Mustang Messenger
2019-2020 School Year: Volume 23: Week of February 24, 2020
Be the Best YOU at Grandview!!!
PRIDE in our Students and our GV Families too!!
Dear Families,
In looking at our PRIDE model, I thought how powerful it is to have our parents model the PRIDE characteristics with their children, just like we ask our students to do at Grandview each day.
One way to carry out the PRIDE model is through the letter D, for discipline. I have seen a nice improvement in attendance since letters went home and families are doing what they can to bring their children to school. I have really enjoyed the number of parents that have reached out to me after receiving attendance letters to put a plan in place to help to get the students at school! Going forward, we will be sending attendance letters more frequently. The next letter will be sent out in two weeks to let families know where we are at with attendance. Remember to continue to DISCIPLINE yourself to get our students to school.
Another way is to be Polite and Respectful , the P and R in the PRIDE model, at drop off and pick up. Remember the front should only be used if you are a GSRP parent or a walker that lives in the neighborhood. The front loop is not to be used before 9:00 since the general education and special education buses need to get through our loop. Also, in the back, please be respectful of the procedure, which is to always STAY IN YOUR CAR. The back is not to be used to park your car and walk up and get your student and drive the opposite way or to not follow the 3-line merge. We need you to stay in your car so that we can load and unload the cars quickly and safely. Please note that the back is finished bt 3:50, so it may seem slower, but it is just as fast as the front. Again, I need us all to get used to using the back, unless you are GSRP parent of a walk-up in the neighborhood. Next year, there will not be a parent walk-up for any parent unless you are a walker or a GSRP sibling.
I hope to see you Monday night for STMath Night! Take a night off of cooking and come have fun learning with your child!!!
Your Proud Principal,
Melissa Carruth, Ed.S
Great Week of Learning & FUN!!!
Clarenceville Elementary Teacher of the Year
2nd Grade Math Talk
1st Grade Math Talk
5th Grade Scientists
2nd Grade Scientists
2nd Grade In-School Field Trip
Grandview Math Night
March is Reading Month -- starts FRIDAY!!!!
March is Reading Month is right around the corner. The kick off is on Friday, February 28th. The teachers will launch the theme and the month of fun at a school-wide assembly on the morning of the 28th. Look for the family letter, calendar, bookmark contest, and at-home reading guidelines being sent home with your children on Friday. A couple of events to plan for and to get excited for a month of reading are:
February 28: Kick-off assembly at 9:30 am!! The students and the teachers will be getting excited to launch a month of fun!!!
March 3rd: Wear red and white or dress up as your favorite Dr. Seuss character - Green Eggs and Ham will be served for lunch.
March 2-6: Book Fair Week -- Kids can purchase books during library time, lunch, and milk and bookies night. (see the below flyer)
March 5: Milk and Bookies Night -- 6-8:00 pm
Fun days at GV will be a fun activity to do in honor of reading -- look at the flyer!!!
- 6th -- Hats off to Reading!!!
- 13th - Crazy Hair Day!!
- 20th - Flashlight Friday with PJs
- 27th - Wear a shirt or jersey of your Favorite Sports Team
March 20th: Bookmark Contest deadline
Friday, March 27th - Closing Assembly to celebrate our month of Reading!!
NOTE: We are asking the kids to read each evening. When you read the grade level appropriate amount, remember to fill out a slip for each evening read and have the parent sign the slip and return to the classroom. These slips will come home with the letters on Friday! Drawings will happen on all four Friday's in March to win prizes!! Again, your child cannot win without a signed slip!!
Spring Book Fair
WE NEED YOUR HELP!!! No training or expertise needed!!
Mr. French was nice enough to agree to open the book fair during his library time.
Third Grade Reading Law Meetings
Grandview 3rd Grade Reading Law Meetings: March 5 (6-8:00 Milk and Bookies), March 9 @ 6:30, and March 12th at 9:00 am.
If you do not have a 3rd grader, but still want to learn the information, you are welcomed to attend, but will not receive a letter in your mailbox.
Attendance is important. If you cannot attend any of the three meetings, please reach out to myself or your child's teacher and we will set-up a one-on-one meeting with you.
FOG Election
F.O.G. Board Secretary
- Lindsey Adelson
- Melissa Wells
This position is to be filled for just the remainder of this school year. Per the FOG by-laws, since this is a special election, there will not be ballots nor a voting box in the office.
So come to the March 3rd meeting where ballots will be dispersed and voting will occur. Counting of the ballots, will be done at the meeting.
Variety Show
NEW and OFFICIAL Dates are March 16th for the rehearsal, show on March 18th at 6 pm.
WIDA
WIDA starts for Grandview students this week.
All students who have a language other than English spoken at home and are identified as English Learners must take a state test called WIDA ACCESS for ELLs (Accessing Comprehension and Communication in English State to State for English Language Learners). The Enrollment Office form that was completed when your son/daughter enrolled in Clarenceville Schools tells us this information. Students will take the test eve if they are not attending ESL/EL classes. The test is for Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking and Comprehension in English. Students will take the test between February 3-March 20, 2020. We will mail your child's test results to you when we receive them from the Michigan Department of Education. If you have any questions, please contact Karen Morrison at 248-919-0404.
Special Things are Happening in the Lunch Room
Parent Walk-Up
I am thrilled with the number of parents who have joined us in the back for drop-off and pick-up!!! THANK YOU!!! It has made a huge difference, but I still want more back there. The history of parent walk-up is for our walkers. That is who should be using the parent walk-up, families that live in the neighborhood that walk to school and GSRP families. There is a misconception that the back is slower. The back is completely finished by 3:50. So join us in the back. It is a safer option for the Grandview students.
When doing dismissal in the back, please remember to STAY IN YOUR CAR. The back is not to be used to park your car and walk up and get your student and drive the opposite way or to not follow the 3-line merge. We need you to stay in your car so that we can load and unload the cars quickly and safely. Please note that the back is finished bt 3:50, so it may seem slower, but it is just as fast as the front.
Grandview Sports
Here is the final week's schedule...
Wed 2/26
@ 6:00pm Purple Cubs (PW #2) vs Red Dragons (PW #3)
@ 7:15pm Pink Pixies (Jr #2) vs Green Ninjas (Jr #3)
Thurs 2/27
@ 6:30pm Green Machines (Sr #1) vs The Saints (Sr #6)
Fri 2/28
@ 6:00pm The Thunder (Sr #2) vs Red Wings (Sr #5)
@ 7:15pm Teal Titans (Sr #3) vs Purple Pride (Sr #4)
Fri 3/6
@ 6:00pm 5th Grade All-Star Hockey Game
It's hard to believe this is the last week of Floor Hockey. Wow, what an incredible season! Each week I've watched EVERY team learn and improve; grow as individuals and as a team; and continually demonstrate outstanding sportsmanship! Our new 3 League format seems to be a welcome addition and the children are thriving within their respective leagues.
Survey feedback is starting to come in, thank you! I sincerely appreciate everyone sharing their thoughts and I look forward to implementing many of your suggestions.
If you haven't completed a survey, please take a brief minute to do so. Floor Hockey Survey
Thank you to ALL the Parents, Players & Coaches that made this year so exceptional! Plus a special thank you to Mrs. Carruth & Mr. DeCaire for their continued support & leadership!
Click on the following link for Practice and Game Times.
Please remind your children of the Code of Conduct is for both on and off the Floor Hockey court. We want our athletes to maintain the terms of the conduct during school, as well as, during the games.
Stacey Wittscheck, Grandview Sports Director, has a Grandview Sports website that has the documents linked. All of the information from schedules, rules, code of conduct, sign-up, forms, etc. will all be housed in one location. Check out this great communication piece for our families!!
Questions, reach out to Stacey at her email at GVSportsDirector@gmail.com.
Also be sure to follow the Grandview Sports Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/GrandviewSports/
5th Grade All-Star Floor Hockey Game
The RSVP's have been received, the "surprise gifts" for the Players are ordered & the final details are being ironed out to make our 4th Annual 5th Grade All-Star Game the best one yet! There are just a few that haven't sent in their RSVP, but you can still attend and participate in this wonderful tradition. I don't want anyone to miss out!
The 5th Grade All-Star Game is the highlight of the Floor Hockey Season, don't miss this fantastic night of hockey, fun & memories that last long after the game ends!!!
After-School Event Guidelines
When there are events after school, please help to remind your child that even after school, there is a certain behavior to uphold. Kids should not be running up and down the hallways and screaming and yelling in the bathrooms and down the hallways. Hide Go Seek in the classrooms is also happening. Please keep a watchful eye on your children at these events. The students should take pride in their school whether it is during the school hours or after the school hours. Please help to support this. We need our students to be safe and school property respected .
Kindergarten Round-Up
Looking for new Kindergarteners or Junior Kindergarteners for this fall!
Grandview's Round-Up is Tuesday, March 24 at 6:00 P.M.
Botsford's Round-Up is Wednesday, March 25 at 6:00 P.M.
If you have a child who will be five years old by December 1, 2020, he/she may be eligible for Kindergarten or Junior Kindergarten next fall. Please complete the Round Up Registration form online by visiting this link https://forms.gle/cTJPR8cuwUFmsxPR7. Please pass this link along to friends and neighbors who have a future Kindergarten student but do not have siblings at Grandview or Botsford.
For Questions, contact the Grandview Office: 248-919-0404
Career Day
Shoe Donation
Grandview FOG is starting their next fundraiser. This fundraiser does not need you to purchase one thing or give any money. This fundraiser is collecting used shoes. So if you plan on cleaning out closets, purchasing new shoes for the holidays, or have students who feet have grown through their shoes, we would gladly take them!
Outside of the music room is a large box for the shoe donation! So feel free to drop them off in the box or drop off in the office!!
This fundraiser not only will give back to Grandview, but it will give back to the world for students who are in need!!! It will continue through January and February!!!
To learn more about this fundraiser, click on this link....
School Store Fundraiser
Our next office fundraiser continues for our students. The teachers received some gift cards this past week at the mid-way point in this fundraiser and were so excited with what they received. Remember, this is a Win-Win fundraiser as the school earns money, as well as, the classroom teacher. This fundraiser helped to purchase the clay that is used for art, this spring's assembly, as well as, the supplies for March is Reading Month.
School Store is an online shopping mall with over 400 nationally-known merchants including Sears, Target, Oriental Trading Co., Office Depot, Toys"R"Us, Family Book Store and many more. When your family and friends make everyday purchases from their favorite merchants through SchoolStore.com, your school, and classroom teacher earns money.
All you need to do is going to www.schoolstore.net and enter Grandview Elementary School's code (0000009438) and then shop away.
Winter Weather is here.....Dress Appropriately
Please help remind your child to leave their coats on, no matter how warm they are. The temperature is cold and you all sent them with jackets and we do not want our students to get sick because they are not wearing their coat outside for recess.
Additionally, if your child medical conditions restricts them to be outside, please do not just send a note in from you. We need to have a medical note. Our office is becoming packed with kids that say, "my parents told me to stay in." We welcome them to stay in, but we need the medical note as we have kids that have medical restrictions and they do not have anywhere to sit due to the kids that do not have the medical note.
Box Tops for Education
We have a BoxTop Collection that is due March 1st. So any box tops that can be cut out are due February 26th.
Please remember that Box Tops are moving away from clipping paper box tops and moving to scanning qualifying receipts to earn school money.
Last year, Grandview earned $757.50 with Box Tops and we do not want to lose that revenue.
There is a Grandview parent that is already earning box tops via apps. Please download the app and log in, it is easy. Questions, stop in the office!!!
CEF Bowling Event
WatchDOGS where are you? We need you!!!
It is super easy to begin....just find a day, a 1/2-day, or a few hours and come to the Grandview office and ask for Miss Venessa. She will place you on a WatchDOG schedule and classrooms.
Come on in WatchDOGS!!!!! I case you forgot what a WatchDOG is, see below.....
WatchDOGS are fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and other father-figures who volunteer for at least one day each year at an official WATCH D.O.G.S. ® school. During the day, WatchDOGS may read and work on flash cards with students, play at recess, eat lunch with students, watch the school entrances and hallways, assist with traffic flow and any other assigned activities where they actively engage with not only their own students, but other students as well. Grandview would like to start the program as I am hoping that the mere presence of a WatchDOG dramatically reduces reports of bullying. On the day of their participation, WatchDOGS are given a brief review of their involvement and they wear an official WATCH D.O.G.S. ® t-shirt with a disposable ‘Dog Tag’ identifying them as WatchDOGS.
If you are interested in volunteering for this program, please contact the office or Ms. V, our Student Support Coach, at venessa.zverotic@clarencevilleschools.org.
A Note From Our Specials Teachers....
Again, A Message from Mr. French
Hi Grandview families. March Is Reading Month and it’s just around the corner. March 2nd is the birthday of our beloved Dr. Seuss, creator of fun to read books full of amazing and zany characters. This is a great time to grab some of your children’s favorites from Green Eggs and Ham to The Cat in the Hat, The Sneetches, On Beyond Zebra and many, many others to read and enjoy. You may want to visit suessville.com where the fun and learning continues. We will be reading some of Dr. Seuss’ best during this month during library time.
Also our school has many great activities planned to celebrate reading this month. This newsletter will tell you more. We’re encouraging your students to read all they can this month and will be looking for those top readers to recognize.
Also the Scholastic Book Fair will be back to our school in the library. This begins Mon. March 2nd through Fri. March 6th. The Book Fair will be open during the school day and students will have a chance to visit and make purchases during the library class time. The book fair provides a fun and inexpensive way to connect to some great new books. Don’t forget: we do charge tax on all purchases. Look for posters, flyers and more information in this newsletter as well.
We are also continuing to learn about fiction and non-fiction books and where to locate them in our school library using the online catalog. Make sure you ask your students about what they’re reading and remind them to bring those books in each week - they’re always due on their library class day. Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss! Happy Reading Month and Happy reading!
Pink Out Store
The Importance of Sleep
Transportation Changes
School Hours
School Doors open at 8:20 and the students will report to their grade level location. At 8:25, the first bell rings and the 2nd bell rings at 8:30, when learning begins.
At dismissal, parent walk-up and pick-up will begin to be dismissed at 8:35. The final bell is at 3:40 when all students will dismiss from their afternoon dismissal location.
Your child is marked tardy starting at 8:40. Attendance and tardy was a problem at Grandview. Please do not get into the same routine this year. We need your children in school each and every day!! Also, your child will not be released after 3:15, unless plans were set beforehand.
Free Breakfast and Lunch
Breakfast and Lunch Menus
Late Drop off and Early Pick Up
Tardy is marked starting at 8:40.
Children will not be allowed an early dismissal from the office after 3:15 pm so we can ensure a calm and safe end to the day for all students. Please plan accordingly. If you need your child picked up between 3:15-3:40, please contact the office or classroom teacher in the morning so that we are ready for this early release.
Tuesday Night Night
Kroger and Grandview
Kroger and Grandview
We get money from Kroger if you add Grandview to your profile. Thank you to all of you who have already added Grandview to your account. Though know that it is never too late to sign-up and join!!! So shop away, Grandview is benefitting from your grocery shopping!
Simply encourage your participants to visit http://www.kroger.com. Once logged into their Kroger account they can search for Friends of Grandview either by name or TH003 and then click Enroll. New users will need to create an account which requires some basic information, a valid email address and a rewards card.
*Customers must have a registered Kroger rewards card account to link to your organization.
*If a member does not yet have a Kroger rewards card, please let them know they are available at the customer service desk at any Kroger
REMEMBER, purchases will not count for your organization until after your participants register their rewards card.
Participants must swipe their registered Kroger rewards card or use the phone number that is related to their registered Kroger rewards card when shopping for each purchase to count.
Volunteering at School
iChats are also needed to be filled out if you wish to be a WatchDOG dad or chaperone a field trip.
Job Opportunity
Important Dates and Upcoming Dates
February
24: STMath Night - 6-7:30
26: Principal Breakfast -- Disciplined Students and Scientific Science Students
27: Board of Education Meeting @ 6 pm
28: Kick-off to March is Reading Month
Popcorn Friday
29: Clarenceville Educational Foundation Bowling Fundraiser
March
2-6: Spring Book Fair
3: FOG Meeting @ 6pm
5: Milk and Bookies -- Literacy Night @ 6-8 pm
6: Popcorn Friday
Hats off to Reading -- wear your favorite hat
Floor Hockey All-Star Game @ 6 pm
9: 3rd Grade Reading Law Meeting @ GV @ 6:30 pm
9-13: Oakland County Hearing Testing for preschool, GSRP, Kinder, 2nd and 4th grade
12: 3rd Grade Reading Law Meeting @ GV @ 9:00 am
Board of Education Meeting at Grandview @ 6 pm -- Join the fun!!!!
13: Crazy Hair Day for Reading
16: Variety Show Dress Rehearsal
18: Tornado Drill at 9:30 am
Variety Show @ 6 pm
19: RS Savers
Posed Spring Pictures -- pre-pay only
20: 3rd Grade Trip to Morley Candy Factory
Flashlight Friday -- Wear your PJ's
Bookmark Contest Deadline
GV Movie Night = 6-8:00
24: GV Kinder Round-up
26: NPDL Showcase at Clarenceville = 9-11:00
27: Favorite Sports Team! Wear a shirt or jersey to represent your favorite team
3rd Marking Period Ends
Popcorn Friday
28-April 5: Spring Break