Shawnee Star News Weekly Update
Friday, January 27, 2023
Principal's Report
I hope you are doing well and had a wonderful week. We finally had some more typical winter weather this week. The kiddos were very excited for the snow! Please remember to send kids to school dressed appropriately for the weather as we will still give them the opportunity to go outside and get some fresh air if it is not too cold. Thank you for your cooperation.
We have had several visitors to the building who do not have ID with them. Please remember, anytime you are visiting the building, for any reason, you will need identification. This is for the safety of our entire school community. All visitors to the building must show ID and report to the main office before going anywhere in the school. This includes during arrival and dismissal times. Also, during school hours, the playgrounds are for Shawnee students only. We appreciate your help and support to keep our students and staff safe.
Please be sure to read through all of the information in our weekly newsletter as it is our main form of communication with our families. We don't want you to miss out on any important details or happenings. We appreciate your continued cooperation and support.
Together We Will Shine!
Mrs. Simon
Upcoming Important Dates
February 1 - Progress Reports Sent Home
February 6 - 10 - Student Council Valentine Smencil Sale
February 7 - PTO Bagel Day
February 8 - Spring State Count Day
February 14 - Valentine's Day Classroom Parties
February 17 - Half Day of school ~ Dismissal @ 11:55 AM
February 20 - 24 - No School ~ Mid-Winter Break
February 27 - Classes Resume
March 3 - PTO Daddy Daughter Dance
March 7 - PTO Chuck E. Cheese Event
March 10 - PTO Mom & Son Dave & Busters Night
Winter Weather - Please Bundle Up!
During the winter and as the weather continues to get colder, we have noticed students have been coming to school without the proper attire for the colder temperatures. During recess, when possible, we would still like to take the children out for a breath of fresh air, but they must have hats, gloves, and winter coats. The fresh air and exercise is so good to get the wiggles out before going back to class! As a rule of thumb, if the temperature (including wind chill) is above single digits, we will offer the students the opportunity to go outside. Likewise, remember students will be waiting outside until the bell rings. Please remember to bundle up before coming to school!
Student Life Advisor Program
We are pleased to announce that Chippewa Valley Schools is now offering a Student Life Advisor Program beginning 1/1/2023. To ensure that the best possible services are available to our students, Chippewa Valley Schools is partnering with Ulliance, Inc., a nationwide provider of student assistance services. Please see below for further details and information regarding this new program.
Attendance
Student absences need to be called in to our absentee line whenever your student will be missing school or coming in late. While the teacher may be aware of this, the information must be called in on the absentee line, as the office is responsible for the attendance records. Students will be marked unexcused if we do not receive a call / note either on the day of the absence before school begins or prior to that day and an automated call will be sent to notify you. Please note, our attendance line is available to leave a message at anytime 24/7. Thank you for your help with this important matter.
STUDENT ABSENCE & TARDINESS DIAL:
(586) 723-6899
COVID-19 Update
Keeping our students and staff healthy and in the classroom is our top priority. CVS has updated our COVID-19 webpage and guidelines with the latest information from the Macomb County Health Department. Masks will remain optional for students and staff members. We are still requesting that families utilize the COVID-19 reporting form for positive cases. Individuals that test positive for COVID-19 are required to quarantine for 5 days, with the onset of symptoms or date of positive test being day 0. Upon returning to school, masking is strongly encouraged for days 6-10. Individuals that have been a close contact should monitor for symptoms and stay home if they feel ill. The district will no longer report positive cases on our website.
Dismissal Reminders - We Need Your Help!
As always, we want to ensure that our school remains a safe place. We need your help at the end of the day and during our dismissal times. As you know, this is a very busy time around the school and on our grounds. The parking lot, sidewalks, and playgrounds are full of students, staff and parents alike. In order to help us maintain a safe and orderly environment, we are asking for your help in clearing these areas once your students are dismissed and you have picked them up. Students should not be playing sports (soccer, football, etc.) around the building during dismissal. There is simply not room and we do not want to see anyone injured. Similarly, bikes, scooters, skateboards, etc. should not be ridden on the main sidewalks close to the school. We would also like to ask that parents do not walk onto the playgrounds or approach students who may be at recess. All playgrounds are for students and staff only during school hours. Any and all help with this is truly appreciated! Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.
2022-2023 Yearbooks
2022 - 2023 yearbooks and yearbook packages can be ordered online through Friday, April 10, 2023. Please see below for the ordering link and further information. A flyer was sent home with all students as well.
Click here to order your yearbook today!
Order Deadline: Friday, April 10, 2023
Shawnee Yearbook ID Code: 4962423
School Breakfast & Lunch Information
The federal USDA waivers that allowed school districts to provide breakfast and lunch at no cost to students expired on June 30, 2022. For the 2022/2023 school year, families who do not qualify for free or reduced meals will resume paying full prices for school meals. If your child qualifies, you must complete the 2022-2023 online application at https://chippewavalley.familyportal.cloud/ to receive this benefit. You must complete this application every year. It is the only way to be considered for free or reduced meals.
Please click here for additional information and details sent from our Food Service Department.
Lunch Orders
Lunch is served daily at our school. Lunch is $2.75 each day.
In order for there to be enough food to meet the needs of the lunch students, it’s necessary for us to take ‘day before’ meal counts. For the time being, lunch orders will be taken in the classroom at the start of each school day for the following day’s menu. Monday for Tuesday, Tuesday for Wednesday and so forth. Students arriving late should place their order in the main office before reporting to class. We are hoping to utilize our electronic lunch ordering form again soon! Stay tuned for updates.
Students who haven’t ordered run the risk of there not being enough food of choice. Please take the time to review the monthly menu with your child. Sending in a menu with the days' CIRCLED that your child wants to purchase lunch, is a great tool for helping them remember when to order.
Parent Volunteers / Criminal Records Check
Keeping our school community safe is our top priority. In keeping with that commitment, Chippewa Valley Schools requires that individuals volunteering in our schools or with our students complete a criminal records check.
This year we introduced a new electronic form to ensure a seamless and secure process.
When parents sign up to volunteer for a particular event or program our staff will send them a link to the online form. Parents will be asked to fill out the online form at least 2 weeks prior to their scheduled volunteer assignment to ensure timely processing of applications. All information is submitted through a secure web site with the Michigan State Police. This process ensures all volunteers receive appropriate approvals, and our Human Resources Department can effectively prioritize the thousands of requests they receive each year.
You must be signed up to volunteer for a particular field trip, event, or program prior to filling out the online form. All forms must be completed electronically. Paper forms will no longer be accepted.
Parents will need to complete a new form each school year if they intend to volunteer.
We appreciate our volunteers that make our schools so great, and we thank you for your patience and support as we update our procedures.
School-Wide Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports (SWPBIS)
At Shawnee we have a School-Wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (SWPBIS) program. SWPBIS is a broad range of systematic and individualized strategies for achieving important social and learning outcomes while preventing problem behavior. In other words, we recognize students’ correct and positive behavior to set the standard and climate at Shawnee. We know that when good behavior and teaching come together, our star students will excel in their learning. As a staff, we have established Shawnee Stars behavior expectations for all areas of the school: classroom, cafeteria, assemblies, hallways, playground, bus, and bathrooms.
Shawnee Stars – Take Responsibility – Are Always Safe – Respect Others – Shawnee Stars
Positivity Project
School-Age Child Care (SACC) Updates
Through this staff shortage and until we can ensure we have the staff to accommodate our students, new registrations to the SACC program will be on hold and processed as enrollment allows. SACC registration is on a first come, first served basis. We are processing registrations in the order they were received. Each registration is dated and time stamped. We are working our way through the registrations based on this order. Registrations will remain pending in the system and will be approved as openings and additional staff become available. We do not have an idea of when we will have more staff, but please know as soon as there are qualified applicants, we immediately begin moving them forward in the hiring process.
If you are interested in utilizing SACC, please complete the registration process online. Families will be processed as our staffing can accommodate. Schedule changes for existing families will also only be accepted as staffing allows.
Please understand, we are doing everything we can to get more people in place. If you know anyone who can help or is looking for a job, please send them our way. We apologize for this inconvenience. We never want to disappoint our families in this way. We will keep you posted as we have further developments. Thank you for your patience and understanding. We appreciate your support.
Electronic Communication Devices At School
Wireless communication devices are a part of our everyday lives. However, district policy states that cell phones, smart watches or other electronic devices that can communicate, record or take pictures are not to be used by students during the school day. All cell phones and electric communication devices (ECDs), including smart watches, must be turned off and left in backpacks throughout the day. Cell phones and other ECDs may only be used after the school day has ended and students are outside of the building. Otherwise, devices will be held in the office and returned to a parent.
If a student needs to contact a parent, they may do so by asking a staff member. Students should not be contacting parents during the school day without the knowledge of a staff member.
For further information or details please see our CVS Student-Parent Handbook (page 11).
Arrival & Dismissal
Students will enter and exit the building through assigned doors:
- Door #1 (West Wing Walkers)
- Door #2 (Bussers)
- Door #20 (Kindergarten Walkers)
- Door #22 (East Wing Walkers)
- On the first day, colored bus tags will be provided to bus riders (K-2). Please be sure these tags remain attached to students and visible for staff to assist.
Arrival:
- Students cannot be dropped off early or left unattended while waiting to enter school.
- We encourage parents and students to wait in their vehicles until the first bell has rung and it is time to enter the building.
- Visitors are not permitted into the building. Staff and 5th Grade Safeties will be positioned around the school to help students get to classrooms.
Arrival Times:
- First Bell - 8:54 AM ~ Doors will open and students may enter through their assigned doors.
- Second Bell - 9:00 AM ~ After the second bell rings, all doors will be closed and all students must buzz in at Door #1. Students will be marked tardy if they arrive after 9:00 AM.
Dismissal:
- Staggered dismissal will continue to help to eliminate the formation of crowds.
- Staff and safeties will be positioned around the school to help students.
- Students will exit the same doors they enter.
- Please arrange a meeting spot with your child so they know where to meet you upon exiting the building.
Staggered Dismissal Times:
- 3:35 PM - 4th Grade & 5th Grade
- 3:38 PM - 2nd Grade & 3rd Grade
- 3:41 PM - Kindergarten & 1st Grade
- 3:44 PM - Bus Riders
Unless your child is attending SACC or a pre-arranged activity, they should not be arriving at school before 8:54 AM. Also, dismissal is at 3:44 PM. Please be sure that you pick up your child on time or have childcare arrangements. There is no supervision for children before and after school. Thank you for your cooperation.
Parking Lot Reminders
Please be patient with each other and always remember you are the #1 role model for your children; they learn by watching us! We want to ensure that every child makes it to and from school safely. We can only accomplish this important task with your help and support.
Tardy / Late Arrivals
School begins at 9:00 AM. Our first bell rings at 8:54 AM at which time students are allowed to enter the building. If students arrive tardy/late to school after the second bell has rung at 9:00 AM, a parent needs to bring their student to the front door with their ID, ring the buzzer, state the students’ name(s) and the students and parent will be buzzed into the school/office. Please be prepared to show ID. Tardy students will receive a tardy pass from the office and then sent to class. Otherwise, they may already be marked absent and not get their lunch order included with the class. Please make every effort to arrive on time to school each day.
Early Dismissal & Dismissal Arrangements
Special instructions for your child’s dismissal (bus changes, childcare, etc.) should be determined before your child arrives at school in the morning. Changes in dismissal procedures or after school supervision is to be in writing and given to your child’s teacher. This ensures that information will be shared with all parties who need notification. Please call the office as soon as possible if something changes after your child is here and we will inform the necessary persons.
Any changes or messages to be given to a child MUST be called in to the office no later than 3:15 PM so we have time to deliver the messages.
We Need Your Help!
We are also looking for substitute lunch monitors, crossing guards, teachers, etc. Being a substitute allows you to work when you want to and have the flexibility to work around your schedule. If you are able to work, even one day a week, we could use the extra help. Apply Here!
Thank you for your consideration and help.
