Dicken Family Newsletter
2.24.23
Principal's Corner
Dear Families,
I am thinking of you all as you navigate this week either without power and/or help neighbors and loved ones without power. Thank you to our PTO members for helping to spread the word about local resources and warming centers on my behalf. I will continue to share through our PTO / Social Networks through the weekend as we are still without Wi-Fi at home. (Fortunately we do have power.) Dicken was without power yesterday and from what I understand it is partially back today. I'll be checking in on the building today. We have several staff members without power so please be patient and understanding if they are not in close communication with you as usual. They too are navigating the week without power or needing to relocate their family/pets due to lack of power. Thank you for your continued understanding. Just as our amazing Dicken community weathered the global pandemic together, I know we will get through this as well.
Upcoming Dates
Thursday, March 2 **RESCHEDULED** Y5/Kindergarten Round-Up, 6:00 - 7:00 pm
Friday, March 3 - Half Day of School for Elementary Students **Corrected: 11:28 DISMISSAL**
Food & Community Warming Centers
Ann Arbor’s network of emergency food resources, including in the AAPS, has been impacted by the wide-spread power outages. Emergency food pantries are listed on the Food Gatherers Find Food webpage. Please call Food Gatherers at 734-761-2796 to confirm that a pantry is open or to speak to a staff member if you have any questions about finding the right program for you.
For those without power, please see Dr. Swift's Thursday evening email to families with information about local Warming Centers. A list of centers can be found here. All Ann Arbor District Library branches are open and have power at this time. On Thursday evening, there was an overnight warming center at AADL's Westgate branch as well as the Red Cross at the Eagle Crest Conference Center in Ypsilanti, and it's possible both will be open again this evening. Check this link for updates on the Ypsilanti location. I encourage you to continue to share with friends, families and neighbors as additional families are losing power today due to the high winds. Thank you
Y5/Kindergarten Round Up
Our Y5/Kindergarten Round Up has been rescheduled to next Thursday, March 2 from 6:00 - 7:00. Incoming Y5 and Kindergarten students are welcome to attend with their parents/guardians.
Please help spread the word to neighbors and friends who might be interested!
March 3 Half Day
Next Friday, March 3 is a half day for students. The district calendar originally had this published as a 12:20 dismissal time. The correct dismissal time is 11:28. Sack lunches will be available instead of hot lunch, for students to take home. The choices for sack lunch will include: Turkey and Provolone Sub / Muffin Yogurt Fun Lunch / Bagel Pizza Lunch (like a Lunchable).
It's possible these choices may change as the district's food service / storage has been impacted by outages. Students will be called grade by grade to get sack lunches before dismissal.
Buses will run as usual on this half day. Please be sure to let your child(ren)'s teacher(s) know if your after school plans will be different than a typical Friday. Thank you!
AAPS Enrollment Reminder
We are excited to announce that Pre-Enrollments for the 2023-24 school year are now open. Enrollment for neighborhood zoned schools are open for new students to the district for grades Young 5 through 12 and remain open through the 2023-2024 school year.
***Please note that the Ann Arbor Public Schools Young 5s program is an optional opportunity for those students who meet the age criteria for entrance. The Young 5s program is a district-wide program and enrollment is limited to space availability. As such, enrollment is not guaranteed at neighborhood schools. If you’re interested in our Young 5s program for your student, I highly encourage families to enroll now. Space is limited in this program.
AAPS currently has dates for our first two In-District Transfer windows. In-District transfers are required for students who wish to attend a school that is not their neighborhood zoned school. All currently approved School of Choice and Non Resident Child of Employee AAPS students rising into grades 6 and 9 for the 23-24 school year are required to apply for in-district transfer.
In-District Transfer Windows
January 9, 2023 - February 13, 2023
Young 5s
9th & 10th grade at Pioneer and Skyline
9th, 10th, & IB-11th grade at Huron
February 27, 2023 - March 31, 2023
Young 5s
Elementary School
Middle School
K-8 STEAM
9th & 10th grade at Pioneer and Skyline
9th, 10th, & IB-11th grade at Huron
School of Choice along with a potential third In-District transfer window will tentatively open in late Spring 2023. Please watch the AAPS website for more updates to come.
Washtenaw County CDC Covid Level
As of today, Washtenaw County is in the CDC LOW/GREEN Community Level.
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
All the best,
Heather
PTO News
Message from the PTO President
What a strange week we have had! Hope everyone is hanging in there with changing schedules and little ones at home full of energy. The Dicken Elementary Parents Facebook group has been full of resource sharing and offers to help one another, which is a great reminder of our Dicken community. We also have an increase of new parents requesting to join (likely from future Dolphins who will be in Y5/Kindergarten this fall!).
Next week kicks off March is Reading month, our second major fundraiser of the year. This is our second major fundraiser for the year. Together with the Dicken Dash last fall, these two events provide a huge percentage of the PTO funding for the year! We'll use proceeds from this event toward Field Day and the Ice Cream social at the end of the year, and start next year's PTO with a budget to last until the Dicken Dash. Read below for more info.
—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 Meeting Dates
Thursday, March 16 - PTO Board Meeting, 6:30 - 8:00 pm (virtual via Zoom)
Thursday, April 20 - PTO Board Meeting, 6:30 - 8:00 pm (virtual via Zoom)
Thursday, May 18 - PTO Board Meeting, 6:30 - 8:00 pm (virtual via Zoom)
Thursday, June 15 - PTO Board Meeting, 6:30 - 8:00 pm (virtual via Zoom)
To see all Dicken school & PTO events in one place, click here for our PTO Google Calendar.
Another helpful link: the AAPS School Calendar.
March is Reading Month!
March is Reading Month gets underway this Wednesday, March 1! This second major fundraiser of the year will cover the end of year PTO/Dicken school event expenses. Additionally, the PTO is excited to supply every Dicken Dolphin with a book!
Our goal this year is as a school to read 270,000 total minutes (fun fact! this is the average amount of miles that a dolphin swims during its lifetime). Last year we were just over 220,000 minutes, so we think that this is a very achievable goal. Students will be tracking their reading minutes individually and we will be utilizing the 99pledges website to raise funds. More info will be sent directly from 99pledges on Wednesday, March 1, and pledges will be accepted through Wednesday, March 24.
We are once again partnering with Schuler Books in Westgate Shopping Center (March 5-11) and a percentage of sales that week will go toward our school! See below for how to participate in decorating Schuler's with reading-themed artwork!
Lastly, we will also have 4 reading-themed spirit days on every Friday in March leading up to Spring Break:
- Friday, March 3: Readers are WRITERS! And words are powerful! Wear something with words or a positive message.
- Friday, March 10: Readers are THINKERS! Put your thinking cap on! Wear something on your head today, such as a crown, headband, or hat.
- Friday, March 17: Readers are LEADERS! Books show us that we are all unique and strong leaders. Dress for success: Dress for your dream job!
- Friday, March 24: (Last day before spring break): Readers are DREAMERS! Readers never stop dreaming. Wear pajamas and bring your favorite book and stuffed animal. Get cozy today while you read.
Calling all Dicken Readers & Artists!
During March is Reading Month we will once again be having a fundraising event at Schuler Books in Westgate Shopping Center (March 5-11). We would love to have some student artwork to decorate the area around the checkout counters in the store.
Ideally, students would submit an A4 (8.5 x 11) piece of white paper with a drawing of your student's favorite book. We will mount them on construction paper and include your students first name, grade and favorite book and put them up around the store. If your student is interested in participating, please have drawings done by Monday, February 27th. We will put a folder in the office to collect the artwork! Thanks so much!