Defer Dragon's Burning News
May 10, 2019
From the Principal
Dear Parents,
This week we celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week at Defer. It was an incredible week as we celebrated our wonderful staff! Our week included daily treats and also a fabulous luncheon! Thank you very much for the delicious food, sweets, and kind sentiments. Our PTO and parent family truly showed our faculty just how appreciated they are at Defer.
The Defer staff members are beginning to plan for next school year and we value your input! You know your child best and I would like to invite you to share information about your child’s strengths and areas of growth for placement consideration for next year. Please do not request a specific teacher, it is more important to share the type of learning environment that would benefit your child. Your feedback will help contribute to building an environment that will benefit social, emotional, and academic growth for your student. Please complete the survey by Friday, May 24.
Please use the link below to share information with me about your child:
Defer Student Placement Survey 2019 -2020
Have a wonderful weekend!
Dr. Rheaume
Defer Upcoming Events
May 14 - 3rd Grade M-Step; 4th Grade Parent Camp Meeting 6:30 pm; PTO Meeting 7 pm
May 16 - Volunteer Tea 8am; 3rd Grade M-Step; Defer Town Hall Meeting 6:30 pm
May 20 - 24 Spring Book Fair
May 23 - Spring Social
June 5 - Field Day
Lunch Volunteers for May and June
Spring Assessments
M-Step testing continues for some of our third graders on Tuesday. NWEA testing continues next week for some classes as well. 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.
Office News
In the event your child has an appointment, or you need to get a message to your child and/or child’s teacher, please call the attendance line and/or office directly no later than 10:30 AM for morning instructions, and no later than 2:30 PM for afternoon instructions. Messages will be delivered to classes twice a day. Also, if your child forgets something at home and you plan to bring it to school for them, the teachers have requested for you to drop it off at the office or the grade cubbies/shelves in the Copier Room. Again, this keeps interruptions to a minimum and maximizes class learning. Any help and consideration concerning this matter is greatly appreciated!
We are so thankful the weather is warming up, and the children are so excited to spend time outdoors. Please send in an extra change of clothes (including shirt, pants, socks and underwear) for your child to keep in their locker. Although it is warmer outside, we are finding some children need to change after playing on the playground. Also, please remember to have your children wear closed toe shoes to school for their own safety. We all love the idea of wearing open-toed sandals, however we have already had some bloody toe injuries at recess this week. Thank you for all your help!
Volunteer and Field Trip Chaperone Forms for Parents and Guests
Student Leadership News
Thank you Defer students for purchasing the school supplies sold by the Student Leadership Team. We really appreciate it and we will be using the money to buy some recess equipment.
May 1st - 10th we are collecting nonperishable boxed items to donate to Karmanos in honor of Mrs. Lapensee. Please see the link below.
Safety Service
In April, Defer Safety/Service tried to go across the street to the Pierce Swimming Pool but, it was shut down so we just hung out on the playground. We enjoyed snacks and drinks generously supplied by the PTO.
If you see a Safety/Service doing a good job, please tell them. Their time is running out!
Thank you,
Helen Srebernak
Safety/Service Member of the Month-April
Safety: Oscar Kotlarz
Service: Eleanor Neds-Fox
Blue Ribbon Committee
Please visit the Blue Ribbon Link (https://mi01000971.schoolwires.net/Page/19013) for current facts. Please keep in mind, no decisions have been made yet.
The Defer Town Hall meeting is scheduled for 6:30 pm, Thursday, May 16th in the Defer Gym.
PTO News
Saturday May 11--Mulching Garden Day
Join the Defer Beautification Committee and some community volunteers from 9-11 a.m. to help care for the school grounds. Today we will be spreading mulch around the building. Bring gloves and other gardening equipment. The focus of the grounds care is to keep Defer pesticide free! RSVP by sending an email to dianaelaine4@gmail.comto stay up to date with weather delays.Find additional information here: https://www.facebook.com/events/355372861746480/
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!
Sunday June 9--Garden Day
Join the Defer Beautification Committee and some community volunteers from 9-11 a.m. to help care for the school grounds. Bring gloves and other gardening equipment. The focus of the grounds care is to keep Defer pesticide free! RSVP by sending an email to dianaelaine4@gmail.comto stay up to date with weather delays. Find additional information here: https://www.facebook.com/events/548703895538095/
NEXT SCHOOL YEAR--Order supplies online by June 30
Parents may begin ordering school supplies for the 2019/20 school year now. Online ordering is available with 1st Day School Supplies and the items are delivered directly to your child's classroom during the summer. 1st Day School Supplies provides brand-name supplies that were selected by Defer teachers. The deadline to order is June 30. Order here: https://1stdayschoolsupplies.com/kits.php?sid=52223
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
Summer Camp
Defer Diversity Parent Group
District Diversity Meetings (GPPUD)Upcoming Meetings: GPPUD
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.
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