Husky Happenings
September 13, 2024
Message from Mrs. Sheppard
Happy Friday!
Today, any student that turned in their Summer Workbook received a special treat. Thank you to those families that had their students participate in doing these books over the summer.
Please remember that school dismisses at 4:00 pm every day. We have had several students getting picked up well after dimissal time. We sometimes have meetings after school that we need to get to and having students sitting in the office until 4:30 is not acceptable. We understand emergencies happen, but it is important that you make sure you are here on time, every day to pick up your child. If you are having an issue getting here on time, please sign your child up for our Champions program. This is a before and after school program for our students at Graham.
We have been getting SEVERAL calls from the neighbors on Avondale and North Hampton. There are several families that are blocking people's driveways, moving their garbage cans to park, and EVEN parking in people's driveways!! These calls have been routed to the Westland Police department. We also have people parking in Handicapped spots that do not have a permit to park there as well as blocking the Handicapped ramps. This also has been brought to the Westland Police' attention. Please be respectful of our neighbors around the school. If you live nearby, please consider walking with your child instead of driving. If your child is able to ride the bus, please consider letting them do this to take this burden off of you. We all need to be patient and respectful of each other in the parking lot at school. Our students are watching us and learning from our actions.
Please feel free to email me with questions you might have and I will get back to you as soon as possible. Have a wonderful weekend!
Mrs. Sheppard
Principal
New Secure Entryway Information
Our school entrance has been updated! We now have a vestibule where you will enter after showing your ID to Mrs. Harper on the camera. If you are picking up a child early from school, you will remain in the vestibule and your child will be brought to you. If you are dropping off a lunch or picking up homework, that will also be done in the vestibule. There will be sign out sheets and containers for lunches and homework out in that area.
The only reason that adults will enter into the office will be if you are here for a meeting, medication drop off, volunteering in a classroom, or registration. This system might feel a little bit different but this is all for the safety of our staff and students at Graham.
Morning Drop off and Afternoon Pickup Procedures
Thank you to all of our families for your patience every morning and afternoon at drop off and pick up. The begining of the school year comes with many challenges and this is a big one! Please allow yourself extra time in the morning and after school because the parking lots get full and we also have several buses coming to our building. School begins at 9:10 AM. Please make sure that your child is on time every day. If you arrive at school after 9:10. please go to the front entrance. At this point, their classroom doors or line up doors will no longer be available to them for entry. Construction is causing some issues and hopefully once our new gym is complete, we will be able to add an additional spot for students to enter and exit.
If your child is supposed to ride the bus and is not, please consider letting them ride! There are VERY good cameras on the bus and I can see and hear everything that goes on. We have great bus driviers that report any incidents to me if something happens. I can then review it on camera and talk to students that might need reminders about bus behavior. We have a great process here at Graham of getting students off the bus in the morning and on to the bus in the afternoon. Having your students ride the bus elimates parking lot troubles for you as well!
Early Student Pick-Up
We respect that some appointments or obligations will require you to pick-up your child(ren) early from school. If you have an appointment and you must pick up your child early, please expect delays and please come before 3:40 pm. In the spirit of safety, our dismissal process involves all staff and it is very difficult to have staff get a student early from their classroom and bring them to the office between 3:40 and 4:00pm. Please do not pick-up children between 3:40 and 4:00 pm. This greatly affects our safe and efficient dismissal process. We do not have extra staff to easily get students from class prior to our 4:00 dismissal. Thank you for your continued support.
There are several families that are also coming EVERY day, to pick up their student early from school. This is starting to cause issues with students missing teaching and learning. It is very disruptive to the teachers and other students in the classroom. If you are a school of choice family, leaving early every day could affect your status and your child may have to return to their neighborhood school.
I thought I would add this section in here this year to keep you informed about different things going on in the district, community and about our school. Please look through it each week so that you are aware of new things going on or things that we offer here at Graham and in the District.
Absences and Tardies
Students who arrive to school after 9:15 are considered tardy (late) to school. If students arrive to school after 10:00 they are considered ABSENT for the morning. If students leave school before 3:15 pm, they are considered absent for the afternoon! If your child cannot take a bus home or get picked up at our 4:00 dismissal, you should make arrangements with our Champions program or have another plan for pick up.
Girl Scouts is starting! Sign up today!
Meetings will be held on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month from 4:30-6:00 at Graham.
Our first PTA meeting will be on THURSDAY, September 19th at 6:30 pm. The meeting will be held at Graham. Please come and join us so that you can help support this organization and be a part of planning fun things for our students!!!
Mums Fundraiser! Forms come home next week.
Please consider selling Mums to family and friends to help support our school! Every sale helps!!
Please do not bring your pets to school during arrival or dismissal
We know that pets are a huge part of many families. However, please do not bring your pets to school. Student arrival time and dismissal time can be a very anxious time. Bringing your dog or cat when you are walking on campus to pick up your student can be very sensitive for some kids and adults. We do not want anyone accidently bitten or scratched. Pets should stay inside vechicles. Safety first.
Thank you for supporting our kids and families by keeping your dogs and pets at home or in your vehicle.
Bright Futures is coming to Graham!!!
Please scan the QR code for more information on this wonderful FREE program. 2nd-5th grade students only!
Family Resource Center
Wayne-Westland Community Schools has a Family Resource Center (FRC), offering free services to all students and families within our district. Among the services provided are basic needs assistance, access to over 700 local resources, and a Laundry Assistance Program. Additionally, the FRC offers essential items, such as emergency toiletries, socks, underwear, hats, gloves, and scarves, to those in need. School supplies and backpacks are also available year-round for any district student.
Please contact our Family Resource Center at 734-419-2709 or FRC@wwcsd.net. A Digital Request for Services Form is also available. If you have additional questions about their services, please contact the Family Resource Center directly.
NO SCHOOL: September 25th Teacher Professional Development Day
9/17 King Pancake Day
9/19 Cheer Practice 4:00-5:30 pm
9/19 NFL Flag BILLS team practice 4:00-5:00 pm.
9/19 PTA meeting at 6:30 pm
Lunch Menu
There are some days when the menu could possibly change due to food items not being available. We will let the students know if there are changes as soon as we find out.
Our 5th graders will be selling snacks during all three lunches to raise money to go to Camp! All snacks are $1.00. Cash Only PLEASE!!!
📆 Upcoming Events
9/25 NO SCHOOL/Professional Development Day for Staff
9/26 Girl Scouts 4:30-6:00
9/26 Cheer Pracitce 4:00-5:30
9/26 NFL Flag BILLS team practice 4:00-5:00.
10/1 Picture Day
10/4 Elementary Football Night at John Glenn 7:00 pm.
PD. Graham Elementary School
Attendance Line: 734-419-2626
Secretary: Mrs. Harper harperb@wwcsd.net
Principal: Mrs. Sheppard sheppardl@wwcsd.net
Email: sheppardl@wwcsd.net
Website: https://www.wwcsd.net/schools/elementary-schools/graham/
Location: 1255 South John Hix Road, Westland, MI, USA
Phone: 734-419-2620
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PDGrahamHuskies