Comets Corner

Mr. Keith Tonn, Principal

Important Contact Information:

Main Office Phone: (586) 439-6900

Fax: (586) 439-6801

Absentee Line: (586) 439-6990

24-hour recorded line, please leave your child's reason for absence and length of time out. Absences reported to this line ensure the most timely and accurate record.

School Administrative Assistant:

Mrs. Dawn Vezzetti

Email: dawn.vezzetti@fraserk12.org

Building Hours - 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

School Hours: 8:35 am – 3:30 pm
First Bell: 8:30 am
Instructional Bell: 8:35 am
Students must be in class by 8:35 am or they are marked tardy.

Mission Statement:

Guiding our Comets to be compassionate, curious, creative citizens who will positively impact the world.

Email: Keith.Tonn@Fraserk12.org
Website: https://www.fraser.k12.mi.us/Page/21
Location: 30601 Calahan Rd, Roseville, MI 48066, USA
Phone: (586) 439-6900
Twitter: @Keith_Tonn

On Friday, September 27th our Student Council & Green Team members participated in the annual FHS Homecoming Parade. It was a great way to start the weekend!

Congratulations to September's ROCKStars! These students have been recognized for being Responsible & Respectful , Organized,, Cooperative, Kind, and Safe throughout the month. In addition to being recognized here, students received an invitation to a pizza party, and a ROCKS AWARD Certificate to commemorate the event.

Isaac Farhoud

Blake Czarnecki

Rashai Turner

Samantha Belyea

Kamden Winter

Eliyahu Ross-Chapman

Sophia Crimi

Sophia Broussard

Lillyonna Bliss

Alexis Serra

Dexter Miron

Ian Davis

Caleb Staley

Caide Black

In addition, congratulations to Mrs. Palus' 1st -grade, and Mrs. Albrecht's 4th-grade classes. They earned the most Classroom ROCKS tickets last month and will receive a cool treat and a reward to display in their classroom. Mr. Kowalski's 6th-grade class also earned the Golden Trash Can for the cleanest classroom. Keep up the outta this world behavior, Comets!

As you know, in September we kicked of the Second Step Curriculum in all K-8 classes to further strengthen our social and emotional learning. Second Step offers weekly, age-appropriate virtual lessons for students to help them with a variety of social and emotional skills. These weekly lessons build on and support all of the great work we're doing at Ike to support our students. Combined with our schoolwide restorative practices and consistent PBIS expectations, we are creating a firm Tier 1 foundation for supporting all of our students' social, emotional, and behavioral development.

This week, each grade-level will begin a new unit. Please view the grade-level home links below to learn more about what your child is learning and how to support them at home during the second unit of Second Step.

K-5 Unit 2 home links

Kindergarten

First Grade

Second Grade

Third Grade

Fourth Grade

Fifth Grade

We are looking forward to having our teachers meet with you and your child during Twain's Student- Led Conferences. During this time, students will showcase their goals and academic progress. It is important to include your child in these conferences so that they can take ownership of their academic plan for the year.

Conference dates and times are as follows:

Wednesday, October 23rd from 4:30 to 7:30 PM

Thursday, October 24th from 1:00-3:30 PM & 4:30-7:30 PM

On Thursday, October 10th each classroom teacher will be sending home classroom and/or grade-level specific conference information via email. Our teachers will once again be using the online scheduling service, Sign-Up Genius, to do so. This process is very easy, and only takes a few minutes to sign-up for a time. If you have multiple children at Twain, you will receive an email from EACH teacher and will need to review information from them to ensure multiple conferences are scheduled. Links will also be included in next week’s edition of Comet’s Corner.

We look forward to seeing everyone at conferences. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Sincerely,

Keith E. Tonn

Monday we will begin our celebration of Red Ribbon Month!! This year's theme is “Life is a Movie, Film Drug Free.” Red Ribbon Month is a month where people, schools, and communities unite and take a visible stand against drugs. During HEART class students will focus on healthy habits and choices. Students will pledge to live a drug free life. Red Ribbon Awareness Bracelets will be worn by all staff and students for throughout the month to show that we pledge to make good choices. Students in grades 4-6 are encouraged to participate in the poster contest outlined below.

• Red Ribbon Poster contest for Grades 4 - 6 to begin on Monday! Please share all posters due to HEART teachers by 10/11/24 (1 winner per grade)
• Theme -“Life is a Movie, Film Drug Free”
• Poster has a slogan for being drug free and includes examples/drawings of activities and interests of what students enjoy doing and make them happy.
• Poster should be neat, colorful, and produced by the student

• Use a white 12 x 18 poster and create how we can help our school be drug free.

  On the back of the finished poster it must say: Full name, grade, homeroom teacher & school.

Dear Families,

Get ready—the Scholastic Book Fair is coming to our school! This is a great opportunity to connect with your child over the thrill of bringing home new books to dive into again and again. Studies show that kids read more when they choose books for themselves. And fostering a love of independent reading leads to a wide variety of benefits—including academic success and improved mental health.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Book Fair:

Dates: Oct. 21st – Oct. 25th

Location: Mark Twain Media Center

Family Event schedule and location: Open Late Oct. 23rd 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM

There’s even more info on our school’s Book Fair homepage:

https://www.scholastic.com/bf/marktwain2021

While you’re there, set up a Book Fair eWallet, the digital payment account that allows your child to shop for books at the Fair without cash. Then share your eWallet link so friends and extended family can add funds.

When you fund an eWallet, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute to a giving initiative called Share the Fair™. Your contributions directly support our students who need help buying books from the Fair.

Many of us still remember the rush of finding the perfect book at a Scholastic Book Fair. I hope you’ll join your child at our school’s Fair and share a reading experience they’ll remember forever.

Happy reading,

Keith Tonn

Principal

Mark Twain Elementary

PS: Need one more reason to visit the Book Fair? Every purchase at the Fair benefits our school!

Mark Twain Spirit Wear is now available to purchase. Students and families can choose from a variety of styles and colors with the logos above. The sale runs through October 25th. Checks should be made out to Mark Twain Elementary. All orders should be submitted to the main office. Order forms are linked below.

• Parade: A short "Halloween Parade" will take place beginning at 10:00AM on Thursday, October 31st. Weather permitting, we will parade out the main doors and around the building. Our Y5s & kindergarten students will lead the parade around each classroom and then out around the building. All are welcome to come and watch our costume parade outdoors!

• Classroom Activities: Classrooms/grade levels will be planning for Halloween activities and celebrations individually, either before or after the parade. If teachers request parent volunteers to help facilitate the classroom activities, all volunteers will have to submit a Background Check.

• Costumes: Students may come to school in costume on Thursday, October 31st. They can stay in costume for the duration of the day. Costumes need to be school appropriate and cannot depict violence or excess blood/gore. No fake weapons are allowed in school (i.e. toy guns, swords, blades, etc). Costume masks can be worn for the parade, but not throughout the day. For costumes that have short skirts/shorts, leggings or pants need to be worn underneath.

This year, we're working hard to advance student success by reducing chronic absenteeism. At the end of each month, our team will be reviewing student attendance and will be setting up meetings with families whose students have missed 10% of our school days. During these meetings, we will be creating success plans in an effort to help improve student attendance.

Students who miss 2 days of school in September often go on to become chronically absent. To maintain satisfactory attendance and to create good attendance habits that can last a lifetime, students should strive to miss no more than 9 days per year (or less than 1 day per month).

Birthdays are special celebrations at any age; however, with food allergies and restrictions and the critical demand for learning time—NO FOOD items will be allowed for birthday celebrations. Please do not send them. We will celebrate students’ birthdays in other ways.

As a parent of a Mark Twain Elementary student, you are a valued member of the Mark Twain Parent Club. Our official Facebook group is here: Mark Twain Parent Club. Please help us build the group by sharing with other Twain families and adding them to the group.

Contact MTPC: mtparentclub@gmail.com

We welcome the 24-25 MTPC Executive Board:

• President: Yolanda Perkins
• Vice President: Bethany Haley
• Treasurer: Megan Arnone
• Secretary: Amanda McDunnah

• 10/7 - Y5s Visits Deneweth's Garden Center
• 10/9 - MTPC Skating Party @ 6:00 PM
• 10/14 - MTPC Meeting
• 10/15- 5th-Grade Recorder Concert
• 10/16 - Comets Eat Out @ California Pizza Kitchen
• 10/17 - 6th Grade Visits Camp Howell
• 10/18 - MTPC October Festival & Trunk or Treat
• 10/21 - 10/24 - Book Fair
• 10/23 - Student-Led Conferences from 4:30 to 7:30 PM
• 10/24 - 1/2 Day (12:00 Dismissal)
• 10/24 - Student-Led Conferences from 1:00 - 3:30 & 4:30-7:30
• 11/4 - Picture Re-Take Day

Access the full District Calendar HERE at any time!

The State of Michigan will provide a free breakfast and lunch for all students who want them throughout the 2024-2025 school year. Although not required, we do ask that families complete the Education Benefit Form located HERE. By doing so you help ensure the school receives additional funding.