Comets Corner

Mr. Keith Tonn, Principal

Important Contact Information:

Main Office Phone: (586) 439-6900

Fax: (586) 439-6801

Absentee Line: (586) 439-6990

This is a 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

During March is Reading Month, Mrs. Khoury always arranges to have different people from the community come in to read to different classes during our library times. Sometimes our guest reader is someone like a fire fighter or a sheriff. Last week, both 4th grade classes were surprised to have a super exciting guest reader during Library! Mr. Nick, our day custodian, took time out of his busy workday to read a book to both classes. They loved listening to him read and talk about books. He shared that when he was in elementary school some of his favorites were the Nate the Great books. You better believe that every Nate the Great book was checked out of our library last week by the time 4th grade was done! Mr. Nick is a wonderful role model for the students here at Mark Twain.

Our Twain community had such a fun time last year, we decided to do it again! Twain students and families are invited to build an arcade-style game out of cardboard. We are holding informational meetings with the students in their 21C class during the week of March 10th to promote and review the ideas and expectations of the arcade. On April 16th, the whole Twain community will be invited to attend the event. Fun Passes will be available for $2 each that will allow access to ALL the games that evening. We are looking forward to seeing everyone's creativity!

The 5th grade class participated in March’s Reading Month by doing buddy reading during our reading time. Everyone got to choose their buddies and share books of their choice with their partner. Each buddy took turns reading a book to one another, making it a fun and interactive experience.

It was wonderful to see the students engaged and excited to read to their peers. They enjoyed exploring different stories together, helping each other with words, and discussing their favorite parts. Buddy reading not only made reading more enjoyable but also helped build confidence and teamwork among the students!

Thanks to your incredible support during our Coin Wars fundraiser, we were able to adopt an African Wild Dog pup! 🐾 But that’s not all—because of your generosity, we also had extra funds to donate toward our second-place animal, the Axolotl!

Thank you to all those who donated and participated! 🎉

As a special thank you for your participation in Kids Heart Challenge, the American Heart Association is inviting Twain Elementary School families to celebrate with Detroit Pistons on Friday, April 11th at 7PM as they take on the Milwaukee Bucks!

• All students will receive a complimentary ticket with the purchase of an adult ticket.
• All students will have the opportunity to take a free throw shot on-court post-game.
• 15 students will be chosen at random to participate as Anthem Buddies on court!

Tickets can be purchased at www.pistons.com/aha.

Hope to see you there!

Each spring, the State of Michigan and the US Department of Education (USDE) require us to assess students in certain subject areas through the M-STEP, PSAT and SAT. The assessments provide the district with a snapshot of student achievement at the state, district, and building levels. Individual student results will also be shared with parents.

The tentative assessment dates for M-Step are as follows:

3rd Grade

Wednesday, April 30 - ELA Day 1

Thursday, May 1 - ELA Day 2

Tuesday, May 6 - Math

4th Grade

Tuesday, April 22 - ELA Day 1

Wednesday, April 23 - ELA Day 2

Tuesday, April 29 - Math

5th Grade

Wednesday, April 16 - ELA Day 1

Thursday, April 17 - ELA Day 2

Monday, April 21 - Math

Thursday, April 24 - Science

Monday, April 28 - Social Studies

6th Grade

Tuesday, April 8 - ELA Day 1

Wednesday, April 9 - ELA Day 2

Monday, April 14 - Math

Please ensure that your child is well rested on their testing day. They should come to school with a fully charged iPad .

Please note- We have makeup days built into our testing schedule, so if your child is exhibiting any symptoms of illness on their testing day- be sure to keep them home.

Also, due to recent updates in State testing procedures, cell phones, smart watches, and any bluetooth device (including headphones) MUST be secured during testing. We encourage students to leave these devices home on testing days when possible.When not possible, devices will be powered down and secured during testing

Dear 6th-Grade Family,

Over the next several weeks, your child will be discussing bullying as part of Second Step® Middle School. Bullying is at its peak in middle school, and research indicates that taking proactive steps

to address bullying will help reduce occurrences of it in school.

Second Step Middle School is designed to support your child in developing the knowledge and

skills to help stop bullying. Students will learn how to recognize bullying in various contexts, how to

use strategies to stand up safely to bullying, and how to seek help if they or someone they know is

being bullied.

Here are some key definitions your child will be learning:

• Bullying: intentional physical, verbal, or social aggression. It’s often repeated over time and occurs when there’s a real or perceived power imbalance.
• Bystander: anyone who’s aware that bullying is happening
  
• Online bullying: the use of technology to harass, threaten, or intimidate another person
  
• Physical bullying: hurting someone’s body or possessions
• Relational bullying: hurting someone’s reputation or relationships, such as by excluding them
• Upstander: someone who stands up for a person being bullied
  
• Verbal bullying: saying or writing mean things about someone

to trusted adults at our school. Please contact the main office or your child's classroom teacher if you need support in reporting or dealing with bullying.

Additionally, if you have any questions about Second Step Middle School, please don’t hesitate

to contact me for more information. Thank you for your support as we work together to build a

bullying-free community.

Sincerely,

Mr. Tonn

Spring pictures are scheduled for Thursday, April 3, 2025. To order online visit:

mylifetouch.com

ID: EVTKXSFFC

Order forms can also be found linked below.

• The North lot is NOT a drop-off/ pick-up zone. It is for parking only. We MUST keep the loop open for busses and emergency vehicles. This rule applies to everyone, so please be cooperative and follow it.

• The large, central lot has two lanes: a drop-off/ pick-up lane on the outside of the loop and a driving lane on the inside.

• Please note: Drivers MAY NOT get out of your car while in the outside drop-off/ pick-up lane. Your students must exit to the outside of the loop, and drivers must not exit the car to walk students up or pick them up. If you have younger children who need to be walked up or picked up at the door, you MUST park your car in one of the lots or on the street.

• Smoking and pets are not permitted on school grounds. Please leave your pets at home for the safety and comfort of all of our students and families.

• Please do NOT swear on school grounds. We are trying to set a positive example for behavior for our Twain Comets, and shouting and swearing at other drivers does not set the right example for our kids. We ask our students to be respectful, organized, cooperative, kind, and safe, and we expect those behaviors to be modeled by our parents, too.

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

• 3/31- School Resumes
  
• 4/2 - 4th Grade DTE Think Energy Program
• 4/4 - Detroit Tigers Spirit Day
• 4/3 - Spring Picture Day
• 4/5 - MTPC: VIP & Me Bowling
• 4/7 - ROCKStar Pizza Party
• 4/10 - MTPC Family Movie Night
• 4/11 = AHA Pistons Game
• 4/15 - Early Release Day (1:30 Dismissal)
• 4/16 - StuntMasters BMX Show
• 4/16 - Cardboard Arcade
• 4/17 - MTPC Skating Party
• 4/18 - No School
• 4/29 - MCHD Vision Screening - Grades 1, 3 & 5
• 4/30 - Restorative Practices for Parents & Safety Town @ RMS
• 5/1 - MCHD Vision Screening - Grades 1, 3 & 5
• 5/1 - Band Concert @ FHS

Access the full District Calendar HERE at any time!