Keeping up with Keller
By: Marcie Dryden, Principal
April 1, 2021
Mission Statement
The mission of Helen Keller Elementary School is to establish and maintain an educational community that empowers all students to become principled, independent inquirers who are socially responsible global citizens.
Dear Keller Families,
As cases rise in our community it is more important than ever that we as parents are doing everything we can to keep our children safe, including:
- Completing Clear to Go honestly and regularly
- Keeping students home if they are showing any symptoms
- Keeping students home if they are awaiting a PCR Covid test (Students with symptoms must have a negative PCR test to return to school, not a rapid test.)
- Reporting any positive cases to the school immediately
- Keeping children home with any illness until they are symptom free for 24 hours without medication.
- Wearing a mask at arrival and dismissal times
- Practicing social distancing during arrival and dismissal times
We will continue to help keep students safe at school by practicing cohorting and social distancing, enforcing mask wearing, enhanced cleaning protocols, hand washing, sanitizing and with the use of desk shields. When we all do our part we can help to keep our students, families and staff safe.
Have a safe and healthy spring break.
Marcie Dryden
Spring Break
Spring Break starts on Friday, April 2 until Friday, April 9. School will resume on Monday, April 12. Please have a safe and relaxing break.
Learning Plan Choices
You have the option to change to in-person learning or remote learning for the 4th Marking Period starting April 19. If you would like to change, you need to inform the building principal and classroom teacher of this change request by Wednesday, April 14. Your choice will be final for the remainder of this school year.
Temporarily Switching to Remote
Although we do not encourage switching back and forth between remote and in-person learning, we understand that there may be times where you need to do so. Not all of the below guidelines were included in my original attendance communication, but as the state of the pandemic is continually shifting, we are too.
Students can join remotely due to:
- quarantine (including quarantine after travel)
- illness (remember it is ok to take a sick day like we did in the past to heal and rest )
- fearful of Covid numbers
Please give teachers at least 24 hour notice if you are switching your child to remote learning to gather materials that your students will need during that time.
M-STEP TESTING FOR IN PERSON LEARNERS
As of today, the Michigan Department of Education has not received a waiver to postpone or cancel the state assessments for this spring. Royal Oak Schools has worked hard to design a testing schedule that puts student safety as a priority. We are continuing to work with both the Michigan Department of Education and the Oakland County Health Department to monitor safety requirements and health data for our community, and we will make any other necessary changes to our testing plan to keep our students, families, and staff as safe as possible.
Therefore, the Michigan Department of Education has advised schools to prepare to administer state tests as normally required by federal and state laws. Test security regulations require that tests be administered in-person to all eligible students.
Students in Grades 3-5 will be taking the M-STEP this year. 5th Grade will be starting the week of April 12. 3rd & 4th Grade will be starting the week of April 26. I will be providing a schedule when we return from spring break. This schedule will incorporate both our in-person students (Mondays-Thursdays) and our remote learners (Fridays). Please note that the M-STEP is required by the state of Michigan.
We ask that your child is at school on time on each of the scheduled testing days and comes to school well-rested.
Also, electronic devices (smartphones, smart watches, cell phones, book readers, electronic tablets, cameras, non-approved calculators, music players, voice recorders, etc.) are not allowed to be with students during the testing sessions.
M-STEP Resources for Parents
M-STEP: What can students expect? Video
Online Practice for M-STEP ELA, Math, Science and Social Studies
Student Testing, What Parents Can Do to Help Students Prepare
REMOTE LEARNERS ONLY
Test security regulations require that tests be administered in-person to all eligible students. In other words, online testing is not an option. Those students enrolled in remote learning can participate in state testing by attending in-person testing during one of the allotted times, link to the schedule to participate.
Testing is designed to be manageable for students by breaking it up into small sessions over several weeks. On the days of testing, typical learning activities will resume after your child’s test session concludes. The testing schedule is designed to be safe, fulfill state testing requirements, and provide meaningful data while being minimally disruptive to learning as possible.
As we plan for the administration of these assessments, we will continue to monitor communication from the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) and the United States Department of Education (USDE). If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.
YOUNG OAKS LATCHKEY
Young Oaks Latchkey and Summer Care
Information about the Young Oaks Summer Care (previously known as Young Oaks Summer Camp) is linked on the Royal Oak Schools website, Young Oaks Summer Care Program
The lottery is tentatively scheduled for April 12, 2021.
Information about the Youngs Oaks Before and After School Program can be found here. The lottery for fall is tentatively scheduled to open on May 10, 2021.
Contact evelyn.maurer@royaloakschools.org or alyssa hayes@royaloakschools.org
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
QUARANTINE & ISOLATION
THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN!
FRIENDLY REMINDERS
- Please do not conference with teachers after school as they will need to return to their classrooms to finish their day of instruction.
- Please do not hang out after dismissal and/or drop off. We are trying to limit people from congregating.
Thank you for your cooperation!
Camp Invention
Unlock your child’s potential at Camp Invention®! This nationally acclaimed K-6 program comes to Royal Oak (location TBD) from 7/12/21 to 7/16/21 and offers all-new hands-on STEM challenges. Register using SUM40 by 3/31 at invent.org/mylocalcamp to save $40!
This year, our local camp is being offered in person and at home so your child can experience the fun of Camp Invention no matter where they are! Not sure if you’ll want an in-person or at-home experience this summer? No worries — with the new Peace of Mind Promise, you can sign up today and switch up to six weeks before camp.
If you have any questions about camp, please email me at kirsten.leestma@royaloakschools.org. I hope we'll see you there!
FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH
Please note the changes in the Meal Pick Up Schedule on the flyer below:
KINDERGARTEN ENROLLMENT
Enrollment Information and More
https://www.royaloakschools.org/district/about-us/enrollment/
LITERACY WITH MS. LEESTMA
Ms. Leestma, our literacy coach, has been working really hard on communicating with parents. I will continue to share her newsletters, flyers, and website. For more literacy information and what you can do at home click on this link: Family Website
SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM UPDATES
Please click on the following link to access the Special Education Website:
PTA Corner
Join Keller PTA
Essential Agreements
*We are respectful
*We are safe and in control
*We are responsible learners
Keller Creed
I will act in such a way that I will be proud of myself and others will be proud of me too.
I came to school to learn and I will learn.
I will have a good day.
Learner Profile Highlights
Don’t forget that the highlighted monthly learner profile and weekly behavior focus is on the Google calendar (every Sunday).