Navigator Notables
October 2023 Navigator Elementary Newsletter
Message from the Principal
Dear Navigator Elementary Families,
We have had a great start to the school year. Our third and fourth grade students quickly acclimated to the school year and different learning spaces around the building. The remodeled commons area is a favorite (see pictures below).
As we move into October, the PTO is planning for a fun fall event on October 19 as well as organizing our participation in the National Walk, Bike or Roll to school on October 4. Information for both of the events are included in this newsletter.
Moving forward, school communications will be done through Seesaw. This includes monthly Navigator Notable newsletters, reminders and classroom newsletter. If you are not connected to your child's Seesaw, please reach out to your child's teacher.
Sincerely,
Ruth Badalucco
Principal
Upcoming October Events
October 4 - National Walk/Bike/Roll to School Event
October 4 - Title l Parent Information Meeting
October 11 - Picture Retake
October 11 - PTO Meeting
October 13 - District Pinkout Day
October 16-20 - National School Bus Safety Week
October 19 - Navigator Elementary Fall Festival Event
October 27 - Early release at 2:25 pm (End of first quarter)
November 1 - No School
November 2 and 3 - Half Day of School for conferences
Events are on the Navigator Elementary Calendar on the Navigator Elementary Website.
National Walk/Bike to School Day - October 4
If your child would like to participate, please click here
Note: No late sign ups accepted after Friday, September 29.
Parent Advisory Committee - October 4 at 9:00 am
Navigator Fall Festival - October 19
Spring 2023 M-STEP Reports
Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences
Seesaw
Seesaw is the Learning Management System within Pinckney Schools for grades K-5. This web-based program is an instructional resource as well as home/school connection. Here is some key features of Seesaw:
Empower Students to Be Creators -Students explain their thinking, communicate with an authentic audience, and take ownership of their growth
Seesaw Features:
Flexible instructional tools
Developmentally-appropriate learning tools
Student-driven portfolios
Meet Students Where They Are-Get the valuable insights of 1:1 conferences at scale. Intuitive tools simplify data-informed and differentiated instruction so every student receives the right level of support and challenge.
Seesaw Features:
Multimodal inputs and outputs
Audio, video, and screen recording
Text and audio feedback
Create a Community of Learning-Increase student motivation by sharing learning with an authentic audience: their teachers, family members, and peers.
Seesaw Features:
Likes and comments on student posts
Whole class, custom group, and 1:1 messages
Administrator virtual classroom visits and district wide controls
School Communication In One Place-Click the Messages icon on the top left to get started. Here you’ll see:
Schoolwide and class announcements
1:1 conversations with your child’s teachers
Group chats started by your child’s teacher
For additional information on how to connect to Seesaw, click here for an informational flier.
Enrollment Verification Process for 2023-24 School Year
If you have not yet had an opportunity to update the contact information for your child's MISTAR through the Enrollment Verification Process in MISTAR, please complete. Here are the directions as well as directions (if needed) for this process:
Basic steps:
Log into MISTAR using the link to the ParentPortal.
Click the link at the top of the page to begin the process.
For an overview of the steps watch this video or view these slides.
Specials News
Students rotate specials daily and attend the following classes weekly:
- Physical Education with Mr. Mike Goodfellow
- Art with Mrs. Jenny Shappell
- Music with Ms. Rachel Green
- Computer Science with Mr. Chad Chambless
News and Activities
Music:
The year is in full swing and we have already accomplished so much! We so far have learned about latin drums, hand drums, paddle drums, xylophones, and more percussion instruments! We also started to use the choir room this week and we learned a song about fruit and how to get off and on the risers with our concerts a few short months away! We are learning so much and having lots of fun while doing it!
Physical education:
To start the year we have been working our track and field unit. We incorporate hula hoops for teamwork, jump rope for fitness and demonstrate and perform field events such as shot put, long jump and discuss, as well as hurdles. Next week 9/25- 9/29, weather permitting we will be running the mile on the track. In October we will be alternating between our football and soccer skills units.
Art
The start of the year has been amazing! It’s so wonderful getting to know everyone and they are all so talented. We are working on a drawing with their names, then we are going to design the new Navigator T-shirts, and start a fall themed artwork. Keep drawing!!
Computer Science
So glad to be back at school and seeing so many smiling and enthusiastic faces!!
We are just getting started with our main curriculum using Code.org. We have so much new material coming our way. 3rd graders will start block coding and 4th and 5th graders will be learning about sprites and creating comic strip style illustrations.
Student and Family Specialist Updates from Mrs. Miles
The start of the school year (and many times Monday mornings) can cause anxiety for many students. Leaving the comfort of home and family is not easy! Navigator is a new school for many of our students this year and that means new friends, new teachers and staff, and new routines to get used to. I remember when my son was a 4th grader and had “the meanest teacher in the school”. He cried every morning for 6 weeks and made getting ready and out the door very difficult! The funny thing is, that teacher and that year ended up being one of his favorites and he still has contact with that teacher to this day (and he’s 29 yrs. old!)
This article provides some assurances and tips that may be helpful: 10 Tips for Parenting Anxious Kids . And please remember, we are here to help. I have walked students into the building crying and yelling about not wanting to be here, only to have them in class laughing 20 minutes later. The hard part is getting them here and in the door. But once they are here, they do just fine.
Willow's Corner
Navigator PTO Update
The PTO met in September. One of the first big events that is getting planned is the Navigator Fall Festival. The goal is to provide a fun family event with our Navigator families. A sub committee is working on this event. If you would like to be part of the planning committee, please email the PTO.
The committee is also looking to fill a few executive board positions. If interested please attend the October meeting which is October 11 at 7:00 pm in the media center
Navigator Lunch
Monthly lunch menus are posted on the Pinckney Community Schools website. Breakfast, Lunch and milk prices for the 2023-24 school year are as follows:
- Breakfast - free
- Lunch - free
- Milk $.55 (purchasing milk only)
Payments into your child's lunch account can be done through MISTAR through this link if you would like them to purchase an ice cream treat on Tuesdays and/or cookie treat on Fridays.
The lunch schedule is:
- 11:00 - 11:40 am - Fifth grade
- 11:50 - 12:30 pm - Fourth grade
- 12: 40 - 1:20 pm - Third grade
We are always looking for parents, grandparents, aunts/uncles to participate within the school as lunch/recess supervisors. If you are interested please reach out to Heather or Bridgette in our office at (810) 225-5300. This is a paid opportunity.
Lunchtime treats
Students may purchase treat on specific days using their lunch account:
- Tuesday is cookie day (new day) for $1.25
- Friday is ice cream day (new day for $1.25
Our lunchroom supervisors run the famous Navigator Popcorn day on Thursdays. Pop is .25 cents to purchase a bag. (Student bring a quarter to purchase popcorn)
Procedures for Morning Arrival and After School Dismissal
Parent/Guardian Drop Off: Parents will use the front parking lot to drop off students starting at 8:30 am. Staff will be helping students get to their classrooms. Students will make their way to their class. Form a single lane only at drop off in front of school then split into 2 lanes for turning on M-36.
Bus Drop off: Starting at 8:30 am, buses will release students. Each bus will dismiss one at a time at the south entrance (Fine Arts wing).After School Dismissal
Parent/Guardian Pick-up: We will continue to have parents pick up curbside in the front parking lot. Each car picking up student(s) will be given a window sign indicating your child’s teacher and last name. As cars arrive for pick up, they will form two parallel lines at the curb in front of Navigator.
School Hours and Contact Information
Navigator Elementary School
2150 E. M-36
Pinckney, MI 48169
(810) 225-5300
Attendance Hotline
(810) 225-5310
School Hours
- Monday-Thursday school hours will be 8:40 a.m. – 3:44 p.m.
- Fridays, students will be dismissed at 2:25 p.m.
- Half days, students will be dismissed at 12:13 p.m.
Our office hours will be 7:50 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Friday 7:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.