Dragon's Tale

Dear Dragon Families,

I’m excited to share with you that we had an outstanding start to March is Reading Month with our Jonathan Rand assembly. Our students were thoroughly engaged as they learned about the importance of reading and storytelling, and we’re looking forward to many more fun activities and opportunities throughout the month to encourage a love for reading.

A big thank you to our amazing teachers especially Mrs. Jasina, Ms. Timmermann, and Mrs. Shemenski for writing classroom grants to support exciting projects in their classrooms. We are incredibly grateful for the support of the Foundation for Excellence, whose generosity makes these classroom initiatives possible. With these grants, our students have even more tools and resources to help them grow as learners.

As we celebrate March is Reading Month, I want to take a moment to highlight the importance of daily reading. Whether it’s a few minutes each day or diving into a good book for longer, reading regularly not only improves literacy skills but also sparks imagination and builds a lifelong love of learning. I encourage you to make time each day to read with your child, explore new books, and enjoy the journey of discovery together!

On a more personal note, I wanted to inform you that I will be out of the building for the next week or two due to a minor knee surgery. I anticipate a quick recovery and look forward to returning to Keith soon. In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out directly to your child’s teacher. Rest assured, the WLCSD administration is aware of my absence, and we have a strong team of teachers and administrators in place to support the building during this time.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership in making Keith Elementary a wonderful place for our students to learn and grow. Please be sure to read our Dragon's Tale Newsletter with important updates. Wishing you all a fantastic March, filled with reading adventures and new learning experiences!

Warm regards,

Marci Augenstein, Principal

Mar. 3 - 5th Grade Visit from Principal Nayal Maktari at Keith

Mar. 3 - The Anxious Generation Family Book Study - 6pm Keith Learning Commons - ALL are invited to attend, additional details below

Mar. 4 - Keith PTA Meeting - 6:30pm Keith Learning Commons

Mar. 7 - Jonathan Rand - March is Reading Month PTA Assembly

Mar. 12 - A Taste of Spring - Hospitality House Fundraiser - Wixom Community Center

Mar. 13 - 1/2 Day of School - Dragon Dismissal 12:25pm, 12:30pm Prime Time and Walkers, 12:42pm Buses Depart Keith

Mar. 17 - 21 - WLCSD Inclusion Week (Classroom activities will be shared closer to this event)

Mar. 24 - 28 - No School - Spring Break

Mar. 31 - WLCSD PTSA Reflections Ceremony (Details will be sent closer to the event)

We will be holding a whole-school music concert at WLN Auditorium on May 13th! K(JK)-2 will perform from 6:00-6:30. 3rd-5th grades will perform from 7:00-7:30.

The district is now requiring Criminal History Background Check Forms to be submitted electronically.

Link: Criminal History Volunteer Form

Once completed, it will be possible to forward the Form to Alice Johnson, Keith Building Secretary, to review and submit to the Board Office for processing.

PLEASE NOTE: If you have already submitted a Criminal History/Background Check form for the 24-25 school year, YOU DO NOT NEED TO SUBMIT ANOTHER FORM. Only one is required each school year.

Thank you for your help in moving forward with this new format for filling out and submitting Criminal History/Background Check Forms.

Dear 5th Grade Parent,

Please click on the link below to access our updated incoming 6th grade newsletter. Have a great rest of your day and we look forward to seeing you on Monday, March 10th at 6:30 p.m. in the CHS Middle School Main Gym.

Incoming 6th Grade Newsletter

Respectfully,

Nayal Maktari, CHS Middle School Principal

Dear Keith Families,

Although every month is “reading month” at Keith Elementary, we love to celebrate reading in special ways during March is Reading Month! Please see below for our exciting plans to motivate and engage our community of readers!

Our Goal

To grow and celebrate a love of reading!

To achieve our goal for 100 minutes per week!

To have fun as a community of readers!

Details

Each week, students will have a goal of reading at least 100 minutes per week. They will log their nightly reading on their March is Reading Month log. Students can read independently or with a family member. Parents/caregivers can also read to their child. A calendar will be sent home with fun ideas for reading!

Rewards

If students achieve their goal of reading 100 minutes per week AND return their reading log, they will earn the chance to be put in a class raffle to choose a book from the book vending machine!

🌸 Happy Reading! 🌸

Spring Break is upon us! We wish safe travels to our Keith families and staff headed out of town and a safe and fun week for all our students staying local as well. Our Keith PTA Community Helpers would like to give some of our families in need here at Keith a little boost to help with groceries and other necessities or something special during spring break. We are asking for donations of cash to help achieve this for our families in need. Keith PTA Community Helpers will purchase Visa Gift Cards with the cash donated and distribute them to our families in need before break.

Cash donations can be brought to the Keith Elementary office with "ATTN: Keith Community Helpers" and Venmo is also available for convenience and can be sent to @Lauren-June-4, last four digits of phone number (3442) to comfirm, just provide "Keith Community Helpers" in the memo section. Donations will be accepted thru Monday, March 17th, so we can ensure timely distrubution before break. Please see the breakdown below if you are able to donate. Thank you for your consideration and we truly appreciate our generous Keith Community.

We are so thankful to the Foundation for Excellence and our 2025 Keith Classroom Grant Recipients! Congratulations Mrs. Jasina, Mrs. Shemenski, and Ms. Timmermann!

Hello (current and future) Dragon Families,

Please plan for your child to attend ONE morning of Keith JK/Kindergarten Round Up on Monday, March 10 or Wednesday, March 12 or Tuesday, March 18 from 9:30am-11:00am.

Your child will meet others attending JK/Kindergarten in the fall, play together with learning materials, color and write their name, as well as visit a real kindergarten classroom! Parents are welcome to drop off your child and meet with PTA parents for coffee and a tour of the school or return at 11am for pick up. Please contact the Keith Elementary office with questions 248-956-3700.

Drop off your child at Door 5 and parents are welcome to join PTA at Door 7 (north side of Keith).

Please use this sign-up link for both JK and Kindergarten programs. Welcome to Keith Elementary School!

Keith JK/Kindergarten Round-Up Sign Up

Kind regards,

Marci Augenstein, Ph. D.

Keith Elementary School Principal

Go Dragons!

WLCSD has partnered with OCHD to provide free in-district Kindergarten Dental Screenings for our incoming kindergarten students. The district website has been updated with the new dates. These clinics will be walk-in. There is no need for families to call to schedule an appointment.

8/12/2025 4p-6p at Dublin

8/14/2025 4p-6p at Walled Lake El

8/18/2025 4p-6p at Meadowbrook

MONDAY, MARCH 10TH FROM 6:30 P.M.-7:30 P.M.

Please join the following CHS Staff Members on March 10th!

Nayal Maktari, Principal

Dan Holland, Assistant Principal

Steve Spickard, Dean of Students

Kathleen Hoover, 6th Grade Counselor

The evening will be dedicated to sharing what you can expect next school year at CHS Middle School. We'll also be available to answer any questions you may have following our presentation.

We look forward to seeing you in the CHS Middle School Main Gym on March 10th beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Nayal Maktari

Principal

Dear Families,

Our current math standards are more rigorous and demanding than ever. Students are expected to develop a deep understanding of concepts leading to fluency with facts and procedures, and the ability to clearly communicate their mathematical thinking. Further, students must pass a demanding sequence of high school math courses in order to meet graduation requirements. In response to the increased expectations for all students, we have adjusted the content focus and instructional approaches in all of our math courses.

Because of the higher standards and to ensure student success at all points of their mathematical education, we are using the procedures described below to accelerate students. In order to skip a course in the math sequence, students must demonstrate proficiency in the content and skills of the course they are attempting to skip.

The process and procedures described on the following pages (in the button linked below) apply to all students currently in grades 2 through 7. Students attempting to test-out of high school courses will use the existing process described on the district website. If you have questions after reviewing the process, please contact your building principal or me.

Thank you for your partnership in education.

Sincerely,

Ellen McDonald

Math/Science Coordinator

ELLENMCDONALD@WLCSD.ORG

248.956.2029

In an effort to find additional ways to celebrate our staff, the WLCSD Community Relations department requests that families fill out the information below for staff who are rock stars in their classrooms and school communities.

A sample of what these shout outs will look like on social media and in our district newsletters can be found below.

YOU NEED TO KNOW...
Spring is almost here and it’s time to sharpen your skills and get ready for the softball season! Players will learn and practice techniques and drills to improve their fundamentals. New players to the game of softball are welcome!!! The clinic staff consists of our Varsity and JV coaching staff, former college players, the WLN JV & Varsity teams, and local travel ball coaches and instructors. Come learn from some of the BEST to play and coach the game!!!

AGES: 5 - 14 years old (K - 8th Grade)

WHERE: Walled Lake Northern High School Gyms

DISCOUNTS: - ONLINE ONLY

• $10 Early Bird when Registered by March 7th
• Register multiple siblings and save $5 each

PACKAGES: - AFTER MARCH 7TH

• All 3 Clinics: Save $20 per player; includes t-shirt and all 3 clinic sessions
• Clinic #1 with Clinic #2 or Clinic #3: Save $10 per player; includes t-shirt and clinic sessions
• Clinic #2 and Clinic #3: Save $10 per player; includes t-shirt and clinic session
  *Must add all of the desired clinics to your cart to receive the package rate.

All proceeds from the clinic will benefit the WL Northern Softball Program
Walk-ins accepted but pre-registration preferred so we can be organized and ready for you!!!

Mail-In Registration Option:
Register online above or click here to download the PDF, print, fill out and mail in registration form

CONTACT
Kristen Woodard, Varsity Softball Coach | kristenwoodard@wlcsd.org

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

Keith Green Team / Steam4hc 4H Club thank you note to classrooms who participated in the senior home visit project.

The seniors would love for us to visit more frequently. Any parents interested in getting their kids involved in visiting the senior home can contact me at steam4hc@gmail.com

What to watch for in March:

Tue, March 4th ~ Marco's Pizza Day ~ $2.00 extra slice, $1.25 chips

Mon, March 10th ~ Lucky Tray Day

Fri, March 14th ~`Tubby's Subs & Ice Cream Day ~ $1.00

Fri, March 21st ~Ice Cream Day ~ $1.00

As always, parents & 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!

Thanks to all the families who came out for the Broadway Love Songs concert. Our next Club meet is Sunday, March 16, 2024 at 2:30pm followed by the 3pm La Vida Loca concert.

Tickets are currently available. For those students who usually reserve their free ticket online, please note the DSO has transitioned to only booking Student Soundcard tickets through visiting or calling the box office 313.576.5111.

Upcoming concerts where we plan to meet as a group:

· Sunday, March 16, 2025, 2:30 Club meet, 3pm La Vida Loca

· Sunday, April 27 2025, 2:30 Club meet, 3pm Women Rock!

· Saturday, May 24 2025, 2:30 Club meet, 3pm Ben Folds

***Your student soundcard membership allows you to attend many more concerts in addition to the ones listed above. Please consider making the most of your membership and check out other concerts at DSO.org***

It is not too late to join now! After attending only 1 concert, your student membership will have paid for itself.

Cost: $25 per student membership unlocks one free ticket to almost every Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) 2024-2025 concert series, including the concerts outside of those we plan to meet at, and up to two companion tickets (bring or invite 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!

We will be learning more about the music, the performances, the artists and attend concerts with:

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!

See Music Appreciation Club Details Document for more information and link to Google form for registration https://forms.gle/3eAmCFB4Vf9FCP626

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.

March 4th 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