Defer Dragon's Burning News
November 9, 2018
From the Principal
Dear Defer Families,
It was another amazing week at Defer! During the month of November the students will focus on Habit #2: Begin with the End in Mind. One of the ways we begin with the end in mind is to set goals and track progress to meet our goals. Goal setting helps us to identify the direction we want to go and a plan to achieve the goal.
Each student identified at least one WIG (Wildly Important Goal) for the school year. Students will be tracking Lead Measures, activities that will help achieve a goal, in their leadership notebook and the classroom.
All students at Defer will be focusing on our schoolwide WIG: 100% of students will make growth on NWEA Reading by June 2019.
Ask your student this weekend about their WIG and lead measures!
Have a great weekend!
Dr. Rheaume
Defer Upcoming Events
November 13 - PTO Meeting 7pm
November 20 - 1/2 Day for Students (morning only); End of first Trimester
November 21 - 25 - Thanksgiving Break -No School Students or Staff
December 1 - PTO Holiday Craft Fair
December 4 - Report Cards Distributed
December 18 - Winter Music Concert: Grades 1, 2/3 Magnet, 3, 4/5 Magnet, 5 & Defer choir
Office News
BEGINNING OF THE DAY
Please remember to use our 24 hour attendance line at 313-432-4001 to report your child's absence.
END OF THE DAY
Our dismissal bell rings at 3:38. Please make sure your child knows his/hers after school plans in the morning when you drop off. The only after school care available is Kids Club. Check out Defer's website for more information.
Defer Diversity Parent Group
District Diversity Meetings (GPPUD)Upcoming Meetings: GPPUD
Defer Diversity Meeting Information:
The Defer Diversity Meeting was Wednesday, October 24. The topic of discussion was Implicit Bias. Implicit Bias refers to the attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner. The next Defer Diversity meeting is tentatively planned for the last week of November.
https://www.pbs.org/video/pov-implicit-bias-peanut-butter-jelly-and-racism/
If you have culturally rich materials and resources that can be shared with the school or if you would be willing to share your own culture/experiences with students please contact Dr. Rheaume or one of our parent organizers Susan Sutorka at susansuto@yahoo.com or Janice Fox at jcfcreative@gmail.com.
Defer Art Information
What's Happening in the Art Room:
Y5 - Line Sculptures
K - Clay Snowmen
1 - ROYGBIV Leprechauns
2 - Symmetrical Names
3 - Sunset Cities/Penguin Collages
4 - Ugly Dolls
5 - Realistic & Animal Eyes
Check out Defer's Online Art Gallery: https://tinyurl.com/deferartsonia
Follow us on Facebook & Instagram @deferartroom
Defer PTO Information
Defer Craft Fair!
Dec. 1 from 9a-12p
This is an annual event in which our dragons and/or their siblings MAKE up to 3 crafts of their choosing.
Selection of which crafts and payment begins now and continues through Nov. 14. Please use this link to make selections and payment. Among the crafts there is one that is free to all students compliments of the #DeferFunRun (it's the Dragon Hat)! https://gpschools.formstack.com/forms/defercrafts_2018
Lunchtime Enrichment
We are looking for gracious volunteers to help run our Lunch Time Enrichment classes. This program provides a great opportunity for our students to do something fun and interesting outside of their everyday curriculum. Previous programs have included Legos, Drawing, Theatre, Cooking, Board Games, Chess, Knitting, Computers, Yoga, Newspaper, etc. The possibilities are endless! This is also an excellent way to get involved by sharing your knowledge and passions with our students.
We are looking for volunteers for 1 hour per week from January 7th - February 15th. If you are interested or have any questions please feel free to e-mail. If you prefer, I have attached a form which you can fill out and return to the office.
Thank you in advance for making this a great experience for our kids. Please contact organizing parent Beth Lowe with ideas and questions: bethlowe1@gmail.com.
Click on the Link below for more information:
Service/Safety Updates
In October the teams competed between themselves in Kickball. We enjoyed a snack and drink, thanks to the Defer PTO.
If you see a Safety/Service member doing a good job, tell them.
Thank you,
Helen Srebernak
Safety/Service Coordinator
Safety/Service Members of the Month-October
Safety: Alexander Fluitt
Service: Isabelle Grobel
Leader in Me
The 7 Habits are reviewed, practiced and integrated daily at Defer. We will review the 7 Habits with you monthly. We thank you for your partnership in reinforcing your child’s leadership skills.
Celebrations: This month at the Town Hall, we will celebrate all students learning the first habit, Be Proactive and we will also celebrate students who participated in the Running Club. Each month we celebrate birthdays, so we will also celebrate November birthdays. We’d love to have you join us! Please check out your child’s charm holder to further acknowledge their leadership growth.
Would you start a trip without knowing where you are going? Knowing what you are trying to accomplish directs the choices on the way.
Habit 2 - Begin with the end in mind
When we use Habit 2, we think about how we’d want something to turn out before starting it. Goal setting is an important skill for success. Therefore in Habit 2- start with setting a goal. Then, break it down into small manageable pieces.
Home practice Habit 2
Doing puzzles is a great example to put Habit 2 in action. First, demonstrate how to study the picture. Then, sort pieces. Perhaps the edge is the first area of focus. Next, it may be finding all the pieces of one color, and so on -step by-step until it is complete.
To further model Habit 2, point out real life examples: Share stories from your life, or even your day at work, where you had a goal or task that you accomplished. Talk about the steps taken to accomplish your goal. Discuss how breaking it down made it easier. Point out examples from your child’s life such as riding a bike, tying shoes, or another Habit 2 skill.
Read more Parent Pointers about Habit #2 in the link below:
Fundraiser for GP South Boys' Basketball
7 Habits of Happy Kids
Grosse Pointe Public Schools
Our Vision: One GP → where everyone learns, every day
Our Mission: Promote Innovation → Maximize Potential → Embrace Community
Email: rheauml@gpschools.org
Website: https://mi01000971.schoolwires.net/Domain/1099
Location: 15425 Kercheval Avenue, Grosse Pointe Park, MI, USA
Phone: 313-432-4000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GPDefer/
Twitter: @GPDefer