Keeping up with Keller

The mission of Helen Keller Elementary School is to establish and maintain an educational community that empowers all students to become principled, independent inquirers who are socially responsible global citizens.

Do you want to see what's going on at Keller? Check out my Facebook page where I frequently post pictures and share events that are happening within the Keller Community. Click on the button below to go right to my page!

JUNE:

*June 10: 5th Grade Exit Interviews with ROS Administrators

*June 10: Jr. Olympics @ 6:00 p.m. @ ROHS

*June 11: Jr. Olympics Rain Date

*June 12: 5th Grade Promotion Ceremony @ 9:00 a.m.

*June 12: LAST DAY OF SCHOOL - 1/2 Day Dismissal @ 12:15 p.m.

Rainbow Roller Skating with Pride was an exciting Keller DEI Family Field Trip! Over 300 students and parents came out to Skate World, hosted by the Keller PTA. Students received glow bracelets, took pics using selfie props, left graffiti on our “Everyone is Welcome, Everyone Belongs Wall” and skated the evening away.

Big shout out to Mrs. Kirkwood (4th grade teacher) and Mrs. Molnar (ELL teacher) for planning this huge event. What a great way to end all our DEI family field trips. You both rock and “roll”!

It was a picture perfect day for some Field Day fun! Keller Huskies showed great sportsmanship and had a lot of fun.

Thank you to Mr. Potter and all of the amazing volunteers, who organized, planned and worked the event. This couldn’t have happened without you.

For pictures click on the button below.

Adriana Alexander received the distinguished honor of winning the Best in Show award at the Michigan Student Film Festival for the Elementary/Junior Division in 2024. Her acclaimed short film, titled "King Kong: the Lego Version," was showcased at the Detroit Institute of Arts on June 1st. Inspired by the original 1933 film "King Kong," Adriana chose to create a condensed remake using Legos after watching the movie with her grandmother. This marks her second award from the Michigan Student Film Festival, following her previous success with an animated documentary also using Legos, focused on the story of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

We are beaming with pride to acknowledge the efforts of our Keller Student Senate for their recent initiative on raising awareness about food insecurity. They organized a successful lesson and coordinated a donation drive, resulting in over 520 cereal boxes being collected for donation to Gleaners Community Food Bank, in collaboration with Children's Hospital of Michigan. Additionally, their efforts were recognized in a news segment this morning on Jay Towers and 100.3 WNIC.

Now of this would be possible without the leadership of Mrs. Luyckx, Mrs. McLeod and Mrs. Rahn Student Senate Supervisors.

If you are interested in learning about what is being shared on the student WKBS you can click on this link to watch this weeks and future broadcasts: WKBS

The procedures used to make the classroom placements are intentional and focused on each individual student and help to ensure balanced classrooms.

Student Placement Procedure:

1. Teachers review information for each student in his/her class in the spring. The information allows teachers to identify each student’s strengths and needs. Incoming Kindergarten students are placed using information collected during the Spring Screening.

2. A team consisting of the grade level teachers, principal, and other pertinent staff such as the RTI Coordinator, special education personnel, social worker, and/or ELL teacher meet/review information and place students into classes. The class lists are constructed so that each class is relatively balanced regarding gender, academic levels, and social/emotional developmental levels.

3. Teacher assignments will be available on the parent portal by the week before school starts. Any questions on how to access this information on the parent portal please call the building secretary.

4. Requests for a specific teacher or class are returned to parents with an explanation of the placement procedure.

We feel confident that each student will be placed in a classroom that will allow him/her to have a successful school year.

Please fill out our Royal Oak Schools Community DEI Survey! This survey is to gain understanding of your experience around the PTSA/PTA. Your answers and participation in the survey are greatly appreciated to create an inclusive and engaging community, and ultimately to best support the kids in Royal Oak Schools.

https://forms.gle/9MiyjuUhr6CSbCNNA

Incoming sixth-grade students will exchange their current ROY Chromebook during the first week of school. More information will be provided close to the start of the school year.

This summer, Royal Oak Schools is excited to announce the launch of the Summer EBT program. This new grocery benefits program provides $120 per eligible school-aged child to help purchase groceries while school is out, ensuring children have access to nutritious food year-round.

Eligibility:

• Participation in the Free and Reduced Lunch Program.
• Attendance at a school offering the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Program, with qualifying household income.

Enrollment:

• Families in SNAP, FDPIR, or TANF will automatically receive Summer EBT. Others can apply through Royal Oak Schools Food Services.

How It Works:

• Benefits are provided on a separate EBT card and can be used at authorized retailers, including grocery stores and farmers' markets. Each eligible child receives $120 for the summer to buy healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, meats, whole grains, and dairy products.

For more information, visit the [Summer EBT] page and see our [Frequently Asked Questions].

We firmly believe that providing students with a smooth and informative school transition process contributes to student success at all levels. Our school transition process begins with our Developmental/Kindergarten students as we welcome them into our schools and begin to help them better understand some of the learning experiences that they will soon engage in within our schools. The elementary to ROMS school transition helps incoming 6th-grade students better understand what awaits them in middle school. Our 8th-grade to 9th-grade school transitions are one of the final transitions our students take part in as they begin their journey at Royal Oak High School. We feel strongly about our school transitions process and the opportunities it provides students and families at all levels to understand better the opportunities and experiences that await them at the next level! You can watch the video to learn more.

Families must apply annually to be eligible for Young Oaks Latchkey. Our lottery for the 2024-25 school year can be found here. The links will be live at 9:00am on Monday May 6th. Families will be notified of their status (waitlist or acceptance) Wednesday May 22nd. If you have any questions please contact Addams Early Childhood Center 248-288-3220 ext. 0.

• Session 1: June 24-July 12 (No school July 4-5)
• Session 2: July 15-August 1
• DK-5: 2 sessions, 3 weeks each (M-TH)- 8:30-11:30 AM

• Our summer school program will offer math and ELA enrichment programs, as well as a LEGO STEM opportunity for students in grades DK-8. These opportunities will definitely keep your students fully engaged with these enrichment experiences!

  The cost to participate is $160, and financial assistance is available for those who qualify. Reach out to Jennifer Knipper for assistance, Jennifer.knipper@royaloakschools.org.

• For more information click on this link

Hi PTA friends! Here's some important upcoming info:

LOST & FOUND will be donated next week. If your student is missing any items, please visit the vestibule during school hours to look before it's donated to kids in need.

We have MANY open committee chair positions available for the 2024-2025 school year. We will be advertising them soon on our website. Keep an eye out for an updated list. This list will also be emailed to all current PTA members soon.

All my best,

Carie Hooker

Keller PTA President

president@helenkellerpta.net

All My Best,

Carie Hooker, President

president@helenkellerpta.net

Students should not be communicating with parents/families using their phones or Smartwatches during the school day. If a student is wearing a Smartwatch they are to use it as a watch only. All phones are to stay in the student's backpack in their lockers. Please refrain from texting your child during the school day as it is a distraction from instruction. All communication during the school day should be done through Seesaw with the teacher or through the front office at (248)542-6500. Thank you for your cooperation.

All absences should be called in to the Safety Check number. Absences that are not reported are considered unexcused. Please make sure to indicate if you are ordering lunch the next day if the call is before 10:00 a.m. Calls after 10:00 a.m. we cannot guarantee your A or B lunch choice.

Safety Check number 248-542-6500 option #1

Please be aware that Board Policy 5330 (below) requires a doctor's prescription as well as parental authorization before we can dispense non prescribed (over the counter) medicine as well as prescribed medications.

For purposes of this policy, "medication" shall include all medicines including those prescribed by a physician and any nonprescribed (over-the-counter) drugs, preparations, and/or remedies. "Treatment" refers both to the manner in which a medication is administered and to health-care procedures which require special training, such as catheterization.

Before any medication or treatment may be administered to any student during school hours, the Board shall require the written prescription from the child's physician accompanied by the written authorization of the parent. This document shall be kept on file in the administrative offices. No student is allowed to provide or sell any type of over-the-counter medication to another student. Violations of this rule will be considered violations of Policy 5530 - Drug Prevention and of the Student Discipline Code/Code of Conduct.

Our staff works so hard everyday focusing on our students and school community. If you would like to say thank you to any staff member, please fill out and submit the form linked below. I will be sure they get your messages, which I know will make their day!

Studies have consistently shown that many girls and young women struggle with feelings of low self-confidence. This unfortunate trend seems to persist across various aspects of life, including academics, body image, and career aspirations.

In the realm of academics, girls often exhibit lower levels of confidence compared to their male counterparts. They may doubt their abilities and hesitate to take on challenging subjects or leadership roles. This lack of confidence can impact their performance and limit their academic achievements.

Body image is another area where girls often feel inadequate. Unrealistic media portrayals of beauty standards, combined with societal pressures, can lead to body dissatisfaction and a decrease in self-confidence. This can have long-lasting effects on mental and emotional well-being.

Furthermore, many girls struggle with confidence when it comes to career aspirations. They may underestimate their skills and downplay their ambitions, leading to a smaller presence in traditionally male-dominated fields. This self-doubt can hinder their pursuit of fulfilling careers and limit their potential for success.

It is crucial to address these issues and foster an environment that empowers girls to believe in themselves. By promoting self-acceptance, resilience, and a growth mindset, we can help girls develop the confidence they need to thrive and reach their full potential.

Click on the link below for the first-ever, large-scale national 2023 survey designed to develop a deeper understanding of the thoughts, experiences, behaviors and attitudes of teen girls throughout the U.S:

The 2023 Girls’ Index Executive Overview

The 2023 Girls’ Index™

Keller continues to be recognized as a No Place For Hate School 2023-24 by the ADL (Anti-Defamation League). One criteria to meet this is to have student-led activities that empower our students to use their voice and create a culture of inclusion.

One of the many student-led initiatives has been our Student Council's SGS Club (Students Guiding Students) during lunch recess. This is an opportunity for our older students to help our younger students to problem solve on the playground, a place to report bullying or help someone who needs a friend to play with.

Up next for us is our Student Council will be developing and teaching one of our future Husky Packs which will include the No Place For Hate Pledge below.

The lane closest to the sidewalk is a drop-off lane. This is for drop-off ONLY. There is no parking, stopping, standing, or idling at any time.

Please find a parking spot when picking up your student.

When parked in the drop-off lane, it blocks the view, exits, and flow of 450+ students leaving the building. Thank you for keeping our lot safe for pedestrians!

Please refer to Keeping up with Keller newsletters and to the Keller handbook on the district website: https://keller.royaloakschools.org/

It is requested that all adults who are arriving and departing from the school be particularly cautious and mindful of the children and adult pedestrians in the school vicinity at all times. The safety of our entire school community depends upon the care and concern of all of us.

Please follow these safety precautions in the parking lot:

• Please ensure that your child is prepared and ready to exit the vehicle promptly upon entering the drop-off lane. Once your child exits your car safely you should immediately exit the drop off lane. This will help to prevent congestion from occurring on Campbell Street.
• DO NOT PARK or STAND in the drop off lane at the end of the school day.
• Obey all traffic signs and follow traffic flow -- map below.
• Please refrain from cell phone calls and texting while driving.
• Drop-off area – there is one lane of drop-off.
• Pull all the way forward to the end of the lane before dropping or picking up children. Do not back up in the pick-up lane.
• Students should enter and be ready to exit on the passenger side of the vehicle only.
• Do not exit your vehicle, thus parking in the drop-off only lane, even if it is to run to the door or drop off a project. If you must exit your vehicle you need to park in a parking spot.
• Adults and students should remain on sidewalks and cross at crosswalks only. It is difficult to see children in the parking lot between vehicles.
• Park in a handicap parking spot only if you have a valid and visible permit

Please do not park or stand in the small entrance leading onto the playground (see picture below). This entrance is for emergency vehicles and ROS maintenance vehicles ONLY. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

At Keller we take pride in making sure we have a kind, caring, environment. Our parents play a large role in helping us to achieve this goal. Before posting to social media or any other venue, please consider the feelings of all our community members . Before you post, remember to T.H.I.N.K...

*We are respectful

*We are safe and in control

*We are responsible learners

I will act in such a way that I will be proud of myself and others will be proud of me too.

I came to school to learn and I will learn.

I will have a good day.

Don’t forget that the highlighted monthly learner profile and weekly behavior focus is on the Google calendar (every Sunday).

Principal

Email: marcie.dryden@royaloakschools.org
Website: https://www.royaloakschools.org/our-schools/elementary/keller/
Location: 1505 North Campbell Road, Royal Oak, MI, USA
Phone: (248)542-6500