Thanksgiving Break

This is a gentle reminder that there is NO SCHOOL this Wednesday, November 26 - Friday, November 28 due to Thanksgiving Break. School will resume on Monday, December 1.

Schedule for the Week of 11/24 - 11/28

Monday (C) - PE

Tuesday (D) - Media Center

Wednesday - NO SCHOOL

Thursday - NO SCHOOL

Friday - NO SCHOOL

Please remember to bring gym shoes on days we have PE and return library books on days we visit the media center.

A Note from Mr. Price regarding Jump Rope for Heart

Hello Parents,

 Harlan Elementary School is hosting our annual Jump Rope for Heart event in February. Jump Rope for Heart is a community service learning program of the American Heart Association. It teaches kids:

·        The importance of developing heart-healthy habits;

·        That being physically active can be fun; and

·        That by raising funds to support research and education they help save lives across the country and in their community.

Please keep in mind these dates:

Envelopes Passed Out:  Nov 3^rd – 7^th

Envelopes Due: Feb 27^th *duck coupons can be turned in anytime*

Date(s) of Event:  During PE class Feb 23^th – 27^th

As Harlan’s faculty, staff, and parents, we also have the opportunity to participate in fundraising for Jump Rope for Heart along with our students.  You can easily set up your own page and/or help your child set up theirs and email friends and family asking for support. It’s very easy to create a page, it only takes minutes, go to www.heart.org/jump to join Team Harlan and join us in supporting the American Heart Association and our school. Last year we were 3^rd in the entire state raising $21,547! Harlan was #1 in the state in online fundraising over $14,000 J

Thank you for your time and I look forward to passing on the 2,000 ducks in my office to all of you!

Mr. Tim Price & Mr. Greg DuMont

Tp04bps@birmingham.k12.mi.us 

(Please email me with any questions......NOT the classroom teachers, THANKS)

Dog Biscuit Sale

Mrs. McKinney, one of Harlan's ASD program teachers, has passed on information about next month's service learning project her students are continuing after this months success!  Please see below:

"The students in our ASD program, along with some of their peers, are participating in a service learning project, as well as practicing entrepreneurial skills, by making dog treats that they will be selling to students each month.  Each bag of treats is $1.00.  For every bag sold, they will be donating a bag, and the proceeds made, to the Humane Society of Michigan.  The next dates that they will be selling are December 11^th and 12^th during lunch times."

Ernie wanted to personally tell the Room 112 families how delicious the treats are!  He enjoyed several after the first day of sales this month!  He can't wait until next month!  Its hard to see, but he is actually licking his lips in the first picture!

 

Wednesday and Thursday - HALF DAYS

This is a gentle reminder that there are half days of school on Wednesday, November 19 and Thursday, November 20 due to conferences.  On both of these days, school will begin at our regular time, with dismissal at 12:05pm.  Please remember that there is no school in the afternoon on these days.  After school care will be provided by Kids Club on these afternoons, but students must be registered for the program.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Report Cards

You should have received your child's Fall Report Card yesterday.  If you did not receive this, please let me know as soon as possible so that I can print and send an additional copy home for you.

After receiving your child's report card, please sign the envelope that it came in and return the envelope to school.  This lets the office know that you received the report card.  The actual report is for you to keep.

You are more than welcome to bring your child's report card to your conference if you have any questions.

Thank you in advance!

Lice

A case of lice has been reported in our grade level.  Please be on the lookout for symptoms in your child.  If your child does contract lice, please notify the office and keep them at home until a lice treatment can be completed.

Thank you in advance!

Popcorn Day - TOMORROW, TUESDAY, NOV. 18

This is a gentle reminder that tomorrow, Tuesday, Nov. 18, will be Popcorn Day!  Each bag of popcorn costs $0.50.  I have extra money saved from previous family donations in case your child forgets their popcorn money.

If you do not want your child to eat the school's popcorn, please let me know so that I do not order them a bag.  You are welcome to send in your popcorn from home as well.

Thank you in advance!

Schedule for the Week of 11/17 -11/21

Monday (B) - Music & Art
Tuesday (C) - PE
Wednesday (D) - Media Center
Thursday (A) - Music
Friday (B) - Music & Art


This is a gentle reminder that next Wednesday, Nov. 19 and Thursday, Nov. 20 will be half days of school.  There will be NO SCHOOL on those afternoons.  School will be dismissed by 12:05 on these days.

I look forward to seeing everyone at conferences next week!

Teachers Take Pies to the Face for a Good Cause!

Following today's amazing assembly, a local children's theater production of different Cinderella stories around the world, the children of Harlan were treated to something special!

Any child who brought  a food item to be donated to Gleaners Food Bank had a ticket with their name on it submitted for the chance to throw a pie at a teacher! 

The children did an amazing job of collecting food!  The assembly was the perfect way to end the day with a little dessert!

Here is Mr. Kefgen just after a 3rd grader got him right in the face!  What a great throwing arm!

Mystery Reader

Thank you so much to Mrs. BB for joining  us as our Mystery Reader last week!  The children loved your book and were so excited for the special smelly pencil surprise!

If you are interested in becoming a Mystery reader, please use the below link to choose a date that works best for your schedule.  Thank you!

Mystery Reader Sign Up

Strep Throat in Our Grade Level

 SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICES

BIRMINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS

OAKLAND COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

COMMUNICABLE DISEASE CONTROL

Strep Throat has been reported in your student’s grade level at Harlan School.  The invasion period may be 1-3 days after exposure.

            Observe your child for symptoms during this period.  Keep your child home if he/she shows signs of illness.  Attacks of this disease may vary in severity, some may be very mild.  Either severe or mild cases may have serious complications.  It is usually from mild attacks that the disease spreads because the parent does not recognize the disease and fails to call the physician.

            Cases of Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria, Smallpox, Tuberculosis, Infectious Hepatitis, Typhoid Fever and Salmonella (intestinal infections) should be reported to the Health Department immediately.  Children who have recovered from these diseases, except Scarlet Fever, must have clearance through the Department of Health in order to return to school.

Fall Conferences

Hello Room 112 Families!

Fall Conferences are just around the corner!  This year, conferences will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 19 and Thursday, Nov. 20.  At this conference we will be discussing your child's progress since the beginning of the year, reviewing work samples and setting "next step" goals.

I look forward to seeing everyone!

Please see the below link to sign up for a 20-minute conference appointment that works best with your schedule. 

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080a4ba4a822a46-fall2

NWEA Parent Letter

Hello Parents-

This Friday your child's September NWEA scores will be sent home. I wanted to share with you a few thoughts regarding these scores to provide you with additional insight into the test, how it is scored, and what it all really means.

Why take the test so early in the school year? We take the test in September to provide the teachers with baseline data. The data allows us to track students progress throughout the course of the school year. The information is one piece that allows me to create strategy groups and next-step plans for the students.

How long should the test take? The most accurate data comes students who spent at least 40 minutes on the test. Students spending less time or significantly less time might have been rushing or not reading the questions before selecting an answer. 

Is there a standard error with NWEA? Yes, there is a standard deviation on 6 points with the test. If your child is within the standard deviation in his/her scores there is no reason to believe it is based on your child's performance but rather the nature of the test. 

What other factors might be affecting my child's performance? Sleep, mood, computer skills, food choices and time of day are huge factors in any standardized test. Taking the test in the afternoon after a child has been working hard all day could drastically change his/her score due to lower stamina. 

Will my child's performance be graded? No. The information collected for NWEA will not affect your child's grade in any way.

Why take the test? The data collected is a helpful indicator of where your child started the school year. It is one of NUMEROUS data points we take. NWEA does not carry any more weight than another baseline point. 

Please contact me with any questions.

Thank you!