The Heron Hello!
Thurston Elementary School
If you would like to view previous messages from the parent newsletter, you may view those here: Google Drive Folder
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Upcoming Events and Important Dates
Sunday, April 28, 2024 - Earth Day Outdoor Work Day at Thurston @ 12:00 PM
Thursday, May 2, 2024 - 5th Grade Transition to Middle School Day - Times 12:35-2:45 PM
Friday, May 3, 2024 - International Night @ 5:30-7:30 PM
Monday, May 6-10, 2024 - Teacher Appreciation Week! Please consider celebrating our staff!
Monday, May 6, 2024 - 5th Grade Band & Orchestra Concert 6:00-7:00 PM in MPR
Tuesday, May 7, 2024 - No School - Election Day
Wednesday, May 15, 2024 - Early Release Day - Preschool Dismissal begins at 12:35; Y5-5th Grade Driveline Dismissal begins at 12:52 PM - Teacher Report Writing
Friday, May 17, 2024 - Spirit Day! Bring Your Stuffed Animal
Monday, May 20, 2024 - Young Five/Kindergarten Tour #3 @2:30-3:00 PM
Monday, May 20, 2024 - 5th Grade Treasure Island Performance @ 6:00-7:00 PM in MPR
Monday, May 27, 2024 - No School - Memorial Day
Friday, May 31, 2024 - Field Day!
Friday, June 7, 2024 - Spirit Day! Mismatch Day!
Thursday, June 13, 2024 - Report Cards Sent Home
Thursday, June 13, 2024 - Half Day/Last Day of School - - Preschool Dismissal begins at 11:05; Y5-5th Grade Driveline Dismissal begins at 11:20 PM
Message From the Principal - Week of 4/29/2024 - 5/3/2024
Hello, Thurston Community,
It was another busy week! Looking ahead, May looks to be just as busy! We have lots of field trips planned and our students are excited for this learning!
I hope to see you on Sunday, April 28, 2024 for our Earth Day Clean-Up here at Thurston from 10:00-12:00 & 12:00-2:00 PM. You can learn more here.
Have a great weekend!
Samantha Cucu
Interim Principal, Thurston Elementary School
The Heron Hello Newsletter includes the following new information this week:
- Character Effect Week 30 - Perspective
- Earth Day Outdoor Work Day at Thurston - 4/28/24 @ 12:00 PM
- Spring Lunch Recess Volunteer Sign-Up
If you would like to view previous messages or current messages in a PDF format from the parent newsletter, you may view those here: Google Drive Folder.
The Character Effect™ - Week 30 - Perspective
Perspective means seeing other people’s points of view and offering good advice. Perspective helps you understand that there is always a bigger picture at play. While details are important, the bigger picture helps you understand the impact of words or actions. Having Perspective helps you give advice to others who struggle to see the bigger picture.
Replay your last disagreement with your child(ren) from their Perspective. Does this help you see things differently? Does it change your response?
Week 30 - Perspective - Image Description
"When you see the bigger picture, your strength of Perspective shines. This wisdom makes you reliable and knowledgeable when it comes to the harder questions of life."
Week 30 - Perspective - Image Description
"The optimist sees the donut, the pessimist sees the hole." -- Oscar Wilde"
Week 30 - Perspective - Image Description
"While the bad tends to make a bigger name for itself, good things are happening all around us, too. Can you find at least one moment of joy today? Widen your Perspective to include more donut and less hole."
The Girl Scout Troops at Thurston are organizing a Work Day to celebrate Earth Day, and everyone is invited to join! We will be staining the picnic tables, pulling weeds, and picking up litter.
We also need volunteers to help sand the picnic table tops and benches before we stain them! Please email pto.thurstonelementary@gmail.com or sign up using the link if you have a sander and can help us prep the tables before April 28th!
Sign up to volunteer with this link. Shifts available: 10-12 or 12-2 on April 28th
Spring Lunch Recess Volunteer Sign Up
We are looking for volunteers for the spring, starting today! You can volunteer to come in any individual school day or a recurring day. This is a great opportunity to get outside and get involved at school! We are looking for noon-hour (lunch recess) volunteers who can help staff monitor children on the playground at recess. Recess at Thurston goes from approximately 11:12-12:48, you may come for part of it or all of it.
You can sign up on the Spring Volunteer Sign up Sheet. Use the top of the sheet to sign up for a recurring shift or scroll down to sign up for just one or two days. Please include your shift choice next to your name on the form.
Recess starts at 11:12 and goes until 12:48. There are 3 shift options.
Shift 0: the whole recess period
Shift 1: 11:00-12:30
Shift 2:11:20-1:00
If you have trouble with the form, please email pto.thurstonelementary@gmail.com. We greatly appreciate your support!
When you arrive for your scheduled volunteer shift, please check in at the school office with your ID. Thank you so much for helping out at the school and have a great day!
Community Events & Resources Section
Mental Health Resources
Parentguidance.org: Free Resources For Mental Health Concerns
Parentguidance.org offers answers, hope, and support for parents who are concerned about their child’s or teen’s mental health. ParentGuidance.org is an online service by licensed therapists that provides specialized courses, support and a safe community for parents to get more information about anxiety, depression, self-worth, grief and loss, suicide ideation, family strife and other mental health concerns. Free to all staff, parents, and families at AAPS. No account required.
New! Care Solace Helps Families or Staff Connect to a Mental Health Provider
Care Solace is a free service that connects students, staff, and their families to care. You can use Care Solace to find available mental health and substance use providers matched to your needs. Connect with Care Solace for free by calling (888) 515-0595 or by visiting caresolace.com/aaps. Multiple Languages supported. Care Solace flyers are available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Mandarin
New! Drive Thru Food Pick up at Westerman Preschool.
Anyone from the community can stop by Westerman Preschool on Thursday, May 2nd and Thursday, June 6th at 2pm to pick up a box with non-perishable food items.
View flier here.
Summer Opportunities
Low Cost Summer Camps and Programming
Find a listing of free and low cost summer camps, including scholarships and other resources here: Summer 2024: Low Cost Camp Option, Activities and Scholarships.
Old News
Round-Up Informational Document for 2024-2025 School Year
School Breakfast and Lunch Information
Thurston Elementary Breakfast and Lunch Menu
Please use the link below to access the weekly Breakfast and Lunch Menu for each school day. Note: School Menus are subject to change based on supply chain needs.
Chartwell's Request for Allergy or Special Dietary Needs Form
Although this has been in the newsletter since the start of the school year, I wanted to highlight this important information for our families.
As a parent of a child with allergies, I appreciate how completing this form allows my child access to breakfast and lunch items that meet his needs.
If your student has allergies or special dietary needs, please print/electronically complete and email the MDE Request for Dietary Needs form (found below) to
aaps_dietary_requests@aaps.k12.mi.us
Rec & Ed is Hiring for the Before/After Care Program
We understand the need for Extended Day options to be provided at all of our AAPS elementary schools. With that understanding, we will be adding the application information to our parent newsletter. Please share with anyone who may be interested in this opportunity. Thank you!
High School students aged 16, 17, and 18 years of age are even able to apply as assistants.
Find out more at:
2023-24 COVID-19 Reporting and Information
We are using the same processes as last year to track and contain COVID cases. You can find this information in the Back to School site on the district homepage, and under the Students & Families tab here.
Parents/guardians, staff, and volunteers must report COVID cases to the district as soon as possible using the appropriate form below. Information is kept confidential and only used for outbreak monitoring.
Students: bit.ly/StudentCOVIDCase23-24
Staff/Contractors/Volunteers: bit.ly/StaffCOVIDCase23-24
Be sure to report your student’s absence due to any illness to your school office.
Read What to Do if You Test Positive for information on caring for a sick person, isolation and returning to school or work.
If there is a cluster of COVID cases at school, an outbreak investigation will occur in consultation with the WCHD. Parents/guardians, staff, and volunteers will be informed via email if an outbreak occurs in their classroom, team, or activity.
Schools may have home rapid antigen tests to send home if there are clusters or concerns.
These resources are updated for 2023-24:
Thurston Elementary Handbook
Learn more about our Thurston Elementary School! Read over our Thurston Elementary Handbook to learn more about our school hours, visiting Thurston, attendance, arrival, dismissal, transportation and more.
Thurston is Hiring!
Special Education Teacher Assistant Position
Thurston is hiring for our Special Assistant Teacher Assistant position. If you are interested you can find more information at the following hyperlink:Special Education Teacher Assistant Job Posting
Noon Hour Supervisor Position
We are in need of a few noon hour supervisors for the upcoming school year. Your shift would be from 11:30-1:30 PM. You must be able to work a minimum of two days per week consistently. If you are interested you can find more information at the following hyperlink:
Transportation Information
My Stop Bus App
My Stop is a free desktop and mobile app that provides parents access to bus information such
as a child’s assigned bus, bus stop location and updates on the estimated time of arrival at the
bus stop. My Stop allows parents and students to plan for late or on-time arrival and prevent
missed pick-ups.
All you need is your student(s) number and Family ID which will be provided to you in the coming week.
Please be aware that bus route information coming from My Stop may sometimes have a 1–2
minute lag as the bus route is being processed and transmitted to the app from the GPS
system. We continue to work with My Stop to improve this issue.
Bus Route Information
Thurston's bus routes can be found at https://www.a2schools.org/Page/10471