Dicken Family Newsletter
9.23.22
Principal's Corner
Upcoming Dates
- Monday, October 3 - Picture Day
- Friday, October 7 - Dicken Dash (1:30 - 3:30 pm)
- Sunday, October 9 - Dicken 5K (8:45 am - 10:45 am)
- Friday, October 28 - Pumpkin Patch (5 - 7 pm)
- Monday, October 31 - Halloween Parade (1:45 pm)
Lunch Hour Volunteers
We are in need of a few more parent volunteers for lunch if you have interest in joining us once or twice a week. The time we are in most need is 11:30 - 12:20. Please reach out to Heather if you are interested.
Parent Visitors
When entering the building, even for a celebration such as class parties, please remember to check in the main office upon your arrival for a visitor's badge. Thank you!
Washtenaw County CDC Covid Level
As of today, September 16, Washtenaw County is in the CDC MEDIUM/YELLOW Community Level.
The Ann Arbor Public Schools Fall 2022 Covid Guidance is available here. The Ann Arbor Public Schools will always remain a mask-friendly environment.
Fall 2022 Guidance on masking in AAPS schools:
Masks are strongly recommended indoors when CDC Community Level is ‘HIGH’- RED
Masks are encouraged indoors when CDC Community Level is ‘MEDIUM’ - Yellow
Masks are welcomed indoors when CDC Community Level is ‘LOW’ - Green
Free and Reduced Lunch Application
As a reminder, please apply for Free & Reduced Lunch if your family could use financial assistance. Dicken benefits from Title 1 funding connected to this so we encourage anyone to apply even if you are not sure whether or not you qualify. The deadline to apply is September 30. Thank you!
Menus and pricing can also be found on this page as well as the website where you can set up / add money to your child's account.
- If you have an account click "My Account."
- If you need to set up an account for the first time, click "Register."
- If your family needs financial assistance, click "Apply for Benefits" for the Free & Reduced Lunch program.
Appreciation
Many thanks to our PTO Enrichment Co-Chairs, Lynette Gerido and Jeanetta Arhin, as well as parents Rebecca Ankeney and Vania McAllister (and honorary student helper Layla!) for creating a beautiful display in honor of National Hispanic & Latinx American Heritage Month!
Heather
PTO News
Message from the PTO President
Happy autumn! There are lots of exciting things happening in our community during the next few weeks. Opportunities to give feedback on PTO spending, spruce up the school, and volunteer at some of our signature events.
- Thanks to the generosity of the Dicken community, the PTO has accumulated a surplus of funds. It is important to get the input of the entire Dicken community as we decide how to allocate these funds. Please complete this brief survey to let your voice be heard! We will also host an open Zoom meeting in early October (date and time TBD) to discuss ideas and answer any questions you may have. Fill out the PTO Spending Survey for what to do with our extra funds.
- Consider signing up to join the Dicken PTO on Sunday, October 2nd to help enhance our teacher's lounge. We are painting the teachers lounge from 9:30-12:30. We have paint and the brushes, just need the painters! Thank you for your help with this project! There will also be a group cleaning out the PTO closet that would love some help, please see the SignUpGenius if you are available to lend some time to get these projects done!
—Jenifer Miller, Dicken PTO President
Click here for the Dicken Elementary Parents Facebook group
Find information about events, meeting minutes, and more on the PTO website at www.dickenpto.com
Upcoming PTO Meetings
Thursday, October 27 - PTO Board Meeting, 6:30 - 8:00 pm (virtual via Zoom)
Thursday, November 17 - PTO Board Meeting, 6:30 - 8:00 pm (virtual via Zoom)
Thursday, December 15 - PTO Board Meeting, 6:30 - 8:00 pm (virtual via Zoom)
To see all Dicken school & PTO events in one online place, click here for our PTO Google Calendar.
Another helpful link: the AAPS School Calendar.
Dicken Spirit Wear Orders due October 2!
The Dicken Spirit Wear sale is open!
Many lovely Dicken-branded items are available for purchase via Dexter Print & Embroidery (new this year: a golf umbrella!). Now is a great time to stock up on sweatshirts, hats, water bottles, and more!
Place orders now through October 2nd! Orders will be ready (& delivered to the school!) the week of October 17th (please select "I'll pick it up myself" at checkout).
Dicken Dash & the Dicken Run!
DICKEN DASH - GET READY TO DASH!
Friday, October 7 - 1:30 - 3:30 pm
(see full schedule here)
The 10th Annual Dicken Dash is officially underway!
1. Watch this amazing video to get you and your dolphin hyped about the dash (link to video)
2. Learn more about the Dash and get all your questions answered with this awesome Dicken Dash Handbook.
3. Start FUNdraising now!
4. Consider volunteering on the day of the event.
THE DICKEN RUN IS ON
Sunday, October 9 - 8:45 am
Along with the Dash, we’re happy to bring back the Dicken Run 5k after a two year hiatus! Our fast, fun, family-friendly 5k is a great way to cap-off our fundraiser week and enjoy a wonderful fall day to run. Open to all (so invite your family and friends), Prizes for top overall finishers and age-group awards from young to old. Come join us and find out what a “Dicken” is!
More information and registration at http://dickenrun.com
Pumpkin Patch
Mark your calendars! Our annual Pumpkin Patch event will take place on Friday, October 28th from 5-7pm outside at Dicken.
Please join us for a fun evening of food, games, and prizes! More details, including volunteer opportunities, to follow in the coming weeks.
Celebrating what makes us UNIQUE!
We love celebrating all the different cultures that make up the Dicken community. One way the school has done this in the past is through the country flags that hang in the school's multipurpose room - representing the countries of origin or cultures of our many Dicken families (see the photo above).
Please email the PTO (dickenptopresident@gmail.com) if your family's country of origin/heritage is not represented - we want all cultures at Dicken to be represented in our space.
September is Library Card Sign up month!
If you live within the Ann Arbor Public Schools boundaries (with the exception of Northfield Township), you may obtain a resident library card with no fee. You can get a Library card at the information desk at any location of the Ann Arbor District Library.
Check out these great books with your children…
· Hispanic & Latin(o,a,x,e) Heritage
· Learn more about Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur
· October is just around the corner…
Interested in getting involved in celebrating our uniqueness at Dicken? Please complete the volunteer form to get involved and share ideas.