Pleasant Lake Pleasantries
April 19, 2021
Together We Learn, Together We Lead!
M-STEP Information
Dear Pleasant Lake Elementary Parents of students in grades 3, 4, and 5,
Students in Grades 3-5 at Pleasant Lake Elementary will begin M-STEP testing in the near future. We will begin our testing the week of April 19 and complete testing with the following schedule of weeks for each grade level:
- 5th grade: April 20-May 5 (English Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies)
- 4th grade: May 18-May 27 (English Language Arts, Math)
- 3rd grade: May 11-May 21 (English Language Arts, Math)
- MI-ACCESS: April 19-June 4 (Subjects are grade level specific)
Make-up Testing will occur throughout the testing windows.
A schedule is coming soon to families regarding your classes exact testing dates. What can you do to be prepared?
- Please be sure to avoid any appointments during testing days
- Help your child to be well rested each day
- Ensure that your child has a healthy breakfast either at home or ordered from school
- Please ensure that your child has a set of headphones or earbuds at school during the testing window
- Students will need a district device to take the MSTEP. This means that students that are using a device from home and/or are in need of a device will be provided a loaner device during the day for testing. If you would like to get your child a district device for daily use, please visit our Educational Services Center (850 Ladd Road, Building D, Walled Lake) on Tuesdays or Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Consider exploring the sample test items and practice items with your child at home. You must use Google Chrome for the online samples. The user name and password is provided on the log in screen.
Students that are In Person will be tested at school. We will be following our COVID health and safety guidelines during testing. If a student is quarantined during the testing window, we will do our best to make up the assessment with them when they return to the building.
Students that are in Our Path and My Path will be testing at our Educational Services Center and should use this link to RSVP for testing.
Please see this letter for more information about the importance of this assessment and a letter from Mrs. Kochanski, our Assistant Superintendent of Learning Services.
Please contact your child’s teacher or myself if you have any questions.
Thank you,
Nayal Maktari
Pleasant Lake Elementary Earth Week Fundraiser
Dear Pleasant Lake Elementary Parents,
Next week, we are celebrating Earth Week at PLE. We'll be cleaning up our school campus and turning off our lights to conserve energy.
We'll also be fundraising for our school's Green Team by selling recycled crayons in the art room for 50 cents or 2 for $1.00. Have your child bring money on the day they are scheduled for art class.
Thanks for your help and support in keeping our school green!
Anna Bitzinger
Pleasant Lake Elementary Art Teacher and Green Team Chairperson
JOB OPENING A PLEASANT LAKE ELEMENTARY
WE NEED YOUR HELP. We are looking for a Playground Paraeducator to join our wonderful staff and work with our great children.
Below you’ll find the job posting along with the link to apply for the position. Please consider applying and sharing the posting with others.
Spring Cleaning – Book Give Back Week
The support of our families is always appreciated, especially as we work to collect books that belong to our school. Beginning last March and throughout the pandemic, we have sent many books home with our students. We are noticing that many books have not found their way back to our school. If you might be doing some spring cleaning in the coming days and weeks, please take a moment to look for any books that belong to the school. We appreciate your help as we want to ensure these resources are available to all children.
Summer Care Registration
We have opened up our Summer Care registrations. Parents need to visit our website to obtain the registration materials. https://wlcsd.org/programs/prime-time-care/summer-care/
PTA 5TH GRADE GRADUATION AND CELEBRATION PLANNING MEETING
Please join us for our PTA 5th Grade Graduation and Celebration Planning Meeting on Tuesday, April 27th at 6:00 p.m.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83761576171?pwd=elhEYTlnS3hBUXFXUFZOVkRHL3lGdz09
Meeting ID: 837 6157 6171
Passcode: 7cN3qW
FIRST LEGO League State Tournament Results - Wow!
The PLE Lake Hammerheads (5th graders) FLL team did a great job at the state tournament!
Out of the 30 teams that qualified for the state tournament, the Lake Hammerheads placed 2nd place in the Robot Performance category and 3rd place on their Innovation Project!
Congratulations!
Autism Awareness
April is Autism Awareness Month. As a district, we have several classrooms designed to support students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) that provide specially designed instruction for students’ needs. That said, not all students need this level of programming and so we utilize this month to provide learning opportunities to our students and wanted to share a few important points with you as well.
- Autism is a spectrum disorder, meaning that not all people diagnosed with ASD will have the same needs.
- Students with ASD are first and foremost students. Autism is only a part of who they are, just as wearing contacts or glasses is only a part of who I am.
- Autism impacts a person's five senses. For example, your child may see a student communicating through a voice output device (like and iPad) because it is difficult for them to talk/communicate traditionally..
- Visual supports are often helpful to students with Autism. Modeling or showing a picture to your friend with ASD can help them to understand what you are asking them to do.
- Social Interactions may be more difficult for students with ASD. Friends can help students to feel more comfortable and teach valuable social skills by inviting them to play.
- Some students with a disability may communicate in other ways than traditional speech. Some students may use pictures, technology devices, or sign language.
- There is no cure for Autism, but families, school staff, and students can all help our students learn and communicate more effectively.
- As always, remind children that all people are different in some way and these differences should be celebrated!
MATH COURSE SKIPPING INFORMATION FOR THE 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR
REGISTRATION IS APRIL 5TH-APRIL 29TH
ANCHORS AWAY UPDATE
WATER BOTTLES
Thank you.
INCOMING KINDERGARTEN INFORMATION FOR THE 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR
KINDERGARTEN 2021-2022
Thank you to everyone that was able to join our Kindergarten Orientation last Tuesday evening. You will find a recording of the orientation in the Kindergarten Newsletter below. Remember to be proactive and please register your child beginning March 15th and to not wait till the summer months.
Incoming Kindergarten Newsletter
A recording of Kindergarten Orientation can also be found on our school website under the News heading on the main page and under the For Parents tab.
It is important that all parents that will have children enrolled in kindergarten next school year complete the kindergarten questionnaire located in the above newsletter.
Please take a moment to complete this important parent survey to help us understand how we can make this process even better for our families. As a reminder, our EZ-Enrollment process will be available starting March 15. Visit our District website and watch your email for more information about the Fall as we get closer to the start of the new school year.
Thank you and feel free to contact our main office staff at 248.956.2800 or at TerriSzymanski@wlcsd.org and JulieSmith@wlcsd.org if you have any questions.
WLSCD MARCH SOCIAL WORK RESOURCES
SUPPORT
Hello Pleasant Lake Families,
As we approach the holiday season and continue to experience the hardships that go along with this pandemic, it is important that we take care of our mental health now more than ever! At this time, Michigan is offering free confidential counseling through the Stay Well COVID 19 hotline. Counselors are available 24/7 and the service is completely free! If you are experiencing stress and anxiety and are more comfortable texting with someone, a texting option is also available. As parents, many may feel the pressure of balancing family, jobs, finances, running a home, and now virtual schooling. Please know that there are resources available to help ease some of that stress. Additionally, if you feel like your little one is struggling with the uncertainty of the times, stress with school, or the loneliness of staying at home, Easter Seals is resource that provides therapy for your children. For more information and resources please visit https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/0,9753,7-406-98178_99557---,00.html. I have included the free counseling hotline, texting line, and Eastr Seals information below.
Michigan Stay Well Counseling via the COVID-19 Hotline
Call 1-888-535-6136
Press "8" to talk to a Michigan Stay Well counselor.
Counselors available 24/7 - confidential and free
If you are experiencing emotional stress and anxiety but are more comfortable texting than talking, get help from:
Michigan Crisis Text Line
Text the keyword RESTORE to 741741
Open 24/7
Be well,
Erika Emke LLMSW
WALLED LAKE TRANSPORTATION QUESTIONS
Walled Lake Schools Transportation Department Website
OFFICE HOURS: 5:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
46740 W. Pontiac Trail, Walled Lake - 48390
Phone: 248-956-3090
Hotline: 248-956-5199
Parent Tech Support Submission Form
Upcoming Important Events
APRIL 2021
- TUESDAY, APRIL 27-PTA AND GRADUATION PLANNING MEETING AT 6:00 P.M.
EVERYTHING GOOGLE!
PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SCHOOL AND CHILDREN
Dear Pleasant Lake Elementary Parents,
Your PTA needs you now more than ever! Your membership will help with so many great opportunities for our children. Below are a list of just a few amazing things your membership dues will provide our children:
- Literacy supplies and books
- Student supplies that are sent home with children during remote learning
- Technology and online instructional resources
- Virtual events
- Grants & scholarships to assist students and teachers with field trips, including virtual field trips
- Authors and presenters visit, including virtual visits
- The Leader in Me Program
In addition to all that we provide for our children, this year we will have the opportunity to host virtual events for our community. Your PTA Board has been brainstorming some fantastic ideas for fundraising and activities we would normally do in person. The 1st 50 people to sign up for a membership will get an exclusive offer for our 1st virtual event.
Lastly, you may think with school being held remotely that we not need your support but it is the exact opposite. So many in our school community need support more than ever during this pandemic. Please become a PTA Member and sign up for the programs below. It’s an easy process that will take minutes but go a long way in supporting our children, parents and staff.
Please click on the link below to join. Remember that your membership does not require you to volunteer at any events and/or fundraisers. Only one parent/member per household needs to register with the PLE PTA.
https://ple.new.memberhub.store/store
AMAZON SMILE PROGRAM
We all shop on Amazon, why not give back to Pleasant Lake while we shop?
Pleasant Lake is set up on the Amazon Smile program, which
donates 0.5% of eligible purchases straight to our school!
Here's what to do:
1) Log on to http://smile.amazon.com/
2) Select Pleasant Lake Elementary PTA as the organization you are supporting.
3) Shop away!
KROGER COMMUNITY REWARDS
It's simple. Login to your account online and look for Pleasant Lake.
Support our School!
We all shop on Amazon, why not give back to Pleasant Lake while we shop?!
Pleasant Lake is set up on the Amazon Smile program, which
donates 0.5% of eligible purchases straight to our school!
Here's what to do:
1) Log on to http://smile.amazon.com/
2) Select Pleasant Lake Elementary PTA as the organization you are supporting.
3) Shop away!
Kroger Rewards
BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION
See below for important steps to follow:
#1: Reminder to clip and use the digital app.
Please continue to send clipped box tops into school as usual.
Additionally, Box Tops for Education is moving towards digital submissions.
How can you help?
1. Download the free app.
2. Create an account (choose Pleasant Lake Elementary as your school).
3. Scan receipts as you make purchases (and within 14 days).
** Back by popular demand... Want to designate a classroom for box top counts to help your child's classroom win contests? Start by scanning your receipt. Once the photo is taken, new options will show up across the bottom. Choose the star "Credit" button and enter the last name of your child's teacher. Hit done, then submit. **
#2: Do you shop for groceries online?
You can submit your email receipts from select retailers to earn Box Tops for your school too. Here's how...
Option A
1. Make sure you have a Box Tops for Education account
(create one via the Box Tops app or website).
2. Forward your email receipt to receipts@boxtops4education.com using the same email that’s associated with your BTFE account. Box Tops will be credited within 10 business days – view your earnings detail in the MY EARNINGS section of the app or website
The following email receipts are currently eligible (as of July 17, 2019):
Instacart, jet.com, SamsClub.com, Shipt, Target.com, Target Pick-Up/Drive-Up,
Walmart Grocery, Walmart.com
Option B
For purchases from online retailers not listed above, please follow the process below.
1. Take a screen shot (or multiple) of your entire receipt from your online purchase, including retailer name, all items, transaction total, and date of purchase
2. Open the Box Tops Contact Us form
3. In the Comments field, please include: Your email address, name, school's name, the amount of Box Tops earned with the purchases from that receipt.
4. Use the “Upload Image Files” feature (at the bottom of the form to add the screen shot(s) of your receipt. Your receipt will be processed within 2 weeks.
Teach The Leader in Me Habits At Home!
Enjoy!
PLEASANT LAKE ELEMENTARY CONTACT INFORMATION
Main Office Number: 248.956.2800
Fax Line: 248.956.2805
Attendance: 248.956.2890
Nayal Maktari
Principal nayalmaktari@wlcsd.org
Terri Szymanski
Principal's Secretary terriszymanski@wlcsd.org
Julie Smith
Building Secretary juliesmith@wlcsd.org
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'.