Dear Glengary Families,

I hope that you had a wonderful holiday break surrounded by people you love. I want to welcome our Glengary Family to the new year and express my gratitude for your continued partnership in 2023. Here's to an AWESOME new year together!

As always, the Glengary Staff is here to support you. Should you have questions or if concerns arise, please reach out to your child's teacher or myself and we will work together to find a solution. I can be reached at rosaleighjohnson@wlcsd.org or at 248-956-3100.

Here's to a GREAT week ahead!

-RosaLeigh

If any parents have photos of any special events thus far this school year, please email them to glengary.yearbook@gmail.com so we can review them for the yearbook! Thank you!

Below you will find the topics of focus for the next 2 weeks. I strongly encourage families to click on the links below and use the family resources to reinforce the learning at home! Once you click on the P2 for Families, you’ll find 1 quote, 1 video, and 3 questions to help you and your children discuss The Positivity Project’s character strength of the week. Please join us!

The focus for this week will be Optimism. Next week, the character strength of focus will be Prudence. P2 deliberately begins the new year with optimism, followed by prudence and perseverance. That's because many people are making New Year's Resolutions and setting goals (optimism), but we all need to remember that achieving those goals will take prudence (to stick with a plan) and perseverance (to overcome inevitable obstacles).

Please take a look at the links below as they will provide you with the knowledge and tools needed to partner in this important work. The resources in the links below were created to help parents reinforce this important learning at home.

Optimism means you expect the best from the future and work to achieve it.

Optimism represents a state of hopefulness and confidence about the future (both short and long term). People with this strength are future-oriented. They have a positive vision of what the future holds and maintain confidence that they will get there. Despite setbacks, they keep a positive attitude and often find ways to convert what seems like an obstacle into a stepping-stone to achieving their goals.

Prudence means you plan for the future and achieve your goals by making careful everyday choices.

Prudence is the ability to do the right thing for the right reason, at the right time. It’s a future-oriented way of thinking that helps a person set goals, make plans, and have the discipline to accomplish them. It is cognitive -- more a strength of the head than of the heart.

Each week, we have 5th grade leaders record a video highlighting a specific regulation strategy. Students in grades K-5 watch the video and discuss as a class how they may use each strategy when they are dysregulated (blue, yellow or red zone). I have linked the strategies in the button below. Feel free to check them out and review the strategies with your child at home. Strategies can be used across any and all setting including school and home.

Ms. Julie Stout will be honored at the board meeting on Thursday, January 5 as Glengary's Teacher of the Year! Teacher of the Year recognition will begin at 7:00 p.m. at the ESC. The board meeting is open so families are invited to join.

Please note that our office is open from 8:30-4:30 daily. At times, we have families come to the building to retrieve missing snow gear, homework, etc. This is permissible if it is before 4:30. Please simply ring the doorbell and an office staff member will assist you. If it is after 4:30, you are welcome to call the office at 248-956-3100 and if an office staff member is still present, they may be able to assist you.

Important: Although our Prime Time Care staff is at school prior to 8:30 AM and after 4:30 PM, they are unable to allow entry into the building to anyone other than families picking up for Prime Time Care. Thank you for understanding as we work in partnership to keep our students safe and building secure.

The Student Transfer Request Application period for the 2023-2024 school year is January 4, 2023 – January 23, 2023. Any application received after 11:59 p.m. on January 23, 2022, will be noted as late.

The 2023-24 window for Schools of Choice opens on January 16, 2023 and applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on February 6, 2023.

Tell your friends, neighbors, and family members; Glengary is ready to gather the names of the 2023-2024 kindergarten students!

Any child that will be five years old before September 1, 2023, is eligible to enroll/register for Kindergarten. Call our office as soon as possible and say that you want to place your child’s name and other contact information on our enrollment list. Glengary’s office number is (248) 956 - 3100. More information about Kindergarten can be found in the link below.

*Note: Children with a birthdate between June 1, 2018 and December 1, 2018 are eligible for 2023-2024 Junior Kindergarten program in Walled Lake. More information about Junior Kindergarten can be found in the link below.

We are very proud of our Gators that participated in this year's Reflections Competition and used their character strength of creativity!

Congratulations to the following school-wide winners:

Visual Arts:

• K-2: Caroline Brattina and Eliana White
• 3-5: Patrick Maher and Ella Werner

Photography:

• Special Artist: Ava O'Dell

Congratulations to Ava O'Dell, Ella Werner, and Caroline Brattina who have been chosen to move on to the State level Reflections competition! We are so proud of our Gators!

*A special shout-out to parents Yoko Metcalf, Andrea Halimi and Carly Zieske for your leadership with the Reflections Program at Glengary!

We have an exciting opportunity at Glengary and invite you to join the Twirl-M's and Glengary's fantastic guest teacher, Mrs. M (Miss Rhonda) for an afternoon of baton twirling fun after school. Students will explore baton twirling tricks, marching, and more. Batons will be provided. A parent preview show will take place the final week of class with class awards.

Location: Glengary Elementary

Duration: 4 weeks - 1/11, 1/18, 1/25, 2/1

Time: 4-5 p.m.

Cost: $60

As communicated prior to Winter Break, ALL of the Walled Lake Schools will be closed on Tuesday, January 17. The District will be utilizing this day to better assist staff members across the District on important wellness topics and provide additional Professional Learning. This Mid-Year Update is a district-provided professional development day allotted to school districts by the state of Michigan and can be implemented at the District’s discretion during the school year.

It’s hard to believe that we’re already preparing for the second i-Ready® Diagnostic. The second Diagnostic is an important benchmark for understanding your student’s growth, which is why it’s so important they try their best. These results allow us to better support them in achieving their growth goals for the year. Your teacher will communicate with you directly regarding when they plan to administer the 2nd Diagnostic.

The most important thing we can do is prepare students and motivate them to put forth their best effort.

Here are a few things you can do to help support your student:

1. Make sure they get a good night’s rest before taking the Diagnostic!

2. Talk to your student about why the second Diagnostic is important. You can say things like:

-The second Diagnostic helps you find out how much progress you’ve made since the beginning of the year.

-It allows your teacher and I to celebrate your accomplishments!

-Try your best, and do not rush—but don’t spend too much time on a question either.

-Remember, questions on the Diagnostic change based on your answers to earlier questions. You will see some questions you don’t know. That is okay! Just try your best.

3. Let them know you’re excited to celebrate their progress.

Thank you for your continued partnership in your student’s learning!

*IMPORTANT: Please note that while your child takes the diagnostic, they will NOT be able to complete the instructional modules.

Thank you SO much to our AWESOME community that worked together to support 19 local families this holiday season! I am humbled by your generosity and genuine care and with sincerity I can tell you that the families were extremely grateful! Thanks again!

We are pleased to announce that the Glengary Gators have been invited to join Loon Lake Elementary's Ski/Board Club this year. Loon Lake is collaborating with Alpine Valley Ski Area to bring the Loon Lake community a Thursday night ski club for the 2023 ski season, which provides our club members with significant discounts (for parents and children) on lift tickets, equipment rentals and lessons.

Membership is open to Loon Lake & Glengary families AND friends, and Club Cards are on sale now - so please join and help to spread the word.

Our club is managed by a parent volunteer, and primary communication & information can be found at this Loon Lake Friends & Family Ski/Board Club Facebook page - please join this page for full details, including pricing, program info/updates, FAQs and to access registration forms. For additional questions, please contact Anne Grace at loonlakeskiclub@gmail.com.

**Please note that it is the parent/guardian responsibility to ensure child participant supervision at all times, and Walled Lake Schools, Loon Lake Elementary, Alpine Valley Ski Area, this ski club, nor the club organizer, Anne Grace, will be responsible/liable for program participants.

Ski Club memberships can be purchased until January 17th.

Check out the resources below from our school social worker, Ms. Abbo! It contains a lot of resources to support families in need.

Thank you families for encouraging your Gators to engage with the i-Ready instructional modules during the December i-Ready challenge! We know that the instructional modules help to enrich and supplement instruction so that we can close academic gaps and differentiate appropriately.

Congrats to the following grade levels for passing the most lessons collectively!

K-2 Competition

Reading: Congrats 1st Grade who passed 518 lessons in December!

Math: Congrats 1st Grade who passed 307 lessons in December!

3-5 Competition

Reading: Congrats 3rd Grade who passed 364 lessons in December!

Math: Congrats 3rd Grade who passed 296 lessons in December!

Thank you for your support!

Information about the spring offering for Girls on the Run & STRIDE will be shared in the next edition of the Glengary Gazette.

School Portraits and Yearbooks go hand and hand, order your Glengary Elementary YB today! This special collection of school year memories can be treasured by your student for a lifetime! Friendly Reminder: New this year, yearbooks are no longer provided through the school picture program. Yearbooks must be purchased separately to receive one. Be sure to place your yearbook order!

In years past, yearbooks have been given to all students at no cost to families. These books were provided by Lifetouch, the company contracted to provide school pictures. Unfortunately, due to a significant decline in families purchasing individual student pictures, Lifetouch can no longer offer yearbooks at no charge.

In an effort to offset the cost of the yearbook for families who may not have the means to purchase one, the Glengary PTA is selling advertisement space in this year’s

yearbook. Each ad will be in color and consist of ⅛ (or the size of a business card) of a page at the conclusion of the book. The cost per ad is $50.

If you would like to purchase advertisement space, please do the following:

1.Complete the form linked below

2. Provide Andrea Halimi with the ad (exactly as you would like to be printed in the yearbook)

3. Submit payment, either cash or a check made out to Glengary Elementary PTA. All items can be sent to Glengary Elementary School PTA, 3070 Woodbury St, Commerce, MI

48390 (℅ Andrea Halimi).

Variety Show Auditions are coming up next week - but without volunteers we will not be able to have them!

Every student that signed up is able to participate in the event BUT we need to make sure each student's act is 90 seconds or less, that the kids have their music or props ready and that they have an idea about what it will feel like to perform in front of someone (the parents volunteering and the students from their grade that are also auditioning).

There will be a simple check list for each performer to make sure they are good to go. Any and all help will be GREATLY appreciated!

Audition times:

• Block schedule:

• Kindergarten Thursday from 1:45-2:45

• First Grade Thursday from 10-11

• Second Grade Monday from 1:45-2:45

• Third Grade Tuesday from 1:45-2:45

• Fourth Grade Wednesday from 1:45-2:45

• Fifth Grade Wednesday from 10-11

Click below to sign up and help!!! Thank you!!!

Join us for the January PTA Meeting on Tuesday, January 10 at 6:30 PM in the Glengary Media Center.

This year, the PTA is excited to use their own communication platform to help organize important information all in one place. The Glengary Gazette is often loaded with info and sometimes the PTA updates can become buried. The link to the first edition of the PTA Post is linked below and will be regularly blasted out via Skyward and linked in the Glengary Gazette! Be sure to check it out!

In an effort to find additional ways to celebrate our staff, the WLCSD Community Relations department requests that families fill out the information below for staff who are rock stars in their classrooms and school communities. Please complete the form below and contact Dan Durkin (danieldurkin@wlcsd.org) with any questions you may have.

Please check out some awesome offerings for after-school activities being offered at Glengary this winter. Sneak peek of the offerings are listed below:

-Smart Art

-The Power of Drawing

-iCode Tech Club

-Musical Theatre Workshop

-Twirl-M’s Baton

The link below has all of these class offerings this winter.

The attachments below are ESL and GED registration information for families interested. The first attached item is a flyer, the second a brochure, just to inform a bit about each class.

At the January 17 registration, there will be interpreters on hand for Arabic and Japanese speakers.

On January 19, there will be Spanish and Russian/Ukrainian interpreters.

Many family goals are to help their children with homework and/or to increase their citizenship knowledge. Win-win!

The Walled Lake Consolidated School District, following the guidance of the Oakland County Health Division, requires individuals that are positive for COVID-19 AND individuals that exhibit symptoms of COVID-19, (one symptom from the top section or two symptoms from the second section), to follow certain steps before they can return to school. The link below contains a symptom screener as well as the options a family can take for their student to be eligible to return to school when a student is suggestive of COVID.

Many symptoms of COVID overlap with symptoms of other common illnesses and seasonal allergies. Current guidance requires us to follow COVID protocols for individuals that cannot pass the health screener until COVID is medically ruled out or a certain period of time has passed.

At this time, communication to families regarding COVID-19 cases at school is the same as it was at the end of the 2021-22 school year. When I learn of a positive case, I will send a letter to the classroom of the positive individual, as well as a letter to the entire grade level, to notify families of a possible exposure. For privacy reasons, names and identifying information will not be disclosed.

If you have any questions or need additional guidance regarding a sick child and school attendance, please contact our GLE Main Office. We recognize the added layer of responsibility on parents and school staff when an individual presents with symptoms during the pandemic and appreciate your partnership.

If your child tests positive for COVID-19, it is critical that the office staff and classroom teacher are quickly informed.

Please send an email to:

RosaLeigh Johnson - rosaleighjohnson@wlcsd.org

Melissa Roth - melissaroth@wlcsd.org

Cheryl Maten- cherylmaten@wlcsd.org

Your child's teacher

In the email, please include ALL of the following information:

Your child's name

Your child's grade

Your child's teacher

Your name

Your contact phone number

The date of symptom onset

The date your child was tested

The last date your child was in school

Type of test that was given (Home test, Rapid test at a testing site, PCR test at a testing site)

Name of testing site, if tested in a facility

*Note: Once staff are informed, the following action items occur.

1. Office reports to WL Human Resources Department

2. Families receive quarantine timeline via email from WL Human Resource Department

2. Office alerts custodians who deep clean the impacted classroom

3. Office sends a letter to the classroom of the positive individual & a letter to the entire grade level, to notify families of a possible exposure. Individual's names and identifying information is NOT shared.

Consistent, on-time attendance is a key component to school success. Over the past few years, it has been a challenge to prioritize school attendance while also following COVID protocols. This letter is to inform families of the District’s attendance procedures and COVID protocols. Please click on the link below to read the full letter.

We have had an increase in the number of Gators bringing electronic devices and toys to school. Students should refrain from bringing toys, Pokémon cards, etc. to school. These items can get lost, broken, and cause arguments amongst students.

Additionally, students who bring electronic devices to school should leave them in their backpacks until they leave for the day. Smart watches have been a distraction for some students as well. Students should not be using cell phones, smart watches, or other electronic devices during the day to make phones calls, access the internet, apps, pictures, etc. If a student needs to communicate with their parent/guardian or vice versa, that communication MUST be done by calling the office. Thank you for your support with this.

Winter weather is here and we are asking families to please take a moment to review the recess wear guidelines.

Please make sure your child has an appropriate coat or jacket for the weather. Many classes have an early morning block recess and we are looking ahead at some chilly mornings.

Hopefully we are still a ways away from snow, put please note that IT IS ESSENTIAL that students have boots and snow pants when there is snow on the ground.

If you need help providing winter wear for your child, please reach out to me and we will help you! We want all of our Gators to have the items that they need!

New for the 2022-2023, families can only access iReady lessons at home through the Classlink website. If connecting with iReady has been a challenge, please check out the one minute video tutorial below.

i-Ready is an online program for reading and mathematics that diagnoses the just right next steps for students. It is one tool that your student’s teacher will use to guide class and small group instruction. iReady lessons support classroom instruction and are designed to meet your student’s specific needs, personalize their learning, and monitor progress throughout the school year. It is a great tool to fill gaps and support classroom learning.

Your child's teacher can provide his/her login information if your child chooses to practice iReady at home.

As previously shared, Glengary is taking steps toward becoming a "Green School."

We will kick off our green initiative with students in January beginning with a sustainability program through a partnership with TerraCycle. Students will be able to deposit drink pouches and squeezable snack pouches into designated containers in the cafeteria. For every 5 pounds, the school can earn up to $50 while we simultaneously teach students how to recycle.

At the end of January, all students will participate in a school-wide assembly where they will learn ways to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Next Steps: We are looking for a cost-effective partner to recycle our paper based products. If you have a recommendation, please email andreahalimi03@gmail.com

Attention families! We are now offering a free ink cartridge recycling drop off at Glengary! There will be a bin where cartridges are collected inside the main vestibule; Glengary will return these recyclables to Empties4Cash. Empties4Cash will send a check to Glengary's PTA once they receive our donation. Thanks for supporting Glengary, and "going green"!

PAC MISSION STATEMENT

“Our mission is to increase awareness and current best practices in special education while working towards a larger voice, meaningful communication and more inclusive practices and parental involvement.”

TIME COMMITMENT

Approximately 2 hours per month (Not including optional training/activity participation)

PAC Executive Board

Please contact a member of the Executive Committee for more information:

President - Cory Hensley knackcor@yahoo.com

Aimee Page - aimee.page2@gmail.com

Denise Dunn - denisedunn@wlcsd.org

*Please email rosaleighjohnson@wlcsd.org if you are interested in taking on this role.

A strong home/school partnership is one of our core values at Glengary Elementary. As parents or guardians, we welcome your engagement and collaboration. When concerns arise, we ask that you assume positive intent and seek information first, before drawing conclusions.

When you have a concern specific to your child:

1. Contact the teacher or staff member involved first.

2. Ask for information, express a concern, suggest a solution through a respectful conversation or meeting.

3. Collaborate to generate a plan and agree to a timeline for resolving the issue.

4. Monitor and evaluate the success of your plan and make adjustments as needed.

After genuine collaboration and open communication with your child’s teacher, if resolution cannot be reached, it is then appropriate to contact the principal. Working with the teacher and principal, generate a plan that meets the situation’s needs and agree to a timeline for trying the solution. If you are unable to agree to a solution at the building level, the principal will invite the next most appropriate administrator to join the process.

The Student Pantry is a local resource we have available for any families in need. If your family has a need for basic school supplies, clothing, or food, please email RosaLeigh Johnson, Principal, Kristen Abbo, Social Worker, or Laura Locke, Teacher Liason. We will work in partnership with the Student Pantry to get you resources and supplies at no cost while respecting your privacy.

rosaleighjohnson@wlcsd.org

kristenabbo@wlcsd.org

lauralocke@wlcsd.org

Those who are interested in volunteering or making a donation should visit the Student Pantry website, www.thestudentpantry.weebly.com.

The Glengary Staff is truly something special! Per the request of several parents, we are sharing an updated list of Favorite Things for each Glengary staff member. If you are ever looking for ideas for how to say thank you, please feel free to click the link below and take a look!

During the 2022-2023 school year, breakfast and lunch will NO LONGER BE FREE for ALL students. It will only be free (or reduced) for those who qualify.

Congress voted not to extend the waiver which provided free breakfast and free lunch for all students. The waiver ended June 30, 2022.

Your family may qualify for free meals or for reduced-price meals. You can complete a free and reduced lunch application during registration in August.

If you do not qualify for free or reduced meals, you may begin depositing money into student accounts at any time to prepare for the cost of school lunches next year. Information on meal prices for the 2022-2023 school year are listed below

Breakfast costs

• $1.50 for Elementary
• $1.75 for Middle/High School

Lunch costs

• $3.00 for Elementary
• $3.25 for Middle/High School

If your student has a negative lunch account balance, we encourage you to pay it off as soon as possible and then begin depositing money into the account to prepare for the 2022-2023 school year.

Your family may qualify for free meals or for reduced-price meals. Reduced-price is $.30 for breakfast and $.40 for lunch. Completing an application is the only way to be considered for free or reduced meals next school year. Please take action now. You can complete the online free and reduced meal application located in Family Access once registration is open.

This free and reduced meal application information is critical in determining the amount of money that the District receives from a variety of State and Federal supplemental programs like Title I A, At-risk (31a), Title II A, E-Rate, etc.

These supplemental programs have the potential to offer supports and services for our students including, but not limited to:

• Instructional supports (staff, supplies & materials, etc.)
• Non-instructional services (counseling, social work, health services, etc.)
• Professional Learning for staff
• Parent and Community engagement supplies and activities
• Technology
• Pandemic-EBT

Our food service department is asking families to complete and submit the free and reduced meal application as soon as possible to ensure that additional funding for our school is available to meet the needs of our students. All information on the application submitted is confidential.

Please contact Anne Merchant at 248-956-3081 or at annemerchant@wlcsd.org with questions.

Glengary Elementary welcomed Romeo, our therapy dog, in the fall of 2021. We are thrilled to welcome Romeo as therapy dogs provide a host of benefits to students and staff.

Our program would not be possible with the support of many donors and sponsors. If you are interested in making a donation for Romeo's ongoing care, you can contact lauralocke@wlcsd.org or rosaleighjohnson@wlcsd.org.

Thank you to our AWESOME sponsors below!

Communication is important to us at Glengary. Parents will be notified and updated in a variety of ways throughout the school year. The majority of information for parents will be available on our school and District website and through email.

SKYWARD FAMILY ACCESS

It is critical that parents keep an updated email address and let us know if it changes as soon as possible. Parents may update this information for us on Skyward Family Access. All teachers at Glengary utilize Skyward Family Access to communicate with parents.Report cards, lunch account information, progress reports, attendance, and other important information will always be posted on Skyward Family Access. If you are a new family to Walled Lake Schools or have misplaced or lost your Family Access ID and password, please click HERE to get connected.

Glengary Gazette AND School Web Page

Our Glengary Gazette newsletter will be sent electronically to families. This is typically a bi-weekly communication filled with all important school and PTA updates. As we begin the year, the communication may be sent on a weekly basis if needed. An archive of newsletters will be posted to our school website. Please visit this page often for information about our school. You will find links to important documents, websites and blogs from your child's classroom, PTA forms and information, and important updates and forms that you will need to access.

PTA Post & Website

Our PTA will share updates via a PTA Post. Additionally, the PTA has an excellent website with upcoming events, fundraiser information, PTA membership links, and other pertinent information and forms.

Social Media

Glengary Elementary also has a Facebook page, Instagram, and Twitter which are linked below!

RosaLeigh Johnson

Principal: rosaleighjohnson@wlcsd.org

Cheryl Maten

Principal's Secretary: cherylmaten@wlcsd.org

Melissa Roth

Building Secretary: melissaroth@wlcsd.org

Important Phone Numbers:

Main Line: 248-956-3100

Fax Line: 248-956-3105
Attendance: 248-956-3190