Dear Memorial Families,
It has been busy and eventful September for Memorial Elementary. Thank you to our parents and families for their support, patience, and time as we begin this new school year. From popcorn Fridays, Parent Club Meeting, donations of classroom supplies, treats for our teachers, and kind words of encouragement are very much appreciated. Thank you to our Memorial Family!
Fall NWEA testing is wrapping up for our students and our students scores are providing information on what students are ready to learn for ELA and Math. For students in grades K-3, these scores may indicate the need for a student to have an IRIP. Teachers will be sheduling meetings with families of students who qualify for an IRIP sometimes between now and our first round of Parent Teacher Conferences that take place on October 26. There is more information about IRIPs listed below from Michigan's Department of Education.
Each student is assigned a mentor teacher at Memorial that they will see once a month for a building wide character building lesson. Our first Mentor Lesson will take place on Thursday September 28. The remainder of the school year dates are as follows: October 24, November 21, December 19, January 30, March 8, April 23, and May 21. They will start shortly after our pledge and morning announcements so it's important for students to be here on time so that they don't miss out. These groups are smaller than a traditional classroom and combine students from all different grades within our school. It's a great opportunity for teachers and students to build even stronger community relationships to ensure that all feel that they belong.
Thank you to our Riverview Kiwanis and Mayor Swift for delivering their annual donation of dictionaries for every third grade student. Our students were very excited to receive this gift! Please see the pictures below to see their beautiful smiles.
Mrs. Harris has graciously volunteered most of her mornings to help with our west parking lot. This is a tough position to fill and not always enjoyable. Please be sure to show gratitude towards her for taking on this role. Also she has some great suggestions for dismissal in the drop-off lane that I would like to share. Kindergarten students are dismissed five minutes earlier than our other grade levels, due to multiple reasons. One is to help with the congestion of the parking lot and the other is because students are only released to their families. If you are arriving to school to pick-up older students, please do not pull into the pick-up line until after 3:30 which would allow for kindergarten families to pick-up safely and exit the parking lot. Many families have reported that they wait on a nearby side street until after 3:30 before entering the west parking lot, which is a genius way of making the parking lot easier to navigate. The hope is that more families will consider this too.
Also our emergency vehicles (police, fire, and ambulance) need the driveway kept cleared at all times in case they need to access our building. There is never an appropriate time to stop and hold up the line coming in from Longsdorf to the west parking lot. Thank you for your cooperation and support it making our parking lot safe !
There was a Memorial PTC (Parent-Teacher Club) meeting this week and it was one of the best turnouts yet! Thank you families for coming out to help plan for this year's events and fundraising. Having so many ideas helps to ensure the very best of plans. There are some important reminders listed below for Kroger Rewards Sign-up and ensuring that volunteer background checks are completed two weeks before you volunteer at the school during student hours. Be sure to check out the PTC section below that has meetings and events for this school year. There is a lot to keep up with our busy PTC!
The school will not be open until the bell rings for K and then for grades 1-5. Breakfast will be the only exception to this; breakfast will be served beginning at 8:25 a.m. in the cafeteria and students will be dismissed at appropriate times to go to class. If students are attending breakfast, they will enter through the Kindergarten doors at 8:25 a.m. Students eating breakfast will remain in the cafeteria until bells ring to dismiss them for class. Students are not to go to their lockers, classrooms, or wander hallways until the arrival bell has dismissed them. Appropriate behavior is always expected in the cafeteria; eating in the cafeteria is a privilege and full respect is to be shown towards adults and students alike at all times. Thank you in advance for your support from home!
Arrival Bell Time:
K - 8:40 a.m.
Grades 1-5 - 8:45 a.m.
(Official Start Time is 8:50)
Dismissal Bell Time:
K - 3:25 p.m.
Grades 1-5 - 3:30 p.m.
**Grade Level Doors are suggested doors for students to use - if you need to adjust your drop-off or pick-up set of doors, please be sure to communicate with classroom teacher. Often this occurs when there are siblings. The best practice has been found for older students to wait at the doors with our younger students.
Safeties will be at each set of doors and working out of the east parking lot with cones. Please remember these are students who are beginning their first opportunity as leaders within this role. They are nervous and can be easily intimidated. If you see a problem that needs to be addressed, please contact the office and allow for me to handle it. Please do not attempt to correct it yourself. Thank you!
Drop-off and Pick-up Reminders:
- Be kind and patient! Let's set a good example for our students!
- It is illegal to leave your car unattended if it is not parked in a designated parking spot - this includes on Colvin, the drop-off lines, and unmarked spaces in the two parking lots
- It is considered trespassing to park in other business lots - this includes the law office, Hair Forum on Fort Street, and residential drives and spots.
- Students are only supposed to cross at Colvin and Longsdorf where the crossing guards are located. There are spacious sidewalks for students to walk down so that they are crossing with the help of a crossing guard.
- Drivers need to drive slowly and cautiously around school grounds before and after school
- In the east parking lot, respect the cones that are put up for 10 minutes in the morning and in the afternoon, to ensure that those walking by our safe from parking lot traffic.
As always, thank you for your support from home and please be sure to reach out with any questions or needs that you have. We are all part of this Memorial Team!
Educationally Yours,
Angelyn Maxon
amaxon@riverviewschools.com
(734) 285-4080
