August 13, 2019 by Hala BerryMiller-Elementary Welcome-Back-2019-2020Download

August 13, 2019

Greetings Miller Community,                                                                  

Hoping Miller Families and loved ones are well, in good health and enjoying the remaining days of summer, nothing more rewarding than spending quality time with family, friends and loved ones.  The Miller Community looks forward to another exciting school year and extends a warm welcome to our new and returning families.  Our strength as a school community remains strong and continues to thrive and flourish one child at a time because of teamwork; we look forward to strengthening our parent partnerships ensuring every child meets their full academic, social and emotional potential.

Education and safety remain priorities at Miller Elementary, established processes and procedures preserve the safety of all members of our community.  To promote a safe and productive learning environment all members will be held to a high standard and expected to follow established processes governing our professional learning community.

At no time in the history of Public Education have stakes been higher for our children’s future success.  Parent’s active engagement at school and home is absolutely necessary for establishing the building blocks and foundations for learning.  Attached are: copies of 2019-2020 school calendar, Traffic Map and Open House Conference Schedule, please review and save for future reference.  As we begin another amazing school year, the excellent, proud and humble Educators at Miller Elementary look forward to partnering with parents and maximizing students’ educational experiences as we begin a wonderful and amazing school year.     

Miller Kindergarten Jump Start

• Mandatory ALL kindergarten Students Attend
• August, 20^th & 21^st, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., students will be eating breakfast and lunch with their teacher. 
• Miller kindergarten students will be introduced to their new classroom / school in a stress free environment absent any other students.  Kindergarten students will be the only students in the building and engage in Gym, Art, Music, Science and Media classes in addition to having breakfast and lunch with their teacher.  They will interact with other students and begin building relationships with Miller Staff.
• Kindergarten Parents drop off and pick up students in the classroom.

Monday August 26^th, 2019 – First Day All Students (1/2 Day)

• Classroom assignments posted on the front of the building Friday, August 23, 2019.
• Supply List by Grade level posted on school Blog, miller.dearbornschools.org
• School begins 8:35 a.m. and will be dismissed 11:45 a.m. (1/2 Day). 
• Students should plan on arriving 10 minutes early to verify classroom assignments.
• All 1^st – 5^th Grade students will meet their teachers in the Gym/Cafeteria at their assigned area (yellow sign). Kindergarten students are to be escorted to the classroom by their Parent. Kindergarten hallway is located to the left upon entering through the main entrance; Miller Staff will be assisting parents in finding assigned classroom teacher.
• Kindergarten Parents please plan on staying for a 30 – 60 minute informational meeting when you drop off your child. 

Kindergarten Soft Start Tuesday – Thursday, August 27^th – 29^th –

Kindergarten Soft Start : ONLY kindergarten students have ½ day Monday – Thursday August 26^th – 29^th, parents are required to drop off and pick up kindergarten students at 11:45 a.m. daily.  First FULL DAY for kindergarten students is Tuesday September 3^rd, 2019.

There will be no busing for kindergarten students during the first week of school, busing for kindergarten students will begin Tuesday September 3rd, 2019.

Busing will be provided for eligible 1^st – 5^th Grade students on the first day of school beginning August 26^th, 2019, NO BUSING for kindergarten students until September 3^rd, 2019.      

Attendance

• Consistent and timely attendance to school is critical and enhances your child’s educational experience while vastly improving their chances of success.  Avoid removing students from the classroom during the school day.  Avoid making doctor and dental appointments during the school day.  Sign student in/out in the Office prior to exiting the building and when students arrive late.  
• First warning bell rings at 8:32 a.m.; teachers will escort students to class and instruction begins at 8:35 a.m.  Children entering school after 8:45 a.m. must be accompanied by a parent and sign-in at the main office.  Students will not be allowed to enter class without a parent signature. 
• If your child is unable to attend school please contact the school office at:

 (313) 827 – 6850.  When calling, parents should give the following information: student and teacher name, grade, reason for and length of absence. 

• If a child must leave school early or arrive late parents are required to sign students in and out in the school office. 
• If a student is absent, it is his/her responsibility to check with teachers for missed work.  If a student will be absent for more than two days please contact the teacher to make arrangements for homework to be picked up from the office.  Homework will be ready for pick up the following school day by 3p.m. Weekly lesson plans and daily homework are posted on the teacher blog/parent connect. 

Health Matters

• Elementary age children require a minimum of ten hours of sleep per day; it’s a good idea to begin sending the little ones to bed a little earlier this week so they may acclimate to earlier bedtimes.
• Students require a healthy fortified breakfast before coming to school each and every day.  Breakfast at school is served between 8 -8:25 a.m.  Students eating breakfast at school should not arrive before 8 a.m., Cafeteria breakfast is not served after 8:25 AM.
• Review the importance of regularly washing their hands using soap and water throughout the school day i.e. before and after lunch and during bathroom breaks.
• If children are ill please keep them home.
• Children requiring medication throughout the school day are required to have completed a Medical Authorization Form on file in the office.  At no time are children allowed to carry, self-administer or dispense medication during the school day.
• Students need to bathe regularly and clothes washed daily.

Dress Code

• Students must dress appropriately in a manner that is not distracting or disruptive to the learning process and weather suitable. 
• Skirts, shorts, and skorts must come to the tip of the longest finger in a natural stance. 
• Writing is not permitted across the seat of a student’s garment.  Mutilated clothing (cut, torn, written on etc.) safety pins as decorations, chains, writing on clothing or skin is not permitted. 
• No outerwear (jackets, coats, hats, bandanas, etc) may be worn in classes; however, some hats or scarves required for religious reasons are permitted.  No jerseys may be worn unless accompanied by a t-shirt underneath it.  No tank tops or sleeveless shirts with the exception of gym class.  No spandex or tight fitting clothes.  No fishnet or transparent clothing is permitted. 
• No undergarment (bras, underwear, boxer shorts, etc.) should be showing, nor should pajamas be worn to school.
• Clothing, jewelry, symbols, or other things denoting gang membership are not permitted.  Clothing displaying offensive or inappropriate pictures or writing, which includes but is not limited to topics of sex, tobacco, alcohol and other drugs, is not permitted.   
• Flip-flops, slippers or any other shoe wear that does not have a back strap are not permitted.  In order to prevent serious injury socks or pantyhose must be worn at all times.
• Makeup is not permitted. 

We appreciate your full cooperation with these set standards.  Failure to comply with Dearborn Public Schools Dress Policy will result in parents being called and/or student being sent home.

Traffic

Great news, Cotter pre-school has changed their start time and will begin at 8 a.m.  This will significantly reduce traffic congestion during drop-off and dismissal.  Following established traffic patterns, working together and placing citizen safety first ensures we all remain safe.  A map of traffic flow is attached, please review and follow carefully throughout the year so we may preserve the safety and timeliness of all citizens. 

• No Parking in the Bus Drop Off Zone – (South of the Miller Sign)
• Allow adequate travel time and observe the posted speed limit, SLOW DOWN!
• Do not park and/or leave your car unattended in the drop off zone. 
• Do not make U-TURNS in the middle of the street it is illegal and dangerous.
• Make arrangements with your child to pick them up in the same place every day.
• Encourage your child use the crosswalk when crossing the street.
• Do not stop in the middle of the street to drop off your child. 
• Please pull all the way over to the right when dropping off your child.

Summary Important Dates

• August 20 & 21^st, 2019 – All Kindergarten Students, “Jump Start” 9 a.m.  – 12 p.m.
• Monday – 08-26-2019: 1st Day of School – ½ day All Students, 11:45 a.m. dismissal
• Tuesday – 08- 27 thru 8-29-2019 Full Day for 1^st – 5^th Grades dismissal 3:35 p.m., kindergarten dismissal 11:45 a.m., NO Busing for kindergarten students until Tuesday September 3^rd, 2019.
• NO SCHOOL Friday and Monday 08-31 and 9-02-2019, school resumes Tuesday 09- 03-2019, Full Day ALL students.
• 09-12-2019 Open House, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
• 09- 20-2019 Half Day, students dismissed at 11:45 a.m. 
• 09-25-2019 – Late Start school start time delayed until 9:35 a.m.

Miller’s Professional Learning Community looks forward to providing your child with the finest educational experience.  Thank you for the continued support and commitment to our partnership.  Please take time to review the following policies and information with your child. Questions please call the office, looking forward to seeing you soon.

Radewin Awada, PrincipalCategoriesSchool NewsPost navigation2019-2020 RECOMMENDED SUPPLY LIST

June 14, 2019

Dearest Miller Families,

I hope this letter finds you in good health and spirits as we conclude a great academic year at Miller Elementary.  Miller administration, staff and students thank you for the sustained support in maintaining a vibrant learning community where children remain the priority.  Our efforts have strengthened our neighborhood and promoted a safe, nurturing healthy environment for students to live, learn and grow. Help your child avoid summer learning loss by ensuring they practice reading, writing and mathematics daily!  Summer is a wonderful time to reflect and relax, at the same time structuring a regular time for daily reading and math practice will help students maintain the academic gains made throughout the school year and eliminate summer learning loss. Children require parent’s friendship, wisdom, guidance and support throughout the summer, now is not the time to stop learning.  Create quality family time by visiting the zoo, Detroit Science Center, Belle Isle Aquarium and Conservatory, Henry Ford Museum, Greenfield Village etc. We are living in uncertain times requiring children project courage and self-confidence by using and applying their knowledge.  Miller Elementary staff continue working diligently over the summer months to expand existing school improvement initiatives and opportunities in preparation for the 2019-2020 school year, we need your help.

Teachers have created personalized summer learning plan for each student on i-Ready and Zearn platforms.  It is imperative all students practice reading and math daily as reading and math minutes will be closely monitored.   Students have been directed to practice reading and math twenty minutes daily using i-Ready and Zearn applications. All Miller students are well versed with accessing both i-Ready and Zearn online, additionally all third through fifth grade students have Ready Common Core books to practice reading and writing and all k-5 students have Eureka Math Module workbooks they may complete over the summer.  Students absent technology at home may access technology at the Dearborn Centennial Library.  Student supply list will be posted on the school website by grade, enabling families to seize the great deals on school supplies over the summer. Next year’s class lists will be posted 1 week prior to the start of the 2019 – 2020 school year. Included is an updated 2019-2020 school calendar.

Wherever you are and whatever you are doing enjoy a safe, relaxing and restful summer vacation.  Looking forward to a wonderful 2019 – 2020 school year!

The key is not to prioritize what is on the schedule, but to schedule your priorities – Stephen Covey.

Respectfully,

Radewin Awada

Principal – Miller Elementary

School is officially over for the 2018-2019 year.  I hope all of you have a great summer.  Please remember Miller has an IReady contest taking place over the summer. Students need to complete a minimum of 45 minutes of i-Ready weekly with an 80% pass rate on lessons. The rules of the contest are: if 80% of Miller students meet the weekly i-Ready requirement of 45 minutes weekly with an 80%+ pass rate on the lessons, the first day of school next year will be a family picnic similar to field day.  Additionally, the top 10 students posting the most reading minutes on i-Ready with a 80%+ accuracy completing lessons will be rewarded with: 1st place $100, 2nd – 5th place $50 and 5th – 10th place $25 gift cards…

Also, students can practice math skills by going on ZEARN over the summer.  It is great practice for them!

Supplies needed for 3rd grade

• 4 ( 1 subject notebook) red, blue, green, yellow
• 2 (2-pocket folders)
• 1 pack of 24 count crayons
• 1 crayon box
• Pack of EXPO dry erase markers
• Small sharpener
• 2 Black and White Composition Notebooks
• 24 pack of pencils
• 2 glue Sticks
• Loose Leaf paper
• 2 tissue boxes
• Large Hand Sanitizer bottle
• Yellow Highlighter
• Gallon size Ziplock bags
• Clorox Wipes
• 1 clean sock to use as an eraser for dry erase markers

We are having our 2nd grade end of year picnic on Monday June 10. We are asking each student to bring $1 to contribute towards pizza. Students should still plan for a lunch as they will still have their normal lunch time, the pizza will be later in the day.

Students may bring extra snacks (no candy, no pop, no hot chips) to have during the picnic. Students are also welcome to bring blankets to sit on.

No school: June 3, 4 & 5

Boat Trip 3^rd -5^th grades: June 6

Author Artist John Agee visits K-2: June 6

Field Day: June 7

Mobile Dentist: June 10-12

5^th Grade Ceremony: June 12 at 1:00

Last day of school ½ day 11:45 dismissal: June 14

Miller second graders were able to experience history first hand on our visit to Greenfield Village.  It was both a learning and fun trip for all students.  The first picture shows Miller students in front of the original Miller School Building.  It is a one room schoolhouse!

Complete daily assignments and return each day.

Spelling List-Singular and Irregular Plural words

woman    man

women    men

goose      foot

geese      feet

mouse     mice

Dolch words:  wave, suppose, number, piece, straight

Our spelling test will be on Friday morning.

This week our second grade students will be learning:

Reading:  Students will learn to describe the connection between a series of historical events, scientific ideas or concepts, or steps in technical procedures in a text. They will identify the main purpose of a text, including what the author wants to answer, explain, or describe.

Math:  Students will learn to draw a picture graph and a bar graph (with single-unit scale) to represent a data set with up to four categories. Solve simple put-together, take-apart, and compare problems 1 using information presented in a bar graph They will fluently add and subtract within 100 using strategies based on place value, properties of operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction. Students will solve word problems involving dollar bills, quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies, using $ and ¢ symbols appropriately. Example: If you have 2 dimes and 3 pennies, how many cents do you have? They will fluently add and subtract within 100 using strategies based on place value, properties of operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction. Students will measure the length of an object by selecting and using appropriate tools such as rulers, yardsticks, meter sticks, and measuring tapes. They will also measure the length of an object twice, using length units of different lengths for the two measurements; describe how the two measurements relate to the size of the unit chosen. Students will estimate lengths using units of inches, feet, centimeters, and meters.They will measure to determine how much longer one object is than another, expressing the length difference in terms of a standard length unit. Students will use addition and subtraction within 100 to solve word problems involving lengths that are given in the same units, e.g., by using drawings (such as drawings of rulers) and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem. They will represent whole numbers as lengths from 0 on a number line diagram with equally spaced points corresponding to the numbers 0, 1, 2, …, and represent whole-number sums and differences within 100 on a number line diagram

Writing:  Students will learn how to write an informative/explanatory text by introducing a topic by showing prior knowledge of a topic and working on gathering information and notes on that topic.

Science: Students will learn about growth and development of organisms. Students will also learn about Interdependent relationships in ecosystems.

Social Studies: They will demonstrate chronological thinking by distinguishing among past, present and future using family or school events. Our students will compare life today with life in the past using the criteria of family, school jobs, or communication.  Students will also be learning to distinguish between personal and civic responsibilities and explain why they are important in community life.