Pleasant Lake Pleasantries
Week of December 4, 2017
Student Led Portfolio Conferences
Student Led Portfolio Conferences are on Thursday, December 14th. December 14th is also a ½ day of school with an 11:09 a.m. dismissal.
You can currently sign up for a conference using Skyward Family Access. Below are some helpful resources to assist with signing up for a conference:
- Click HERE for a quick video tutorial on how to sign up online for a conference.
- Click HERE if you need more information about Skyward Family Access.
You will be able to sign up for a conference and change your conference time if you need to on your own. Conference sign up will close on Friday, December 8th at 2:00 p.m.
Students in 2nd-5th grade are asked to attend Student Led Portfolio Conferences with you so they can show you their Leadership Notebook. The process will be similar to past years except that Kindergartners and 1st graders will not be participating in Student Led Portfolio Conferences.
On December 14th, our Kindergarten and 1st grade classrooms will be holding a Parent Teacher Conference. Your child’s Kindergarten and 1st grade teacher will provide you with a separate date for your Student Led Portfolio Conference.
Our wonderful Music, Media Center, Physical Education and Art Teachers are also available to meet with you but are not listed on your Skyward Family Access Account. Please contact them directly to schedule a time. Below you’ll find their contact information and the grade levels they teach.
Mr. Dan Bowyer DanBowyer@wlcsd.org
1st Grade through 5th Grade Music Teacher
Mr. Chris Durand ChristopherDurand@wlcsd.org
Kindergarten & 2nd Grade Music Teacher
Mr. Jason Apostolopoulos JasonApostolopoulos@wlcsd.org
1st through 5th Grade Physical Education Teacher
Mr. John Kanowski JohnKanowski@wlcsd.org
Kindergarten and 1st Grade Physical Education Teacher
Mrs. Hinterman AnnHinterman@wlcsd.org
Kindergarten through 5th Grade Media Center Specialist
Mr. Brendt Martyniuk BrendtMartyniuk@wlcsd.org
3rd through 5th Grade Art Teacher
Mrs. Andrea Novak AndreaNovak@wlcsd.org
1st Grade Art Teacher
Mr. Phil Miller PhillipMiller@wlcsd.org
Kindergarten and 2nd Grade Art Teacher
Please note that your child will have a Leadership Notebook to show you during your conference with their classroom teacher only.
COME JOIN US ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19TH AT WALLED LAKE CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL!
Together We Learn, Together We Lead!
Pleasant Lake Elementary Teacher of the Year
Congratulations to Kindergarten Teacher Melanie Lawley for being selected as the 2017-2018 Teacher of the Year. She will be honored at the Thursday, January 11th Board of Education Meeting.
School Calendar of Events
Math Pentathlon Practice every Tuesday morning & Girl Scouts Meeting every Tuesday evening.
- Monday, December 4th-PTA Meeting at 7:00 p.m. in the Media Center
- Wednesday, December 6th-5th Graders are invited to Walnut Creek M.S. at 4:30 p.m. for pizza and to watch a basketball game!
- Thursday, December 7th-Crew Mentor Meeting at 3:00 p.m.
- Thursday, December 7th-Walled Lake Board of Education Meeting at 7:30 p.m.
- Friday, December 8th-Skyward Online Conference Sign Up Closes
- Friday, December 8th-Star Students at 3:00 p.m.
- Monday, December 11th-Walled Lake High Schools Early Release (1:09 p.m.)
- December 11th-15th Scholastic Book Fair
- Monday, December 11th-Family Science Night from 6:00-8:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, December 13th-5th graders will visit Walnut Creek Middle School at 9:15 a.m.
- Thursday, December 14th-1/2 day of school, dismissal is at 11:09 a.m.
- Thursday, December 14th-Student Led Portfolio Conferences from 11:30 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
- Friday, December 15th-Star Students at 3:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, December 19th-5th Grade TEAM Visit at 9:30 a.m.
- Tuesday, December 19th-Walnut Creek Band & Orchestra Performance at PLE
- Tuesday, December 19th-Celebrating the Diversity in our School Community at WLC High School from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
- Thursday, December 21-Last Day of School
- December 22nd-January 2nd Winter Break
- Wednesday, January 3rd- School Resumes
Pajama Day at PLE!
Our children did a great job with our Student Lighthouse Officer Elections. Their speeches were amazing and they supported each other throughout the election process. Way to go!
Celebrating the Diversity of our School Community
Diversity Week Projects
“Celebrating Diversity” Assembly
“Celebrating Diversity” Assembly
Annual Scholastic Book Fair
Recess Wear Guidelines
Please make sure your child is dressed appropriately for going outdoors for recess. Students will be going outdoors unless the feel like temperature/wind chill is at 0 degrees or below. Below are the Walled Lake School’s Recess Wear Guidelines:
Coats/Jackets
50 degrees + - Child/parent discretion
40-49 degrees - Recommended
39 degrees and below - Required
Hats/Gloves/Mittens
45 degrees + - Child/parent discretion
35-44 degrees - Recommended
32 degrees and below - Required
Boots and Snow Pants
Required when off of the blacktop there is slush or snow
Principals of the Day
The Caleb White Project
Student Led Assembly
THIRD GRADE READING LAW
Being a good reader is critical for children to be successful in school. In 2017, the Michigan Legislature implemented the Third Grade Reading Law to ensure that students exit third-grade reading at or above grade level, which will impact the current 2017-2018 first-grade students by the time they are in third-grade.
In accordance with this law, and as a means of better informing classroom instruction, districts will be providing K-3 reading assessments to students across the state. These assessments will identify students who need intensive reading instruction and intervention, and will also provide useful information to help teachers tailor instruction to meet individual student needs.
- The law also requires districts to provide early and regular written communication with parents of K-3 students with reading difficulties. Communication will include information about current services being provided, additional reading supports planned for your child, and a read-at-home plan for you to help your child at home.
- I-Ready Reading Assessment that Walled Lake has been utilizing the past three years.
- K-3 literacy instruction in Walled Lake, includes this the Essential Instructional Practices in Early Literacy booklet.
You may also visit the WLCSD website by clicking HERE for more information.
Congratulations to our Grant Recipients! Thank you to the Delta Kappa Gamma Educational Society for your support!
School Community Business Partners
Our PTA is looking to partner up with you and your business. During one of our events PTA board members were made aware that a parent from our school community had a business that could’ve provided a service. We don’t want to miss out on partnering with any parents and their businesses.
If you are interested in providing a service for future events please list your business name, service you provide, owner name and contact info. Also if you are interested in being a sponsor for an event indicate that as well.
You can email the before mentioned information to kgasevski@hotmail.com or enter the information HERE.
We appreciate working with our school community and provide the best we can for our students and school.
Thank you,
PLE PTA Board
JOIN THE PLE PTA
Please click HERE to read our PTA Welcome Letter and complete your PTA Membership Form!
Please click HERE to sign up for volunteer opportunities. Help others and have an opportunity to spend time with your child at fun PTA Events, it's a Win Win!
Store Reward Programs
Kroger https://www.kroger.com/account/enrollCommunityRewardsNow
If you shop at Kroger this is an effortless way to contribute to the PTA. All you have to do is link your Kroger card to PLE PTA. Also, encourage others (grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc.) to link their cards to our school as well. All the money contributed to the PTA goes right back to the school, kids events and activities.
Busch's https://www.buschs.com/account/login
Once logged in to your My Way account from the 'Account" drop down menu select Cash for Education. Please add Pleasant Lake for all quarters.
Don’t forget to re-enroll by January 1st to participate in the 2018 Cash for Education program. All participants must re-enroll annually. Once registered, simply shop, provide your Busch’s MyWay phone number or key tag at the register and receive credit for Pleasant Lake PTA. It’s that easy! Just be sure to follow the below steps to participate for the New Year.
Steps to Take:
- Sign into your MyWay account and select “Cash for Education” from the dropdown menu underneath your name to reselect Pleasant Lake Elementary PTA.
- If you haven’t done so already, you must include a valid email and opt-in to receive emails to participate in this program. You can check this under My Account > Account Holder when logged into MyWay. Busch’s will use this email to communicate any updates or changes to the Cash for Education Program. Email is also a great way to receive information regarding weekly specials, offers and Busch’s coupons, which are sent exclusively to MyWay members.
- Select up to four organizations that you would like to support for each quarter using the drop down menu. Purchases will be allocated equally between your chosen organizations.
- You may now also include the student you’re supporting.
- You may change your organizations and student at any time, but only those selected at the end of each quarter will receive credit.
Amazon
Shop for everyone on your gift list this holiday at smile.amazon.com/ch/38-2947913 and Amazon donates to Pleasant Lake Elementary PTA.
Toyology
When you shop at Toyology and mention our name (Pleasant Lake Elementary) at checkout 10% of your purchase goes right back to our school.
Our parent volunteer in charge is Katarina Gasevski kgasevski@hotmail.com. Thank you again for supporting our children, families and staff!
School Bell Schedule
Drop Off: 8:45 AM
School Begins: 8:55 AM (Tardy Bell)
Dismissal: 3:58 PM
Departure: 4:05 PM
Half-Day Dismissal: 12:00-12:09 PM
Do You Know About PLE's Homework Policy?
Please click HERE for our Homework Policy Pamphlet that was created last school year. There is significant amount of research and/or articles over many years that educators and researchers have published that is making schools rethink their homework policies.
Professor John Hattie is a well known researcher in education. He has also written two books, Visible Learning and Visible Learning for teachers. Read what he has to share regarding homework in elementary schools.
“Homework in primary school has an effect of around zero. In high school it’s larger. (…) Which is why we need to get it right. Not why we need to get rid of it. It’s one of those lower hanging fruit that we should be looking in our primary schools to say, “Is it really making a difference?” If you try and get rid of homework in primary schools many parents judge the quality of the school by the presence of homework. So, don’t get rid of it. Treat the zero as saying, “It’s probably not making much of a difference but let’s improve it”. Certainly I think we get over obsessed with homework. Five to ten minutes has the same effect of one hour to two hours. The worst thing you can do with homework is give kids projects. The best thing you can do is to reinforce something you’ve already learnt.”
Pleasant Lake Elementary
Office Hours:
Monday - Friday
8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Prime Time Care Hours
Monday - Friday
6:30 AM-6:00 PM
Main Office:
248-956-2800
Fax Number:
248-956-2805
Attendance Hotline:
248-956-2890
School Times:
Drop off: 8:50 AM
Late Bell: 8:55 AM
Dismissal: 3:58 PM
Departure: 4:05 PM
Email: NayalMaktari@wlcsd.org
Website: www.wlcsd.org/pleasantlake
Location: 4900 Halsted Road, West Bloomfield Township, MI, United States
Phone: (248) 956-2800
Twitter: @PleasantLakeEl
December Lunch Menu
Visit the Walled Lake's Food Service Website for information by clicking HERE.
Also please note for families that have dietary restrictions, the Rib Barbecue Sandwich is the only item on our menu that contains pork.
Teach The Leader in Me Habits At Home!
Enjoy!
Michigan eLibrary-Back to School Resources
Invisible Dad Lunch Program
Hunger has many faces. In the United States, 2 out of 10 children suffer from a form of hunger that is not readily portrayed in the media but it is also a kind of hunger that we can put an end to right here in our own communities. This kind of hunger is called Food Insecurity and it takes the form of children being forced to skip meals, eating cheap unhealthy snacks to fill their stomachs between “meals”.
In Walled Lake Schools, all 12 elementary schools have adopted the Invisible Dad program which entitles all children to a school lunch, even if a student’s lunch account does not have money in it. Invisible Dad accounts have been set up at our schools to cover lunch for children whose parents have forgotten, are unable, or for whatever reason have not kept their account up-to-date. Parents receive a confidential notification that their child has accessed the Invisible Dad account and they are given an opportunity to update the account, complete a Free and Reduced Lunch form or talk to a school administrator.
These funds are not something you or your child have to ask for or apply to receive. These funds are available without question or judgment as children go through the line at lunch. Parents will be notified privately and confidentially if their child’s lunch is paid for by the Invisible Dad. Sometimes the situation is simple and the lunch account just needs to be refilled. We ask that you refill your account and perhaps consider donating back to the program. Sometimes the situation is more complex, the money just isn’t there and won’t be there for some time. In those cases, you and your child will not have to worry again about lunch. The Invisible Dad program will step in and make sure lunch is provided.
Donations can be made by sending cash or a check to school made out to “Walled Lake Food Services” with “Invisible Dad - PLE” in the memo. This is not a tax-deductible donation, this is just money from you to a child in need.
Walled Lake Schools offers free and reduced-cost lunches; the Invisible Dad program aims to solve for the short-term situation. If you would like to apply for free or reduced-cost lunch, please contact our main office at 248.956.2800.
For more information about this program, visit www.invisibledad.org. Please contact Nayal Maktari, or Julie Rader-Food Services Coordinator (julierader@wlcsd.org) with questions.
CLICK HERE to view a recent segment about Invisible Dad by Channel 7!
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 every two weeks. 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'.