Week of 6-8-2020: Reminders!

PORCH ASHLEY.jpg
Sample of a “Family Porch Photo!”

Dear KDG Families,
As sent out last week, the time has come to celebrate our learning, hard work and summer! This week there will be no new material assigned to students! I will simply be doing report cards up until tonight and still accepting any work that comes my way up until 7:00PM on June 8th (tonight)! To refresh your memory report cards are going to be done differently for this 4th report card. Here are the letters you will see this time and what they mean.
M: Meeting expectations and fulfilling all work since 4/20
P: Working on some remote learning material since 4/20
LP: Limited to no participation since week of 4/20

Thank you for everything you have done for us this year in KDG. To show my gratitude and love for the wonderful year we had together, I would like to make up for a project I usually do while in school! Every year since I began teaching 15 years ago, I have given my students a “reading license.” We have always had a little reading license ceremony and families have always come to help celebrate our hard work and huge accomplishment. Learning our letters/sounds, writing names and stories and reading books is no small feat. This is something I always look forward to and feel sad that we will not have one this year. So, I will come to you πŸ™‚ This is a perfect opportunity for your child to dress in a special outfit, receive their license and have a special refreshment with their family afterwards to celebrate their kdg accomplishments!

Have you heard of local photographers coming to homes and taking “Porch Pictures?” I would LOVE to come to you this week and shoot a mini family photo(s) and drop off a little something from me as well as their “reading license.” No pressure! If you don’t want your pictures taken you do NOT need to sign up. I will simply just drop off your child’s license and gift on the porch during my travels this week.

I know you are all SO busy and working so please take a look at the sign up spreadsheet below and choose a date/time (just simple write your child’s name in a slot) if your child/children or whole family is available for a mini porch photo shoot! I can spend up to 30min. at each location and have left myself 10 minutes to travel to the next home. If your schedule does not fit into these dates/time frames please reach out to me via text 1(313)580-8622 or email rossm1@dearbrnschools.org and I will make different arrangements πŸ™‚ You are all very special and I am really looking forward to it! Thank you again for all the beautiful cards, flowers and gifts you left for me last week and for how you have supported our classroom/remote classroom this year. I will love and cherish my memories with your little ones always.

If you need to request access to the document, please just request and I will be SURE to grant this. I apologize for the extra step! I have also added another date (Saturday) JIC the weather is bad on Wednesday or the weekend is abetter fit for you! Just let me know I am available on the weekend if you need it!

link to sign up:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-fXUX3b11nYrrQmCJvC2EPGpW_Cvie5TPzZhKI4MvNo/edit#gid=0

Have a wonderful final week!
Mrs. Ross πŸ™‚

Week of 6-8-2020

Coronavirus: Front porch photo projects show how families cope
Barrington Front Porch Project brings smiles and lifts spirits ...

Dear KDG Families,
The time has come to celebrate our learning, hard work and summer! Next week there will be no new material assigned to students. As stated last week, I will simply be doing report cards and still accepting any work that comes my way!

However, to show my gratitude and love for the wonderful year we had together, I would like to make up for a project I usually do while in school! Every year since I began teaching 15 years ago, I have given my students a “reading license.” We have always had a little reading license ceremony and families have always come to help celebrate our hard work and huge accomplishment. Learning our letters/sounds, writing names and stories and reading books is no small feat. This is something I always look forward to and feel sad that we will not have one this year. So, I will come to you πŸ™‚

Have you heard of local photographers coming to homes and taking “Porch Pictures?” I would LOVE to come to you next week and shoot a mini family photo(s) and drop off a little something from me as well as their “reading license.” No pressure! If you don’t want your pictures taken you do NOT need to sign up. I will simply just drop off your child’s license and gift on the porch during my travels next week.

I know you are all SO busy and working so please take a look at the sign up spreadsheet below and choose a date/time (just simple write your child’s name in a slot) if your child/children or whole family is available for a mini porch photo shoot! I can spend up to 30min. at each location and have left myself 10 minutes to travel to the next home. If your schedule does not fit into these dates/time frames please reach out to me via text 1(313)580-8622 or email rossm1@dearbrnschools.org and I will make different arrangements πŸ™‚ You are all very special and I am really looking forward to it! Thank you again for all the beautiful cards, flowers and gifts you left for me last week and for how you have supported our classroom/remote classroom this year. I will love and cherish my memories with your little ones always.

Have a wonderful weekend and final week!
Mrs. Ross πŸ™‚

Below is the link to the porch photo sign ups: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-fXUX3b11nYrrQmCJvC2EPGpW_Cvie5TPzZhKI4MvNo/edit#gid=0

*Below is a message from Mr. Attee about next school year. Please read and use the link to fill out the parent survey. Thank you for your help and insight.

School Reopen Committee Parent Survey June 5, 2020

The State, and our District, have begun the complicated and detailed discussion on the possible reopening of schools for the 2020-21 school year. These discussions will involve experts in instruction, operations, sanitation, transportation, food service, athletics, and many other areas that are part of operating a school district. Please know that any plans developed by the Dearborn Public Schools will need to adhere to directives and Executive Orders issued by the Governor.

Your feedback is required and valued in leading these plans at the district level. Please respond to the survey by June 12, 2020. Please keep an eye out for additional parent surveys in the near future.

School Reopen Committee Parent Survey #1 :

https://forms.gle/DNx3eN8hcRpXsfSs5

For translation assistance, parents may call 313-580-2532 from Monday June 8th through Friday June 12th 8:30 a.m. through 4:30 p.m.  Thank you for your feedback and support!

Robert Attee
Principal,
DuVall Elementary School
(313)-827-2754https://duvall.dearbornschools.org/

Please stay safe and healthy during the current shutdown. Additional district contact information is located below.

General information:  313-827-3006 or communications@dearbornschools.org

Social emotional hotline – 313-827-8500 or dss@dearbornschools.org

Tech support – 313-827-8400

Human Resources & Student Services – 313-827-3068

Special Education – 313-827-7050

Week of 6-1-2020

15 Scientific Reasons Spring Is the Most Delightful Season ...

Dear Families,

I hope you all had a wonderful week with your family! As the weather gets warmer, it is really nice to get outside a lot and work on planting for me. I am so happy for the kiddos that it is almost summer and they can play play play all day! Here are a few important things to help you plan for this upcoming week:

*June 2nd “Desk/Personal Belongings pick up: I went into the classroom last week and packed up anything left in all the student seat sacks such as personal pencil boxes, 100th Day collections (non food related), file folder of a few cute writing samples! Our time is from 2:20pm-2:40pm. However, if you have a child in Ms. Shapas’s classroom you can pick up that bag at the same time.

*Returning Red Reading Packs: When you come to get your child’s personal belongings on June 2nd this is the perfect time to return your child’s reading pack! I thank you all so much for doing this and don’t worry, your child will remain in my Raz-Kids account all summer until next year begins. So they will have access to hundreds of books.

*Library Check Out Books: One June 2nd when you come to pick up your child’s personal items please bring back any DuVall Media books if your child still has any library books still at home.

*This week’s assignments: This week your child will only be given math and language arts assignments with a due date of Friday June 5th. Although I will not be assigning any new science, social studies and spelling activities I will continue to accept any past due assignments. Assignments are not considered late and still welcome any assignments.

-Math lessons: Eureka lessons 29-31

-LA: Dolphins and Sharks

-Writer’s Workshop: Would you rather be a dolphin or a shark?

Student Belongings Distribution and Return of School Property (Message from Mr. Atee)

DuVall Families,

As our school year winds down, we have scheduled Tuesday, June 2nd as a day to allow families to pick up personal belongings that have been left at school due to the shutdown.  During this time, we will follow the same procedure that was used during the distribution of chromebooks and math materials to allow families to get back personal items for students that were left in desks/coat racks.  Also, we will collect any music instruments, library books, safety vests, and other classroom items that were borrowed prior to the COVID 19 Shutdown.  As learning is still taking place, a future date will be shared when any chromebooks on loan will be returned.  Please hand any returned items to the staff member assisting you and  any items will then be returned to the building.

The procedure allows for parents to drive up to the bus lane on Francis Street near the preschool door (door 4) on Tuesday, June 2nd.  Parents/ Guardians must have a Driver’s ID.  A DuVall staff member will bring the parent the bagged student belongings.  Please follow the schedule of distribution for classes below so that we can have an orderly distribution of the student property  

11:00 – 11:20  Mrs. Courtright

11:20 – 11:40  Mrs. Ranka

11:40 – 12:00  Mrs. Moon

12:00 – 12:20 Ms. Cibasek

12:20 – 12:40 Mrs. Morrison

12:40 – 1:00  Mrs. Alabakoff 

1:00 – 1:20  Mrs. Burke

1:20 – 1:40 Ms. Sims

1:40 – 2:00 Mrs. Grahl  

2:00 – 2:20  Ms. Shapas

2:20 – 2:40 Mrs. Ross

2:40 – 3:00   Last call if you missed your time spot

Thank you for following the above guidelines and schedule for distribution to make this process possible as well as for the DuVall staff members who will be assisting during processing and distribution days.
Robert Attee
Principal,
DuVall Elementary School
(313)-827-2754https://duvall.dearbornschools.org/

Please stay safe and healthy during the current shutdown. Additional district contact information is located below.

General information:  313-827-3006 or communications@dearbornschools.org

Social emotional hotline – 313-827-8500 or dss@dearbornschools.org

Tech support – 313-827-8400

Human Resources & Student Services – 313-827-3068

Special Education – 313-827-7050

Cool Live Mystery Science Lesson this Thursday!

Dear Families,
Here is a message I got in my email from “Doug” that send mysteries! There will be a live one this Thursday if you are interested. I thought I’d pass it along, they are really cool! Enjoy.
-Mrs. Ross πŸ™‚

Hello there, View this week’s mini-lesson LIVE on Thursday! In case you missed it, Mystery Doug invites you to another
LIVE SCIENCE SHOW. Doug is excited to answer kids’ questions with the help of astronaut Jessica Meir, who filmed videos for us while she was in space! (Seriously!) Make this part of your lesson plans.
If you haven’t already shared this with families, forward this email to invite them. Thursday, May 21
10am Pacific / 1pm Eastern
11am Mountain / 12pm Central
mysteryscience.com/live See you on Thursday! – The Mystery Science Team

Week of 5-18-2020

Image result for happy memorial day

Dear Families,

This week will be a short week. Because of Memorial Day, we will be doing remote learning until Thursday and pick up again on Tuesday. We will be “off” on Friday May 22nd and Monday May 25th for a nice long weekend with our families. I would like to take this time to thank all of our family members, friends and countrymen for their service to our country.

Thank you all so much for your continued help with all of our assignments. I know it’s tough but I just wanted to remind you that I am here for you. I miss the kiddos so much and am so proud of the quality of work I am seeing. I will continue to reach out on Thursday this week if your child is missing work. If you don’t hear from me then you child has turned everything in. Of course, I will continue to give feedback for all the amazing work I receive!

I know it’s hard for us to keep our little ones sitting still for a long time. This week, Mr. Attee shared an awesome website with our staff called the “Virtual Calming Room” and it looks great! Check it out for breaks your child might need when inside the house! Enjoy and thank you Mr. Attee for sharing,

https://calmingroom.scusd.edu/

This week, I will be video taping another example of writing with our social studies assignment and “gifts from the earth.” However, if you have anything that you have been finding difficult that you’d like me to do a video taped lesson please send me an email or text with suggestions! I will do a second video that has to do with our theme of the week: Friendship!

I hope you all have a wonderful week with your precious little penguins. We are super excited because the kiddos and I moved all of our things back home this weekend yay! Mr. Ross’s floor is no longer a designated covid floor. He will have to continue to wear a mask and be very careful with all his patients, but we are feeling very positive about being back at home. I wish you all a wonderful week with your little ones and loved ones. Remember, I am just a phone call or email away if you need me.

-Mrs. Ross πŸ™‚

Friday Reminders! Let’s Recap

Dear Families,

I hope this message finds you all well! As we finish our week of remote learning here is a checklist of things due today. Remember Friday is our new due date. I send my report at the end of the day each week to Mr. Attee and don’t want to leave any precious work out! I have also included some great examples I have received this week for you to admire! I am so proud of the quality of work I have received. I can’t wait to add more as I receive them! Keep up the amazing work my darlings and have a wonderful weekend.

Let’s Recap: Due Today

LA: Helpers in the community pick 1: pick one of the independent activities!

*Math: Lessons 22-24 in math journal

*Writing Workshop: About a helper in my community

*Science: Take a walk and draw/write about an animal and how they made their home

*Social Studies: Earth drawing and sentence

*Spelling: practice pic/spelling test -of family

Student Examples:

Isla’s 3 Dimensional model of the Earth!
Andrea’s Picture of the Earth!

Week of 5-11-2020

Happy Mother's Day Wishes Images, Quotes: History, Importance and ...

Week of 5-11-2020

Dear Families,
I hope this message finds you well! I wanted to wish all of our amazing mothers out there a very Happy Mother’s Day! I hope you are enjoying your special day with your precious babies! My day has been very simple and cozy, just the way I like it. I am really missing my school babies though, so please give them a hug for me and thank them for being so special to me. The work for the week will not post until 5:00pm today! Your work today is to be with your precious babies!

This week we will keep working hard with our remote learning. I just wanted to take a minute though to thank you all for your support and hard work week after week with your children. I know how hard it is. We put our sweat and tears into each and every little masterpiece we do and these are the moments I love and miss as a teacher. I find myself so sad that I can not be a part of the “process” of learning as well as the final moment when we step back, share and admire our ” finished products.” Your children are so special and amazing and I am in awe at the beautiful pieces I am receiving each week. The work is so special and dear to me. I wish I was doing it with them. I miss them so much. At the end of teacher appreciation week I want to make it very clear how much I appreciate you. Thank you for all you are doing to support us.

Big Blue Button update: I have decided not to use the big blue button this year. In order for us to use it, we would have to completely switch our learning platform from google classroom and use ilearn instead. I believe this would be a little too confusing and disruptive to the amazing flow of communication we have already established. However, I will still continue to call, answer, face time with anyone who needs me. I am right here. In addition, I will continue posting a few videos each week so that the kiddos can still see me and enjoy some little lessons πŸ™‚

Thank you once again for the beautiful messages, cards and well wishes last week. I am so lucky to be a part of the DuVall community and your families.

With gratitude,

Mrs. Ross πŸ™‚

Week of 5-4-2020

Dear Families,

I hope you had a wonderful weekend and enjoyed the beautiful weather we had! It was so warm that Antonia got to run through grandpa’s sprinklers and play in the small pool he has! She was in heaven πŸ™‚ This week as we head into our remote learning, the most important news I have is our materials distribution day tomorrow! I am re-posting the message from Mr. Attee just in case you missed it last week! I have put all the math journals I have left in each bag for the kids as well as the writing journal for them to complete social studies,science and writer’s workshop writing assignments in! Yippee, no more printing and rewriting math!

This week, I will be attending an online training session for our new meeting format called the “Big Blue Button.” I am hoping to learn how to navigate the site this week and try our first class whole group meeting again next week on Wednesday at 12:0pm! Fingers crossed πŸ™‚

I also have more info from my staff meeting this afternoon. Below is a copy of the ABC Countdown to Summer! There is no picture requirement for this because it is just for fun. However, it is a DuVall tradition, so we wanted to make sure we continued it this year! We hope you have fun!

ABC Countdown to Summer!

LetterDateActivity
AMay 5Wear your favorite athletic shirt OR make a paper airplane
BMay 6Blow bubbles or play a game with a ball
CMay 7Make cookies with an adult or decorate your sidewalk with chalk
DMay 8Design a card or picture for your mom or aunt or grandma.  Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 10th!
EMay 11Exercise by doing something you learned from your physical education teacher.
FMay 12Facetime or call a Friend
GMay 13Play a board game with someone
HMay 14Wear your favorite hat
IMay 15Eat ice cream or play I-Spy or wear your clothes inside out
JMay 18Jump rope for at least two minutes or do 20 jumping jacks
KMay 19Tell a knock knock joke or kiss your mom or dad and thank them for everything they do
LMay 20Write a letter and mail it to a friend
MMay 21Make something (legos, cooking, blocks, fort, art)

ABC Countdown to Summer!

LetterDateActivity
NMay 26Do something nice for someone or take a nifty trip to a virtual museum https://www.romper.com/p/10-museums-with-virtual-tours-for-quarantined-kids-who-need-a-field-trip-22628260
OMay 27Do something outside or eat something orange
PMay 28Have a picnic or eat popcorn
QMay 29Quick! Run! Create an at-home obstacle course or go on a quest to find flowers that are blooming
RJune 1Read your favorite story or rock out to your favorite song
SJune 2Wear silly socks or sing a song that you learned from your music teacher.
TJune 3Tell a story to someone
UJune 4Think about 4 things that are Unique about you and make a list
VJune 5Offer to vacuum for your parents
WJune 8Go for a walk outside or do water play outside
XJune 9Do something Xtra special for someone that is Xtra special to you
YJune 10Eat something yellow or do yoga.
ZJune 11Do Zig Zag art or draw your favorite zoo animal

————————————————————–

DuVall Families,

In order to assist families with the continuation of remote learning, our staff has gathered student math books that we are planning on distributing on Tuesday, May 5th.  At this time, the math books along with some specific grade level supplies (and registration information for next year) will be distributed for each student.  Personal items that were not picked up on March 13th will not be distributed at this time.  Parents and students will not be allowed to enter the building as the learning resources will be brought to your vehicle by a staff member.  We are going to follow the same safety protocols that were used with the chromebook distribution. 

Parents will drive up to the bus lane on Francis Street near the preschool door (door 4) on Tuesday, May 5th.  Please follow traffic rules and allow for distance between vehicles while the materials distribution is taking place. If your family has multiple siblings in our building, please indicate the names of the students so that you can make one trip.

9:00 – 9:20 Ms. Shapas

9:20 – 9:40 Mrs. Ross

9:40 – 10:00  Mrs. Grahl

10:00 – 10:20 Mrs. Alabakoff

10:20 – 10:40 Ms. Sims

10:40 – 11:00 Mrs. Burke

Break (JIC we are behind)

11:30 – 11:50 Mrs. Morrison

11:50 – 12:10 Ms. Cibasek

12:10 – 12:30  Mrs. Moon

12:30 – 12:50 Mrs. Ranka

12:50 – 1:10 Mrs. Courtright

1:10 – 1:30 Last call if you missed your time spot 

I would like to thank our staff for making this possible as they have spent time preparing on-line lessons as well as gathering and preparing these materials to help remote learning continue at home. 

Robert Attee
Principal,
DuVall Elementary School
(313)-827-2754https://duvall.dearbornschools.org/

Please stay safe and healthy during the current shutdown. Additional district contact information is located below.

General information:  313-827-3006 or communications@dearbornschools.org

Social emotional hotline – 313-827-8500 or dss@dearbornschools.org

Tech support – 313-827-8400

Human Resources & Student Services – 313-827-3068

Special Education – 313-827-7050

Materials Distribution May 5th 9:20am!

Dear Families,
We have been approved to have a distribution day for math materials! Next week, parents will drive up to the bus lane on Francis Street for a “drive through” like distribution (while following social distancing guidelines of covid-19) and pick up their child’s bag of our math journal modules/homework book 4-6 as well as your child’s writer’s workshop journal. Each grade level has specific times so here are the kindergarten times. If you have a twin in the other class, I would suggest coming closer to 9:20 am so your time overlaps! I am so excited for this distribution and making math SO much easier at home! All other personal items in the classroom will be accessible at a later date.

*Shapas 9:00-9:20 am
*Ross 9:20-9:40 am

Here is the email in its entirety from Mr. Attee just in case you have other siblings in the building…

Colleagues,Could you please communicate the following information to parents via blog or via current classroom communication means?  Thank you for your help!

Math Book/ Remote Learning Materials Distribution – Tuesday, May 5th

DuVall Families,

In order to assist families with the continuation of remote learning, our staff has gathered student math books that we are planning on distributing on Tuesday, May 5th.  At this time, the math books along with some specific grade level supplies (and registration information for next year) will be distributed for each student.  Personal items that were not picked up on March 13th will not be distributed at this time.  Parents and students will not be allowed to enter the building as the learning resources will be brought to your vehicle by a staff member.  We are going to follow the same safety protocols that were used with the chromebook distribution. 

Parents will drive up to the bus lane on Francis Street near the preschool door (door 4) on Tuesday, May 5th.  Please follow traffic rules and allow for distance between vehicles while the materials distribution is taking place. If your family has multiple siblings in our building, please indicate the names of the students so that you can make one trip.

9:00 – 9:20 Ms. Shapas

9:20 – 9:40 Mrs. Ross

9:40 – 10:00  Mrs. Grahl

10:00 – 10:20 Mrs. Alabakoff

10:20 – 10:40 Ms. Sims

10:40 – 11:00 Mrs. Burke

Break

11:30 – 11:50 Mrs. Morrison

11:50 – 12:10 Ms. Cibasek

12:10 – 12:30  Mrs. Moon

12:30 – 12:50 Mrs. Ranka

12:50 – 1:10 Mrs. Courtright

1:10 – 1:30 Last call if you missed your time spot 

I would like to thank our staff for making this possible as they have spent time preparing on-line lessons as well as gathering and preparing these materials to help remote learning continue at home. 

Robert Attee
Principal,
DuVall Elementary School
(313)-827-2754https://duvall.dearbornschools.org/

Please stay safe and healthy during the current shutdown. Additional district contact information is located below.

General information:  313-827-3006 or communications@dearbornschools.org

Social emotional hotline – 313-827-8500 or dss@dearbornschools.org

Tech support – 313-827-8400

Human Resources & Student Services – 313-827-3068

Special Education – 313-827-7050