Defer Dragon's Burning News
February 1, 2019
From the Principal
Dear Defer Families,
It was a short, cold week! With only a few days of school, we collected many items for our community service project at Defer. Thank you to everyone who donated items to the Great Kindness Challenge. We appreciate your help as we work together to promote kindness every day!
Have a great weekend!
Dr. Rheaume
Defer Upcoming Events
February 6 - 4th Grade NAEP assessments; 6:30 pm District Diversity Meeting @ Defer
February 7 - 9 am Town Hall Meeting
February 12 - 6:00 pm 4th and 5th Grade Parent Meeting for Adolescent Health Education
6:30 pm 5th Grade Parent Camp Informational Meeting
7:00 pm PTO Meeting
February 18 - February 22 - Mid- Winter Break No School for students or staff
March 5 - 1/2 Day of School for Students - Records Day
March 20 - 21 Parent Teacher Conferences
March 22 - 1/2 Day of School for Students
The Great Kindness Challenge
All levels of Grosse Pointe Schools- including Barnes, nine elementary buildings, middle school groups and high school representatives, Community Campus, and staff have all come together to participate in The Great Kindness Challenge, January 28-February 1, 2019. The Great Kindness Challenge is a positive, proactive bullying prevention initiative that reaches millions of students during the last week of January every year. GPPSS has added a community service project to engage in socially conscious leadership and promote caring, compassion and collaboration to support others in need. Students and staff will be collecting items for Kindness Care Kits during the week of January 28-February 1 that will be donated to Crossroads, Motor City Mitten Mission and Eimer’s Foundation. Other activities related to kindness to help promote a safe and caring school environment may also take place during the week and beyond. GPPSS is happy to be a part of The Great Kindness Challenge which was created by the non-profit Kids for Peace.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR KINDNESS!
Cold and Flu Season
For more information on the importance of hand washing with non-antibacterial soap, please see the links below:
- Arlington Public Schools Hand Washing Policy: https://apsshab.weebly.com/hand-washing-policy.html
- CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/index.html
Office News
BEGINNING OF THE DAY
Please remember to use our 24 hour attendance line at 313-432-4001 to report your child's absence. Thank you.
Cold Weather Reminder
Defer students go outdoors for recess two times each day throughout the school year, unless it's raining hard or the windchill is below zero degrees Fahrenheit. Please be sure that your child leaves for school dressed properly for the weather. It might also be helpful to keep an extra set of clothes in your child's locker in case clothes get wet during recess fun.
Please dress your child with a hat and gloves and a winter coat and snowpants when the weather is cold. We also ask that you write your child's name on his or her gloves, hats, boots, coat and snowpants. Our Lost and Found is filling up quickly!
In the event your child has a cold, and is healthy enough to attend school, they will participate in recess- playing outside with their peers twice a day. Exceptions will only be made with a doctor's note stating they are healthy enough to attend school, with reason and number of days they are required not to participate in recess play. Thank you for your understanding concerning this matter.
Reminders Arrival and Departures
Our first interest is always the safety of all of our Defer families and students. We appreciate your cooperation with these procedures.
- There is No Parking on Kercheval in front of the building.
- There is No Parking along either side of Nottingham near Defer. Parking on the west side of Nottingham is allowed only during posted times and locations.
- Since there is no parking anywhere on the east side of Nottingham, parents can drop off students at any point along the full length of Nottingham from Vernor to Kercheval on the Defer side of the street. Students should be exiting the cars from the Defer side ONLY. You do not need to wait until you get in front of the Defer gate to drop off or pick up your child.
- Bottom line---Please Stop, Drop and Go! This will help the traffic to flow smoothly. Help us keep our Dragons safe!
Defer Diversity Parent Group
District Diversity Meetings (GPPUD)Upcoming Meeting:
RESCHEDULED: Wednesday, February 6th 6:30 pm at Defer
Share Your Culture! We want to hear more about your family’s cultural background and traditions. New in 2019 we will be creating a bulletin board that will be changed monthly. We are looking for families to decorate the board to help us learn more about diverse cultures and families. Bulletin boards could include family photos, traditional customs, recipes, suggested reading and any additional information you would like to share. Please email Sarah skswanson@gmail.com or Heather hbendure@gmail.com for more information and to let us know you are interested in participating!
Please contact Dr. Rheaume or one of our parent organizers Susan Sutorka at susansuto@yahoo.com or Janice Fox at jcfcreative@gmail.com for more information about our Diversity Parent Group.
Library News
Leader in Me
The Leader in Me- Family Learning team is interested in how we can better support families with information and activities to incorporate Leader in Me habits at home. We would appreciate your response to this quick survey. Thank you!
Habit 4
HABIT 4 THINK WIN-WIN
With habit 4 students practice skills such as compromise, empathy, compassion and problem solving. Think Win-Win is balancing courage for getting what I want (my “first things”) with consideration for what others want. When conflicts arise, look for a win-win solution for all parties.
Incorporating Habit 4 at home: Model being happy for others. “The Smith family got a new car. How great for them!” “Mike got a new video game? I bet you were very happy for your friend.” Have Family Celebration times. Around the dinner table or in a Family Meeting allow time for children and parents to share something they did well or something positive they experienced in their day. Celebrate each accomplishment and listen to experiences. Be careful not to compare children. Praise each for their own accomplishments.
The following books help reinforce Habit 4- Think Win-Win. Enjoy some reading time as a family and discuss how to incorporate this habit in family life. (Titles include: The Butter Battle Book by Dr. Seuss, Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse by Leo Lionni, The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister, The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins,The Very Clumsy Click Beetle by Eric Carle ,and Let’s Be Enemies by Janice May Udry)
7 Habits of Happy Kids
Grosse Pointe Public Schools
Our Vision: One GP → where everyone learns, every day
Our Mission: Promote Innovation → Maximize Potential → Embrace Community
Email: rheauml@gpschools.org
Website: https://mi01000971.schoolwires.net/Domain/1099
Location: 15425 Kercheval Avenue, Grosse Pointe Park, MI, USA
Phone: 313-432-4000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GPDefer/
Twitter: @GPDefer