Linden Elementary's March Updates

I am excited to introduce myself as the interim principal of Linden Elementary School. As a proud Linden graduate and lifelong resident, I have a strong connection to this community, and I am committed to ensuring that every child receives the best possible education. My top priority is to put children first, working alongside students, staff, and families to support their growth and success, both academically and personally. I am honored to serve in this role and look forward to collaborating with all of you as we continue our work together throughout the school year.

Surprise! On Friday, February 28th our staff revealed our March is Reading Month theme. Students were surprised by pirate themed decorations, music, and costumes. We have many fun activities planned to continue to encourage our students to expand their reading opportunities.

Ahoy, mateys! 🏴‍☠️

Arrr, ye ready to set sail on a night o' fun and learnin'? Join us on March 4th from 5:00 to 6:30 PM fer a swashbucklin' good time at our Pirate-Themed Reading & Math Night!

Come aboard and join yer fellow mates (and the crew) for an evenin' o' family fun and learnin'! Don’t be missin' this adventure—ye might just find a treasure chest full o' new skills!

Yarr, we be seein’ ye there!

Arrrrgh!

you play a key role in ensuring the safety of children, especially when it comes to technology. Here are some important technology safety tips for children:

1. Keep Personal Information Private

• Don’t share personal details: Encourage children not to share personal information like their full name, address, phone number, school name, or family details online.
• Limit location sharing: Teach them not to share their real-time location on social media or messaging apps.

2. Use Strong Passwords

• Create strong, unique passwords: Encourage kids to use passwords that are hard to guess and different for each account. A combination of letters, numbers, and symbols is recommended.
• Never share passwords: Children should never share their passwords with friends, even if they think they can trust them.

3. Set Privacy Settings

• Review privacy settings: Help children understand how to use privacy settings on social media and apps. Ensure they know how to make their profiles private so only trusted people can see their content.
• Check location settings: Teach them to turn off location tracking on apps and devices unless it’s absolutely necessary.

4. Know Who They’re Communicating With

• Talk to trusted adults: Encourage children to reach out to a parent, teacher, or school resource officer if they encounter someone online they don’t know.
• Limit online interactions: Advise them to only communicate with people they know in real life, and to be cautious when accepting friend requests or messages from strangers.

5. Cyberbullying Awareness

• Recognize signs of cyberbullying: Educate children about the signs of cyberbullying and make sure they know what to do if they or someone they know is being bullied online.
• Speak up: Encourage children to talk to a trusted adult if they experience or witness bullying online.

6. Balance Screen Time

• Set time limits: Promote a healthy balance between screen time and other activities like outdoor play, homework, and family time. Excessive screen time can have negative effects on physical and mental health.
• Encourage educational use: Encourage children to use technology for educational purposes and explore safe websites that help them learn and grow.

7. Know the Dangers of Online Games and Apps

• Monitor gaming activity: Online games can expose children to potential dangers such as inappropriate content or chatting with strangers. Check for age-appropriate games and limit their exposure to unsafe environments.
• In-app purchases: Remind children about the dangers of making accidental or unauthorized purchases in apps or games.

8. Teach Respect and Responsibility Online

• Be kind online: Teach children to always be respectful and kind when interacting with others online.
• Understand digital footprints: Help them understand that anything shared online can be permanent, even if it’s deleted. Encourage them to think carefully before posting anything.

9. Use Parental Control Tools

• Set up parental controls: Use parental control software to monitor and limit your child’s online activities. This can help you block harmful content and ensure they are safe while browsing.
• Regularly check devices: Have regular check-ins to review the apps, websites, and games they use to ensure they’re engaging in safe online behavior.

10. Report Suspicious Activity

• Know how to report issues: Teach children how to report inappropriate behavior, whether it's cyberbullying, inappropriate content, or contact from strangers. They should know how to report incidents to their school, the platform, or law enforcement if necessary.

11. Teach Them to Trust Their Instincts

• If something feels wrong, speak up: Teach children that if they ever feel uncomfortable or unsafe online, they should immediately tell a trusted adult. Instincts can often guide them in recognizing potential dangers.

By educating children on these safety tips and maintaining open lines of communication, you can help protect them while they navigate the online world.

Linden Elementary is lucky to have an amazing school nurse, Danielle Loynes! Be sure to check out her monthly newsletter insert for important updates and information.

Michigan weather is unpredictable. Please make sure your child is prepared for the elements. Hats, gloves, warm coats, snow pants, and boots are all essential regardless of the changing weather patterns. It's always easier to have clothing you don't need for recess then it is to go outside wishing you had another layer of protection from the elements. If you are in need of winter gear, please contact the office.

We are continuing to SOAR at Linden Elementary as part of our district mission to support a positive culture in our schools! Our goal is to teach desirable behaviors that will serve our children well everywhere in our community and beyond! Throughout their day we focus on Staying Safe, Offering Kindness, Acting Responsibly, and showing Respect. The children are recognized individually with SOAR tickets and weekly through grade level drawings with donated prizes from our supportive P.A.L.S group, and Mancino's. This is a community commitment and something we are proud to support.

If you are interested in volunteering at the school, please contact your child’s teacher. We often are looking for an extra set of hands both in and out of the classroom. All volunteers are required to complete a background check before they can be approved to volunteer in the school. Please let us know if you are interested! Thank you!

The Little Caesar's Fundraiser ends March 4th. The proceeds are set aside for increased student and staff safety. Benches were previously purchased and installed to facilitate safe student pick up at dismissal. We have only a few days left! Click the image for more information.

• Kick off day: Friday, March 7th, 2025
• Turn in day (Order forms and money due to school): Monday, March 24th, 2025
• Delivery day/time/location: Monday, April 28th, 2025 at Linden Elementary, time TBD

Proceeds will be used to fund SOAR Day and Classroom Grants. Click the image to review information.

3/9 Daylight Savings Time (Spring Ahead)

3/13 Half Day of School - Parent Teacher Conferences in the PM

3/14 Teacher PD Day - No School for Students

3/21 End of 3rd Marking Period

3/29-4/6 Spring Break

4/18 No School

5/5 3rd Grade MSTEP Testing Begins This Week

5/11 Mother's Day

5/22 SOAR Day!

5/26 No School - Memorial Day

6/6 Last Day of School - Half Day for Students and Teachers