The Chat

Parents often wonder if they can support their child in mathematics. Of course, the answer is yes, parents can be great support, even if mathematics is not a particular strength of theirs. Here are some suggestions for supporting your child in mathematics.

For grades 2-5 expect homework assignments twice a week. For grades 6-8, expect homework or finish up assignment work 3 to 5 days a week.

1. Provide your child time and space to work on the assignments. Allow your child to talk over any questions they may have with you. And, don't be afraid to say you are not sure. Leave a note on the paper for the teacher or email the teacher with your question later.

2. Have your child count money. At the kindergarten level have them identify the types of coins. Have them count both bills and coins. As they get older, have them practice making change.

3. Practice facts. At grades 1-2 students are learning and must memorize their addition and subtraction facts. At grades 3-4 students are learning and must memorize their multiplication facts. At grades 4-5 students must memorize their divsion facts. When we talk about memorization we are talking about fact fluency, a student should have decent (2-3 second) recall of facts. Make it a game, practice in the car, while doing a mundane task or just for fun. Keep it light and for just a few minutes at a time.

4. Have your child follow recipes. Working with fractions in recipes is valuable along with reading and following directions. Recipes provide an immediate purpose for reading and math with a product.

5. Use technology: PBS math shows like PBSKids and PBS parents for ideas and check out the Math Learning Center, publisher of the Bridges Mathematics program. Ask your child's teacher for additional math tech tools.

This is a friendly reminder that while we try to keep the parking lots cared for, they can be snowy and icy. Please drive slowly and watch out for children. One area of particular concern to be cautious near is in the north parking lot as drivers come around the library. Please drive slowly.

We have some upcoming events for you to consider and get invovled with. We have a Paperpie Cards for a Cause fundraiser coming up soon. There will be chili-cookoff and snow night February 24. And we have the traditional Daughter/Dad/Special guest dance coming in April.

Please join us in the middle school commons on Wednesday, February 7 for the P.I.E. meeting. We will be planning for future events and activities. We hope you can attend!

Chess Club is starting up. This club will be sponsored by Mrs. Gardner, Mrs. Fenelley and team!

Please sign up using this link: SIGN UP LINK

S10 will be due at the first session on January 16.

Student Council will be selling candy grams in February. Please stay tuned for details.

Builder Club is having a bake sale. Proceeds will be used to help raise funds for students to make chemo bags for cancer patients.

Any and all spirit wear can now be purchased locally at VillageTee! Please visit the link and the Village Tee website to see all of the possibilities available. We are just getting started! www.villagetees.net/product-category/chatfield

The Chatfield Middle School Robotics Team is having a great season! They participated in their second tournament this past weekend, in Haslett, Michigan. The students competed against mainly high school teams and had a fantastic showing, finishing in 9th place out of 32 total teams!

Great job; Eddy, Riley, Eli, Blake, Teegan, and Giuseppe!

A.L.L.Y, Accepting Learners Leading Youth, is our middle school peer-to-peer program. A.L.L.Y. is excited to be selling pickles again this year! Pickles are $1.00 and will be sold after school in the lobby on Thursdays. The funds will go towards the programs’ after-school classroom supplies, project materials, and after-school activity needs. Thank you for your support!

First Grader, Colton Kiester won 1st place Junior Eagle Pins at the Kelly’s Outdoors S3DA Indoor Target Regional Archery Tournament on January 14th! AND Colton won second place at the Michigan S3DA Regional Archery Tournament at Central Michigan Sportsman Club this past weekend! Congratulations Colton!

We want to congratulate Jacob Martin on his athletic endeavors including being a three season athlete! From baseball, football, and basketball, to fishing year-round, Jacob is always working hard to be his best. Jacob is well known as a good friend and a dedicated student.

Congratulations on your hard work Ayla! Ayla plays for Nationals Soccer as mid forward.

She enjoys winter sports as skier and snowboarder. She plays Chatfield basketball. Ayla is a hardworking student and a classmate.

Does your child have something to celebrate - perhaps an athletic accomplishment, a dance competition result, a special camp or program completion? We want to celebrate extra-curricular student success too! Let us know about it and we will celebrate it in the newsletter and on Facebook/Instagram. Send an email to Mr. Kraly (bkraly@chatfieldschool.org) with your child's first and last name, information about the success, and a quality picture (jpeg) or video.

Examples: Athletic award achieved, dance award, special recital, technology achievement, scouts or other organized program recognitions.

The student & parent handbook for 2023-2024 is available now. Please take time to read it over. If you have any questions or concerns please let Mr. Young or Mr. Kraly know.

Handbook LINK

Link to confirm you have read the Handbook:

https://forms.gle/AfA6UCkprHQgcPAD8

It’s that time of year again when we must discuss winter school closings, the weather and roads can be an issue this time of year. Mr. Kraly and Mr. Young want you to know that they are always concerned about the safety of the students and parents.

We will be working with the superintendents from other local school districts and the Lapeer Intermediate School District to determine the conditions around the county. If your local district is closed that does not mean that Chatfield is closed.

The school directors will make the determination as early as possible and send out messages via:

Radio: WWJ 950, WJR 760, WMPC 1230

Television: Fox 2, Local 4, ABC 7, WWJTV CBS,

CW 50, ABC 12

Internet: www.chatfieldschool.org

Skylert School Messenger: Parents can adjust their contact preferences, E-mail, Text, Phone Call,

by going into Skyward Family Access and clicking on the Skylert tab.

As a general rule of thumb Chatfield School does not have early release on days when the weather and roads become worse during the day. We will provide updates regarding the status of evening activities by posting them to the school website.

When dealing with windchill, this chart is useful in helping to determine if school must be canceled due to dangerous conditions. https://www.weather.gov/safety/cold-wind-chill-chart

Road conditions can vary around the county and on different surfaces so as always use your best judgment and safety when determining if you should drive to school. Safety is always our first priority.

1/23/2024 6:30PM Eighth Grade Transition to High School Meeting

1/26/2024 Report Cards Sent Home

2/5-14/2024 Paperpie Cards for a Cause Fundraiser P.I.E.

2/7/2024 P.I.E. Meeting 4pm

2/14/2024 Valentine's Day Celebrations (K-5) PM

2/16/2024 No School

2/19/2024 No School

2/20/2024 Grades 5-8 Spelling Bee Music Room 6:30PM

2/24/2024 Chili-Cook-Off Sponsored by P.I.E.

2/29/2024 LEAF Deposit Day K-4 PM

March is Reading Month!

3/5/2024 5th Grade Middle School Transition and Prospective Students to Middle School 6:30PM

3/7/2024 Science Night Dinner K-5 5:30 PM-7:30PM

3/9/2024 K-8 2024-2025 Future Enrollment Community Meeting and Tour 10am

3/19/2024 County Spelling Bee

3/19-21/2024 7:00 PM Finding Nemo Middle School Musical

3/22/2024 27th Annual Spring Candy Hunt

3/22/2024 End of 3rd Card Marking

3/22/2024 Half Day of School 11:30am Dismissal

3/25-4/1/2024 Spring Break No School

4/2/2024 School Resumes

4/11/2024 Son and Mom/Special Guest "Rock Night" sponsored by Upper El.

4/18/2024 Daughter and Dad/Special Guest Dance sponsored by P.I.E.

We anticipate having some openings at every grade level for the 24-25 school year. Please share the following information meeting dates with friends or family that may be interested in enrolling their student for the 24-25 school year. At the seventh and eighth grade level, we sometimes have openings that allow for immediate enrollment. Encourage those who may be interested to register for the enrollment lottery. The kindness of a referral to a friend, neighbor, or family member is the greatest compliment we can receive and the best way to support the well-being of the Chatfield School program.

Sign up with this link for Youth Basketball Sign Up LINK

This is a great program to get started with basketball and for young students to hone their skills for future playing! Designed and run by Mr. Boyle, students learn skills and have fun while they do it!

The CYBP will Now INCLUDE 5th grade! The program is for ANY student attending Chatfield and/or others in Grades 1-5. Registration will end on January 5th (5:00 p.m.) Cost for new CYBP participants: $45 (includes reversible jersey) Returning participants (with jersey): $30. Cost for late registrations (after 1/5) will be an additional $10.

ALL PARTICIPANTS NEED A CURRENT WELL- CHILD EXAM ON FILE.
Details:
CYBP Dates: Saturday – 1/13 (Evaluation Clinic@Chatfield) Grades 1-2 (9:00 - 10:30) Grades 3-5 (11:00 - 12:30)
Team skills camp Games

January 20th, February 3rd, February 24th January 27th, Feb.10th, March 2nd, March 9th

Skill Saturdays: Grades 1-2 (9:00 a.m -10:00am. or 10:15 - 11:15 a.m) - Team specific Times TBA
Grades 3-5 (11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. or 12:45-1:45 p.m.) – Team Specific Times TBA

There will be practice/Skill weeks and game weeks. They will alternate back and forth. The skill weeks will be run like a camp (by Mr. Boyle), but with smaller numbers and very focused instruction. We would like coaches/parents to help and be involved/assist on practice days as well. On game dates there will be no practice time before their games. Boys and girls in grades 1-2 will play on 8 foot baskets during the season (between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.) while those in grades 3-5 will play their games on regulation 10 foot baskets (between 11:30 and 1:30 p.m.).

Each game will consist of two 20 minute “running clock” halves while being officiated with volunteer officials trained by a licensed basketball official through the MHSAA.

**Returning for 2024--Depending on numbers Mr. Boyle is considering separating boys and girls if possible. I am not sure how this will work, but I think it would be a better experience for all involved. Participation will dictate whether we can do this.**

The Chatfield School, a tuition-free, public school academy nestled in the heart of Lapeer, offers the best educational opportunities for students in grades K-8.

Email: chatfieldschool@chatfieldschool.org
Website: www.chatfieldschool.org
Location: 231 Lake Drive, Lapeer, MI, USA
Phone: (810)-667-8970