Dragon's Tale

Dear Dragon Families,

I hope this message finds you well! I want to take a moment to discuss the vital role that reading plays in our children's development. Research shows that reading for just 20 minutes each day can significantly enhance vocabulary, comprehension skills, and overall academic success. I encourage you to set aside this time with your child, whether it's exploring their favorite stories or discovering new topics together.

In addition to fostering a love for reading, I’d like to emphasize the importance of outdoor activities. With the beautiful fall weather upon us, it's the perfect time for family walks, bike rides, or even playing games in the yard. Encouraging our children to be active outdoors not only promotes physical health but also provides valuable opportunities for imaginative play and social interaction. Let’s make an effort to limit screen time and prioritize these enriching experiences.

I am also excited to announce the kickoff of our annual PTA Fun Run, scheduled for October 11! This event promises to be a wonderful day filled with fun, fitness, and community spirit. We will share more information in the coming weeks, so stay tuned for details.

Finally, a heartfelt thank you to all the parents who joined us to launch our VIP Mileage Club at the playground. Your support is crucial in creating a vibrant and engaged school community, and we appreciate your participation!

Thank you for your continued support, and let’s work together to nurture our children’s love for reading and active lifestyles. Please be sure to read this week's Dragon's Tale Newsletter for more information about our school activities.

Warm regards,

Marci Augenstein, Principal

October 2024

Oct. 1 - Keith PTA Meeting - 6:30pm Learning Commons

Oct. 2 - Count Day

Oct. 3 - No School

Oct. 9 - Bike/Walk to School Day

Oct. 11 - Fun Run

Oct. 18 - Teacher of the Year Nominations Due

Oct. 18 - Keith PTA Fall Fest - 5pm Playground

Oct. 25 - Picture Re-Take Day

Oct. 29 - ALICE Drill - See notes below

Oct. 31 - Halloween Parade 11am

Oct. 31 - Half Day - Dismissal Schedule below

Walled Lake Consolidated Schools takes great pride in honoring exemplary educators within our district. Help us recognize someone that has made an impact on your family by nominating that person for 2024-25 Teacher of the Year! All nominations must be completed by October 18, 2024.

Halloween Parade - 11am

Parents may attend on the blacktop area on the playground. There will be cones set up to make a "parent tunnel" for students to walk through.

Half-Day Dismissal schedule on 10/31/24:

12:25pm - Dismissal begins for Dragon Pick Up

12:30pm - Walkers and Prime Time Dismissed

12:42pm - Buses depart Keith

The WLCSD Student Code of Conduct has an Electronic Communication Device policy, which includes cell phones and other personal communication devices. Increasingly our students wearing watches with technology are being distracted from learning from parent texts, playing games, or more. We will request our students put devices into their backpacks during the school day so it is not a disruption to the learning environment. Thank you for talking with your children about keeping these devices off during the school day.

Please click on the button below to learn more about our Keith Green Team!

In the coming weeks, teachers will be sharing iReady diagnostic parent reports with you once your children have completed their diagnostic. Please be sure you see the letter from Assistant Superintendent of Learning Service, Mrs. Catherine Kochanski, linked below.

Every year the Keith PTA provides Fun Run t-shirts to its students & staff. If you didn't submit your student(s) t-shirt size(s) during the enrollment packet, please CLICK HERE. This year's in-school Fun Run event will be Friday, October 11th on the Keith track. What's the "Fun Run", you ask? Throughout the day on Oct 11th, grade levels will run & walk laps around the track in support of Keith's fundraiser to beautify the playground, its equipment, & a newly proposed, outdoor learning space. More details to come on that learning space at Wednesday, September 4th's 630PM PTA meeting! We meet in the Learning Commons (Media Center) for 1 hour & would love for you to meet & join us.

Stay tuned for volunteer opportunities during the Fun Run! Until then, shoot us your shirt sizes, please.

The helpful resource linked below is an excellent way to assist our Dragon Families who are searching for best practices to support their children's learning at home. Please take a moment to review these helpful videos linked below and reach out to your child's teacher if you'd like additional help or support.

What to watch for:

• Fri, Oct 4th ~ Tubby's Sub & Ice Cream Day ~ $1.00 ice cream cups
• Thurs, Oct 10th ~ Marco's Pizza Day ~ $2 / extra slice, $1.25 chips
• Mon, Oct 14th ~ Lucky Tray Day

As always, parents ( AND STAFF )can add funds to student accounts via Skyward, or cash / check brought to me in the kitchen. If students bring cash/checks, please send the funds to the cafeteria either:

1. Labeled inside your lunch barcode sheet, or
2. Have students bring down their money during breakfast

The lunch line moves quicker if their funds are deposited beforehand. Thank you in advance for your help!

Are you curious about Classical / Pops / Jazz music or just enjoy listening to music? Do you like going to concerts? Then come join the Music Appreciation Club. We will be learning more about the music, the performances, the artists and attend concerts with:

Music of Star Wars; Oldies Music by The Drifters, Roy Orbison, Nat King Cole, The Beach Boys, and The Beatles; Ray Chen; Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker; Broadway Love Songs; Music of Enrique Iglesias, Gloria Estefan, Santana, & Ricky Martin; Women Rock! (Music by Carole King, Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin, Pat Benatar, Tina Turner), Ben Folds and many more!

Our first Meet and Concert of this season will be Sunday, October 6th at Orchestra Hall. Club will meet at 2:30pm followed by attending the Concert at 3pm for the Music of Star Wars. Feel the force of the entire Star Wars saga as the DSO performs the best of John Williams’s film music from every episode in the series. Plus, selections from Michael Giacchino’s score for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

Cost: $25 per student membership which covers one free ticket to above concert and 1 free ticket to almost 45 other Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) 2024-2025 Classical, POPs and Jazz concert series, as well as up to two companion tickets (bring your parents/sibling/friend/teacher) for $5 each, access to the best seats, access to DSO Replay and online Live streaming performances. Carpooling opportunities are available!

For Students who already have a DSO account. You will need to sign into your DSO account first. Then while logged into your account, purchase your Student Soundcard membership for the 2024-2025 season. This way, your student membership will be automatically attached to your DSO account.

To Join, please fill out Club Registration form after you have purchased your DSO Student Soundcard membership

https://forms.gle/3eAmCFB4Vf9FCP626

Should you have any question, contact Monique Levu monique.levu@gmail.com 248-301-1415

Walled Lake Consolidated Schools is focused on building on its successes over the past decade and set a new course for our district based on the context of the current academic, social, emotional, and economic environment of the community we serve.

As we focus on the future of our district in creating a new strategic plan, we value the input of all of our stakeholders. We are working with G&D Associates to gather perspectives from our community to inform the next strategic plan. Opportunities will include:

• A brief community survey aimed at identifying key themes for in-depth focus group discussions.

• Focus groups and community forums involving students, families, staff, community members, and local partners.

• Numerous opportunities for feedback throughout the entire process.

Share your voice by completing a short survey that will assist in creating our next strategic plan. The survey opens on Wednesday, September 4, and will close on Wednesday, September 25.

More information about strategic planning can be found at www.wlcsd.org/strategic-plan

The Walled Lake Consolidated Schools’ Board of Education approved seeking a replacement of the district’s operating millage in the upcoming November election during its August 8, 2024 special meeting.

Walled Lake Consolidated Schools is asking the community to replace its current operating millage with an 18 mill non-homestead millage that represents roughly $31 million and a 3.6297 mill hold harmless that represents approximately $2 million of the district’s budget. The total of $33 million accounts for 18 percent of the district’s $187 million revenue budget.

Every District in the state is expected to levy, with voter approval, 18 mills on all non-homestead properties in order to receive full state funding under Proposal A. The 3 mill "Headlee cushion" will allow the district to collect the full 18 mills over the duration of the operating millage. The proposal will not increase property taxes on any primary residence property that is within Walled Lake Consolidated Schools boundaries. Since the approval of Proposal A in 1994, the Walled Lake Consolidated Schools’ community has overwhelmingly supported the operating millage, most recently in 2014.

If the November 5, 2024 proposal is not approved, the school district will lose more than $33 million in operating revenue every year and the state will not make up the shortfall.

More information about the 2024 Operating Millage Replacement can be found at www.wlcsd.org/elections.

Westacres is holding their 3rd annual Red Cross blood drive! Sunday, October 13 between 12-4 at 3700 Westacres Dr. You can literally save lives in less than 30 minutes by donating blood. You can sign up at https://shorturl.at/hF28n or text Melissa Brown at 734-395-9025 to set up an appointment. Thank you so much!

Please remember to register or re-register your Kroger Plus card to Keith Elementary. Last year we made just over $2,000! It’s easy! Just go to www.krogercommunityrewards.com and go to the community rewards section. You must re-register your card annually. Anyone having an issue with their email address or password can call 1-800-KROGERS for customer service.

October 1st at 6:30pm - Keith Learning Commons

Visit our PTA's Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/KeithElemPTA/

Keith Vision Screening Schedule:

Grades to be assessed: J/K, 1, 3, 5

TECHNICIAN: TERRI ALCOCER

10/16, 10/17, 10/18, 10/22, 10/23, 10/24, 10/25/2024 AM

Keith Hearing Screening Schedule:

Grades to be assessed: J/K, K, 2, 4

TECHNICIAN: DENISE GAARDER

03/14, 03/17, 03/18, 03/19, 03/20/2025

Please visit the WLCSD website linked in the button below for additional information about your child's health and immunizations for school. In addition, should your child need to take medication while at school, all medicines must be kept in the main office. They must be brought to school by an adult with the permission to administer medicine at school form (linked in the button below) and original bottle included. Please review the Keith Medical Information section of our family handbook for additional information.

The Keith Elementary School Community will inspire and empower all- academically, socially, and emotionally.

Diana Tyrrell - Principal's Secretary

DianaTyrrel@wlcsd.org

Alice Johnson - Building Secretary

AliceJohnson@wlcsd.org

Marci Augenstein, Ph.D. - Principal, Keith Elementary

MarciAugenstein@wlcsd.org

Email: DianaTyrrell@wlcsd.org
Website: http://wlcsd.org/schools/elementary/keith/
Location: 2800 Keith Road, West Bloomfield Township, MI, United States
Phone: (248)956-3700
Twitter: @KeithElementary