Defer Dragon's Burning News
April 12, 2019
From the Principal
Dear Parents,
We had a great first week back to school after break. The students came back to school rested and ready to learn!
As many of you are aware, there was a Blue Ribbon Committee meeting last night that shared possible changes for the district for the 2020 - 2021 school year. This is a difficult time for our community and we all care very much about what happens moving forward. The schools we have in our community are amazing because of the teachers, the kids, and the families.
I want to encourage all parents to go to the Blue Ribbon Link (https://mi01000971.schoolwires.net/Page/19013) for current facts. Please keep in mind, no decisions have been made yet. A Town Hall meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 16th at Defer. I hope you are able to join us at one of the Town Hall meetings to share any concerns and get answers to questions you might have about the possible changes to the district. I am also available to talk and try to answer any questions you may have about the process. I feel very fortunate to be the principal at Defer and part of the Grosse Pointe Public Schools. I am proud of all of the students, staff, and parents in our community. We will continue to focus on student learning and providing the best experiences for all the students in the district.
Thank you,
Dr. Rheaume
Defer Upcoming Events
April 16 - 5th Grade ELA M-Step
April 18 - 5th Grade Social Studies M-Step
April 19 - No School for Staff or Students
April 23 - 5th Grade Math M-Step
April 25- 5th Grade Science M-Step
April 30 - 4th Grade ELA M-Step
May 2 - 4th Grade Math M-Step
May 6- 5th Grade Class Photograph @ 10:30 AM
May 7 - 3rd Grade ELA M-Step
May 9 - 3rd Grade ELA M-Step; Spring Vocal Music Concert 7pm @ Pierce
May 14 - PTO Meeting 7pm
May 16- Defer Town Hall Meeting 6:30 pm
Spring Assessments
M-Step testing starts for our fifth graders next week. NWEA testing will also begin next week for some classes. Both tests will be administered on the computer again this year. The NWEA and M-Step tests are opportunities for our students to demonstrate their current levels of understanding in core subject areas. During the spring testing time, we are asking parents to be especially alert to their child’s needs for:
- getting plenty of rest,
- eating a good breakfast each morning,
- and being in school and on time on testing days.
Please ask your child's classroom teacher for the specific assessment dates.
Volunteer and Field Trip Chaperone Forms for Parents and Guests
Kindergarten and Young Fives Program
Have a Kindergarten or Young Five student next fall - establish/verify residency now
It is critical that families establish or verify residency if they have a student entering GPPSS next fall, particularly for kindergarten (May 1) and Young Fives (April 18). Click here to see the pre-enrollment process (step one) and the residency documents (step two) required by board policy. Call 313-432-3083 if you have questions or need an appointment outside the enrollment office hours 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday, and 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Friday.
Safety/Service
In March, Defer Safety/Service marched across the street to the Pierce Auditorium to watch the movie “Incredibles 2”. We enjoyed popcorn and water. It was incredible!
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Spring is finally here and hot cocoa to “Warm the Safeties” is finally over.
PTO, Thank you, it is greatly appreciated.
If you see a Safety/Service doing a good job, please tell them.
Thank you,
Helen Srebernak
Safety/Service Member of the Month-March
Safety: Duncan Stewart
Service: William Scott
Library News
A new Library rotation began for grades 3-5 this week. We have lots of new books from the Book Fair, thanks to our wonderful PTO parents! And, we want to congratulate all the winners of our March 2019 Library Bookmark Contest for their winning designs. You can see them on the Defer website along with their picture!
Mrs. Quinlan
Librarian
Leader in Me Parent Survey
Defer Elementary is a Leader in Me School, we teach 21st century leadership and life skills to students to create a culture of student empowerment based on the idea that every child can be a leader. To learn more about our areas of strength and growth in our school we use a Leader in Me survey to collect data from families.
We need your help! We are asking for adults from every household to complete the survey to share feedback about our school. The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete.
Thanks for your feedback about Leader in Me!
Defer Elementary Staff
Learn to Lead. Lead to Inspire!
PTO News
Wednesday April 24--Disability Awareness Day for 4th graders
4th grade students will participate in a hands-on day of learning and experiencing what it might feel to live with a disability. Students go through a variety of stations and participate in hands-on activities to simulate a variety of impairments. This event is organized and put on by two Defer parents. We are looking for volunteers to help at stations in the morning from 9-11:15 a.m. and just a few for the afternoon from 12:50-2:20 p.m. Please sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F48A5AC2FABF94-2019
Week of May 20th--Spring Book Fair
More details related to the schedule and volunteer sign up coming soon!
Wednesday May 22--Box Tops deadline!
One of the ways in which parents can help support Defer is to clip and turn in box tops. Classrooms earn parties once they reach a certain number of box tops submitted. The organizers are in the midst of planning the third party of the school year currently. The deadline to earn a party this school year is May 22! Please submit any box tops you may have collected so they may be counted and parties may be awarded to the students!
Thursday May 23--Spring Social
The whole family is invited to the Defer PTO annual Spring Social event on the blacktop and field of the school. Think inflatables, photo booth, music, Wally's custard and family mingling! Pizza and custard will be available for purchase during this evening gathering. More information coming soon!
Tuesday Teacher Treats!
We love to spoil all of the teachers and staff at Defer! We are looking for more volunteers to sign up for bringing in treats/snacks for the teachers on Tuesdays this spring. Check out available dates here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0e4dabae2ea4f58-tuesday
Defer Diversity Parent Group
District Diversity Meetings (GPPUD)Upcoming Meetings: GPPUD
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.
LEADER IN ME - Defer Family Learning Team
Dear Defer Families,
We are happy to announce the we have a parent lending library with books that align with The Leader in Me habits. The bookshelf is in the main hallway near the main office. Please feel free to sign out a book relating to the habits and enjoy with your family. Once you’ve read the book, please return it to school for others to borrow. Thank you for supporting The Leader in Me and growing our parent lending library through Fun Run fundraising.
Habit 7- Sharpen the Saw
Welcome to the April edition of our Leader in Me newsletter!
Published by the Defer Family Learning Team
The 7 Habits are reviewed, practiced and integrated daily at Defer. We will review the 7 Habits with you monthly. Thank you for your partnership in reinforcing your child’s leadership skills.
Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw.
We are learning about Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw. Once there was a man who was sawing down a tree and not making much progress. When asked why he didn’t stop sawing to sharpen his saw, he answered that he was too busy sawing.
Habit 7 reminds us that we are more productive when we are in balance; body, brain, heart, and soul. If one area is being ignored or overused, the remaining three areas will feel the results. A good analogy for children is: a car needs all four tires and as leaders of themselves, they need to take care of all four parts.
Books that reinforce Habit 7:
Owl Moon by Jane Yolen, The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late by Mo Willems, Henry Hikes to Fitchburg by D. B. Johnson, Me I Am! by Jack Prelutsky, Uncle Willie and Soup Kitchen by DyAnne DiSalvo Ryan
Sharpen the Saw at home: Expect your child to use words and phrases like Sharpen the Saw, 4 parts of myself; body, mind, heart, and soul, “it’s like 4 tires of a car”, taking care of myself, and balance. You can encourage your child by using some of these words at home. Take time to talk about and practice sharpening the saw at home.
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