M A I R E E L E M E N T A R Y ● S o n j a F r a n c h e t t , P r i n c i p a l

Each and Every Child, Each and Every Day

79 Years of Excellence ● 1936-2015

March 25, 2015

Dear Maire Families,

We welcomed Spring this year with our amazing Maire Fair. This whole-school carnival event represented almost 100% participation of our Maire students and families. The funds raised, along with our upcoming Parent Auction on May 2nd, will be spread out over the next three years to purchase building improvements, classroom and technology supplies, assembly and curriculum enrichment opportunities, and outside/garden/playground upgrades. Our entire Maire Staff thanks the parents and PTO folks who put forth tremendous effort in making our fundraising efforts both fun and successful.

Along with our Carnival success, students and teachers at Maire have been engaged and learning in a wide variety of projects and enrichment experiences this past month. Fifth graders have been researching countries throughout the world to prepare for their EXPO projects and to create presentations about the Spanish speaking world. Fourth graders visited the capitol at Lansing, and learned about people’s differences in a day-long “Disability Awareness” workshop. They also created their own businesses and marketed and tested their own vehicles in a STEM engineering project facilitated by Ms. Moir and some of our automotive engineering parents. Second graders have been studying about local businesses, and will begin research of famous people for the Living Museum. Third grade students have been honing their Michigan history skills, and will begin research about famous Michigan products for a Made in Michigan project. First graders and kindergarteners are continuing to grow their writing and reading skills during Readers and Writers Workshop every day!

During lunchtime enrichment students are choosing to write their own creative plays, work with ceramics, grow their knitting skills, sing in lunch choir, and learn about geography and cultures of the world in the Passport Club. All of these multiple opportunities for children are due to the hard work and dedication of the many adults who volunteer their time and energy to our school.

We look forward to conferences this week, and the opportunity to discuss your children’s academic, social and emotional growth with you. Maire students succeed because of the positive relationships and support that stem from school and home working together.

Enjoy the rest of March. We will hope for March to go “out like a lamb.” Sonja Franchett

IMPORTANT MARCH DATES...

Wednesday, March 25th Parent-Teacher Conferences—EVENING

Thursday, March 26th

NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS AM/PM/EVENING Conferences

In Michigan, according to Public Act 198 of 2012, children must be FIVE YEARS OF AGE ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 1, 2015, TO REGISTER FOR THE 2015-16 SCHOOL YEAR. Parents of children who turn five years of age after September 1, but on or before December 1, may still register their child for kindergarten next year if they notify the district in writing using the kindergarten entry age waiver form available in the kindergarten registration packet.

KINDERGARTEN 2015/2016

IMPORTANT APRIL DATES...

ADOLESCENT HEALTH EDUCATION

The 4th and 5th grade Adolescent Health Education PARENT only meeting will be held:

Wednesday, April 29th, 7:00 PM

@ RICHARD Elementary

Friday, April 3rd thru Friday, April 10th

SPRING BREAK—NO SCHOOL Classes Resume Monday, April 13th @

9:05 AM

Tuesday, April 14th Grade 4 Arbor Day Posters Due

Wednesday, April 15th PTO Meeting—7:00 PM

Saturday, April 18th

Daddy-Daughter Dance @ Pierce Gym -7PM-9PM

Sunday, April 19th

Mother-Son Bowling @ Lakeshore Lanes 11:30AM-2PM

Monday, April 20th

Instrumental Assembly for Students 1: 30 PM

Tuesday, April 21st

Maire/Trombly Instrumental Concert for Parents

@ Maire Gym—7:00 PM

Wednesday, April 29th PARENT ONLY Adolescent Health

Information Meeting @ Richard Elementary—7:00 PM

We are officially a Michigan Evergreen School for the 2014-15 school year. This achievement comes with our entire school working together to be environmentally conscious. We have a long list of accomplishments including the following:

Recycling in the lunchroom and classrooms 4th graders participating in DTE’s Think Energy

assembly Holiday Craft Fair reusing milk carton for a project Girl Scouts maintaining the Butterfly Garden 5th grade science lessons on alternative energy

sources Switching from gas to lithium battery operated leaf

blower and trimmer Student council raising money to help endangered

species 2nd grade attending Metro Beach Nature Walk Library purchasing books focused on being Green Raising money for recycling bins outside the building School wide walk to school EVERY day promotion

In other great news, we have had several generous donors who have made it possible to purchase two recycling bins to put outside on our school grounds. A grant from LocalMotionGreen (http://www.localmotiongreen.org/) is covering $300 of the $500 cost for each bin.

Thank you to Jennifer Adlhoch, Susan Dundon, the Lee Family, and the Neal Family for their donations to make this happen for our school. The bins are being made and we are hopeful to have them sometime around Earth Day!

GREEN TEAM NEWS

Is your e-mail current with the school district? Like our secondary schools, the elementary schools have moved to a mandatory online pre-registration for all Grosse Pointe Public School students. Your “access key” for the online pre-registration will be coming to you this summer via your current e-mail that is on file with the school district. If you need to update your e-mail with the school district, log in to ParentPortal and click on “My Information” in the upper right corner.

You can also e-mail ParentConnect@gpschools.org from your email we have on file, or call 313-432-3131 from the phone number in our records so we can verify who you are, and provide: your name child's name present school name and your old and new e-mail address as soon

as possible. We are asking families to do this by May 1 to ensure you receive registration communications in a timely manner. However, we always seek to have your most current contact information on file in case of emergency. If you do not have an email address or access to a computer, please know that our school computer labs will be open and stations are available at the administration building, 389 St. Clair Avenue, to complete the online registration process. Thank you for helping with this.

REQUIRED ON-LINE REGISTRATION

This month’s classroom winner is Mrs. Davis’ 5th grade with 137 Box Tops! Way to go Mrs. Davis’ class!

Who will be the top collecting classroom in April?

Our year goal is 10,000

Box Tops with 8,963 already collected! Keep clipping and send in those Box Tops April!

BOX TOPS CAMPAIGN

WOW! Our Maire students

raised $3,708.00 for the American Heart Association during our Jump rope for Heart events.

Congratulation to all of our

fundraising students and thank you to our Maire families for their donations.

Our top fundraisers this year

Grant Corrion $250

Lucy Gill $210

Jacob Ashkar $200

James and Liz Peberdy $200

Maureen Scanlon $195

Lucas Valice $150

Julian Lancaster $138

Abby Macey $130

Audrey Smihal $125

Meghan Eccelstone $100

JUMP ROPE FOR HEART

MARCH OF DIMES

March of Dimes Reading Champions Program – Finish Strong!

Just a few days left in the month of March to read a lot of MINUTES for the March of Dimes Reading Champions Program. Record all of your minutes read during the month of March (March 1-31). Reach out to family and friends to raise DONATIONS to support the March of Dimes’ mission of improving the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality.

All reading calendars (or other tally of minutes) and donations must be turned in to the school office no later than Wednesday April 15 to be considered for awards. Remember to put your student’s name and class on the calendar. Awards will be announced at our April PBS Party and MOD Awards Assembly on April 30.

Thank you to Makenzie A., Blake J., and Elizabeth P. for creating posters to celebrate reading and the March of Dimes. Look for their posters on the first floor of Maire. And thank you to Makenzie’s little sister Parker for serving as our Maire face of the March of Dimes. Parker is a future Maire Bear who has benefitted from the great work of the March of Dimes.

Thanks also to local author Michelle Balconi for sharing her book, Let’s Chat About Eco-nomics, with Maire and for waiving her speaker’s fee. For more information, check out www.letschatabouteconomics.com. Autographed books can still be ordered for $14 (checks to Gichigami Press, Inc.) by contacting Mrs. Balconi at michelle@letschataboutecon.com.

Recognized Posters…

Elizabeth P. Blake J. Mrs. Wilkins Mrs. Maison

Makenzie A. Mrs. Hunwick

Come see ALL the great posters

hanging all around Maire!

MARCH OF DIMES POSTER CONTEST

Detroit - The ‘D’ - The Motor City

We are so lucky to witness Detroit’s renaissance! Detroit is making an incredible comeback and is becoming an urban oasis for food, entertainment, and city living! Now is the time to support Detroit and show our children what an amazing city it is!

Detroit has fantastic things to do for kids that both educate and entertain. It’s an incredibly fun and surprisingly green place! There are many free and low cost activities that every family can enjoy, such as Belle Isle and the wonderful museums downtown.

Belle Isle State Park Rich with history and natural beauty, Belle Isle is a Detroit gem and Michigan's 102nd state park. A state park Recreation Pass is required and costs $11, it is valid until your vehicle’s next license reg-istration renewal.

Smell the flowers at the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory. Enjoy the Palm House, Tropical House, Showroom, Cactus House, and Fernery! Free admission, Wed-Sun, 10am-5pm.

Feed fallow deer and learn about their history at the Deer Encounter at the Nature Zoo. Feeding times are at 11am/1pm/3pm. Free admission, Wed-Sun 10am-4pm

Check out the sturgeon at the Belle Isle Aquarium, the 1st public aquarium to open in the US in 1904! Free admission, Sat/Sun, 10am-4pm

The Museums Museums are the most innovative and interactive ways to learn about any given subject and Detroit is filled with fascinating ones to visit!

The Detroit Institute of Arts – Enjoy performances, storytelling, art-making workshops and much more on Family Sundays. Admission is free to Wayne County Residents

The Detroit Historical Museum - Great insight into the people, places, and events that helped shape the City of Detroit – Admission is Free

The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History – It’s the world’s largest museum fo-cusing on African American history and culture. Free on the 2nd Sunday every month

The Detroit Science Center – An exciting and dynamic hands-on museum where families can have fun and explore science. Don’t miss an IMAX movie or Planetarium Show! Free family days throughout the year, or purchase a yearly membership and become a frequent visitor

Additional family friendly Detroit activities Enjoy a boat ride on the Detroit River – Diamond Jack’s River Tours are fun and educational Ride the Detroit People Mover and check out the Pewabic Mosaic artwork at each stop along the

way Take a spin on the Cullen Family Carousel in Rivard Plaza along the Detroit Riverfront Enjoy Campus Martius Park – check out free music concerts and food trucks in the summer and

ice skating in the winter Go bowling at the Garden Bowl – America’s oldest active bowling center Decide which you like best… American Coney Island or Lafayette Coney Lions, Tigers, Wings… oh my! Catch a game at Ford Field, Comerica Park, or Joe Louis Arena

DIVERSITY CORNER

The monthly incentive party for this month is “Minute To Win It!” Students will be choosing sessions to attend, such as Cookie Face, Stack ‘Em Up, Cup Stacking, Baby Rattle, etc.!

The goal of the monthly PBS (Positive Behavior Support) Party is to recognize positive behavior around the school.

Research shows that students achieve at a higher level when they know the expectations and feel safe. Positive Behavior Support helps us improve on both these areas.

We want students to feel good about themselves and come to school happy and ready to learn!

The Simple “Bear” Necessities: Respect Responsibility Safety

PBS CELEBRATION—MARCH MICHIGAN WEATHER

Students need to dress appropriately for the cold-warm/snowy-rainy days ahead, (ie; heavy/spring coats, hats, scarves, gloves/mittens, rain/snow boots and pants.) Our Michigan weather can fluctuate substantially in a day. Students remain inside only when it is raining or the wind chill is below 0 °.

Pierce PTO is looking for intelligent & energetic parents like YOU to be members of the 2015-16 PTO Board.

If you are looking to be more involved with what’s happening at the best middle school in GP, we would love to have you join us!

Many PTO Board or Committee positions are easy and fun to do.

Interested ? Please contact Michelle Kramer at mekmlk@att.net or 313-268-4033

PIERCE PTO - Interested?

March is Reading Month Bookmark Contest Winners

Congratulations to this year’s “March is Reading Month” bookmark contest in the library! The winning students are: Metairie Muldoon, Paige Bearse, Miles Murray,

Caroline Parent, Meghan Ecclestone, Giada Cavaliere, Alex Hurley, Elizabeth

Peberdy, Ruby Berger, Olivia Barba, Makenzie Adams, Lyla Hampton

Each student’s bookmark will be highlighted for a week in the library and will be given out to Maire students to enjoy.

MORE LIBRARY NEWS

LOST & FOUND

Please be sure to check our Lost & Found. There are many unclaimed coats, hats, gloves, sweatshirts and water bottles.

Items left after Spring Break will be donated.

For over 40 years the Grosse Pointe North Parents’ Club has teamed up with the Grosse Pointe Wood’s Beautification Advisory Commission for an annual Flower Sale. The sales from this event support funding GPN scholarships and student enrichment activities, as well as the Grosse Pointe Woods’ beautification programs and plantings throughout the City.

This year the event is scheduled for Friday, May 8th, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Saturday, May 9th from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in front lawn of the Grosse Pointe Woods’ City Hall.

Can’t make the sale dates? Pre-order forms are available at the Grosse Pointe Woods City Hall and Community, online at gpwmi.us, or on the high school’s Northern Lights newsletter site at gpschools.schoolwires.net/gpnorth. The pre-order deadline is May 7th, and the plants are delivered on May 15th. Payment for pre-orders can be made by check or with PayPal. See attached flier and order form for additional information.

GPN FLOWER DAY SALE

In an effort to connect Maire students with the global community and encourage

learning through service, Maire's PTO has created a school-to-school partnership

with Piet Van School--a school serving children living in the slums of Dhaka, Bang-

ladesh. Throughout the school year, Maire students will learn about Bangladeshi

culture and life in the slums of Dhaka through this partnership. Maire students will

also have opportunities to fundraise

for Piet Van and donate directly to

school children their age.

This partnership is facilitated by a

charity called Thrive, which is a regis-

tered 501c3 charity co-founded by a

Maire parent, Gina Gabel. Entirely

volunteer-run, Thrive's primary mis-

sion is to provide healthy meals to

malnourished children living and attending schools in the slums of Dhaka. Last

month, Ms. Gabel visited each Maire classroom to teach the students about the

country of Bangladesh and to describe the hardship and opportunities for children

in this developing country. Be on the lookout for more learning, enrichment, and

service activities involving this unique school-to-school partnership!

To learn more about Thrive, like them on Facebook

www.facebook.com/thrivefeededucategrow or check

out their soon-to-be website at thrive-global.org

THRIVE

 

SUMMER SELECT CHOIR 2015 Announcing..

The Grosse Pointe Public Schools’ 23rd annual

Summer Select Choir Workshop This exciting program is open by invitation to GPPS vocal music students grades 4-12

and provides an opportunity for students to maintain and further develop their singing skills

over the summer.

PLACE: Brownell Middle School

DATES: August 10-14, 2015

TIMES: Monday –Thursday 8am-12pm

Friday 8am-2:30pm, 6pm & 8pm Performances

WORKSHOP FEE: $75.00 (non-refundable) includes T-shirt and pizza lunch on Friday.

REGISTRATION GUIDELINES: The workshop is open by invitation to Grosse Pointe Public

School students going into grades 4-12. Teacher approval is required prior to registration.

Please contact your child’s music teacher for more information. 

 

 March 27th Guest Author 

 

In honor of reading month we will welcome Detroit based, award winning author, Dr. Bashar Salame to our school on March 27th.  He will be reading and discussing his book “Let’s Change 

That!  If  Animals Can, We Can Too!” to our K‐3rd grade classes.  You can purchase the book prior to the assembly at any Barnes & Noble location, amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com or                  

basharsalame.com.  Your child can bring the book in and have it signed by author as well. 

 

About the Book & Author: 

Dr. Salame has been a practicing chiropractor in metro Detroit since  2001.  His first published book came from a bedtime story he told his own kids.  The story grew in characters and complexity eventually making it to pub‐lishing house Ferne Press.  The story follows Felix, a housecat, as he at‐tempts to rescue a baby bird that has fallen from his nest.  Felix decides to seek help from an unlikely source, in doing so, he challenges the conven‐tional thinking of all the animals in the neighborhood.  The story highlights valuable themes from tolerance and acceptance to overcoming fear and teamwork.  Let’s Change That has been awarded the Gold Medal by Mom’s Choice and is nominated for several other awards.  

Please detach & return with your purchased book to the office prior to the assembly! 

 

Student’s Name:___________________________________________________________ 

Teacher’s Name:___________________________________________________________ 

Book dedicated to:__________________________________________________________ 

Maire Faire 2015 was tons

of fun!

Many thanks to the many volunteers & attendees who helped make the 2015 Maire Carnival a fun & success-ful day for all. Please accept a very warm thank you to all the class coordinators, prize room operators & tick-et coordinators who worked many hours to make this carnival possible. We are also very grateful for George and Kyle’s helping hands.

There are too many others to name here, but you - and parents and students - know who you are, whether you ran a game or worked it, sold food, staffed the activity room, prize room or stepped up wherever you were need-ed. The effort and time put into the game rooms especial-ly was above and beyond, & the school was full of happy faces. At the end of the day, because of you & your hard work, the carnival raised money that the children will see in other meaningful ways - hopefully very soon. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We are so for-tunate to share a school with people like you.

Sincerely, Liz Johnson and Kim Shine

Maire Elementary School

Maire Mission Statement The staff at Maire School, in partnership with students, parents, and community, will provide a high quality instructional program. Our purpose is to prepare students to be life-long learners and productive citizens in a dynamic society.

District Mission Statement The Grosse Pointe Public School System mission - in partnership with students, staff, parent, and community members - is to challenge all students to realize their full potential by providing them with the highest quality educational program and instruction. District Vision The vision of the Grosse Pointe Public School System is to help all students be successful learners and leaders, today and tomorrow.

Maire Elementary School 740 Cadieux Grosse Pointe, MI 48230

On the web at http://gpschools.schoolwires.net/gpmaire/site/default.asp

Phone: 313-432-4300 Fax: 313-432-4302 Webmaster: Michelle.Kramer@GPSchools.org

M A I R E E L E M E N T A R

Service

Seth M.

Jordyn W.

** Not pictured

Danice D. & Ashlyn J.

Safety

Grace L.

Tadhg S.

Michael H.

Peer 2 Peer

Owen D.

Marta S.