Dicken Family Newsletter
3.7.21
Principal's Corner
Dear Families,
Happy March! It is hard to believe that is has been almost one year since our Dolphins have been in the building. We are so grateful to have a plan to return to in person learning and look forward to welcoming many of our students back in the coming weeks!
Survey Reminder
Please remember to fill out your parent survey for the return to in-person learning option, due tomorrow, Mon. March 8. The recording of our informational community night can be found here. A resource shared at our meeting was the FAQs from the CDC, which serve as guidance for school administrators, teachers, and parents. This may be helpful to you, as we use the CDC guidelines to develop our district safety protocols. For any questions related to enrollment, medication, transportation, etc., please email dicken@a2schools.org. Feel free to reach directly to me for any other questions or needs.
Kindergarten Round-Up
For families with future Dolphins entering Y5 and Kindergarten in the Fall of 2021, please join us!
Wednesday, March 17
6:00 - 7:00 pm
Zoom link: https://a2schools.zoom.us/j/96877324869
Please feel free to spread the word to friends and neighbors!
March is Youth Art Month
Here in Ann Arbor Public Schools we have some exciting plans to celebrate. In art class during the week of March 8th all elementary students will take part in preparing a favorite artwork for display. They will be directed to ask a grown-up to tape up their art along with a title card and a homemade “YAM” (Youth Art Month) logo in the front windows or doors of their homes, or if need be in other locations where people will get to enjoy them. In lieu of our usual displays downtown, we will transform the neighborhoods of Ann Arbor into galleries! The AAPS art department appreciates your help making this happen, and hopes your family will be able to celebrate with an Art Walk around your own neighborhood during the second half of the month. Art should be up by 3/15.
Additionally, all students are invited to participate in an exciting public art project! If you want to know more, check out this Information Sheet all about the FoolMoon Mandala Project, sponsored by WonderFool Productions and facilitated by TreeTown Murals. The link includes submission details, dates, instructions and a demo video."
School Breakfast and Lunches
Student breakfast/lunch will be offered free of charge for the rest of the school year but you must order lunch for your student! First, you must register for the program at sendmoneytoschool.com.
Families will then need to order student lunches using the new
AAPS Online Student Lunch Ordering system.
Questions? Contact AAPS Food Service at 734-994-2265.
Noon Hour Supervisor Positions
We are looking to hire Noon Hour supervisors for our return to in person hybrid school. If you are interested the job posting can be found here. Please feel free to reach out to me if you'd like to learn more.
Resource for Families Who Qualify for Free/Reduced Lunch
A new round of EBT cards will soon be distributed to qualifying families. You can learn more about the program on AAPS’s website by clicking on the following link.: AAPS Pandemic EBT Instructions. Your family’s address must be current in our database or the cards. If you’ve moved recently, please contact Christy Landefeld at landefeldc@aaps.k12.mi.us ASAP to confirm we have the correct address on file. Cards will begin to be distributed on March 1.
Reading with the LINKS
This week's story is Hey Wall by Susan Verde. Thank you, Peace Neighborhood Center!
Student & Family Help Desk Live Hours
The Student & Family Help Desk is available 7:30AM to 5:00PM, Monday through Friday. As always, families can leave a voicemail after hours as well as send an email to the help desk. 734-997-1222. Ayuda en Español: 734-997-1246
Helpful Links on the AAPS Website
- The AAPS Community Resource page
- Food Distribution Plan
- AAPS 2020-21 Calendar
- COVID-19 Metrics Dashboard
- COVID- 19 Cases Dashboard
All the best,
Heather
PTO News
Original Works Art Fundraiser
WHAT: ORIGINAL WORKS ART FUNDRAISER
WHO: Any Dicken Students, Parents, or Siblings
WHEN: Deadline to submit artwork is April 23, 2021, but orders will be filled as they are placed, so the sooner you order, the sooner you'll get your items.
Original Works is a company that takes our children's art and reproduces it on a wide variety of items. They donate a generous portion (33%) of the cost of the items to Dicken. This is the only fundraiser that specifically supports our art programming at Dicken.
In year's past, Ms. Erickson, our esteemed art teacher, led students in each grade to complete specific artwork for this project. This year, children will make art at home and send a digital copy of the art to Original Works and you can order online. Please let me know if you have any questions or need help ordering. Janine Hutchinson 734-913-9418 or jmhutch@umich.edu
Original Works Flyer - English
Original Works Flyer - Spanish
Community Night Out
· Noodles and Company at 2245 West Stadium Boulevard will be donating 25% of participating sales to the Dicken PTO for purchases made on Thursday, March 18th from 4:00-8:00 PM.
· You will need to place and pay for your order via noodles.com or on the Noodles Company app.
· Please enter the code GIVING25 in the offer section during checkout (see flyer).
· Noodles & Company has a drive through window for pickup (though orders need to be placed ahead of time).
Enjoy a meal you don’t have to cook and support your Dicken Dolphins. Be sure to tell family, friends and neighbors too!
Have an item for the blast? Email it to dolphinsblast@gmail.com. Blast items kindly requested by 5 p.m. Friday.