"Stop and Think... Be a Bobcat."
March is Reading Month - March 3rd-21st
"Pop into a Good Book"
"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you will go." - Dr. Seuss
Botsford Elementary Friends & Family,
The Month of March is dedicated to "March is Reading Month" and is a month to motivate Bobcats of all ages to read every day.
It is essential that we get our student community at Botsford Elementary to understand that reading is fun and has many benefits, regardless of their age. It is a key component of education and professional development. Reading also has immediate and long-lasting health benefits such as increased cognitive function, memory, vocabulary, empathy, and decreased levels of stress.
According to the Michigan Department of Education, March is Reading Month is a promotion for early childhood learning and development by encouraging all children to read proficiently by the end of third grade. At times, we take reading for granted yet, there are many children and adults who struggle to read. MDE (Michigan Department of Education) research has shown that children typically learn to read by the third grade - then read to learn after that. This research also shows that children who cannot read by the third grade often experience developmental & academic challenges throughout their K-12 education & beyond.
March is Reading Month is not just a promotion that reading is fun for a single month out of the year. This "idea" is part of a strategy to benefit children and their families; schools; teachers, and communities throughout the state. Books can be life-changing & it does not matter if you are five or a mid-career professional.
Take a moment & think about a book that may have inspired you. Has a book impacted your life?
The importance of reading cannot be overstated. This is why the Botsford Elementary Staff has been working diligently on planning & organizing a series of activities, events & a calendar for our learning community & its students to participate in from March 3rd-21st. We have made the final edits & decisions in preparation for releasing the calendars & details of activities/events below. Please be sure to look for those specifics.
"Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about."
Mr. Bryan DeCaire, Botsford Elementary Principal
Clarenceville School District MI-Student Voice Family/Parent Survey
Superintendent Carruth had sent a parent/family communication on February 26th asking our learning community for their valuable feedback through the MI Student Voice Parent/Guardian Perception Survey. This survey has been developed by Michigan superintendents to gather insights from parents and guardians like you, helping to create a more complete and accurate picture of the school experience—going beyond just test scores. This is the second year our district participated in this survey and last year, we gained a lot of information that drove change for our district.
By participating, you will have the chance to share your thoughts on important aspects of your child’s school, including:
Interpersonal Relationships
Parent/Guardian Involvement and Support
Parent/Guardian Satisfaction
School Climate
Belonging
Your feedback will play a key role in shaping our school improvement efforts, enhancing support services, and guiding decisions about future facility upgrades. Most importantly, it will provide us with a deeper understanding of the school environment from your perspective, offering a more well-rounded view that complements student test scores.
In addition to the parent/guardian survey, students in grades 5 through 12 and district staff will also be invited to participate in similar optional surveys. The combined input from parents, students, and staff will help us drive meaningful improvements across the district.
The survey will take about 10 minutes to complete, and we sincerely hope you’ll take this opportunity to contribute. Look for a link to the online survey in a future communication.
Below is an optional opt-out form to complete on behalf of your child. If you do not complete the form, we are assuming that you support your child taking the survey. If you do not want your child to take the survey, please select NO below. A form was provided through Parent Square to opt out your child out of this survey until this Monday, March 3rd.
MARCH
3 - March is Reading Month Opening Day
5 - Ash Wednesday
5 - Early Release Wednesday @ 210 PM
7 - Attendance Letters Mailed
7 - Botsford Elementary Luau Hawaiian Dance @ 6-9 PM
11 - BEST Bellacino's Family Fundraiser
12 - Early Release Wednesday @ 210 PM
12 - Botsford B.E.S.T Parent Meeting @ 6 PM
13 - Spring Parent-Teacher Conferences @ 4-8 PM
13 - Board of Education Meeting @ 630 PM
14 - BEST Book Swap w/Milk & Cookies
13-15 - Purim
17 - St. Patrick’s Day
18 - BEST Junior Floor Hockey Championship
19 - Early Release Wednesday @ 210 PM
19 - Botsford Elementary Kindergarten Round-Up @ 6 PM
20 - Michigan State Wide Severe Weather Drill @ 1 PM
20 - BEST Senior Floor Hockey Championship
21 - March is Reading Month ENDING
24-28th, NO SCHOOL, Spring Break
28 - WIDA Assessment ENDS (Jan. 21st-March 28th)
Spring Parent-Teacher Conferences - March 13th @ 4-8 PM
Botsford Elementary & its staff will be hosting its Spring Parent-Teacher Conferences as needed. These conferences will be carried out differently than in the past, but our staff will meet with selected families based upon his/her findings & data collection related to your son or daughter's progress on Thursday, March 13th.
Botsford Staff will provide some form of sign-up virtually for families to choose their appointments & will meet face-to-face discussion or offer an online discussion. It is an expectation for each family that has been invited to a conference to commit & meet with their son/daughter's classroom teacher. If families are unable to meet with the classroom teacher, it is asked to reach out to him/her to arrange for another date & time that works within both parties' schedules prior to March 13th. Some of the key topics & themes to be discussed during the conference will include attendance, report cards, reading plans, progress, behavior & FASTBRIDGE assessments. More information will be provided by Botsford Elementary & its staff.
NEW Junior Kindergarten & Kindergarten Students WELCOME
As the current school year continues to inch closer to the spring/summer that means it is approaching the time to begin planning for the 2024-2025 school year, which begins with our NEW BOBCATS! Grandview Elementary will be hosting its Round-Up on Tuesday, March 18th @ 6 PM & Botsford Elementary will be carrying out its Round-Up on Wednesday, March 19th @ 6 PM as well.
If our learning community has a child that will be five years old by December 1st, 2025, he/she may be eligible for Junior Kindergarten or Kindergarten next Fall 2025-2026. The registration button can be used below for our Kindergarten Round-up 2025-2026.
All families expecting to attend the presentation shall complete registration so that proper communication can be carried out throughout the process.
For questions to be asked, please contact the Botsford Elementary Main Office @ 248-919-0402 or visit the website link, https://www.clarenceville.k12.mi.us/district/kindergarten/ for more information.
FUTURE Kindergarten Hearing & Vision Screening
As kindergarten round-up & registration approaches, families of our learning community should read the information provided regarding hearing & vision screening requirements for those families who may be considering either Botsford or Grandview Elementary in the near future.
According to the Michigan Public Health Code (Act 368 of 1978), children entering kindergarten must have their hearing and vision tested before the first day of school and parents must submit a certificate of hearing and vision screening or statement of exemption to the school district.
Additionally, the Revised School Code (Act 451 of 1976, section 380.1177 requires that parents of children entering kindergarten present a statement to school officials confirming they have received the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Vision Screening or a statement signed by a Health Department Technician, a licensed eye care provider (optometrist or ophthalmologist) or medical/osteopathic physician. School officials are required to enter vision screening data into the MCIR/SIRS system for all kindergarten students new entrants by November 1st of each year. A separate report to MDHHS or the Oakland County Health Division is no longer required.
The goal of the law is early identification and treatment of hearing and vision problems that can affect the child’s ability to learn. Although the Public Health Code rules state hearing and vision screening shall be done at least once during the ages of 3 through 5 years, the best practice is within six to twelve months of entering kindergarten.
Oakland County Health Department/Health Division offers free hearing & vision screening by appointment for all children who will attend kindergarten in Oakland County. Call for an appointment @ 248-424-7070.
Dress Apparel - Weather Changing
With temperatures beginning to drop & winter approaching, Botsford Elementary wants to remind families, friends & students about the danger of not dressing appropriately for the cooler weather.
As building principal, I want to continue allowing & encouraging play outside when appropriate weather & temperatures allow for recess. The school community will be going outside when temperatures are 10 degrees or above. It is important that ALL students wear the appropriate clothing while waiting for a school bus or playing outside during school hours. This means & I strongly encourage wearing a hat, heavier coat, layers & gloves at the very least.
Those families & friends who DO NOT bring or have appropriate clothing are still expected to participate outdoors & cannot remain indoors or in the main office. If your child has a medical condition that restricts them from being outside, please DO NOT send a note drafted by you, the parent as it needs to be a medical note.
I encourage BOTH partnerships to speak with our children about what to wear when it is cold outside & that staying warm is important. In addition, discussing what can happen if we DO NOT take the proper precautions will be beneficial also.
Botsford Elementary AER Report 2023-2024
I am pleased to present each of you with the Annual Education Report (AER), which provides key information on the 2023-24 educational progress for our school. The AER addresses the complex reporting information required by federal & state laws. Botsford Elementary report contains information about student assessment and accountability. If you have any questions about the AER, please contact me for assistance.
Families & Friends may locate & view this report by visiting the Clarenceville School District Home Page by using the link provided https://www.clarenceville.k12.mi.us/ followed by navigating to the bottom of this page & locating a tab titled, "Annual Reports". Upon locating this tab, please click the Botsford Elementary Annual Report or use the link provided below.
Label Student Belongings
As a building, we have collected & a number of different belongs have accumulated in just a few short weeks due to being misplaced or left on the playground during recess periods. It is vital & helpful if these items such as lunch boxes, coats, sweatshirts, water bottles are labeled with the students name and/or room number so that they can be returned to its owner. These belongings are placed into the "lost & found" but over time if these items are not retrieved they will be donated after a period of time being left behind.
WIDA Assessment
WIDA Assessment - January 21st-March 28th
All students who have a language other than English spoken at home & are identified as English Learners must take a state assessment called WIDA ACCESS for ELLs (Accessing Comprehension and Communication in English State to State for English Language Learners). The Enrollment Office form that was completed when your son/daughter enrolled in the Clarenceville School District provided us with this information. Students will take the assessment even if they are not attending ESL/EL classes. The assessment is for Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking, and Comprehension in English. Students will take the assessment between January 21st-March 28, 2025. We will mail your child's test results to you when we receive them from the Michigan Department of Education. If you have any questions, please contact Karen Morrison at 248-919-0402.
Botsford Bobcats Not Feeling Well
Children Not Feeling Well – School Tips
There are many different viruses going around during this time of year. The flu, RSV, the common cold, and COVID are all going around and some children can get more than one virus at the same time. We have seen all of these in our buildings already this year and they will continue to go around until the weather starts to get warmer. It is important to keep your students home if they are not feeling well. This will help your child get rest and be more prepared to learn as well as prevent more germs from spreading to others. Some illnesses can linger so it can be confusing at times to know when to send your child back to school. Here are some tips and recommendations for sick students.
We follow Oakland County guidelines for excluding a child from school. We want to be cautious and not spread illness but we also do not want your child to miss more school than necessary. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions!
Fever: If your child has a fever, they should be fever free without medication for at least 24 hours before returning to school. Giving your child fever-reducing medication and then sending them to school will not help them feel better, they need to rest when they are sick and at some point, the medication will wear off during school hours. This would also expose others to the illness so please keep your child at home until their fever is gone for at least 24 hours.
Coughs, sneezes, and running noses spread germs. The viruses above will spread through these respiratory routes. If your child has a new cough, sneeze, or runny nose please keep them home. For most illnesses, the first few days and possibly even a couple of days before an illness starts, a person can be contagious and spread a virus. A cough may linger for weeks so it is important to consult your primary care provider to help determine if your child can return to school.
Allergies: Many of us have seasonal allergies so it can be difficult to know if we are having allergy symptoms or if we have a virus. Allergies will not cause a fever and for most people, they do not cause a sore throat, coughing, or achy feeling. An itchy nose, eyes, and mouth can be a sign of allergies that typically do not occur with a virus.
Prevention: Practice good hand hygiene and cover your coughs and sneezes! Hand washing can make a significant difference in spreading a virus or catching one. We should encourage our students to wash their hands well with soap and water or hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available. Covering a cough and sneeze with a tissue or with your elbow helps keep the germs to yourself as much as possible.
Sleep Schedules & Bedtimes - Routines are a Path to Success
The month of February is close to coming to an end & our children should have a routine set for a successful school day. Unfortunately, this is a challenge for everyone, but upon my observations throughout the school day, the students of Botsford Elementary seem to be still searching for that wealthy routine. A number of our Bobcats seem to express & show signs of being tired because they are staying up late due to a variety of different distractions such as electronics, like phones, iPads, and video games, or watching some of their favorite videos and/or series on the television or computer. I have provided a resource below that will assist our families in developing a schedule for your child. Your child, your child's teacher, and you will thank yourself when you have a schedule in place.
B.E.S.T Parent Meeting - March 12th
BEST Parent Meeting - March 12th @ 6 PM
Our B.E.S.T Parent Meeting will be hosted in person on Wednesday, March 12th @ 6 PM. Our families are encouraged to ask any questions, become familiar with the events planned for the 2024-2025 school year & connect with other Botsford Elementary families. The B.E.S.T. Organization will continue to gather each 2nd Wednesday of the month until advised differently.
The Puck Has Been Dropped - Season Has Started
BEST & FOG Parent Organizations will begin the 2025 Floor Hockey Season on January 28th for our Junior Division followed by our Seniors on January 30th. The puck will drop @ 615 PM & 730 PM in the Grandview Gymnasium. Thank you to our Athletic Directors for organizing this opportunity for our students along with all the volunteers that will lead our students this season.
Label Student Belongings w/Mabels Labels
As a building, we have collected & a number of different belongings that have accumulated in just a few short weeks due to being misplaced or left on the playground during recess periods. It is vital & helpful if these items such as lunch boxes, coats, sweatshirts, water bottles are labeled with the students name and/or room number so that they can be returned to its owner. These belongings are placed into the "lost & found" but over time if these items are not retrieved they will be donated after a period of time being left behind.
It may be beneficial for our families to explore the latest & yearlong B.E.S.T fundraiser sponsored by Mabels Labels. This is a wonderful & efficient method to label student belongings simply with a laundry, dishwasher, microwave safe & waterproof label.
Please visit campaigns.mabelslabels.com & search for our organization. The labels will ship directly to the home for FREE & Botsford B.E.S.T will receive 20% in our funds from the order.
Significance of School Attendance
As a partnership, we can agree that education is important for your child’s success in life. Regular attendance ensures that your child gets all the benefits the school can offer. When students are missing school, they are missing out on those benefits. School attendance is so important, that Michigan law makes it compulsory for all children ages 6 to 16 to attend public schools. When children are excessively absent, the law holds parents/guardians accountable. If your child is truant (missing scheduled school time without an accepted excused absence), you and/or your child could end up in court with serious consequences. Attendance may be the single most important factor in school success because:
- Children do best in school when they are in class every day. The U.S. Department of Education reports that for every missed day of school, it takes a student two days to catch up.
- In addition to academics, children learn valuable lessons about personal responsibility and commitment.
- Children keep up with their peers and have stronger bonds with the school and community.
- Annually, students who graduate from high school will earn 30% more than those who don’t complete high school.
- 1 in 10 kindergarten students misses nearly a month of school every year. In some districts, it runs as high as 1 in 3.
- Kindergartners who miss 10 percent of school days have lower academic performance when they reach first grade.
- Chronic absence in kindergarten translated into lower fifth-grade achievement.
Below is some important information about the correlation between attendance and achievement.
Early Dismissal & Late Drop Off
The office of Botsford Elementary understands if our families/students are running late, which is considered after 840 AM, students must enter through the front doors & escorted by a parent, adult, or guardian so that their child can be signed in by the office. Please DO NOT drop your child off to independently walk into the building, & proceed to class without supervision. Please remember to stay in your vehicle while dropping off.
Any student who has arrived after 840 AM will be marked "tardy".
As building principal, I strongly discourage student(s) from being picked up for early dismissal so we can protect the instructional time & ensure a calm & safe end to the day for all students. Please plan accordingly and if your child needs to be picked up early, please contact the office or classroom teacher in the morning so that we are prepared for this early release.
Just a reminder our school day @ Botsford Elementary begins at 830 AM & concludes @ 340 PM. It is important that if your child has been dropped off or is being picked up & the entry/exit doors have been closed upon the 835 AM window that they proceed to the main entrance to be entered into the building by a Botsford Elementary staff member & not to remain outside the doors or knock. This applies as well if your child(ren) has not been picked up at dismissal (about 350 PM), families should proceed to the main office.
Make a Change w/School Attendance
It is important for your child's progress to make a change within that number of absences & make an adjustment.
Some suggestions that may help in achieving this adjustment include:
- Setting a regular bedtime & morning routine.
- Layout clothes & pack backpacks the night before.
- Disallow your child from staying home unless they are truly ill.
- Talk to staff and/or teachers if your child seems anxious about going to school & advice can be given on how to make him/her feel more comfortable & excited about learning.
- Be sure to make alternative plans for getting to school in case a challenge has arisen. Call on a family member, a neighbor, or another parent.
- Try & avoid medical appointments & extended trips when school is in session.
Botsford Communication Hub
Email: bryan.decaire@clarencevilleschools.org
Location: 19515 Lathers Street, Livonia, MI, USA
Phone: (248)919-0402
X: @BotsfordElem