The Tiger Times

Hello Mohawk Families!

During the second week in October, we will practice our lockdown drill. Unfortunately, our changing world requires us to prepare for emergencies differently than we have in the past. We need to prepare our students without causing fear. The ALICE training and activity book, I’m Not Scared, I’m Prepared by Julia Cook, is a way for students to learn about staying safe.

The purpose of this book is to enhance the concepts taught by the ALICE Training Institute and make them applicable to children of all ages in a non-fearful way. By using this book, children can develop a better understanding of what needs to be done if they ever encounter a “dangerous someone.” The story uses the experiences of “ant” students attending school. The students know that their teacher is always trying to keep them safe and has already taught them about fire drills and bad weather drills. The ant teacher shows the students a drill called the Sheep (the students), the Shepherd (teacher) and the Wolf (someone dangerous). The teacher shows the students how to stay safe if someone dangerous is inside the building.

Our drills are based on the concepts that the “ant” teacher shows her students. The drills will include BOTH a lesson from the book, “I’m NOT Scared, I’m Prepared!” and an opportunity to practice. Keeping your child safe is our top priority. I have included some information below for you to review.

If you have any concerns, please contact me or your child’s teacher.

Educationally Yours,

Ms. Andrea Verellen

Wednesday, October 2nd

Count Day

Thursday, October 3rd

Walk to School Day

Friday, October 4th

Wear your Mohawk Attire

Friday, October 11th

Tiger Trek

Last Day to register for Mohawk Monster Mash

Monday, October 14th

Spooky Season Story Contest Due

PTO Meeting-4:00pm

Friday, October 18th

PTO Build A Buddy $$ Due

PTO Tiger Trek Bowling Trip

PTO "Mohawk Monster Mash" 6:00-8:00pm

Monday, October 21st

Red Ribbon Week Begins

Wednesday, October 23rd

1/2 Day 11:50am Dismissal

Progress Reports Sent Home

Conferences in Evening

Thursday, October 24th

1/2 Day 11:50am Dismissal

Afternoon & Evening Conferences

Friday, October 25th

1/2 Day 11:50am Dismissal

Tuesday, October 29th

Kindergarten to the Fire Station 9:15-11:15am

Thursday, October 31st

1/2 Day 11:50am Dismissal

10:15-11:15 Halloween Parties

11:20-11:40 Halloween Parade (Weather Permitting)

Tuesday, Nov. 5th

No School-Election Day/Staff Professional Development

PTOs Buddy's Restaurant Night

Wednesday, Nov. 6th

Picture Retake Day

ALICE Training for the elementary aged child is age and ability appropriate. ALICE Training Institute always leaves the grade level of implementation up to the local school district.

1. Children should be taught to follow direction the first time they are given in an emergency. We don’t want teachers to give directions to Evacuate or Lockdown and have students standing around asking, “But why?”

2. Students should be trained to STOP, LOOK, and LISTEN to announcements at the time they are given. If the PA system serves as the main information source in a school, students must be trained to STOP, LOOK, and LISTEN every time it comes on.

3. In a Lockdown, be quiet, listen to directions, stay out of the line of sight from the door, but DO NOT hide in a closet. Be ready to move or evacuate if the intruder comes into the room.

4. In a Counter situation when the secured location has been breached by an intruder, and evacuation is not possible, the best line of defense is to have kids up, moving, making noise, gaining distance and throwing items at the intruder.

5. Evacuation is always the best defense, if the information indicates it is safe to do so. Parents, staff and students must know where the RALLY/REUNIFICATION point is located. This location is usually away and separate from the school. Students should know how to get to the RALLY/REUNIFICATION point from every part of the school, and how to move quickly with OR without the teacher. It should be emphasized to parents that the RALLY/REUNIFICATION point is the place to go in case of an emergency.

6. Upper elementary students have more developed critical thinking and problem-solving skills and should take a much more active role in ALICE than children in the lower elementary grades.

7. We teach all aspects of ALICE EXCEPT the “swarm technique” (grabbing onto the appendages of an intruder and using your body weight to immobilize him) to elementary students.

8. Special needs students are planned for ahead of time, given their individualized situations. If a student cannot evacuate, plans must be made to fortify his/her location. When students with special needs are included in the general education class, teachers need to decide what is in the child’s best interest and plans should be made ahead of time. We cannot give a one-size-fits-all answer to the situations involving a student with special needs. The school must consider each case individually.

9. Education and empowerment are the keys to preparation and relieving fear.

10. Kids are taught in realistic terms what to do in case of danger. ALICE is much like a fire drill or a tornado drill. Its purpose is to prepare students for life inside and out of the classroom. The ALICE concepts are the same at school, home, the mall, the afterschool program, restaurants, church or any other place the child goes. We are teaching a lifelong safety skill.

You are invited to attend parent/teacher conferences on Oct. 23rd or 24th. Parents will receive their child's progress report during their 15 minute conference with the teacher. Use the Sign-Up Genius link below to choose your time(s). Be sure to choose the correct grade level and teacher.

• Wednesday, October 23rd in the evening only
• Thursday, October 24th in the afternoon and evening.

Red Ribbon Week is celebrated every year in October from the 21st until the end of the month. It is a drug prevention awareness campaign and is considered one of the nation’s largest programs of such sort. It reaches millions of people annually, and throughout school districts. Awareness is raised during this week every year regarding the benefits of building a strong community by making good choices, i.e., living positive and drug-free.

Red Ribbon Week® (October 21st-25th), is the oldest and largest drug prevention campaign in

the nation. It is your opportunity to get the ongoing conversation started. Children of parents who talk to their teens regularly about drugs are 42% less likely to use drugs than those who don’t; yet, only a quarter of teens report having these conversations.

This year’s theme is "Be Kind To Your Mind. Live Drug Free™ Visit www.redribbon.org to learn more about Red Ribbon Week® and get tips for talking to your kids about drugs. The life you save may be that of your own child or a dear friend.

Mohawk celebrates this week each year by having fun spirit days, and announcement messages that are geared toward elementary students. Below are the spirits days for this year.

Students arriving late to school MUST be signed in by a parent. Students need to be walked to the office and not just dropped off.

Tardies

The school day officially begins at 8:55am. Students arriving after 8:55am will be marked tardy and must be signed in at the office by a parent.

Early Dismissal

If you need to pick up your child early, please come to the office to sign them out. We will call your child down once you have arrived, NOT before. Early dismissals will NOT happen after 3:30pm.

Attendance

It is very important your child arrive on time every day when school is in session. Research shows when students regularly attend school they perform better academically and experience more success.

Students who arrive late but before 9:55am are marked tardy. Arrivals after 9:55am but before the PM session, 12:32pm, will be marked absent for the AM only.

A student will be marked absent in the PM only if they leave before 2:45pm. Dismissals after 2:45pm are recorded as a tardy/leave early.

Attendance Reports are run every 2 weeks. Below are the guidelines we follow for referring families to truancy.

Nudge Letters

A nudge letter will be sent to families if their child has 5 or more absences by parent-teacher conferences.

Attendance Letters

Attendance letters are sent to students according to the number of days they are absence:

10+ absences=Letter #1

15+ absences=Letter #2

20+ absences=Letter #3

Having a documented medical excuse will determine whether the absence is excused or not excused.

Truancy

School administration will decide when it is an appropriate time to file for truancy. This is traditional done after there have been at least two parent contacts made by the building.

Criminal Record Checks (CRC) MUST be done every year. Parents participating in events during school hours need a CRC. When there is an event, teachers will send a list to the office and then you will be sent a link to complete. Do NOT call the office to see if your check has been cleared. It takes approximately 2 weeks for a record check to come back.

Parents can use the drop off lane in the morning at arrival or for pick-up in the afternoon. It is meant for you to drop off and go or pick-up and go. It is not to be used as a parking spot. Please see the map below. Parents can also drop off near the dumpsters and have their child enter using Door #6 in the mornings only.

Make sure to sign up for Parent Portal. You will need to have an account to access your child's report cards, sign documents and update contact information. You can also sign up for School Messenger! (see directions below) It is best to use a computer when logging in for the first time. Then, download the app to your phone.

https://ps.cvs.misd.net/public/

Please notify the office if your child has ANY allergies so we can help protect your child.

Dear Parents and Guardians:

Please take a moment to login to the Family Portal and complete the Education Benefits Form (EBF) at @chippewavalley.familyportal.cloud under “Apply for Benefits”. The Education Benefits Form collects information needed to ensure the school receives state and federal funding for education programs. Without this information, Chippewa Valley Schools could lose important funding for education programs that our students need. These supplemental grants and programs have the potential to offer special supports and services for our students. Please login to the Family Portal and apply for benefits on the Family Portal @ chippewavalley.familyportal.cloud.

If you have any questions, please contact Food & Nutrition Services at 586-723-2110.

Sincerely,

Chippewa Valley Food & Nutrition Services

Free lunch includes one serving per child. If your child wants a second slice of pizza or doubles for any meal, they will be charged. Please be sure to put money on your child's card if this is the case.

SACC is available before school at 6:45am-8:55am and after school (3:39pm) until 6:00pm. Please contact our SACC office for any questions you might have 586-723-6233 You must be signed up for SACC to use the service. Register online at https://www.chippewavalleyschools.org/for-parents/sacc/

President: Ashleigh Balsamo

Vice President: Jill Talant

Treasurer: Mariel Allor

Secretary: Stephanie Burkart

Room Parent Coordinator K-2: Nicole Rowley

Room Parent Coordinator 3-5: Amber Clark

Social Committee Chairs: Traci Bowan & Ashley Fruciano

Historian: Julie Hasse

Contact

mohawkpto@cvs.k12.mi.us

PTO Website

https://mohawkpto.weebly.com/

PTO Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/mohawkpto

Meetings will take place in the media center. Childcare will be provided. ALL parents are welcome!

Monday, October 14th-4:00pm

Tuesday, November 12th-7:00pm

Monday, January 13th-4:00pm

Tuesday, February 11th-7:00pm

Monday, March 17th-4:00pm

Tuesday, April 15th-7:00pm

Monday, May 12th-4:00pm

Donate by October 9th!

Register by October 11th

Trick or Treat will happen during the Mohawk Monster Mash.

The Build A Buddy event is November 18th, but the deadline for payment is October 18th.

Website: https://www.chippewavalleyschools.org/schools/elementary-schools/mohawk/
Location: 48101 Romeo Plank Road, Macomb, MI, USA
Phone: 586-723-6200