Weiss Update 12/6/2022
December 6th 2022
A Message from the Principal
Downriver STEM at Weiss had much of their STEM learning on display at our Fall Innovation Night last week! The students at Weiss have learned a lot about the engineering design process to build, adjust, and modify multiple creations across each grade level. Some of the items on display at the event were different kinds of bridge creations by kindergarteners, toy designs with different mediums created by 1st graders, hand created pollinators by 2nd graders, windmills designs and prototypes by 3rd graders, a parachute challenge and learning about air resistance from Mrs. Laidler's class, garden box designs for future gardening from 4th graders, alarm circuits being created to solve a specific problem by 5th graders, kaleidoscope photography digital challenge from Mrs. Cain's class, 3d printing from Mr. Budziak, and so much more! It was amazing to see all the students have accomplished with their STEM learning thus far this year. Please join us on May 16th for our Spring Innovation Night. This event will showcase our PBLs (Project Based Learning projects) and other STEM learning that happens at Weiss throughout the rest of this school year
Half-Day, Wednesday 12-7-22
Just a reminder that students will have a half day tomorrow (Wednesday, 12/7). This is due to our teachers being in professional development in the afternoon.
Here are the half-day dismissal times:
Half Day Dismissal
K/1= 11:55
2/3 = 12:00pm
4/5/Split = 12:05
Reminder- Weiss Concert is December 14th at 6:00pm
Please see the attached letter for more information about our upcoming concert! We hope to see everyone at Carlson High School on December 14 @ 6 p.m. Any questions, please contact Mrs. Monticello. Happy Thanksgiving!
Focus Trait December- Integrity
This month we are focusing on the word Integrity. Integrity is when we do the right thing even when it's hard or when no one is looking. Please take a moment to share with your children how they can show integrity every day and whenever you see someone showing integrity, make sure to highlight that in front of your child(ren). These conversations and acknowledgments of integrity can go a long way to helping our communty become a better place!
Weiss Winter Wonderland December 16th from 6:00pm-8:00pm
Our PTO would love our families to join us for the Weiss Winter Wonderland on December 16th. This winter community event will include many fun activities for all our families. Please see the attached flyer for more information.
Appreciation Station
Our PTO will be running their appreciation station next week at Weiss (December 12th-16th). Your child will be able to find gifts of appreciation for their family members and friends during their scheduled time (scheduled blocks can be found at the bottom of page 2 on the flyer). This flyer will be coming home this week but we wanted to send it digital as well so you had easier access.
Appreciation Station Volunteer Sign-up
Weiss Elementary PTO will be hosting our annual Appreciation Station during the school week of December 12-16, 2022. This event is during school hours and will allow Students the opportunity to purchase gifts of appreciation for family and friends. We will need at least 3 volunteers for each sign up time to be successful.
Please note: all volunteers must complete and turn in the Gibraltar School District Volunteer Background Form prior to the event if you haven't turned a form into the office yet. Click the link below to download and print the form. Please return the completed form to school via your child's take home folder.
You can sign up to volunteer by clicking this LINK
Please email the PTO at weisselementarypto@gmail.com or reach out on Facebook @ Weiss PTO with any questions!
Career Day- Please Consider Presenting
Downriver STEM at Weiss is hosting a CAREER DAY on Friday, February 24th during the school day to enhance our students understanding of different career opportunities(with a focus on STEM)!
We are looking for volunteers to help us showcase careers to our future leaders!
Here is your chance to share your story and inspire the next generation!
How to get involved:
Be a speaker at career day:
Volunteer your day and give short presentations showcasing your career to small groups of elementary students.Recommend a speaker for career day:
Do you know someone who would be a great speaker for our students? If so, please share the attached business partner letter with them or provide us with their contact information on the form below.
If you are interested or know someone that would be interested, please complete this Google Form:
https://forms.gle/1ETkd5C1HiYpSiXg9
Please review the attached documents below for more information.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to Ms. Hardy:
Ms. Laura Hardy
3rd Grade Teacher/Coordinator
734-379-7060
hardyl@gibdist.net
December Lunch Menu
Please click the link below for the December lunch menu. Just a reminder that every Tuesday is PIZZA day at Weiss.
Donations - We Need Pants and Shorts
Shout out a Staff Member?
It was so nice for our staff members to hear some of the shout-outs they received from parents in November. Thank you all who too a moment to share a kind word about a Weiss employee. If you have a moment this month please take a second to complete this Google Form to share a shout-out about a Weiss staff member. A single sentence or two can really make a great impact. https://forms.gle/Rx4AvhThzRxZHc3r6
Pictures of School Happenings
The kids did so great at the Turkey Trot today! We are proud of all of our Wildcats! Big shout out to Mr. Martin for putting together a brand new Turkey Trot experience for our students. Additionally, thank you to the Wildlife Refuge, Apple Charlie’s, the Lions Club of Rockwood, the PTO, and all of our parent volunteers for helping us to make this event as special as possible.
The First Graders were working really hard before Innovation Night at Frank E. Weiss Elementary!
One of the projects they presented was a Christmas Tree STEM challenge to see who can build the tallest tree out of gumdrops and toothpicks.
In the month of November, Weiss spent a lot of time learning and practicing how to be grateful. There is a ton of research that shows when we are grateful it leads to more positive outcomes. This includes improving happiness, self-esteem, optimism, confidence, and more. Downriver STEM at Weiss is so appreciative of the great partnerships we have with our families. Because of this, we partnered with McDonald’s to pass coffee out to our families as a token of our gratitude during our morning drop off! We know it takes a team to help our children flourish. Thank you to all our parents for being great partners in our student’s education!
Upcoming Dates
December 7th- Half day and Teacher PD in the PM
December 12th- PTO Meeting at 6:00pm
December 14th- Weiss Winter Concert 6:00pm
December 16th- PTO Winter Event 6:00pm
December 23rd- Last Day before Winter Break.
December 26th-January 6th: Winter Break: NO School
January 11th: HALF-DAY of school for students
January 9th: School Resumes
Reminder News
Winter Weather
It looks like the 70 degree days are behind us here for a little while in Michigan. It is important for each student to have the necessary outdoor gear to travel to and from school safely and to enjoy opportunities to get outside for recess. As the weather gets colder and wet, it is recommended that students have the following items: winter hat, mittens/gloves, and a warm/winter jacket(other winter gear may be requested by specific teachers). Despite the cold weather, many classes still go outside for recess, unless there has been a weather advisory stating that we cannot go outside.
In order to help us, please remember to LABEL EVERYTHING, in case any items get lost so we can easily get them back to your child. Lower elementary students can practice at home by having your child dress him/herself in winter gear and by practicing zipping up jackets at home.
There are resources available for those who may find it a hardship to secure the necessary winter gear. Please contact our office for assistance.
Weiss Watch D.O.G.S. Program
We love having our father-figures helping at Weiss. This is a great chance to see the great things happening at Weiss and support student's in their learning. If you are interested in being a WatchDOG you MUST have completed a background check that has been approved. If you have not done this yet, you can print one out here and send it to school with your Wildcat student https://www.gibdist.net/uploaded/Weiss_Elementary/2017_Web/19-20/VOLUNTEER_RELEASE_FORM_(2).pdf
If you have a completed background check, you can sign-up to be a WatchDOG at this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c094aaca82da6f94-watch
If you have any questions about WatchDOGS, please don't hesitate to reach out to Mrs. Moreno at morenoj@gibdist.net or call our office at 734-379-7060.
Treasurer Needed- PTO
We are looking for someone who is passionate about our school, our students and our community. We will train you on providing monthly financial reports that are reviewed at each meeting. Come join the board and help make our community stronger! If you have interest or questions, pease don't hesitate to reach out to the PTO at WeissElementaryPTO@gmail.com
Available Positions at Weiss/GSD
Crossing Guard
We are looking to add an additional adult to help our arrival and dismissal process. If you would be interested, please click this link: Crossing Guard - Weiss AppliTrackJobId=22946
If you have any questions about this position, please don't hesitate to reach out to our office at 734-370-7060.
Lunch Monitors
We are looking for caring adults that would love to help our Wildcat students during lunchtime. Our lunch monitors typically work Monday-Friday for 1.5-2 hours in the middle of the school day (but the schedule can be adjusted based on availability) and get paid by the hour. If you would be interested or know someone else that might be interested in becoming a Lunch Monitor, please contact food service at 734-379-7619.
Guest Teacher
Gibraltar School District is always looking for amazing guest teachers! We have new incentives! We have started a new incentive for our amazing guest teachers called Very Important Teacher (VIT). Simply put, all guest teachers will now qualify for the following incentives:- Work 10 days in a calendar month, get a $100 bonus
- Work 15 days in a calendar month, get a $225 bonus
- Work 20 days in a calendar month, get a $400 bonus
If you have at least 60 college credits and are interested in becoming a guest teacher in GSD, please go to www.edustaff.org and click on Apply Now!
We can't wait for you to join our team!
Special Education Aide
The Gibraltar School District is looking to add an amazing member to our team! A special education aide would work closely with students to provide positive behavioral, emotional, and instructional support so students may progress toward goals. You can apply for the position by completing the application here:
https://www.applitrack.com/resa/onlineapp/JobPostings/view.asp?FromAdmin=true&AppliTrackJobId=22557
If you have any questions about this position, please don't hesitate to reach out to our office at 734-370-7060.