We had a great turn out for our Parent Meeting today!  Thank you so much for your interest!  We will hosting a “Parent Talk” workshop on Monday’s, beginning Feb 5th, from 9:30-11:00 a.m.  The series will conclude on March 26th, and there will be a “graduation” on March 27th.  Everyone is welcome, whether you attended this kick off meeting or not.  Everyone must register for the series so that the presenter can provide enough materials.  Materials are offered in both English and Arabic, and an interpreter will be provided.  Please join us! Registration information will be coming home shortly!

January Dates:

January 26 – half day – dismissal at 11:00 a.m.

January 27 – Weekend Activity at Buddy’s Pizza – 4 p.m.

February Dates:

Feb 5 – Parent Talk Meeting Workshop 1 9:30-11:00

Feb 7 – Late Start

February 19-23 – Mid Winter Break – No School!

Hello and Happy New Year!   We hope you had a great break with your family!  We are back in the full swing of things!  Student calendar’s will be updated this afternoon, please check to see their schedule for the month.  Planet Fitness Students were told they can bring their clothes every M-W-F if they wish – so that they are able to go in case someone is absent, or we can take a few extra students etc.   For planning purposes, here are the students who are scheduled for Kerby’s Koney Island on Tuesday, and Fairlane on Thursday:

Kerby’s – Susie, Nejwa, Ahlam, Thakara, Samiah, Zeinab

Fairlane – Tori, Mala,, Hiba, Yasmeen, Alaa and Jamie

January Dates:

January 12th – DIA

January 15th – MLK, No School

January 17th – Late Start

January 17th – Parent Meeting 10 a.m. (More information will be coming home today)

January 26th – 1/2 day – end of marking period

January 27th – Weekend Activity!   Buddy’s Pizza 4 p.m.!  Details coming home soon!

January 29th – Full day of school.

We had a fantastic day today filled with lots of laughter!  First, we played a game that required students to try to open a gift while wearing oven mits – lots of fun and very challenging!  Next, we had Susan Stokley from Detroit Vibe Tribe come for Zumba with us.  You cannot imagine the joy Zumba brings to our students!  After that, we had pizza, followed by a white elephant gift exchange.  We relaxed with a movie and the students are getting on the buses as I write this.

As 2017 comes to an end, we want  you to know what an honor it is to work with your sons and daughters.  We truly love our jobs, and wouldn’t choose anything else.  We wish you and your families a safe and healthy winter break, looking forward to 2018.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Camp

Mrs. Cote

Planning for the last two days!

All parents, please read!

Thursday:

Fairlane:  We will be combining two groups at Fairlane tomorrow to make up for the Snow Day.  Generally we do not do this, but it’s a big deal to the students with the upcoming holiday, the decorations, and SANTA!!!!

The following students are scheduled to go to Fairlane:  Fowzi, Abbas, Mo K.,  Munasar, Susie, Nejwa, Ahlam, Thakara, Samiah, Zeinab.   Please bring lunch money and any spending money you would like!

Friday:

There is no charge for Zumba or Pizza Today – Enjoy! 

Zumba 10:00-10:45   Students can come to school exercise clothes or bring some to change into.    Students MUST have tennis shoes to participate.   A water bottle and towel (for sweat) is helpful.

Pizza Party 11:30       Please bring your own drink!

Surprise! 12:30

Movie  1:30

Please note:  We know this is a fun and exciting time of year, however, if your son/daughter is feeling ill, please do not send them to school just so they won’t “miss out”.   It is sad when students have to miss class, but it is even sadder when others get sick because someone came to school when they shouldn’t have.  Everyone has been doing a good job so far and we just ask that out of consideration for others – it will continue.  Thank you in advance!

We hope everyone enjoyed the snow day yesterday!  We are down to one week to go before the Winter Break.

Next week:

December 20th – Late start  Students arrive at 9 a.m.

December 21st – Double group to Fairlane!  Susie, Nejwa, Ahlam, Thakara, Samiah, Zeinab, Fowzi, Reda, Abbas, Mouhamed, and Munasar.    This is to make up for our snow day.  We normally don’t do this, but because it is the last chance before Christmas and to see Santa, we are able to double up this one time.  YAY!

December 22nd – Holiday Party!  Zumba!  Pizza!  Extra Surprise!  FREE!  Students do not need a lunch that day!

December  25 – Jan 5 – Winter Break!

FYI:

Special Weather Announcement

Due to the severe weather predicted for this afternoon, (12/13/17) all after school activities will be cancelled in the Dearborn Public Schools. This includes athletics, childcare programs, adult and community education, building permits, and other events specific to individual schools.

All schools will remain open today and close at their regular time. Parents have the option to pick up their child early. Any student who is picked up by their parent or legal guardian will be given an excused absence. High school students will only be allowed to leave early if a parent or legal guardian contacts the school.

Normal bus routes will operate but may run late. All extracurricular busses for activities will be cancelled.

Thank you,

Glenn Maleyko, Ph.D
Superintendent
Dearborn Public Schools

Dear Families,

Cold and flu season is here!  Please be considerate to others and do not send students to school if they are complaining or showing any signs of illness such as:  a cough, cold, fever, chills, upset stomach, vomiting, diarrhea.   There is a student in our class who is on the heart transplant list, and cannot be around any germs that would cause an illness.  When students come to school sick, that student has to go home.

Absences will not be counted against the students, we would much rather everyone stay healthy.  We do understand that students can leave the house fine, and become sick once in school.  We are just asking that families err on the side of caution when students are not feeling well, due to our special circumstance.  We thank you and I know the family thanks you as well.

OUR APOLOGIES!   There were several text messages and one voice mail from earlier in the week that just appeared… I just looked down and there they were out of nowhere!   We looked everything over and everything should have resolved itself by now, but if you still need to speak with us, please feel free to contact us.

REMIND:   The Remind App will only let me send very short messages.  I struggled getting the last message about Kerby’s out with enough detail.   Any time a message like that is sent out, please refer to your son or daughters planner if you want to double check whether the message refers to him or not.  That being said, the message was supposed to read “students who are scheduled” but it came out “students” implying everyone was going to Kerby’s.  Again….my apologies!

COOKBOOK!   We are going to start a class cookbook!  We are asking everyone to bring in a family favorite recipe (up to 3) and we will send a copy home at the end of the year!  We have a lot of people who like to cook in here – the students are very excited to share their favorites!

DEC 22!   We will be having a Zumba party at 10 a.m., pizza for lunch, and a special surprise after lunch.  (hee hee!)   Looking forward to a great time!  There will be no cost involved for the families.  FREE!!!!  🙂

DECEMBER TARGET SHOPPING – Anyone going to Target in December should bring a list of 1-3 items needed for their household and money to purchase those items.  It can be anything you might need at home, a Christmas present, something for a recipe, snacks,  you name it.  It is optional,  but our theme this month is:  “Shopping from a List.”   Please note:  this Target isn’t the best for grocery items, but we will do our best if that is what you need.

Hello!  I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!  It was nice to come back and see all the smiling faces!  We welcomed a new student today, his name is Abdullah and we are as excited to have him join our class as he is excited to be here.  I think he’s going to be a great addition to our class.

I want to thank everyone for supporting our sheet fundraiser.  Whether you bought sheets, sold sheets or both, every set helps and 100% of our profit goes towards the students.  We purchase curriculum, special supplies, crafts, etc., but the majority of that money is used to pay for special lunches or parties (like our Halloween party) and the End of the Year Celebration at no cost to the students.  We are happy to do this and are thankful for your support!

We originally scheduled our next Weekend Activity (Buddy’s Pizza) for December 2nd and we are going to have to move the date to late January.  December is a busy month for just about everyone, so we decided it was best to move the activity to a time that is less stressful!  We love seeing the students on the weekends and providing that time for them;  we want to be at our best when we do it!  We will announce the date before we leave for the break.

A few other December dates to remember…

December 20 – Late Start

December 22 – Last day of School!  Zumba party and lunch!

December 25-January 5 – No School Winter Break (Enjoy!)

Good Afternoon!  I hope this finds everyone well this bright Saturday afternoon.  Personally, I’ve got a load of laundry going, chicken soup on the stove and Ryan and I are getting ready to take Rosie (our Rottie) for a walk.  Life is good!

I’d like to take this time to wish those of you who have served in our military a Happy Veterans Day!  Thank you for your service and sacrifice!

School Supplies:  A few students still do not have colored pencils for class.  This is something we use quite frequently.  If you are unable to get out and purchase them, please send $2 with your son/daughter and we will purchase them on our next CBI activity.  We often walk to 5 Below or The Dollar Tree and can purchase them there.

Skills we are working on in class:

Responsibility:  Having all materials required for class, ready to learn when the lesson is started.  Some students (most students) are waiting until the class starts and then leaving the class to get pencils, planners, etc. out of their backpacks.

Respect:  Not talking when another person is talking.  Not talking when the teacher is talking.  Not getting out of your seat to use the bathroom when a lesson has started.  (There is ample time before and after our lessons for the bathroom)

Classroom:  The Dollar Up Method – how many dollar bills should you give a cashier given a certain total.  (Example:  If you bill is $6.88, how many one dollar bills would you give a cashier to pay your bill?)   We are also working on job interview skills and what makes a good employee

Vocational:  Work Quality and Quantity   Doing your best work, and staying on task.

Community Based Instruction:  Using a map/directory in the mall.  The difference between Department Stores and Specialty Stores, Using an elevator and escalator (tricky!) and The Dollar Up Method

Attendance/Responsibility:  We have noticed that some students have been missing quite frequently but showing up for their day at Fairlane  or Kerby’s.  Only for the absences to begin again.  While both activities are learning experiences, we require students to participate in all of the learning experiences:  classroom, job sites and community sites, not just their favorites.  For most students,  participation in these activities is part of their IEP., and without expected attendance, they will not make progress towards their goals.  We will be looking at attendance closely in the coming week; students who do not have a minimum of 75% attendance record may have to miss their CBI activities (Fairlane, Kerby’s, Target, Planet Fitness) until their attendance is back in good standing.  If you son or daughter has a health concern that is preventing them from attending, please contact us and provide a doctors note, so that we are aware of this and your son/daughter is not penalized.

Upcoming Dates:

November 22 -24 – No School – Thanksgiving Break

December 2  – Weekend Activity at Buddy’s Pizza – details coming soon!

Future Event:

January 18 (tentative date)  – Parent Meeting   S.T.E.P. (Services to Enhance Potential) will be here to discuss the importance of enrolling with CMH and the programs and opportunities S.T.E.P provides once a student exits Dearborn Public Schools.  You don’t want to miss it.  S.T.E.P is much more than the workshop we were involved with a few years back.  I have worked closely with them since I’ve been in this position and I am very impressed with all they have to offer, as well as any of their staff members that I have worked with.  We have a a big group of students who are approaching that 22-23-24 age, as much as we’d like to keep them forever, it’s a good time to start thinking about their future.