Defer Dragon's Burning News
January 11, 2019
From the Principal
Dear Defer Families,
It was a busy week at Defer! The students were excited to start Lunchtime Enrichment! Thank you to all the volunteers for making many different classes available to the students this year. It was great to hear many students share their excitement about the lunchtime enrichment classes offered at school.
Some classes also started NWEA testing this week. Please check with your child's teacher for more information about the date and time for testing. Next week, the Student Leadership Team will host our the Town Hall meeting to celebrate student accomplishments from December. The Town Hall is scheduled for Wednesday, January 16th at 10:15 am.
Have a great weekend!
Sincerely,
Dr. Rheaume
Defer Upcoming Events
January 15 - Middle School Information Night 6:30 pm
January 17 - Young Fives/Kindergarten Information Night 6:30 pm
January 18 - 1/2 Day for students 11:36 am dismissal
January 21-MLK Day- No School for students or staff
February 6 - 4th Grade NAEP assessments
February 18 - February 22 - Mid- Winter Break No School for students or staff
District Upcoming Events
Do you know a student who might be interested in our Upcoming Info Nights? Invite them! Perhaps you know someone with a student attending a private or parochial school, or a family considering relocating to the area? Encourage them to attend a GPPSS Info Night and learn more about our amazing public schools.
- Middle School Info Night - 6:30 p.m., Tuesday 1/15/19 (parents of current 5th graders attending middle school in the fall) attend your neighborhood middle school
- Kindergarten and Young Fives Info Night - 6:30 p.m., Thursday 1/17/19 (parents of current preschoolers attending kindergarten or Young Fives in the fall) attend your neighborhood elementary school
- Multi-Age Info Night - 6:30 p.m., Tuesday 1/15/19 (parents interested in learning more about our district's Multi-Age program housed at Trombly Elementary, in the Trombly library, 820 Beaconsfield, Grosse Pointe Park
NAEP 2019 - Grade 4
Fourth Grade Parents,
Please see the attached letter about NAEP 2019 Mathematics, reading, and science assessments scheduled for February 6th, 2019 for the fourth graders.
Safety Reminder
Please remind your children they are to cross streets at the safety cross points, and always at the lights with crossing guards when crossing Kercheval Avenue and Nottingham Street. We do not want to have any accidents this year, and we have noticed some children trying to cross at unsafe crossing points. Thank you for your help in this matter.
Lunchtime Enrichment
Again, a big thank you to our PTO, teachers and parents volunteering time and talent to make these amazing classes available. Thank you!
Cold and Flu Season
For more information on the importance of hand washing with non-antibacterial soap, please see the links below:
- Arlington Public Schools Hand Washing Policy: https://apsshab.weebly.com/hand-washing-policy.html
- CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/index.html
The Great Kindness Challenge
All levels of Grosse Pointe Schools- including Barnes, nine elementary buildings, middle school groups and high school representatives, Community Campus, and staff have all come together to participate in The Great Kindness Challenge, January 28-February 1, 2019. The Great Kindness Challenge is a positive, proactive bullying prevention initiative that reaches millions of students during the last week of January every year. GPPSS has added a community service project to engage in socially conscious leadership and promote caring, compassion and collaboration to support others in need. Students and staff will be collecting items for Kindness Care Kits during the week of January 28-February 1 that will be donated to Crossroads, Motor City Mitten Mission and Eimer’s Foundation. Other activities related to kindness to help promote a safe and caring school environment may also take place during the week and beyond. GPPSS is happy to be a part of The Great Kindness Challenge which was created by the non-profit Kids for Peace.
The following items are assigned to each group (full size items, please):
Barnes:gloves, mittens, hats
Pre-kindergarten, Young 5’s: 2 gallon size ziploc bags OR reusable bags
Kindergarten: soap or body wash
First grade: body lotion
Second grade: toothbrush
Third grade: toothpaste
Fourth grade: shampoo or conditioner
Fifth grade: deodorant
Staff/Community Campus: miscellaneous items such as diapers, socks, hat, gloves, mittens, reusable bag
Middle schools and High schools-- each school that chooses to participate through donating will choose their items and share that through school communication (or feel free to donate any items listed).
THANK YOU FOR YOUR KINDNESS!
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 and snowpants when the weather is cold. We also ask that you write your child's name on his or her gloves, hats, boots, coat and snowpants. Our Lost and Found is filling up quickly!
In the event your child has a cold, and is healthy enough to attend school, they will participate in recess- playing outside with their peers twice a day. Exceptions will only be made with a doctor's note stating they are healthy enough to attend school, with reason and number of days they are required not to participate in recess play. Thank you for your understanding concerning this matter.
BEGINNING OF THE DAY
Please remember to use our 24 hour attendance line at 313-432-4001 to report your child's absence. Thank you.
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
District Diversity Meetings (GPPUD)Upcoming Meetings: Thursday, January 31st 6:30 pm at Defer
Share Your Culture! We want to hear more about your family’s cultural background and traditions. New in 2019 we will be creating a bulletin board that will be changed monthly. We are looking for families to decorate the board to help us learn more about diverse cultures and families. Bulletin boards could include family photos, traditional customs, recipes, suggested reading and any additional information you would like to share. Please email Sarah skswanson@gmail.com or Heather hbendure@gmail.com for more information and to let us know you are interested in participating!
Please contact Dr. Rheaume or one of our parent organizers Susan Sutorka at susansuto@yahoo.com or Janice Fox at jcfcreative@gmail.com for more information about our Diversity Parent Group.
Leader in Me
The Leader in Me- Family Learning team is interested in how we can better support families with information and activities to incorporate Leader in Me habits at home. We would appreciate your response to this quick survey. Thank you!
Habit 4
HABIT 4 THINK WIN-WIN
With habit 4 students practice skills such as compromise, empathy, compassion and problem solving. Think Win-Win is balancing courage for getting what I want (my “first things”) with consideration for what others want. When conflicts arise, look for a win-win solution for all parties.
Incorporating Habit 4 at home: Model being happy for others. “The Smith family got a new car. How great for them!” “Mike got a new video game? I bet you were very happy for your friend.” Have Family Celebration times. Around the dinner table or in a Family Meeting allow time for children and parents to share something they did well or something positive they experienced in their day. Celebrate each accomplishment and listen to experiences. Be careful not to compare children. Praise each for their own accomplishments.
The following books help reinforce Habit 4- Think Win-Win. Enjoy some reading time as a family and discuss how to incorporate this habit in family life. (Titles include: The Butter Battle Book by Dr. Seuss, Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse by Leo Lionni, The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister, The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins,The Very Clumsy Click Beetle by Eric Carle ,and Let’s Be Enemies by Janice May Udry)
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