A note from the Superintendent

Office of the Superintendent

Greetings, 

“Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore”

This famous movie quote from The Wizard of OZ is spoken by Dorothy when she realizes that she is no longer in the safety of her farm house in Kansas but rather has been chaotically thrown into the unfamiliar and somewhat bizarre land of Oz.  Sound Familiar? 

Major events have been cancelled; restaurants, malls, and other businesses closed; and “Social Distancing”, and “Flattening the Curve” have become the trending phrases of the day. In just one short week our daily routines have changed and we are still getting used to a different way of life. Amongst all of this change, parents have had to add the role of teacher to their other responsibilities. I want to thank all of our parents for the support and kind words that have been shared with us during the past week. We appreciate all that parents are doing to support our new way of learning for the weeks ahead. 

Of course, there wouldn’t be any on-line lessons, virtual classrooms, or remote learning if not for the incredible work of our teachers. Almost overnight they transformed our schools by creating lessons, developing plans, and moving their classrooms from the confines of four walls to the openness of the internet.  I cannot thank and compliment them enough for the outstanding work they have done to ensure our students will have meaningful learning experiences while our buildings are closed. 

The learning may not look the same for each school or even each grade, but what is common is the connection these teachers are making with their students. That can be difficult to do through a computer screen, and yet our teachers are doing it.  They do it by sharing personal stories; photos and videos of their pets, children or hobbies; and by demonstrating how learning can happen anywhere at any time. They are doing it because they are passionate about teaching and have the expertise in their field. I appreciate all of their hard work and commitment to our students.   

There are so many people to thank for all they have done this past week. Our administrators, our engineers, crisis team, union heads, custodial staff, all district staff, and of course the hard working team in our technology department. Mr. Troy Patterson and his entire team have done, and continue to do, a tremendous job of supporting the technology needs of our teachers and students. In addition, they were instrumental in distributing more than 5,000 chrome books to students this past week. 

When it comes to distributing items to the students no one does it better than our Food Service department. This week  Mr. Jeff Murphy, Mr Josh Bains, and their entire team in the Food Service department were able to provide more than 35,000 meals to students in our district, 20,000 being handed out on Friday alone.  Thank you to everyone who was part of that program including the dozens of volunteers coordinated by our PTA.  

We are scheduled to return to our buildings and our classrooms on April 14th. As we have been saying all along, this situation is ever changing and we all must be patient to see if our efforts will help to slow the spread of this virus.  We must continue to follow the recommendations of our healthcare professionals. This means avoiding groups of more than 10, keeping our social distance, washing hands, covering our mouth when coughing or sneezing, and of course if we are not feeling well, please stay in your home.     

Starting Monday, March 23, the Administrative Service Center will no longer be open but, just like our schools, the work will continue.  Our staff will transition to working at home and to make sure we continue to deliver services to the public, I would like to share the following contact numbers and emails: 

As we increase the number of people being tested for COVID-19 there will most likely be more reported cases.  The whole point to all of the closures and cancellations is to keep people from gathering in large groups so that we don’t spread the COVID-19 virus. It’s not to stop it, cure it, or end it…only slow it down. In a few weeks, we can evaluate the situation, consideration recommendations from the state and county, and with the information available to us make decisions about the remainder of the school year.  

It is the uncertainty that is most frustrating for most people. People like to have deadlines, goals, a beginning and an end. With the current state of affairs we don’t have that. We only have “wait and see” with no real conclusion in sight. I ask that we all try to be patient. We are going through a very different time and learning as we live through these events. A little inconvenience for the next few weeks (and longer if necessary) is worth doing in order to keep others safe and avoid more drastic measures down the road.  

Our administration has the support of our incredible Board of Education and I have witnessed first hand the awesome ability of this community to come together in the time of crisis. I know that by all of us working together, remaining calm, and being patient we will help each other through this difficult time and come out on the other side much stronger as a community, as a state, and as a nation.  

Regards,

Glenn Maleyko, Ph.D.

Superintendent 

Stay Home, Stay Safe Order

As many of you know, this morning Gov. Whitmer issued a Stay Home-Stay Safe order.  We want to update what this means for the schools. 

1.Schools will now be closed THROUGH April 13.  We were planning to return that day, but now are scheduled to return Tuesday, April 14.  Obviously, that could change as the situation evolves.

2. Free meal distributions will continue during the shelter-in-place period.  Providing food is an “essential service.” In fact, we now are planning to extend the meal distribution through our spring break, so food will be handed out Monday to Friday through at least April 13.

3. Online learning will continue.  While current state law says the learning cannot count as “seat time,” Gov. Whitmer has clarified that “does not mean that school work done during the mandatory school closure won’t ‘count’ toward grades, credits, or graduation.” 

4. Some of our Operations Staff including Engineers and Custodians are considered essential workers so that we can continue to operate our food service program, essential building maintenance, and deep cleaning as deemed necessary by the Director of Operations. 

We will continue to work to keep you posted on changes.  Meanwhile, please stay safe out there everyone.

Sincerely, 

Glenn Maleyko and the District Crisis Team. 

Work for the week of 3/23-3/27 – ALL SUBJECTS

All work is due to be submitted VIA google docs by Sunday, 3/29

Reading:

You should have read approximately to chapter 9 so far. If you have read more, amazing! If you are not there yet, it’s ok…you can make it up this week with extra reading. This weeks goal is to read to chapter 15. 30 minutes of reading a day is the MINIMUM you should be doing. Be sure to answer your comprehension packet questions along the way. A kind reminder, you will be writing a compare and contrast paper on the book and the movie. As you read, annotations (done on separate paper) will REALLY help you complete that faster than if you don’t. Just a few things from each chapter will be extremely beneficial!

Language Arts Review:

IXL Language Arts LEVEL G TASKS to complete this week. There are 3 for you to work on each day (Monday-Friday) Once you get to 80% you may stop:

Monday: F.5 – Literary Device, A.2 – Main Idea, GG.2 – Subject and Predicate

Tuesday: C.2 – Formal Tone, M.1 – Analyzing Short Stories, JJ.1 – Verb Type

Wednesday: D.2 – Compare and Contrast, N.2 – Informational Passages, LL.1 – Verb Tense

Thursday: O.2 – Coordinating Conjunctions, Q.1 – Summarize a Story, GG.3 – Subject and Predicate

Friday: S.1 – Character Emotions and Traits, U.1 – Correct Confused Words, RR.2 – Capitalize

Math:

1. Complete M5 L8-L14 in Zearn, Learn, and Succeed books. Your exit slips need to be submitted on ONE document (please) unless you are sending me pictures.

2. IXL Math LEVEL G TASKS to complete this week. There are only 3 for you to work on. Once you get to 80% you may stop: K.8, K.10, DD.4

Science:

1. Generation Genius Assignment How Do We Use Food?

Click on the link below to view the generation genius video. Be sure to take notes while you watch to answer the lesson questions below. Watch the video as many times as you need to get all the complete answers you need. Turn in all your answers on one google doc by 3/29

www.generationgenius.com/?share=A00BB

What you will learn from this video

  • The food we eat gives our bodies energy.
  • Energy from our food actually comes from THE SUN!
  • The sun’s energy is transferred to plants & animals that become our food.

Assignment: Definitions, questions, and exit ticket can be answered on a single document on google docs. Copy the questions and answer in complete sentences.

Define the following words from the video:

  1. Food
  2. Energy
  3. Hunger
  4. Oxidizer
  5. Digestive System
  6. Photosynthesis
  7. Hydroponic Plant

Answer the following questions from the video in complete sentences:

  1. How does your body turn food into energy?
  2. How is energy transferred from a plant to a person?
  3. Why is sunlight energy important?
  4. What does food give us?
  5. How do plants and animals take in the food they need to survive?
  6. How do we know that plants obtain materials needed for growth primarily from air and water.
  7. Why is it important to think about the types of foods you eat for energy?

Lesson Exit Ticket questions to answer in complete sentence:

  1. All the energy in food can be traced back to what?
  2. What are the 2 purposes of food in the human body?
  3. Why can’t humans live off a diet made entirely of sugar?

2. IXL Science LEVEL G TASKS to complete this week. There are only 3 for you to work on under Ecosystems. Once you get to 80% you may stop: P.1, P.3, P.5

3. See the post titled, BIOME PROJECT and review it. There are due dates on there to work towards. Decide on your Biome by 3/25 and submit your choice to me on google docs.

Social Studies:

  1. Begin by watching the video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKNTBHmWOyA on the Proclamation of 1763.

Next, go to the following link to read about the Proclamation of 1763 https://www.history.com/topics/native-american-history/1763-proclamation-of – take notes.

Finally, take the quiz found at https://quizizz.com/admin/quiz/582b85d34c97496701fc57bc/proclamation-of-1763 for practice to test your knowledge.

Answer the questions:

  1. Who was Chief Pontiac
  2. How does his rebellion show a change in the relationship between Europeans and Native Americans?
  3. After reading pages 7-9 answer the questions: Who won? Why? Do you think the outcome was right, or fair? How do you think it should have ended?

ANSWER ALL THESE QUESTIONS ON A GOOGLE DOC AND SUBMIT TO YOUR TEACHER BY 3/29

2. Watch:

  1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcDxSICplPE
  2. Watch 4 Liberty’s Kids episodes (should have watched all up to 23 by now)

3. IXL Social Studies LEVEL G TASKS to complete this week. There are only 3 for you to work on. Once you get to 80% you may stop: G.1, G.5, F.10

Free Food Distribution for Households with Children

Free Food Distribution
for Households with Children

[South parking lot]
Dearborn’s Ford Community & Performing Arts Center
Monday, March 23 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Helping Our Community During Urgent Times of Need
Households with children who are in need of food are encouraged to attend our upcoming drive-thru food distribution, sponsored by Gleaners Community Food Bank.
Please stay in your vehicle to limit exposure.  Groceries will be placed into your trunk or back seat.
Guests without vehicles are welcome to walk up, but should be prepared to carry 20-30 pounds or have a cart.
Together with Gleaners Community Food Bank, we are taking all necessary precautions to distribute food safely. Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan
2131 Beaufait | Detroit, MI | 48207-3410
313-571-0230
www.gcfb.org

Math Lesson 5 and Updates

View the following attachment for help with lesson 5. How is it going for everyone? Any questions? Please reach out on REMIND.

As your assignments come in, I will be providing feedback. Please stay tuned! You can still view all the posts I have placed on the blog by clicking “view older posts” at the bottom of the iBlog page. Continue to keep up the excellent work, crew! You are all trailblazers during this difficult time and I am so proud of you all for your dedication to your education!

Next week’s assignments will be posted this weekend for all subjects – including IXL for EVERY subject area (woot woot).

Stay safe and be well <3

Round 2 chromebook pick up for our Lowrey families

This is only for Lowrey Students. If your family does not have a working computer and is in need of a chromebook then please come to Lowrey’s main doors, tomorrow Friday March 20th between times of 12:30pm to 2pm. 
 If you already picked one up, please don’t come again.  One chromebook per household!
All parents will need to sign a consent form to insure chromebooks will be returned in the same condition they were given. All parents and students are responsible for the chromebooks. They must be returned once students return to school.