Dragon's Tale

November 8, 2024

Dear Dragon Families,

As we approach the holiday season, I want to take a moment to reflect on the importance of community and supporting one another. We know that for some families, the upcoming holidays can bring additional stress—whether it's financial difficulty, emotional challenges, or the usual busyness that comes with this time of year. As a school community, we want to ensure that no one is facing these challenges alone.

How You Can Help:

We are organizing efforts to support our families who may need a little extra assistance this season, and we invite you to participate in any way you can. You can make a difference by:

• Thanksgiving Meal Donations: If you're able, please consider contributing non-perishable food items to help provide Thanksgiving meals for families in need. Every small donation counts!
• Hospitality House Donations: We are also collecting items for the Hospitality House, which provides critical services to our local community. These donations can range from toiletries to pantry food items, particularly breakfast items are in need.
• Other Ways to Help: Please be sure to read our Dragon's Tale Newsletter for additional ways to support our families.

Thank you for your continued generosity and support. More information on how you can contribute will be available in the full newsletter and on our website.

Looking Ahead – 5th Grade Camp Experience:

Next week, we are excited to send our 5th graders to the Walled Lake Outdoor Education Center for their annual Camp Experience. This hands-on adventure is an important part of our curriculum, offering students the chance to connect with nature, develop teamwork skills, and gain unforgettable memories. We appreciate your understanding as this will affect our arrival and dismissal procedures. With many of our 5th grade safeties away at camp, please be patient with us as we adjust our process.

Supporting Your Child’s Growth:

As we continue to emphasize the importance of strong academic foundations, we want to stress the critical role that reading plays in your child's development. Encourage your child to read every day—whether it’s books, magazines, or articles. This simple habit helps strengthen literacy skills and enhances cognitive development.

Additionally, as we move into the colder months, we urge families to limit screen time and encourage outdoor play. Research continues to show that time spent outside, moving and exploring, has profound benefits for children’s physical, mental, and emotional health. Fresh air and active play are key ingredients in helping young brains develop!

Thank You for Your Support:

We are so grateful for the continued partnership between home and school. As always, we are here to support you and your family in any way we can. If you have any questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Wishing you a wonderful week ahead as we prepare for the holidays and our exciting upcoming activities.

Warm regards,
Marci Augenstein, Principal

November, 2024

Nov. 4 - Parent Book Study with Dr. A. and Mrs. Faber - The Anxious Generation - 6-7pm Learning Commons (Details below)

Nov. 5 - No School

Nov. 7 - Nov. 14 - Keith PTA Book Fair

Nov. 8 - Bagel Order Forms Due

Nov. 11 - Nov. 13 - 5th Grade Camp at WLOEC (Questions - Email your child's teacher.)

Nov. 12 - Keith PTA Meeting - Learning Commons, 6:30pm

Nov. 13 - Walk into Walled Lake Event 4-6pm Educational Services Center 850 Ladd Rd. (Details below)

Nov. 15 - Bagel delivery day

Nov. 19 - Half Day

Nov. 19 - Taste of the Lakes - Benefit for Lakes Area Youth Assistance

Nov. 27 - Half Day

Nov. 28-29 - No School - Thanksgiving Break

The amazing Hospitality House organization needs breakfast items, specifically the following: boxes of cereal, pancake mix, syrup, and peanut butter and jelly.

If in the next week or so you could send in just a few items listed above with your children, it would be a great kindness for us to stock shelves at our local food pantry before the Thanksgiving holiday. Thank you for your help and support!

Donation boxes will be located at the front of the school!

Keith PTA would like to gift a Thanksgiving meal kit to some of our own Keith families that could really use the help this year. These families have already been predetermined and will receive a box filled with a turkey and ingredients to make sides for their Thanksgiving celebration. PTA will purchase the turkeys and we need your help purchasing the ingredients for the side dishes. As you shop for your own Holiday celebration this year, please consider purchasing some of these items (or gift cards) below to donate. Please have all items donated to the school office by Friday, November 15th. Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving!

Book Fair is here! We are off to a great start with classes visiting and family shop night was so much fun! Thank you to everyone who came to support the Book Fair. Next week classes will continue to visit. If you would like your student to shop cashless an e-wallet is a great option. We are also still collecting $1 donations for All for Books, as well as gently used book donations. See our flyer for more information. We still need volunteers to work shifts at the Book Fair so check out the link below!

Book Fair Shifts

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080D48AEAB22A7FC1-52712614-fall

The Book Fair Committee

Spirit Week - Week of Nov 18th ~ 22nd

It is $1 to participate but please feel free to donate more! All the money raised from this spirit week will go towards Operation Snow Pile. Operation Snow Pile is a Student Council Fundraiser that helps raise money to buy toys for children in the hospital this holiday season. (Cash donations only)

Monday - Hat / Wig day

Tuesday - Sports Day - wear your favorite teams gear

Wednesday - Wacky Wednesday - Dress Wacky and make your hair wacky

Thursday - Stand up to Cancer - Wear PINK

Friday - PJ / stuffy day

Thank you for your support!

Keith Student Council

Dear 5th Grade Parents,

Commerce, Dublin, Glengary and Keith Elementary 5th Grade Students are invited to CHS Middle School on Monday, November 18th at 4:30 p.m. to enjoy some pizza, water and a CHS Middle School Basketball Game.

Students must be accompanied by an adult and report to our cafeteria for pizza and water at 4:30 p.m. before heading over to the main gym to support our Trojan Basketball Team.

Please remind your child that we have the same expectations here at CHS Middle School that they have at their elementary school. We want our children to have fun but also exhibit the sportsmanship and overall behavior that makes our schools a great place to learn and grow in.

Please be sure to complete the form below by Wednesday, November 13th.

Elementary Night at CHS Middle School Form

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you and your child at CHS Middle School on Monday, November 18th!

Respectfully,

Nayal Maktari, Principal

Our first bagel sale in support of the 5th grade party was a HUGE success. Thank you all for your support! Our next bagel sale will be on Friday, November 15th with the forms or Venmo payment due by Friday, November 8th. If you are using Venmo, please don’t forget to include the name of your child, their teacher, and the kind of bagel in the notes! Thanks again for your support of the 5th grade party fundraising!

Hello Dragon Families,

Please consider signing up to help track our students' mileage club progress on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Please feel free to sign up for every grade level and take an entire day. If you are only able to come during your child's time slot, we have created a sign up below. We need the support of our amazing parent volunteers to help encourage the physical fitness of our students.

Thank you again for signing up to volunteer on the playground during our lunch recess times to stamp our students' mileage club card. The link for parent volunteer help is below. When you arrive to Keith to help, please check in at the main office to get the mileage club supplies if you are the first parent volunteer to arrive.

Thank you for supporting the physical fitness of our students at Keith!

Jamin Stewart and Steven LaCross

Keith PE Teachers

Calling all artists, writers, dancers, musicians, photographers, and videographers! Entries are now being accepted for the National PTA Reflections art competition. Create something in one of the categories below with the theme “ACCEPTING IMPERFECTION” and fill out the google doc to submit your entry!

CONTEST DIVISIONS:

Keith Elementary has separate divisions for grades K-2nd and 3rd-5th. 2 winners from each category (per division) will advance to District level. Students may submit an entry in any of the six areas listed below:

· Literature

· Music Composition

· Photography

· Visual Arts

· Dance Choreography

· Film Production

For more information and official rules per category click here

DEADLINE:

Submissions must be sent digitally and are accepted until November 11, 2024.

ENTRY FORM:

Submit contest entries using this link:

REFLECTIONS SUBMISSIONS 2024-2025

A letter will be sent home with students this week with more information. Updates will be posted on the Keith Elementary PTA Facebook page so be sure to follow us!

For more information on this year’s theme: “ACCEPTING IMPERFECTION” click here

Please email ljones456@sbcglobal.net with questions. Thanks for your support in unleashing your child’s inner artist!

Keith Elementary School is currently seeking to hire two para-educators: one full-time and one part-time to assist our students and teachers. Additionally, we are still looking for a MICI teacher, social worker (to serve both Keith and another building), a crossing guard and an assistant lunch-room server.

All jobs are posted on the Oakland County Consortium website, linked on the WLCSD HR Homepage.

If interested, please submit your application and email MarciAugenstein@wlcsd.org

Thank you for your interest in joining Keith Elementary School.

TODAY Friday November 8th, Last Day for Charleston Wrap!

FINAL CHANCE to place your Charleston Wrap orders! Will you share our fundraising link one last time and help us exceed our goal of $10,000? One share makes a big impact! Email, TEXT and share on social media NOW! Thanks to everyone who has participated in our fundraiser!

Register at www.registercw.com

Register ~ Shop ~ Share: Keith’s ID# 25336

Our campaign lasts through November 8th, so please CLICK HERE to support. Share the sale via text, email, or socials!

'The Keith PTA has partnered with Oakland County Sheriff's Department 'Coats for Cold' initiative and will be collecting new and clean, gently used coats for distribution to those in need in Oakland County. Please consider donating as the weather turns colder! The coat drive will run throughout the month of November; the donation box is located in the atrium. Thanks for your support!

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Thank you so much to the almost 20 parents who were able to attend our discussion on Part 1 last Monday. I would encourage anyone who still may want to participate to catch up on the reading and join us for the future sessions!

We invite you to join us in this important conversation, participate in discussions, and partner with our school in looking out for our kids. Together, we can create a supportive environment that fosters resilience and understanding.

Meeting Schedule

We will hold four meetings, each lasting one hour, where we will discuss different sections of the book. ALL meetings will be from 6-7pm in the Keith Learning Commons. Please see the schedule below:

11/4/24 - Introduction to the book and Discussion of Part 1: The Great Rewiring of Childhood

12/9/24 - Review of Part 2: The Backstory: The Decline of Play-based Childhood and increase in childhood anxiety

1/13/25 - Discussion of Part 3: Social Media and Mental Health- Strategies for healthy technology use – The Rise of the phone-based childhood

2/10/25 - Overview of Part 4: Building Resilience - Collaborative ideas for supporting our children

To help ensure that everyone can participate, I am happy to provide a copy of the book for any family that may face financial barriers. If you would like to receive a book, please let me know when you RSVP.

You are welcome to attend any or all of the meetings. Each session will provide a space for open dialogue, sharing of experiences, and brainstorming actionable steps we can take as a community.

Thank you for your commitment to our students’ well-being. I look forward to engaging with you in these discussions that will undoubtedly strengthen our community and support our children’s futures.

Warm regards,

Marci Augenstein, Principal

Links

Ski Club Enrollment and Information Form

Keith Elementary Ski/Snowboard Facebook Link

Sponsor Contact Email: Ulrey.Christopher@gmail.com

Please click on the button below to learn more about our Keith Green Team!

What to watch for:

Fri, Nov 1st ~ Tubby's Sub & Ice Cream Day ~ $1.00 ice cream cups

Fri, Nov 8th ~Chips $1.25 & Snacks $1.00

Mon, Nov 11th ~ Lucky Tray Day

Fri, Nov 15th ~ Chips $1.25 & Snacks $1.00

Fri, Nov 22nd ~ Chips $1.25 & Snacks $1.00

Fri, Nov 26th ~ $1.00 ice cream cups

As always, parents & staff can add funds to student accounts via Skyward, or cash / check brought to me in the kitchen. If students bring cash/checks, please send the funds to the cafeteria either:

1. Labeled inside your lunch barcode sheet, or
2. Have students bring down their money during breakfast

The lunch line moves quicker if their funds are deposited beforehand. Thank you in advance for your help!

Our next Club meet is Sunday, November 17, 2024 2:30, followed by the 3pm Under The Streetlamp Concert with former cast members from the hit musical Jersey Boys harmonies and dance moves, performing old-school hits by The Drifters, Roy Orbison, Nat King Cole, The Beach Boys, and The Beatles, plus a celebration of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.

This is a very popular concert and is almost sold out! As we get closer to the concert date, oftentimes they open up more seating that was not available previously for Soundcard members to book. Do check back to see what is available and call the DSO box office 313.576.5111 to see if they can assist with booking seating together and or switching seating that is more convenient for you.

It is not too late to join now! After attending only 1 concert, your student membership will have paid for itself.

Cost: $25 per student membership unlocks one free ticket to almost every Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) 2024-2025 concert series in addition to the concerts the Club will meet for, and up to two companion tickets (bring or invite your parents/sibling/friend/teacher) for $5 each, access to the best seats, access to DSO Replay and online Live streaming performances. Carpooling opportunities are available!

We will be learning more about the music, the performances, the artists and attend concerts with:

Oldies Music by The Drifters, Roy Orbison, Nat King Cole, The Beach Boys, and The Beatles; Ray Chen; Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker; Broadway Love Songs; Music of Enrique Iglesias, Gloria Estefan, Santana, & Ricky Martin; Women Rock! (Music by Carole King, Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin, Pat Benatar, Tina Turner), Ben Folds and many more!

See Music Appreciation Club Details Document for more information and link to Google form for registration https://forms.gle/3eAmCFB4Vf9FCP626

Should you have any question, contact Monique Levu monique.levu@gmail.com 248-301-1415

The Leadership class at Walled Lake Northern high school is having an annual gift drive. Below is the link to our Amazon Storefront to help donate to our annual Gift Drive ran by the Leadership class. Thank you so much!

https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/2QEWGD83JR5LN

Please remember to register or re-register your Kroger Plus card to Keith Elementary. Last year we made just over $2,000! It’s easy! Just go to www.krogercommunityrewards.com and go to the community rewards section. You must re-register your card annually. Anyone having an issue with their email address or password can call 1-800-KROGERS for customer service.

November 12th at 6:30pm - Keith Learning Commons

Visit our PTA's Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/KeithElemPTA/

Keith Vision Screening Schedule:

Grades to be assessed: J/K, 1, 3, 5

TECHNICIAN: TERRI ALCOCER

10/16, 10/17, 10/18, 10/22, 10/23, 10/24, 10/25/2024 AM

Keith Hearing Screening Schedule:

Grades to be assessed: J/K, K, 2, 4

TECHNICIAN: DENISE GAARDER

03/14, 03/17, 03/18, 03/19, 03/20/2025

Please visit the WLCSD website linked in the button below for additional information about your child's health and immunizations for school. In addition, should your child need to take medication while at school, all medicines must be kept in the main office. They must be brought to school by an adult with the permission to administer medicine at school form (linked in the button below) and original bottle included. Please review the Keith Medical Information section of our family handbook for additional information.

The Keith Elementary School Community will inspire and empower all- academically, socially, and emotionally.

Diana Tyrrell - Principal's Secretary

DianaTyrrel@wlcsd.org

Alice Johnson - Building Secretary

AliceJohnson@wlcsd.org

Marci Augenstein, Ph.D. - Principal, Keith Elementary

MarciAugenstein@wlcsd.org

Email: DianaTyrrell@wlcsd.org
Website: http://wlcsd.org/schools/elementary/keith/
Location: 2800 Keith Road, West Bloomfield Township, MI, United States
Phone: (248)956-3700
Twitter: @KeithElementary