The Gator Gazette
Friday, September 20th, 2024
Gators Being Awesome!
Cub Scouts Bike Rodeo
We are quite a ways from the Wild West but that didn't stop our TC Cub Scouts from hosting their own "Rodeo". Thank you to Mrs. Gunnarsson for sharing this great photo and to all our Gators (and families) for being a part of these forever memories!
Victorian/Heritage Festival & Parade Photos...
...coming next week!
Thank you to our 3rd grade team, our 3rd graders, and our 3rd grade families for a wonderful morning downtown. I hope everyone had a fantastic and memorable experience!
Thank you, also, to all our District team for organizing this annual event. This was our 35th year and the energy never dips.
Looking forward to a fun-filled parade this evening! Please read below for more information if you plan to attend or participate:
- 5:00 - Line up staging begins
- 5:45 - Staging is ready to go (this is when our 3rd grade team will be getting ready)
- 6:30 - Parade begins!
- The staging area is on Cady St and in the parking lots of the library and community center.
- Participants in the parade may hand out candy to those watching the parade. NO THROWING, please :)
A Message from the Northville Education Foundation (NEF)
Each year, the NEF provides opportunities to give back to our district through a grant-writing campaign. Traditionally, grants are written by educators throughout the district with the goal of improving instruction and the overall educational experience. This year, and for the first time ever, NEF has expanded it's reach and has decided to accept grant submissions from our very own STUDENTS!!
If your child(ren) have great ideas and are interested in submitting a grant to the NEF, please read the information below:
Key Dates to Remember
- Submission Deadline: Friday, October 4, 2024
- Award Notification: Mid-November 2024
- Purchases & Receipts Due: February 1, 2025
- Implementation Period: November 2024 – May 9, 2025
- Final Report Due: May 12, 2025
Important Links
For any questions or assistance, please reach out to me at mitchellka@northvilleschools.org or 248-344-3503. We look forward to seeing your impactful proposals!
Thank you for your dedication to supporting our schools.
Warm regards,
Kate Mitchell
WEEKLY RECAP
DISMISSAL REMINDER
Leaving Early?
We do our best to minimize classroom interruptions during the day and we appreciate your help in doing so. To assist us and as we work together as a TEAM, please note/remember the cutoff time to sign out your child(ren) from school remains 3:15pm. After 3:15, our building is abuzz with students and staff taking care of final learning tasks for the day and a late dismissal is highly disruptive to this process.
Thank you for your understanding.
BUS TRANSPORTATION
Final Reminder
Bus Assignments
Bus assignments are in the MiStar Parent Portal, and parents / guardians are encouraged to view your students’ bus assignments if you are still unsure of your students' route information.
Contacting Transportation
As typically occurs in a new school year, there may be some bus delays during these first few weeks of school, until student ridership stabilizes. We ask that parents/guardians please refrain from calling the Durham Transportation office during route times (6:00 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. ) if your question can be handled at a different time. To contact the Transportation Office please call (248) 465-2070.
Bus Tracker
We encourage parents and guardians to utilize the Durham Bus Tracker phone app, which identifies the location of your child(ren)’s bus relative to your assigned bus stop. The web link for the Bus Tracker will provide additional information about this helpful resource. The app experienced a few glitches earlier this week which have been resolved and the app is ready to use!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Week of September 23rd
Tuesday, September 24th
- Andy (Therapy Dog) Visits
- Picture Day!!
Week of September 30th
Kindergarten Fire Safety Week!
Week of October 7th
Tuesday, October 8th
- 9:00 - PTA Meeting (Grade 5 Presents)
Picture Day Date Change!!!
Please note that our Picture Day has changed from Wednesday, September 25th to Tuesday, September 24th.
FREE BREAKFAST & LUNCH FOR ALL STUDENTS!!
Dear Northville Families,
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact the NPS Food Service Department at 248-344-3690. And make sure to click around on the Food Service website to explore Menus, Free & Reduced Lunch Program, Nutritional Information, and many more resources.
SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM - HOW TO ORDER BREAKFAST AND LUNCH
Families must preorder breakfasts and lunches for preschools and elementary students. Orders must be in by 7am for all students for breakfast and lunch. The system will not allow you to order after the time listed above. For your convenience, meals can be preordered up to 30 days in advance. To avoid any issues, we recommend ordering the night before.
Notes from the Northville Education Foundation (NEF)
Saving for Success!
Join the fun and get ready for your future with your school’s Community Financial Credit Union - Student-Run Credit Union! The Student-Run Credit Union team, along with our friend Cash, will be visiting your school each month, giving you the chance to deposit money into your own savings account. We’ll also stop by your classroom to share why saving is so important. Learn about money, save for your future, and have a blast while doing it!
Student Credit Union Dates
- October 28th
- November 13th
- December 9th
- January 13th
- February 10th
- March 10th
- April 23rd
- May 12th
Attention Kindergarten and 5th Grade Families!
We are excited to announce a special opportunity for your child through a partnership between the Northville Educational Foundation and Community Financial Credit Union (CFCU)! This pilot program is designed exclusively for Kindergarteners and 5th graders.
SMART WATCH POLICY UPDATE!!
Student Handbook Updates (Please Read)
Personal Electronic Devices, including Cell Phones and Smartwatches with Cellular Connections
Northville Public Schools is dedicated to enhancing student outcomes through ongoing review of research and our own educational practices. Examining research on the impact of cell phone use by school-aged children reveals that excessive exposure to cell phones can have a detrimental effect on school-aged children. While we understand the importance of children having access to their electronic devices before and after school, the district is creating a space where students can be together in learning during the school day without their personal electronic devices in classrooms, hallways and in the lunch/common areas.
Consistent with Board Policy 2143, K-8 students will not be allowed to carry or use cell phones or other personal electronic devices, including smart watches and other digital device connections, during the school day unless allowed in special circumstances by their teacher or building administration. Phones are available in the office of each school and in each classroom should a student need to contact their parent/guardian. If families believe that their child needs access to a cell phone before or after school, it will be the student's responsibility to ensure that their phone remains stored away from the classroom while they are at school.
Personal Electronic Device Expectations
Cell phones and other personal electronic devices, including Smartwatches, may NOT be turned on during school hours. They must remain in the student’s backpack. Electronic devices confiscated from students may be picked up by parents in the school office.
NEW - Absence Reporting
Parents and guardians can now report their student's absence in two convenient ways. You can continue to call your student's school directly to report an absence, or you can use our new feature through MiStar ParentConnection. Simply log in to the ParentConnection portal and follow the desktop directions to submit an absence report online. Instructions for reporting absences via the mobile version will be available soon.
AFTER SCHOOL & DISTRICT PROGRAMS
To register, use this link --> Thornton Creek Elementary GOTR Registration
A Few Notes from our PTA!
Final Reminder
On behalf of the Thornton Creek PTA, welcome to the 2024-2025 school year!
This year, we look forward to continuing our collaborative efforts with parents, teachers, and staff to reach our shared goal of enriching the educational experience for all our students. Our PTA takes great pride in the contributions we make to the learning and social environment at Thornton Creek!
Our goals as a PTA are to:
- Enhance educational experiences for student
- Provide community-building experiences for students
- Keep parents informed
YOU can help us accomplish this! Here’s how:
Join Our MemberHub Site
Thornton Creek PTA will once again be using MemberHub to keep parents informed. Make sure you are a member of our site so you don’t miss out on event information, signups, and our Thornton Creek family directory.
To Join our MemberHub site, go to: https://thorntoncreek.memberhub.com/join/78834b
Already in? Log into MemberHub at https://thorntoncreek.memberhub.com/
Set or update your profile, privacy preferences, family profile for the directory & join class hub.
Become a PTA Member
Go to https://thorntoncreek.memberhub.com/store and select an individual or family membership for the 2024-2025 school year.
“WHY?” Join as a show of appreciation for all the programs and resources that Thornton Creek PTA makes available to your child. Your membership also supports the largest child advocacy organization in the country and gives you voting rights.
“I’m too busy to join!” You can join without having to volunteer for anything! (But we love and depend on volunteers, too!)
“I already joined at a different school.” You need to join each school PTA separately every year. For example, a Hillside Middle School PTA membership does not count at Thornton Creek.
“I already joined last year.” Memberships expire in the summer, so a new membership is needed each school year.
Donate to our Fall Fundraiser
In order to fund our programs and make a difference in your child’s education, we ask parents to invest in their children through our fuss-free fundraiser. This program works because:
• 100% of the money raised goes directly to Thornton Creek
• Our children will not engage in door-to-door sales, and you do
not have to buy what they are selling
• Your gift is 100% tax deductible and confidential
To make your tax-deductible donation to our Fall Fundraiser, visit our online store at https://thorntoncreek.memberhub.com/store
Attend PTA Meetings
• Be in the know – learn more about what is happening in
your child’s school and district
• Tap into a network – meet school and district staff as well
as fellow parents and connect with valuable resources
• Be part of the solution – have a voice and help make
positive changes in your child’s school
Next Meeting dates are:
10/8 @ 9:00 AM - Grade 5 Presents!
11/6 @ 9:00 AM ( Wednesday meeting due to election day)
1/14 @ 6 PM - Grade 4 Presents!
2/11@ 9AM - Grade 2 Presents!
3/11 @ 9 AM - Grade 3 Presents!
4/8 @ 9 AM - Grade 1 Presents!
5/13 @ 9 AM
Volunteer
• To share your skills and be a role model
• To demonstrate the importance you place on education
• To have fun while doing good!
• You can choose your level of involvement: low-key or highly
involved
• We can’t run our programs without you!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080949A9AE29A4FC1-50908116-2024
Be on the look-out for information about volunteer opportunities throughout the school year or contact the PTA Board for more information!
Join TC PTA Facebook Page
Thornton Creek Elementary
Website: https://thorntoncreek.northvilleschools.org/
Location: 46180 West 9 Mile Road, Novi, MI, USA
Phone: 248-465-2350
Twitter: @CreekGators