Mason Elementary
January 2024
Mason Equity Statement
"All students at Mason Elementary have a right to be here. Their differences will be respected and accepted. We strive to celebrate and acknowledge each student's unique perspectives, cultures, and life experiences.”
Principal's Corner
“The greatest gifts you can give your children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence.” Denis Waitly
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
Welcome Back and Happy New Year. This marking period, our school theme is “Diversity,” we will celebrate Black History Month and Women’s month. Students will complete projects and focus attention on the contributions of African Americans and women to the United States.
What an exciting time of year this is at Mason! This is when we see many students take giant leaps in their learning. Students who have struggled with being “tuned into” learning are starting to take off. Students who struggled with reading fluently are sounding like pros. Students who have fought with their math facts are finding that things are starting to click. This is a true testament to all the work done at school and at home since the start of the school year.
So, let’s keep the growth going with the coordinated efforts between home and school. Remember, you can/should read with your child each night. Students need to read with you for (1) a fluent model of what reading sounds like, (2) seeing that you value the practice needed to grow as a reader, (3) continued practice of strategies and skills learned at school, and (4) quality time for you and your child.
Our fifth-grade students will have a visit from East Middle School Counselors and Perry Innovation Center Upper School. Middle School counselors will give students an introduction to middle school course offerings and scheduling. Students will receive course offering and scheduling information to bring home please take the time to review the information with your child and return it to their homeroom teacher in a timely manner.
Our fourth-grade students were selected to take the NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress). The test will be administered to our students Thursday, February 1, 2024. NAEP is an educational assessment, often called The Nation's Report Card. It provides national, state, and district-level results about students' academic progress. When students participate in the Nations’s Report Card it is the largest nationally representative and continuing assessment of what America’s students know and can do in reading and math. The results of the assessment is helping to inform decisions about how to improve the education system in our country. We are excited that our students were selected to participate in the assessment.
The end of the parking marking period is Friday, January 19, 2024, and report cards will be available for review Friday, January 26th. Parents, after reviewing your child’s report card, if you have any concerns, please schedule a conference with your child’s teacher.
We will begin Human Growth and Development with our fourth and fifth grade students in March. There will be an informational meeting regarding the Human Growth and Development Curriculum at the end of February.
Students will go out for recess if the temperature is greater than 10 degrees. Students must have boots and snow pants to play in the snow.
In the Interest of Our Children,
Mrs. S. James
News from the Library
From the Desk of Mrs. Baker
The Scholastic Book Fair is coming to Mason during Spring Conferences.
Thoughts from Mrs. Lipe
If your child(ren) have outgrown any snow boots or snow pants, please consider donating your clean items to Mason so we can share them with other students who need them for winter recess.
Outdoor Recess
2nd Marking Period Report Cards
The last day of the 2nd marking period will be Friday, January 19. Electronic report cards will be available on Friday, January 26. If you need a hard copy, please contact the office. We will print one for you.
Celebration of Learning
As part of our Spring Conferences, there will be a Family Celebration of Learning event. Your child will have an opportunity to “show off” all their accomplishments. So please join us for our Celebration of Learning Wednesday, March 6, 2024, from 4:30 -7:00 pm.
Traditional conferences will be held Tuesday, March 5th, and Thursday, March 7th. If your child’s teacher would like to have a conference with you, they will contact you. However, if your child’s teacher does not contact you with concerns, yet you would like a traditional conference, you may contact the teacher to secure a meeting time. The end of the 3rd marking period is Friday, April 4, 2024 therefore you will receive a progress report instead of a report card during conferences. We sincerely hope that our Celebration of Learning evening solidifies your understanding of your child’s growth and progress this school year.
Student Absences
Upcoming Important Dates
January Dates
January 15
- No School
January 19
- District Wide Pink Out Day
- Whitenack to Charles H. Wright Museum
- Records Day - No School for Students
- EMS coming to visit with 5th-grade
- PIC coming to visit with 5th-grade
- 4th-Grade to Whiting in the morning
- 3rd-Grade to Whiting in the afternoon
February Dates
February 7
- Count Day
- 5th-Grade to Whiting in the morning
- Cook/Mason PTO Meeting at Cook Elementary
February 16
- No School
- No School
- 4th-grade Performance in the Mason Gym
Student Lunch Account Information
Breakfast and Lunch are FREE for all students. If your student would like to purchase snacks, water, and/or extra entrees, please put money in their account using Meal Magic at https://grandblanc.familyportal.cloud/.
January Lunch and Breakfast Menus
A Note from The Nurses
Our district nurses are here to help partner with parents and school staff to keep everyone safe and healthy. Here is the information they shared recently.
COVID
- Recommendations remain the same – symptom onset is day 0, isolate for 5 days, return day 6 mask recommended through day 10
- If you test positive -> report Positive test to school and include date symptoms started
- Schools will notify the nurses and nurses will email recommendations to you
FLU vs. COVID
VAPING
The nurses have been sharing info on vaping through parent newsletters, but we came across this info for educators and thought it could be helpful for all of you as well.
- Facts for Educators (useful for parents too!): https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/pdfs/osh-EVFY-fact-sheet-for-educators-508.pdf
- Conversation Card: https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/pdfs/osh-EVFY-conversation-card-educators-508.pdf
- Counselors and Nurses are available to talk to students about Vaping and resources to help them quit. Vaping education is embedded into the health curriculum starting in 3rd-5th grades. We are working on educating parents and students K-12 about the dangers of vaping the best we can.
We are also part of the Keep MI Kids Tobacco Free Alliance working on legislative changes: https://www.keepmikidstobaccofree.com/bill-package-2023
Mountain Lion Shirt
Several people have expressed interest in the red sweatshirt several staff members wear. This shirt is made by a friend of Mason. If you would like to order a shirt the order form is below. Please understand this is not a fundraiser for the school or the PTO. The school and PTO will not receive any profit from the orders.
Early Childhood Expo
About Mason Elementary
Location: 5544 East Cook Road, Grand Blanc, MI, USA
Phone: 810-591-7840
Facebook: facebook.com/CookMasonElementary