Dragon's Tale

October 18, 2024

Dear Dragon Families,

I hope this message finds you well. I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for the incredible support you’ve shown in recent days. The loss of our beloved teacher, Mr. Jahn, has been a profound sorrow for all of us, and your understanding in allowing us to close the school for his celebration of life next week has been greatly appreciated.

I also want to celebrate our community’s amazing efforts in meeting our PTA fundraising goals. Join us tonight from 5-7 PM for our Fall Fest, where we can come together to celebrate this success as a community.

Looking ahead, I’m excited to announce that next week, our students will have the opportunity to see me work from the roof of Keith, which should be a fun and memorable experience! Additionally, Lifetouch picture re-take day is scheduled for Friday, October 25th, and our kindergarten classes will be learning about fire safety with the WB Fire Department.

As we continue to support our students’ growth, I want to remind everyone of the importance of reading daily with them. Your efforts in raising kind, compassionate kids truly make a difference in our school community.

Thank you once again for your support and for being such a vital part of our school. Together, we are making a positive impact on our children’s lives.

Please be sure to read this week's Dragon's Tale Newsletter!

Warm regards,

Marci Augenstein, Principal

October 2024

Oct. 1 - Keith PTA Meeting - 6:30pm Learning Commons

Oct. 2 - Count Day

Oct. 3 - No School

Oct. 9 - Bike/Walk to School Day

Oct. 11 - Fun Run

Oct. 18 - Teacher of the Year Nominations Due

Oct. 18 - Keith PTA Fall Fest - 5pm Playground

Oct. 23 - No School

Oct. 25 - Picture Re-Take Day

Oct. 29 - ALICE Drill - See notes below

Oct. 31 - Halloween Parade 11am

Oct. 31 - Half Day - Dismissal Schedule below

October 16, 2024

Dear Keith Elementary Community:

In light of the recent passing of our beloved staff member, Mark Jahn, I have made the difficult decision to close Keith Elementary on Wednesday, October 23. This decision allows our staff and our community the time to come together, celebrate Mr. Jahn’s life, and continue to process the grief of losing a cherished colleague, mentor, and friend. We understand how important it is for everyone to have this time to honor Mr. Jahn’s memory.

Mr. Jahn’s Celebration of Life is scheduled for Wednesday, October 23 at Shepherd of the Lakes Lutheran Church in Walled Lake. There will be a visitation at 10 a.m. and a service at 11 a.m.

I recognize that this may cause an inconvenience for some families, and I sincerely apologize for any disruption. Please know this decision was not made lightly, but I believe it is essential for our school community during this time of loss.

On October 23, we will have staff at Keith Elementary to support your child if they are struggling with the day emotionally. Staff will be available from 10 am to 12 p.m. to offer counseling support to students. No other services will be available that day at Keith.

Thank you for your understanding, and please don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Augenstein if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Dr. Michael Lonze, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Walled Lake Consolidated School District

Mr. Jahn dedicated over 25 years of his life to teaching and impacted the lives of countless students. As we prepare to honor his incredible legacy, the Keith PTA is collecting photos and stories from those who knew him.

If Mr. Jahn made a difference in your life, we'd love to hear about it. Please share your favorite memories and any photos you may have. These will be compiled into a special tribute board for his family and shared at his Celebration of Life on October 23rd.

Feel free to add your photos & stories here.

Let’s celebrate the life of a remarkable teacher who gave so much to others.

Dear Keith Elementary School Families,

As we wrap up our fundraiser, we are thrilled to share some exciting news with you all! Thanks to your incredible support and generosity, we have not only met but exceeded our fundraising goal of $30,000!

This means that we will get to have Dr. A do a rooftop campout! We can’t wait!

Here are some key highlights and updates:

1. 🥁Fundraiser Total: Together, we have raised a total of $32,000*!

2. 🎉Impact: Your donations will go directly toward a magical playground and outdoor learning realm, enriching the educational experience for all students at Keith Elementary School.

3. 🙌THANK YOU: We extend a BIG thank you to our teachers and volunteers who played a crucial role in making this fundraiser a resounding success. Your dedication to our school community is deeply appreciated!

Once again, thank you for your unwavering support, whether through donations, volunteering, or spreading the word. Your involvement has made a tremendous difference and showcases the strength of our school community!

- Keith Elementary School PTA / Dr. Marci Augenstein

Prize Updates/ Notes:

● The rest of the prizes for all of the students will be delivered this week.

Fun Run Stats:

Students Signed Up: 75%

Students Donated: 55%

School Profit: $32,000*

The top ten students and the top class who earned the most donations and have won a pizza party lunch with Dr. A are:

Elias Kneiher

Blake Johnson

Dresden Neumann

Aria McGonegal

Luke Bachmeier

Owen McFerran

Caleb Cassell

Joey Schneider

Kian Spearman

Oliver Olsen

Mrs. Aljarbo's 2nd grade class!

*this is just the total from the online donations, cash will be included soon.

Please visit:

mylifetouch.com

Picture Day ID: EVT6RVK6Z

Hello Dragon Families,

Please consider signing up to help track our students' mileage club progress on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Please feel free to sign up for every grade level and take an entire day. If you are only able to come during your child's time slot, we have created a sign up below. We need the support of our amazing parent volunteers to help encourage the physical fitness of our students.

Thank you again for signing up to volunteer on the playground during our lunch recess times to stamp our students' mileage club card. The link for parent volunteer help is below. When you arrive to Keith to help, please check in at the main office to get the mileage club supplies if you are the first parent volunteer to arrive.

Thank you for supporting the physical fitness of our students at Keith!

Jamin Stewart and Steven LaCross

Keith PE Teachers

Fall Book Fair is less than 3 weeks away! Help us create a magical fall wonderland! Crafty and non-crafty help is needed. If you are unable to donate your time, there are other options. Please see the link below for volunteer opportunities. Thank you so much in advance for helping to make this Book Fair special for our kids!

Set-up/Decorate for Fall Book Fair

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080D48AEAB22A7FC1-52062606-fall

Teacher Book Fair Preview Lunch Items Needed

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080D48AEAB22A7FC1-52062176-fall

Thank you,

Lauren Jaffe

(248)821-2320

LJJAFFE@GMAIL.com

Calling all artists, writers, dancers, musicians, photographers, and videographers! Entries are now being accepted for the National PTA Reflections art competition. Create something in one of the categories below with the theme “ACCEPTING IMPERFECTION” and fill out the google doc to submit your entry!

CONTEST DIVISIONS:

Keith Elementary has separate divisions for grades K-2nd and 3rd-5th. 2 winners from each category (per division) will advance to District level. Students may submit an entry in any of the six areas listed below:

· Literature

· Music Composition

· Photography

· Visual Arts

· Dance Choreography

· Film Production

For more information and official rules per category click here

DEADLINE:

Submissions must be sent digitally and are accepted until November 11, 2024.

ENTRY FORM:

Submit contest entries using this link:

REFLECTIONS SUBMISSIONS 2024-2025

A letter will be sent home with students this week with more information. Updates will be posted on the Keith Elementary PTA Facebook page so be sure to follow us!

For more information on this year’s theme: “ACCEPTING IMPERFECTION” click here

Please email ljones456@sbcglobal.net with questions. Thanks for your support in unleashing your child’s inner artist!

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I hope this message finds you well. As we continue to navigate the complexities of childhood in today’s world, I am excited to announce a community-wide book study focused on "The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness" by Jonathan Haidt. This insightful book offers valuable perspectives on the challenges our children face and provides us with tools to support their well-being.

We invite you to join us in this important conversation, participate in discussions, and partner with our school in looking out for our kids. Together, we can create a supportive environment that fosters resilience and understanding.

Meeting Schedule

We will hold four meetings, each lasting one hour, where we will discuss different sections of the book. ALL meetings will be from 6-7pm in the Keith Learning Commons. Please see the schedule below:

11/4/24 - Introduction to the book and Discussion of Part 1: The Great Rewiring of Childhood

12/9/24 - Review of Part 2: The Backstory: The Decline of Play-based Childhood and increase in childhood anxiety

1/13/25 - Discussion of Part 3: Social Media and Mental Health- Strategies for healthy technology use – The Rise of the phone-based childhood

2/10/25 - Overview of Part 4: Building Resilience - Collaborative ideas for supporting our children

To help ensure that everyone can participate, I am happy to provide a copy of the book for any family that may face financial barriers. If you would like to receive a book, please let me know when you RSVP.

You are welcome to attend any or all of the meetings. Each session will provide a space for open dialogue, sharing of experiences, and brainstorming actionable steps we can take as a community.

Thank you for your commitment to our students’ well-being. I look forward to engaging with you in these discussions that will undoubtedly strengthen our community and support our children’s futures.

Warm regards,

Marci Augenstein, Principal

Attached, please find the Lakes Area Youth Assistance (LAYA) Holiday "Adopt-a-Child" application. Applications are being accepted for consideration from now until the deadline of Friday, Oct. 25, 2024.

Here is the link to the online application as well:

https://www.wlcsd.org/community/lakes-area-youth-assistance

Thank you for considering this opportunity for your children.

PLEASE HELP THE WLN OUTDOOR PURSUITS CLASS WIN A GRANT FOR BICYCLES!

The winning grant proposal is based on votes, and you can vote 5 times a day per email address. Voting will run 10/16 - 10/26.

You do have to register (just takes a few seconds) and then use your voting code each time you vote. Your help would be greatly appreciated!!!

LINK TO VOTE: https://www.classroomcash.org/vote

VOTE FOR KNIGHT RIDERS

Search by...

project title: KNIGHT RIDERS

school: "Walled Lake Northern"

category: "sports"

THANK YOU!

Michelle M. Brandon, Ed.S.

Walled Lake Northern Health/Physical Education Department Chair

Walled Lake Schools Secondary Health/Physical Education Department Chair

Director of Walled Lake Archery Program

Halloween Parade - 11am

Parents may attend on the blacktop area on the playground. There will be cones set up to make a "parent tunnel" for students to walk through.

Half-Day Dismissal schedule on 10/31/24:

12:25pm - Dismissal begins for Dragon Pick Up

12:30pm - Walkers and Prime Time Dismissed

12:42pm - Buses depart Keith

Walled Lake Northern proudly hosts an annual gift drive, supporting a school in need each year. Our community "adopts” children, fulfilling their holiday wishes and essential needs.

Northern students thoughtfully wrap every gift, and in December, our Leadership class personally delivers the gifts to the school, bringing joy directly to the children.

We welcome donations of children's clothing, shoes, boots, and toys. Your support will help us fulfill our mission of bringing joy to children in need this holiday season.

Please feel free to follow the link to our Amazon storefront.

https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/2QEWGD83JR5LN

All donations can be shipped directly to Walled Lake Northern:

WLN Gift Drive

6000 Bogie Lake Rd

Commerce Township, MI 48382

United States

Please click on the button below to learn more about our Keith Green Team!

What to watch for:

• Fri, Oct 4th ~ Tubby's Sub & Ice Cream Day ~ $1.00 ice cream cups
• Thurs, Oct 10th ~ Marco's Pizza Day ~ $2 / extra slice, $1.25 chips
• Mon, Oct 14th ~ Lucky Tray Day

As always, parents ( AND STAFF )can add funds to student accounts via Skyward, or cash / check brought to me in the kitchen. If students bring cash/checks, please send the funds to the cafeteria either:

1. Labeled inside your lunch barcode sheet, or
2. Have students bring down their money during breakfast

The lunch line moves quicker if their funds are deposited beforehand. Thank you in advance for your help!

Thanks to all the students and their families who came out for the Music of Star Wars. We were delighted by the very engaging performances including the excellent background talks from Maestro Yanez introducing each piece, lightsaber duels on stage as well as costumes. Also, the grand encore of The Imperial March - Darth Vadar's theme song was a treat.

At our Club meet, we learned about the Composers of Star Wars music (John Williams, Michael Giacchino, Ludwig Goransson) and Leitmotifs - theme music for a character, idea or action, and shared in our love of the different memorable theme music for our favorite Star Wars characters, actions and ideas like "the force". From our informal fun survey of who is our favorite Star Wars character, in first place, there was a tie between Ray, Darth Vader and the Mandalorian.

Our next Club meet is Sunday, November 17, 2024 2:30, followed by the 3pm Under The Streetlamp Concert with former cast members from the hit musical Jersey Boys harmonies and dance moves, performing old-school hits by The Drifters, Roy Orbison, Nat King Cole, The Beach Boys, and The Beatles, plus a celebration of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.

It is not too late to join now! After attending only 1 concert, your student membership will have paid for itself.

Cost: $25 per student membership unlocks one free ticket to almost every Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) 2023-2024 concert series in addition to the concerts listed above, and up to two companion tickets (bring or invite your parents/sibling/friend/teacher) for $5 each, access to the best seats, access to DSO Replay and online Live streaming performances.

See Music Appreciation Club Details Document for more information and link to Google form for registration https://forms.gle/3eAmCFB4Vf9FCP626

Please see Music Appreciation Club PDF below for more information on Club meets, membership and concerts.

To Join, fill out Club Registration form after you have purchased your DSO Student Soundcard membership

https://forms.gle/3eAmCFB4Vf9FCP626

Should you have any question, contact Monique Levu monique.levu@gmail.com 248-301-1415

The Walled Lake Consolidated Schools’ Board of Education approved seeking a replacement of the district’s operating millage in the upcoming November election during its August 8, 2024 special meeting.

Walled Lake Consolidated Schools is asking the community to replace its current operating millage with an 18 mill non-homestead millage that represents roughly $31 million and a 3.6297 mill hold harmless that represents approximately $2 million of the district’s budget. The total of $33 million accounts for 18 percent of the district’s $187 million revenue budget.

Every District in the state is expected to levy, with voter approval, 18 mills on all non-homestead properties in order to receive full state funding under Proposal A. The 3 mill "Headlee cushion" will allow the district to collect the full 18 mills over the duration of the operating millage. The proposal will not increase property taxes on any primary residence property that is within Walled Lake Consolidated Schools boundaries. Since the approval of Proposal A in 1994, the Walled Lake Consolidated Schools’ community has overwhelmingly supported the operating millage, most recently in 2014.

If the November 5, 2024 proposal is not approved, the school district will lose more than $33 million in operating revenue every year and the state will not make up the shortfall.

More information about the 2024 Operating Millage Replacement can be found at www.wlcsd.org/elections.

Help support some of our Keith alumni on the Walled Lake middle school dance team by donating your bottles to them! Bottles may be dropped off at Clifford Smart MS on all Fridays in October from 3:15-8pm! 👯‍♀️

Please remember to register or re-register your Kroger Plus card to Keith Elementary. Last year we made just over $2,000! It’s easy! Just go to www.krogercommunityrewards.com and go to the community rewards section. You must re-register your card annually. Anyone having an issue with their email address or password can call 1-800-KROGERS for customer service.

November 12th at 6:30pm - Keith Learning Commons

Visit our PTA's Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/KeithElemPTA/

Keith Vision Screening Schedule:

Grades to be assessed: J/K, 1, 3, 5

TECHNICIAN: TERRI ALCOCER

10/16, 10/17, 10/18, 10/22, 10/23, 10/24, 10/25/2024 AM

Keith Hearing Screening Schedule:

Grades to be assessed: J/K, K, 2, 4

TECHNICIAN: DENISE GAARDER

03/14, 03/17, 03/18, 03/19, 03/20/2025

Please visit the WLCSD website linked in the button below for additional information about your child's health and immunizations for school. In addition, should your child need to take medication while at school, all medicines must be kept in the main office. They must be brought to school by an adult with the permission to administer medicine at school form (linked in the button below) and original bottle included. Please review the Keith Medical Information section of our family handbook for additional information.

The Keith Elementary School Community will inspire and empower all- academically, socially, and emotionally.

Diana Tyrrell - Principal's Secretary

DianaTyrrel@wlcsd.org

Alice Johnson - Building Secretary

AliceJohnson@wlcsd.org

Marci Augenstein, Ph.D. - Principal, Keith Elementary

MarciAugenstein@wlcsd.org

Email: DianaTyrrell@wlcsd.org
Website: http://wlcsd.org/schools/elementary/keith/
Location: 2800 Keith Road, West Bloomfield Township, MI, United States
Phone: (248)956-3700
Twitter: @KeithElementary