August 31, 2023

Dear Dragon Families,

We have had a wonderful first week at Keith Elementary School. I remain impressed with the focus of our students and the energy our teachers are giving to ensure that your children have clear learning expectations at school. I have had the pleasure of stopping by every classroom this week and welcoming our student back to school.

Wonderful feedback that I received is our welcoming and kind our students are to one another. Friendly hellos in the hallway, older students walking younger students to class, and everyone knowing to help our incoming Kindergartners find their way have all solidified for me our positive school culture.

I anticipate that our MSTEP scores will be sent home in the coming weeks and our teachers will begin to relay information about our iReady diagnostic testing dates as we receive that information from our district. Something that I know will help our students prepare at home is daily reading.

As a mom, I remember my sons sitting on my lap and reading all sorts of books at night. More often than not, they would pick super hero books or graphic novels that I was not as interested in, yet that is what we would read together because it is what they wanted to read. Reading with your children now and forming reading habits will really help them in the future and we appreciate your attention and focus on this at home.

Enjoy the Labor Day weekend ahead with your amazing children and know how much we appreciate your help and support with ensuring your kids are prepared for daily learning at school. Please be sure to read our Dragon's Tale Newsletter with upcoming events and more.

Warm Regards,

Marci Augenstein, Principal

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

We are a dragon family united with a common purpose.

Dragons believe…

…in welcoming and trusting one another;

…in learning beyond the school day and for the future;

…in empowering every member of our community to be helpful, respectful, and kind;

…learning is engaging, purposeful, and fun.

The Keith Mileage Club will start back up TUESDAY, September 26th. Students walk or jog on our track as a healthy alternative to other activities at lunch recess and receive incentives for every 5 miles they travel. Mileage club will be on Tuesday and Thursdays this fall. We need adult volunteers to stamp their cards every time they complete a lap. Contact Ms. Lepkowski at Meganlepkowski@wlcsd.org for any questions. Thank you for helping us raise our Keith students’ fitness levels and enjoyment at school!

Please review the available slots below and click on the button to sign up. Thank you!

Dear 5th Grade Dragon Families,

Our 5th Grade Camp is right around the corner! ALL of our 5th grade students will attend 5th grade camp at the Walled Lake Outdoor Education Center on Monday, September 18 at 9:15am through Wednesday September 20 at 11:15am. Wednesday, September 20 you will need to arrange to pick up your child from Keith Elementary School at 11:15am. The students will arrive to Keith at approximately 11:30am and we request you arrive at 11:15am so your child does not worry.

It is important that you visit the WLCSD 5th Grade Camp Website. The website contains helpful information about what to expect at 5th grade camp, including clothing and equipment checklists and more. Please take time to read through this helpful information.

Due by 9/5/23:

On the right side of the website there are resources linked for you to review including the Volunteer Background Check form. If you plan on volunteering to help our teachers ensure every child has a wonderful camp experience, it is important that this form is completed by Tuesday, September 5, otherwise there will not be enough time for our district to run the background checks. This is a district requirement if you would like to volunteer and we certainly need the help and support of our parents!

9/11/23 OR 9/12/23: 5th Grade Camp Open House

Parents and students are welcome to tour the Walled Lake Outdoor Education Center at 3577 Sleeth Ct., Commerce Twp., MI 48382, prior to their overnight camp experience. This is a chance for you to take an informal tour any time between 5:00 and 7:00 pm on Monday, September 11, 2023 or Tuesday, September 12, 2023. Here is the 5th Grade Camp Open House Flyer.

Please call Karrie Martin @ 248-956-5120 for any questions regarding 5th grade camp. Please be sure to visit the WLCSD 5th Grade Camp and Walled Lake Outdoor Education Center website for more information.

9/13/23: Opportunity to Discuss 5th Grade Camp with Keith Teachers

Our teachers will be sharing details with you all during our upcoming Curriculum Night on Wednesday, September 13 at 7pm at Keith Elementary School. This will be your chance to ask specific questions and get all of the necessary paperwork.

Camp Cost:

$160 - Includes transportation to and from camp, 6 meals, 2 snacks, 6 two-hour class blocks, climbing tower, class materials, silk screen set-up (students provide shirt), and overnight chaperones.

$130 - Second child in the same family attending in same school year.

Parent(s)/Guardian(s) may pay directly at the student's school by writing a check to . Keith Elementary School also accepts payment through Skyward Family Access. Once you log in to Skyward, you will need to click on Fee Management, then click on Make A Payment, then you will go to the eFunds for Schools page and you will need to click on Pay for Optional Fees. There you will find the $160 fee for our 5th grade camp experience.

It is important to us that every child be allowed a camp experience and if your family needs financial assistance, please email MarciAugenstein@wlcsd.org and be reassured we will work out a camp payment plan or provide your family with a camp scholarship. All information is kept confidential.

Thank you for your help and support with our 5th grade camp. It is such a wonderful way to allow ALL of our 5th graders to bond as a grade and start the 23-24 school year off with amazing memories!

Warm regards,

Marci Augenstein, Principal

The Keith Dragons have once again been extended an invitation to attend the WLN Homecoming Parade on Friday, September 22nd. Line up is at 5pm and the parade begins at 5:30pm. All students who participate will be given a "Future Knight" T-Shirt. If your child has previously participated and would like to march again, please have them wear their t-shirt.

A sign up for this event and additional information will be shared as it is received. Thank you for supporting our kids and our WLN Knights!

Vision Screenings will be held at Keith from 9/14-9/22 for ALL students grades 1, 3, and 5.

What is the Hearing & Vision Screening Program?

Michigan law (The Public Health Code 368 of 1978) requires Oakland County Health Division (OCHD) to provide no cost hearing and vision screenings to preschool and school-age children.

Screenings occur in most Oakland County public, private, and charter schools, preschools and at Health Division offices. The program is done in three steps over the course of a child’s school years:

1. Screenings before kindergarten entry

2. Screenings in select grades up to 9th grade.

3. As needed, medical referrals for children not passing the screening OCHD Public Health Technicians help identify potential concerns related to a child’s ear or eye health. They are not doctors and do not diagnose conditions or prescribe treatment. Technicians complete a Michigan Department of Community Health & Human Services Technician Training Course and receive continuous training.

Why screen children’s hearing and vision?

Hearing and vision difficulties can affect school performance, speech and language skills, self-esteem and social development. Regular hearing and vision screenings identify any problems and ensure they are caught early. Screenings are safe and help children get prompt medical care to reduce disease, physical damage to ear/eye and permanent loss of sight or hearing. They also help parents and teachers make accommodations to help children succeed.

Please click on the flyer for additional information below.

i-Ready is an online program for reading and/or mathematics that will help your student’s teacher(s) determine your student’s needs, personalize their learning, and monitor progress throughout the school year. i-Ready allows your teacher(s) to meet your student exactly where they are and provides data to increase your student’s learning gains. i-Ready consists of two parts: Diagnostic and Personalized Instruction.

iReady Diagnostic:

The i-Ready Diagnostic is an adaptive assessment that adjusts its questions to suit your student’s needs. Each item a student sees is individualized based on their answer to the previous question. For example, a series of correct answers will result in slightly harder questions, while a series of incorrect answers will yield slightly easier questions. The purpose of this is not to give your student a score or grade, but instead to determine how best to support your student’s learning.

iReady Personalized Instruction:

i-Ready Personalized Instruction provides students with lessons based on their individual skill level and needs, so your student can learn at a pace that is just right for them. These lessons are fun and interactive to keep your student engaged as they learn.

On behalf of the Keith Elementary PTA, welcome to the 2023/2024 school year!

Today more than ever, schools are challenged to provide every child with the best education. Budgets are tight while government requirements are mounting. Schools are challenged to do more with less.

More than 30 years of research has proven that children do better when their parents are involved, both at home and in school. Grades are higher. Test scores rise. Self-esteem grows. Schools improve.

Powerful outcomes come from your active involvement in your child’s education. You know the benefits and want to make a difference, but how can you be more actively involved? It’s simple - join the PTA!

Please offer your support by completing the PTA membership form below. Annual dues are $10.00 per individual or family if you join by September 1st. The annual dues increase to $12.00 starting September 2nd. The form, and dues, can be turned in to Keith Elementary using either cash or check.

Keith PTA meetings are held monthly, in the evening, with FREE childcare provided (when meetings are in-person). We welcome your input at these meetings, as all members are encouraged to vote on how our fundraising dollars are spent. This is also a great opportunity to understand how the PTA works at your school. The meeting dates are posted on the Keith website (wlcsd.org/schools/elementary/keith) and also listed in the Dragon’s Tale newsletter which is published every week. Additionally, reminders will be sent via email. Being a member of the PTA does not require you to volunteer for any PTA activities. We welcome your support of all or some of our many events!

Thank you for your support and interest in the Keith Elementary PTA! Staff, please make sure you join as well to get your classroom reimbursement payment!

Heather DiDonato

Membership Chairperson

h.l.didonato@hotmail.com

Please click on the informational flyer below and consider joining the Keith Cub Scout Pack 36!

Please visit: https://my.lifetouch.com/mylifetouch/#/ to order your school pictures using the Picture Day ID below.

School Name: Keith Elementary School

Picture Day Date: Friday, September 8

Picture Day ID: EVTBM86GC

Yearbook Reminder: Yearbooks are no longer provided through the school picture program. Yearbooks must be purchased separately, to receive a copy. A yearbook order form is linked for you below.

After the increased use of technology last year, we recognize that many of your children have their own devices. They are all welcome and encouraged to participate in our "Bring Your Own Device" program. Please use the link below to print off the BOYD Form and give it to your child's teacher at our Meet and Greet event on August 24th or send it in with your child on the first day of school. You are also welcome to complete the online version of the form and save paper!

Please take a moment to visit the WLCSD Bring Your Own Device Policy Website for additional information as well as a link to the printable form.

Please know we appreciate your continued partnership as we work to ensure every child has access to the best resources available! If you choose not to participate, we are going to once again have our chrome book carts available for use at Keith Elementary School during the school day for children who do not have a device from home.

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.

For additional information regarding our Transportation Department, please visit our website!

• Bus transportation will be provided on the first day of school for those students who are eligible for bus transportation throughout the regular school year.

• Transportation postcards will not be sent. Bus routes will be posted on the district website and in Skyward Family Access after 8:00 am on August 18, 2023.
• Bus drivers will be contacting Kindergarten families by August 20th (drop off times for students attending in the AM and pick up times for the PM students will be provided in that call.)
• If your child is eligible for bus transportation, it is recommended that they start this routine on the first day of school. Parents are welcome to follow the bus to school to see your child off to their first day of school, but it is highly recommended that they ride the bus to and from school this first day if they will be riding daily during the school year.

Our hot lunch program begins on Monday, August 28th for students in grades K-5. Please see below for additional details.

During the 2023-24 school year, all Michigan public school students in grades Pre-K through 12 will have access to free breakfast and free lunch every day through the "Healthy School Meals for All" program. This includes a meat/meat alternative, grain, fruit/vegetable and milk. A la carte items will be available for purchase.

Families are still encouraged to complete the free/reduced meal form in Skyward help secure additional funding for the District including Title I funding. By completing the form, eligible families may also receive access to other free and reduced programs within the District including SAT testing, pay to participate, and more.

You can always visit Walled Lake's Food Service Website for information by clicking HERE.

September 5th at 6:30pm - Keith Media Center

Visit our PTA's Facebook Page

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

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