Friday, February 20, 2026

Week 23

 

Happy Friday Team!
This was a very short, busy, and "spicy" week!  Thank you so much for working so diligently to provide the Interim 3 testing for your students.  I know it was a struggle at times but you were successful in ensuring that the students completed it.  Now we are on to desegregating the data and planning instruction to fill gaps in preparation of MSTEP.  We can do this!

Finally, next week is the culmination of our month long focus on Black History.  I am really looking forward to seeing the grade level presentations in the gym during our Black History Wax Museum next week.

I hope you have a restful and happy weekend.  Stay healthy...please!

Week 23 Instruction
 
This coming week is Week 23 instruction. We will begin our extensive focus on ELA and Math, along with MSTEP preparation.  We will continue to have our weekly Common Assessments.  Please make sure these are completed Thursday due to no school for students on Friday (

Lesson Plans

These are due today for next week's abbreviated instruction.  

Again, I am asking that you only put in the current week's lessons in your magnetic folder.  I have mistakenly thrown away lessons that were put in for upcoming weeks.

03's and GLTs

GLTs and 03 resume this week.  GLTs...I will come to your grade level classroom.  03's...please come to me during your scheduled time.  We will be discussing and scheduling your final FLO observation.  Come prepared to share the content area you would like me view for your observation.

2nd Full Lesson Observation

We will schedule these this week.  These will occur during the weeks of March 2nd and March 9th.  I need you to begin thinking about the lesson that you would like observed.  We will discuss this further during your 03 this week.

Interim 3

Hopefully, the majority of students will have their Interim 3 ELA and Math tests completed by end of day today.  You can plan to schedule the Social Studies and Science assessments into your week at the time of your choosing.

MSTEP Mondays

MSTEP Mondays will begin on Monday, 2/23.  Please let me know if you have questions about resources or content to be covered.

Black History Wax Museum

Our day for the Wax Museum is Thursday, February 26th,  We will be holding our presentations in the gym at the following times:

  • 3rd Grade  9:00-10:00
  • 4th Grade  10:30-11:30
  • 5th Grade  1:15-2:15 
We will take the presentation boards down 15 minutes prior to the presentation times to set up before parents arrive.

Partent Teacher Conferences and #2 Retention Notice

Mrs. Wheeler has sent out the information, Sign - In Sheets, and #2 Retention Notice for Parent Teacher Conferences (Week of March 16).  Please read this information over and begin to schedule your PTC's.

Field Trip Information

We need to start booking the buses for your grade level field trips.  As such, I need the following information from each grade level:
  • Date
  • Location of Field Trip
  • Number of Students
  • Number of Chaperones 
We need to keep it to two buses per trip, as it will significantly increase what students have to pay if we need three buses.

Gradebook

Make sure grades are up to date by Mondays at 8:00 am. The Parent Portal is updating so that parents will now have even greater access to missing assignments.

Trimester 2 Grade book closes on Friday, March 6.  Report Cards will be passed out during Parent Teacher Conferences.  Please do not send them home prior to their scheduled conference.

Daddy Daughter Sweetheart Dance

Our annual Daddy Daughter Sweetheart Dance will take place on Friday, March 6.  This is not a formal event and instead of a meal, we will have appetizers and dessert snacks.  

Tickets are $40.00 for a couple and an additional $5.00 per extra daughter.  Ticket sales open Wednesday, February 18th and run through Monday, March 2nd.  

Black History Movie Night

We will be showcasing 4 different movies for families to enjoy:
  • Akeelah and the Bee
  • Cool Runnings
  • Remember the Titans
  • Hidden Figures
Students must be accompanied by a parent.  Doors open at 3:30 pm.  Movies start promptly at 4:00 pm.  

Cost is $5.00/person - this includes a drink and chips.  Candy and other snacks will will be for sale for an additional cost. 

Upcoming Events:

Monday, February 23 - Black History Movie Night 4:00-5:30 pm.  

Tuesday - Thursday, February 24-26 - Black History Wax Museum Week

  • K-2   Tuesday 2/24             K- 10:00-11:00   1st - 12:00 - 1:00  2nd - 9:00-10:00
  • 6-8    Wednesday 2/25       6th - 1:15-2:00    7th/8th - 1:45-2:30
  • 3-5    Thursday 2/26           3rd - 9:00-10:00  4th - 10:30-11:30   5th - 1:15-2:15

Thursday, February 26 - February Birthday Celebration Day.  2:15-2:45 pm.

Friday, February 27 - REGIONAL PD FOR STAFF; NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS. Teachers must report by 8:55 am.  PD begins promptly at 9:00 am.

Monday - Friday, March 2-6 - Hearing Testing for Grades Kindergarten, 2nd, & 4th

Monday, March 2 - Moral Focus Assemblies  K-5  8:15, 6-8  12:45.  DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) Begins 2:30-2:45 

Wednesday, March 4 - Otis Spunkmeyer Cookie Fundraiser Kick Off/Assemblies                                                     K-5   1:30          6-8    2:15

Friday, March 6 - $ 2.00 Dress Down; Grade Book Closes

Monday-Friday, March 9-13 - K-2 Math Check Up #2 Week; Voice of Parent Survey Begins

Wednesday, March 11 - Family Reading Night 4:00-5:00 pm in the gym

Friday, March 13 - "313" FREE DRESS DAY - Wear Anything Celebrating Detroit!; Trimester 2 Ends

Monday, March 16 - Trimester 3 Begins

Monday - Friday, March 16-20 - Parent Teacher Conference Week

Wednesday, March 18 - HALF DAY Dismissal at 11:00;  Free Dress; Honor's Assemblies in Classrooms (Trimester 2); PTC 12:00-3:00 pm.  ALL STAFF MUST STAY UNTIL 3:00PM

March 30 - April 6 - SPRING BREAK

April 7 - School Resumes


Thursday, February 12, 2026

Week 22 (Mini Blog)

 



Hello Team and Happy Mid Winter Break!

I hope you have an enjoyable 5 day break...that you get some rest, have some fun, and take some well deserved "me" time to re-charge!  We have a very busy remainder of the month and then we are in March!  

Since we don't return until Wednesday, this is going to be an "abridged" blog...


Week 22 Instruction
 
This week is Week 22 of instruction and we only have 3 days...plus Interim 3 testing!  As you are planning for this week, please identify the most pertainent information so that you can compact your instruction.  I realize that this is not ideal.  However, it's more important that we get Interim 3 out of the way so the students have a "testing" break before MSTEP starts and we can focus on those priority standards.

Lesson Plans

These are due today for next week's abbreviated instruction.  Also,  I am asking that you only put in the current week's lessons in your magnetic folder.  I have mistakenly thrown away lessons that were put in for upcoming weeks.

03's and GLTs

No GLTs this week.  03's will be drop in as needed.  These will resume next week.

Interim 3

We are going to conduct a short and intense Interim 3 testing in the gym. But it will give the students insight into the types of questions and content they will be seeing on MSTEP.  Please refer to the schedule that I sent out on Wednesday, 2/11.

MSTEP Mondays

MSTEP Mondays will begin on 2/23.  Please let me know if you have questions about resources or content to be covered.

Black History Wax Museum

You will want to have students bring in their completed Black History Presentation Boards and information cards this Friday.  That way you know they are ready for next week and you can have a practice on Monday afternoon.  Our day for the Wax Museum is Thursday, February 26th,  We will be holding our presentations in the gym at the following times:

  • 3rd Grade  9:00-10:00
  • 4th Grade  10:30-11:30
  • 5th Grade  1:15-2:15 
We will take the presentation boards down 15 minutes prior to the presentation times to set up before parents arrive.

Field Trip Information

We need to start booking the buses for your grade level field trips.  As such, I need the following information from each grade level:
  • Date
  • Location of Field Trip
  • Number of Students
  • Number of Chaperones 
We need to keep it to two buses per trip, as it will significantly increase what students have to pay if we need three buses.

Gradebook

Make sure grades are up to date by Mondays at 8:00 am. The Parent Portal is updating so that parents will now have even greater access to missing assignments.

***Reminder...Gradebook closes next Friday, February 28th.  
    Report Cards go home March 7th. 

Daddy Daughter Sweetheart Dance

Our annual Daddy Daughter Sweetheart Dance will take place on Friday, March 6.  This is not a formal event and instead of a meal, we will have appetizers and dessert snacks.  

Tickets are $40.00 for a couple and an additional $5.00 per extra daughter.  Ticket sales open Wednesday, February 18th and run through Monday, March 2nd.  

Upcoming Events:

Wednesday, February 18 - School Resumes; Tutoring resumes

Wednesday, February 18 - Daddy Daughter Sweetheart Dance Tickets go on sale.  Sale dates are 2/18/26-3/2/26.  $40.00/couple and $5.00 for each additional daughter.

Friday, February 20 - Spring Pictures

Monday, February 23 - Black History Movie Night 4:00-5:30 pm.  Doors open at 3:45 pm.  $5.00/person - this includes a drink and chips.  Candy will be for sale for an additional cost. 

Tuesday - Thursday, February 24-26 - Black History Wax Museum Week

  • K-2   Tuesday 2/24             K- 10:00-11:00   1st - 12:00 - 1:00  2nd - 9:00-10:00
  • 6-8    Wednesday 2/25       6th - 1:15-2:00    7th/8th - 1:45-2:30
  • 3-5    Thursday 2/26           3rd - 9:00-10:00  4th - 10:30-11:30   5th - 1:15-2:15

Friday, February 27 - REGIONAL PD FOR STAFF; NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS

Monday - Friday, March 2-6 - Hearing Testing for Grades Kindergarten, 2nd, & 4th

Monday, March 2 - Moral Focus Assemblies  K-5  8:15, 6-8  12:45.  DEAR (DropTime Begins 2:30-2:45 Black History Movie Night 4:00-5:30 pm.  Doors open at 3:45 pm.  $5.00/person - this includes a drink and chips.  Candy will be for sale for an additional cost. 

Tuesday, March 3 - C & I ELA Visit

Wednesday, March 4 - Otis Spunkmeyer Cookie Fundraiser Kick Off/Assemblies                                                     K-5   1:30          6-8    2:15

Friday, March 6 - $ 2.00 Dress Down; Grade Book Closes

Monday-Friday, March 9-13 - K-2 Math Check Up #2 Week; Voice of Parent Survey Begins

Wednesday, March 11 - Family Reading Night 4:00-5:00 pm in the gym

Friday, March 13 - "313" FREE DRESS DAY - Wear Anything Celebrating Detroit!; Trimester 2 Ends

Monday, March 16 - Trimester 3 Begins

Monday - Friday, March 16-20 - Parent Teacher Conference Week

Wednesday, March 18 - HALF DAY Dismissal at 11:00;  Free Dress; Honor's Assemblies in Classrooms (Trimester 2); PTC 12:00-3:00 pm.  ALL STAFF MUST STAY UNTIL 3:00PM

March 30 - April 6 - SPRING BREAK

April 7 - School Resumes








Friday, February 6, 2026

Week 21

 


 
Happy "Super Bowl Sunday",  "Valentines Day", and "Mid-Winter Break" Week Team!  I know that you are so ready to have some time off, and you truly deserve it.  We have four days this week...so it's going to be jam packed making sure we complete our instructional goals.  Also, we have Count Day, Interim 2 Incentive Day (Ice Cream Dance Parties) and Valentines Day to end our week before we go on break.

Please..please...do not let up on your management.  The kids are getting antsy too...and if allowed, their behaviors will ramp up. 

GLTs/03s

We will have our GLTs and 03's this week.  Monday's GLT will cover ELA data and will be in my office.  I will come to you for Wednesday's GLT.  

Also, plan to come to me for your 03's this week.  

Prep Time

As you know, teacher prep times do not align unless it is your specific grade level teacher team.  Please do not visit other grade level teachers while you are on your prep.  That is their instructional time and that is sacred.


Week 21 Instruction
 
This week is Week 21 of instruction. Make sure that your lesson plans are aligned with and reflect the correct instructional week, that they are annotated, and turned in by 3:00 pm on Fridays.

COMMON ASSESSMENTS

Please remember to relay to your parents via newsletter, that Thursday is our weekly test day and make ups occur on Friday if necessary.  Students need to be in attendance so that they can take these tests, as we will not provide unlimited time for students to make up missed tests.

Late Start Monday/PD for Staff

Just a reminder that Monday is a late start day for students.  Staff is expected to be at work by 9:00 am.  We are encouraging grade level teams to use this time to begin preparation for their 7 Steps presentation. 

Doors open for students at 9:50 (No Breakfast Served).  There will be Latch Key in the Media Center.  

School begins at 10:00 am

Classroom Supervision

It is imperative that students are supervised at all times both in and out of the classroom.  Please make sure that you do not leave students unattended in the classroom, during bathroom breaks, in the hallway, etc.

Meeting Etiquette

When we have meetings (grade level team meetings, staff meetings, trainings, etc.) it is an expectation that you are not on a computer, tablet, phone, or any other tech devince during the meeting.  Please be mindful of that as we move forward.

SPED UPDATE

  • STAFF WHO COMPLETE CASELOADS...please do not adjust caselads (students names and/or times).  Please see Dean Schofield to make adjustments.  (Even if you get an alert see Ms. Schofield first).
  • ALL TEACHING STAFF - Snow Days are WORKING Days for IEP Reevaluations and Annuals.  You need to be available, even on snow days/school cancelation days, to attend the prescheduled meetings virtually.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Monday, February 9 - LATE START DAY. Doors open at 9:50.  No Breakfast.  Staff have to report at 9:00 am.  Committee Meetings 3:35 pm

Wednesday, February 11 - COUNT DAY-FREE DRESS. Interim 2 Proficiency Incentive Day

Thursday, February 12 - Lockdown #2; Valentine Parties 2:00 pm

Friday - Tuesday, February 13-17 - Mid-Winter Break

Wednesday, February 18 - School Resumes

Friday, February 20 - Spring Pictures

Tuesday - Thursday, February 24-26 - Black History Wax Museum Week

Friday, February 27 - REGIONAL PD FOR STAFF; NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS





End of Year

  HAVE A WONDERFUL SUMMER! SAVE THE DATE: SEE YOU ON MONDAY, AUGUST 17TH FOR THE LAURUS BACK TO SCHOOL PD WEEK!