Tuesday Tidbits
September 5, 2017
Happy 1st Day of School 2017-2018
Positivity Project- What is it all about?
The Positivity Project is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to helping America’s youth build stronger relationships by recognizing the character strengths in themselves and others. Their vision is to create citizens and leaders who will enhance our communities and country by internalizing the belief that “Other People Matter.” Positive psychology’s scientifically validated 24 character strengths serve as its foundation. Positive psychology teaches that people have all 24 strengths within them – and that character is not just skills or behaviors, but rather an intrinsic part of each of us.
Every classroom teacher will spend 10-15 minutes a day instructing your child on the character strength of focus each week. Therefore, as an entire school community, we will be learning about curiosity one week, open-mindedness the next and so on and so forth.
We would love for you to take an active role in your child’s character strength education. By using the character strengths vocabulary and having discussions about the concepts, you will help your child understand the character in themselves and others in a different light. You can follow our social media handles to see what we’re doing each day – and please feel free to reach out for more information or visit www.posproject.org
Positivity Project September Character Strength Calendar
Invisible Dad
Through the generosity of parent donations and the planning of a few dedicated people, we are thrilled to provide the Invisible Dad lunch program at Glengary Elementary. These funds are not something you or your child have to ask for or apply to receive. These funds are available without question or judgment as children go through the line at lunch. Sometimes the situation is simple and the lunch account just needs to be refilled. We ask that you refill your account and perhaps consider donating back to the program. Sometimes the situation is more complex, the money just isn’t there and won’t be there for some time. In those cases, you and your child will not have to worry about lunch. The Invisible Dad program will step in and make sure lunch is provided.
Donations can be made by sending cash or a check to school made out to “Walled Lake Food Services” with “Invisible Dad - GLENGARY” in the memo. This is not a tax-deductible donation, this is just money from you to a child in need.
Walled Lake Schools offers free and reduced-cost lunches which is a separate program for students that qualify. The Invisible Dad program aims to solve for short-term situations and/or unforeseen circumstances that may pop up. If you would like to apply for free or reduced-cost lunch, please contact Mrs. Johnson.
For more information about this program, visit www.invisibledad.org.
CLICK HERE to view a recent segment about Invisible Dad by Channel 7!
Parenting Fair-Save the Date!
Dr. Michele Borba is an internationally recognized expert and author on children, teens, parenting, bullying and moral development. Her work aims to help strengthen children’s character and resilience, build strong families, create compassionate and just school cultures, and reduce peer cruelty. Her practical, research-based advice is culled from a career of working with over one million parents and educators worldwide.
Register for the 2017 Western Oakland County Parenting Education Fair!
Title: Western Oakland County Parenting Education Fair
Date: November 4, 2017
Time: 7:30 AM - 2:30 PM
Location: Walled Lake Northern High School, 6000 Bogie Lake Road, Commerce, MI
Cost: $15.00 per pre-registered attendee; $20.00 on-site
Child care is available - $3 for one child, $5 for a family
Lunches will be available for purchase from local food trucks.
Online registration orders must be paid for by Visa or MasterCard.
Glengary Staff and Community Book Club
Plan:
Please put your name on the Google Doc if you would like to join. http://bit.ly/2wb9uOC
Paper back book is approximately $11.00
Purchase or order your book (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.)
Attend the 3 Book Club Social Gatherings
Thursday, October 5 - #1 Gathering in Glengary's Media Center 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Part One - Developing Empathy
Thursday, November 2 - #2 Gathering in Media Center 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Part Two - Practicing Empathy
Thursday, November 30 - #3 Gathering in Media Center 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Part Three - Living Empathy
Fidget Spinners- Please Keep at Home!
Fidget spinners were created with the best intention- provide a tool for people to use if they struggle with focusing, attention, or anxiety! Unfortunately, they have "spun" out of control and are used as a toy by almost everyone. They have become the latest craze in society around the nation!
Across many schools they have become a distraction including here at Glengary. Therefore, fidget spinners will not be allowed at Glengary. If one is found, it will be held in the main office for families to pick up.
* Please note that if a teacher sends you a communication allowing fidget spinners to be used for academic purposes (i.e. for a specific science unit or lesson), your child is permitted to bring them to school with the understanding that they remain in their classroom.
Thank you for your support in keeping these at home to help ensure we promote an environment of learning! Please note that we do have students with sensory needs. We are aware of who these students are and we will provide tools to help ensure their needs are met!
General Reminders!
Change of plans for the end of the day: Please help us keep track of your child's end of the day plans when they change. Please ensure that you are communicating the change of plans with your child's teacher, along with your child. Without notification from you, we will always revert to the end of the day plans we have on file. If you are sending an email, please include cherylmaten@wlcsd.org (our full day secretary) to avoid any mishaps. We realize that changes occur but your child's safety is our priority and the more staff aware is helpful.
Parking Lot and Apple Pick up Reminders: Please help keep all of our students safe during drop off and dismissal. It is extremely important that students are not walking through the parking lot or crossing by themselves. Additionally, please do not bypass the Apple pick up, park, and wave your child across the loop and across the parking lot. Please also make sure your child is entering the vehicle on the passenger side for their own safety. Thank you for your help and attention to this.
The first bell rings at 8:50 am and the second bell at 8:55 am. Students arriving after 8:55 am are tardy. Please help us improve students' attendance record by arriving to school on time each day! Arriving on time each day helps all students to have a great day!
Events at Creek Middle School for Elementary Students
Walnut Creek has invited our Glengary Gators to participate in a variety of their athletic events. This is a great opportunity, especially for our older students who will be headed to Creek next fall. During halftime of the following games, Creek will have a little recognition piece for the elementary students attending. Admission is free and some fun giveaways will take place.
Football game is 4:00 on October 11th at Walnut Creek
Volleyball game is 4:00 on September 28th at Walnut Creek
Boys basketball game is 4:00 on November 22nd at Walnut Creek
Girls basketball game is 4:00 on February 27th at Walnut Creek
News from the PTA...
Welcome!
The Glengary PTA Executive Board would like to welcome all of our families to the 2017/2018 school year. We hope to make it a wonderful year full of fun and educational experiences. Please welcome our 2017/2018 PTA Executive Board.
2017/2018 PTA Executive Board
President - Heather Burrows
Vice President - Stephanie Blouin
Treasurer - Kelly Staron
Corresponding Secretary - Emily Spoutz
Recording Secretary - Amy Fry
Social Media Coordinator - Alaina Finkel
Volunteer Coordinator - Kata Siegel
Membership - Julie Davio & Rob Kast
Photos for the yearbook
Did you take photos at the Meet & Greet or the first day of school? Maybe you took some of the kids in the neighborhood waiting for the bus, your child getting onto the bus or the kids in front of the school. We need your photos for our yearbook! Please email them glengary.yearbook@gmail.com
PTA Membership Drive going on now!
Welcome back Glengary Gators! We hope that you had a relaxing summer and are ready for an exciting 2017-2018 school year! The PTA would like to invite all Glengary Families to get involved in the PTA by becoming members.
The PTA drives collaboration between students, teachers, parents, and the community. The goal of the PTA is to broaden and enhance the educational and life experiences of Glengary students. The PTA supports school assemblies, technology upgrades, literacy programs, physical education, music programs, school beautification and much more.
The PTA is an opportunity to be involved and let your voice be heard. You can commit as much or as little time as you would like, whether you simply have a new idea to share, or you would like to chair an event next year. The membership form is attached.
A note from our PTA President
Greetings Gators!
I look forward to serving as the Glengary PTA president for my third year and I'm very excited for this school year. My daughter Brooke is starting her last year as a big 5th grader at Glengary and my son Miller is in 3rd grade.
The Glengary PTA is an integral part of the Glengary family. Not only do we host fun events during the school year, such as movie night, daddy/daughter dance, mom/son date night, spring carnivals and so much more, but we provide funds and volunteers for our teachers and staff.
We have one major fundraiser at the beginning of the year, the Glengary Fun Run. Our Fun Run is scheduled for Friday, October 13th. We raised $15,000 last year! All the money raised is put directly back into the school for all of the students and staff. This money pays for field trips, assemblies, take home folders, student planners, free after school events, school beautification, Ipads, technology for the classrooms and so much more.
All of this takes the hard work and dedication from our community. Each one of us has different skills, talents and resources that are needed to make Glengary a wonderful school for our students, staff and families.
We are hoping that every Glengary household signs up for a PTA membership this year. The state of Michigan is celebrating 100 Years of PTA so our goal is to have 100% parent membership. Becoming a member does NOT mean that you have to volunteer at each event or attend every meeting. It simply means that you support our school, students and staff. Membership forms will be sent home on Friday, September 8th. Our first PTA meeting is 6:30pm to 7:30pm in the Media Center. Free child care provided!
President - Heather Burrows
248-884-0885
Have a wonderful school year!
Heather Burrows - PTA President
Important Upcoming Dates
September 2017
12th PTA Meeting 6:30pm Glengary Media Center- Free childcare available
13th Curriculum Night (K-2 @ 5:30pm and 3-5 @ 7:15pm)
18th Girls on the Run Begins (Grades 3-5 only)-before school
19th STRIDE for Boys Begins (Grades 3-5 only)-before school
21st No School
22nd Lifetouch Picture Day -Information to be sent home soon
27th Half Day of School
October 2017
2nd Boy/Girl Coin Challenge begins
2nd Fun Run Kick Off Assembly
3rd PTA meeting 6:30pm Glengary Media Center- Free childcare available
6th Bagel Day
10th Elementary Open House http://wlcsd.org/parents/district-open-house/
12th Last day of coin challenge
13th FUN RUN
27th Photo Retake Day
31st Half Day of School