Nov
2018

Children of Yemen Fundraising Event

Dear Miller Families,              

Hoping this letter finds you and loved ones well and in good spirits!  

The Miller Community gives thanks to all contributing during our Thanksgiving Canned Food Drive, together we donated 2,383 food items to needy Dearborn families. Super job Miller Community for making a difference and helping those unable to help themselves, this is who we are and what we are all about, God Bless.

A continued conflict in Yemen has created one of the world’s largest and most complex humanitarian crises. Almost 80 per cent of the population (22.2 million people) is in dire need of humanitarian assistance. Conflict has led to the internal displacement of 2 million people, left over 1 million public sector workers without pay for two years, and undermined access to ports and airports, obstructing essential humanitarian and commercial deliveries. Growing food insecurity, poor water and sanitation, and the spread of preventable diseases threaten millions more. The caseload of outbreaks of Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD)/cholera has reached over one million. The strain on an already weakened health system has been further compounded by the diphtheria outbreak in early 2018, with over 2,200 cases, so far. In addition, 16 million people lack access to safe water. Children are the primary victims: more than 6,000 have been verified as killed or maimed since the conflict began. Almost 394,000 children under 5 currently suffer from severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and require treatment, with millions more in jeopardy. The damage and closure of schools and health facilities threaten children’s access to education and health services making them vulnerable to psychosocial distress. 

In hopes of making a difference and teaching Miller students the concept of community service and giving back, Miller PTA, Staff and Students are teaming up and committed to raising funds for, “The Children of Yemen.” At the end of the fundraising campaign all monies will be donated to an NGO non-governmental organization, a non-profit, voluntary citizens’ group which is organized on a local, national or international level and earmarked specifically for the Children of Yemen. 

Monetary donations being accepted in the Office, please make checks payable to Miller PTA, Service Squad will be fundraising during lunch and after school. 

God Bless you and family for making a difference one child at a time.

Regards,

Miller Family

Oct
2018

October is Learning Disabilities Month

The month of October is national Learning Disabilities month.

Specific Learning Disability means a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, that may manifest itself in the imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell or do mathematical calculations. Specific learning disability does not include learning problems that are primarily the result of: visual, hearing, or motor disabilities; intellectual disability; serious emotional disability; cultural factors; environmental or economic disadvantage; or limited English proficiency.

Want to learn more about how Dearborn Public Schools assesses for a specific learning disability?  If so, please refer to the following guidance manual from Wayne County RESA.  Any additional questions?  Please contact your school psychologist.  We are always here to help!

https://www.resa.net/downloads/response_to_intervention/guidance_sld.pdf

Feb
2018

Response to Intervention and MTSS

Want to learn more about MTSS and response to intervention?  Check out these awesome webpages for resources and more information!  If you need more information, don’t forget to ask your friendly school psychologist!

Wayne County RESA guidance:

https://www.resa.net/specialeducation/rti/

Intervention Central behavior and academic interventions:

https://interventioncentral.org/

Jan
2018

Test taking tips!

Here are the top ten tips to success!

1. Have a Positive Attitude
Approach the big test as you’d approach a giant jigsaw puzzle. It might be tough, but you can do it! A positive attitude goes a long way toward success.

2. Make a Plan
The week before the test, ask your teacher what the test is going to cover. Is it from the textbook only? Class notes? Can you use your calculator? If you’ve been absent, talk to friends about material you may have missed. Make a list of the most important topics to be covered and use that as a guide when you study. Circle items that you know will require extra time. Be sure to plan extra time to study the most challenging topics.

3. The Night Before
Cramming doesn’t work. If you’ve followed a study plan, the night before the test you should do a quick review and get to bed early. Remember, your brain and body need sleep to function well, so don’t stay up late!

4. The Morning of the Test
Did you know that you think better when you have a full stomach? So don’t skip breakfast the morning of the test. Get to school early and do a ten-minute power study right before the test, so your brain is turned on and tuned up.

5. Test Time
Before the test begins, make sure you have everything you’ll need – scratch paper, extra pencils, your calculator (if you’re allowed to use it). Understand how the test is scored: Do you lose points for incorrect answers? Or is it better to make guesses when you’re not sure of the answer? Read the instructions! You want to make sure you are marking answers correctly.

6. Manage Your Time
Scan through the test quickly before starting. Answering the easy questions first can be a time saver and a confidence builder. Plus, it saves more time in the end for you to focus on the hard stuff.

7. I’m Stuck!
Those tricky problems can knock you off balance. Don’t get worried or frustrated. Reread the question to make sure you understand it, and then try to solve it the best way you know how. If you’re still stuck, circle it and move on. You can come back to it later. What if you have no idea about the answer? Review your options and make the best guess you can, but only if you don’t lose points for wrong answers.

8. Multiple-Choice Questions

The process of elimination can help you choose the correct answer in a multiple-choice question. Start by crossing off the answers that couldn’t be right. Then spend your time focusing on the possible correct choices before selecting your answer.

9. Neatness Counts
If your 4s look like 9s, it could be a problem. Be sure that your writing is legible and that you erase your mistakes. For machine-scored tests, fill in the spaces carefully.

10. I’m Done!
Not so fast – when you complete the last item on the test, remember that you’re not done yet. First, check the clock and go back to review your answers, making sure that you didn’t make any careless mistakes (such as putting the right answer in the wrong place or skipping a question). Spend the last remaining minutes going over the hardest problems before you turn in your test.

Nov
2017

Here at 10 tips for parent to support their kids!

https://mlschoolpsych.com/

1. Be a listener. Children crave opportunities to share their thoughts and feelings. Listen without judging. Remember, listening does not mean agreeing!!! Children who feel understood are more likely to listen to what adults have to say.

2. Stay positive. We all need to feel recognized for the things we do right! Offer   compliments for effort and good choices.


3. Be a role model. Children learn from watching those around them. Demonstrate strategies for dealing with stress, anger, or anxiety. When you demonstrate coping skills, describe what you are doing and why you are doing it. 

4. Be patient. Sometimes children need time and many, many reminders to learn a skill. Hang in there! Sometimes children demonstrate that they have gotten the hang of things just when we are about to give up!

5. Set boundaries. Children need to hear the word “no.” Be clear about what is and is not allowed. Although children may not like rules, they feel safest when boundaries are clear. Explain that rules are set by you, not the television, children’s friends, etc.

 

 


6. Set fair, but high expectations. Ask your children that they be the best they can be. Every child has his or her own strengths and weaknesses. Teach your child to discover what he or she is capable of. Then expect no more, or no less.

7. Say no to power struggles.
Sometimes children test limits. When upset they might argue, fight, and debate (sound familiar?). Offer matter of fact responses. Suggest time to cool down. Be clear about your expectations, stay calm, and avoid engaging the child in his or her attempt to argue.

8. Reinforce values. Discuss what it means to be a kind, caring, compassionate, and thoughtful person. Talk about everyday ways to demonstrate good character.

9. Communicate your thoughts and feelings. Explain what you think is right. Explain where you stand and why. Talk about how your child’s actions make you feel (good or bad).

10. Be flexible.
Being organized is great, but when life gets unpredictable, demonstrate how to be a problem solver and “go with the flow.” It never hurts to have a “Plan B” to fall back on!