Navigator Notables
April 2023 Navigator Elementary Newsletter
Principal Message
Welcome back! I hope everyone had a restful spring break. The fourth quarter is starting with the final 10 weeks of the school year. Here are a few big events happening this month:
- Jet's Pizza Fundraiser Night
- Local Olympian Jake Vedder is coming to present to our students.
- Fifth graders are heading to camp.
- Fourth graders will be taking the M-STEP
Information about these activities are included in this newsletter as well as some other resources.
Sincerely,
Ruth Badalucco
Principal
M-STEP Information
Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress, or M-STEP, is our state's standardized test that measures what students know and are able to do in relation to Michigan's academic standards. Here are a couple of resources that provide additional information:
Michigan Education Assessment System
State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice Letter
Testing Dates: 4th grade
- April 25-M-STEP - Math (1 ½ hours)
- April 27-M-STEP - ELA (2 hours)
Testing Dates: 5th grade
- May 2-M-STEP - ELA (2 hours)
- May 4-M-STEP - Social Studies (1 hour)
- May 9-M-STEP - Math (1 ½ hours)
- May 11-M-STEP - Science (1 ½ hours)
End of Third Quarter
- March 24 - End of 3rd quarter
- April 10 - Report Cards available in MISTAR
Viewing & Printing Report Cards from MISTAR
- To learn how you can download this slide: presentation.
- Or watch this video of the process: video presentation (Please note that the video starts from the old website, but the rest of the process is the same.)
Here is the link to MISTAR Parent Portal
click PARENTCONNECTION tab
(You will need your user name and password)
Fifth Grade Camp - April 26-28
The teachers have been working extra hard to organize this event for our students. Your classroom teacher will continue to provide information leading up to this event. Here are few notes:
Camp forms and payment were due March 23
Parents must transport camp luggage to and from school - This may not be transported to school and home on the school bus. There is not enough room.
Parent visitors are permitted at camp except during meal times. Meal counts have already been submitted and paid through the camp fee.
Campers and chaperones will depart for camp the morning of April 26 after buses return from their morning bus routes. It should be around 9:30.
Students will return to school after lunch on Friday, April 28. I will email parents on Friday when the kids are leaving camp and provide their approximate arrival time. It should be around 12:45 pm. The kids are extremely tired (and a little dirty) after 3 days full of adventure and appreciate getting picked up a little early.
Jet's Pizza Fundraiser NIght - April 11
Jack Vedder Assembly - April 12
National Walk/Bike to School Day - May 3
Student Cell phone expectations at Navigator
Willow's Corner
Willow is "helping" one of our fabulous fourth graders practice his morphemes during the 3 Part Drill. In this daily activity, students listen, write, pronounce, and learn the meaning of frequently used morphemes (prefixes, suffixes, Latin and Greek bases). Students can apply this knowledge when reading and writing.
News from our specials: PE-Music-Art-Computer Science
Physical Education - Mr. Goodfellow
The 5th Grade Basketball Extravaganza was a huge success. The Cogswell Crew of RJ Hack, Daniel Day & Lillian Harteg won the class championship.
During March we had several of the girls from our assorted Volleyball teams assist in teaching some skills to our 4th and 5th graders.
We will start off with floor hockey and once the weather turns we will be outside. Looking at inviting Ms. Wink to demonstrate field hockey and then hopefully we can get to some flag football!
Art - Mrs. Shappell
The art challenge was so much fun in March! The students did such an amazing job! Keep drawing!
In April the students will be demonstrating their understanding of art concepts through some spring themed art projects.
Music - Ms. Schuster
Students really loved our adventure-themed programming in March. They discovered “found sounds” across the building, and have been completing our “March Music Madness” brackets in class. For April, students will be preparing for our spring concert at the end of May.
Mrs. Miles - Student & Family Specialist News
Our student leadership group has done a wonderful job this year providing input and helping plan for the Halloween party, the Christmas store, field day and 2nd and 3rd grade transition and staff birthday recognition. In April we will begin the process of applying for the leadership team for next year. If your student might be interested, please have them fill out the application and you and their current teacher will need to sign it.
Being a parent can be one of the most challenging, yet rewarding jobs we will ever have. One thing I find frustrating, though, is each child does not come with a manual and finding answers to challenges or questions I have is not always easy! I am excited to share this parenting resource to be used whenever and wherever you are: Parent Guidance Website. I encourage you to check it out!
Navigator Elementary PTO News
The PTO had their meeting on March 15. At this meeting they focused on:
- a discussion of keeping the executive board positions as co-leadership roles.
- attending transition meetings to recruit members for the PTO.
- debriefed on the talent show, PE parent day and book fair.
- reviewed upcoming clubs/activities: 5th grade basketball, June 5 celebrating our 5th graders and June 6 Field Day
- idea discussion for upcoming appreciation day for staff.
- agreed to support the book club created by Ms. Lemanski.
- PTO 5th grade camp scholarship funds
- Camp T-shirts for staff participating
- M-STEP mints
Here are the dates for the rest of the school year. All meetings are at 7:00 pm in the media center.
April 12 (NEW DATE)
May 17
PTO email: navigatorpto1@pinckneypirates.org
April Events at a Glance
These events are posted on Navigator's calendar located on the website.
- April 3 - School resumes after Spring Break
- April 6 - Fourth Grade Field Trip (rescheduled date)
- April 7 - No School for Good Friday
- April 11 - Jet's Pizza Fundraiser Night
- April 12 - Jack Vedder (local Olympian) Assembly
- April 19 - PTO Meeting at 7:00 pm in Navigator library
- April 24 - M-STEP Math - Fourth Grade
- April 26 - 28 - Fifth Grade Camp
- April 27 - M-STEP Literacy - Fourth Grade
- May 3 - National Walk/Bike to School Day
Old News - Still a Good Reference
Positively Pinckney (P2) Store is Open
Where do I find information about Navigator?
School wide communication is done mainly through Seesaw through announcements. You have access through your family app to access this information. In your settings, you can turn on or off your email notifications.
The Navigator Elementary School website for Navigator Elementary contains the school calendar, pictures of school activities are added weekly in the Livefeed and upcoming event information is shared in the News section.
Lunch and breakfast menus are found within the Pinckney Community School Website. The FOOD SERVICE tab is found under the DISTRiCT TAB, DEPARTMENT TAB, FOOD SERVICE TAB.
A school newsletter will be published through Seesaw monthly.
School Hours and Contact Information
Navigator Elementary School
2150 E. M-36
Pinckney, MI 48169
(810) 225-5300
Attendance Hotline
(810) 225-5310
School Hours
- Monday-Thursday school hours will be 8:40 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- Fridays, students will be dismissed at 2:25 p.m.
- Half days, students will be dismissed at 12:13 p.m.
Procedures for Morning Arrival and After School Dismissal
Morning Arrival
Parent/Guardian Drop Off: Parents will use the front parking lot to drop off students starting at 8:30 am. Staff will be helping students get to their classrooms. Students will make their way to their class.
Note: Single lane drop off in the morning.
Bus Drop off: Starting at 8:30 am, buses will release students. Each bus will dismiss one at a time at the south entrance (Fine Arts wing).
After School Dismissal
Parent/Guardian Pick-up: We will continue to have parents pick up curbside in the front parking lot. Each car picking up student(s) will be given a window sign indicating your child’s teacher and last name. As cars arrive for pick up, they will form two parallel lines at the curb in front of Navigator.
Note: Double lane pick up in the afternoon. Form 2 lanes, left lane if you are turning left on M-36 and use the right lane if you are turning right on M-36.