The Falcon Express
November 2021 Edition
Giving Thanks
As the holiday season approaches, we give thanks for educators who pour their hearts into doing for our scholars. We are also appreciative to our stakeholders for working shoulder to shoulder with us during these unprecedented times.
Wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Effects Of Tardiness
I am concerned at the number of students who are presenting as chronically late for school, and we also have many who are missing significant chunks of time each week.
We all run late sometimes. For your child, arriving late to school occasionally won't cause major disruption. Inevitably, children will feel sick or tired some mornings, or other situations will prevent them from being on time. But chronic lateness eventually takes its toll on a child's overall educational experience. According to the national initiative Attendance Works, missing just 10 percent of the school year in the early grades causes many students to struggle in primary school, and lateness in later grades is associated with increased failure and dropout rates.
Fortunately, parents can help prevent tardiness from becoming frequent enough to negatively impact their child's school life.
After 8:10 am, parents must sign their scholars into school at the main door. Please continue to do your part to make sure your scholar arrives at school on time each day.
Principal Hickman
Changing Of Seasons
Therefore, It is imperative that your scholar dresses appropriately for the changing season. Please help your child choose weather appropriate outfits daily which should include coats, hats, gloves, boots and snow pants.
If your scholar is in need of a coat, please email tonya.hickman@southfieldk12.org or porsha.eubanks@southfieldk12.org.
We will continue to have outdoor recess as long as the weather permits.
We appreciate your support!
Breakfast & Lunch Menu
Please click link below:
Masks Donations
Thank you for helping keep us safe,
November Calendar
Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
We are looking for parents willing to serve on Stevenson's PTA.
Please contact either Mrs. Hickman @ tonya.hickman@southfieldk12.org or PTA President,
Mrs. Torrez-Crann @ kerrie.torrez@gmail.com.
We need you !!!!!!!!!
Technology Night
See link below for the presentation from Stevenson's Technology Night held on Thursday, October 21, 2021.
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1P5TL97ikuUUEppc50HaohCgKGrdTgQBbK_bGwg7aC_M/edit#slide=id.p
Mrs. Bush's Literacy Corner
Click On A Book And Listen To The Story
Stevenson and the United Way Video
Distance Learning On Fridays
Dear SPS Families,
It has been just over 60 days since we’ve opened the doors for in-person learning at Southfield Public Schools. Students, staff and administrators have all worked to embrace the “new normal” in an evolving learning atmosphere designed to keep stakeholders safe and shore up the educational experience.
The Southfield Public Schools’ commitment has always been to provide a safe, stimulating and supportive learning environment for students; with a focus on excellence in instructional implementation, strict COVID safety cleaning and mitigating measures, increased parent communication, and enhanced wrap-around services including mindfulness activities, COVID testing and access to community-based healthcare services.
As intentional as we were in designing a stable school experience following the past year of remote learning, the uncertainty and ever-changing pandemic forced everyone to remain on a heightened level of alert. This vigilance allowed us to manage through the expected COVID cases and exposures, implementation of quarantine protocols, and subsequent student and staff absences.
Like most of the districts around the state and country, these stressors on families and educators which include: labor shortages, increased seasonal illnesses, food supply chain disruptions, etc., are creating a less than optimal learning environment.
In order to ensure we maximize all resources and continuously provide high quality teaching and learning, we have made the difficult, but appropriate decision to go ‘remote’ one day per week and implement Distance Learning Fridays starting Friday, November 5, 2021, and continuing through Friday, February 4, 2022.
This adjusted 11-week schedule will allow the district to maximize resources for enhanced COVID sanitation, lessen the impact of labor shortages, and bolster instructional effectiveness without losing educational days throughout the school year.
What are Distanced Learning Fridays?
- Learning will be facilitated at the regularly scheduled times - attached HERE: (Start-Dismissal Times (2021-2022).pdf )
- All students and staff will report to classes as regularly scheduled via remote classrooms/home (i.e., synchronous instruction, with teacher and student on camera, live instruction via electronic device).
- Students will utilize the district provided Chromebook, Schoology and/or SeeSaw.
- Each student should have received a district provided device. If your student has not, please contact your school principal for assistance. If you need any technical help with the current device, please put a ticket in at https://www.oakland.k12.mi.us/school-districts/technology-support/service-desk or call 248.209.2060.
We understand this in-person schedule adjustment comes as short notice; and we hope it does not cause difficulties in accommodations for our families. Please know we are making this decision with your student’s best interest in mind and will be committed to ensuring all of our student’s educational needs are addressed.
Collaboratively,
Dr. Jennifer Green, Superintendent
Adjusted Schedule-Friday Remote Ltr to SPS Families FINAL FINAL (10-31-21)-signed.pdf
Stevenson’s Classroom Links for Distance Learning on Fridays
The link below will take your scholars to their classroom teacher’s virtual link on Fridays.
If you need assistance navigating our learning platforms, please review the Technology Night presentation listed above.
SPS Gas Cards
If you completed the district’s survey to transport your scholars to school daily in August, we will be distributing your SPS gas cards starting on Thursday, November 4, 2021.
Our office staff will contact you, if your name is on our district provider roster. You will need to come to the main entrance door for pickup.
Parent Engagement Workshop
SPS Fall Health Series
Get Connected
A simple way to stay connected to your scholar's school. Join us on Remind101 for messages from Principal Hickman.
Contact Us
27777 Lahser Road
Southfield, Michigan 48076
(248) 746-8840
Follow us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/falconssoarwithpride/
School webpage:
https://www.southfieldk12.org/schools/elem/stevenson-elementary-school/
Building Leadership:
Tonya Hickman (Principal) ~
tonya.hickman@southfieldk12.org
Porsha Eubanks (Assistant Administrator) ~