THE FALCON EXPRESS
APRIL 2024
Greetings Falcon families,
We are entering the last eleven weeks of the 2024-2025 school year! Hopefully, our scholars experienced a relaxing Spring Break and are eager to return. We are thrilled to welcome all of you back as we continue learning and growing! Our goal is to continue building partnerships and relationships with our parents and scholars.
The month of March was full of excitement as we celebrated March is Reading month and Women’s History month.
The months of April and May mark the beginning to the end of the year M-STEP testing window for Grades 3-5. We will start administering M-STEP the week of April 8th. This testing window will run through May 10th. It is very important that your scholars be at school and on time on M-STEP testing days. Past experience has shown that students who take the assessments with their class perform at a higher level than those who take a make-up assessment at a different time.
Lastly, please encourage your scholar to do their very best and review the PowerPoint presentation on M-STEP for parents.
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1032hOCiXOpbAujqp1WSWSEqkHA2Jijny0uUZEJ_3W9I/edit?usp=sharing
Our learning community is a wonderful place to be and, as a team, we continue to work hard to stay the BEST! We are anchoring excellence in a safe harbor for learning and riding the “Waves of Success”!
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Tonya M. Hickman, Principal
TECHNOLOGY USAGE
It's important to be aware of what your kids do online. To help them find the balance, it's important to talk with your kids about how to use social media wisely.
Unfortunately, if your scholar is in violation of our district's technology usage policy consequences will be issued and their devices will be confiscated.
We always like to say, “don't post anything you wouldn't want your grandmother to see!”
Let's partner together,
SOLAR ECLIPSE
A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun. People located in the center of the Moon’s shadow when it hits Earth will experience a total eclipse. The sky will darken, as if it were dawn or dusk. Weather permitting, people in the path of a total solar eclipse can see the Sun’s corona, the outer atmosphere, which is otherwise usually obscured by the bright face of the Sun.
A total solar eclipse will occur on Monday, April 8 beginning at 1:58 p.m. and reach maximum totality, or coverage, around 3:14 p.m. in southeast Michigan. It will conclude with a final partial eclipse at 4:27 p.m.
Safety is the number one priority when viewing a total solar eclipse. We have purchased specialized eye protection for all of our scholars. We are requesting that our scholars wear a hat and the provided safety glasses at dismissal to ensure the protection of their eyes while solar viewing. Please note, it is not safe to look directly at the Sun without specialized eye protection for solar viewing. Viewing any part of the bright Sun through a camera lens, binoculars, or a telescope without a special-purpose solar filter secured over the front of the optics will instantly cause severe eye injury.
Fun facts: the last total solar eclipse visible in Michigan was in 1954, with the next opportunity in 2045!
Remember, never look directly at the sun without proper protection, even during an eclipse!
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EFFECTS OF TARDINESS
I am concerned at the number of students who are presenting as chronically late for school, and we also have many who are missing significant chunks of time each week.
We all run late sometimes. For your child, arriving late to school occasionally won't cause major disruption. Inevitably, children will feel sick or tired some mornings, or other situations will prevent them from being on time. But chronic lateness eventually takes its toll on a child's overall educational experience. According to the national initiative Attendance Works, missing just 10 percent of the school year in the early grades causes many students to struggle in primary school, and lateness in later grades is associated with increased failure and dropout rates.
Fortunately, parents can help prevent tardiness from becoming frequent enough to negatively impact their child's school life.
After 8:10 am, parents must sign their scholars into school at the main door. Please continue to do your part to make sure your scholar arrives at school on time each day.
Be reminded that breakfast is served until 8:15 am.
TRUANCY FLOWCHART FOR OAKLAND COUNTY
SCIENCE FAIR 2024
On Thursday, April 25, 2024, Adlai Stevenson Elementary School will host our Parent Engagement Science Fair event. This will be a school wide event. Student projects will be on display in the gymnasium for your viewing from 5:30 P.M. to 7:00 P.M.
Students in grades K-5 will complete a science project at home with the assistance of their family and should be prepared to present their individual projects in class. Each student who completes a project will have his/her board displayed, judged, and graded by me on originality, their use of the scientific method, and the overall neatness and clarity of their project. All students who submit a project will receive a participation ribbon for their participation in the fair.
Only one individual project may be submitted per student. Science boards will be distributed to your scholars on Friday, April 5th to bring home. However, projects should be done at home with the assistance of a parent. Completed projects and additional materials should not be brought to school prior to the designated date.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your scholar's teacher.
ALL PROJECTS ARE DUE ON Monday, April 22, 2024.
APRIL CALENDAR
ONLINE EDUCATIONAL YOUTUBE CHANNELS
SPS SUMMER OFFERINGS
We are delighted to introduce the 2024 Summer Learning Manual, your go-to resource for a summer filled with learning and fun. This year's manual offers a rich array of reading lists, skill plans, camp recommendations, and social-emotional learning resources, all designed to support our students' growth and enjoyment.
ABOUT US
Stevenson Elementary School
Southfield, Michigan 48076
(248) 746-8840
Follow us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/falconssoarwithpride/
Follow us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/stevenson__elementary/?hl=en
School webpage:
https://www.southfieldk12.org/schools/elem/stevenson-elementary-school/
Building Principal:
Tonya Hickman
tonya.hickman@southfieldk12.org
Assistant Administrators:
Stephon Thompson (Assistant Admin)
stephon.thompson@southfieldk12.org
Melanie Land (Community Coordinator)