Navigator Notables
December 2023 Navigator Elementary Newsletter
Message from the Principal
Dear Navigator Elementary Families,
Welcome back after the Thanksgiving Day holiday and break. The weather is really starting to feel like winter. Our students will continue to take recess breaks outside, so dressing for changes in temperature is part of "learning" how to live in Michigan. I would encourage you to label all your child's winter clothes. As this is the time that our lost and found grows out of control. Currently heading into the colder months there are a lot of coats that have been unclaimed. Even with daily reminders to check the lost and found, students do not realize they have missing items.
I want to thank the families with their patience during morning drop off and afternoon pick up. Especially those that wait until the 8:30 am drop off time. Students should stay with their adult until 8:30 am. If you need to drop off earlier, we do have latchkey available. School starts at 8:40 am.
At the end of the day, if you need to make changes to after school plans for your child, either for pick up or bus riding, please contact the office by 3:15 am. This allows the office to get the note to the teacher and your child in time for this last minute adjustment.
Finally, I want to thank you for your patience as we prepare to safely get 480 students to their end of day plan either by riding the bus, attending latchkey, or picking up. It is an "all hands on deck" process. All of the Navigator Elementary staff are involved during this 10-15 minute busy time. Your support and collaboration during this time is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Ruth Badalucco
Principal
Navigator Elementary Survey
We want to hear about your experience with your student’s education. We invite you to participate in completing the School Climate Survey. This survey includes questions about your student’s learning, school safety, and interpersonal relationships, as well as your attitudes about the institutional environment and your personal involvement in school. Your responses will be
very helpful in improving student relationships, learning conditions, and the overall school environment.
Beginning Friday, November 17, we invite all parents, guardians and caretakers to complete this survey for our school. The survey is completely anonymous and brief; it contains 21 questions and takes about 10-15 minutes to complete. You can take the survey online by using the following unique school link HERE. (If you cannot access this online survey, please
pick up a paper copy in your school office, complete it, and leave it in the box designated for that purpose.) Please submit your responses by December 1.
All your responses are completely anonymous. We have no way to connect you to your answers, and results will only be reported as group responses. There are no right or wrong answers. We just want to know about your personal experiences. Responses are housed securely in an anonymous format with the University of Oregon Technical Assistance Center projects for evaluation research purposes. All evaluation research projects are in compliance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, (343 CFR 99.31 (6)) and human subjects regulations (Protection of Human Subjects 45 CFR 46).
As you respond to each item, think about your own personal experiences as a parent, caregiver or guardian at your student’s school. Please answer all of the questions, or your answers won’t be recorded, but you can mark “I prefer not to answer” if you don’t want to answer a question about you.
We hope you will take the time to provide us with this valuable information. Feel free to call our office at 810-225-5200 if you have any questions. Each school’s total survey results will be used to inform and develop appropriate strategies, procedures, and/or programs to enhance our school climate.
The link to complete the survey is https://www.pbisassessment.org/Anon/h2S205gs4G0
Thank you for your time and participation!
The Livingston County Department of Public Health Vision Screening
All Health Departments in Michigan provide routine vision screening to identify children who have vision problems or might be at risk for vision problems. Children who do not pass the initial screening will be rescreened. If a child does not pass the rescreen, a letter will be mailed home recommending the child see an eye doctor for a complete eye examination.
Students in 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th grade will receive vision screening. Vision screening will also be provided to students in other grades who are last-year follow-ups and parent/teacher requests.
VISION SCREENING/RESCREENING is scheduled on December 4 for 3rd grade and December 5 for 5th grade
Please notify the school (prior to the first day of screening) and provide child’s name and teacher if:
- You have a concern for your child and your child is not in the above grades
- You do not want your child screened
Click this link for additional information
Please call the Health Department at (517) 546-9850 if you have questions regarding Vision Screening.
Jet's Pizza Fundraiser Nights
Navigator Elementary and the local Jet's Pizza are collaborating for a school fundraiser. If your family is ordering pizza on the identified dates, the class with the most orders wins a pizza party.
Here are upcoming dates:
- December 12, 2024
- February 13, 2024
- April 9, 2024
Upcoming December Events
December 4 - Vision Screening for 4th grade
December 5 - Vision Screening for 5th grade
December 13 - PTO Meeting
December 25 to January 5 - Holiday Break
January 8 - School resumes
January 10 - PTO Meeting
January 12 - Half Day of School (End of second quarter) and Navigator Safety Day
Events are on the Navigator Elementary Calendar on the Navigator Elementary Website.
School Avoidance
Livingston County Families Join our Next Mental Health Series...School Avoidance
School Avoidance Why don't they REALLY want to go to school? What are they avoiding?
Course Created by: Brett Williams, LMFT
It can be frustrating when your child does not want to go to school or is avoiding something they used to love. Learn how to ask the right questions - get to the root of the real problem. How to ask the right questions Reasons kids avoid school The why behind behaviors What parents can do to help This session covers the following: 6:00-7:00 PM via Zoom or check your local district website for an onsite viewing location
CLICK TO JOIN ANONYMOUSLY https://cookcenter.info/Dec14Livingston
Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports (PBIS) at Navigator Elementary - Part 2
Recognizing Expected and Appropriate Behavior
Many educators know that in order to get students to respond in a positive way, they must communicate from a position of positivity themselves. Positive reinforcement – in the form of genuine behavior-specific praise – can impact the classroom environment in numerous ways. In fact, it can prepare students for success in the long term. The balance of praise to constructive redirection typically works best when the scale is tipped toward encouragement.
Behavioral scientists have long studied the ideal praise-to-corrective feedback ratio. For students, that ideal ratio is 4:1. In other words, for each bit of corrective feedback, there should be a minimum of four positive reinforcement to promote and encourage positive behaviors. Studies conducted by Vanderbilt University indicate that “Praise is a powerful tool for educators. When used effectively in the classroom, it can increase the social and academic performance of students, as well as improve classroom climate.”
Behavior-Specific Praise
The 4:1 ratio is a simple enough premise, but it comes with a caveat: praise needs to be specific. It’s not enough to simply tell a student, “well done,” and offer no context. Such praise is meaningless to the student, who may not understand why they are being praised. Offering a few specific details along with the praise provides the feedback necessary to help reinforce desired behaviors.
Consider, instead, the benefits of behavior-specific praise. Behavior-specific praise meets two criteria:
The student behavior is observable (i.e., walking quietly in the hall)
The one giving praise tells the student how this behavior affects them (i.e., “I feel” statements)
The result of this type of praise is often twofold: it reinforces desirable and appropriate student behavior as well as building positive teacher-student relationships.
What Does Behavior-Specific Praise Look Like?
When you take an observable behavior and pair it with a praise statement of how it affects you, you give a student positive feedback that helps to reinforce this behavior. When it comes to common schoolwide values such as being safe, responsible, and respectful, behavior-specific praise looks like this:
“I feel proud when you helped me lead the class on a fire drill.” (Safe)
“I am impressed by your perfect record of turning in all homework assignments.” (Responsible)
“When you welcome me by name each morning, it makes me feel optimistic.” (Respectful)
“When my substitute leaves a note that you helped them, I feel honored.” (Safe)
“I feel proud when you contribute to group discussions.” (Responsible)
“When you offer to pick up papers for your classmates and turn them in to me, I am impressed.” (Respectful)
Another crucial ingredient in behavior-specific praise is timeliness. The optimal moment to reinforce any behavior is the present, helping students to clearly see the results of their actions.
At Navigator Elementary, we use verbal recognition and PBIS points through the PBIS Reward system to recognize and reinforce positive behaviors. Feedback is aligned to the acronym PRIDE based on the expected behaviors of Problem Solvers, Respect, Integrity, Determination and Empathy. Students can "spend" their PBS points through the PBIS Rewards app store for both tangible and intangible items.
Music Winter Showcase
In January, Ms. Green will showcase student learning in a musical performance at the Jane Tasch Theater. There is a separate performance for each grade level:
- January 23 - 3rd grade
- January 24 - 4th grade
- January 25 - 5th grade
Fifth Grade Camp
One of the big events your students have an opportunity to attend to attend is Fifth Grade Camp. Our students have an opportunity to explore nature through a variety of activities at Camp Copneconic in Fenton, Michigan. This is a 3 day with 2 overnight experience including meals and snacks. The camp dates for this year is April 24-26. Currently the 5th grade in partnership with our PTO is running a fundraiser to help fund this activity. Click here to see flyer about the fundraiser.
There is a parent/guardan camp meeting on March 12 to provide information about camp as well as getting the forms and permission slips for attending camp. Each teacher will be needing chaperone volunteers to help with supervising the kids during camp.
Specials News
Students rotate specials daily and attend the following classes weekly:
- Physical Education with Mr. Mike Goodfellow
- Art with Mrs. Jenny Shappell
- Music with Ms. Rachel Green
- Computer Science with Mr. Chad Chambless
News and Activities
Music:
In music class this month we have started bucket/latin drumming, which the students have loved, learned Halloween themed music games that help the students learn various rhythms and how to pass the beat in “Pass the Pumpkin”, and much more! We have also started our January showcase music, which we are all excited to share with you so soon!
Physical education:
.In PE we are finishing the month of November with Teamwork activities and indoor games. Beginning in December we will start our Basketball unit.
Here is an early heads up. When we come back from Christmas Break we will be diving into our swim unit for the month of January.
Art
Please order your Square 1 art projects (online only)! All proceeds go back into the art department at Navigator. The students have been very busy in art, they are all so talented! Have a safe and happy holiday!
Student and Family Specialist Updates from Mrs. Miles
Navigator PTO Update
The PTO is currently working on a few projects including helping with the 5th grade camp fundraiser and distributing Navigator Elementary T-shirts. If you would like to donate to this project, please reach out to the PTO through their email: navigatorpto1@gmail.com
The next PTO meeting is December 13 at 7:00 pm in the media center.
Navigator Lunch
Monthly lunch menus are posted on the Pinckney Community Schools website. Breakfast, Lunch and milk prices for the 2023-24 school year are as follows:
- Breakfast - free
- Lunch - free
- Milk $.55 (purchasing milk only)
Payments into your child's lunch account can be done through MISTAR through this link if you would like them to purchase an ice cream treat on Tuesdays and/or cookie treat on Fridays.
The lunch schedule is:
- 11:00 - 11:40 am - Fifth grade
- 11:50 - 12:30 pm - Fourth grade
- 12: 40 - 1:20 pm - Third grade
We are always looking for parents, grandparents, aunts/uncles to participate within the school as lunch/recess supervisors. If you are interested please reach out to Heather or Bridgette in our office at (810) 225-5300. This is a paid opportunity.
Lunchtime treats
Students may purchase treat on specific days using their lunch account:
- Tuesday is cookie day for $1.25
- Friday is ice cream day for $1.25
Our lunchroom supervisors run the famous Navigator Popcorn day on Thursdays. Popcorn is .25 cents to purchase a bag. (Student bring a quarter to purchase popcorn)
Procedures for Morning Arrival and After School Dismissal
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. Form a single lane only at drop off in front of school then split into 2 lanes for turning on M-36.
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.
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. – 3:44 p.m.
- Fridays, students will be dismissed at 2:25 p.m.
- Half days, students will be dismissed at 12:13 p.m.
Our office hours will be 7:50 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Friday 7:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.