Mason Gazette
April 15, 2018
Important Dates To Remember
April 17 - Green Team Lights Out Day - See below
PTO Mtg @ 7PM
April 18 - Adopt an Animal Day - Bring $1 and a favorite stuffed animal
April 30 - Instrumental Concert - 7PM @ Poupard
May 1 - Mason Parent Diversity Meeting at 6:30 PM in the Library
May 8-11 - 5th grade @ Camp
May 12 - Spring Fest
May 14 - Spring Vocal concert @ 7Pm @ Parcells
May 15 - Jets Pizza Night @ Mack Ave location just mention Mason
May 24 - 3rd Grade Living Museum @6:30 in the gym
May 25 - 5th grade tours Parcells
May 28 - Memorial Day - NO SCHOOL
June 14 - 1/2 day AM ONLY - 11:36 AM dismissal
June 15 - Last Day of School - 1/2 day AM ONLY - 11:36 Am dismissal
Dear Mason Families,
It was so wonderful to see everyone wearing blue last Friday for Autism Awareness Month! Mason does it’s best to make sure we are living up to our goal of being as inclusive as possible of all our learners. Your participation in this event really shows how we really are a Family that cares about the needs of each other.
Please enjoy the rest of your weekend,
Roy Bishop, Jr.
Principal
Diversity Parent Committee Meeting Summary: This is our 4th meeting as a Committee and the conversations about how we can enhance our community continue to get better each meeting. Please consider joining us at our next meeting May 1st at 6:30 pm in the Mason Library; Babysitting will be available. During our next meeting, we will begin planning our 2018-19 Multicultural Night at Mason.
Dinner Conversations:
-What does it mean to be honest with your parents?
-Is there ever a time not to be honest?
-What should you do if you ever feel one of your friends is not being honest with you?
April's Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS) Focus
Bathroom Behavior- Focusing on acting appropriate in the bathroom and practicing cleanliness.
April's Character Word of the Month: Honesty- Speaking the truth and not telling stories when you think you might be in trouble for your decisions.
Stay Informed by …
-regularly checking our Mason Elementary School webpage
-signing up for Mason Elementary Community Remind text messages by texting the message @f69f4d to 81010 from your mobile device
-receiving and reading Mr. Bishop ’s Weekly Update email
-following us on Twitter (@masonelemgp) and FaceBook (@masonparents)
Green Team News
Tuesday, April 17: Lights Out Day
Try to avoid using lights. If necessary to do so, try using only one bank of lights.
Wednesday, April 18: Adopt an Animal Day
Staff and students are encouraged to wear a shirt with an animal printed on it. They may also bring a favorite small stuffed animal to school for the day. In return, they can bring $1.00 to go toward supporting animal(s) from the Detroit Zoological Society.
Friday, April 20: Litter Critter Pick-up Patrol
Mason Green Team Meets in Mrs. Frakes’s room and then sets out together to pick up litter on school grounds.
Thursday, May 3: Green Team Meeting (Build a Bat House)
M-Step News
It is almost time to begin the Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress, or M-STEP. This year the district is moving from a paper/pencil test to a computerized test. ONLINE Test Administration Dates are as follows:
- Grades 5, 8, and 11: the online tests may be administered on any instructional day April 9 – May 4, 2018
- Grades 3, 4, 6, and 7: the online tests may be administered on any instructional day April 30 – May 25, 2018
- MI-Access Alternate Assessments—Grades 3–8 and 11: the online tests may be administered on any instructional day April 9 – May 25, 2018
Individual buildings will develop and communicate each individual grade’s testing schedule as they will be different across the district. This will be provided to parents prior to the State established testing windows.
Although testing situations can be stressful for some students, this is also an opportunity for our students to really shine and to demonstrate their current levels of understanding in core subject areas. We are asking parents to be especially alert to their child’s needs for:
- getting plenty of rest,
- eating a good breakfast each morning,
- and being in school and on time on testing days.
For additional information please review the parent letter from State Superintendent Brian Whiston which addresses the reduction in testing time, consequences to districts when families choose not to test, and the student testing tips parents can use to positively help their student prepare:
- Parent letter from State Superintendent Brian Whiston
- Student Testing: What Parents Can Do to Help Students Prepare
We want our students to be at their best and to represent themselves and our district as favorably as possible on these tests. Please continue to encourage your child each day. Additional information on testing accommodations, from the use of calculators to the use of language translators, is also posted on the Michigan Department of Education website www.mi.gov/mstep. Or you can always contact your child’s teacher or principal with questions. Thank you for your help and support during this time.
Spring Fest - May 12th
The Mason PTO has started planning the 2018 Spring Fest/Tin Can Auction. As many of you know, Mason's "Spring Fest" is an important part of our fundraising year. Each year the Mason acquisition team busily collects donations from local businesses and organizations so that we have great prize items for our auction. Traditionally, our Classroom Baskets (made up of items collected by each class) are not only essential to our auction's success, they are typically some of the most popular baskets at the event.
In an effort to ease the collection process this year, The Mason teachers were given a list of new, fun-filled, family themed baskets to choose from. From there, we came up with a list of items that we thought would fill these baskets well. A sign-up genius has been created for each classroom with many options and price ranges to choose from. Each list has preselected items, gift cards, cash donation slots, or a 'donor's choice' selection. These item lists will help us coordinate and collect a wide variety of items to assure that these classroom baskets are filled with great items that all kids and families can enjoy. Our hope is that this will not only help us put together our baskets but will also help you as a donor.
The link for your child's classroom sign-up genius can be found at masonpto.com.
In addition, if you own a business and would like to donate a product or service, have a connection to sport / event tickets, or just have items that would make a nice addition to our auction, please feel free to contact Katie Batts Ktlabara2@gmail.comwith any questions regarding the auction.
Thank you for all your support. We are looking forward to another great event!
~Mason PTO~
Fall Registration Information
Mason Elementary School
Website: https://mi01000971.schoolwires.net/gpmason
Location: 1640 Vernier Road, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI, USA
Phone: (313)432-4400
Twitter: @MasonelemGP