Mustang Messenger
2020-2021 School Year: Volume 35: Week of May 31st
Be the Best YOU at Grandview!!!
It's the Final Countdown!!
Dear Families,
I feel like I need to start singing Europe's 80's song, "The Final Countdown." 8 1/2 days.....final assessments....final routines......wrapping up of the curriculum....bulletin boards are coming down and most importantly, classroom reflections and celebrations. Be sure to take time over these next two weeks to reflect with your child of their successes and accomplishments this year. Some of your students may be reflecting on their academic accomplishments and others might reflect on their behavioral accomplishments. Both are important as we foster and instill independence and integrity with these students. We are trying to make the end of the year to be special, but it might feel a bit more anti-climantic compared to years in the past, but the teachers are going to be doing their best to close out the school year with your children, as well as, having fun with them too. So stay engaged and be sure they participate in everything. You do not want them to miss out on the fun!!!
This issue is the second to last Mustang Messenger. There is a lot of information included to help your children spend time learning this summer. Do not have your child fall victim to the "summer slide." Too much learning has happened this year and it needs to keep going throughout the summer.
Let's end on a powerful and positive note Grandview!!! Continue to stay healthy and happy!! Let's make it another great week at Grandview!!!
Your Proud Principal,
Melissa Carruth, Ed.S
Another Week of Learning!!
3rd Grade Dreams Collectors
Grandview Beauty
Build Your Own Community
Career Week is This Week
- Xello in Info Tech classes, as well as, within the classroom to gain some knowledge as to what career fields may align to your child's strengths and interests.
- Career Commercials that GV students applied to interview professionals in the career field
- Virtual Field Trips
- Student Reflection on their career path
- Careers in a Box activity
- Classroom Door Collage
- And so much more...
So please ask your children about careers that interest them and what they gained from this week of important learning.
SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES
What is Summer Slide?
“Summer slide” is the tendency for students, to lose some of the achievement gains they made during the previous school year. A few key facts about summer slide:
- Learning and achievement are perishable. The average student loses a month of academic-calendar learning each summer.
- Students see greater academic dips in math than in reading.
- Children not reading over the summer can fall on an average of 2 months in reading during the summer. And, summer slide is cumulative, with these learning losses building up each summer.
- Students from households with access to books over the summer see significantly more gains in reading scores from spring to fall than students from households without access to books
- Differences in children’s summer learning experiences during their elementary school years can ultimately impact whether they earn a high school diploma and continue to college.
How can your Child Not Fall Victim to the Summer Slide?
Here are a few ways to address and prevent summer slide....
- Access to books is critical. The public library is an excellent free resource for families to have access to books of a wide range of interests and reading levels, as well as librarians to guide children and families in selecting great books.
- Look for the Kids Read Now Materials being sent home to your children. They will receive 6 books throughout the summer. Read the books with your child, ask your child questions about what they are reading.
- When children select reading materials themselves and read for enjoyment, they receive the most gains in reading achievement, including better reading comprehension, writing style, vocabulary, spelling, and grammatical development.
- Summer programs, such as those offered at Grandview (Summer S.L.A.M.) and the public libraries, that allow and encourage children to choose what they read are likely to be most successful.
- Children and teens tend to read more when adults in their lives encourage them to read, and also when they see those adults reading often themselves.
- Children that feel that reading is fun tend to read more often, so summer programs that help make reading enjoyable and social are most successful.
- Reading just 4 to 6 books over the summer has the potential to prevent a decline in reading achievement scores from the spring to the fall, so even small steps are very beneficial. Remember that 6 books will be sent to all K-4 Grandview students throughout the summer.
- Preventing summer slide is most effective when community organizations—including schools, public libraries, community centers, parent groups, social service agencies, and others—work together to encourage kids to read, make reading fun, and to reach families about the importance of reading over the summer.
- Parents, caregivers, and other adults can help stem summer slide by reading themselves, as children that see adults in their lives reading often tend to read more themselves.
Summer S.L.A.M.
Clarenceville is offering a summer learning program. For students K-4, they will be attending their home school, unless they are enrolled in summer camp. It will be held at both elementary schools. The program will run from 9-12, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for eight weeks starting June 22nd and ending August 12th. The program will focus on Reading, Math, Science, and STEM. Each week will offer different engaging activities to have your child excited about coming each day. We know that families go on vacation over the summer. We are just happy when they can participate in the program. If you missed the enrollment, please reach to myself or call the Grandview office to see if there are slots for your child. We already have 150+ students. You do not want your child to miss out on this great opportunity!!
A letter with all the details will be sent home to your child this week with more details.
Other Ideas
Looking for other ideas or are unable to attend Clarenceville Summer S.L.A.M. Program, here are a few other ideas that you can partake in this summer. Mrs. Frost, Grandview and Botsford Informational Technology teacher, has put some fabulous digital resources for families to keep the learning going. She shared these resources at the last GV Parent Virtual Cafe. It is linked to the GV Parent Website.
Do you have a graduate in your home? If so, mark your calendar....
Do you have a kindergartner in your home?
- Due to COVID protocols that will stay in effect through the remainder of the school year, we have decided to do all kindergarten graduation celebrations within the classroom with the teacher and students. There will be momentos, keepsakes, and photos sent home to commemorate this milestone with your child and to celebrate your child's success in kindergarten. No need to mark anything on your calendar, just keep checking that backpack!!!
Do you have a 5th grader in your home?
- If so, mark your calendar for the following events.......A virtual graduation on Thursday, June 10th at 9:30 am. The Google Meet link will be shared with you closer to the day. Friday, June 11th, there will be a school clap-out for our 5th graders. We will have the 5th graders walk around the school OUTSIDE for one last time. The students, in other classrooms, will be socially-distanced around the school and will be cheering the 5th graders, out of the school, on their last day. Parents may come up to school and stand and participate in this tradition. They can clap their children out too. Please remember that parents may not come into the building, but they may take their child home after the clap-out. Finally, a 5th grade graduation parade for Friday, June 11th at 1:00. The parade will leave from Botsford and will follow the Homecoming route to the middle school. This year, Grandview will lead the parade and Botsford will end the parade. The parade route is below. Please invite others to join us and cheer on our 5th graders along the path!!! Details to follow soon. So get those decorations ready and let's have some fun!!
Summer Kids Read Now!!
We have Kids Read Now for ALL K-4 Clarenceville Students over the summer. 6 reading level specific books will be sent to ALL Clarenceville homes for your child to ensure that the students are reading over the summer. Each book will include a discovery sheet for general information, as well as, a digital parent guide to help support your child with reading comprehension skills. Students that engage in this program will receive rewards and celebrations from me when they return to school in the fall. We will also be calling families throughout the summer to ensure that you are receiving the books. So if you have moved, please be sure Ms. Tammy has your correct address!! More information to come on this!!!
Chromebook Return
Thank you to the families that have already turned in their Chromebooks. We are down to the final 20 Chromebooks for our face-to-face families. We are giving a popsicle reward to the classrooms that get all of their Chromebooks returned. We can do this Grandview families!!!
Elementary In-Person
Begin collecting in-person chromebooks. They are all due Tuesday, June 1st. They do not need to have these Chromebooks for the summer.
ALL elementary CVA
If they are virtual, there will be a drop off day for those families. Please bring them to the Grandview office starting Friday, June 11th. All CVA Chromebooks are due to the GV office by Friday, June 18th. The GV office hours are from 8-4:00.
All Chromebooks are returned to the office to be checked in so that all necessary paperwork can be updated. Remember that there was a contract signed, so families are responsible for any damaged computers or Chromebooks not returned.
Grandview Garden -- We Need HELP!!
In order to make this a community garden, we need your help. We are looking for the following help:
- Lawn bag donations (just drop the bags off at the GV office)
- Weed, weed, and more weeding. You can be on the school property outside during the school day for weeding. We have lawn bags stashed outside to help support GV families that can come up and help weed. You can also be on school property in the evening and on the weekend, if you are helping to weed. All of our students know how to recognize a weed and how to get to the root of the weed!!
- Once summer hits and you are walking by GV, feel free to water any of our GV boxes if they look thirsty.
Please remember that the Grandview garden is a community garden. It is open to everyone in the Grandview community!
Yearbooks
Mrs. Hayes and Mrs. Thomas did a wonderful job including all of our students, even if they were virtual learners all year. The yearbooks feature both our Grandview Virtual students, as well as, our face-to-face students. #allmeansall
Schools of Choice Application is OPEN!!!
A few answers to a few questions you may have about Schools of Choice.....
- You do not have to fill out a Schools of Choice application each year. Once you are accepted, you are part of the Clarenceville Community.
- If your child is going up to the Middle School, you do not need to fill out a Schools of Choice application. Again, once you are accepted, you are part of our district, not just the school.
- I have been at Grandview and want to stay and I am afraid to fill out the application and not get accepted. Reach out to me and let me know that you are filling out an application. I will do everything to work with Mr. Shepich to have your application accepted.
- If your child attended preschool or GSRP at Grandview and you live out of the district, you STILL need to fill out a Schools of Choice application. Attending those programs did not require you to fill out a Schools of Choice application.
- When do you "accept" Schools of Choice? It is unlimited, so you should not have a problem getting into the district and there should be space for your child. Just be timely in completing your registration.
- If I fill out my application, will I have to go to Botsford. We do not want to have to move students that are already established in a school community. So please specify on the form which school you want your child to attend.
In the end, DO NOT miss the deadline. If you do and you live outside of the district, you will not be able to attend Grandview for the 2021-2022 school year.
Enrollment for the 2021-2022 School Year
- One button, entitled Schools of Choice, is for people who do not live in district, but would like to enroll their child into the Clarenceville School District for the 2021-2022 school year. Please note that new to the process this year is that parents must send an affirmation of discipline record form to the school their child most recently attended and that school must return the form to our central office. The form is found on the schools of choice webpage.
- The other button, entitled Pre-enrollment, is for incoming kindergarten in-district families or new families that moved into the district.
- The third button is entitled Kindergarten. This is to guide you through the kindergarten enrollment process. Note.....If you are an incoming kindergarten family, that does not live in the district, you still need to fill out the Schools of Choice forms, even if you have another child attending Grandview. After you have your forms completed, you need to supply the Grandview office with the necessary residency documentation. Questions on any of these enrollment forms, please contact the Grandview main office.
Third Grade Reading Law Update
In 2016, the Michigan Legislature passed a law that requires schools to identify learners who are struggling with reading and writing and to provide additional support. The law states that third graders may have to repeat third grade if they are more than one grade level behind based on their M-Step Reading scores. Below you will find specific questions and answers that will provide each family some understanding of the state law, Read By Grade Three (also known as PA 306). If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
The good news is that in looking at the preliminary data, Grandview 3rd graders were ROCK STARS with their Reading M-STEP!!! So proud of them!!!!
Be the "I" in Kind - SPREAD Kindness
The Clarenceville School District has displayed a "Be Kind Livonia" Banner at Shaw Stadium located at Clarenceville Middle School. We are encouraging our learning community to get behind & support this campaign by stopping by & taking a photo where "you" represent the "I" in KIND. Please share your picture on your social media accounts using the hashtag #BeKindLivona.
During a vital period of time, let us come together & spread KINDNESS throughout our school district & the city of Livonia. Mr. Shepich, Superintendent of the Clarenceville School District has challenged our learning community to have the MOST images posted on social media with the hashtag making the city aware that we support this campaign. SPREAD KINDNESS.
Individual #BeKindLivonia lawn signs will also be available to the public for a $20 donation, with proceeds supporting the Blessing Bag Project. Get your own Be Kind Livonia sign at the UPS Store #3011 on Five Mile at Newburgh.
COVID Update
The CDC has come out to make a changes effective June 1st. Aspects that affect the Grandview community is mask wearing, social distancing distance (6 feet to 3 feet), outdoor gathering (no limit), and quarantine duration (14 to 10-days). They have stated that vaccinated people do not need to wear masks, as well as, mask wearing is not required outside.
In the end, we have been safe and do not want to make any changes to the existing protocols these last two weeks that could affect our students and allow them to be in school. In the end, teachers and students will stay masked at all times,. We will adhere to the 6 feet social distancing and will keep the 14-day quarantine. Even though our staff is vaccinated, we will stay masked.
Thank you for supporting us down the home stretch. We do not want to interrupt the great things that are happening at Grandview to ensure our students stay safe.
Kindergarten Registration
Looking for new Kindergarteners or Junior Kindergarteners for this fall!
If you have a child who will be five years old by December 1, 2021, he/she may be eligible for Kindergarten or Junior Kindergarten next fall. Please complete the Round Up Registration form online by visiting this link https://forms.gle/tRdGGq6FchLFjYF77. Please pass this link along to friends and neighbors who have a future Kindergarten student but do not have siblings at Grandview.
For Questions, contact the Grandview Office: 248-919-0404
NO Grandview Virtual Parent Cafe this week
This Tuesday, June 1st at 6:00 pm, there will not be a virtual parent cafe. We will be reaching out to all of you for feedback in the fall to see what topics that you want to help to boost our participation. All resources, presentations, and recordings are in on our parent website.
- Have you attended a Virtual Session and wanted resources from the session?
- Were you unable to attend a parent session, but wanted to gain some new learning?
If you answered yes to either, I would encourage you to check our Grandview Virtual Website. It is a website created just for Grandview families filled with a ton of resources for Grandview students. It is updated with each session that is held on Tuesday nights. So be sure to visit often.
When should I keep my student home??
Thank you to everyone for being so diligent in screening your child and keeping them home when symptoms appear. We also appreciate the transparency and communication with your classroom teacher and the office to ensure that it is safe to send your child to school.
Remember that if your child just has a runny nose or allergies, you can send them. We want our children in school learning as much as possible!
Free Breakfast and Lunch
On Friday, students will have a choice to bring two breakfast and lunch meals home with them from school. Your child can bring the meals home on the bus. Milk will be sent home too. This is a choice, but strongly encouraged as meals will be made for all parents. If you do not wish to have the food be brought home, please contact your student's teacher or contact the office so that we can put your child's name on the do not send list.
On Thursday, 7-day meal distributions will still happen at the High School. This is a great way for our CVA students to receive meals. Please remember if you cannot get up to school to pick-up your meals, please reach out to Grandview and we will deliver the meals to your home.
Meals for this week:
Monday: No School - Memorial Day
Tuesday: Breakfast: Trix Cereal with graham crackers, Granny smith apple, and milk
Lunch: Breaded Chicken Patty Sandwich, Tater Tots, Broccoli Florets, apples, and milk
Wednesday: Breakfast: Creamy beef stroganoff with egg noodles and a roll, green beans, carrots, celery, applesauce cup, and milk
Lunch: Cheesy meatball sub spiced green beans, celery sticks, apple, and milk
Thursday: Breakfast: Frosted Flakes Cereal with graham crackers, Fresh orange, and milk
Lunch: Grilled cheeseburger, seasoned curly freies, baby carrots, orange slices, and milk
Friday: Breakfast: Mini maple pancakes, apple, and milk
Lunch: Colden chicken corn dog, celery sticks, peppered broccoli florets, mixed tropical fruit, and milk
Remember to also visit Food Service Website for up-to-date menu changes and to help with planning ahead.
Arrival and Dismissal
Please remember to stay in your car when you drop off and have your child sitting on the right side of the car so that it is easy for them to get out of the car and for the staff to assist the students. Also, please be patient as we will have more cars in the back and we will need to retrain everyone as we are back to five-day a week instruction.
If your child is a car rider, you should have a tag by now to hang in your car. If you have not received one, please reach out to the office or the classroom teacher. Displaying these in your car makes the process go by faster.
If your child is a walker, please put it in writing and send it in an email to myself and/or the teacher or a written note. Your child will be dismissed from the back with the car riders.
Remember that in the back, please form three lines to help us to get more cars through quicker and more efficient. Do not get out of the car, there will be staff on site to help get your child out of the car.
Bus Schedule
If your child is not riding the bus, they have to be dropped off and picked up in the back of the school. We will NOT allow for parent drop off before or after school. We need to monitor social distancing and that not occur if parent walk up is happening amongst our bussers.
School Attendance
For the students that are returning to school, attendance is taking two times a day. Students are marked tardy starting at 8:40. Please be timely so that absences do not add up.
Truancy laws will be upheld. Under State of Michigan legislation, truancy is defined as a child who has 10 or more unexcused absences per school year. If you are option 1 - hybrid remote, teachers will take a morning and afternoon attendance, just like in brick and mortar. If you are in option 2 - virtual academy. You have a little more flexibility, but daily contact with the teacher is still expected. You can still call into the attendance line to excuse your child, but please do not get yourself into trouble with attendance. Attendance is mandatory.
Parent Support Learning Sessions
There are a ton of amazing sessions on super relevant and impactful session!!! I encourage you to take time out of your schedule to support yourself to support your children.
Take a look and let me know if you attend and what you learn!!!
Clarenceville District and Elementary Calendar
Tuesday Night Night - 2 more for this school year!!
Grandview Sports
In the meantime, check out this great communication piece for our families!!
Important Dates and Upcoming Dates
June Calendar Events
1-4: Career Awareness Week
7: Field Day
8: Field Day Rain Date
10: 5th grade virtual graduation ceremony @ 9:30 am
Board of Education Meeting - Virtual @ 6:30 pm
11: Last day of school -- 1/2-day for students, dismissal at 11:30
5th grade clap-out @ 11:00 am -- line up around the school, parents may NOT enter the building
5th grade car parade @ 1:00 -- starts at Botsford