September 8, 2023

Dear Dragon Families,

We had a wonderful, short week at Keith and it was awesome to see your kids dressed up and smiling their best for school picture day today. Our students were so excited to share their smiles today!

Our teachers are looking forward to welcoming all of our families to our upcoming Curriculum Nights. The schedule is posted in our Dragon’s Tale Newsletter.

We are also busy preparing for Vision Screening for children in grades 1, 3, and 5 as well as Constitution Day, WLN Homecoming Parade, and VIP Mileage Club days, which is an awesome opportunity for families to come and walk or run during recess. Please be sure to sign up in order to attend these special upcoming events. Our Dragon’s Tale Newsletter has all of this information outlined and linked for your convenience.

Next week will be our first full week of school for the 23-24 school year and your help and support with establishing good night time routines and reading before bedtime with your children really do make a difference for ensuring they are ready to come to school and ready to learn.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend ahead with your amazing children.

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!

Hello, 5th Grade Families! Here is the camp information you have all been waiting for!! We head to the Walled Lake Outdoor Education Center for our 5th Grade Camp on Monday, September 18, and return on Wednesday, September 20.

In this email, you will find the links for the packet of information with forms included as well as the link for all volunteer positions. This is the ONLY way to sign up to volunteer at Camp. If you would like to volunteer at camp, please make sure to complete the Criminal History/Reference Check form and return that form as soon as possible. These were due this past Tuesday, but we need many, many volunteers to make camp happen. Complete the form as soon as possible and return it to school.

We will also be sending this information home in a paper packet today as well. All student permission slip forms and money must be returned by Wednesday, September 13th. The Form for medication is due on Monday, September 18th (the day we go to camp).

pages 1-2: Letters from District Officials

page 3: Student Permission Slip Form due Wednesday, 9/13

page 4: Medical Authorization Form due Wednesday, 9/13

page 5: (Medication) Authorization to Administer Medication Form due Monday, 9/18 -- make copies for each medication -- each form to be signed by Prescriber

pages 6 & 7: Waiver for Climbing Wall due Wednesday, 9/13 -- sign BOTH PAGES

page 8: Volunteer Criminal History/Reference Check: due ASAP

page 9: Student packing list

page 10: Camp Open House Invitation

page 11: directions to get to the Walled Lake Outdoor Education Center (where we have Camp)

$160 fee ($130 for 2nd sibling): due Wednesday 9/13

NOTE: Our Curriculum Night is 9/13 forms and money may be brought in that night.

Forms: https://drive.google.com/file/d/12SJSvZJ0_HxW-p_wg-n8l1UIm2ZhCkT2/view?usp=drive_link

Volunteer Sign-Up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0548AFAE29A31-202220231

2023-2024 5th Grade Camp

We will be going to camp from Monday, September 18th through September 20th. When you sign up, please include the following three pieces of information... ~ Your Name ~ Your Child's Name ~ Your Cell Phone Number Please remember, siblings and pets will not be accommodated while you are assisting us at Camp. Thank you for helping us while we are at Camp! The Fifth Grade Team

www.signupgenius.com

We understand this is a tight turn-around for forms and money. Return them as soon as possible to your child's classroom teacher. If your family is in need of financial assistance, please email MarciAugenstein@wlcsd.org. Know your email will be kept confidential.

Thank you,

Dr. A and the Fifth Grade Team

Walled Lake Northern invites you to join us in our annual parade the Friday before homecoming! This year the parade will be Friday, September 22nd. Your children will have to arrive at Walled Lake Northern at 5:00pm. The parade will then begin at 5:30pm. They will receive “Future Knight” shirts to wear in the parade as they are walking. If your child has a shirt from previous years, just have them wear it again. After this parade, there will be a varsity football game at the school. These shirts get your children into the game for free! This is a great way to get your children familiar with the spirit of high school and the excitement it brings! Can’t wait to see you there! If you have any more questions, please contact your child's teacher or principal. Thank you!

Please be sure to make some signs promoting our Dragon Spirit as well as our Knight Spirit! We can't wait to see you all soon! The purpose of this form is to help the WLN Student Council have an estimate of how any students to plan on for t-shirts. You must be present at the parade to receive your t-shirt.

Walkers: Students walking to Keith in the morning should only cross at the cross-walks at Keith and Willow Rds. or Keith and Commerce Rds. Crossing guards are present at each corner from 8:30am until 8:55am daily. In the event we do not have a crossing guard on duty, the school does notify our West Bloomfield Police Department for additional assistance. There are days and times when unexpected emergencies occur so please be sure to provide assistance to your children if needed and ensure they know what you would like them to do in the event of no crossing guard present. We appreciate your help and assistance for all children in our community.

Wednesday, September 13th ~ Pizza Day

Friday, September 29th ~ Ice Cream Day

Wed, Sept 13th is the Cottage Inn Pizza Day.

1st slice comes FREE with lunch

2nd slice = $1.75

Chips = $1.00

Students must have money on their food service accounts or bring cash to be deposited before lunch on Wed, Sept 13th.

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 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.

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