The Tiger Times
December 2022
From the Principal
Dear Mohawk Families,
Happy Holidays to each of your families. We are so fortunate to be in a community that blends many traditions and cultures each day. During the month of December, families celebrate different holidays. It is a great opportunity for your child to share yours with others in the classroom. It is also a time for teaching our students about how to be kind, show compassion and be generous to others. Too often, we go about our daily lives forgetting about how truly fortunate we are.
In this month's newsletter, I wanted to focus on the importance of teaching our students about social emotional learning, (SEL). SEL is an integral part of your child’s education and development. It helps shape the kind of person he/she will be now and in the future.
SEL is the process through which children and adults:
- Acquire and apply the knowledge, skills and attitudes to develop positive identities
- Develop positive character
- Manage emotions
- Achieve personal and collective goals
- Feel and show empathy for others
- Establish and maintain supportive relationships
- Make responsible and caring decisions
These things are crucial for students to develop good character and be a contributing member in society. Most importantly, students learn by example. They watch the adults in their world, how they behave and how they treat others. Remember, you are their role model! I have included more information below about how we are teaching SEL.
Lastly, on behalf of the Mohawk staff, we would like to wish you a safe and happy holiday season.
Happy Holidays!
Ms. Andrea Verellen
Principal
December Calendar
Friday, December 2nd
End of 1st Trimester
Last Day for Santa Shop
Tuesday, December 6th
Holiday Concert K, 2nd & 5th
Wednesday, December 7th
Report Cards Go Home
Thursday, December 8th
Black History Mobile Museum 5-7 Chippewa Valley H.S.
Friday, December 9th
Dakota Show Choir Performs for 4th Grade
5th Grade to Meadowbrook Hall
Thursday, December 15th
PTO Restaurant Night-Chuck E Cheese
Friday, December 16th
PTO-An evening with Santa & Mrs. Claus
Tuesday, December 20th
Holiday Parties
Wednesday, December 21st
1/2 Day 11:25am dismissal
December 22nd-January 2nd
Holiday Break
Tuesday, January 3rd
Classes Resume
Kindergarten Performance
2nd Grade Performance
5th Grade Performance
Helping the Community
- Deodorant
- Shampoo/Conditioner
- Toothbrushes
- Toothpaste
- Body Soap
If you are able to donate any of these items, please send them to the office. Thank you in advance for your generosity!
Social Emotional Learning
Teaching our students about social emotional learning, SEL, is more important than ever. SEL is an integral part of your child’s education and development. It helps shape the kind of person he/she will be now and in the future.
SEL is the process through which children and adults:
- Acquire and apply the knowledge, skills and attitudes to develop positive identities
- Develop positive character
- Manage emotions
- Achieve personal and collective goals
- Feel and show empathy for others
- Establish and maintain supportive relationships
- Make responsible and caring decision
The Positivity Project and PBIS are two programs we use to teach key character traits and expected behaviors. Information about these two programs in included below.
Character Education
The Positivity Project
Character education is taught on a daily at Mohawk Elementary and the surrounding elementarys in Chippewa Valley. We work hard to instill the value of character in our students because it is important how we treat others.
A student's character and effort are important for them to succeed in school and in life. Their work ethic, having a Growth Mindset, Resiliency, and how you treat others means everything and will make all the difference now and later in life.
One way we work to help teach and instill good character with our students is through using The Positivity Project.
During the month of December, we are focusing on the following character traits:
-Kindness
-Other People Matter (OPM)-Supporting others when they struggle
-Self-Control
Talk with your child about how they might shows these traits both in and out of school.
Promoting Positive School Culture
Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS)
During the 2018-19 school year, Mohawk was one of four schools in Macomb County to be awarded Michigan’s Integrated Behavior and Learning Support Initiative Grant. We used this opportunity to revamp our Positive Behavior Initiative and Support (PBIS) program. The framework of PBIS is to develop social, cultural and behavioral expectations to support students’ social and academic success.
Through the program, we defined key behavioral elements using a variety of strategies. One of the strategies was to create lessons to teach and acknowledge appropriate behaviors throughout the school environment. By teaching expectations, and creating predictable environments, problematic behaviors can be eliminated. In doing so, we can increase time spent on academic instruction.
Another strategy was to create a simple way to remind students of how to behave. We developed the idea of “Stripes”. Students can earn their stripes by meeting behavior expectations through being safe, respectful and responsible. If a student is showing their stripes, they can earn a ticket to be placed in a weekly drawing. If their name is chosen, they can choose a variety of awards such as Picnic With the Principal, Treasure Box item, Morning Announcement Helper and many more. All tickets earned go toward a school wide reward such as a movie day, or dance party.
Voice Level Expecatations
Show Me Your Stripes
ORDER A YEARBOOK NOW!
Winter Bus Rules
Basic bus rules apply all year long, but now that winter is here we would like to review some that specifically pertain to this time of year.
- Students should be at the bus stop at least 10 minutes before the bus normally arrives. Drivers are not able to wait for tardy students
- Wait on the sidewalk for the bus to arrive or stay as far back from the roadway as possible. Icy conditions can make it difficult for drivers to stop.
- Do NOT approach the bus until it has come to a complete stop.
- Cross in front of the bus ONLY after you receive a signal from the driver. Visibility may be limited due to weather conditions.
- Students must remain seated at ALL times. They should only leave their seat when the bus comes to a complete stop.
- Students need to dress appropriately for the weather. Coats, boots, mittens, hats, scarves need to be put on BEFORE entering or leaving the bus. If you forget something, just ask the driver.
Please be patient when waiting for the bus to arrive before and after school. Snow, rain, sleet and other inclement weather will cause traffic delays and the buses may run behind schedule. Student safety is top priority and drivers will use caution when driving in poor conditions. Feel free to contact the office if the bus is more ten minutes late.
Parking Lot Issues
Morning Arrival
- The front drive is for busses only. Drivers may drop off students AFTER the busses leave.
- Crossing guards are there to help your children out of the vehicle and keep traffic moving. Pull forward as far as you can and have your children exit on the passenger side of the vehicle.
- If you choose to not utilize the circle drive, park your car and walk your child to the sidewalk or door.
- Park in designated areas. Handicap spaces are for those who truly need them and have a permit.
Afternoon Dismissal
- The circle drive is for busses only. The sidewalk from Mohawk to Iroquois (otherwise known as the hill) is an ideal place to pick up your children without exiting your vehicle.
- If you park in the parking lot along Romeo Plank, exit your vehicle, and greet your child near the playground. All students need to be escorted to a vehicle. DO NOT allow your child to run through the parking lot to you.
- The small parking lot in front of the school fills up fast, so plan on another spot to meet your child.
- If your child cannot find you, he/she may get anxious. Talk with your child and plan on the place to meet at the end of the day.
Student safety is always a concern for school staff, but keeping children safe in the parking lot requires everyone’s cooperation.
FOOD SERVICE
Lunch Plus and Snacks
MSGCU
3rd Grade Bead Pouches
Fitness Testing
STEM+
Sphero Bolt Thanksgiving Balloon Parade
PTO EVENTS
New PTO Treasurer
Executive Board Members
President-Sara Musayeb
Vice President-Katie Ruszala
Treasurer-Michelle Schmidberger/Gigi Kort
Secretary-Jill Talant
Co-Room Parent Coordinators-Ashleigh Balsamo & Cortney Hanna
Co-Social Committee Chairs-Katie Fohey & Nicole Milam
Publicity-Theresa Evens
Historian-Julie Hasse
Contact
PTO Website
PTO Facebook Page
PTO Meetings
Meetings will take place in the media center at 7:00pm
Tues., January 17th
Tues., February 28th
Tues., March 21st
Tues., April 11th
Tues., May 9th
DISTICT ACTIVITIES
Mohawk Elementary
PTO Website
PTO Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/mohawkpto
Website: https://www.chippewavalleyschools.org/schools/elementary-schools/mohawk/
Location: 48101 Romeo Plank Road, Macomb, MI, USA
Phone: 586-723-6200