LEARNING."
Educationally Yours,
Christine Teff
Green School Status
5th Grade Project
Soar to Kindness
Acceptable Use Policy for Technology
The Clarenceville School district expects staff and students to conform to ethical and legal standards in the use of technology. This includes student use of Ipads, chromebooks, tablets and personal cell phones.
Students unauthorized use of Youtube to include videos that show and talk about drinking, violence, guns, drugs and sex is NOT allowed. This usage is in clear violation of the contract parents and students agreed to when they signed the technology policy.
Per policy 7540.03: Users who disregard this policy and its accompanying guidelines may have their user privileges suspended or revoked, and disciplinary action taken against them.
Parents should expect that students will NOT be using personal cell phones during the school day. Any unauthorized use of a cell phone may result in user privileges being revoked. Cell phones are only to be used outside of school hours or should remain at home. In 4th and 5th grade cell phones are kept in the classroom in a highly visible location. This is in an attempt to monitor the use of and prevent theft of the device.
2nd Grade Bridge Program
The Learning Pit
Outside Lunch Recess
B.E.S.T. By Law Changes and Nominations
ARTICLE V: OFFICERS AND THEIR ELECTION
a. The Executive Board shall consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Sports Director and Social Media Director of this organization, the school principal and teacher representative. Amended on April 16, 2019
c. Option for 2 year term without re-elections: President Treasurer and Sports Director. 1 year terms for Vice President, Secretary and Social Media Director. Amended on April 16, 2019
g. All candidates must be nominated three weeks prior to the May meeting and such candidates must be nominated by current Botsford parents. Amended on April 16, 2019
h. To be eligible to vote, parents must be sign voters sheet. Voting will take place from 8:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M. the day of the May meeting. Nominee’s must be present at May Meeting. Amended on April 16, 2019
k. To be eligible to be nominated you must have a current Botsford student. If your student has not yet started in the school term during elections you are not eligible to be elected. Amended on April 16, 2019
ARTICLE VI: DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 6: The Social Media Director shall manage the Botsford Elementary BEST PTO Facebook Page. The Social Media Director will work closely with all officers and post any information that is requested by the officers, the school principal and teacher representative. Amended on April 16, 2019
ARTICLE X: FISCAL YEAR/FISCAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Section 2:
a. Only board members; principal and board approved volunteers; and Teacher Representative will be permitted to handle BEST funds. Amended on April 16, 2019
b. Procedure for handling cash box shall be as follows:
1. Complete cash box request and submit to treasurer 1 week prior to event with two board signatures. Amended on April 16, 2019
1. Box shall not be handled by more than two approved people.
2. Funds must be counted in front of two people when taken out of secure location.
3. At the end of the event, funds must be recounted in front of two people, record on deposit form and turns it into the Treasurer or puts in the B.E.S.T. safe and notifies Treasurer. Amended on April 16, 2019
4. Cash box returned to secure location.
f. The use of Cash Box Request, Deposit Request, and Check/Reimbursement Request forms must be used. Two (2) signatures are required on each request except for Deposit Request. Amended on April 16, 2019
WE WILL VOTE ON BYLAWS ON TUESDAY, APRIL 30TH 6:00PM
Botsford Field Day
Please be sure to have your IChat form on file in our office!
Friday, Jun 7, 2019, 09:00 AM
19515 Lathers Street, Livonia, MI, USA
May Meeting is Tuesday the 21st for VOTING
Beginning Monday, May 6th information about each candidate will be posted on Facebook.
Safety is at the Heart
- All doors in the building remain locked during the day. You must enter at the front and be buzzed in by our office staff. The cameras offer us a view of our visitors but sometimes you may be asked to stand back and show your face before being allowed to enter the building.
- Everyone needs to sign in and get a YELLOW sticker before walking to the classrooms. We pull a gate across the hallway at arrival and dismissal but it does not stop folks from walking right on by. You will be asked to return to the office for your sticker if you do not have one on.
- If you are bringing in a backpack, birthday treats, gym shoes or a forgotten lunch you will be asked to leave them in the office for us to deliver. We attempt to limit the foot traffic in the halls during the school day.
5th Grade Transition to Middle School Events
- May 13th 6th Grade Orientation at the Middle School
- June 5th Activity Night at the Middle School for both Grandview and Botsford 5th graders
Mark your calendar for both events. This is a big move to middle school and it is imperative that your child feel comfortable.
Student Driven Learning
Botsford Learning Fair Thursday, May 23rd 2:00-3:30pm
Over the next couple of months as we lead up to our second annual learning fair you may hear your child talking about causes they want to support. Causes like supporting the Dearborn animal shelter, raising awareness around childhood leukemia, raising funds to support the Darian Locklear kindness project or collecting items for Hannah's care packages. Your son or daughter may also ask about bringing objects to school from home to enhance a project they are working on. This is all in an effort to allow students VOICE and CHOICE in their learning. Please stay tuned for updates regarding the culminating event scheduled for Thursday, May 23rd. We plan to invite our Bobcat families and Livonia community members to attend.
M-Step Testing Continues
5th grade will finish testing this Thursday with Social Studies. Our Bobcats continue to do their very BEST and we are very PROUD of them!
It is imperative that you AVOID pulling your child from school during these crucial testing periods. Students struggle when they have to take a test on a MAKE UP day. They are not with their peers and the pressure of "Am I missing something?" gets to them.
These are the M-Step testing dates:
4th grade: Tuesday, May 7th and Thursday, May 9th
3rd grade: Wednesday, May 15th and Thursday , May 16th
School Of Choice and Pre-Enrollment for 2019-2020 School Year
1."Schools of Choice" is for folks who do not live in the district but would like to enroll their child for the 2019-2020 school year. We welcome new families!
2. "Pre-Enrollment" is for incoming kindergarten families or new families that have moved into our district.
The Botsford office will reach out to you for additional documentation like residency paperwork and original birth certificates. If you have any questions please feel free to call the Botsford main office.
Join us for our 1st Ever "Lace Up, Clarenceville" Event
DRIVE THROUGH LOOP=NO PARKING
Please be aware of students at all times. Safety is our #1 Priority!
Learning Continues After 3:00pm
It has come to my attention that several students are ROUTINELY picked up from school between 3:00 and 3:30pm. This may be in an effort to avoid the dismissal procedures and large number of vehicles in our parking lot but PLEASE know that learning continues until dismissal. Our students need to be in school until the bell rings-EVERY MINUTE COUNTS. We do ask that parents sign their children out and each early pick up is recorded in our attendance database. These patterns are monitored.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
APRIL:
- WEEK OF APRIL 29th NWEA Testing Begins and Botsford Talent Show Tryouts
- Thursday, May 2nd 5th Grade MStep (Social Studies)
MAY:
- MAY 6TH -MAY 10TH STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK, NWEA Testing Continues
- Tuesday, May 7th 4th Grade MStep (Reading)
- Wednesday, May 8th KDG field trip to the Real Life Farm in Canton
- Wednesday, May 8th 1st-5th grade Choir Concert
- Thursday, May 9th 4th Grade MStep (Math)
- Friday, May 10th Dens and Gym Celebration 8:50-9:20
- Wednesday, May 15th 3rd Grade MStep (Reading)
- Thursday, May 16th 3rd Grade MStep (Math)
- Friday, May 17th "Teacher's Choice" Awards 9:00am
Staff Appreciation Week May 6th-10th
Please Connect With Us
Email: christine.teff@clarencevilleschools.org
Website: http://www.clarenceville.k12.mi.us/botsford/
Location: Botsford Elementary School, Lathers Street, Livonia, MI, United States
Phone: 248-919-0402