Teacher Appreciation

National Teacher Appreciation Week 2012 was May 7th to May 11th.

National Teacher Appreciation Day was May 8th. The history of National Education Week
and Day is not certain. The movement for such as observance is commonly thought to
have begun around the time of World War II and Eleanor Roosevelt made a major push
for the day in 1953. Congress declared a National Teacher Day in 1980 and in 1985 the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) established National Teacher Appreciation Week as the first full week in May. It has been celebrated nationally ever since.

So what about teachers . . . .
Great teachers give us a sense not only of who they are, but more important, of who we are, and who we might become. They unlock our energies, our imaginations, and our minds. Effective teachers pose compelling questions, explain options, teach us to reason, suggest possible directions, and urge us on. Successful teachers are vital and full of passion. They love to teach as a painter loves to paint, as a writer loves to write, as singer loves to sing. They have a serious purpose and yet enjoy enormously what they do. They teach their subjects – math, reading,writing, science, physical education, music, or whatever - - as if it really mattered. They get excited about their subject no matter how many times they have taught it. They push themselves just as they push their students, and their classrooms become memorable learning experiences. Great teachers know they are always on stage and that who they are, how they act, and what they believe are as important as what they teach.

The Defer community recognized our staff this week with a beautiful luncheon served in
the library on Tuesday. It was the opportunity for teachers to put aside their sack lunch
from home, the stack of papers that need correcting, the emails to be answered, and to
relax and enjoy each others’ company. It was recognition of the hard work they do
every day, a chance to recharge, and it was greatly appreciated.

Take time to thank a teacher this week.

On a personal note, I have been in the teaching profession for many years and I carry a
set of memories and experiences from my profession that sustain me and make me
smile every day. Over the years students and parents have taken the time to write me
and those are some of my most precious possessions. I keep all of these notes, letters,
and poems in a box and pull them out often, always with a smile on my face. I often
think that if my house were burning down – it would be that box of precious notes that I
would grab on my way out.
Let a teacher know they made a difference.

Welcome Spring!!

With all this nice weather it is a good time to review some guidelines so that Defer
students are a part of a healthy, safe, and orderly learning environment.

Clothing

• Even though we have had warm weather and we have had some beautiful days,
we all know that Michigan weather will prevail so please send your child to
school prepared for a day of sunshine and warmth or a mid April cold snap.

• Children should wear or keep a jacket at school. Students are allowed to go to
recess without a coat if the temperature reaches 60 ° or higher.

• Clothing should be clean and in good repair.

• Safe footwear must be worn at all times. Bedroom slippers are not allowed.
‘Flip-flops’ or sandals are permitted, but only if socks are worn with them. Our
playground has wood chips and a student in flip-flops is susceptible to foot injury
without socks.

• Shorts and skirts must be at least finger tip length.

• Tank tops are not allowed.

• Tops and bottoms must meet in the middle with no gaps.

Bike Safety

• Students riding their bikes to school need to lock them in the bike racks located
at the Nottingham end of the school.

• Elementary students ride bikes on the sidewalk, not on the street.
Walking Safety

• Any student crossing Kercheval Ave. must cross at the light in front of Defer with
the assistance of our Crossing Guard.

• Students are not to walk through the parking lot. This is very unsafe. Little
people are difficult to see among the cars.

• Students are not to ‘hop’ the fence at the back end of the Defer field.

• Students should be walking to and from school in pairs or in groups.
Automobile Safety

• Do not use the parking lot to drop off or pick up students. This is for the safety
of all of our students.

• Do not park on Kercheval unless it is in an area marked for parking.

• The east side of Nottingham is a drop off and pick up lane. It is not to be used
for parking. The west side of Nottingham is intended for parking.

• Cross Nottingham with the crossing guard. Do not cross Nottingham in the middle of the street.

March is National Reading Month

Even though most children learn how to read in school, it does not diminish the importance of reading in the home. There are various reasons why this statement is true, but the four main reasons are shared below:

First, children need positive role models for reading in their home. The most significant factor in determining a child’s success in reading is the parents’attitudes about reading. Parents need to provide an environment for the child in which they have access to books and reading. If the child sees the importance of reading in their home, it will transfer to their own life.

Secondly, reading at home aids children in developing important skills and habits that will lead them to success in school and in life. The first of these types of skills is language skills. When reading out loud to a child, they will be able to develop knowledge about language, context, sentence structure,and grammar. Reading promotes the value of education and knowledge in a child.

Thirdly, reading at home encourages a special bond between the parent and the child. When reading with a child, a parent is able to impart their thoughts and feelings, lessons, and beliefs to their child. That creates a special bond.

Finally, reading at home allows children to practice what they have been learning in school. At home, parents can help provide one-on-one practice on the skills learned at school. The child can ask questions and explore what is being taught at school.

My favorite Defer reading story of the week:
Our Kindergarten children are just beginning to participate in Reading Workshop. One day this week a boy sat on the rug with his bin of books to read. All of a sudden he looked up and said, “Oh my gosh – I am reading!”

What a sense of accomplishment he felt – He could read all on his own! Reading empowers us all!

Ten Reminders for Defer Families

Help keep Defer safe for everyone – Do not hold our parking lot door open for others. All visitors must be approved by the office staff before entering.

Do NOT use the parking lot to drop-off or pick-up students at the beginning and end of the day. Between Defer and Pierce Middle School we have almost 1,000 children coming and going at the same time. Parents using the Defer parking lot during these high foot-traffic times is a safety issue.

Cross Kercheval at the traffic light and under the direction of the crossing guard. Crossing Kercheval at any other location is very dangerous due to the high volumes of traffic.

Do not park your car in the drop-off/pick-up lane on Nottingham. If you wish to park on Nottingham please use the South side of the street only.

Be sure your child reports to the office if they are tardy for school. Our office staff will record their attendance and send them on to their classroom.

When a student has been ill they should not return to school until they have been fever free for 24 hours.

Our lunchroom microwaves are intended for reheating purposes only and food items should require no more than 30 seconds of microwave time. Sending in food that requires more time creates long lines in the lunchroom.

The school day ends at 3:38 each day. Please be sure your child knows their after school plans each day.

Be sure to label your child’s clothes. Our Lost and Found is overflowing with unclaimed mittens and hats.

Finally, please let your child in grades 1 – 5 come into school on their own each morning. One of the Defer PBS procedures is to start each day with our teachers meeting and greeting their students at their classroom door. This simple procedure done each day with fidelity builds relationship and sets the learning tone for the day.

Happy and Healthy New Year

Welcome back and welcome to 2012! I hope all the Defer families had a wonderful holiday filled with family, friends, and fun! We are excited to pick-up where we left off in our school year. I’d like to thank all the families that attended our December Student-Parent-Teacher conferences. It provided the opportunity to review student achievement and growth and to set goals as we continue the school year. We look forward to this continued progress as school and home combine efforts to help students grow as learners and thinkers. Your support in this process is essential.

Here are 3 great school New Year Resolutions for families:

*Spend time reviewing your child’s homework
*Be sure reading is going on every night in your home
*Practice basic math facts until they become as automatic as reciting your own name
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5th Grade Parents

Pierce Middle School is beginning the orientation process for the in-coming 6th graders of the 2012-13 school year. Please mark your calendar for the following events:

Thursday, January 19th is the Pierce “Coney Night” in the Pierce Gym from 6:00—7:30 p.m. Get to know your new school for next year!
Wednesday, January 25th Pierce Middle School will be hosting a Parent Night for in-coming 6th Graders at 7:00 p.m. in the Pierce Auditorium
Thursday, January 26th Defer 5th grade students will meet in the Pierce Auditorium at 2:30 p.m. to learn about the middle school program for next school year.

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Kindergarten for 2012 – 2013

Parents of children who will be eligible (5 years old on or before December 1, 2012) for Kindergarten for the 2012-2013 school year are reminded that our Kindergarten Parent Information Meeting will be held in the Defer Library beginning promptly at 7:00 p.m. on January 26, 2012.
If you know of any current non-Defer parents who have Kindergarten-aged children, please be sure to have them contact our office as soon as possible so that we can give them information about the up-coming parent meeting and enrollment process. Thank you for your assistance with this as it really as an impact on our staffing and budgeting for next school year.

Ten Tips for Parents That Will Help Us Keep Defer Running Smoothly!

As we approach the end of 2011, here are a few helpful reminders:

Don’t park in the parking lot – The parking lot is not intended for parking for morning drop-off or afternoon pick-up. Please park on Kercheval, Balfour, or Nottingham in the areas designated for this.

Cross Kercheval and Nottingham with the Crossing Guards – Please don’t have your child cross between cars on Nottingham or down the street on Kercheval. There is constant traffic in these areas and your child’s life is being endangered as they weave between cars and dodge traffic.

Help your Child be on time for School Each Day - Students that arrive late are missing out on important instruction and interrupt the learning of others.

Please use the buzzer system to enter the building – Please don’t hold the doors open for parents to enter and for late students. We can’t keep your child safe if we don’t know who is coming into the building.

Please allow your child to come into school on their own – We have been in school for over three months and all students can make it in the building alone and be independent. Coming into the building interrupts our morning meet and greet by our staff. Kindergarten students may be assisted coming into the building.

Only use the Nottingham lane closest to the building for pick-up/drop-off – Please do not park in this lane. If you wish to park on Nottingham you must use the south side of the street.

Heat food at home for lunch – Our microwaves in the lunchroom are intended for 30 second reheats. Having enough time for lunch is hampered by long microwave lines. Do not send meals that require cooking time in the microwave. Also, send your child with a paper plate for reheating.

Make after school plans before your child leaves in the morning – Be sure to establish what your after school procedures will be with your child. We cannot supervise students after school in our office. You will need to sign up for Kids’ Club if you can’t pick up your child at dismissal or make arrangements with another family.

Watch the weather – As the snow flies this winter, generally students will not be allowed on the field to play without wearing boots and snow pants. Mittens are lost on a daily basis. Consider labeling your child’s outer wear.

Please greet your child outside at the end of the day – Each classroom teacher has a dismissal procedure. Please wait outside for your child to be released at the end of each day.

Thank you for helping us keep Defer running smoothly! Enjoy your break with family and friends.

The Importance of Reading...

Let’s figure it out ----- mathematically!

 The following is from the U.S Department of Education, America Reads Challenge, 1999
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Student A reads 20 minutes five nights every week.
Student B reads only 4 minutes a night or not at all.
 
Step 1:  Multiply minutes a night x 5 times each week.
Student A reads 20 minutes x 5 = 100 minutes per week.
Student B reads 4 minutes x 5 = 20 minutes per week.
 
Step 2:  Multiply minutes per week x 4 weeks per month.
Student A reads 400 minutes per month.
Student B reads 80 minutes per month.
 
Step 3:  Multiply minutes per month x 9 months of the school year.
Student A reads 3,600 minutes in a school year.
Student B reads 720 minutes in a school year.
 
Student A practices reading the equivalent of ten whole school days a year.
Student B gets the equivalent of only two school days of reading practice.
 
By the end of 6th grade, if Student A and Student B maintain the same reading habits, Student A will have read the equivalent of 60 whole school days while Student B will have read the equivalent of 12 whole school days.  One would expect the gap of information retained to have widened considerably and so, undoubtedly, will school performance.

The Defer staff knows that students become better readers when they read. Helping your child to get into the reading habit is one of the most important things you can do to support their growth as students.

Check with your child’s teacher if you are unsure of the home reading expectations and then – start reading!