Mason Moose Minutes March 14th!

Dearest Mason Families,

What an incredible week it has been! From heartwarming performances to engaging educational events, every day brought something special, and I want to take a moment to reflect on all of the wonderful things that happened this week here at Mason!

On Tuesday, we were treated to an amazing music concert that left us all in awe! Our talented music teacher, Mrs. Weinhaus, worked tirelessly with the students to prepare them for the performance, and it truly paid off. The students not only sang beautifully, but they also brought their A-game with some fantastic dance moves! I couldn’t help but smile as I watched our students shine. Their dedication and hard work were evident, and I want to thank them all for putting on such a spectacular show!

On Wednesday, our third-grade students had the opportunity to showcase their hard work at a Family Engagement event. They presented their projects on various Michigan cities, passionately trying to persuade us why we should visit each one. From their well-researched facts to their persuasive writing, the students did an outstanding job! A special thank you to Mrs. Handley and Mrs. Kotes for planning and organizing this fantastic event. The students not only demonstrated their research, writing, and persuasive skills, but they also had the opportunity to build their confidence by presenting in front of their families. It was truly a great learning experience for everyone involved, and I couldn’t be prouder of how well they did.

Thursday brought another enriching experience as we welcomed some of our local public safety officers. Firefighters Roybal and Stocking, along with Officers Ross and Jones, visited Mason to teach our students about fire prevention and safety. Their engaging presentations kept the students focused and interested to learn more as they shared vital information about staying safe in emergency situations. I want to thank these brave officers and firefighters for taking the time out of their busy schedules to visit us. Their dedication to our community and their commitment to educating our students is deeply appreciated!

Today, Friday, was another memorable day! We had the honor of having Board President Worden visit Mason to read to our Young 5 and Kindergarten students. It was such a special moment, and the excitement on the children's faces along with their laughter as they listened to the stories she read was priceless. I want to express my heartfelt thanks to President Worden for taking the time to read to our youngest learners—her involvement in their education means so much to the Mason family! In addition to reading with the students, President Worden also had the opportunity to visit with our Kindergarten students to see the fantastic Leprechaun traps they created for St. Patrick's Day. The effort put into these projects was amazing, and the students were thrilled to share their work with her. President Worden took the time to meet with each student one-on-one to understand how they put their projects together and to highlight their creativity. It was a truly special experience for everyone involved!

Additionally, today we had a wonderful group of middle school students from Parcells visit Mason as part of our Read Across America initiative. Students from Parcells' National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) came to read to our students, along with teach them a literacy related lesson creating a truly inspiring atmosphere of sharing stories and fostering a love for reading. It was a beautiful way to wrap up the week and continue to celebrate March is Reading Month!

Looking ahead, we are excited for Parent-Teacher Conferences next week on March 19 and 20. These conferences are an important opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions about your student's progress, celebrate successes, and work together to address any areas for growth.

Here is the schedule for Parent-Teacher Conferences:

• Wednesday, March 19: Virtual Evening Conferences, 5:00–8:00 p.m.
• Thursday, March 20:
  • Please remember this is a half day for students with dismissal at 11:36 AM
  • Afternoon Conferences, 1:00–4:00 p.m.
  • Virtual Evening Conferences, 5:00–8:00 p.m.

All conferences must be scheduled through PTC Wizard, and please note that sign-up closes on March 18th at 11:59 p.m. We encourage everyone to sign up as soon as possible to secure your preferred time slot.

What an amazing week of learning, growth, and community-building we have had at Mason! I’m so grateful for the dedication of our staff, the hard work of our students, and the continued support of our families. You all make our school a truly special place. keep moving forward together, remembering that Mason is more than just a school—it’s a home and a family. As always, I welcome open and direct communication with all of my families. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to connect with me directly. I am here for you and your student. Thank you for being part of our Mason family, and as always, Teamwork it is! One Mason, One Family, and One Team!

Mrs. Anita Hassan, Principal

Owen Austin is making an impressive debut in his first year with the De La Salle Wrestling Club, holding a strong 20-7 record. His hard work and dedication paid off last week as he clinched the metro Detroit regional championship, earning a spot at the state tournament in Kalamazoo on March 22nd & 23rd.

Owen is having a fantastic season, enjoying the competition, making new friends, and embracing the sport. Let’s rally behind him as he takes on the state’s best—good luck, Owen! Go for gold!

Thank you Firefighter Roybal, Firefighter Stocking, Officer Ross, and Officer Jones for joining us at Mason to teach our dear students about fire prevention and safety!

Third grade students in Ms. Handley and Ms. Kotes' classes present their Michigan projects to families as part of a family engagement event! Students worked hard working with their classmates and teachers to research various cities across the State of Michigan, sharing history, fun facts, and natural resources!

Mrs. Eichhorst along with Ms. Nurse collaborate and plan for an interdisciplinary unit involving their book study on Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. Students read the book in class with Mrs. Nurse, and then made Kokeshi dolls from Japan in art class with Ms. Eichhorst.

Friday, April 4th- Detroit Tigers Spirit Day

Week of April 7-11: Penny Wars to raise money for seed packets to pass out to families in celebration of Earth Day

Friday, April 11-Red Wings Spirit Day

Tuesday, April 22-Earth Day Spirit Day-Wear green and blue

Friday, April 25-Wear your Mason PTO shirt

Mrs Biske has been working hard to make this a fun and engaging March! Check out the March is Reading Month calendar she has created . A printed copy is also coming home with your student.

On Wednesday, March 5th, at 6:00 a.m., you will receive an email from info@gpschools.org with a link to PTC Wizard and instructions for signing up for parent-teacher conferences.

Please note, this email will not include your username and password. Your PTC Wizard login credentials are the same as your MiStar Parent Portal PIN (a number starting with 1500) and password. If you need help finding your MiStar PIN and password, please visit this link and click “Need your login information?”

Parent-Teacher Conferences Schedule:

• Wednesday, March 19: Virtual Evening Conferences, 5:00–8:00 p.m.

• Thursday, March 20:

• Afternoon Conferences, 1:00–4:00 p.m.

• Virtual Evening Conferences, 5:00–8:00 p.m.

All conferences must be scheduled through PTC Wizard, and sign-up closes on March 18th at 11:59pm.

Important Notes:

• Please schedule conferences only with the teachers you wish to meet.

• If attending virtual conferences, you will need a Google account for security purposes.

• If a teacher (e.g., a reading specialist) is not listed in your child's schedule, select "Show More Teachers."

• Each family is allowed one time slot per student, per teacher. If you need an alternative conference format, please contact your child’s teacher.

If you have students at multiple buildings or grade levels, the same username and password will apply for all conference sign-ups.

For questions, please reach out to gpwebmaster@gpschools.org. We will respond to all inquiries within 24 hours and appreciate your patience.

Thank you,
GPPSS Communications

The PTO needs assistance decorating for the dance, Friday between 4:00 and 6:00pm at Parcells Middle School. Park and enter through the back of the school.

https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/8050A44A5A92DA0F85-55486678-beach

Monday

• Breakfast Starts: 8:50 am
• School Bell: 9:05 am

Students should not arrive before 8:50 am on Mondays, as there is no supervision available before this time. Breakfast is served at the drop-off time, allowing students time to eat before the bell.

Tuesday through Friday

• Breakfast Starts: 8:05 am
• School Bell: 8:20 am

For the rest of the week (Tuesday through Friday), students may arrive starting at 8:05 am.

Important Reminder:
Please ensure students are not dropped off before these designated times. The staff supervision, breakfast services, and the building itself may not be available prior to these times, so adhering to this schedule is important for the safety of all students.

Please reference Mason's Playground Procedures/Rules. As the days get colder please remember to have your students bring appropriate outdoor wear. Students are asked to wear jackets when it is 55 degree or below. We value fresh air a movement during the school day, so please review the reminders below:

ADDITIONAL PLAYGROUND PROCEDURES/RULES DURING COLD WEATHER/WINTER

1. Snow stays on the ground: No snowballs

2. No jumping nor standing in muddy/snowy puddles or any icy surfaces

3. No picking up ice shards

4. Respect other people’s space and snow creations

5. Play safely and stay dry

6. Feet stay on the ground

7. The blacktop is a ‘snow-free’ zone

Students who do not wear boots or snow pants are only allowed to play on the blacktop. Teachers can restrict students at any time who do not have the proper clothing from going outside for safety reasons.

All students should have an extra set of clothes in their locker in case it is needed throughout the school year.

Guidelines for when outdoor recess will be held:

1 degree and above with wind-chill - outdoor recess

0 degree and below with wind-chill - indoor recess

Guideline for when jackets should be worn by students outside:

At 55 degrees or below, students should wear a coat/long sleeve item during recess.

Did you know that you may qualify to receive discounted athletic fees, class materials, college application fees and more by filling out the 2024-2025 Education and Nutrition Benefits Application? All info is confidential and protected – so take action today!

Please take a look at the Lunch Volunteer Signup Genius.

March 19, Full Day, Evening Conferences

March 20, Half Day 11:36 dismissal (PM & Evening Conferences)

March 21st Half Day 11:36 dismissal

March 24-28: Spring Break, No School

Monday (late start) 9:05 a.m. - 3:38 p.m.

Tuesday - Friday 8:20 a.m.- 3:38 p.m.

Late Arrivals - If students are arriving late, they will need to enter through door A (secure entrance) and kindly sign in with the office staff.

Parents know your child is in great hands! We are committed to providing our students with a quality education and maximizing the safety of all.

To assist us with this, anytime your student will be absent or late to school, please call by 9 a.m. our attendance line at

313-432-4401

Please know this is a direct to voicemail line and you will not be connected with a staff member.

If you need to speak to someone in the main office please use one of the following numbers:

(313) 432-4403

(313) 432-4411

Breakfast will be available in the cafeteria, on Mondays from 8:50 - 9:05 a.m. & Tues. - Friday from 8:05 - 8:20 a.m.

• Students who want to eat breakfast will need to be dropped off to enter Mason through door A (secure vestibule) at 8:50 a.m. on Mondays, or 8:05 a.m. Tuesday through Fridays. Students can not enter the building before the noted times for breakfast.

• Students will be walked to the blacktop at 9:05 am on Mondays and 8:20 a.m. Tue- Fridays to join their class for arrival.

We love having our families involved here at Mason.. If you plan on volunteering throughout the school year please fill out this volunteer release inquiry form.

Teamwork it is! One Mason, One Family, One Team!

Email: hassana@gpschools.org
Website: https://www.gpschools.org/Domain/1501
Location: 1640 Vernier Road, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI, USA
Phone: 313-432-4400