May 2

Coming up at Arno…

May 2

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!!!

PTA Staff Breakfast in the gym 8:00

May 3

Scheduled walk-throughs throughout the day

May 4

9:30 Walkup obs

10:15 Liedel obs

May 5

Jump and Jill Assembly 9:30-Grades 3-5

Grade 4 & 5 Teachers meet with Brian for MiStar DNA data training 9:30-12:00 in his room

(I will hold all 4-5 kids until 12:00)

ICC 4:00

PTA Meeting 6:30

May 6

Teacher Appreciation PTA Luncheon 11:00-12:00- Altered lunch schedule

 

Lunch Schedule for Friday, May 6- Hour Lunch

K-1     11:00-11:30        Eat Lunch in cafeteria

             11:30-12:00       Recess

 

2-3      11:00-11:30        Recess

             11:30-12:00       Eat Lunch in the CLASSROOM

4-5      11:10-11:40         Recess

              11:40-12:10        Eat Lunch in cafeteria

 

 

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!  As I round out my first year here at Arno, I count my blessings that I such a wonderful group of people to work with, that work together like a family in the name of doing everything that’s best for kids.  We all got into this profession because we love to work with children, and you show that each and everyday in your classrooms and throughout the building.  It has been my honor to work with you and I am truly humbled by your dedication and professionalism.  Have a great week and once again, please be sure to stop by the gym Monday before school for PTA breakfast and then again Friday for Lunch- come hungry!

Steve

 

Happy Administrative Professional Day

A BIG thank you to our office staff Cathy and Michelle for everything they do to keep our school going everyday!  The office is certainly the hub of the building and the first friendly face everyone sees when they walk in!  Thank you Cathy and Michelle for being there for all our needs and helping to make Arno the best school in Allen Park!

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M-STEPPIN

Third grade has now completed their first week of testing, followed bu the PT next week.  4th grade will being their window on May 9th- almost done!!  Please refer to the testing calendar as the NWEA testing begins the week of May 2 with 4th grade starting.

Student Review Team Review

We met over the course of a couple of days with all classroom teachers discussing some of the concerns we have about some of our most at-risk students.  I felt that the time was well spent listening to the concerns.  Some additional thoughts

  • We have now started a process that will extend into next year in which we will start to keep track of  our at-risk kids in a much tighter way.  As we go through the year, their doc will be revisited and we should see what is working and what is not

  • I may increase the time another 5 minutes next year- but the slender time frame does keep the conversation on track and specific to what we need to know

  • This will all gel when we have a more cohesive schedule across the grades and the building.  Having everyone in the room when we create our schedules for next year will only promote a system to better serve these kids

  • Be sure that you are filling out the forms accurately.  Having good data is important to the process over time.

  • We will conduct this type of meeting around every 7-8 weeks throughout the year, with the expectation that any new strategies started with a student will have an 8 week duration of intervention

  • If there were suggested strategies to try for your student- the expectation is that you try that strategy and report on the progress of it at our next student review team

  • It will be critical next year that we have the docs in by a set date so the team can review CA-60’s or files they may have for the student

This meeting was the first and last this year due to the time of year/testing etc.  We will pick up the first meeting of the year by mid-Oct next year.

For additional resources and ideas on intervention, please click http://interventioncentral.com/

Grade Level Scheduling for next year

I have set aside floaters on Monday, June 6 to help us further along our trek into an MTSS system in which your grade level will work on a common schedule framework for the fall.  I will try and coordinate with Barb, Michelle, Stella, and Cathy to have them available to forecast kids that you will have next year and how that will mix in.  The goals for your schedule should be:

  • Common Language arts block (to accommodate tier work, practices like guided reading could be staggered- or at the same time depending how you view it)

  • Common Math Time

  • Common time for science/SS would help planning for the rest

  • Within your common times, please review your current practices so that we can maximize instructional time.  This would include recess time not exceeding 25 minutes (plus lunch) daily, exception of K,   I don’t mind some initial morning recess, but by week 3- that needs to be over.

  • Review your morning arrival work- valuable on-task time is there for the taking.  We do not have preps until 9:30- What a great time to plan some grade level interventions!

  • Please review the non-negotiables that were agreed to by the grade levels.  I should be able to see these practices going on in your room.  Please let me know what materials and/or training I can provide to get us in the right direction.  Please highlight these items and their times in your schedules- that I would like to have to me by June 17 in whatever format look you wish

  • If your grade needs additional time, please see me for some options, please remember the preps are common so as to offer time to meet among the grade- that can be an option

  • Working with Michelle/Cathy/Barb/Stella should offer insight to build your schedule around instructional time, not when a student is pulled out.

Please understand that this starts to allow us to implement various degrees of tiered intervention in the classroom, grade level, and building.  Please let me know if you have any suggestions as we move forward.  I will have info on classroom placement for students very soon.  I understand that there may unforeseen obstacles that come into scheduling in the process, try and get as close as you can to the above.

K-5 non negotiables

Grade 2

 

Thinking Outside the Box

Flexible Seating and Student-Centered Classroom Redesign

 A large, studentless classroom, with large blue bouncy balls, sofa chairs, folding chairs, a tent, crates, mats, and other unique furniture.

I remember exactly where I was when I had a watershed moment that changed me as a teacher forever. In fact, it inspired my EdSurge column,Why the 21st-Century Classroom May Remind You of Starbucks. I was working on my TEDx presentation at my local Starbucks and, looking around, I realized that everyone seemed to be happy, engaged in their work, and relaxed. Some people chose the traditional chairs and tables while I opted for a big, comfy chair with my MacBook on my lap. The quiet music, perfect lighting, and overall aesthetics of the coffee shop were favorable for a variety of learners. And if I wanted to switch up my seat during my stay, I was free to do just that. That’s when I decided that our classroom in 2015-2016 was going to look radically different than anything I’d ever done before.

Problem Solvers Now = Problem Solvers Later

I’m a firm believer in keeping the focus on what’s really important: the students. If student motivation and higher engagement is truly the desired end game, then we as teachers must adapt right along with our students in our classrooms. To see that some classrooms look the same now as they did 70 years ago is shameful. The students we share our classrooms with don’t know life without constant connectivity, wi-fi, and a global audience. Outside the windows of our classroom is a dynamic, fast-paced, and ever-changing world full of choices. How can we expect our students to solve problems and make choices independently if we constantly solve their problems and make their choices for them? Our classroom environments should be conducive to open collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking. This simply cannot be done when kids are sitting in rows of desks all day. Consider involving your students in a classroom redesign project with the LAUNCH cycle design thinking mentioned on A.J. Juliani’s blog.

What the Research Says

Everything I do in my classroom is based on research and best practices for kids. Redesigning my classroom was not any different. I’ve found that some of the immediate benefits (PDF) of flexible seating include burning more calories, using up excess energy, improving metabolism, increased motivation and engagement, creating a better oxygen flow to the brain, and improving core strength and overall posture. It’s no surprise that physical activity is linked to higher academic performance, better health, and improved behavior. In fact, a paper by Matthew T. Mahar, et al (PDF) finds that:

Simple in-class activities can boost performance. Studies suggest that children who participate in short bouts of physical activity within the classroom have more on-task behavior, with the best improvement seen in students who are least on-task initially.

Additionally, if you’re looking to convince your administrators that flexible seating is right for your students or even your entire school, my principalJason Markusen has some interesting thoughts on this subject. Finally, Erin Klein, with her brain-based classroom redesigns, was my original inspiration. She encouraged me to “ditch the desks.”

Classroom Redesign on a Budget

Redesigning an entire classroom doesn’t have to be expensive, especially with the help of Donors Choose. Sure, the Hokki stools in my classroom cost about $100 each, but other items range from free to about $30. If you want to redesign your classroom on a budget, begin by purchasing some bath rugs or yoga mats, and raising a table to appropriate standing height using bed risers. Or simply take the legs off of a table and add some pillows or core discs for students to sit on. The crates pictured in my classroom cost around three dollars each. Most of the wall hangings and lamps were taken from my house, with the exception of frames from The Dollar Store. Parents are also a great resource for classroom donations. They often have money to help, but not time to give, so don’t be afraid to ask.

Up Your Classroom Management

I have a strong conviction that simply swapping out desks for tables doesn’t ensure higher motivation, engagement, or accountability. Redesigning a classroom or implementing unassigned flexible seating is a shift in both structure and teaching philosophy — an entire mindset shift. In fact, teachers need a keen intuition about where the students are working and their level of engagement at all times. We must be willing to give up the power of the seating chart and truly hand over the responsibility of seating choices to our students. I’ve found that the more power I give up in our classroom, the more power I get back. I’ve also noticed that it helps my students become more self-aware of what types of seating and environment help them learn best. And they’re empowered by the opportunity to have choices.

Other Considerations

    • We follow the Responsive Classroom approach. The supplies that the students contribute at Open House are put into a community supply crate and used throughout the year.
    • Each student’s personal learning materials (math journals, notebooks, etc.) are housed in bins in the corner of our room. If you don’t have this option, three-drawer stackers or crates of materials would be a solid substitute.
    • Be open to removing much of the furniture in your classroom. At the beginning of the year, I got rid of four tables, my huge teacher desk, a file cabinet, and 20 traditional chairs.
    • Our whole-group instruction still happens on the big rug in the middle of our classroom. This is where we spend much of our day.
    • Before allowing your students to self-select seats, I strongly suggest having them try all of the seating options for an entire day. They probably won’t know where they learn best until they try all the options.
    • Students know that I reserve the right to move them at any time if they aren’t fully engaged and able to work in their self-selected spot.
  • It’s a good idea to have more seating combinations than students in your classroom. I never have disagreements between students about seating because I have far more options than students. However, if I did, I would settle it the same way that I’d settle an argument over any other material in our classroom.

Best Practice Starts Now

I’m often asked, “Why should I do flexible seating this year if next year’s teacher won’t be doing it?” Here’s my response: Teachers can never base what happens in our classroom this year on what next year’s teacher may or may not do. If it’s best practice for our kids, do it now. Remember, our classrooms should be student-centered, not teacher-centered.

 

April 25

April-month-cute

Coming up at Arno..

April 25

Third Grade M-STEP testing begins

April 26

Student Review Team meeting – you were contacted by Cindy for your day and time

5th Grade Band concert 7:00

April 27

RTI conference @RESA – Steve (I will stay and make sure testing launched first)

April 28

Student Review Team meeting- you were contacted by Cindy for your day and time

Fire Drill- P.M.

Teacher Eval Committee 3:30- Steve and Carrie

April 29

Scholarship Rating meeting 7:30 for those interested

banner_mstep

M-STEP

Well now that our state visit is over, we can start looking forward to the end of testing next month.   5th grade has finished, and 3rd is about to start next week.  Everything has worked like clockwork thus far, some tech glitches- but switching computers out has usually worked.  Please continue to know the schedule as it determines cart location, testing days, and NWEA dates.  Preliminary results continue to roll in, but I am unable to print or send them.  The results for machine scored items appears 48 hours after the completion of a subject area.  If you would like to see those results, you will have to stop by my office.

New test could replace M-STEP after next year

The state’s new M-STEP exam could be a thing of the past after the 2016-17 school year, replaced by a test taken three times a year that would show how much students improve from the beginning of the school year until the end of the school year.

That was the vision laid out this morning by State Superintendent Brian Whiston, who spoke before lawmakers during a legislative hearing about testing.

Whiston said his vision isn’t an attack on the Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress, which debuted in April 2015. Students across Michigan are currently taking the exam.

“M-STEP has done what its purpose is,” Whiston said. “It’s probably a good assessment.”

Click “here” to read the full article.

Thank you for all you do!

Kiwanis Grant

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Katie’s room recently received a $10,000 donation from the local Kiwanis that will go towards various items and funds that the students can benefit from.

In discussion with Dr. Sokol (Special Education Director), Ms. Noreen (OT), Mrs. Giannetti, Mrs. Coogan, and Mrs. Peyton,  the money will be put towards an incredible variety of items.  They have purchased Kindle Fires for each student to utilize within the classroom, weighted vests, compression vests, adaptive swing, steam roller, Physio ball seats, foldable wagon, and Magna-Tiles.  They are also continuing to look for other ways to incorporate technology into our classroom.  They have set up funds for field trips to offset the cost of the bus.  This allows the class to go on field trips relevant to their curriculum rather than only going when a general education class may visit.  We have also set up an ingredient fund to allow Kaite to cook in class based on our News-2-You topics.  They have also ordered a Boardmaker Online subscription and an updated Edmark Reading Program edition to enhance the curriculum.
This grant was celebrated this past Monday with Kaite, the Board, and many of her students!

Student Review Team

This week marks the beginning of a new process to help build our MTSS system and manage all of the student who get interventions, and see how they are progressing in tier support- as well as see where we can add to the core program.  You should have all seen an email for Cindy with your info on it.  Remember- you can talk about 2 kids, but you can fill in paperwork for as many as you want- just to get them on the radar.

This will be a dry run, see what the kinks are, retool, and plan for next year’s meeting dates.  Let me know what questions you have.

Grade Level Scheduling for next year

I have set aside floaters on Monday, June 6 to help us further along our trek into an MTSS system in which your grade level will work on a common schedule framework for the fall.  I will try and coordinate with Barb, Michelle, Stella, and Cathy to have them available to forecast kids that you will have next year and how that will mix in.  The goals for your schedule should be:

  • Common Language arts block (to accommodate tier work, practices like guided reading could be staggered- or at the same time depending how you view it)

  • Common Math Time

  • Common time for science/SS would help planning for the rest

  • Within your common times, please review your current practices so that we can maximize instructional time.  This would include recess time not exceeding 25 minutes (plus lunch) daily, exception of K,   I don’t mind some initial morning recess, but by week 3- that needs to be over.

  • Review your morning arrival work- valuable on-task time is there for the taking.  We do not have preps until 9:30- What a great time to plan some grade level interventions!

  • Please review the non-negotiables that were agreed to by the grade levels.  I should be able to see these practices going on in your room.  Please let me know what materials and/or training I can provide to get us in the right direction.  Please highlight these items and their times in your schedules- that I would like to have to me by June 17 in whatever format look you wish

  • If your grade needs additional time, please see me for some options, please remember the preps are common so as to offer time to meet among the grade- that can be an option

  • Working with Michelle/Cathy/Barb/Stella should offer insight to build your schedule around instructional time, not when a student is pulled out.

Please understand that this starts to allow us to implement various degrees of tiered intervention in the classroom, grade level, and building.  Please let me know if you have any suggestions as we move forward.  I will have info on classroom placement for students very soon.  I understand that there may unforeseen obstacles that come into scheduling in the process, try and get as close as you can to the above.

K-5 non negotiables

Grade 2

Earth Day

Arno celebrated Earth day today with numerous stations around the school with the Earth as the center theme.  Some of our stations included Magnifying glasses, Recycling Sort, Sidewalk Chalk Messages/Pictures about Earth Day, Garbage Pick-up, Re-purpose/Reuse, Earth Day Poetry, Living vs. Non-living, My Sensory Journal.   Thank you to all who helped with the set up for the great day!

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First Graders were hard at work on writing, butterfly facts, and readers theater.  It is so wonderful to see how well they are doing and how much growth they’ve made into becoming second graders!

 

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PBIS SURVEY

Part of our PBIS Grant is the completion of a year-end survey about the program.  Please take some time this week to complete this short survey.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2016PBISA-D

 

Scholarship Rating

If you are interested, we will be having a session to review scholarship apps and rate them in order to award the Arno Scholarship this year.  We will get together on April 29 at 7:30 to review/rate the apps turned in.

data

Data Day

Our next Data Day will be coming up on April 25th- somewhat delayed from the 3rd Q, but we have many grade level days out in the meantime..  NWEA and DRA will not be done yet, but June gets pretty crazy and I am not sure we can squeeze another day in, so we will use whatever data you have that is current.

April 25 (modified)

What To Bring:

  • 3rd  Quarter Math Assessments
  • Other…

The schedule is as follows: 

 8:45-9:30          Grade K

9:-35-10:15       Grade 2

10:20-11:05      Grade 5

11:10-11:55        Grade 4

12:45-1:30         Grade 1

2:00-2:45          Grade 3

 

HELP ME OUT BUTTON

STAFF – YOU MUST USE THE HELP ME OUT BUTTON LOCATED ON YOUR DESKTOP IF YOU NEED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

The tech department will not respond to emails sent to helpmeout.

3d rendering of a red button with help written on it.

How Will You End Your Year?

April 15, 2016 — 

I’ve never been fully satisfied with the various ways I’ve ended my school year. Too many times, after an amazing year of incredible experiences and powerful relationships, it just seems…anti-climactic. I hate it. It has always bothered me. The bell rings, they walk out, and many times I’ve felt that I missed an opportunity to do something with real impact. I think about how carefully I’ve crafted the last moment in my speaking programs and I know all of that effort has been worth it when I see the reaction. I want your last moment with your students to be powerful, too.

I wanted to share an awesome example of how one amazing teacher and great friend of mine, John Berray, has solved the problem in his class. John has graciously given me permission to tweak and re-post a blog he wrote about the lesson a couple of years ago. John is an incredible math teacher at West Hills High School here in San Diego and, more importantly, a teacher who has embraced the mighty purpose of educators being life-changers. He is a popular workshop presenter, winner of numerous awards, and was honored as one of the 2015 San Diego County Teachers of the Year. Connect with John on Twitter at @JohnBerray
and you can find his blog right here. Thanks, John!

Bottle of Dreams

Every once in a while I create an experience for my students that is cool and its impact even surprises me. My “Farewell Address” is one such activity. Several years back, I decided to define an end-of-the-year moment of closure with each class. I wanted a time to celebrate our year together, to reminisce, and to toast the wide-open futures of each student in the room.  I wanted more than the perfunctory collecting of books, doling out of grades, and ticking down of the clock that seems to define intervals of learning.

Here’s how it works.

I advertise my farewell address as a “do not miss” moment. I commandeer the last part of class. I bring in bottles of water, one for each student. I tell each student to grab a bottle and crack the lid but not to open it.  Many guess that a toast is coming…and they’re right!

I embellish the farewell address with thoughts and advice and conclude it with challenges and requests. I recognize there’s a good probability this might be the last time we ever speak, so it needs to be meaningful. The moment is bittersweet.  Each year I make small tweaks to how I do it, what I say, and what I request. Some years even make me tear up. Last year was one of them.

The students are aware that the toast is really only a sip of bottled water, but for some, I transform their vision of it from just being ordinary water into being a “Bottle of Dreams.” Most think it’s funny, but buy into it anyway. They can look at the water for what it is, or they can visualize it being whatever they want it to be. It’s about belief. It’s about the power of their minds to pretend for the sake of silliness that it’s a potent non-alcoholic elixir that marks not just the end of the school year, but also new beginnings. The moment is simultaneously deep and light-hearted. I ask them to keep it as a reminder of the farewell address.

During this year’s graduation procession, as students were leaving the field, I had several of them tell me that they still had their bottle of dreams. Students saved an empty water bottle for years because of the meaning we attached to it! How cool is that?  My farewell address has become one of my classroom traditions and has allowed me to find a way to end my year-long relationship with my students in a powerful and meaningful way.

 

Thanks for sharing, John!!

So…what do you think? How will you end your school year in a way that is worthy of the significance of the moment? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below or shoot us a tweet to @burgessdave and @JohnBerray. Throw in the hashtag #tlap so the whole community can see it!

 

 

April 18

Coming up at Arno…

April 18

Ad Council 9:00

SIP Team meeting p.m.

April 19

RESA- Steve 7:30-10:00

SIP 3:45

April 20

1st Grade Teachers in-service with Mrs. Sturock- All Day

April 21

District Safety committee 9:30

April 22

Earth Day- Stations

4th Grade Teachers In-Service on Science All Day

Daddy/Daughter Dance

 

Grade Level Scheduling for next year

I have set aside floaters on Monday, June 6 to help us further along our trek into an MTSS system in which your grade level will work on a common schedule framework for the fall.  I will try and coordinate with Barb, Michelle, Stella, and Cathy to have them available to forecast kids that you will have next year and how that will mix in.  The goals for your schedule should be:

  • Common Language arts block (to accommodate tier work, practices like guided reading could be staggered- or at the same time depending how you view it)

  • Common Math Time

  • Common time for science/SS would help planning for the rest

  • Within your common times, please review your current practices so that we can maximize instructional time.  This would include recess time not exceeding 25 minutes (plus lunch) daily, exception of K,   I don’t mind some initial morning recess, but by week 3- that needs to be over.

  • Review your morning arrival work- valuable on-task time is there for the taking.  We do not have preps until 9:30- What a great time to plan some grade level interventions!

  • Please review the non-negotiables that were agreed to by the grade levels.  I should be able to see these practices going on in your room.  Please let me know what materials and/or training I can provide to get us in the right direction.  Please highlight these items and their times in your schedules- that I would like to have to me by June 17 in whatever format look you wish

  • If your grade needs additional time, please see me for some options, please remember the preps are common so as to offer time to meet among the grade- that can be an option

  • Working with Michelle/Cathy/Barb/Stella should offer insight to build your schedule around instructional time, not when a student is pulled out.

Please understand that this starts to allow us to implement various degrees of tiered intervention in the classroom, grade level, and building.  Please let me know if you have any suggestions as we move forward.  I will have info on classroom placement for students very soon.  I understand that there may unforeseen obstacles that come into scheduling in the process, try and get as close as you can to the above.

K-5 non negotiables

Grade 2

 

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M-STEP Update

We are off and running!  5th grade has gotten off to a good start with just a couple hiccups.  There is a form in which you can go record any instances where there are problems, the link is below.  Once we have problems posted with the test, we will do our best to get you the fixes for whatever it may be.  You should expect a glitch or 2, but you should also expect that it will be fixed quickly.   It may be helpful to read the list of items prior to your grade testing.

https://docs.google.com/a/appublicschools.com/document/d/1KGxR5OVhJFwjE1oKXzvzEl1MVQynGvdxle-FLMRDNGI/edit?usp=sharing

Please remember if you post an issue, that issue should never contain any test related material in any form

PBIS SURVEY

Part of our PBIS Grant is the completion of a year-end survey about the program.  Please take some time this week to complete this short survey.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2016PBISA-D

 


Scholarship Rating

If you are interested, we will be having a session to review scholarship apps and rate them in order to award the Arno Scholarship this year.  We will get together on April 29 at 7:30 to review/rate the apps turned in.

data

Data Day

Our next Data Day will be coming up on April 25th- somewhat delayed from the 3rd Q, but we have many grade level days out in the meantime..  NWEA and DRA will not be done yet, but June gets pretty crazy and I am not sure we can squeeze another day in, so we will use whatever data you have that is current.

April 21- This is the day I will take your rooms.  Schedule is below

MATH ASSESSMENT DATA TIME (Bring your class to the gym)- April 21- Modified

The schedule is as follows:

3rd Grade:  8:35-9:20

2nd Grade: 9:30-10:15

4th Grade: 10:25-11:10

Kindergarten:  11:45-12:30

1st Grade: 1:00-1:45

5th Grade:  1:50-2:35

Data Day- April 25 (modified)

What To Bring:

  • 3rd  Quarter Math Assessments
  • Other…

The schedule is as follows: 

8:45-9:30          Grade K

9:-35-10:15       Grade 2

10:20-11:05      Grade 5

11:10-11:55        Grade 4

12:45-1:30         Grade 1

2:00-2:45          Grade 3

A Chilly Martian Mile for our Run Club

Thanks to all of our teachers that made the Run Club a success with donating their time to give our kids a great experience!

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MARK YOUR CALENDAR – KINDERGARTEN ROUND UP

at Arno, Bennie and Lindemann Elementary

MONDAY, MAY 9, 2016 – 6:00 p.m.

*Children who are five years of age by September 2 thru December 1 may only be enrolled for kindergarten at the request of the parent/guardian through a signed waiver process. Waiver form is available at the Riley Education Center.

Daddy Daughter Dance Coming Up

Please see the flyer below for information on the Daddy Daughter Dance

Daddy Daughter Dance

 

Have a great Week!

 

 

 

 

April 11

April-month-cute

Coming up at Arno…

April 11

5th grade MSTEP window begins per schedule

Teacher Eval committee meeting 3:30 (Solak)

April 12

Data Team Meeting 8:30

Fire Drill A.M.

April 13

Kinder training with Mrs. Sturock all day

PBIS meeting 3:45

April 14

DRA DNA Training in lab

K-1            8:30-11:00

2-3                 12:30-3:00

Skating Party 6:00

April 15

4th Grade Teachers science in-service @Riley all day

Steve Out

M-STEP

As I stated in an earlier email, the state is sending a rep to view our implementation of the MSTEP test.  I am confident that this is only procedural as we are a well prepared staff and we will be a great example on getting the job done.

That said, are things that are certainly very critical to success:

  •  The test admin booklet, which contains the script, will need to be followed word for word, as the state expects.
  • Teacher proximity in motion is expected to be happening at all points during the test, please do not check papers, email, etc.
  • Be sure that your test administrator checklists have been read
  • Be sure students know their responsibilities, and what to do when they are done
  • Be sure the classroom set up is such that it discourages wandering eyes
  • All content relating to testing must be taken down or well covered before the test starts.
  • Know your plan on what to do with kids who are taking a long time beyond most kids (They should Pause- exit test) and come to me to finish if you are in an ending session
  • All students need to have a book that they may refer to when they finish
  • Be sure all students who leave their computer for the bathroom, drink, etc, MUST put their screen into PAUSE mode for test security reasons (remember it times out in 20 minutes)
  • Be sure to report all issues quickly to the office or my cell 586-610-0240
  • Do NOT take a screen shot to send to John or anyone else if you are having an issue- it is considered secure material on the screen.

All student “tickets” need to returned daily at the conclusion of testing

M-STEP Mathematics

New and Improved Equation Builder:   The Equation Builder used last year in the Spring 2015 online administration of the M-STEP mathematics test has been replaced with a new and improved Keypad Input, also referred to as the Equation Keypad.

• The Keypad Input allows for the entry of numbers, expressions, equations, etc., but does not perform any actual computations. Students can also enter numbers using their keyboard, but alpha characters cannot be entered.

• The Keypad Input buttons will vary according to required components of an item. Any necessary variable(s) will be included on the Keypad.

• Computations are to be performed using the online calculator associated with items that are calculator-permitted.

• Some items will have both the Keypad Input and a calculator. Other items will have either the Keypad Input or the calculator. Some items will have neither. (Continued on next page)

Some PTA news…

At Thursday’s PTA meeting, a new board was elected for our Arno PTA.

Congratulations to 

Jeni Sauve- President

Amy Muse- Vice President of fundraising

Julie Hegedus- Treasurer

Shannon Mihalik Secretary

We look forward to working with our new Board on all of the exciting things our PTA does for our students!

Also, please remember that the Skating Party is next Thursday, April 14 at 6:00.  tickets are still on sale t

 

Data Day

Our next Data Day will be coming up on April 25th- somewhat delayed from the 3rd Q, but we have many grade level days out in the meantime..  NWEA and DRA will not be done yet, but June gets pretty crazy and I am not sure we can squeeze another day in, so we will use whatever data you have that is current.

April 21- This is the day I will take your rooms.  Schedule is below

MATH ASSESSMENT DATA TIME (Bring your class to the gym)- April 21

The schedule is as follows:

3rd Grade:  8:35-9:20

5th Grade: 9:30-10:15

4th Grade: 10:25-11:10

Kindergarten:  12:15-12:50

1st Grade: 1:00-1:45

2nd Grade:  1:50-2:35

Data Day- April 25

What To Bring:

  • 3rd  Quarter Math Assessments
  • Other…

The schedule is as follows: 

8:45-9:30       Grade 3

9:-35-10:15       Grade 5

10:20-11:05      Grade 2

11:10-11:55        Grade 4

12:45-1:30         Grade 1

1:45-2:30           Grade K

 

 

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March Reading

Thanks to everyone for all of your hard work and dedication to making March a memorable month for our young readers.  Your doors, the activities, pictures, logs, bingo, and everything else surely made this a great month long event.  Fantastic job!

ReportCard

Report Cards will be sent home on Friday, April 15

Report Card window is open until April

 

 

School improvement plan

School Improvement

The SIP team continues to move forward in completion of our plan.  The Data team will be meeting next week to work on the data analysis portion, which will then move into reviewing our goals and strategies.  I strongly encourage everyone to become involved with the process, even if it’s just coming to a meeting.  The QAR visit will be in October, we will all be part of that either in a direct way, or just have a team member in your room observing.  We will keep you posted with all of the information you need, but becoming involved is the best way to keep current.  The next SIP meeting is April 19th

Retention

Now that we are heading towards the end of the year, the issue of possible retention for some students has surfaced.  As many of you may have heard, research indicates that retention is not a viable strategy.  Meeting to put in place a structured intervention plan for the following school year, in the next grade level, aligns more with our MTSS plans and helping students succeed, not to mention the social-emotional benefits of remains with your classmates.  That said, I will certainly sit with all of you and review your thoughts on students that may be on the bubble, but there will need to be enough data evidence and lack of progress to show that retention would be of benefit, beyond an intense intervention plan.   Please see me as we go through the next few months to review any students you strongly feel should be retained.

Some research:

http://educationbythenumbers.org/content/new-research-failing-students_2034/

http://intranet.niacc.edu/pres_copy(1)/ILC/The_Retention_Debate.pdf

http://www.ascd.org/ASCD/pdf/journals/ed_lead/el_199005_shepard.pdf

 

Enjoy some camp pics…

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Fire Drill

We will be having our next fire drill on the 12th in a.m.  The time will be random to get a more realistic view of what happens when the alarm goes off.

 

MARK YOUR CALENDAR – KINDERGARTEN ROUND UP

at Arno, Bennie and Lindemann Elementary

MONDAY, MAY 9, 2016 – 6:00 p.m.

*Children who are five years of age by September 2 thru December 1 may only be enrolled for kindergarten at the request of the parent/guardian through a signed waiver process. Waiver form is available at the Riley Education Center.

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Allen Park Elementary Honor Choir Concert

Congratulations to all of our talented singers in the Allen Park Elementary Honor Choir for a beautiful concert this past Tuesday evening.  Their voices sounded like angels as they alternated with the chime choir from Lindemann.  Congratulations also to Tracy Hoffman for his dedication in working with our kids after school to develop all of their talent to build up to a successful concert!

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Daddy Daughter Dance Coming Up

Please see the flyer below for information on the Daddy Daughter Dance

Daddy Daughter Dance

 

#LOVEMYSCHOOLDAY

April 11  http://leadlearner2012.blogspot.com/p/lovemyschoolday.html?m=1

 

 

 

STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS

If you are a currently working at a district school you may qualify for student loan forgiveness programs. The Teacher Forgiveness program was introduced and designed to help teachers, while allowing them to continue their careers as educators. Participation in the program will reduce your principal, and after ten years, any balance that remains is completely forgiven.

We will help you through the application process, determine your eligibility and prepare all necessary documents. Even if you aren’t a teacher you may still qualify for some form of forgiveness, all it takes is a phone call to find out.

(855) 231-0032
9:00am – 8:00pm EST Weekdays
9:00am – 1:00pm EST Saturday

PBIS SURVEY

Part of our PBIS Grant is the completion of a year-end survey about the program.  Please take some time this week to complete this short survey.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2016PBISA-D

EDUCATOR OPEN HOUSE

Hello educators,
We at The Henry Ford are inviting you and your colleagues to this year’s Spring Educator Open House on Saturday, April 16, 2016! This year Educators receive FREE admission for you and one additional guest to Henry Ford Museum & Giant Screen Theater. If you attend one of our “Must-See Viewing Sessions” in the theater you will receive free admission to Greenfield Village and the Ford Rouge Factory Tour as well.
“Must-See Viewing Sessions”
*   The Henry Ford staff will speak about the newly re-designed Giant Screen Theater, its features, our Teacher’s Choice program, and how to tie it all together on a field trip. Then sit back and enjoy Deepsea Challenge 3D at9:00AM and/or National Parks 3D at 10:00AM
*   Sensory Friendly Screenings! Come experience a Sensory Friendly Screening of one of our newest films, Watermelon Magic at 11:05 AM. With a Sensory Friendly Screening the lights are turned up and the sound is turned down to create a more comfortable, enjoyable experience for people with autism and other sensory issues/special needs creating an environment of flexibility and acceptance for anyone unable to sit down for the entire film. Sensory Friendly Screenings will now be an option that can be applied to Teacher’s Choice selections.
Sessions will begin at least 10 minutes before the showtimes.
Other long-standing favorite resources and new programs from The Henry Ford will be highlighted at a “fair” of “Learn More Stations” in Henry Ford Museum.
Please visit our webpage to learn more about Educator Open House and to register: https://www.thehenryford.org/current-events/calendar/educator-open-house/
Please feel free to share this invitation with any of your colleagues who may be interested in attending.
Thank you,
Frederick Rubin
Gain Perspective. Get Inspired. Make History.
Frederick Spencer Rubin
Education Coordinator
P: 313.982.6100 ext 2508
E: frederickr@thehenryford.org<mailto:frederickr@thehenryford.org>
www.thehenryford.org<http://www.thehenryford.org>

Have a great Cougar week!

Have-A-Great-Week

 

April 4

Coming soon to Arno…

April 4

Welcome Back!

April 5

MiStarDNA training @Riley- Brian, Megan, Steve

Honor Choir Concert @Riley 7:00

April 6

SIP meeting @Riley all day- Megan, Carrie, Sarah, Steve

April 7

K-2 Kindle meeting with Adam 3:45

Principal meeting 9:00

Spring Picture Retake

PTA Meeting 6:30- Election of Officers

ICC 4:00

April 8

End of 3rd Quarter

Report Cards

The window for report cards opens up from April 1 to April 12.  Report cards will go home on April 15th

MSTEP 

We drawing very close to the start of the 5th grade window (Begins April 11).  Please find a parent letter regarding M-STEP to all parents in grades 3,4, and 5th that will be sent via blog and e blast.   I have loaded the test integrity doc from the state with all the security protocol, as well as all of the checklists for prepping for the test in the MSTEP Resource folder.  Please review the student list with them prior to testing.  I have also included the link to our schedule for testing MSTEP and NWEA.

** Teachers administering the MSTEP — please continue to ensure that your students are getting practice with the Online Tutorials and Test Practice at least once a week  so they are comfortable and familiar with the test’s appearance and functions.  The tech department has added the INSIGHT app to the Chromebooks, which should link directly to these tutorials and practice, as well as the bookmark sites.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Arno Testing Schedule

ParentMSTEPLetter2016.doc

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6th Grade Camp

Camp got off to an awesome start as temps soared to around 60 degrees under sunny skies for the campers first day.  Here are initial pics to enjoy from Day 1, more will follow soon.  I was really impressed with how well all of our kids respected the camp staff, were on their best behavior, and showed the camp staff what Arno kids are made of!

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Raymond Winter proudly sits by his art work at the district Spring Art Show

District Spring Art Show

Congratulations to all of our young artists who had work on display at the spring art show this week.   There was a great crowd on hand taking in all of the art and listening to the second graders sing from Bennie Elementary.   A BIG thanks to Elizabeth Cunningham, Rachel Trapani, Tracy Hoffman, and Jeff Skebo for another magnificent show!

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March is Reading Month

Thank you to everyone for a successful and fun March is Reading month. All students enjoyed a “flying saucer” doughnut from Krispy Kreme in celebration of the entire month.

Please enjoy some final pics from March and our Author assembly from Thursday.

Ms. Downriver, Shelby Saint Souver 2015, read to numerous classrooms this month

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More guest readers…

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Author Visit from Paul Orshoski

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4th graders read with their lightsabers during March

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Other guests around Arno town

 

 

4th Grade Book Reports and Wayne State Field Trip

Take a look at some very cool projects to go along with 4th grade book reports

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Spirit Wear Online Fundraiser

It’s back by popular demand- Arno Spirit sale is now online.  Awesome news- if you purchase from 3/14-3/28, you will get free shipping  so be sure to order your spirit wear now!  The site link is below, I am also adding it to the right side bar so you can go on anytime (even past this sale) and order Arno wear.

http://arnospiritwear.com/

 

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RESPONSE WRITING TIPS
10 Response Writing Tips to Prepare Students for Assessment Success from Write Steps Writing

Response writing is a critical component for success across all subject areas and text types on the upcoming spring assessments. How can you teach your students to write quality text-dependent responses in order to prepare them for success? Here are ten tips:

  1. Vary the length of responses in your lessons. For example, sometimes assign a quick write and other times assign a prompt that requires the students to give an extended response. At other times give students a chance to revise, edit, and score their work.
  2. For extended response prompts, give students the opportunity to respond to a variety of media types (including written text, video and audio recordings). For example, ask students to read a narrative and listen to an audio diary on the same topic. Then, have students respond to a prompt that requires them to use textual evidence from both sources.
  3. Emphasize re-reading and close reading.
  4. Have your students practice gathering the meaning of unknown words through the use of context clues.
  5. Suggest using phrases like: the author said, in paragraph 3, according to the text, etc.
  6. Use a wide range of terms when preparing writing prompts, e.g., article, excerpt, text, selection, key idea, central idea, and theme.
  7. Have your students underline the direction words in a prompt before answering in an attempt to clarify what they are being asked to do, e.g., support, discuss, describe, interpret, respond, summarize, explain, articulate.
  8. Teach a unit of response writing using all text types early in the school year, thus making it easier for students to write quality responses across the curriculum all year long.
  9. Teach a mini-unit of response writing lessons during each text-type unit, e.g., 3-5 lessons during the Narrative unit, 3-5 lessons during the Informative unit, and 3-5 lessons during the Opinion unit.
  10. Don’t forget the RACES writing strategy that helps students write a quality response that is supported by textual evidence. The visual aid, “Off to the RACES: How to Write a Response to a Text, Audio, or Video Presentation” is a useful framework that will help your students remember the steps of writing a thorough response. Click here to download it and pass it out to your students.

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DISTRICT SCHOOL OF CHOICE INFORMATION

We ask that you help us by sharing this information with friends and/or family members who may be interested in having their children become a part of the Allen Park Public Schools Family.

Allen Park Public Schools

Limited Schools of Choice Program for 2016-17

The Allen Park Public School District has established a successful Schools of Choice Program for the past several years and the Board of Education has approved continuation of the program for the 2016-17 school year for Kindergarten through 8th Grade.  (Requests for specific elementary schools cannot be guaranteed)

Applications are available beginning Monday, April 4 at the Riley Education Center, 9601 Vine.  Completed applications will be accepted beginning Monday, April 18 through Friday, May 6, 2016 from 7:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. weekdays in the Pupil Accounting Office at the Riley Education Center.  Completed applications must be presented in person to ensure that all information is complete.  A random draw selection will be held on May 11 at 9:00 a.m. at the Riley Education Center.  The draw will determine numerical selection for acceptance of candidates.

For more information about the Schools of Choice Program, please visit our website at apps.k12.mi.us or call (313) 827-2105.

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AUTISM WALK-RUN TO SOLVE THE PUZZLE

The entire community is cordially invited to participate and/or attend the Autism Walk-Run to Solve the Puzzle Color Run sponsored by the Allen Park HS Autism Awareness Club on SUNDAY, APRIL 24 – 1:00-4:30 p.m. at Champaign Park.

Silent Auction, DJ/Music, Face Painting, Temporary Tattoos, Food/Refreshments – bring the entire family for a walk and some fun!  Come cheer on the runners and spread some color! All proceeds benefit the APHS ASD Program.

Discounted pre-registration available – $15 – includes walk/run number, t-shirt, color packet to throw and bidding at silent auction.  See attached for more details and registration form!  Let’s come together as a school community and walk!

SAFETY TOWN

Who:  Kindergarten to 1st Grade in September 2016

When:  Session (A) June 20 -June 30  (9:00am to 11:30am)

Session (B) June 20-June 30 (12:30pm to 3:00pm)

Where:  Lindemann Elementary (9201 Carter, Allen Park)

A registration form will be sent home with your child the first week of April. Walk-in registration will also be available at the Allen Park Recreation Center Lobby on April 11th from 4-6 p.m.
Safety Town is an interactive safety awareness program for children from 5-6 years of age. Each day the children will be introduced to various safety issues in a fun and safe environment. The program is taught by a Police Officer and a certified teacher, with hands-on topics led by community guest speakers as well as visits from the Allen Park Police & Fire Departments. Teen volunteers from Allen Park High School lead the children through safety town every day and receive valuable training along with obtaining National Honor Society service hours. The children learn about stranger danger, water and beach as well as playground safety, fire safety, pet and bus safety, electrical and gun safety, personal safety with an emphasis on pedestrian safety. The kids will be bicycling about a miniature town complete with streets, sidewalks, buildings, stop signs and a working traffic signal. Importance is placed on having the children memorize a cell phone number to call if they should ever become lost. We use fun songs to reinforce all of these principles and the children memorize our very own Safety Town Pledge!

SCECH-Credits-1

20 FREE SCECHs AVAILABLE

University of Michigan 4T Virtual Conference:  4 T stands for Teachers Teaching Teachers Technology. The 4T Virtual Conference will be May 21-23.

Please share the link with teachers who want to learn and collaborate about educational technology and earn up to 20 FREE SCECHs, all from the comfort of their home. They can register on the site below. The conference is also FREE.

http://www.4tvirtualcon.com/lead-presenters.html

 

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PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITY

Please check out this information on a partnership with Concordia University  Allen Park Benefits on 2 pgs

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Have a Blessed Easter and Restful Break!

March 21

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Coming soon to Arno…

March 21

MTSS district 4:00

March 22

5th Grade Camp Begins- Steve @camp all day

SIP meeting 3:45

March 23

Steve @APHS for mock interviews 10:45

5th grade camp

District Art Spring Show

PTSA Council meeting 6:30

March 24

Author Assembly per schedule

Guest reading @Schultz 10:00

Guest reading @ Liedel 10:30

Guest reading @Martinchick 11:00

5th grade camp

Kindergarten spring celebration 1:30

March 25

No School- Spring Break Begins

March 25-April 3 Spring Break- No School

Have a Happy Easter and Restful Break!

I wish you all a happy Easter and hope that we can all rest and recharge our batteries for the end run.  If you do anything special over break, be sure to send me some pics and I’ll post them in the staff blog!  Thank you for being a caring and collaborative staff, it has been my pleasure to be part of the team this year!

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Tech News

Two big tech items on the horizon:

  1. All teacher desktop computers will be replaced over the summer this year.  It will continue to be a desktop for every teacher, with Windows 7 remaining as the OS
  2. Our entire computer lab will be replaced with Google Chromeboxes.  You will have all of the same features as a PC, with a mouse, key board, projector access, etc.  Since we are mainly internet based on our current machines, this should be a nice upgrade.  This will take place as soon as they are able to start the project.  No closures are planned at this point.

MiStar DNA Data Input Training

This is an update to K-3 teachers for our April 14th training on the new data system for data entry of your next DRA scores.

Grades 1 & 3  8:30-10:10

Grade K & 2  10:15-11:50

Second Grade- it looks like we will run your lunch from 11:55-12:35.  I’ll know more when we get close

Please bring a copy of your January results so we have numbers to practice with.

 

District School of Choice Program FYI

We ask that you help us by sharing this information with friends and/or family members who may be interested in having their children become a part of the Allen Park Public Schools Family.

Allen Park Public Schools

Limited Schools of Choice Program for 2016-17

The Allen Park Public School District has established a successful Schools of Choice Program for the past several years and the Board of Education has approved continuation of the program for the 2016-17 school year for Kindergarten through 8th Grade.  (Requests for specific elementary schools cannot be guaranteed)

Applications are available beginning Monday, April 4 at the Riley Education Center, 9601 Vine.  Completed applications will be accepted beginning Monday, April 18 through Friday, May 6, 2016 from 7:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. weekdays in the Pupil Accounting Office at the Riley Education Center.  Completed applications must be presented in person to ensure that all information is complete.  A random draw selection will be held on May 11 at 9:00 a.m. at the Riley Education Center.  The draw will determine numerical selection for acceptance of candidates.

For more information about the Schools of Choice Program, please visit our website at apps.k12.mi.us or call (313) 827-2105.

 

School Improvement Update

The district team met Tuesday and heard from our own teachers and Mike Darga about their experiences serving on an external review team.  The work is ahead is challenging, but I am confident we will get this done together and move forward as a collaborative team.

Sarah, Megan, and Carrie are constructing a google doc that they will share with you soon detailing all of the evidence that we will need from the staff to give the team a good picture of who we are.  Please be aware that the external review team, made up of 5 members, will visit every classroom in the building for an average 20 minute time period.  During this time, they will be using a tool called Eliot, which they will use for your classroom observation.  It’s not necessarily a critique on the staff, but a focus on student learning.

During this time, we have set up a weebly to start uploading evidence that we will receive from you.  We will soon meet as a staff and it is my sincere hope when we set up this important update meeting that we will have all staff present.  This should happen sometime late spring.

At this point, be on the lookout for info regarding evidence needed from the SIP team.  The SIP team has expanded and we have now welcomed Megan aboard.  Megan’s role in PBIS has now been turned over to Katie Jensen.

In addition to all of the QAR fun, we have also managed to complete most docs for the SIP leading up to the larger plan.  We will also be meeting with the data team in April to finalize the SIP data analysis and provide final guidance on the plan.

Board of Ed Meeting

Monday’s Board meeting featured all of the elementary buildings presenting on our current status of the SIP plan and associated data.   Sarah, Megan, Melissa, and students Gerry Klos and Kaylee Daniels joined us for the Arno presentation.  I wanted to thank everyone for all their hard work and dedication to make learning the best it can be at Arno.  Great job team!

The other agenda item for the night was the adoption Singapore Math as the new new math series (not curriculum) for the elementary schools.  More information will be shared this Friday at our PD.

BIG thanks to Jeanine Haskin and Renee Guyot for all of their hard work and dedication to the process of selecting a new series.  We appreciate your effort and thank you for what this means to our kids in the future!

SIP Board Presentation March 2016

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Spirit Wear Online Fundraiser

It’s back by popular demand- Arno Spirit sale kickoff is this Monday, March 14.  Awesome news- if you purchase from 3/14-3/28, you will get free shipping  so be sure to order your spirit wear now!  The site link is below, I am also adding it to the right side bar so you can go on anytime (even past this sale) and order Arno wear.

http://arnospiritwear.com/

March is Reading Month continues…

Wear a Word Day

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Although March is winding down this week, we still have some great things going on at Arno!

School-wide DEAR: (Drop Everything and Read) Students will read every Tuesday and Thursday morning in their classrooms.

Book Commercials: Different books commercials will be presented during morning announcements.

Caught Reading” Bulletin: Students will try to “get caught reading” at home and/or school and have their photograph taken and displayed in the hall.

Teacher Reading Swap: Teachers will read to different classrooms.

Culminating Read-a-Thon: Monday, March 21st. As a celebration to end MIRM, kids can wear their pajamas and bring in their favorite books/magazines. –

Author Visit: Paul Orshoski – March 24th

May the Force Be With You!

March Guest Readers 

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March 14

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May the luck of the Irish be with you!

Coming up at Arno…

March 14

Spirit Weal Fundraiser Kickoff

Ad Council 9:00

Board Presentation- 7:00 At APHS

March 15

SIP District Meeting- Sarah, Carrie, Steve All day

Teacher Eval Committee- Carrie  3:00

March 16

All Day Building SIP meeting Sarah, Carrie, Steve

4th Grade Science meeting A.M.

5th grade Science Meeting P.M.

March 17

Happy St. Patty’s Day!

Tornado Drill A..M.

Lunch Para Meeting 1:15

March 18

NO SCHOOL- Teacher PD

New Arno Vision 

The vote to choose a new Vision direction for Arno has ended.  With the majority choosing the first entry- which was word smithed with a collection of terms from the group developed statements.  67% of the Arno staff chose the following Vision to guide our steps in the next few years.  The remainder of the votes were dispersed among the other choices.

 Arno Elementary will provide a system of support to empower and inspire students to become collaborative learners that strive for academic excellence.  

Look for more information related to our new vision in the coming months- this will also be in effect for our upcoming QAR

A look at the numbers: They are in order from the survey questions.

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Board of Ed Meeting

Monday’s Board meeting will feature all of the elementary buildings presentation on our current status of the SIP plan and associated data.   We would love to see you come out and support your chairs!

The other agenda item for the night will be adopting Singapore Math as the new new math series (not curriculum) for the elementary schools.  This has been an exciting process and I know we are all eager to get some training and see what it has to offer our students.

SIP Board Presentation March 2016

 

Feedback Satisfaction Information Business Office Working Concept

Teacher Eval Committee

This week will make the first meeting of a newly formed committee that will be having open discussions on what changes the state has made to the teacher evaluation system and what that means to Allen Park Public schools.  Carrie Solak will represent Arno at the meeting.

Absence

As you know Aesop has improved a lot this year in terms of coverage.  The district does, however, ask you get your absence in when you need time off as early as possible so we can get those posted for people to pick up the job.  Thank for your help in ensuring we have our building covered.

Spirit Wear Online Fundraiser

It’s back by popular demand- Arno Spirit sale kickoff is this Monday, March 14.  Awesome news- if you purchase from 3/14-3/28, you will get free shipping  so be sure to order your spirit wear now!  The site link is below, I am also adding it to the right side bar so you can go on anytime (even past this sale) and order Arno wear.

http://arnospiritwear.com/

MISTAR logo 6c star only

MiStar DNA

We recently had an initial introduction to MiStar DNA (works along with Gradebook), which is a system that serves as a data warehouse, provides awesome data reports, allows a user to create assessments aligned to standards (has an item bank as well), and allows users to create a bubble sheet that can quickly be scanned and corrected-giving the user countless pieces of data and exit slips for students.

At this point, the district is going with a train-the-trainer model, with our 2 reps being Brian and Megan.  As we know there are many new things going on, this will paced appropriately and training will be available when time allows for it.  Stay tuned as we move forward into next year training with our reps.

 

PTA March Newsletter

Please enjoy News from your Arno PTA…

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2016-03 Arno PTA Newsletter

External Review (QAR)

We have now finalized the dates for our external review, which will be Oct. 9-12.  These dates are when the team is in town, not necessarily at Arno.  The SIP team will be working hard to meet all of the requirements, which we can hopefully accomplish all before school let’s out.  Stay tuned for more info and what we may need from everyone moving forward.

Arno Green School Designation

Congrats!  Once again thanks to Arno’s attention to the environment, we have once again achieved  Michigan Evergreen Status!  Thanks to Carrie and Jeff for their work in this area!  The email from the county:

“Congratulations! Because of the hard work from the teachers, students and parents, Arno Elementary School has received the 2016 Michigan Evergreen School designation, by completing at least 20 energy saving and environmental tasks.  The efforts you made to complete the tasks are very impressive. I urge Arno Elementary School to continue with the energy saving and environmental tasks and hope you encourage others to follow. “

-Nancy Gregor

Wayne County Michigan Green School Co-coordinator

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Star Wars Door Decorating Winners are…

Congratulations to Mrs. Schultz, Ms. Yesh, and Mrs. Jensen for winning this year’s March Door Decorating contest!  The winning classrooms will receive a delicious ice cream sandwich.

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March is Reading Month 

We have had great success so far this month in filling our our reading logs for prizes and stickers.  I would like to encourage all of our students to read, read, read and get those logs in next Monday for our next Star Wars reward!  This past Monday, those who turned in their logs received a cool Star Wars pencil, with a Star Wars bookmark coming up next week.  In the meantime we have some more guest readers coming to Arno, and some fun activities coming up:

Wear It Wednesdays:

Every Wednesday during March students can wear it and read it!

*March 16th – “Be a word” day! Wear a word pinned to the front of your shirt. Pin the definition on the back.

School-wide DEAR: (Drop Everything and Read) Students will read every Tuesday and Thursday morning in their classrooms.

Book Commercials: Different books commercials will be presented during morning announcements.

“Caught Reading” Bulletin: Students will try to “get caught reading” at home and/or school and have their photograph taken and displayed in the hall.

Teacher Reading Swap: Teachers will read to different classrooms.

Culminating Read-a-Thon: Monday, March 21st. As a celebration to end MIRM, kids can wear their pajamas and bring in their favorite books/magazines. –

Author Visit: Paul Orshoski – March 24th

May the Force Be With You!

March Guest Readers

Mr. Creutz’s father reading to Mrs. Haskin’s  class

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Dr. Sturock and Sara Metzger came in to share their favorite books with our Cougars!

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Bingo for Books

A big thank you to Melissa for organizing our Bingo for books and all of the staff that attended to assist.  It was really a fun time and the kids had great big smiles all the way around!  Thanks for all you do for our kids!

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MSTEP UPDATE

New student link for practice tests: http://bit.ly/arnomstep

Teachers who will be administering the M-STEP to students:  Please make sure that you (and your students) have thoroughly experienced the different test types in the sample item sets.  The CAT sections of ELA and Math have a slightly different format than the fixed form Performance Tasks and Science and Social Studies tests.  On the fixed form tests, students do have the opportunity to review their answers before ending the test, and the grid will show any unanswered questions.  The CAT tests do not allow students to move on without answering.  The difference is important to note.  The student tutorial videos do show this, so please utilize these resources.

 ** Also, in the Performance Tasks, students are expected to go back and forth between parts of the question, on different pages, to use information they have already answered for future responses.  Students are capable of this, but please ensure that you practice this so they are familiar with the process.

 Please check out the updates below from this week’s Spotlight.  It was great to read that the state’s recommendations are exactly what we had discussed doing during our MSTEP Teacher Training last week!  Spotlight 3-3-16

 Help Your Students Prepare for the Online M-STEP

The Office of Standards and Assessment (OSA) has created multiple resources for students taking the Spring 2016 M-STEP online. OSA recommends the following resource sequence:

1) Classroom teachers show the online assessment tutorial to their class as a whole so students gain a general understanding of how the online system works, followed by

2) viewing the computer adaptive test videos to familiarize teachers and students on how a computer adaptive test functions; the videos may be delivered either as a classroom presentation or students may watch the videos individually via their testing device, and ending with

3) students are given the opportunity to log into the sample item sets using the testing device they will use during the actual test.

 Resources Described

1) Online Assessment Tutorials are posted on eDirect (https://mi.drcedirect.com) → Test Setup → General Information, select the Test Tutorials tab, then select the Play button in the Action column. There are 3 test tutorial options: M-STEP, MI-Access, and Early Literacy and Mathematics (K-2).

2) Computer Adaptive Test Videos for ELA and mathematics demonstrate how to navigate the computer adaptive tests (CAT), which is different than how the ELA and mathematics tests functioned last spring. These two important videos can be accessed on the M-STEP webpage (www.michigan.gov/mstep), located in the What’s New section. (Continued on next page) on Student Assessment and Accountability March 3, 2016 Quick Links / SAT Corner / ACT WorkKeys / Important Dates 3 Spotlight

3) Sample Item Sets for the Spring 2016 M-STEP for students in grades 3–8, and 11 are a select group of test items in English language arts (ELA), mathematics, science, and social studies that encompass different item types, such as multiple choice, constructed response, and various kinds of technology-enhanced items. The sets provide students practice in solving grade-level and content-specific test items aligned to Michigan’s content standards. Since the item sets are embedded in the online test engine used to deliver state assessments, students will develop familiarity with taking tests online while they practice using the test engine’s online tools and navigation buttons. The Sample Item Sets are contained within the Online Tools Training (OTT) component.

 Students needing designated supports and/or accommodations on state assessments can practice using the Grade 3 ELA M-STEP Sample Item Set with accommodations. The Grade 3 ELA M-STEP Sample Item Set with Accommodations demonstrates some of the available online embedded accommodations and designated supports such as Text-To-Speech (TTS), Color Chooser, Contrasting Text, Masking, and Reverse Contrast. Educators and students can access the online Sample Item Sets at school using a Chrome browser (https:// wbte.drcedirect.com/MI/portals/mi/ott1) or INSIGHT* (the online testing platform).

 Parents and students can also access the online sets available through the Chrome browser from home (the test functionality requires the use of Chrome). NOTE: The Sample Items Sets are not considered “Practice Tests,” as a practice test implies a test with the same number of items and similar level of difficulty as an actual test. *The Grade 3 ELA M-STEP Accommodated and TTS versions of the sample sets are only available using INSIGHT.

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K-2 ASSESSMENTS

Schools across Michigan are field-testing an online assessment in Early Literacy and Numeracy.  If you’d like to view the sample test items, or the online Student Tutorial Videos, check them out here:  http://mi-web-td.drcedirect.com/MI/portals/mi
Homebound Teacher

HOME BOUND TEACHERS NEEDED

The Special Services Department is still seeking teachers who would be interested in servicing our homebound population.  Our student numbers are high this year and we are running out of staff options.  (Compensation is $25 per hour)
Please email Marianne Dobek if you are interested or have any questions.  dobek@appublicschools.com

 

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie…

CUAA Tuition Discount Available

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SAFETY TOWN

Who:  Kindergarten to 1st Grade in September 2016

When:  Session (A) June 20 -June 30  (9:00am to 11:30am)

Session (B) June 20-June 30 (12:30pm to 3:00pm)

Where:  Lindemann Elementary (9201 Carter, Allen Park)

A registration form will be sent home with your child the first week of April. Walk-in registration will also be available at the Allen Park Recreation Center Lobby on April 11th from 4-6 p.m.
Safety Town is an interactive safety awareness program for children from 5-6 years of age. Each day the children will be introduced to various safety issues in a fun and safe environment. The program is taught by a Police Officer and a certified teacher, with hands-on topics led by community guest speakers as well as visits from the Allen Park Police & Fire Departments. Teen volunteers from Allen Park High School lead the children through safety town every day and receive valuable training along with obtaining National Honor Society service hours. The children learn about stranger danger, water and beach as well as playground safety, fire safety, pet and bus safety, electrical and gun safety, personal safety with an emphasis on pedestrian safety. The kids will be bicycling about a miniature town complete with streets, sidewalks, buildings, stop signs and a working traffic signal. Importance is placed on having the children memorize a cell phone number to call if they should ever become lost. We use fun songs to reinforce all of these principles and the children memorize our very own Safety Town Pledge!

3rd Grade Maple Tapping (Yummy) and field trip to U of M

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Have a super fantastic weekend!

March 7

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Coming up at Arno…

March 7

3rd grade to U of M

LL meeting with Katie 8:00

March 8

3rd grade to U of M

District PBIS meeting @ Bennie 4:00

March 9

C.L. meeting with Katie 9:00

Steve @Lindemann guest reader 10:00

PBIS meeting 3:45

March 10

4th grade to Planetarium 8:40

March 11

No events

March 12

PTSA Spring Craft Show

Penny Wars

Arno School will be participating in a March is Reading Month Penny War on Monday, March 7th-Thursday, March 10th from 8:35-8:50 am. Each classroom’s goal is to have the most pennies in their bucket and to put silver coins/bills in other classroom buckets. The funds earned from our Penny War will go towards purchasing books at Arno School.
If you would like your child to participate, please have him/her bring their coins/bills in a ziploc bag labeled Penny War and your child’s name. This will help the Arno Staff know what the money is for. Also, the ziploc bag will make it easier for your child to carry around their coins/bills while they are participating in the Penny War.

Vision Update

We now have the vision statements that were written by the team members that were present on the last SIP meeting day.  The next step is to take was written, see if anything should be combined- then send that out to you for a vote.  It will include:

Our current vision

The 3 Visions that were created

A combined vision statement that will be fashioned from the originals for consideration

You should have a total of 5-6 statements in which to ponder.  If there are like numbers in the google form vote, we will narrow the field and send it back out until we have consensus on a statement.  Look for that before break.

March is Reading Month Continues

We are so excited that March is finally here and the Arno staff has planned some awesome activities throughout the month which includes things like a book exchange, Bingo for Books, prizes, and a Star Wars theme!  If you are in the building this month, please take note of all the cool themed doors that all of  our classrooms worked on.  Please see below for more information on all of the exciting plans for the rest of March…

Happy Reading! 

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Wear It Wednesday 2016

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Jennifer returns as a guest reader to Arno…

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And another special guest reader…

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Jacob Yesh, son of Ms. Yesh our Kindergarten teacher, also got into the March act of guest reading to many classrooms, this particular class is Mrs. Hool.

Look for other special guest readers all through the month at Arno!

M-STEP STATE ASSESSMENT

Thank you all for participating the in the M-STEP training, hopefully I can just push things to the shared resource folder, but we have to meet again priior to testing.   Remember the most important thing at this point is getting those kids on the practice test.  Practice on different things, but it should be weekly at this point.   You can practice the questions, key words, tools, types of problems they’ll see, scrolling features, reading carefully, etc.  The practice tests don’t change, but what do with it should.  Letting the students do this on the chromebook is the best way at this point to test our systems and simulate the test is closest way possible.  I did add a FAQ page as you can submit your questions, which i will then post the answer for everyone to see as we move through.  Let me know what questions you have- fifth grade, April 11 is coming quick 🙂

Practice link:

http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,4615,7-140-22709_70117-350540–,00.html

 

Enjoy Dr. Seuss’s Green Eggs and Ham (Yummy!!)

From a Galaxy Far, Far Away

Enjoy Fun Friday Pics with a Star Wars Flare!!

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Look at Our Cool Doors

The Arno staff and students also got together to do some Star Wars door decorating for March.  Check out these awesome doors- we’ll show more next week

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Roller Skating Party Update

Due to the district closing, the roller skating party was cancelled our last snow day.  The PTA is still currently working on a new date.  If you have paid already for the party, the PTA will address that when a data is selected.

Shrek the Musical coming soon…

It’s a “big bright beautiful world” for everyone’s favorite ogre in Shrek The Musical, based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation Film.

In a faraway kingdom, the green ogre Shrek finds his swamp invaded by banished fairytale misfits, runaways who’ve been cast off by Lord Farquaad, a tiny terror with big ambitions. When Shrek sets off with a wise-cracking donkey to confront Farquaad, he’s handed a task – if he rescues feisty Princess Fiona from the Dragon-guarded tower, his swamp will be returned to him. But, a fairy tale wouldn’t be complete without unexpected twists and turns along the way.

Part romance and part twisted fairy tale, Shrek is an irreverently fun show for the whole family. With abundant opportunities for imaginative sets and costumes and familiar characters that prove that beauty is in the eye of the ogre.

Performances will be on the weekend of March 18 -19 at 7pm & March 20 at 2pm.

Tickets Prices:
Adults $12
Students/Seniors $10
Family ticket $35 (2 adults and all children living in your home under 18)

Early bird prices are $2 off individual tickets through March 17th

Tickets are available at the APHS office or emailing Andrea Demorow at demorow@appublicschools.com

Shrekfest
Have breakfast with Shrek, Fiona, Donkey, Farquaad, and all the fairytale creatures!
Saturday, March 19, 2016
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Allen Park High School Cafeteria
Children: $15
Adult: $20
Sponsored by: Bierkeller
Tickets include your show ticket to any performance!
Contact the APHS office or email Andrea Demorow at demorow@appublicschools.com

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Shrek Ogre ears order form

Shrek Ogre ears

Shrekfest

MARK YOUR CALENDAR – KINDERGARTEN ROUND UP

at Arno, Bennie and Lindemann Elementary

MONDAY, MAY 9, 2016 – 6:00 p.m.

*Children who are five years of age by September 2 thru December 1 may only be enrolled for kindergarten at the request of the parent/guardian through a signed waiver process. Waiver form is available at the Riley Education Center.

 

Have a great Week Arno Cougars!!!

February 29

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Coming up at Arno…

Feb. 29

Sped Meetings a.m.

QAR meeting- Steve 11:00

MTSS- Lisa, Jenny, Steve 4:00

March 1

Happy March is Reading Month!!

Guest reading schedule begins

3rd Grade U of M

Jensen 30 minutes 1:15

March 2

Dr. Seuss Birthday!

MSTEP Staff training 7:30-8:30 OR 3:30-4:30 (voluntary)

3rd grade to U of M

March 3

SPRING PICTURES

Curr council 4:00

PTA Meeting 6:30

March 4

Bingo for Books 6:00

M-STEP Prep and Discussion 

On March 2, I will be hosting an M-STEP review of what will be required and latest updates from the state.  We will take the practice test, talk about the tools the kids need to know, and the content.  We will also take a look at some of the other resources that need to be practiced weekly at this point.  I am offering a session from 7:30-8:30 OR 3:30-4:00.  If you are in grades 3-5, please try and attend- all our welcome as we all have a hand in the M-STEP.

Data Day Reflection

Thank you once again for your participation in Data Day.  It is very valuable to gain insight to see where the building is heading as a whole, the kinds of interventions that are taking place (like ability driven classroom switching), and the reflection on your 2nd Q math assessment.  We are on the right track at Arno and it’s been great to be able to start bragging about these things in the SIP write up.  An overall summary:
– Most grades felt there classes did better on the 2 Q test and that the test was written in a better way
– Although results seemed better, questions were still analyzed for their quality, especially those that showed many students not scoring well
– Word problems and reading exactly what the question wanted seemed to be a common theme.  We talked about relating that to practice leading up to the mstep
– Many discussed the need for a mid year NWEA to gauge the progress towards the end goal
– ORR grade level proficiency and M-STEP subgroup data was shared
– There was excitement expressed about the district adopting a new math series, which goes to the Board on March 14
– We discussed the plans of various grades to either implement or strengthen their current plans to help differentiate instruction through an walk to read or walk to do math approach- this gets back to our movement towards an MTSS system and really shows that our staff does whatever it takes to reach our learners!

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Spring Pictures

Spring Pictures are this Thursday, March 3.  Only parents who pay for a package will receive pictures.

Scholastic Dollars

Just a reminder, I would like to have grade level scholastic dollar orders by today so we can get that organized and out.  Thanks

 

Bingo for Books

Please join in celebrating March is Reading month by participating in our annual

BINGO FOR BOOKS

March 4th, 2016

Eat, play, socialize AND win books for readers of all ages.  Price is $5.00 per person. Only one card per player.  Reservations are necessary.

*Price includes 1 slice of pizza, 1 drink, 1 cookie

*Additional pizza costs $1.00 extra per slice.

Date:    Friday, March 4th

Time:     Session #1                       Session #2

             Dinner     5:00-5:25        Dinner     6:15-6:40

             Bingo        5:30-6:00        Bingo        6:40-7:10

 

 

 March is Reading Month

We are so excited that March is finally here and the Arno staff has planned some awesome activities throughout the month which includes things like a book exchange, Bingo for Books, prizes, and a Star Wars theme!  Please below for more information on all of the exciting plans for March…

March is Reading Month

Save the Dates:

Every Wednesday during March is “Wear it Wednesdays!

Join in the fun and Wear it!

~Wednesday, March 2nd

– Wear a hat with words on it.

~Wednesday, March 9th

– Wear a t-shirt with words or a phrase on it.

~Wednesday, March 16th

– “Be a word” day! Wear a word pinned to the front of your

shirt. Pin the definition on the back.

 

Fun Fridays Reading Activities – Get Involved!

~Friday, March 4th

– Dress for Star Wars/Space: Wear clothing to school that depicts

your favorite Star Wars/space character and bring in your favorite Star Wars/space

book. No masks please!

~Friday, March 11th – Light Saber Day- Bring in a flashlight and your favorite book to

school.

 

Culminating Read-a-thon:

~Monday, March 21st

– As a celebration to end March is Reading Month wear your PJs and

bring in your favorite book.

**Please make sure clothing is school appropriate.

March Is Reading Month 

Arno Book Exchange

Friday, March 4th

Arno is having a used book exchange on Friday, March 4th. What a great opportunity for students to get gently-used books. Each child can bring up to 5 books to exchange. When deciding whether to bring a book to exchange, consider the following questions:

1. Is this a book that you do not mind ever seeing again?

2. Is this a book in your child’s grade level?

3. Is this a paperback or a book that you do not mind exchanging for a paperback?

4. Is the book in good shape?

5. Would you want it if you saw it at the book exchange?

If you answered yes to ALL of these questions, bring the books to school by Thursday, March 3rd.

If you answered NO to any of the questions, please do not bring in that particular book.

Happy Reading! 

Arno Book Exchange

march is reading month log

Wear It Wednesday 2016

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101 Day in First Grade

Our first graders stepped into a time machine and came out 101 years old (Coincidentally, the 101st day of school).  Take a look at some of our 101 years young students.

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Mrs. Watson’s Hard Workers…

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Kindergarten Registration Rescheduled

2016-17 KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION has been moved to Feb. 29th from 4:00-7:00 @Riley due to inclement weather.

February is Kindergarten Registration Month in Allen Park!

Allen Park Public Schools is ready to welcome your child for Kindergarten for the 2016-17 school year! The process is easy and we’re here to help.

Please share this information with friends, neighbors and family members who may have a child ready for Kindergarten next fall. Whether this is your first child attending school, or you live in the district and already have a child attending APPS, or already have a child attending APPS through our School of Choice Program, we need you to enroll your school age/younger siblings through our registration process.

*The entry age for Kindergarten for the 2016-17 school year – child must be five years of age by September 1, 2016. NOTE: All incoming Kindergarten students will be screened after Kindergarten Round Up. Placement recommendations will be made for students with early birthdates for Young 5s Program or Kindergarten based on screening indicators.

Kindergarten enrollment takes place at the Riley Education Center, 9601 Vine, AllenPark, Monday through Friday between the hours of 7:30 a.m. –3:30 p.m. (Office closed February 15 & 16)

Please bring:

  • Birth Certificate of Child
  • Driver’s License of Parent/Legal Guardian (for ID purposes)
  • Proof of residency (Warranty Deed/closing statement, tax or utility bill, homeowner’s insurance policy, rental agreement)
  • Current School of Choice Families – Name/grade of student currently enrolled in Allen Park Public Schools
  • Immunization Records or Wayne County Health Department Waiver (Required for enrollment)
  • Health Information Form/Physical (Required for entrance, but not required at time of enrollment)
  • Vision Screening Record (Required for Kindergarten enrollment)

As a convenience to our families, APPS will host evening hours for Kindergarten enrollment on Monday, February 29 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Riley Education Center. Please bring items mentioned above.

For more information, please visit our website at http://www.apps.k12.mi.us or call (313) 827-2105.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR – KINDERGARTEN ROUND UP

at Arno, Bennie and Lindemann Elementary

MONDAY, MAY 9, 2016 – 6:00 p.m.

*Children who are five years of age by September 2 thru December 1 may only be enrolled for kindergarten at the request of the parent/guardian through a signed waiver process. Waiver form is available at the Riley Education Center.

 

M-STEP coming soon… As it appears on the parent blog

In April, we will be starting the first window of online M-STEP testing.  This is the state test that measures academic achievement and growth in English Language Arts, Math, Science (4th grade), and social studies (5th grade).  Please see the schedule below as we ask for good attendance during the testing window.  You will notice that the grade levels are separated by weeks.

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/S16_Testing_Schedule_498529_7.pdf

In addition, please take some time and view the practice test link (Must be on Chrome) with your child.  You can get an idea of the caliber of the test and share the information together.

http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,4615,7-140-22709_70117-350540–,00.html

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