Stadium Happenings
9/13/24
Traffic Flow Update
This year most of our bus routes have changed the direction in which they enter and leave SDE. Most buses arrive at SDE by heading east/up on Scripps Road and then west/down on Stadium Drive. When leaving SDE most of the buses head east/up on Stadium Drive to get to M24 via Scripps Road. That route should sound familiar as it is the same route we have enforced for car drop off and pick up.
Historically we have enforced a LEFT TURN only into the loop and a RIGHT TURN only out of the loop. This was in large part to allow buses to efficiently get to and from M24 and avoid any car loop back up on Stadium Drive. With the addition of our new car loop a couple years ago, the back up on Stadium Drive has been very minimal.
With the new bus traffic pattern mentioned above, you may now enter and exit the car loop from either direction. To ensure smooth operation, please be courteous and alternate/take turns if there is a line in both directions. When exiting, keep the line moving; if you cannot turn left due to traffic, please turn right to prevent the loop from becoming blocked.
If there is a car back up on Stadium Drive, please DO NOT BLOCK the bus loop entrance or exit.
Fall Spirit Wear Fundraiser
THE FIRST ROUND OF ORDERS WERE SENT HOME THIS WEEK.....and wow did they turn out nice! Another round will be sent home in a week or so.
The SDE Student Leadership Team is hosting a Fall Spirit Wear fundraiser to help support their activities and community initiatives for the 2024-2025 school year. Ordering is open through the end of September.
Items with the green round SDE LO logo are SDE items.
- ORDERS will be delivered to Stadium Drive Elementary for pickup
- CHOOSE LOCAL DELIVERY
- Orders will take 7-10 business days to process
- No exchange or returns allowed. Final sale.
Positivity Project
This year, we will once again be working with the Positivity Project (P2). Students will be studying the 24 character strengths through the Positivity Project throughout the year. This past week we focused on one of the five elements of the Other People Matter Mindset.
This will be our 3rd year working with P2 at SDE! We will share what traits are being taught which week in this newsletter. It is always encouraged for you to have conversations with your child regarding the character strengths they are studying for the week. It is our hope that these strengths will continue to shine for our students not only in school, but also at home and in the community. More information will be coming your way soon.
Curious about your personal character strengths?
The Positivity Project’s Character Strength Survey is a tool designed to help you discover and understand the unique strengths that define you. This survey, based on decades of research in positive psychology, identifies your strengths across four categories:
>> Reliable Strengths
>> Emerging Strengths
>> Under-Utilized Strengths
>> Strengths that Need Focus
The survey is rooted in the Values in Action (VIA) Classification of Strengths, a model developed by leading psychologists including Dr. Chris Peterson, whose work is foundational to The Positivity Project.
By understanding your character strengths, you can better navigate challenges, build stronger relationships, and contribute positively to your community. This survey is a key part of P2’s mission to empower individuals through self-awareness and character education.
Ready to explore your strengths? Take the survey and start your journey today: https://posproject.org/character-strength-surveys/
Spirit Stick of the Month Club
Join the Spirit Stick of the Month Club to receive a SURPRISE stick delivered each month from October through May!
Payment Options ($13 per Membership)
Venmo: @stadiumdrivepto (include student name, grade and teacher in comments)
Check: payable to Stadium Drive PTO, send to school in envelope labeled "Spirit Stick of the Month Club" with student name(s), grade(s) and teacher(s) noted.
Cash: send to school in envelope labeled "Spirit Stick of the Month Club" with student name(s), grade(s) and teacher(s) noted.
**SIGN UP BY SEPTEMBER 20**
Positivity Project - Trait of the Week
Dear Families,
This week, our school community will focus on the character strength of Curiosity. Curiosity means you like exploration and discovery. You ask lots of questions because you want to learn more about anything and everything.
Curiosity is essential to our character, driving our desire for wisdom and knowledge. It keeps us engaged in stories and encourages us to try new activities or travel. Everyone experiences curiosity differently — behaviorally, intellectually, and emotionally.
People with strong curiosity are more likely to ask questions and try new things. Curiosity is a form of courage because asking questions shows we don't know something, and trying new activities risks failure. However, it's through questions and exploration that we learn and grow.
To practice and encourage curiosity at home, please visit the mobile-friendly P2 for Families. There, you will watch a video clip together and discuss a quote and three questions related to the strength of curiosity.
Thank you for your support!
Birthday Book Club
We are excited to bring back Birthday Book Club to Stadium Drive Elementary!
Celebrate your child's birthday by adding a book to our Stadium Drive Library collection! For a $10 donation to the library, your child may select a special birthday book from a shelf of brand-new library books. A special dedication will be placed on the inside cover honoring their special day and donation to the library.
They will be the very first person to check out their birthday book. After they finish reading the book, your child will return it to the library for the rest of the school to enjoy!
Please make sure if you are registering multiple students to complete the form accordingly. If your child has a summer birthday, I will convert it to their half-birthday.
Attendance and Late Arrival
If/when your child is absent or will be late, please contact the Main Office by 8:30am via phone 248-693-5475 or email jaime.kinser@lok12.org If a message is not received by you in the office, the office will be calling home to verify the absence. If you email the teacher, please always copy the office regarding absences as those emails are not always forwarded to the office.
If you are arriving to school in the morning after 8:50am and/or there are not any staff members present outside, you must park in a parking spot and walk your student to the office to sign in.
Personal Property and Devices
Students may not bring expensive personal belongings to school (ex: electronic game devices, etc) without permission of the principal.
In the event permission is given, the school assumes no responsibility if the item is lost or damaged.
Bringing cell phones and/or Smartwatches to school at the elementary level is highly discouraged. If a child brings a cell phone or Smartwatch to school, it must be off (not asleep) and put away in lockers/backpacks at all times. Students should not be using them to access the internet or communicate during school hours (calls, texting, email, etc). If parents/guardians need to get a message to children, all calls must go through the main office. Please be aware that cell phones and smartwatches that are used inappropriately are a distraction to learning and the development of interpersonal skills while at school
Student Birthday Treat Policy
Elementary classroom birthday celebrations are encouraged and preferred to be non-edible. If you would like to do something special to celebrate your child's birthday, we ask that you donate a favorite book to the classroom library, donate a game for the kids to enjoy, or donate special pencils to students, among other options. Please ask your child's teacher for suggestions.
In the event you choose to send in an edible item, there are strict requirements to adhere to. If an item does not meet these requirements, it will not be distributed. In order to make this a safe environment for all students, we ask for your support with this policy.
Whether you choose to send in an edible item or a non-edible item/trinket - it is to be limited to one item shared from the birthday child. Not a treat and a trinket, or multiple items; one item only.
Edible treats MUST adhere to the following requirements:
· Only one treat or trinket is allowed—no treat bags containing multiple treats.
· Treats must follow the allergy protocol by being peanut-free.
· Treats must be factory individually pre-packaged and purchased from a store.
· An ingredient list must be printed on each individual package.
· To preserve instructional time, all birthday treats will be sent home instead of being consumed in the classroom.
Birthday Invitation Policy
Birthdays are very exciting occasions for elementary aged students. However, we need to be sensitive to students’ feelings and don’t want any kids to feel left out or excluded.
Birthday party invitations are NOT to be distributed at school unless the child's entire class or entire grade level is being invited. If not inviting the entire class or entire grade, you may drop invites off to the office pre-stamped and with return address and we will address them and drop them in the mail or you can access family emails/addresses from the PTO directory (opt-in). Envelopes should also have the student first and last name so office staff can add address below on the front of the envelope. The office and teachers will not provide email/phone/addresses to you.
Arrival & Dismissal Protocol
For the safety of all, please take the time to read through these procedures and protocol.
- Vehicles should NOT use the Bus Loop in front of the school during arrival (8:30am - 8:50am) and dismissal (3:30pm - 4pm). You will need to use the upper parking lot or enter Car Loop just past the school.
- If utilizing the Parent Loop, please be a courteous driving and alternate taking turns turning into the loop to allow for an efficient traffic flow.
- When exiting the loop, if turning left causes the flow of exiting traffic to stop, please turn right.
- YOU MUST STAY IN YOUR VEHICLE at all times if utilizing the Car Loop
- It is critical that parents do not line up on Stadium Drive. Please park in a marked/legal parking space in our new parking lot or along Stadium Drive and wait for staff to signal that the arrival/dismissal process is beginning.
- Students should not be dropped off until 8:40am once staff is present, doors will NOT open until 8:40am.
- Students must exit/enter the passenger side of the vehicle as soon as the vehicle is safely stopped in the loop. DO NOT GET OUT OF YOUR VEHICLE. You DO NOT have to wait for a staff member to open your car doors for students to exit/enter the vehicle. Once your vehicle is stopped along the curb, students should exit/enter.
- Parents may park in the upper parking lot and walk their child to the stairs. The upper parking lot is NOT a drop off loop.
- If you are arriving to school in the morning after 8:50am and there are not any staff members outside, you must park in a parking spot and walk your student to the office to be signed in.
Contact the main office at (248) 693-5475 or send in a handwritten/signed note if there is a change for how your child is supposed to go home. If your child does not have a note or the office has not been contacted, they will be sent home according to their daily routine. Please DO NOT rely on emails sent to teachers for dismissal changes.
Drone Usage Prohibited Over District Facilities/Property
Lake Orion Community Schools has a Board of Education policy that prohibits anyone from operating a drone on district property/over a district facility at any time unless the flight plan is approved by the Superintendent. Those operating the drone must also be FAA-certified. That includes athletic events, which are governed by the MHSAA, which also prohibits their usage.
If any individual – staff, student or community member – would like to operate a drone on LOCS property, please email the request to LOCS Director of Communications Mark Snyder at mark.snyder@lok12.org.
CARE SOLACE
When you or your child needs help, it’s hard to know where to turn. In an affort to ease the burden of finding the mental health and substance use services you needs, Lake Orion Community Schools has partnered with Care Solace.
Care Solace will help you find the right help at the right time 24/7/365. Car eSolace’s services are available at no cost to you – and all of your information is kept completely confidential. They will connect you with providers accepting all medical insurances, including Medicaid, Medicare, and sliding scale options for those without insurance.
You can access Care Solace services in three ways:
- Call 888-515-0595 at any time. Multilingual support is available 24/7/365. A dedicated Care Companion will help you every step of the way to reseach options, secure appointments, and follow up to make sure it is a good fit.
- Seach anonymously to get matched with an extensive list of care providers at caresolace.com/lakeorion
- Contact your elementary school social worker, middle school behaviorist, high school counseloro or building principal, and they will submit a referral on your behalf.
For more information, visit the LOCS Care Solace page.
Safety Drills
Drill reports: Emergency Drill Reports - Lake Orion Community Schools (lakeorionschools.org)
Allergy Protocol
- All classrooms will remain peanut aware, meaning food items that contain peanuts ARE PROHIBITED. This includes all student snacks.
- Other allergy restrictions may be in place for individual classrooms depending on allergies present in particular classrooms.
- There are no allergy restrictions in the cafeteria during lunch time.
- There will be a table reserved in the cafeteria at lunch time for students who have allergies that may require them to not eat at the same table as a child who may have these allergens in their lunch.
- While birthday treats are allowed - it is highly preferred and encouraged to be a non-edible . Any edible item must be pre-packaged and store purchased with an ingredient list on each individual wrapper. All edible treats will be sent home with students and not consumed in the classroom.
The main office and teaching staff will be in touch with families with other food allergies to determine if additional accommodations are required for lunch and snack time.
Volunteer Reminder
The District has a standing policy that requires ALL volunteers to be subject to a background check to work with or supervise students at school. Please complete the below linked form and return it to the main office no less than 48 hours prior to your first volunteer time. The background check must be completed each school year.
If coming into the building to volunteer, once all volunteer requirements have been met, you will be required to sign-in and sign-out in the Main Office. You will also be required to wear a visitor badge where it can easily be seen. When volunteering in the building, we require that you limit your activity to the classroom/teacher you are scheduled to volunteer for. Volunteers should not be visiting and/or interrupting any other classrooms other than the one they are volunteering for.
We appreciate your willingness to support Stadium Drive and would not be nearly as successful without volunteers like you! Please contact the main office at (248) 693-5475 with any questions.
Elementary Handbook
The updated Elementary Handbook can be found at 2024-25_Elementary_Handbook.pdf (lakeorionschools.org)
Distinguished Dragon Staff Recognition
Lake Orion Community Schools is continuing a program to recognize LOCS staff members for their excellence.
The intent of the Distinguished Dragon program is to ensure that staff members who go above and beyond their regular duties are appreciated. The additional effort or support can range from helping an individual to helping a group or any effort that seems worthy of praise.
The staff member can be nominated by a student, parent, community member or a colleague by completing the form at LakeOrionSchools.org/DistinguishedDragon. We ask for the submitter's name and contact information to follow up with specific questions if necessary. Please make sure to select the appropriate school/department form so the message is routed in the proper direction.
Please complete the form entirely so the individual can be appropriately honored for their contributions.
2024-25 Calendars
The 2024-25 Lake Orion Community Schools calendars are available by visiting the LakeOrionSchools.org calendar page. A single sheet of the important dates is also listed on that page.
Specials Rotation
Specials Teachers:
Media - Dan Dabrowski
Music - Katie Sloan
Art - Karen Meehan
PE - Molly Dittrich (Day 1/Monday), Parker Roth (Day 2/Tuesday) and Robert Karagosian (Day 4/Thursday) and
OK2SAY
OK2SAY is available state-wide for public and private schools in Michigan; anybody can submit a confidential tip. Specially trained technicians receive the tips and filter the information to the appropriate agency to provide a timely and effective response.