Pleasant Lake Pleasantries
May 26, 2020
Together We Learn, Together We Lead!
EVERY CHILD, EVERY DAY!
Every Child, Every Day is our intentional commitment to creating a safe and inclusive culture and community where we:
- Prioritize instruction
- Foster meaningful relationships
- Value and empower each learner
- Create growth opportunities for all
WHAT IS NEW
A MESSAGE FROM WLCSD
Dear Parents:
With 10 weeks of virtual learning completed, our seniors have taken hundreds of Advanced Placement exams online this week, and today is the last day for seniors. With our uncertain circumstances, several seniors will continue to complete work for their diplomas through June and this summer if needed.
Many of you have heard plans other districts may have rolled out for next school year. Although much research, discourse, and collaboration is taking place with our administrators and staff regarding what the learning environment will look like next year, we will not be communicating plans for next year until we have both the Governor’s Order for what will be allowed and until we know what funding we will have to provide the best option(s) for our students and families, always keeping safety as the number one priority. Rest assured we are reviewing several options from face-to-face, to virtual, to a variety of hybrid methods, so we are prepared.
·
Budget: As we explained in this video Budget Update May, 2020 last week, we are preparing a budget that includes sweeping reductions. Thank you for taking some time to watch this WLCSD Budget Update Video (May 20). We are asking parents to advocate for unrestricted federal funds with our Federal legislators for Michigan.
- Please send your questions about the WLCSD budget to: budget@wlcsd.org.
- Interview: Superintendent Gutman Interview Civic Center TV (May 19)
Congratulations to:
- Thirteen WL Northern senior athletes attended a college commitment celebration.
- Four WL Western video students: Seniors Madison Kirk, Austin Budai and Dylan Yacoub, and junior, Cecelia Carner, whose six videos took Excellence and Honor awards at the DAFT (Digital, Arts, Film and Television) Festival.
- Three interim administrators who were approved for positions at the Board of Education meeting last night: Julie Amann, principal of Walled Lake Elementary School, Tom Ropek. assistant principal at WL Western, and Nick Hamblin, assistant principal at WL Central. “I know these leaders will serve Every Child, Every Day in their respective school communities,” Superintendent Gutman said.
Other updated information:
- Senior Recognition: This flyer outlines Senior Celebration Events for the Class of 2020 at WLC, WLN and WLW.
- Food Distribution is on Tuesday, May 26 and not on Memorial Day. WLCSD Food Distribution, TUESDAY, 5/26
- Virtual Kindergarten Orientation: Visit our Virtual Kindergarten Orientation process that includes the video, Google Form, and the fully virtual enrollment process District Enrollment Link.
- Virtual Learning Survey: Please take a moment to complete our Virtual Learning Survey and give us your feedback.
- School Calendar: We apologize, however we continue to negotiate the school calendar for the 2020-2021 school year. When it is available, we will email it to families. Thank you for your patience.
We are committed to communicating what we know, when we know it. Thank you for your partnership in supporting our children and each other. Please be safe this Memorial Day weekend, and let us know how we can help you at info@wlcsd.org.
Wishing you safety and health,
Kenneth Gutman
Superintendent of Schools
PLE POSTCARDS
By now your child(ren) should have received the PLE Postcards we mailed home to each child. It is simply our way of saying that we miss and care about your children, family and that you are always on our mind!
Nayal Maktari and the PLE Staff
Social Emotional Lessons by PLE Social Worker Miss Erika Emke
STUDENT PLACEMENT PROCESS 2020-2021
Dear Pleasant Lake Elementary Parent(s),
Occasionally we may receive a parent request in the spring regarding student placements for the upcoming school year. We work hard to determine the best placement for your child and there are many factors that are considered.
Our placement process is a team effort done with great care. The initial lists are drawn up and reviewed by your child’s teacher, the entire grade level team and the specialists involved with your child to ensure that we have not overlooked any aspect of an appropriate placement. We always work to keep the best interests of all children in our minds as we work for appropriate placements. In addition, we consider special learning and enrichment concerns.
Our top priority is to develop appropriate class groupings that will provide our children with the best opportunity for academic success the following school year. Accepting parent requests jeopardizes the integrity of the class grouping system that our teachers and specialists work so very hard on and adversely affects our children in reaching their academic and social goals. Parent requests will not be accepted or considered.
You may wish to share some information about your child. If you would like to tell us something about your child, you can fill out the OPTIONAL PARENT INPUT FORM, which can be also accessed on our school website under the For Parents tab. Please submit the optional Parent Input Form by Monday, May 18th. Your child’s current and future teacher will review the form.
I please ask that you do not request a teacher by name on the Parent Input Form. All of our teachers at Pleasant Lake Elementary are highly qualified professionals that will provide your child with a nurturing and academically challenging environment. Forms that request a specific teacher will be set aside.
Teacher assignments for the following school year are not finalized until late in the summer and once class groupings and assignments are completed, absolutely no changes will be made.
Rest assured that our teachers will review each child’s individual needs and develop class groupings that we believe our children will be successful in. Please remember to always communicate any praise, concerns or questions to your child’s current and future teacher. Communication is an important factor in having a productive and positive school year!
Respectfully,
Nayal A. Maktari
Principal
The Summer Virtual Book Fair
"We're having a Summer Read-a-Palooza Virtual Book Fair! You can support our school while discovering favorite characters, series, and collections all summer long. Orders are delivered right to your doorstep and you can take advantage of FREE shipping on book-only purchases over $25.
Let's make this a summer to instill a love of reading!"
5TH GRADE GRADUATION PARENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
ATTENTION 5TH GRADE PARENTS!!
The email address can be found in the above volunteer sign up tab.
VIRTUAL KINDERGARTEN ORIENTATION VIDEO & ALL OTHER RESOURCES
Virtual Kindergarten Orientation 2020-2021
Incoming kindergarten parents for the 2020-2021 school year are invited to enroll your child during our Virtual Kindergarten Orientation beginning on Monday, April 27, 2020.
Kindergarten students must be five-years-old on or before September 1, 2020.
Exception: According to Michigan Law, a child may be enrolled in kindergarten
if he/she is not five years of age on September 1, 2020, but will be five years of
age not later than December 1, 2020 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.
VISIT OUR FAPES CLASSROOMS!
MUSIC: Visit the music room the same days you had music when we were in the building. Here are the codes:
Kindergarten: a5qcwr7
1st Grade: ijsedfh
2nd Grade: ryfjw4l
3rd Grade: c7tqewp
4th Grade: fcmzf6c
5th Grade: sgs6g47
ART: Come join Ms. Bitzinger’s Google Art Room (Code: j67hi3) on your regular art day or on a day that works for you. Each day, there will be new learning activities that go along with a weekly theme.
PE: Get active with Mr. A. and Mrs. Eiland as we post activities every day for you and your family to enjoy. On Tuesdays, you can look for a video of Mr. A. teaching a lesson. PE Google classroom code: 45zthp5
MEDIA: Look for a weekly lesson in the Media Classroom. This spring we’ll be diving into Internet Safety and being kind online.
Grade Level Class Codes:
Kindergarten: yvn72uj
1st Grade: vb6j4ym,
2nd Grade: kjnnbad
3rd Grade: ftu7di5
4th Grade: or7zolm
5th Grade: xxwrfpq )
iReady Resource Updates
· NEW! i-Ready.com/Families is a new family support site that houses all of our i-Ready “Guidance for Families.” A link can also be found under i-Ready Personalized Instruction on the /AtHome home page.
· NEW! YouTube Tech Tutorial Videos for Families are available to assist families with common “how to” questions.
· NEW! Spanish Tech and Troubleshooting Guide is now available for direct download here and on the Spanish Guidance for Families page.
NEW! Reading and Writing Activities (in Spanish): Independent Reading Supports and Writing and Language lessons are available here.Outside Food Pantry Available
Please stop by Loon Lake Elementary, Mary Helen Guest Elementary, Walled Lake Elementary and/or Wixom Elementary and help yourself to the food/supplies in the Outdoor Food Pantries. The pantries were filled by many other families from across the WLCSD. On behalf of all elementary schools, we cannot thank you enough for your generosity.
Please take what you need. If you would like to help fill the pantry, you can do that as well. We are all committed to taking good care of each other.
DONATIONS NEEDED
VITAL RESOURCES FOR HUMAN WELL-BEING
- Building Connectedness and Belonging for Students While School Buildings are Closed:
use tomorrow” strategies, as well as virtual systems that can help you to maintain and foster meaningful relationships virtually (Panorama Ed) - CASEL: SEL resources during COVID Pandemic
- Comprehensive COVID Resources for Schools: Curated by educators all over Oakland County for the Teaching and Learning Council.
- EDUCATOR’S GUIDE TO SUPPORTING THE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL NEEDS OF STUDENTS: Michigan Department of Education and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services April 2020
- Guidance on Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Remote Education guidance /answers to questions/concerns related to high-leverage teaching and learning practices for equity-based remote education. (New York University Metro Center)
- Helping Students Cope: Gathered resources to help staff and parents support their children during the pandemic. National Association of School Psychologists
- Mental and Behavioral Health Resources in Oakland County: Local resources gathered by a variety of Oakland Schools consultants.
- Michigan Model for Health : Digital curriculum, include modules around SEL
- Moving Beyond the Packet: Creating More Culturally Responsive Distance Learning Experiences: Click on link to access webinar
School SEL Resources: Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence is committed to helping all leaders, educators, students, and families in their effort to build and sustain positive emotional climates.
Tools to Address Trauma Here you will find a number of recommendations for trauma screening and assessment tools and trauma-specific interventions (from Michigan Department of Health and Human Services).
JOIN PRINCIPAL NAYAL MAKTARI'S GOOGLE CLASSROOM
Please join my Google Classroom.
Class Code: 72angg3
I've really enjoyed engaging our students and posting videos for students and parents! Please have your child join today!
REMINDERS
RESOURCES-UPDATED EACH WEEK
UPDATED-FOOD DISTRIBUTION INFORMATION
WLCSD Food Distribution
Distribution Date(s) & Time: Mondays 1:45 - 3:00 p.m. or when all the food is distributed.
Where:
- Walled Lake Western High School, 600 Beck Road, Walled Lake
- Walled Lake Central High School, 1600 Oakley Park Road, Walled Lake
Children will receive 7 days of breakfast and 7 days of lunch for all children 18 and under, and adults with disabilities 26 and under.
The meals distributed are provided by the Unanticipated School Closure Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), are available to all children at no cost.
FOOD & FAMILY SUPPORT RESOURCES
IREADY RESOURCES
iREADY FAMILY CENTRAL DURING THIS CLOSURE
Please be sure you visit i-Ready Family Center to learn how you can support your student during the school closure. Family Guides are available in different languages.
GOOGLE CLASSROOM & TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES
LITERACY RESOURCES
SOCIAL EMOTIONAL RESOURCES
PLEASANT LAKE ELEMENTARY CONTACT INFORMATION
Nayal Maktari
Principal nayalmaktari@wlcsd.org
Missy Mergner
Principal's Secretary melissamergner@wlcsd.org
Julie Smith
Building Secretary juliesmith@wlcsd.org
Teach The Leader in Me Habits At Home!
Enjoy!
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 once a week. 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'.