The Eagle's Beak

Dear Auburn Families,

As we wrap up our final day of school for 2024, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for your continued partnership and support throughout this semester. Together, we’ve created a welcoming and inclusive community where our students can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

This season is a time for reflection, togetherness, and joy. I hope you find moments to celebrate your family’s unique traditions, rest, and reconnect with loved ones. To our families who celebrate different holidays or observe this time in your own special way, we honor and celebrate the rich diversity that makes our school community so vibrant.

School will resume on Monday, January 6, 2025, and we look forward to welcoming your children back with the same enthusiasm and commitment to their growth and success. Please encourage your children to continue reading, exploring, and engaging in meaningful experiences over the break—it’s a wonderful way to keep their curiosity alive!

On behalf of our entire staff, I wish you and your family a safe, peaceful, and joyous winter break. Thank you for being an integral part of our school family. We look forward to an incredible new year together, filled with learning, growth, and opportunity.

Warm regards,

Principal Byas

A big shout out to our amazing staff for their dedication and countless hours spent teaching and supporting our young scholars! To show our appreciation and spread some holiday cheer before Winter Break, we treated our teachers to a delightful coffee bar and a festive luncheon. Thank you for all you do to make a difference every day!

Happy Winter Break!

Ms. Courts

Greetings Auburn Eagle Parents/Caretakers,

The Oakland County Outstanding Teacher of the Year Awards are presented annually to honor and reward teachers in Oakland County who have achieved, through their effort and example, the highest standards of excellence in their profession. Oakland Schools has created these awards out of a conviction that a quality public education system is essential to the health and vitality of our community. We believe that encouraging excellence in education is the shared responsibility of all who reap its benefits.

If you would like to nominate an Auburn Elementary teacher for consideration for this award, please write a statement describing why you feel that teacher is deserving of the nomination. You can include specific examples and stories of how the teacher has gone above and beyond to support your child. Please limit your statement to 600 words and submit all nominations to the main office with attention to Principal Byas by Friday, January 10, 2025.

Thank you for helping us to recognize the outstanding teachers that we have at Auburn.

I'm excited to share that we have our very first Auburn Giving Tree! It's filled with cozy hats, gloves, scarves, and socks, all ready to help keep our students warm this winter. I’m kindly asking for your help in identifying students who may need these items and collecting them on their behalf. To keep the spirit of the tree intact, please encourage the students not to pull items themselves.

If you have any questions or need any assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out. Let’s continue spreading love and cheer, and together, we can make a big difference in someone’s day!

Thank you so much!

A huge shout out to our PTO parents for supporting the winter grams sales and preparations.

As December settles in and Michigan’s winter weather becomes increasingly cold and snowy, we want to remind you of our school and district recess policies. Ensuring our students remain safe and comfortable during recess is a top priority, and proper clothing is essential for enjoying outdoor play during this chilly season.

Recess Guidelines

• If it is raining or the temperature, including wind chill, is less than 10°F, students will have indoor recess.
• If the temperature is 65°F or below, students should wear coats to stay warm.

In cloudy or snowy weather, students should wear: Gloves, Hats, Snow pants, Boots

Playground Snow Policy

Clothing Reminders:

• Students are expected to wear the outdoor gear they arrive at school in.
• Please ensure your child comes to school dressed appropriately for the weather.
• To maintain instructional time, students will not call home to request forgotten items.

Attention Local and Small Businesses: Support Auburn Elementary School!

The Auburn Elementary School PTO is reaching out to our local and small business community for potential fundraising opportunities that can benefit our students and school programs. We welcome ideas and partnerships that can help make this year’s fundraising efforts a success!

If you’re a local or small business and would like to get involved or discuss potential fundraising ideas, please contact the PTO at amandaauburnpto@gmail.com. OR Auburn elementary main office at 248-537-6500. We look forward to partnering with you to support our Auburn elementary community.

Thank you for your continued support!

Sincerely,

Auburn Elementary School PTO

Here are a few business cards that came in this week. We’d love to recognize and support these local businesses, and we want to continue supporting yours as well! Please keep the information coming—we truly appreciate your contributions!

🎉 Attention Auburn Families!

We have thrilling news—Auburn Elementary is officially on Facebook! 📱✨ Come check us out, hit that "Like" button, give us some stars and share in all the new and exciting updates and events, both past and upcoming. Join our community and stay connected! We can’t wait to share this journey with you! 🎊💙 https://www.facebook.com/AuburnRockStars

The week of January 6-10 is A schedule.

To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience, please remember that appropriate shoes are required. This helps us adhere to our dress code and keeps everyone safe while they engage in physical activities.

If you have any questions or concerns about this requirement, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to help!

Thank you for your cooperation and partnership.

Auburn Families Please use the following link to gain access to the breakfast & lunch menu.

https://avondale.nutrislice.com/menu/auburn

• 12/23 - 12/31 - NO SCHOOL - Winter Recess

• 1/1 - 1/3 - NO SCHOOL - Winter Recess
• 1/6 - School Resumes

• 1/16 - HALF DAY - Teacher Records - 11:45am Dismissal

• 1/17 - HALF DAY - End of 2nd Quarter - 11:45am Dismissal
• 1/20 - NO SCHOOL - MLK Jr. Day

If you have any questions, please contact Billie Chafin

billie.chafin@avondaleschools.org

Auburn Hills will be having their 5th annual Winter Solstice event next Friday, December 20th. This event will go from 6pm-9pm. There will be a lantern walk, crafts, snacks, hot chocolate, and the Oakland Astronomy club will be there! This event is free, and we encourage everyone to join us for the fun!

Students, it's time to get creative! Avondale School District is inviting all students to design a poster that represents our district's Portrait of a Graduate!

Avondale's Portrait of a Graduate is a framework for the skills, knowledge, and character traits our district aims for its students to develop by the time they graduate. This includes Conscientious Citizen, Creative Problem Solver, Effective Communicator, Innovative Thinker, and Self-Actualized Risk Taker. Our schools use this model to align teaching, programs, and culture around these core competencies, ensuring that every student graduates equipped for lifelong success.

Winners from elementary, middle, and high school will have their designs professionally styled, printed, and displayed throughout the district! Submit your poster to the school front office by January 13, 2025. Avondale staff and families will then vote for their favorites!

Learn more about Avondale's Portrait of a Graduate at www.avondaleschools.org/academics.

Avondale School District is excited to announce that the application window for the 2025-26 school year at Avondale GATE Magnet School will open on January 6, 2025.

The GATE program is open to students in grades 2-8, including both in-district residents and out-of-district students who wish to apply through our Schools of Choice program. All applications for GATE Magnet School are completed online and must be completed during the specific application window announced each year. The application can be found on GATE's website at www.avondaleschools.org/gate/apply.

For more information, please visit www.avondaleschools.org/gate-magnet-school or reach out at gate.applicants@avondaleschools.org.

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Happy Friday!

Here is the last Newsletter before break.

Tonight, Gymnastics is heading to Grosse Pointe North. Boys Basketball will be traveling to Ferndale High School.

Saturday, Avondale Wrestling will be hosting the Jacket Invite. It is a 16-team Wrestling Invitational!

Have a wonderful break and we will see you in 2025!!

Location

Now more than ever, parents and students should familiarize themselves with OK2SAY, which is Michigan’s student safety program to help keep students safe. Anyone can report tips confidentially on criminal activities or potential harm directed at students, school employees or schools.

Tips, which can be anonymous, can be reported in 31 different tip categories, including planned school attacks, threats, bullying and more. Tips can be submitted 24/7 in one of the following ways:

• Call: 8-555-OK2SAY, 855-565-2729
• Text: 652729 (OK2SAY)
• Email OK2SAY
• Visit the OK2SAY website
• OK2SAY Mobile App: Available for download in both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store for iOS and Android mobile devices.