Navigator Notables
May/June 2023 Navigator Elementary Newsletter
Principal Message
We are finishing the final few weeks of this school year. May is filled with activities that culminate and celebrate the school year. This includes finishing units of study, assessing learning through the M-STEP, benchmark assessments and enjoying Field Day to name just a few. The full list of events with additional details are in the newsletter.
Our PTO has been a strong partnership with us throughout this school year. They have provided funding for activities and materials for teachers. This spring, Navigator is jumping in on National Walk/Bike to school day on May 3 which is coordinated by our PTO. Students that have signed up will be walking to school down the Lakeland trail. I am hoping to make this a new tradition in the future.
Starting next year, third grade will be joining us. I have planned different activities to support this transition and welcome the third grade students, families and staff. In May both the current second and third grade students and families will have opportunities to visit and get to know Navigator Elementary. I am very excited to welcome them into our school community starting in May and for the 2023-24 school year.
In closing, it has been an honor to return to Navigator Elementary this year as the building principal. It has been an exciting year. Thank you for trusting me as we navigated through the different challenges and celebrated the successes.
Sincerely,
Ruth Badalucco
Principal
Kids Read Now - Summer Reading Engagement
Kids Read Now (KRN) is a program that provides books for your child to read throughout the summer. PCS has participated in this program at the K-3 elementary schools for the past 2 years and has extended to our Navigator students. All K-5 students will be provided summer reading books throughout the summer for continued engagement in reading. Your child, with teacher support, ordered 8 books that will be mailed to the home. KRN will be starting to mail your child's book in June and continue throughout the summer.
PCS has also organized community reading events including pop up reading events and PCS Book Bus. Click on link below for dates and location of this local events:
https://sites.google.com/pinckneypirates.org/summer-reading-events/home
Teacher Appreciation Week May 8 - 12
The PTO has coordinated activities to celebrate and show appreciation for our teachers. They have organized different meals and gifts throughout the weeks and are seeking donations. If you are interested in donating, here are the different virtual sign ups:
Teacher Appreciation Week Gift Cards
Each day,during teacher appreciation week, we will be drawing several teachers' names to win gift cards. The Navigator PTO could use help purchasing gift cards for the teachers. We are hoping to purchase gift cards from multiple places in the amounts of $20-$25. Please drop off purchased gift cards to the Navigator Office by Friday, May 5th. Thank you for your donations.
Taco Fiesta Lunch for Teachers
The Navigator PTO is planning a taco potluck lunch for our 27 teachers for Teacher Appreciation Week. The taco lunch will be on Tuesday, May 9th. We have a parent volunteer providing chicken and beef for the tacos, but we will need all the other fixings. Please consider signing up to bring something for the taco lunch. :) We will need items dropped off before 10:30 AM on May
For Teacher Appreciation Week the Navigator PTO would like to stock the staff lounge with snacks and drinks. Please consider bringing in any of the items below on Wednesday, May 10th. Please purchase items that are individually packaged. Thank you so much!
On Thursday, May 11th, the Navigator PTO is planning a salad bar lunch for our 27 teachers. Please consider signing up to bring a lunch item in for the salad bar. Items can come to school with your student or please drop them off to the Navigator office before 10:30 AM on May 11th. Thank you!
Lost and Found
The Lost & Found is huge! If your child is missing winter wear or sweatshirts, it is probably there. During lunchtime, we ask students to visit the lost and found area to claim any of their belongings. I'm thinking they don't "recognize" their items as we still have an overflowing of lost items. The next time you are in Navigator, please stop by the Lost and Found (located in the cafeteria). Any unclaimed items will be donated.
Navigator Field Day - June 6
Reproductive Health Parent Information Meeting - May 8
M-STEP Information
Our fourth grade students completed the M-STEP at the end of April. Now with our fifth grade students back from camp, they will be taking the M-STEP during the first two weeks of this month.
Testing Dates: 5th grade
- May 2-M-STEP - ELA (2 hours)
- May 4-M-STEP - Social Studies (1 hour)
- May 9-M-STEP - Math (1 ½ hours)
- May 11-M-STEP - Science (1 ½ hours)
National Walk/Bike to School Day - May 3
Library Books
Willow's Corner
Willow is one of our many staff greeters in the morning. She greets students walking in from parent drop off and students getting off the bus each morning with a tail wag.
News from our specials: PE-Music-Art-Computer Science
Physical Education - Mr. Goodfellow
For the month of April we continued with floor hockey, where I was very pleased that we had near 100% participation. We introduced a scaled down version of Australian Rules Football (keep away). For May the classes are being told that the first nice day we get for their groups we will be out on the track to see who improves their mile time and or if they are able to complete the mile (4 laps). We will also be gearing up for field day which is June 6.
We will do some activities to see which the kids may enjoy the most.
Art - Mrs. Shappell
It's been a fantastic year! The students at Navigator are so very talented! We have been very busy in art class. The students have been working on projects for the art show (May 22-23.) Some projects we are working on will include self-portraits, and artist inspired artworks. Keep drawing and have a great summer break!
Music - Ms. Schuster
I am so proud of all the hard work and great efforts the Navigator students have put in! With our 4th grade concert coming up on May 22nd and our 5th grade concert coming up on May 23rd, we have a lot to look forward to! After our concerts, we’ll wind down the year by reflecting on what we have learned and getting ready for music classes at Pathfinder!
Mrs. Miles - Student & Family Specialist News
As a parent of 3 children, I remember how easy it is to allow kids more screen time than I probably should have during the summer months. The kids that are showing “addictive” screen time behaviors has become quite concerning the past several years. I am sharing a short article from the Mayo Clinic about some things we’ve learned about screen time.
Children and Screen Time - How much is too much?
Need some ideas on things to do in the area?
Howell Nature Center Island Lake Recreation Area
Kensington Metropark Lakeland Trails State Park
Bishop Lake Jump Island Airborne Adventure Park
Navigator Elementary PTO News
The PTO had their meeting on April 12. At this meeting they focused on:
- Budget - Approved Mike funding request for PE equipment
- Teacher appreciation plans
- Field Day (finalize budget)
- Walk/Bike to school - Permission slips ready to go, still need to sent volunteer sign up for monitoring trail and supervising students
- 5th grade Celebration of Learning - order ice cream treat
The final meeting for this year is May 17 at 7:00 pm in the media center. All are welcome to join.
PTO email: navigatorpto1@pinckneypirates.org
May/June Events at a Glance
These events are posted on Navigator's calendar located on the website.
- May 2 - 5th grade M-STEP - ELA
- May 3 - National Walk/Bike to School Day
- May 4 - 5th grade M-STEP - Social Studies
- May 5 - All books returned to library
- May 8 - Reproductive Health Parent Information Meeting
- May 9 - 5th grade M-STEP - Math
- May 11 - 5th grade M-STEP - Science
- May 16 - 3rd grade students visiting Navigator
- May 17 - 2nd grade students visiting Navigator
- May 17 - PTO meeting
- May 22 - 4th grade Spring Music Performance
- May 23 - 5th grade Spring Music Performance
- May 29 - No School for Memorial Day
- June 6 - Field Day
- June 7 - Last Day of School (Half Day)
Old News - Still a Good Reference
Student Cell phone expectations at Navigator
Positively Pinckney (P2) Store is Open
Where do I find information about Navigator?
School wide communication is done mainly through Seesaw through announcements. You have access through your family app to access this information. In your settings, you can turn on or off your email notifications.
The Navigator Elementary School website for Navigator Elementary contains the school calendar, pictures of school activities are added weekly in the Livefeed and upcoming event information is shared in the News section.
Lunch and breakfast menus are found within the Pinckney Community School Website. The FOOD SERVICE tab is found under the DISTRiCT TAB, DEPARTMENT TAB, FOOD SERVICE TAB.
A school newsletter will be published through Seesaw monthly.
School Hours and Contact Information
Navigator Elementary School
2150 E. M-36
Pinckney, MI 48169
(810) 225-5300
Attendance Hotline
(810) 225-5310
School Hours
- Monday-Thursday school hours will be 8:40 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- Fridays, students will be dismissed at 2:25 p.m.
- Half days, students will be dismissed at 12:13 p.m.
Procedures for Morning Arrival and After School Dismissal
Morning Arrival
Parent/Guardian Drop Off: Parents will use the front parking lot to drop off students starting at 8:30 am. Staff will be helping students get to their classrooms. Students will make their way to their class.
Note: Single lane drop off in the morning.
Bus Drop off: Starting at 8:30 am, buses will release students. Each bus will dismiss one at a time at the south entrance (Fine Arts wing).
After School Dismissal
Parent/Guardian Pick-up: We will continue to have parents pick up curbside in the front parking lot. Each car picking up student(s) will be given a window sign indicating your child’s teacher and last name. As cars arrive for pick up, they will form two parallel lines at the curb in front of Navigator.
Note: Double lane pick up in the afternoon. Form 2 lanes, left lane if you are turning left on M-36 and use the right lane if you are turning right on M-36.