Greetings, Voyager Families.
Get ready to power up your reading skills because it's March is Reading Month, and we're gearing up for an epic adventure with our "Game On" theme! Throughout the month, we have planned a variety of exciting activities and events to get students excited about reading and inspire them to dive into new worlds through books. From engaging read-aloud sessions to fun reading challenges and themed activities, there will be something for everyone to enjoy.
We encourage you to join us in celebrating March is Reading Month at home by setting aside time each day to read with your child, exploring new books together, and sharing your own love of reading. By making reading a priority in our homes and in our school, we can instill a lifelong love of learning and literacy in our children.
Sincerely,
Danielle Schmidt
National School Breakfast Week is March 4-8
Howell Public Schools will celebrate National School Breakfast Week (NSBW) from March 4-8, 2024, to encourage more families to take advantage of the healthy choices available with school breakfast. The NSBW campaign theme, "Surf's Up with School Breakfast," reminds the entire school community that healthy breakfast options are available to give students an energizing start to the day. Busy weekday mornings can make it challenging for families to find time for a healthy breakfast. Fortunately, our Food Service Department offers nutritious school breakfasts with fruit and low-fat or fat-free milk to ensure students are fueled for learning every school day. To view our school's breakfast menu, please visit http://bit.ly/3ENeVYD.
Howell Public Schools Student Perception Survey
This year, the district and our school will participate in the MI Student Voice Perception Survey. The survey provides invaluable insights into how we are doing as a district to help guide district improvement planning. The survey will be administered to fifth through twelfth-grade students and is designed to provide a holistic picture of the student experience beyond test scores. Topics covered include perceptions of students' engagement, belonging, and social-emotional learning. The survey does not ask questions regarding drug or alcohol use, intimate relationships, political or religious affiliations, or other personal information. You can review the survey questions at https://bit.ly/3uI5Iz2. If you would prefer your child not take part in the survey, please complete an opt-out form at https://bit.ly/49kk7QR by Friday, March 8, 2024
Monthly Family Educational Series
Our next session in the district's family educational series is scheduled for Thursday, March 14, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The March session will focus on bullying. The session will equip families with strategies to identify bullying, treatment options, and strategies for prevention. To learn more about this session, please visit https://bit.ly/3OSwnjk. This month, there will not be an in-person viewing option. We encourage families to participate virtually by visiting https://cookcenter.info/March14Livingston.
Attention Fifth-Grade Parents
Before you know it, your students will move on to middle school. We wanted to make you aware of some important upcoming dates. The middle school principals (Dr. Tim Moore, Highlander Way Middle School principal, and Dr. Trish Poelke, Parker Middle School principal) will visit all fifth-grade classes on March 4. Before the visit, students will watch a video created by Dr. Moore and Dr. Poelke that will go over the changes to expect in the transition to middle school and some things they can start doing now to prepare. They will review the structure of the middle school day and the different encore classes offered. During the visit, the principals will answer questions from students. A fifth-grade parent night will be held on Tuesday, March 5, at 6:00 p.m. at both Parker and Highlander Way.
Begindergarten and Kindergarten Information Night is Next Week
Next Thursday, March 7, from 6-7 p.m., we will host our annual Begindergarten and Kindergarten information night. At this event, incoming begindergarten and kindergarten families will gain insights into the educational experiences our begindergarten and kindergarten programs offer, tour the school, and students will receive a special stuffed animal with their child's graduation year. If you have an incoming begindergarten or kindergarten student who still needs to register, please visit HowellSchools.com/KDG to start the registration process.
Important Dates
3/5 Middle School Parent Night @ HWMS/Parker 6 PM
3/7 BK/KG Information Night 6PM
3/8 PJ Day
3/11-3/15 Book Fair
3/13 Books Before the Bell 9:20-10:20 AM
3/14 BOBA and Books 4-7 PM
3/13 Late Start
3/14 LOC Credit Union during lunches
3/15 Dress Like Your Favorite Character Day
3/18 Dine to Donate - Jet's Pizza
Counselor’s Corner
Reading not only exercises your mind, but helps to build social and emotional skills as well! Reading can increase empathy, improve relationships with others, reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, promote better communication between parents and children, and encourage a greater understanding of other people and cultures.
Just 15 minutes of daily reading at home can make a difference. Here are 5 quick tips to make reading a priority in your home:
Always have books on hand. Keep books in odd places, like your purse and car. Make frequent trips to the library. Check out bargain book sales and garage sales.
Make it fun. Design a “reading bingo”game (read to a pet, read in a pillow fort). Consider subscribing your child to a magazine for kids. Focus on their interests.
Read routinely together. Schedule time to read aloud together. Take turns reading passages. There is no app to replace your lap! Make reading a regularly scheduled tradition in your home. Seek out other things to read, like menus, greeting cards, and street signs.
Be a patient listener. Even if your child reads slowly, try not to finish sentences for your child. Instead, gently correct mistakes, sound out words together, and let your child know you are proud of their effort. Cut out distractions.
Ask questions. Ask your child about what they are reading in school or about what you are reading together. Try to ask open-ended questions, such as “Why do you think the character did that?” or “What do you think will happen next?”
Books can have healing powers! Check out http://booksthathealkids.blogspot.com/. There are over 150 book topics, ranging from acceptance, anxiety, and arguing, to sibling rivalry, teamwork, and tattling. Reading Rockets has other great tips to help children become successful readers: www.pbs.org/launchingreaders/parenttips.html . Happy reading!
Your Partner in Education,
Kristen Peffer
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