Dragon's Tale
1/25/19
Upcoming Events!
January 25
6:30pm - Walled Lake Central Auditorium
Tickets can be purchased in advance through the WLCSD website
Hope to see you tonight!
January 31
February 1
Save the Date!
Additional information can be found on the WLCSD website: Preschool Programs
The WLCSD preschool open house sessions will be held at the following locations:
- Dublin Elementary
- Glengary Elementary
- Guest Elementary
- Pleasant Lake Elementary
- Twin Sun
- Wixom Elementary
Kids Heart Challenge (Formerly Known as Jump Rope for Heart)
Tuesday, February 12, 2019
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
C.H. Smart Middle School Gymnasium
Dear Parents and Students,
Good physical fitness is important to everyone. Through physical education classes, your child is learning the importance of daily physical activity and the importance of cardiovascular fitness.
In conjunction with the American Heart Association, we will be promoting physical fitness through the Jump Rope for Heart Program. This is a two-hour event for grades K-5 conducted in the C.H. Smart Middle School from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 12. To ensure safety, participants will work together in teams taking turns using one rope. Participants secure donations by asking sponsors such as: friends, family, neighbors (you know) and parental colleagues. Donations may be accepted online or in the form checks. When turning the donations into the school, please convert cash donations to checks written to “American Heart Association”.
Through the Kids Heart Challenge event, participants will have the opportunity to demonstrate the effectiveness of jumping rope as a cardiovascular fitness exercise to keep hearts healthy. They will also have the chance to educate the public on the benefits of jumping rope when asking for donations. In addition, their participation will help keep all hearts healthy since donations benefit research, education and community service programs of the American Heart Association. Students win AHA prizes based on collected donations. Local merchants have donated door prizes.
Sincerely,
Bob Marijanovich
JRFH School Coordinator/Physical Education Teacher
KIDS HEART CHALLENGE POSTER CONTEST
Students in grades K-5 may design one poster that promotes the Keith “Kids Heart Challenge”. All posters should include the following information:
What: 25th annual “Kids Heart Challenge”
When: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 12, 2019
Where: C.H. Smart Middle School Gym
Who: Grades K-5
Why: Promote a healthy lifestyle and save lives through donations to the American Heart Association
How: Sign up by taking home an application sheet for parent permission – You can still help save lives and contribute if you can’t be there!
Other Reasons: Fun night! Prizes! Save Lives!
Turn in posters to Mr. M by Friday, January 25, 2019.
Posters no larger than a regular construction size sheet. Posters judged on content, creativity and artistic style.Top posters in each grade level win a prize! Include your name, grade and homeroom teacher
Keith Announcements
Congratulations PTSA Reflections Participants!
Keith Dragons and Dragon families, I am excited to report updates on the 2018-2019 PTA Reflections Contest, “Heroes Around Me.” As you know, in November, Keith Elementary submitted 18 qualifying entries for continued judging at the District Level. Then, those advancing from the District Level are sent to the State Level, where works submitted from schools around the entire State of Michigan are then judged for advancement to the National level.
The District PTA Reflections group has completed their judging and the results are in. I am pleased to announce that Keith Elementary boasts the highest number of District entries from any school in the entire District, including all middle and high schools. Further, out of the 18 we sent to the District level, there were a total of 9 Keith Elementary art entries that are now advancing to the State level! This was the second highest number of advancing entries from any school in the entire District this year.
Please congratulate your fellow Keith artists whose art has advanced to State level as follows:
KEITH ELEMENTARY PTA REFLECTIONS ARTISTS ADVANCING TO STATE LEVEL
- Mathew Bloch (Visual Arts)
- Alexander Bloch (Visual Arts)
- Nigel Levu (Music Composition)
- Piper Tomasik (Music Composition)
- Brayden Muir (Film Production)
- Nolan Levu (Film Production)
- Francis Miller (Literature)
- Hollis Miller (Literature)
- Arbor Neal (Dance Choreography)
Good luck Keith artists! Way to create and participate!
The State round of judging should complete by March 1, 2019, and artists advancing to the National level will be announced. The National winners should be announced in May.
Winter Clothing Reminders
Colder temperatures have arrived! We want all children to feel comfortable and enjoy being outside so we ask that you please send your student to school with all of the winter gear they may need including warm coats, hats, gloves, boots, and snow pants.
Please label everything with your child's name in the event that their items become separated from them during the school day.
See guidelines below and be sure to discuss your expectations with your student(s):
- We go outside unless it is below zero degrees (windchill)
- Boots & Snow pants are required for students to play off the blacktop. We don't call home for dry clothes. This is their best protection.
- Anytime it is 32 degrees and below, students are expected to wear hats/gloves/mittens. Above 32 degrees, we leave it up to your discretion, but do give reminders and encouragement.
- If a student wears a coat to school, they will need to wear it to recess unless the temperature rises to over 50 degrees.
Keith Spirit!!!
Friday’s are Spirit Day here at Keith.
Your child is encouraged to wear a Keith shirt or the color red each and every Friday. The upper elementary and lower elementary classroom with the highest number of participants will win a visit from “Sparky” our Keith Dragon for the week.
This week's winners are:
Upper Elementary Room:
Lower Elementary Room:
Second Step Announcement!
Parents, this week your children focused on the second step lesson below. Please take a moment to talk with your children about how they took time to show positive behavior at school.
Calming Down:
When you have a strong feeling, it’s had for your brain to think. After you use your stop signal and name your feeling, you’re ready to calm down! You can calm down by doing some slow deep belly breathing, counting, or using self-talk. Think for a moment about your favorite Way to Calm Down. Remember to use it this week if you need to. Calming down helps you think clearly!
Our focus for next week is listed below. We will review the following with your children when they return to school on Monday.
Managing Learning Challenges:
Using our Calming-Down Steps at Keith Elementary helps us be better learners! There are many opportunities to practice your calming-down skills at school. You may have a strong feeling when you have to wait, or when you make a mistake, or when you have trouble finishing a difficult task. These are perfect moments to practice using your stop signal, naming your feeling, and calming down. When staff and students at Keith Elementary calm down our emotions, it helps us all learn.
Supporting Your Child with iReady
Speak with your child about how using i-Ready will help him or her grow in school.
i-Ready shows where your child is doing well and where your child needs some more review. It helps teachers understand how to give your child the best support, and it lets your child see the gains they will make throughout the school year.
- Help your child prepare for the Diagnostic by explaining that some questions on the Diagnostic test will be hard and that it’s okay not to know the answer to every question. Questions on the Diagnostic get a little harder each time a question is answered correctly, and a little easier when answered incorrectly. The goal is to figure out the math or reading level that is “just right” for your child, so your child should expect to see some questions that are too hard—and that’s okay! It means the test is working correctly.
- Encourage your child to take each lesson and test question seriously.Emphasize “thinking before clicking,” because just clicking through answers will not give teachers an accurate picture of what is understood and what requires further instruction.
- Help your child identify and become familiar with the different parts of the student dashboard.Log in to your child’s account with them and ask them to give you a “tour” of what they see.
- Encourage your child to use the tools that will appear at the bottom of the screen in some lessons. Your child will sometimes see tools, like a calculator or dictionary, that will be helpful for completing an activity or answering a question on a quiz.
- Discuss your child’s results by looking at “My Progress” together. First, look at the number of lessons shown as completed in i-Ready and celebrate that number with your child, who should feel good about this achievement alone. Then, take a look at the percentage of questions your child answered correctly in the quiz at the end of each lesson. In discussing these results, you might say
“Let’s look at how well you’ve been doing on your i-Ready lessons!”
“What do you notice when you look at this data?”
“Can you identify strengths from this report?”
“What is something you feel like you are doing well?”
“What areas are challenging to you?”
“Let’s look at your data to see where and how we can work together to improve in those more challenging areas.”
- If you are unsure about the expectations your child’s teacher has for the use of i-Ready at home, and which lessons your child should be completing, contact the teacher to clarify them.
Tuition Expedition 50/50 Scholarship Raffle
Tickets may be purchased at Keith in the main office!
Chance to win BIG! Raffle benefits Walled Lake Schools!
Purchase Tuition Expedition 50/50 Scholarship Raffle tickets today!
· $50 each | 3 tickets for $100
· 1,000 tickets available
- Drawings sponsored by WL School Emp. Fed. Credit Union will be held for FREE TE raffle ticket
- The Foundation for Excellence Grant Program channels raffle's proceeds into Walled Lake Schools' classrooms!
Grand Prize: Scholarship funds for postsecondary education (40% lump sum option available)
Secondary Prize: Amazon Echo Show
Raffle details & purchase info: Visit https://tinyurl.com/TE2K19
Grand Prize Drawing: March 25, 2019 @ Walled Lake Schools' PTA Reflections Celebration (Need not be present to win)
Questions: Contact Foundation for Excellence-Walled Lake Schools: Phone 248.956.2116 or email MichelleBianco@wlcsd.org
MI Raffle License# R49794
Schools of Choice Requests for 2019-2020
WLCSD is still accepting School of Choice applications for enrollment in the school district for the 2019-2020 school year. The forms required for Schools of Choice (families living in Oakland County, but not Walled Lake) are located below. Please feel free to share with families interested in attending schools in the WLCSD. The deadline for School of Choice applications is Friday, February 1, 2019.
For 2019-20, all schools are open for requests, but Smart, Commerce, Dublin and Keith are closed for external Schools of Choice, due to enrollment limits under SOC.
If you know of anyone who has children wishing to attend Walled Lake Schools next year, please encourage them to apply now.
Ashton's Miracle Foundation Event
Please join the Arabo family as we celebrate the three-year anniversary of Ashton earning his angel wings. Family, friends, and community members near and far are invited to Waterford Lanes to bowl and bounce, two of Ashton's favorite things to do. $20 tickets include 2 slices of pizza and pop and your choice of either 2 games of bowling OR unlimited bouncing in the kids' room. Sweet treats, 50/50 raffle tickets, and auction baskets will also be available. Tickets will be sold at the door.
All proceeds from this event will go to Ashton's Miracle Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to spreading acts of kindness in his honor. Please visit www.ashtonsmiracle.org to learn more, donate, or nominate someone in need.
Girls on the Run
The Keith Girls on the Run Spring 2019 season is quickly approaching. The goal of the program is to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum, which creatively integrates running. Please see the flyer for important registration information. To register, you may use the Keith Elementary link provided. Questions? Contact the Keith Elementary Coaches…Juliann Snavely: juliannsnavely@wlcsd.org or Barb Kneal: bbkneal@comcast.net
Please register for Girls on the Run Spring 2019 Here: Keith Elementary
Girls On The Run Is So Much Fun!
Clash for a Cause
Thank you,
WLN Hocky Boosters
Attention Current 5th Grade Students - Robotics at SMART Middle School!
The robotics team at CHS Middle School - S.M.A.R.T. FIRST Tech Challenge Team 12520, is holding a Parent & Student Information Meeting in the Media Center at Smart Middle on Tuesday, January 29 at 6:00pm for current 5th, 6th, and 7th graders interested in robotics. We will talk about FIRST, FIRST Tech Challenge, demonstrate our robot, and describe the candidate evaluation process for students interested in joining the team.
Two-Hour Delay Procedures
On rare occasions, morning conditions occur that temporarily prevent the District from safely transporting students or requiring students to wait at a bus stop or walk to school. These conditions typically involve thick fog, winter weather or utility problems and historically required cancellation of school for the entire day.
Walled Lake Schools has developed a two-hour delay procedure that could be used if conditions are expected to improve within two hours. This procedure, which will be used sparingly, will permit students to get to school safely and allow the District to conduct a credited day of school.
Parents are encouraged to develop a plan so their children can safely stay home for an additional two hours in the morning and have them go to a trusted alternate location to await the delayed start of school.
In the rare event that a two-hour delay is activated, the following procedures will be followed:
- The District’s phone system will be used to notify all school families and staff members of the delay (by approximately 5 a.m. when possible)
- Local news and radio stations will be contacted to report the delayed start.
- If conditions do not improve within two hours, classes may be cancelled for the entire day and the same methods of notification will be made.
- All bus stop pick-ups will be delayed by exactly two hours (i.e. if your bus stop is normally 8:36 a.m., it will be at 10:36 a.m. on delayed start days).
- All schools will start exactly two hours later than normal (i.e. if your school normally starts at 8:55 a.m., it will start at 10:55 a.m. on delayed start days).
- Prime Time Care will open at its normal time (must be pre-registered to use Prime Time Care).
- Essential service staff (custodians, food service, maintenance, mechanics and warehouse) will report at their normal starting time.
- Professional, administrative and support staff shall report as soon as possible and no less than 30 minutes prior to the delayed start time of their school or work site.
- Students shall report to the class they would normally be in at the time they arrive for a two-hour delay.
- Breakfast will be available for the duration of the delay and lunch will be served at the normal time.
- Schools will be dismissed at their normal times at the end of the school day.
- Staff will be released at their normal times at the end of the school day.
Keeping our Children Safe
Social Media is such a hard topic to navigate these days as it is changing so rapidly. Last school year I shared with you the application (app) Musical.ly and the dangers of allowing our kids unmonitored use. The latest social media concern is around something titled the MoMo Challenge being shared through WhatsApp Messenger and possibly Facebook. The basics of the challenge include MoMo telling the child to do a challenge and then requiring photo evidence. If a person refuses or fails to complete the challenge, they are threatened with harm and/or death. This challenge is dangerous and has been associated with the death of at least 1 child internationally.
Although we are not aware of any students accessing this content at this time, please be sure to keep me informed if you hear about this challenge occurring and take a moment to check your child’s device and social media access. Our school district firewalls through our safety, security, and technology bond should be blocking this type of “game” from students, but mostly it is accessed using different apps on cell phones, which we cannot monitor if they are not on our network (i.e., using their cellular service).
January Lunch Menu
January Breakfast Menu
Announcements From our Keith PTA:
Next Keith PTA Meeting - Wednesday, February 6 at 7pm -Keith Media Center
Upcoming Educational Assemblies - Thank you PTA for making this possible for all of our students!
Michigan Science Center - February 12th
9:15 - 10 am - K-2
Science Rocks!
What is sound? Why do things make different sounds? Or why you beat a drum but pluck a guitar? This booming show is sure to be a roaring racket of a good time!
10:15 - 11 am Grades 3-5
KABOOMISTRY!
Why do things explode? Learn about the relationships between pressure, temperature, and fuel to explain why things go KA-BOOM! Physics and chemistry will be mixed to get some loud, flashy effects!
Anthony Ianni - April 8
9:15 - 10 am Grades 3-5
Relentless Tour
The Relentless Tour with former Michigan State University basketball player, Anthony Ianni is a first of its kind grass roots initiative designed to help eradicate bullying across the state of Michigan and beyond.
2019 Earth Day Poster Contest for the MDEQ, MDNR, and MDARD
On behalf of Mr. Tom Occhipinti, I would like to cordially invite all Keith Dragon students to participate in the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD)’s 2019 Earth Day Poster Contest. For the past 13 years, we have received many wonderful submissions from students statewide for judging. Our 2018 Earth Day Poster Contest received an astonishing 3,200 entries!
We welcome submissions from students in Kindergarten through the 5th grade. Posters must fit into a 16” x 20” frame to be eligible for entry. We encourage each student to embrace their creativity and submit a poster to represent what Earth Day means to them.
Submissions are due February 15, 2019 to the following address (included on the flyer with submission slip):
Tom Occhipinti
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
Constitution Hall
525 West Allegan Street
Lansing, MI, 48933
Teachers will be notified if their student’s poster won by March 22, 2019. Awards will be presented to students on April 24, 2019 at Constitution Hall in Lansing (map enclosed) during the Earth Day celebration event.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me by email (masboobh@michigan.gov) or phone (517-284-6887). You may also contact Mr. Tom Occhipinti, DEQ Environmental Educational Coordinator, by email (occhipintit@michigan.gov) or phone (517-284-6867).
Walled Lake Middle School Football Fundraiser at Defy - Febrary 8th
Save the Date - Dragon Dance
Downhill Dragons - Alpine Ski Club Information
Keith Elementary School
Andrea McFarland - Principal's Secretary
Diana Tyrrell - Building Secretary
Julie Palermo - Interventionist
Marci Augenstein, Ph.D. - Principal, Keith Elementary
Email: AndreaMcFarland@wlcsd.org
Website: http://wlcsd.org/schools/elementary/keith/
Location: 2800 Keith Road, West Bloomfield Township, MI, United States
Phone: (248)956-3700
Twitter: @KeithElementary