Defer Dragon's Burning News
November 16, 2018
From the Principal
Dear Parents,
Defer Elementary School families are invited to march in the GP Santa Claus Parade on Friday, November 23rd! I hope to see many of our Defer families marching with us wearing their Defer gear on Friday! More details can be found below in the PTO section. I hope you are able to take time over the Thanksgiving Break to Sharpen the Saw. Enjoy spending your time with family and friends!
If there is anything else I can do to help at Defer, please let me know.
Dr. Rheaume
Defer Upcoming Events
November 20 - 1/2 Day for Students (morning only); End of first Trimester
November 21 - 25 - Thanksgiving Break -No School Students or Staff
December 1 - PTO Holiday Craft Fair 9 am - 1 pm
December 4 - Report Cards Distributed
December 18 - Winter Music Concert: Grades 1, 2/3 Magnet, 3, 4/5 Magnet, 5 & Defer choir
Office News
Cold Weather Reminder
Defer students go outdoors for recess two times each day throughout the school year, unless it's raining hard or the windchill is below zero degrees Fahrenheit. Please be sure that your child leaves for school dressed properly for the weather. It might also be helpful to keep an extra set of clothes in your child's locker in case clothes get wet during recess fun.
Please dress your child with a hat and gloves and a winter coat when the weather is cold. We also ask that you write your child's name on his or her gloves, hats, boots and coat. Our Lost and Found fills up quickly!
BEGINNING OF THE DAY
Please remember to use our 24 hour attendance line at 313-432-4001 to report your child's absence.
END OF THE DAY
Our dismissal bell rings at 3:38. Please make sure your child knows his/hers after school plans in the morning when you drop off. The only after school care available is Kids Club. Check out Defer's website for more information. If you need to change pick up plans, please call the office before 3:20 pm to make sure your child receives the message before the end of the school day.
Defer Diversity Parent Group
Defer Diversity Meeting: Wednesday, November 28.
District Diversity Meetings (GPPUD)Upcoming Meetings: GPPUD
If you have culturally rich materials and resources that can be shared with the school or if you would be willing to share your own culture/experiences with students please contact Dr. Rheaume or one of our parent organizers Susan Sutorka at susansuto@yahoo.com or Janice Fox at jcfcreative@gmail.com.
Defer Art Information
What's Happening in the Art Room:
Y5 - Clay Snowmen
K - Cut & Paste Snowmen
1 - ROYGBIV Turkeys
2 - Clay Animals
3 - Glazing Clay Owls
4 - Ugly Dolls
5 - Animal Eyes
Check out Defer's Online Art Gallery: https://tinyurl.com/deferartsonia
Follow us on Facebook & Instagram @deferartroom
Defer PTO Information
Friday Nov. 23--Grosse Pointe Santa Claus Parade
Calling all Defer dragons and their families! Defer will be walking in the Grosse Pointe Santa Claus Parade Friday Nov. 23 & EVERYONE is invited to join in the walk! Families should gather at the parade staging area, which is on Grosse Pointe Boulevard between Lewiston and New Berry. Participants will be divided into sections--Section A will be at Lewiston working down to Section G near New Berry. Defer will be staging in Section C Number 7. Families should begin arriving at 9 a.m. and must be present in the staging area no later than 9:30 a.m. The parade begins at 10 a.m.
Saturday Dec. 1--Defer Craft Fair
The annual Craft Fair will begin at 9 a.m. Registration has closed for this event but we are in need of volunteers to help students at each of the craft stations. Please sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0845a8ac28aafc1-defer13
Additionally, the following will be happening so families may shop for the holidays.
- Defer Book Fair – Located in the school’s library. Dragons and family can get a jump on their holiday shopping lists and support our book fair.
- Defer Spirit Wear – Located in the main hallway. Defer Spirit wear makes a great holiday present for our dragons.
- AAUW Bake Sale – Located in the main hallway. Enjoy some delicious baked goods for a good cause and help support our robotics team.
January to mid-February--Lunchtime Enrichment
Lunchtime Enrichment is a once-a-week indoor recess opportunity for students during the winter months. It involves parents and other volunteers to oversee/facilitate a one-hour leisure time activity with the students. Currently, we have 9 activities lined up but usually we have close to 20 different activities. Your ideas are welcome and encouraged. If you don't have a good class idea, you can also volunteer your time for an already established enrichment activity. See additional information in this flyer.
Service/Safety Updates
In October the teams competed between themselves in Kickball. We enjoyed a snack and drink, thanks to the Defer PTO.
If you see a Safety/Service member doing a good job, tell them.
Thank you,
Helen Srebernak
Safety/Service Coordinator
Safety/Service Members of the Month-October
Safety: Alexander Fluitt
Service: Isabelle Grobel
Leader in Me
The 7 Habits are reviewed, practiced and integrated daily at Defer. We will review the 7 Habits with you monthly. We thank you for your partnership in reinforcing your child’s leadership skills.
Celebrations: This month at the Town Hall, we will celebrate all students learning the first habit, Be Proactive and we will also celebrate students who participated in the Running Club. Each month we celebrate birthdays, so we will also celebrate November birthdays. We’d love to have you join us! Please check out your child’s charm holder to further acknowledge their leadership growth.
Would you start a trip without knowing where you are going? Knowing what you are trying to accomplish directs the choices on the way.
Habit 2 - Begin with the end in mind
When we use Habit 2, we think about how we’d want something to turn out before starting it. Goal setting is an important skill for success. Therefore in Habit 2- start with setting a goal. Then, break it down into small manageable pieces.
Home practice Habit 2
Doing puzzles is a great example to put Habit 2 in action. First, demonstrate how to study the picture. Then, sort pieces. Perhaps the edge is the first area of focus. Next, it may be finding all the pieces of one color, and so on -step by-step until it is complete.
To further model Habit 2, point out real life examples: Share stories from your life, or even your day at work, where you had a goal or task that you accomplished. Talk about the steps taken to accomplish your goal. Discuss how breaking it down made it easier. Point out examples from your child’s life such as riding a bike, tying shoes, or another Habit 2 skill.
Read more Parent Pointers about Habit #2 in the link below:
Fundraiser for GP South Boys' Basketball
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
Email: rheauml@gpschools.org
Website: https://mi01000971.schoolwires.net/Domain/1099
Location: 15425 Kercheval Avenue, Grosse Pointe Park, MI, USA
Phone: 313-432-4000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GPDefer/
Twitter: @GPDefer