PEEK AT THE WEEK

January has been full of an unusual amount of inclement weather causing days off for school including our tuition based preschool and latchkey programs. Due to the excessive amount of days this year, we are offering families a tuition credit of 11 days!! This will make a significant impact on lowering tuition rates for session 7 of Cardinal's Nest and latchkey tuition charges. The letters below went home to all Cardinal's Nest and latchkey students Friday. The session 7 postings of tuition on will reflect the reduced tuition rate. Parents will see their adjusted tuition rate when they log on to tuition express to make their session 7 payment. Please help us spread this good news!

This payroll period's time sheets will need to be turned in early due to the upcoming intersession break. All satellite latchkey employees and GSRP staff will need to sign payroll Monday, February 11th. Please avoid stopping by between 11:30-1:00 due to a.m. dismissal, lunch, and p.m. student arrival. See you Monday!

We house latchkey at four locations in our district. Hahn, Gates, Hill, and Cardinal's Nest. The Cardinal's Nest houses latchkey for preschoolers, GSRP students, Thomson, Siple and Central students.That's a lot of kids! We are currently in need of staff that can work or sub during the a.m.latchkey session that runs from 6:00-8:30 and/or the p.m. session from 3:15 to 6:00. Staff must be at least 18 years old. Please help spread the word if you know of anyone that may be interested. Applicants can go on the Davison Schools webpage to apply through the GECS application site. This is a great option for local college students!

Monday, February 11th- Goal setting meeting 7:40- a.m. Marissa Cobleigh (GISD/ECS) with Melissa Schwab and Katie Rivette. Payroll signing day. Latchkey and preschool snow day tuition credits (Susan and Carrie) 12:00-2:00 Susan, Lori, and Emily- budget meeting. Sub for John S @ Hahn latchkey. Heidi A. out in a.m.

Tuesday, February 12th- County Center Director's Meeting 12:30-2:30 (Susan and Lori) Intersession latchkey staff meeting 3:00 @ Card Nest (Susan, Sara H, and Jamie M)

IEP for Z in room 3 rescheduled for today

Wednesday, February 13th- Miss Jennie and Carrie out today. GISD/GSRP county meeting (a.m. Susan)

Thursday, February 14th- Miss Jennie and Carrie out today.

Friday, February 15th- Creative Curriculum training for GSRP staff. Coffee and Curriculum. Please bring your Creative Curriculum Foundations book.

Looking Ahead...

Intersession 2.0 February 18th-21st

Photo Factory candids rescheduled for February 28th

March 7th- Transition to Kindergarten evening for Cardinal's Nest and GSRP families and staff

IEP for E.A. February 28th @ 2:30 Swoyer, Martinez

I know that I am preaching to the choir when I remind staff about the importance of parent involvement. With this being said, Davison GSRP and Cardinal's Nest will continue to provide opportunities for parents to be involved in our preschool programs. Just a few of the parent involvement activities that we provide include home visits, parent teacher conferences, open house, back to school blast, winter wonderland, pastries with parents, Special Person's Day, curriculum night, transition to kindergarten evening, field trips to the orchard and For-Mar, and our family Dance. We will continue to strive to increase parent involvement in our preschool programs. Stay tuned for future parent involvement that will be offered for all of our preschool families!

We will be providing dinner and child care during the Transition to Kindergarten meeting on Thursday, March 7th. If you are a child care provider or caregiver, and would be able to work childcare from 6:00-7:00 p.m. it would be appreciated and you will be compensated with pay. We would also like to encourage high school students to work child care as we have in the past. High school volunteers will receive a gift card to a local business for helping us out. We would like all Cardinal's Nest and GSRP lead and associate teachers to be in the gym to be introduced during the parent meeting. Natalie Miller always does a great job sharing information about kindergarten round up, Early Fives, the kindergarten schedule and much more! Our early childhood specialists also do a great job of sharing county preschool data. Parents are always appreciate of the information they get and the opportunity to ask questions regarding their child's future kindergarten placement.

Here is a quick look at the agenda:

5:30-6:00- Sign in at the Main entrance of Central- Pizza in the cafeteria for all!

6:00-6:10- parents are able to drop off children for care in GSRP classrooms

6:15-6:50- Parent presentation (Natalie Miller, Tosca Trowt, and Susan Vamos)

6:50-7:00- Parents pick up students from child care

Notes went home or will be going home this week with all GSRP and Cardinal's Nest four year old preschool students.

Since we have been thrown off schedule with all of the snow/ice days, I would like to propose that we review all of the Cardinal Code vocabulary this week with a general reminder of what the CARDS acronym stands for and help students to use the vocabulary in a sentence to gain meaningful context. I would appreciate a text with a picture of the Cardinal Code display in each of your classrooms. I have seen some awesome displays and would like to share! Please and thank you!

Due to the amount of excessive snow days, I received many questions regarding how snow days affect pay. Here are some FAQ's and answers that may be helpful to staff.

1) Lead certified GSRP teachers get paid for snow days, correct? Is there a limit to how many snow days they get paid for? I saw a comment that they only get paid for six days, is that true?

Yes, teachers get paid for snow days. No, there is no limit but they may be required to work if days if we are required to make them up.

2) Non-certified staff - GSRP associate teachers (in the parapro union) do NOT get paid for snow days. These staff have only sick or personal days (not vacation hours) Can they use personal days for snow day pay?

No, assoc. teachers do not get paid for snow days. Yes, They can use personal days for snow day pay.

3) Cardinal's Nest preschool teachers (all non-certified)- They do not get paid for snow days, but can they use vacation hours for the snow days?

Yes, they may use vacation, OR personal days for the snow days.

4) Latchkey staff and caregivers- Do not get paid for snow days, but can they use vacation hours for snow day pay?

Yes, they may use vacation, for the snow days.

5) Can anyone use sick days for snow days?

No. No one can use sick days for snow days.

• Valentine Buddies begin on Monday, February 11th- Don't forget your buddy!!
  
• February potluck theme is "Potato Bar" This will take place prior to the staff PD on Wednesday, February 27th
  
• Boxtop collection is underway! Continue to remind friends, family, and parents that we are collecting boxtops until February 25th!
  

Here's to a fabulous week with student and colleagues!

Susan