Dicken Family Newsletter
9.15.23
Principal's Corner
Upcoming Dates
Thursday, September 21 - 7:00 - 8:30 Dicken PTO Meeting
Wednesday, September 27 - 1:00 pm Early Release Day
Monday, October 2 - Picture Day
Friday, October 6 - Dicken Dash
Curriculum Night
Thank you to all who were able to join us on Curriculum Night! If you were unable to attend you can find our Principal / PTO presentation here. Please be sure to sign up for a fall conference with your child(ren)'s teacher(s). Thank you!
The Character Effect
This week classrooms were introduced to "Intentional". Below you can find a snapshot of the language we use with the children and prompts you might discuss with your child(ren) at home.
Free Breakfast and Lunch
The Michigan School Meals Program is providing free breakfast and lunch for ALL students in Michigan. Please see the information below:
ALL FAMILIES MUST COMPLETE A FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH FORM
No matter your status or interest in breakfast/lunch
Only complete meals are free. If you buy a la carte (such as a getting a milk) it still costs the usual amount.
**If your child would like to eat breakfast, they should come through the front entrance beginning at 8:30 am.
Noon Hour Supervisors
We are still looking to hire Noon Hour Supervisors! This is a great way to support our school and be part of the community. This position is an hourly pay from 11:00 - 1:30 daily. If you are interested, please apply here. Look for Job #15299.
If you are not interested in working lunch daily, we can always use more parent volunteers. Please fill out the Parent Volunteer Form and email our noon hour coordinator, Jean Kim, if you are interested: kimhy@aaps.k12.mi.us
~~~
All the Best,
Heather
PS. See below for two events taking place in our community in the coming weeks!
PTO News
Message from the PTO President
Happy Friday Dolphins! We've made it through our first full week of classes.
The Dicken Dash has been our primary fundraiser for more than 12 years. Every fall, our students train in gym class and through the Dicken Running Club to run laps to raise money for their school. Along with community sponsors, family and friends pledge the runners, and everyone celebrates the success of our fundraiser when itβs all over.
Next week we will kick off individual fundraising for the Dicken Dash. Each student will have their own fundraising page on the 99 Pledges website to track their pledges and donations. In the past, students have sent emails and videos to family and friends showing them training or just talking about their favorite things about school and asking for support in their Dash fundraising efforts.
Last year over 60% of the PTO's annual budget came from the Dash fundraiser. The funds raised will help the PTO with all of our spending priorities for the year. Some of these priorities include:
- Academic Achievement: books for each student during March is Reading Month, In-school performances and assemblies, field trips, Super Science Day, WESO (Science Olympiad) and teacher stipends.
- Parent & Community Support: Hospitality events such as the Pumpkin Patch, Ice Cream Social and Winter Walk, Yearbooks for all students, 5th grade promotion event, healthy snacks for students in the office and extra winter outerwear for students.
- PTO Grants: Decodable readers for early elementary students, cursive curriculum for the 4th graders, Mystery Science curriculum which supplements 75% of Dicken classrooms.
- School Enhancement: Updating the Staff Lounge, stocking the staff supply closet with wipes, Kleenex, paper towel, printer paper and additional classroom supplies.
We are looking forward to a very successful and FUN event. Please reach out to the Dash committee dickendash@gmail.com with any questions or concerns.
Happy Weekend,
Hallie
PS- I would like to mention that there is a Reserved Parent VIP Parking spot in the parking lot in front of the school. Each year the parking spot is auctioned off for the next school year during the spring auction. It is one of the most popular items at the auction and we would just like to remind families to please refrain from parking in the spot, even if it is empty. There are always other parking spots available in the Carol parking lot and on Runnymede. Thanks!
βHallie Jewell, Dicken PTO President
Want to connect with other parents and caregivers outside of school?
Click here for the Dicken Elementary Parents Facebook group.
Find information about events, meeting minutes, and more on the PTO website at www.dickenpto.com
Upcoming PTO Meeting Dates
All PTO Meetings take place on the third Thursday of each month from 7 - 8:30 pm.
Thursday, September 21
Thursday, October 19
Thursday, November 16
Thursday, December 21
Thursday, January 18
Thursday, February 15
Thursday, March 21
Thursday, April 18
Thursday, May 16
Thursday, June 20
To see all Dicken school & PTO events in one place, click here for our PTO Google Calendar.
Another helpful link: the AAPS School Calendar.
Final Call for Room Parents!
Are you interested in spending more time in your child's classroom and getting to know their teacher better? We have the perfect job for you!
We're still looking for room parents/grandparents/caregivers for the following classes:
- Chartier (1)
- Hubbard (1)
Primary responsibilities include planning 3 parties and organizing teacher appreciation/gifts; and the overall time commitment is very low. Contact Anna Erickson (annaerickson03@gmail.com) if you are interested or want more info!
Dicken Pumpkin Patch
π π π Save the Date! π π π
This year's Dicken Pumpkin Patch will take place on Friday, October 27. Get ready for outdoor fall fun and maybe even a return of the haunted house of years past??
Stay tuned for more info - and a call-out for volunteers! π
Thursday, Oct 26, 2023, 05:00 PM
Dicken Elementary School, Runnymede Boulevard, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Last Call for Dicken Dash Sponsorship!
Last year over 40% of the businesses who sponsored the Dicken Dash were connected to Dicken Families (parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles). Sponsorship levels range from $100-$1000. The PTO has been reaching out to past sponsors and potential new sponsors, and we welcome any recommendations or sponsorships from the community - just email us at dickendash@gmail.com. Thank you!
And a huge thank you to the businesses that have already generously agreed to sponsor the 2023 Dicken Dash:
- Ann Arbor Remodeling (Champion Sponsor)
- Blossom Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics (Champion Sponsor)
- Abby Rose Photo
- Ann Arbor T-Shirt Company
- Beltone Hearing Aid
- Betsy Stover Realty
- Carlisle/Wortman Associates
- Christina Kim, Financial Advisor, Edward Jones Investment
- Dominoβs
- Goethel Engelhardt PLLC
- Guardian Tree Experts
- JHem Salon
- Main Street Optometry
- McNamara Orthodontics
- Midwest Graphics
- Rise Wellness Collaborative
- SBK Orthodontics
- StudioStudio
- Thriving Minds Behavioral Health
- Unwind Salon
Dicken Garden Seeks Tulip Bulb Donations!
The Dicken Garden Club is looking for tulip bulb donations! There will be a container outside of the garden and the club would appreciate any bulbs that we could plant this fall. We hope to harvest them for a spring farmer's market sale!
Any parents interested in helping with Garden Club should email Anne Erickson at amcerickson@gmail.com.
Cub Scout Pack 131
Join Cub Scouts to build character, enjoy STEM projects and participate in philanthropic activities. Students kindergarten through fifth grade are offered opportunities to develop self-confidence, try new things and learn team building skills. All are welcome!
We are a diverse, inclusive, non-denominational Pack that meets at Lawton Elementary. Although we recruit from Lawton and Dicken, we welcome students from all schools and home schools. Our goal is to help young people make ethical choices by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and the Scout Law. Our Cub Scout Motto is βDo your best.β
Meet us and learn more:
- Wednesday, September 20 - Cub Scout Open House and Pack Meeting 6:30 pm at Lawton
About Pack 131
- Recruits from Lawton and Dicken and based in the Lawton/Lansdowne area for nearly 60 years
- Chartered by Erwin Prieskorn American Legion Post 46
- Welcomes boys and girls, kindergarten through 5th grade
- Meets the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month at Lawton (6:30 pm)
- Activities include: campouts, nature hikes, Pinewood Derby, AirZoo Overnight, USS Silversides submarine overnight in Muskegon and Service projects
- All leaders trained in Youth Protection
- Membership and Pack Dues for new members will be $235, which includes registration, insurance, awards and many activities
- Uniforms, Scout magazine, and some events are in addition to the membership and dues
- Financial assistance and camperships available for dues, uniforms and event fees
- Family-friendly environment: siblings welcome at all Pack events!
Amy Jordan (734) 635-2917 | amymillerjordan@gmail.com
Joey Stearns (917) 514-2373 | joey.l.stearns@gmail.com
Mabel's Labels Fundraiser!
Support our Fundraiser - Dicken Elementary PTO
Buy Mabel's Labels waterproof, durable labels to help reduce classroom mix-ups and keep your items coming home!
Use code: BTS10 for 10% off your purchase
Search Dicken Elementary PTO (Ann Arbor) on the Mabel's Labels website for a portion of your purchase to go directly toward our school!