Keeping up with Keller
By: Marcie Dryden, Principal
September 10, 2021
Mission Statement
The mission of Helen Keller Elementary School is to establish and maintain an educational community that empowers all students to become principled, independent inquirers who are socially responsible global citizens.
PRINCIPAL DRYDEN ON FACEBOOK
Do you want to see what's going on at Keller? Check out my Facebook page where I frequently post pictures and share events that are happening within the Keller Community. Click on the button below to go right to my page!
IMPORTANT DATE
*September 13: PTA Meeting in the cafeteria
*September 21: Curriculum Night -- Virtual
- K-2: 6:30 p.m.
- 3-5: 7:30 p.m.
*September 15, 22, 29: Late start for students/professional development for staff
UVC TECHNOLOGY
You may have been hearing a lot about UVC technology being used in our school.
For further explanation, please watch this video: https://fb.watch/7VTU_ZyuqB/
We have one in every classroom and multiple larger units in large spaces (i.e., cafeteria).
SCHOOL LUNCH UPDATE
There have been some questions regarding the school lunches as we have started off this school year. We want to clear up a couple of possible misconceptions, along with providing some information about the plan going forward.
Given the changing logistics of housing students in the cafeteria during the pandemic and having lunch be available free to all students, combined with a food supply chain issue (that is also pandemic related), the decision was made to temporarily start the year with a bag lunch while new routines were worked out. In order to better describe the contents of some of the bag lunches, we have posted a new lunch menu for the remaining days of September. The updated elementary lunch menu can be found here. We will transition to hot lunch for elementary students on Monday, September 27 and a new menu will be distributed.
Thank you all for your patience and continued support as we work to better inform you in the name of being a community that best serves our kids. As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
YEARBOOKS
LATE START FOR STUDENTS/PROFESSIONAL LEARNING FOR STAFF
Our first professional learning morning for staff will take place this Wednesday, September 15. This means that it is a late start for students. Please use the staggered drop off times 9:20 and 9:25.
HOMEWORK CLUB
Our Homework Club will also be starting on Wednesday, September 15. It will run from 8:20-9:20 a.m. Please click on the following link to register for Homework Club:
CURRICULUM NIGHT
Curriculum Night will take place on September 21. This event will be done remotely this year. Teachers will provide the link to this event. Students in grades DK, K, 1 and 2 will have Curriculum Night from 6:30-7:15 p.m. Students in grades 3-5 will have Curriculum Night from 7:30-8:15 p.m.
This is one of our most important nights of the year. You will have an opportunity to meet your child's teachers, learn about the Royal Oak Curriculum for your child's grade level, hear about classroom specific expectations, and have an opportunity to sign up for Parent-Teacher Conferences. Please plan on participating!
REPORTING AN ABSENCE
All absences should be called in to the Safety Check number. Absences that are not reported are considered unexcused.
Safety Check number 248-549-4968 option #1
NO DOGS ALLOWED
DISMISSAL
DROP OFF
BLESSINGS IN A BACKPACK
PARKING LOT SAFETY
Please be aware that when entering the south parking lot that it is TURN RIGHT ONLY as the traffic flow is all ONE WAY. Make sure to obey traffic signs and follow the traffic flow. It is important to share this information for anyone who might be driving your child to and from school. Please see map below for a visual. Thank you.
ALL students must have their online registration completed
Anyone who has not completed the online registration will receive a phone call to offer assistance.
If you are having trouble and need assistance, please call the main office 542-6500.
PTA Corner
Hi Everyone!
I hope our Keller families and friends had a great first week back to school. I wanted to remind you of some important upcoming PTA news.
Upcoming Events:
-09/13 PTA Meet & Greet and first PTA Meeting is this coming Monday, the 13th, in the Keller cafeteria. The Meet & Greet starts at 6:30pm, and the meeting starts promptly at 7pm. Detailed information can be found on our website, www.helenkellerpta.net. We hope to see you there!
-09/21 Restaurant Night- Panda Express on 12 Mile Rd will donate 50% of their sales to Keller when you show them the flyer when in person, or entering "326417" in the promo code box when ordering online. Skip cooking on Keller Curriculum Night and order some Panda Express! Flyers are coming home soon. Here's a digital copy:
https://bit.ly/Pandaexpressflyer
- The Spirit Wear Store is open! Shop for some Keller swag for you and your family. Orders must be placed by September 20th and will be delivered to the school and sent home with your student. Click this link to start shopping: https://keller.itemorder.com/sale
Remember to enter the September PTA Membership Contest on Facebook to win a $50 gift card to KouZina! The contest deadline is September 30th at 11:59 p.m. You need to comment on our Contest post in order to qualify for the contest. Our goal is to have 100% membership this year. If you don't have time to volunteer, joining the PTA could be your easy contribution. Every little bit helps
We will be drawing the name of the winner of our August contest on September 13th at our general meeting.
Shout out to our first business membership of the year, Jeffrey Sauger Photography! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for supporting the Keller PTA. We appreciate you! And a big thanks to all who have joined the PTA thus far. We couldn't be a PTA without you. You, your membership, and most importantly your voice, matter.
The Keller PTA Grounds chair Marisa Linn did a beautiful job over the summer performing weeding and some general clean-up and care of our courtyard pond space, and decorated our front entrance flower pots. Thanks so much, Marisa!
We are still looking for a few chairs and co-chairs this year. Opening's include:
A co-chair for International Fun & Food Festival (IFFF)
A co-chair for Reflections Art Contest
Two chairs for Silent Auction
Two more chairs for Performing Arts
Be a risk-taker and contact Carie Hooker to learn more about these committees and how you can help the PTA and Keller community.
A big thank you to our Back to School Picnic chairs for organizing the event, which was held on August 26th. It was great to have families back together and it helped to make things feel a little bit "normal."
Staff Appreciation chairs Jessica Kammann, Marisa Linn, and Danielle Lupcke helped welcome back staff and students by chalking up the sidewalk with warm and welcoming messages. They also organized a collection of donations to Stock the Staff Lounge, so we could provide some yummy and nutritious snacks and drinks for the wonderful Keller staff. Thank you, chairs!
Our Parent Social Event was originally scheduled for Saturday, October 2nd but is being postponed until the spring. We will reach back out with information on the event at that time. Stay tuned!
Our annual fall fundraiser, Huskies Run, is being planned for Friday, October 8th. Look for more specific information to come home next week.
As always, please reach out with any questions, comments, or concerns.
All My Best,
Carie Hooker, President
For everything you need to know about the Keller PTA you can click on this link: https://www.helenkellerpta.net/
Essential Agreements
*We are respectful
*We are safe and in control
*We are responsible learners
Keller Creed
I will act in such a way that I will be proud of myself and others will be proud of me too.
I came to school to learn and I will learn.
I will have a good day.
Learner Profile Highlights
Don’t forget that the highlighted monthly learner profile and weekly behavior focus is on the Google calendar (every Sunday).