Happy Earth Day, Harlan Families,

We have entered a busy time of the year for schools and families! Spring sports are up and running and all of the year end activities like the Art Show and Music Concerts will be occurring over the next few weeks. Please be sure to check the calendar in the e-news every Friday for all of the exciting upcoming events.

I hope that many of you had the opportunity to enjoy our Walk to School Day this morning. A big “thank you” goes out to Mrs. Angie Righter, the Green Team Kids, and the parent volunteers for making this possible. It was a great way to start the day!

Important Note: This is a repeat, but worth putting out one more time.

New technology has provided families with new options for communicating with their children. That being said, during school hours, all communication must come through the main office or teacher. Please do not communicate with your child via text or call from personal devices (i.e. phones, watches, etc.). Teachers and staff will not deny any student the means necessary to call a parent . This policy will ensure that staff remain informed of student activity during the school day which will help us to keep students safe. We appreciate your cooperation with this policy.

Enjoy the beautiful weekend!

Sincerely,

Alex

• Monday, April 25 (A - Day) - Drama Kids Storybook Idol class after school (1st - 5th Grade) 3:55 - 4:55; Multisport class after school (K - 2nd) 4 - 4:45 PM; Basketball (3rd - 5th Grade) 5 - 6:00 PM; Nutty Scientists class after school (1st - 4th) 3:50 - 4:50 PM

• Tuesday, April 26 (B - Day) – 5th Grade Science MStep Testing 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM; 2nd Grade Field Trip to Seaholm 12 - 1:30 PM; 3rd Grade Field Trip to Seaholm 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM; 2nd/3rd Grade Vocal Music Concert at Seaholm Auditorium 7:00 PM (arrive by 6:45 PM)
• Wednesday, April 27 (C - Day) – Math Pentathlon before school 8 – 8:45 AM; 3rd Grade ELA MStep Testing 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM; 4th Grade Instrument Fitting 9 - 11:00 AM; Cheer/Dance/Pom class after school 3:50 - 4:50 PM; Art Show 6 - 7:30 PM
• Thursday, April 28 (D - Day) – 3rd Grade ELA MStep Testing 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM; 1st Grade Greenfield Village Field Trip 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM; Glee Club after school 3:50 - 4:30 PM
• Friday, April 29 (A - Day)– Half Day of School, dismissal at 12:05 PM; Spirit Day - Wear Red

Our Harlan Spirit Wear Shop is back for a limited time. Order your shirts, hats or other apparel to show your Husky Spirit! Orders Due April 24th to be ready by mid-May. https://harlanspring22.itemorder.com/shop/sale/

April is Autism Acceptance Month!

Spirit Day- Friday April 29th! Wear Red Instead!

#RedInstead is a hashtag that the Autistic community and many allies use during April to show support and respect for the Autistic community. Going Red Instead creates an opportunity to show support, start conversations, and provide an opportunity for people to learn. The number one thing we can do is listen to Autistic voices. The overall message is that ALL Autistic people need more support, understanding, and acceptance.

Let’s go Red Instead at Harlan to show support for the Autistic community on Friday April 29th!

Respect Pledge

Next week all students will have the opportunity to take the Respect Pledge and sign our Harlan banner! Harlan is a Unified Champion School through Special Olympics. As we end the month of April, we’re encouraging all students to take the Respect Pledge to embrace and celebrate each other and our differences.

Autism Acceptance Library at Harlan

Last year there was a t-shirt fundraiser for Autism Acceptance Month by the ASD classrooms at Pembroke, West Maple, and Harlan. With the money that was raised, books were purchased for the library for all to check out! We will continue to grow our collection to continue to create a more inclusive library for all. Please take a moment and check out the slide show presentation that has each title and the description of each book! Encourage your child to check out these books showcased in our library!

Below are resources about Autism and Autism Acceptance Month!

A Room for Us All- A Neuroinclusive Story

Autism Acceptance Library

Autism Acceptance Bitmoji Classroom

Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools

Autistic Self Advocacy Network

Autism Acceptance 2022- The Neuro Bears Video

5th graders Annabel Cusmano, Taylor Simon and Hayley Sadeghi have organized a canned food drive to support Gleaners Community Food Bank. The drive will take place from April 11-29, and collection boxes will be located in the Harlan vestibule and throughout the school.

Gleaners’ greatest need right now is for non-perishable protein items such as canned tuna, canned salmon, canned chicken, and peanut butter, as these items are needed most and are most expensive for Gleaners to buy. Please consider donating one or more of these items. We are also collecting:

· Canned fruit and canned vegetables

· Canned beans

· Healthy cereal

· Oatmeal

School Library Month

Help us celebrate School Library Month! Ask your child to draw a picture, make a video or write me a letter about all the ways they love the library. Submissions will be put together into a collage to showcase in the school.

School Store

The School Store will be open on D Days from 9 - 9:45 AM through the end of the school year.

Are you looking for ways to help the school, but you can't donate time during the day? Consider clicking on the link below to purchase items for our school store. Thank you in advance!

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/O373QSPCS8QW?ref_=wl_share

Congratulations to Leah, our PTA Treasurer, for being voted as our PTA Volunteer of the Year! Leah has stepped into this role for two years and managed to bring process improvements as well as balance our books and budgets. She spent an extensive amount of time behind the scenes on our audit and is always offering to help wherever she is needed. We are grateful for all she has done and she will celebrate next year with her very own parking spot! Thank you Leah!

We are excited to bring back the popular Mom's Day Plant Sale to our Huskies this year! All hanging baskets and patio pot orders are due Monday, April 25th to be delivered on May 3rd. Pickup times will be: May 3rd from 4-6pm & May 4th from 9am-11am.

On May 4th & May 5th, all classes will have the opportunity to shop the small flower/herb sale. If you would like to send money with your child, they will be able to pick out something special for a mom, parent or even teacher for Staff Appreciation Week. We need volunteers to help the kids shop these days. Please click on the Sign Up Genius link.

SignUp:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0945A5A82DA0FD0-plant

This year the PTA is excited to spoil our amazing staff with a "YOU LIFT US UP" theme! See flyer for details of themed days and all of the fun planned. We could use some help to make this week more special.

See SignUpGenius for items needed:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0A49A4A82DA4F94-teacher

On Saturday, May 21st, Harlan will host our first Color Run! This will be the event you don't want to miss so put it on your calendar today. Our pledge website will launch on Friday, April 22nd to kick off our official start. All information will come home at this time. This will be an event for the entire community. We will have activities for kids and adults from 11am to 2pm including the color run event, a DJ, food trucks, tattoos, bounce houses, obstacle courses, classes for kids from community powerhouses and much more! This event will replace the auction that sustains all Harlan events, teacher grants and enrichment programs so your support is crucial. Go Huskies!

If you are interested in sponsoring this event, we have opportunities starting at $100 for any business owner. Email harlanhuskiespta@gmail.com for more info.

Do you have free time next year to help lead one of our amazing committees? Some committees are only a few hours at a time for the entire year. We need you! Please see sign-up below for more information or reach out to harlanhuskiespta@gmail.com.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0945A5A82DA0FD0-harlan10

• Harlan Spirit Wear Pop Up Shop Closes on April 24th
• Plant Sale Order Forms Due April 25th
• Staff Appreciation Week: May 2nd - 6th
• May 16 - K-3 Robotics Event at 7:00 PM
  
• May 21 - Harlan's 1st Annual Color Run

• Thank the special educators, administrators, secretaries or coaches in your child's life by honoring them with a tribute through the Birmingham Education Foundation.
• Tributes will be delivered electronically with a personalized message tag from you.
• Choose any donation amount you wish for your tribute.
• To make a tribute visit: supportbef.org/memorials-and-tributes.html

• List of participating businesses will be posted in schools and on the BEF website by May 1st: https://www.supportbef.org/events.html.
• Be sure to mention Birmingham Schools and 20% will be donated to the Birmingham Education Foundation.

Are you looking for flexible work hours while your kids are at school? Chartwells is now hiring! If you are interested, please click here to find out more information.

In case there is confusion on how the free lunch works this school year, here is the breakdown of what it includes and when a charge is made to a student account:

One complete lunch includes milk, entrée, and fruit/vegetable. There is no charge as long as all of those items are taken.

If a student has a second entrée, the student’s account will be charged $1.50. If a students want an individual serving of only one item, here is the breakdown of charges for it:

Milk - $0.50

Fruit - $0.50

Vegetables - $0.50

Juice - $0.50

Water - $0.50

Invoices for negative balance are sent home every Friday through the communication folder from the teacher. Charges can be viewed at all times through www.sendmoneytoschool.com and the office can be contacted if you need assistance with setting up your account.

BPS takes all food allergies seriously, however, with the nationwide food supply chain issues it is not guaranteed that the menu items listed will be served that day. Unfortunately this means that fast changes does not allow for Chartwells to change to food items that may or may not contain allergens including peanuts and tree nuts. If you have any questions, please contact Pattie Guck at pguck@birmingham.k12.mi.us.

The Board of Education is committed to maintaining a learning/working environment in which all individuals are treated with dignity and respect, free from discrimination and harassment. There will be no tolerance for discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, genetic information, disability or age. The District prohibits harassment and other forms of discrimination whether occurring at school, on District property, in a District vehicle, or at any District related activity or event. The Superintendent will designate compliance officers and develop and implement regulations for the reporting, investigation and resolution of complaints of discrimination or harassment. The following people have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies: Students - Inquiries related to discrimination on the basis of disability should be directed to: Executive Director of Special Education, 31301 Evergreen Road, Beverly Hills, MI 48025, 248.203.3000. Direct all other inquiries related to discrimination to: Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, 31301 Evergreen Road, Beverly Hills, MI 48025, 248.203.3000.