Navigator Notables
January 2024 Navigator Elementary Newsletter
Message from the Principal
Dear Navigator Elementary Families,
In January, we are finishing the first semester of this school year. This fall we welcomed many new students and families to Navigator Elementary. We continue to build our community by joining Country and Farley Hill Elementary families as well as new people moving to the area. Our PTO is a true partner with Navigator Elementary staff focused on building this union. Along the way we are assessing and reflecting through surveys and conversations on the activities both education and social to align our vision. Over the next few months, we have school wide activities with this goal in mind. These activities include grade level Winter Music Showcase Performance, Navigator Talent Show and Dance-A-Thon. I appreciate the time and energy our families and staff give to provide these experiences for the children..
Warm regards,
Ruth Badalucco
Principal
The Livingston County Department of Public Health Vision Screening
All Health Departments in Michigan provide routine hearing screening to identify children who have hearing problems or might be at risk for hearing problems. Children who do not pass the initial screening will be rescreened. If a child does not pass the rescreen, a letter will be mailed home recommending the child see a doctor for a complete examination.
Students in Grades Jr K, K, 2 & 4 will receive hearing screening. Hearing screening will also be provided to students in other grades who are last-year follow-ups and parent/teacher requests.
HEARING SCREENING is scheduled on January 16 for 4th grade.
Please call the school and provide your child’s name and teacher if:
- You do not want your child screened.
- Your child has hearing aids but cannot remove/replace themselves.
- You have a concern for your child and your child is not in above grades.
(Technicians will accept parent/teacher requests on the first day of screening.)
Please call the Health Department at (517) 546-9850 and ask for the Hearing & Vision
Coordinator if:
- Your child has a programmable shunt or any implanted medical device (child should not be screened due to magnets in audiometer headphones).
- You have questions regarding Hearing Screening.
Jet's Pizza Fundraiser Nights
Navigator Elementary and the local Jet's Pizza are collaborating for a school fundraiser. If your family is ordering pizza on the identified dates, the class with the most orders wins a pizza party.
Here are upcoming dates:
- February 13, 2024
- April 9, 2024
Congratulations to Ms. Hall's class for winning the pizza party for the December 12 fundraiser.
Upcoming January Events
January 8 - School resumes
January 10 - PTO Meeting
January 12 - Half Day of School (End of second quarter) and Navigator Safety Day
January 15 = No School
January 18 - Dance-A-Thon Fundraiser
January 23 - Third Grade Winter Music Showcase
January 24 - Fourth Grade Winter Music Showcase
January 25 - Fifth Grade Winter Music Showcase
Events are on the Navigator Elementary Calendar on the Navigator Elementary Website.
Navigator Watch D.O.G.S.
Our Navigator Watch D.O.G.S. program is up and running. We have multiple dads and grandpas volunteering each week. Many have returned a couple of times to be a part of a typical school day. Their enthusiasm and support is motivational for the students. Mrs. Miles and Mr. Karpicke (lead Watch D.O.G.S) are leading this program. If you are interested in participating in the Navigator Watch D.O.G.S program here at the school, you can email Mrs Miles at lmiles@pinckneypirates.org
Student School Attendance
Consistent school attendance is a factor that supports academic growth. Each school has a team that monitors and supports student attendance. According to Michigan School Law, it is the responsibility of the parent(s)/guardian(s) to see that their children, between the ages of 6 and 18, regularly attend school. Excused absences through Michigan are only excused with doctor notes, bereavement and/or court orders. This documentation can be submitted by taking a quick picture and sending it to our attendance email: mailto:ne-attendance@pinckneypirates.org
Effects of Screen Time
Livingston County Families Join our Next Mental Health Series...Effects of Screen Time
Information for this upcoming topic for January 11 will be shared for individuals interested in attending.
Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports (PBIS) at Navigator Elementary - Part 3
Students are learning how to get along with each other and follow behavior expectations in different areas in the building. After teaching and reinforcing expected behaviors, the next instructional step (if needed) is providing corrective feedback. There are different steps or actions to provide instruction for students including:
- Corrective feedback
- Reflection sheet
- Reteaching expectation
- Loss of privilege
- Time away from classroom to reset
- Parent contact
- Suspension
There are two categories of referral type behaviors labeled minor or major behaviors. Minor behaviors are managed by the teacher while major behaviors are managed through the office.
Minor Behavior Examples:
Disruptive behavior/horseplay
Excessive talking/verbal peer conflict
Not following directions
Off task
Refusal to work
Shoving
Leaving the room
Arguing with teacher
Running in the hallway
Throwing things
Major Behavior Examples:
Bullying/Harassment
Fighting/hitting/kicking
Bus misconduct
Violation of privacy
Stealing
Destruction of property
Possession of alcohol, drugs, or weapons
Using technology w/o permission
Swearing/Inappropriate language
Teasing/lying/cheating
Swearing
Repeated minor referrals
This is the Navigator Elementary reflection form used to help students reflect.
Dance-A-Thon January 18
Music Winter Showcase
In January, Ms. Green will showcase student learning in a musical performance at the Jane Tasch Theater. There is a separate performance for each grade level:
- January 23 - 3rd grade
- January 24 - 4th grade
- January 25 - 5th grade
All performances start at 7:00 pm. Students will arrive at 6:40 pm and go to the choir room to prepare for the concert.
Fifth Grade Camp
There is a parent/guardan camp meeting on March 12 to provide information about camp as well as getting the forms and permission slips for attending camp. Each teacher will be needing chaperone volunteers to help with supervising the kids during camp.
Specials News
Students rotate specials daily and attend the following classes weekly:
- Physical Education with Mr. Mike Goodfellow
- Art with Mrs. Jenny Shappell
- Music with Ms. Rachel Green
- Computer Science with Mr. Chad Chambless
News and Activities
Music:
In music class this month we have started to learn songs from “The Nutcracker” and about the ballet for the holiday season. As well as students have started to learn different songs of the xylophones during class. 3rd grade has worked on “Ode to Joy”, 4th grade has worked on “When the Saints Go Marching In” and 5th grade has been working on “He’s a Pirate” from Pirates of the Caribbean!
Physical education:
We are finishing up the basketball unit and have been lucky to be joined by the boys varsity basketball coach, Coach Kemp and some of his senior members of the team. The students have played knockout and lightning with the varsity players. When we get back from the Christmas Break we will be diving right into our swim unit.
Art
I hope everyone had a wonderful break. In the month of January, we will be focusing on using the correct techniques and processes in art making. We will be making some winter themed artwork as well. Keep drawing!!
Computer Science
Holy Cow!! It’s 2024!! This year is flying by.
Coming back from break we will start with refreshing our typing skills with a little work in Typingclub.com. After that we will be jumping back into our Code.org curriculum.
3rd - The third graders will be introduced to loops and nested loops, and using those loops to make designs Magna-Doodle style.
4th - Fourth graders will be designing snowflakes using nested loops and using those same skills to look for and apply song lyric loops into some songwriting.
5th - The fifth graders will be continuing the work in Sprite Lab, learning how to add multiple sprites to a scene and working with variables as they apply to game programming.
Student and Family Specialist Updates from Mrs. Miles
It’s hard to believe we are halfway through the school year! I had the opportunity to work with a wonderful group of 5th grade student leaders the first semester and now we have a new group of 5th graders who will be helping out around the school for the second semester.
We have had some amazing small groups this fall! Your kids are insightful, reflective and have some great ideas to share. In January and February we will begin another round of groups for anxiety (girls group and boys) and more social skills/friendship groups. I am also hoping to have a grief group for those students who have had an important person die. Please let me know if you think your student could benefit from one of these groups: lmiles@pinckneypirates.org.
One last thing - have you checked out Parent Guidance? There is some great parenting information available for FREE. We have hosted two live and virtual events- one on Anxiety and one on School Avoidance. On January 11 there will be another one on “The Effects of Screen Time”. I hope you will consider joining us.
Willow
Willow spending time with her kids during the school day.
Navigator PTO Update
Navigator PTO
The PTO met on December 13 at 7:00 pm. Here are the agenda topics:
Clubs: The current clubs are Lego, Cheer and Baking. In the planning stage is Football and Singing
Yearbook: The PTO will be managing the yearbook next year using Treering.
Finance: 5th grade cookie fundraiser just ended. Teachers will get a breakdown of individualized student sales to offset their cost of camp.
Dance-A-Thon Committee: This is the next fundraiser event for January. Andrea, Lis and Kasey are on the Committee. The 5th grade Leadership will help pick the theme. 99 Pledges will be the company that collects pledges for this fundraiser. An informational flier is getting created and will be sent home with students (and posted on Seesaw) the last week before the holiday break.
New business items: Chairs needed for Book Fair, Teacher appreciation, Field Day Chair and spring flower sale through Ed Bock's.
PTO email: navigatorpto1@gmail.com
The next PTO meeting is January 10 at 7:00 pm in the media center.
Navigator Lunch
Monthly lunch menus are posted on the Pinckney Community Schools website. Breakfast, Lunch and milk prices for the 2023-24 school year are as follows:
- Breakfast - free
- Lunch - free
- Milk $.55 (purchasing milk only)
Payments into your child's lunch account can be done through MISTAR through this link if you would like them to purchase an ice cream treat on Tuesdays and/or cookie treat on Fridays.
The lunch schedule is:
- 11:00 - 11:40 am - Fifth grade
- 11:50 - 12:30 pm - Fourth grade
- 12: 40 - 1:20 pm - Third grade
We are always looking for parents, grandparents, aunts/uncles to participate within the school as lunch/recess supervisors. If you are interested please reach out to Heather or Bridgette in our office at (810) 225-5300. This is a paid opportunity.
Lunchtime treats
Students may purchase treat on specific days using their lunch account:
- Tuesday is cookie day for $1.25
- Friday is ice cream day for $1.25
Our lunchroom supervisors run the famous Navigator Popcorn day on Thursdays. Popcorn is .25 cents to purchase a bag. (Student bring a quarter to purchase popcorn)
Procedures for Morning Arrival and After School Dismissal
Parent/Guardian Drop Off: Parents will use the front parking lot to drop off students starting at 8:30 am. Staff will be helping students get to their classrooms. Students will make their way to their class. Form a single lane only at drop off in front of school then split into 2 lanes for turning on M-36.
Bus Drop off: Starting at 8:30 am, buses will release students. Each bus will dismiss one at a time at the south entrance (Fine Arts wing).After School Dismissal
Parent/Guardian Pick-up: We will continue to have parents pick up curbside in the front parking lot. Each car picking up student(s) will be given a window sign indicating your child’s teacher and last name. As cars arrive for pick up, they will form two parallel lines at the curb in front of Navigator.
School Hours and Contact Information
Navigator Elementary School
2150 E. M-36
Pinckney, MI 48169
(810) 225-5300
Attendance Hotline
(810) 225-5310
School Hours
- Monday-Thursday school hours will be 8:40 a.m. – 3:44 p.m.
- Fridays, students will be dismissed at 2:25 p.m.
- Half days, students will be dismissed at 12:13 p.m.
Our office hours will be 7:50 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Friday 7:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.