Pleasant Lake Pleasantries
The Week of April 17, 2017
Together We Learn, Together We Lead!
We Need Your Help-PTA Treasurer
Please contact Lisa Fenberg at fenyos@yahoo.com if you are interested! Thank you.
Leadership Day 2017!
We were honored to be selected for a 5th consecutive year to be Tour Stop for the Annual Leader in Me State Conference. Over 60 teachers and administrators from Michigan, Ohio and Illinois visited PLE. The PLE School Community synergized to make Leadership Day 2017 a huge success!
Birthday Bags
Family Science Night this Tuesday Evening!
Where: Pleasant Lake Elementary
When: Tuesday, April 18
Time: 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
Please join us for a fun and free evening of hands on Science activities provided by the Ann Arbor Hands-On Science Museum. You do not want to miss this exciting opportunity we have to learn together as a school community. All ages welcome, parents must be in attendance with their children.
2nd and 3rd Grade Math Pentathletes
2nd Grade Awards
Annabel Cotham - Gold Medal
Erik Sousley - Silver Medal
Hudson Pawl - Silver Medal
Angelina Abdulnour - Bronze Medal
Skylar Delly - Bronze Medal
Daniel Khrus - Honorable Mention
Allison Laz - Honorable Mention
Maya Gasevski - Honorable Mention
Maya Paulus - Honorable Mention
3rd Grade Awards
Carley Stevens - Gold Medal and Hall of Fame
Guerrin Morden - Honorable Mention
Peter Sousley - Honorable Mention
Nationwide Voluntary Recall of Epipen and Epipen Jr
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a recall on 13 lot numbers of Mylan’s EpiPen and EpiPen Jr. This recall is due to the potential that they may contain a defective part that could result in the failure of these devices to activate.
Check the side end of your package for the lot number. The recalled products were manufactured by Meridian Medical Technologies and distributed by Mylan Specialty, and were distributed between Dec. 17, 2015, and July 1, 2016.
Consumers who have EpiPens from lot numbers that are not included in this recall do not need to replace their EpiPen prior to its expiration date.
See the complete list of recall lot numbers for EpiPen and EpiPen Jr.
March is Reading Month Door Decorating Contest
5th Grade Musical was a huge success
Students dress as their favorite story character
Calendar of Events
Shark’s Den School Store Tuesday-Thursday 8:40 -8:55 a.m.
Girl Scouts every Thursday evening at 6:00 p.m.
S.A.I.L Team every Friday at 8:00 a.m.
- April 18 Spring Picture Day
- April 18 Family Science Night
- April 20 PLE Artists will be honored at the School Board of Education Meeting
- April 21 2nd & 5th Grade Earth Day Field Trip
- April 21 Star Students
- April 22 Earth Day
- April 24 3rd & 4th Grade Earth Day Field Trip
- April 24 Math Grade Skipping Test after school for registered students
- April 25 March Cafeteria CHAMPS Celebration
- April 26 1st Grade Leadership Notebook "Shower You with Success" 8:15-8:45 a.m.
- April 26 Walled Lake Schools ESL Family Arabic Night at PLE 6:30-8:00 p.m.
- April 28 Schoolwide Assembly with Caleb White. Learn about the Caleb White Project by clicking HERE.
- April 28 CREW
- May 1-May 5 Staff Appreciation Week
- May 1 PTA Meeting at 7:00 p.m.
- May 4 5th Grade Visit to Walnut Creek Middle School
- May 4 Board of Education Meeting at 7:30 p.m.
- May 5 Star Students
- May 8 Annual Staff Volleyball Game at 6:00 p.m.
- May 9 3rd Grade Field Trip to Lansing
- May 12 CREW
- May 13 PLE Spring Cleanup Day beginning at 8:00 a.m.
Pleasant Lake Elementary
Office Hours:
Monday - Friday
8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Prime Time Care Hours
Monday - Friday
6:30 AM-6:00 PM
Main Office:
248-956-2800
Fax Number:
248-956-2805
Attendance Hotline:
248-956-2890
School Times:
Drop off: 8:50 AM
Late Bell: 8:55 AM
Dismissal: 3:58 PM
Departure: 4:05 PM
Email: NayalMaktari@wlcsd.org
Website: www.wlcsd.org/pleasantlake
Location: 4900 Halsted Road, West Bloomfield Township, MI, United States
Phone: (248) 956-2800
Twitter: @PleasantLakeEl
Spring Picture Day-Tuesday, April 18th!
Spring Picture Day is on Tuesday, April 18th. Forms were sent home with your child and can be found by clicking HERE. Additional hard copies of the picture day form are also located in our main office.
Please contact our main office at 248.956.2800 if you have any questions.
Welcome to PLE!
Save the Date-5th Grade Graduation Ceremony
This year’s 5th Grade Graduation Ceremony is scheduled for the morning of Wednesday, June 14th. You will receive more information as we get closer to the date.
We look forward to a wonderful day celebrating our 5th grade children!
Star Student Assistants hard at work
Student Parent Committee Meeting
5th Graders visited Walnut Creek Middle School
Leader in Me Parent & Student Survey
Parent Survey
https://theleaderinmeonline.org/assessments/assessment/3508bb072cc29f74
4th & 5th Grade Student Survey
https://theleaderinmeonline.org/assessments/assessment/2119ae8f471b14b7
Team Joseph Fundraiser April 10th-20th
The Student Lighthouse Team is excited to share with you that our school will be participating in the Gamechangers Team Joseph Community Service Project. Team Joseph is a non-profit organization whose mission is to aggressively fund cutting edge research to find a treatment or cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
Please click HERE to more about more about this important cause.
2017 Parenting Education Fair
SAVE THE DATE!
Western Oakland County Parenting Education Fair: Saturday, November 4, 2017 at Walled Lake Northern High School.
For more information, please CLICK HERE
The keynote speaker, Dr. Michelle Borba will discuss the topic of Unselfie and building empathy in our children.
Why Teaching Kids Empathy Is So Important by Shannan Younger
"Do you know what that feels like?" "Yes, I know what that feels like." That exchange happens twice in the new movie Finding Dory, and each time it is a pivotal moment in the film. Don't worry, no spoilers here, just the recognition of the tremendous power of empathy.
Empathy is "seeing with the eyes of another, listening with the ears of another, and feeling with the heart of another," as Dr. Michele Borba said at a talk I attended last night.
Those movie scenes tug at the heartstrings of viewers because we know from our own experiences that the moments of connection that comes from empathy are extremely powerful.
Our kids, however, may be missing out on those powerful moments because there is an empathy crisis among today's youth, as Borba explains in her new book UnSelfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About-Me World. She cites a study from the University of Michigan finding that empathy has decreased by 40% and narcissism has increased by 58% in incoming college freshmen over the past three decades.
Why is teaching kids empathy so important?
Empathy boosts resilience. It is the key to forming the healthy relationships that impact our kids' mental health. And empathy is and will be a key skill in the job market. Employers are looking for people who can connect with their clients, really understand the needs of consumers, and relate well to coworkers, bosses, and others in the workplace.
Empathy matters and in UnSelfie, Borba makes a compelling argument for why it matters more than GPA.
Helping our kids do to be kind and develop a moral identity now will have a larger and longer impact on the rest of their life (and society as a whole) than anything they do to develop an Ivy League-worthy resume.
The effort that goes into those resumes and the pressure our kids feel are big reasons why this generation of kids is the most stressed out on record. The increase in stress and decline in empathy is related. "As stress builds, empathy wanes," Borba explains, saying that it's tough to empathize when you're in survival mode.
Simple coping skills like deep breathing and others that she describes in the book can help kids not only get through difficult moments, it helps keep empathy open.
"We have to build our kids from the inside out and focus on what triggers their hearts," she says.
The good news is that all humans are born with the capacity for empathy, and Borba explains that empathy is a muscle and like all muscles - the use it or lose it principle applies. The more you exercise your empathy muscle, the stronger it becomes.
"Empathy can be cultivated," Borba stressed. Regardless of temperament or age, kids can learn to be empathetic.
"We take our kids to so many practices - sports, music, etc. But do they practice being a good person?" Borba asked. "We are good at practicing everything but humanity."
UnSelfie focuses on nine essential habits that our kids need to grow and thrive in today's digital-driven, individualist society. They are Emotional Literacy, Moral Identity, Perspective Taking, Moral Imagination, Kindness, Collaboration, Self-regulation, Moral Courage, Compassionate Leadership. (Not coincidentally, that's one for each month of the academic year.)
At the end of each chapter she offers strategies for developing those habits and she codes them by age. I appreciated that she has a category specifically for tweens and teens and another for all ages. There are also categories for younger kids, so there's something for every member of the family. In all there are more than 500 tips and tools. Some are as simple as sharing your feelings emotions with your children.
Other tips include family movie night and suggestions for films about collaboration and sticking up for each other that are great conversation starters, reading novels together.
Some of those tips are ways to expanding your child's comfort zone and social circles so they can empathize with those who are not like them. The ability to do so is good for our kids, and for our world.
UnSelfie is a great guide for teaching kids empathy and will help shift their focus from "me" to "we," and when that happens, everyone benefits. After this week, we are all acutely aware of how critical it is to see the humanity in others, the power of kindness and how invaluable the helpers are.
Incoming Kindergarteners
If you have a child who will be starting Kindergarten in the fall, please call our office at 248.956.2800 to be placed on our mailing list and learn about our upcoming spring visits
If you have neighbors and/or friends who have Kindergarten age children but do not have other children attending PLE, please ask them to call the school office.
Kindergarten Information
Incoming kindergartners must be five-years-old on or before September 1, 2017.
Exception: According to Michigan Law, a child may be enrolled in kindergarten
if he/she is not five years of age on September 1, 2017 but will be five years of
age not later than December 1, 2017 and parent or legal guardian notifies the school
district in writing (Kindergarten Waiver Form) that he or she intends to enroll the
child in kindergarten.
Research indicates that developmentally appropriate full-day schedules benefit kindergarten children academically, socially and emotionally. Our principals and teachers understand this and are well equipped to meet the needs of our kindergarten students.
Our kindergarten students begin to learn a whole host of reading, writing and mathematics concepts and learning strategies that give them the foundation for a successful elementary school career in Walled Lake Schools.
Kindergarten Vision Screen Available. Please call the Oakland County Health Department at 248-424-7070 to schedule an appointment.
Enrollment Information Hotline: 248-956-5250
Kindergarten Resources
- Kindergarten Orientation 2016-17 School Year Presentation
- Criteria for Enrollment
- Enrollment Instructions
- Enrollment Instructions in Spanish
- Enrollment Instructions in Japanese
- Enrollment Instructions in Arabic
- Elementary School Contact Information
- Oakland County Health Division (OCHD) Immunization Action Plan(Video)
- Full Day Kindergarten (PowerPoint Presentation)
- Full-Day Kindergarten Research Article 1
- Full-Day Kindergarten Research Article 2
- Full-Day Kindergarten Research Article 3
Teacher Appreciation Week May 1st - 5th
Please volunteer to help by clicking on the link below.
New Date-Annual Staff Charity Volleyball Game
The profits collected from Volleyball Game will go to the Make a Wish Foundation! Our goal is to raise $6000 to make a local child's wish come true. Expect more information in the next several weeks. Lets synergize for a great cause!
Now Enrolling for September 2017 Preschool
Enroll your child in the Preschool that is part of your School District.
- Our curriculum (High Scope) builds the strong emotional skills that are needed for success in school.
- Reading and writing are a natural, purposeful part of our school day.
- Children are supported by trained staff to think, to try, and to wonder why.
- Tuition programs are available around the district – Dublin, Glengary, Pleasant Lake, Twin Sun, Walled Lake and Guest
- Free Grant funded programs are available for both 3’s and 4’s, 248-956-5089
Call to find out which program is right for your family!
248.956.5080 or go to www.wlcsd.org/preschool
Preschool for WLCSD 3 – 5 year olds
Homework vs. No Homework Is the Wrong Question by Maurice J. Elias
The real question we should be asking is, "What do we believe should happen after the end of the school day to help ensure that students retain what they have learned and are primed to learn more?" Any answer with the word, "work" in its name, as in "homework," is not typically going to be met with eagerness or enthusiasm by students.
Ideally, we want children to understand that they are always learners. In school, we refer to them as "students" but outside of school, as children, they are still learners. So it makes no sense to even advertise a "no homework" policy in a school. It sends the wrong message. The policy should be, "No time-wasting, rote, repetitive tasks will be assigned that lack clear instructional or learning purposes."
A realistic homework strategy should be a key topic of back-to-school night and the first parent-teacher conferences of the school year. But it should also reflect a considered school policy and not simply be up to each individual teacher to carry out according to his or own theory of student learning. Another advantage of this approach is to ensure that individual children are not inadvertently overloaded with demands from teachers who may not know what other teachers are asking of the same student. This is a particular concern in secondary schools.
Home Activities That Matter the Most
Children should be encouraged to read, write, perform arithmetic, better understand the world around them in terms of civics, science, and the arts, and, of course, develop their people skills -- their emotional intelligence. This encouragement should be part of everyday family interactions outside of school, and the school should provide developmental guidance to all parents, in the appropriate languages, to help them do this. For some children, specialized guidance will be needed, and this, too, should be provided proactively to parents.
Some parents will select focused programs or after-school experiences to help foster their children's learning in one or more of the aforementioned areas. To promote equity within and across schools, communities should think about how to make these kinds of experiences available to all children in high-quality ways -- without undue or unrealistic expense to families.
Of course, some teachers will have specific, creative ideas about how learning can be enhanced at home, in the context of particular units of study in school. Maybe what we need is a new word for all this. Instead of "homework," how about "continued learning" or "ongoing growth activities?"
Parents Playing Their Part
Finally, students' learning would be greatly enhanced by schools taking a clear stance about supporting good parenting. My colleague Yoni Schwab and I have written about the importance of parents focusing on parenting as a priority, and secondarily working on assisting schools with educational issues (Elias, M. J., and Schwab, Y., 2004).
Aspects of good parenting that could be encouraged by schools include workshops, family nights, and discussion series on ways to promote:
- Children's social-emotional and character development
- Parents spending more time directly interacting with their kids in enjoyable ways
- Parents visibly showing how much they value the importance of education and effort
- Parents monitoring their children's use of and exposure to electronic media
- Children's "continued learning" in as many possible opportunities during everyday household routines
Above all, schools should remind parents to never lose sight of modeling for their children the value of close relationships, support, caring, and fun. That is the most important home work of all.
Reference
Elias, M. J., and Schwab, Y. (2004). What About Parental Involvement in Parenting? The Case for Home-Focused School-Parent Partnerships. Education Week, 24 (8), 39,41.
Please take a moment if you haven't already, to read our Homework Policy Pamphlet and watch our Homework Policy Video.
March Cafeteria CHAMPS
Kindergarten-Mrs. Spontelli
1st Grade-Mrs. Goebel
2nd Grade-Mrs. Smith
3rd Grade-Mrs. Homer
4th Grade-Mrs. Brown
5th Grade-Mr. Thomas
Take a moment to ask your child(ren) about our Playground CHAMPS!
Teach The Leader in Me Habits At Home!
Enjoy!
Kroger Community Rewards Program
The PTA needs your help in providing our students and staff with as many resources as possible. One way the PTA helps is by contributing the funds earned through the Kroger Community Rewards program. If you shop at Kroger, we ask you to enroll your card to earn money for the PTA. This program does not take away your rewards earned toward gas or any other benefits. It is an additional way that Kroger gives back to the community. If you were enrolled in the past, please make sure to re-enroll and select Pleasant Lake Elementary PTA to earn the community rewards. You can follow the link provided here https://www.kroger.com/account/enrollCommunityRewardsNow
Also, if you have other family members (grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.) that shop at Kroger or Kroger affiliated stores encourage them to enroll their rewards card and select your student’s PTA for community rewards. Every little bit helps our students and staff.
Thank you,
Katarina Gasevski
PTA Co-V.P. and Scrips Coordinator
Access ConnectED, i-Ready and Reading A-Z at Home
In addition to ConnectED many of our classrooms have additional math and literacy online resources, like Reading A-Z and i-Ready, that your child and you and can access at home. If you're not sure what resources are available ask your child and/or their teacher.
Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress (M-STEP)
Dear 3rd-5th Grade Parents,
Pleasant Lake Elementary will administer the Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress (M-STEP) to students in Grades 3-5. The M-STEP will be given online again and will measure student knowledge of the State of Michigan’s academic standards in English Language arts (ELA), Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies.
Below are the testing windows for each grade level. Please attempt to avoid missing the testing dates below and have your child to school on time.
5th Grade
April 12th-May 2nd
Testing in English Language Arts, Math and Social Studies
3rd Grade
May 3rd-May 12th
Testing in English Language Arts and Math
4th Grade
May 15th-May 26th
Testing in English Language Arts, Math and Science
Please share with your child the importance of these assessments, as they are an indicator of your child’s progress within the Michigan Standards and will assist us in knowing the progress of our student body at Pleasant Lake Elementary.
Please be sure that they recieve plenty of sleep and have a healthy breakfast each day of testing. Below you will find some additional M-STEP resources and information.
Parent letter from State Superintendent Brian Whiston
Feel free to contact your child's teacher if you have any questions. Thank you.
Emergency Responder Signage
Emergency Responder signage was installed at our school during the break. This project is part of the Safety and Security Bond and is intended to provide emergency responders with better direction when responding to the school. Every exterior door has a sequential number on it and there is a corresponding number on the inside. When a person inside calls for a medical or other emergency, they can tell the operator which door they are near and the emergency responders can quickly locate that door from the outside and reach the person more quickly. This is one more step to make our schools safer for students, staff and visitors.
Know What's Going On At Pleasant Lake Elementary!
SKYWARD FAMILY ACCESS
It is critical that parents keep an updated email address and let us know if it changes as soon as possible. Parents may update this information for us on Skyward Family Access. All teachers at Pleasant Lake utilize Skyward Family Access to communicate with parents. Report cards, lunch account information, progress reports, attendance and other important information will always be posted on Skyward Family Access. If you are a new family to Walled Lake Schools or have misplaced or lost your Family Access ID and password, please click HERE to get connected.
PLEASANT LAKE PLEASANTRIES AND SCHOOL WEBSITE
Our school newsletter will be sent electronically to parents every two weeks. An archive of newsletters is also posted to our school website under the For Parents tab. Our school website can be found HERE. Please visit this page often for information about our school. You will find links to important documents, websites from your child's classroom, PTA forms and information, and important updates and forms that you will need to access.
Please follow us on Twitter @PleasantLakeEl to be updated regularly on important events at our school and fun pictures of student events and learning!
REMIND 101
We also offer Remind 101 to all PLE parents. How does it work? If you would like to receive a quick text message on your cell phone or device, just sign up with us and you receive a quick text to remind you of important school events, deadlines, time frames, etc. at PLE. You can unsubscribe at any time.
To join, send a text to (586) 649-3482 and enter the message @mrmakt
You can opt-out of messages at anytime by replying, 'unsubscribe @mrmakt'.
Walled Lake School’s Recess Wear Guidelines
Please make sure your child’s name appears on any of their outdoor apparel, so we can reunite any lost items with their owners. Also please remember to dress them appropriately for outdoor recess. Our students will have outdoor recess unless the actual temperature or the wind chill (“feels like”) temperature dips below 0 degrees or if it is raining. Below are the Walled Lake School’s Recess Wear Guidelines.
Coats/Jackets
50 degrees + - Child/parent discretion
40-49 degrees - Recommended
39 degrees and below - Required
Hats/Gloves/Mittens
45 degrees + - Child/parent discretion
35-44 degrees - Recommended
32 degrees and below - Required
Boots and Snow Pants
Required when off of the blacktop
if there is slush or snow
**Please note: Temperature degrees are based on wind-chill/ “feels like” temperatures. **