Defer Dragon's Burning News
March 23, 2018
From the Principal
Dear Defer Families,
It has been another exciting week at Defer! You may have noticed the newest addition to the playground, a GaGa Ball Court! Next week, students will begin to learn more about the rules of the game before our Opening Ceremony Celebration on Thursday, March 29 at 3:45 pm on the Defer Playground. A special thanks to our wonderful PTO and Park Grill for purchasing our newly installed GaGa Ball Court. Thank you to ToccoMannio Landscape for installing the GaGa Ball Court. Our goal is to make sure everyone is safe while playing and that everyone has the opportunity to play if interested.
We are also wrapping up the wonderful events at school around Charlotte's Web. Thank you for taking the time to snap a selfie, discuss the table talk questions, and share a love of reading with your children.
Sincerely,
Dr. Rheaume
Follow Defer on Twitter (@GPDefer) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/GPDefer/)
Parent Survey
Defer Elementary is a Leader in Me School, we teach 21st century leadership and life skills to students to create a culture of student empowerment based on the idea that every child can be a leader. To learn more about our areas of strength and growth in our school we use a Leader in Me survey to collect data from families.
We need your help! We are asking for adults from every household to complete the survey to share feedback about our school. The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete.
If you complete the survey by March 27th, your family will be entered into a drawing to win a prize! Please return the purple sheet shared at conferences to be eligible to win.
https://theleaderinmeonline.org/assessments/assessment/acde947674d553af
March Writing Opportunity
Students who write a response on one of the following topics will have an opportunity to share their writing at the April Townhall meeting. All writing should be turned into the Defer office or Dr. Rheaume by Wednesday, April 11.
2. Write about a historical figure who was a great leader. What made him or her so influential?
3. Write about someone in your life who is a great leader. How does he or she inspire you?
Notes from the Office
Reminders:
- PLEASE DO NOT enter the building through the doors with your children during morning admittance. We want to encourage independence in our students, as well as promote a safe and secure school environment for everyone.
- Every person who enters our building should be buzzed in at the parking lot doors and report directly to the office to sign in and receive a visitors' badge.
- If you need to talk to someone in the office or a teacher, please come directly to the office or call/email to set up an appointment rather than entering with your children.
We strive to maximize instructional time during school hours. Thank you for your help and cooperation.
Attendance Line
We have a 24 hour attendance line for your convenience. If your child will not be at school, please call 313-432-4001 to report the absence by 8:00 am. This will avoid an unexcused absence phone call.
One Book, One School - Charlotte's Web
Please read Charlotte's Web the final chapters at home with your family. There will be a Final Trivia question next week!
On Monday, March 26th students might “get caught reading” at home from a teacher at Defer! Defer staff will calling families to catch students reading on Monday evening. We might catch you reading on your own, or with your family. You might be reading Charlotte's Web, your just right book, a picture book, or magazine! K - 2 students will be called between 6:30 - 7:00 pm and students in grades 3 - 5 will be called between 7:00 - 7:30 pm. Students who "get caught" will receive a gift certificate to use towards the Scholastic Book Fair from our Defer PTO.
Upcoming Events at Defer
March 23 - Family Bingo Night is TONIGHT!! 7:00-9:00
March 26 - Get Caught Reading Night! Grades K-2 6:30 - 7:00 pm; Grades 3-5 7:00 - 7:30 pm
March 28 - Donuts with your Dragon 8:00 am in the gym
March 29 - One Book, One School Movie at Pierce 1:00
March 30 - April 6 - Spring Break No School
April 10 - M-Step Testing Begins for 5th Graders
April 27 - Disability Awareness Day (4th Graders)
Camp Invention is back!
Check out the flyer for more information.
Leader in Me Family Information - March Edition
Welcome to the March 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 3 - Put First Things First
Looking for less stress? Put First Things First is an organizational strategy. It means to decide what is most important and take care of that first. Then, focus on tasks that are less important. Thinking about what needs to be done tomorrow or by the end of the week can be overwhelming. This is especially true for children. But with practice, children can learn to prioritize the things that are most important and will most likely start taking care of them first! Using calendars, check-lists, daily check-in with planners are all ways to put this habit into action.
For example, if your child tells you on Sunday they need poster board for a project due on Wednesday or the field trip permission slip turned in on Monday, the family is more prepared to take care of things in a manageable way. Decide when the tasks will be completed so that you and/or your child are prepared.
As the grades progress, more responsibility is placed on students. Teaching your child now how to put first things first will become a strategy that will be a lifesaver in the years to come.
Ways to incorporate Habit 3 at home-
March is reading month and what a great way to incorporate literature in the reinforcement of Habit 3. Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett or Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan are some choices to reinforce Habit 3.
Practice Habit 3 by doing a family project together (such as cleaning a closet or the toy area) and then have some fun afterwards by playing a game as a family.
At home reinforce and model for your child words and phrases like prioritize, most important, responsibility, put first things first, sequencing, and planning.
This video helps demonstrate student understanding of Habit 3!
VIDEO LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGppyL14U68
Library News
March is Reading Month and our winners of the Library Bookmark Contest will be posted on the Defer website. Congratulations to all our lucky winners!
Bookmark Winners:
Y5 - Alexander K.
K - Andrew W.
1 - Norah B.
2 - Andrew H.
3 - Lauren C.
4 - Emilia K.
5 - Lujaine S.
Library rotation will be ending on March 26th and Spanish rotation will begin.
Please click on the link below to access March's Library Digital Picks:
Defer PTO
Spring Book Fair: March 26-29
Book fair is only four days & we need volunteers to help run the book fair so teachers can bring their classrooms through. The fair is closed unless we have volunteers to help. Most volunteers time slots are 1-hour in length. Please sign up here: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c48aca822a0ff2-spring
Defer Garden Days, Spring Clean Up: April 14, 9-11:30 a.m.
Please bring gloves, weeding tools, a bucket and a water bottle. (We will have a limited number of extra gloves and weeding tools on hand.) For more information, please reach out to the Beatification Co-Chair, Diana Degen Gifford, dianaelaine4@gmail.com.
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
Defer Elementary School
Email: rheauml@gpschools.org
Website: www.gpschools.org/defer
Location: 15425 Kercheval Avenue, Grosse Pointe Park, MI, United States
Phone: 313-432-4000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GPDefer/
Twitter: @GPDefer