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!

OCTOBER

*October 21-25: PTA Scholastic Book Fair

*October 25: PTA Halloween Dance

*October 28-Nov 1: Keller Spirit Week (See calendar below)

*October 30: Late Start for Students/Professional Development for Staff

*October 31: Halloween Parade (weather permitted)

*October 31: 1/2 Day for Students -- Dismissal @ 12:15 p.m.

NOVEMBER

*November 1: End of the 1st Card Marking

*November 5: No School for Students - Election Day

*November 6: Husky Packs (NO Late Start)

*November 11: Report Cards Go Live

*November 11: PTA Meeting @ 7:00 p.m. (in person)

*November 13, 20: Late Start for Students/Professional Development for Staff

*November 14: 1/2 Day for Students

*November 14: Parent/Teacher Conferences 1:00-7:00 p.m.

*November 25: All City Vocal Music Festival (5th Grade) 7:00 p.m. @ ROHS

*November 27-29: No School -- Holiday Break

This week, our first graders explored how soap can help clean up oil spills. In a hands-on experiment, students created a small oil spill in water and discovered how tricky it can be to clean up without help. But with a little soap, they watched the oil break apart and learned how soap works to clean our oceans and keep wildlife safe. It was a splash of science and fun, teaching students about protecting the environment!

See calendar below to participate in our Halloween Spirit Week presented by Keller's Student Senate.

October 31 is a half day for students. Students will be dismissed at 12:15 p.m. We will be having a Halloween Parade at 9:00 a.m., so students will be allowed to come to school wearing their Halloween costumes that day if they would like to do so.

Parade and parking guidelines:

• The parade will be outside.
• Families will line up alongside the walking path (see route map below).
• Do not crowd at the doors or in front of the school.
• Do not pull students out of the parade to take photos or to say hello.
• You will need to park on side streets or find a parking spot and try and carpool to avoid added congestion.
• You may not park in the drop off zone or bus pick-up area.
• Please follow all posted traffic signs.

In the event of rain, the parade will be inside without spectators. Please help your child to dress appropriately for the weather. At the end of the parade students will return to their classes for cider and donuts. It will not be necessary for each family to send in candy or other treats. All candy sent in will be sent home.

We encourage all students to stay in school after the parade for their class party. Only the volunteers approved for the event will return to the classrooms. Please share this information with family members who may be attending.

This event is one that we look forward to; however, the needs of all students must be kept in mind. What is appropriate for home may not be appropriate for school. All costumes should meet the following guidelines below:

Please see the map below for the parade route

Hola! My name is Marisol Martinez, I have been a Spanish teacher for almost 20 years in public and private schools. I have a bachelor degree in education and certifications in Spanish and Math. This is my first year working for Royal Oak Schools and I am very happy to have the opportunity to encourage students to learn about new cultures. I love traveling with my husband and three children and enjoy cooking Mexican food.

Hello! My name is Evelyn Kasperek and I am excited to be joining the Keller Community as the newest School Social Worker. I earned my BSW with a minor in Polish Studies from Wayne State University in 2023 and I graduated from the University of Michigan Ann Arbor School of Social Work with my MSW this past summer. I am looking forward to being back in the Detroit area and learning all about the wonderful city of Royal Oak. I aim to encourage and empower students through social emotional learning, allowing for them to succeed not only academically, but socially and emotionally as well.

A fun fact about me: I have been a Polish Folk Dancer for nearly 20 years! It is one of my greatest passions outside of working with youth.

We are excited to welcome back the Second Step program to Keller for grades K- 2. This is made possible with support from the Royal Oak Youth Assistance. This organization does countless things to support our students and families.

We are thrilled to have retired Royal Oak teachers Betty Ann Garlak teaching these lessons to each classroom.

These 20-30 minute lessons are age appropriate and engaging for all students. The main topics of these lessons include:

Growth Mindset & Goal-Setting: Children learn how to pay attention and manage distractions, develop a growth mindset, and apply goal-setting strategies to their social and academic lives.

Emotion Management: Children learn how to identify and label emotions and use emotion management strategies—including stress management for older students—to calm strong feelings.

Empathy & Kindness: Children learn how to recognize kindness and act kindly, have empathy for others and take others’ perspectives, and recognize kind acts and empathy as important elements of building and maintaining relationships.

Problem-Solving: Children learn how to identify and state a problem, recognize if a problem is an accident, and use the STEP problem-solving process:

S: Say the problem

T: Think of solutions

E: Explore the outcomes

P: Pick a solution

We are grateful to have the ability to provide these experiences for our students. You can learn more about Second Step here. Please let me know if you have any questions.

For the safety of our students, please do not allow your child to climb on the outside of the tunnel slides after school. This is a school rule that the students follow during the school day. We need your help ensuring our students are safe on the playground.

Hi PTA friends!

Here are some important dates to keep in mind!

• Parent Social Event - Trivia at Lockhart’s 6:30-9pm Friday, November 1st

• Halloween Dance Friday, October 25th 6:30-7:30pm

HUSKY RUN UPDATE!!!

Thank you to everyone for donated and came out to cheer on the runners last Friday!!

We did it! We exceeded our school-wide goal of $28,000, so Principal Dryden will dress in an inflatable costume and race a few of her fellow staff members. We will soon share the final numbers and who reached their classroom goals!

We need vendors for our November 16th Winter Market this year! If you know any bakers, makers, crafters, or small business owners please tell them to sign up! Questions can be directed to our co-chairs, Brooke and Emily at wintermarket@helenkellerpta.net.

Don't forget to buy your annual $10 membership to Keller PTA. Family Memberships are only $18, (any two adults per one student and they do NOT have to live in the same home).

A membership does NOT require you to volunteer or attend meetings, although we would love to have you do both! Aside from the September meeting, meetings are all under an hour and give the opportunity to talk to the principal and our Royal Oak District School Board liaison. It's a good way to be in the know. Some are in-person and some meetings are virtual this year.

How you PTA is up to you!

Get involved to your comfort level.

But also know this: we can't function as a PTA unless volunteers get involved. Events, committee work, meetings, executive board, and community work won't be successful and wanes when we don't have active volunteers.

Please visit our website regularly to keep informed of all things PTA and Keller Elementary. On there you will find:

• PTA annual calendar of events

• A list of all committees and contact info

• Teacher and staff favorite things (still updating)

• PTA FAQs

• Spirit Wear store

• Givebacks link to buy membership and join our online directory

• National PTA podcast link for Notes From the Backpack

And much more!

Thanks for all you do!

Jen MacKenzie

PTA President

JenMackenziepta@gmail.com

The Keller Cares Closet is currently seeking donations of socks (in any school-aged size) and individually wrapped snacks for students in need. A collection cart will be available in the lobby for your convenience. Thank you for your generous support.

When bringing your child late to school we ask that you please bring them into the lobby and sign them in on the purple sheet. It is important to include time you are signing and if your child will be getting A or B lunch for the next day.

All absences should be called in to the Safety Check number. Absences that are not reported are considered unexcused.

Safety Check number 248-542-6500 option #1

Please be aware that our after-school latchkey program uses the playgrounds each day, starting around 4 p.m. If you decide to stay on school grounds after dismissal please avoid those areas being used by the latchkey program. This will allow our staff to monitor our after-school care kids and ensure safety.

The safety of our students remains our utmost priority! We kindly ask that you refrain from parking or standing in the drop-off lane (red marked areas pictured below). It is essential to keep these lanes and the sidewalk clear during dismissal as vehicles in these areas contribute to congestion in the parking lot and on Campbell Avenue, and they also create a visual barrier between the sidewalk and the parking lot.

Help keep our students and pedestrians safe!

Did you know that the yellow diagonal lines in the parking lot at the end of the row and at crosswalks are designed to enhance pedestrian safety?

Please refrain from parking or waiting in the yellow diagonal lined zones in the parking lot.

• This areas at the end of each row are designated for pedestrians to wait while preparing to cross the parking lot.
  

  
  

• It is difficult to see oncoming traffic when you impede our pedestrian's vision when trying to cross the parking lot to the sidewalk.

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:

• 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

School premises can be crowded during these busy times, with children and adults walking to and from their cars, buses, and school buildings. Riding bicycles in such confined spaces poses a risk of accidents, especially when mixed with a large volume of pedestrians.

To ensure everyone's safety, we kindly ask you to adhere to the following guidelines:

1. Walk your bike on school property: If you choose to ride your bike to school, please dismount and walk your bike when entering school premises. This will help minimize the risk of collisions and falls.

2. Utilize designated areas: If your school has specially designated bike racks or parking areas, we encourage you to utilize these facilities to safely secure your bicycles.

3. Follow traffic rules: When approaching or leaving school property, please adhere to all traffic laws and signals. Signal your intentions, yield to pedestrians, and maintain a safe speed.

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