ARNO ELEMENTARY WILL PROVIDE A SYSTEM OF SUPPORT TO EMPOWER
AND INSPIRE STUDENTS TO BECOME COLLABORATIVE LEARNERS
THAT STRIVE FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
TrafficPattern
Parking/Drop-off
As we all need to get our children to school, safety is always the primary concern. We will do our best to help ensure an orderly drop-off/pick-up daily, but we need your help in making that happen.
** No child should run across the street to get into a car, or out.
**Help our traffic issues around school by parking a block or so away and WALKING your child before and after school.
**School traffic flow MUST go clockwise around the school. Make sure that your passenger door is ALWAYS closest to the curb.
**We now have some volunteers for the dropoff/pickup, but we need more. Please contact the office if you can help out!
BE SMART! BE PATIENT! BE CARING! BE KIND!!! BE RESPONSIBLE!!
EXCITING NEWS
Wahoo! Introducing Arno Elementary’s first Facebook page! “LIKE” us to see lots of great updates and photos from school! This format is much easier to share photos in real time, so the blog photo gallery will now be coming to you in the form of Facebook posts! Thank you for promoting this social media platform as a positive way to share the good news and great things happening at Arno!
**I have learned that there is an Arno Elementary Facebook page out there with pictures- this is NOT an official school page- The real Arno Facebook page is titled “Arno Caring Cougars”. Please check the page to make sure it has current photos before you “LIKE” it- The most recent post is on a lesson from Mrs. Byrne.
So what’s happening with the blog?
The blog, after a post on Oct. 11, will then only be updated once monthly on the first Friday of every month. It will still contain a calendar and other news, but will no longer contain pictures- those will be on the Facebook page.
Of course, as always, if you have a concern or question, please contact me directly by email or by calling our office. I am here to help you in any way you need.
Time to get those costumes on the kids and come on down to Arno on Oct. 31 at 10:00 for our annual Halloween Parade. Our route will take us out of the 5th grade doors that morning, making a loop on the inside perimeter of the playground. Please join us around the outside perimeter of the playground for the best seats. It is a district PD day with an 11:30 dismissal that morning.
Free NHS Tutoring is Back!
Help! Volunteers needed for the classroom!
Arno parents are encouraged to sign up and become involved in our Cougar day! Volunteers are such an important part of being partners for your child’s education. If you have not had the chance yet, the volunteer form from Meet the Teacher is below
Please remember to drop off any lunches, folder, homework, etc in the cabinet that is outside of the main doors (Be sure to put a sticky note on with their information). The secretary will then go get all of the items in there and be sure to get it to your child. This helps to keep the office clear which helps everything run smoother. Thank you for your help!
VOLUNTEER BACKGROUND CHECKS
In order to protect the safety of all of our students, any family member who plans to regularly volunteer in the classroom, or chaperone a field trip must complete the background check information below. This paperwork is also available in our Arno office. Unless you are planning to begin as a regular volunteer, or chaperone a field trip within the next month, please refrain from completing this paperwork in advance. It is most effective if the requests are processed within a few weeks of the intended volunteer experience. Thank you in advance for your cooperation! Volunteer-Background-Check-Authorization-Form-2-2f9d6ta-1unseow-27li2bfICHAT-Volunteer-Letter-2-1wr1z3p-zjrwpf-1esyvyz
PBISSmencils for Sale
Smencils will be sold on Tuesday afternoons at 2:30p. The proceeds from Smencils benefits the PBIS program at Arno. With the funds, we are able to have great monthly incentives such as pizza lunches for Super Cougars and Zumba. The prices for items are as follows:
Smencils: $1
Smens: $2
Smencils Pouches: $8
Happy Smelling!
Fromthe District
AP Rotary Club – Blaze Pizza Fundraiser
Enjoy yourself and support the AP Rotary by dining at Blaze Pizza on Wednesday, October 9 from 5:00-8:00 pm. Proceeds will benefit the literacy programs in the APPS elementary schools and help fund improvements to Milward Rotary Park. (Flyer attached)
Blood Drive – AP KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
October 9 – 1:00-6:45 p.m. at Crystal Park Banquet Hall
Swim Lessons & Aqua Tots Fall Lessons
Thru AP Community Services (flyer attached)
Walk to Fight Suicide
The Downriver Out of the Darkness Walk to fight suicide is Sunday, October 13 at Lake Erie Metropark, Brownstown – details attached.
On Thursday, October 24th the Stop Underage Drinking/Drugs (SUDDs) Coalition will be hosting an event titled “Underage Drinking:When it Stops Being Fun”.
This event is for parents, students, and anyone else concerned about alcohol misuse among youth. The Coalition will have several professionals in law enforcement, the health field, recovery, and prevention covering this topic.
The event is free and open to all members of the public. The Coalition is inviting all students, parents, caretakers, and staff to attend.
Event: Underage Drinking Town Hall
Date: Thursday, October 24th
Time: 6:30pm-8:30pm
Location: 16703 Fort St. Southgate, MI 48195
Thank you so much to our PTA for funding GoNoodle!!
Coming soon to Arno…
Sept. 30
PBIS Rewards
Reflections Contest Kickoff
Oct. 1
Fire Drill
Oct. 2
Student Count Day
Reading Log Reward Recess
Oct. 3
PTA Meeting 6:30
Oct. 4
Early Release 11:30
Oct. 7
No events
Oct. 8
No events
Oct. 9
3rd Grade to River Raisin
Oct. 10
Hearing Tests
Oct. 11
No events
Arno Vision
Arno Elementary will provide a system of support to empower
and inspire students to become collaborative learners
that strive for academic excellence
Thank you for another memorable Fun Run!
From the PTA
It’s Fun Run time!!! Donations can still be submitted until October 4th so please please please keep sharing it on social media, through texts and emails! The Fun Run will be on September 27th and the schedule for when your child will be outside running will be sent home soon.
The next PTA meeting will be held on October 3rd at 6:30 p.m. Spirit wear will be sold that night, come see our new designs and new colors! We hope to see you there! Bring grandma, auntie, daddy & uncles too! Don’t forget, you can still sign up for the PTA at all the meetings, events and online!
Don’t forget that October 4th is a half day for your littles.
Membership drive is still in high gear, when you sign up to become a PTA member online you can also buy extra Western Stamps for your littles!
Halloween skate party is coming up on October 24th from 6-8 p.m. Have your kiddos put on their costumes and come skate with us!!! There will be a Halloween costume contest too!
Reflections kickoff is September 30th! The theme this year is Look within. Encourage your child to show their special talent in Art with the rest of the school!
Last but definitely not least is our Buffalo Wild Wings Fundraiser on October 16th! Come visit and support Arno’s PTA! A portion of your meals profits come to our PTA to help out our amazing caring cougars!
Dr. Warren (Board of Education) reads delights Arno students
Last week Dr. Warren paid a visit to Arno and all of our classrooms introducing herself and reading to some of our excited Cougar rooms. Thank you Dr. Warren- please visit again soon!
Free NHS Tutoring is Back!
Book Swap Numbers
What another great turnout we had for our summer book swap! If you still have books at home, please return them to your child’s teacher. Check out our numbers below- especially the minutes read!
Thank you!
Total # of Attendees at Book Swaps: 175
Total # of Students who turned in reading logs: 69
Total # of Students who read over 1000 minutes: 34
Total # of Minutes Read: 70263
The extra recess earned for those over 1000 minutes will be on Oct. 2 with Mr. Zielinski
Help! Volunteers needed for the classroom!
Arno parents are encouraged to sign up and become involved in our Cougar day! Volunteers are such an important part of being partners for your child’s education. If you have not had the chance yet, the volunteer form from Meet the Teacher is below
Back-to-school means back to after school activities! Explore Allen Park Community Center’s youth programs. Guaranteed to strengthen your child’s creative muscles while building self-confidence.
Junior Chef:create delicious dishes while learning kitchen basics. The best part is tasting your food!
Allen Park Dance Accepting new dancers! (Discover Dance, Ballet, Tap, Broadway Jazz, Hip Hop) Classes start for dancers as young as 3.
Has your living room become a stage? Youth Theater Auditions for Junie B. Jones will take place Friday, October 4 at 5:30pm. No experience necessary!
We are excited to announce the return of the Playworks company to continue implementing their organized recess play program for all of our new lunch parapros. Playworks reps worked with our parapros for four days that included lots of games and strategies to use on the playground, as well some of our teachers and their students also were treated to some lessons! We are up and running and ready to make recess even more fun!
Arno Lunch Parapros pose for their Playworks Completion
Halloween Parade
Time to get those costumes on the kids and come on down to Arno on Oct. 31 at 10:00 for our annual Halloween Parade. Our route will take us out of the 5th grade doors that morning, making a loop on the inside perimeter of the playground. Please join us around the outside perimeter of the playground for the best seats. It is a district PD day with an 11:30 dismissal that morning.
Getting our Cougars moving!
Mrs. Smalley’s Cougars planking..
PBIS Smencils for Sale
Smencils sales will begin again starting Oct. 8th! Smencils will be sold on Tuesday afternoons at 2:30p. The proceeds from Smencils benefits the PBIS program at Arno. With the funds, we are able to have great monthly incentives such as pizza lunches for Super Cougars and Zumba. The prices for items are as follows:
Smencils: $1
Smens: $2
Smencils Pouches: $8
Happy Smelling!
Drop off for student items
Please remember to drop off any lunches, folder, homework, etc in the cabinet that is outside of the main doors (Be sure to put a sticky note on with their information). The secretary will then go get all of the items in there and be sure to get it to your child. This helps to keep the office clear which helps everything run smoother. Thank you for your help!
VOLUNTEER BACKGROUND CHECKS
In order to protect the safety of all of our students, any family member who plans to regularly volunteer in the classroom, or chaperone a field trip must complete the background check information below. This paperwork is also available in our Arno office. Unless you are planning to begin as a regular volunteer, or chaperone a field trip within the next month, please refrain from completing this paperwork in advance. It is most effective if the requests are processed within a few weeks of the intended volunteer experience. Thank you in advance for your cooperation! Volunteer-Background-Check-Authorization-Form-2-2f9d6ta-1unseow-27li2bfICHAT-Volunteer-Letter-2-1wr1z3p-zjrwpf-1esyvyz
Traffic Pattern
Parking/Drop-off
As we all need to get our children to school, safety is always the primary concern. We will do our best to help ensure an orderly drop-off/pick-up daily, but we need your help in making that happen.
** No child should run across the street to get into a car, or out.
**Help our traffic issues around school by parking a block or so away and WALKING your child before and after school.
**School traffic flow MUST go clockwise around the school. Make sure that your passenger door is ALWAYS closest to the curb.
BE SMART! BE PATIENT! BE CARING! BE KIND!!! BE RESPONSIBLE!!
Breakfast and Lunch Program
Parents can setup a free account online at https://www.mypaymentsplus.com/ . You will need their child’s student id number to setup the account and can get the id number from parent connection, the school office or the FS office. To view your child’s meal account information and/or make payments online at https://www.mypaymentsplus.com/ (link is on our website). There is a small transaction fee charged to make online payments. The lunch program will continue to accept cash or check as we always have.
MyPaymentsPlus Free Mobile App available for download on IPhones, Androids and Tablets!!
**If you believe that you may qualify for free or reduced lunch, we ask that you please submit the application that went home in September or pick up a new one from the office as soon as possible. Our total count for free/reduced lunch helps the district receive federal funds to run our Title 1 program and help our at-risk students.
If you are not sure about the guidelines or have
any other questions, please call the office @827-1050
Arno Elementary will provide a system of support to empower
and inspire students to become collaborative learners
that strive for academic excellence
From the PTA
Fun Run is coming up on September 27th! The link has been opened for registration of your student and Flyers have been sent home! You are all invited to come cheer on your Caring Cougar the day of the Fun Run! Times your student will be running will be posted in the next few weeks, so you can put it on your calendar!
Spirit Wear will be sold at every Arno Elementary Event and PTA meeting with two brand new designs! The shirts have Minecraft and the Unicorn designs! In grey for both designs or pink for the Unicorn design and green for Minecraft! Check out our Facebook page to see what they look like! We also have a select amount of last years designs available on sale for $5!
Reflections kickoff is September 30th! The theme this year is Look within. Encourage your child to show their special talent in Art with the rest of the school!
We still need a chairperson for end of the year skate parties, Buffalo Wild Wings Fundraiser, and spring and Holiday fever. Thank you Nikki Adkins for Chairing the book fair and Jennifer Hook for chairing our Halloween and Valentines day skate parties. If you are available and want to Chair this event please let out PTA know either by email or through Facebook!!!
If you haven’t joined the PTA and would like to do so, you can sign up online at arnopta@memberhub.com/dues and while your their add an extra western stamp or two for your Cougar! Help boost their class up for prizes!! The 1st place will get a pizza party and $100 dollars in book fair dollars to shop at the book fair! 2nd place will get a popcorn party and $50 in book fair money, 3rd place winners will get a rice krispy treat party and $25 in book fair money!! Come join this amazing group of ladies and gents that run Arno’s PTA and help raise money for your child at the same time!
If you have not yet handed in your child’s summer reading log, please sure to do that by early next week. Also a reminder to send the 3 books that were issued back to school so we have a supply for next summer. Thanks!
Thanks for Attending!
Thank you to all of our families that attended Meet the Teacher last night, it was out pleasure to see everyone who is excited about this school year! As always, please stop by, call, or email if you have any questions or concerns= my door is always open.
We will rise to new heights this year!
Steve Zielinski, Principal
Meet the Teacher Night with our Title I Annual Meeting,
PTA Spirit Wear Sale, and updates on the
3rd grade reading law
Are you a Member of the Arno PTA?
We are excited to announce the return of the Playworks company to continue implementing their organized recess play program for all of our new lunch parapros. They will be with for four days next week out at lunch recess, working with some teachers and their students, as well as ongoing training during the day. We look forward to the return of this research-based approach to organized fun.
Download the Allen Park Public Schools app from AppStore or Google Play
Make sure you allow Push Notifications from the app
Click Menu → My Channels
Click Parents → Click the checkmark next to Arno Elementary
Click SAVE at the bottom
VOLUNTEER BACKGROUND CHECKS
In order to protect the safety of all of our students, any family member who plans to regularly volunteer in the classroom, or chaperone a field trip must complete the background check information below. This paperwork is also available in our Arno office. Unless you are planning to begin as a regular volunteer, or chaperone a field trip within the next month, please refrain from completing this paperwork in advance. It is most effective if the requests are processed within a few weeks of the intended volunteer experience. Thank you in advance for your cooperation! Volunteer-Background-Check-Authorization-Form-2-2f9d6ta-1unseow-27li2bfICHAT-Volunteer-Letter-2-1wr1z3p-zjrwpf-1esyvyz
5 reasons you should volunteer at your child’s school
As parents, most of our plates are not only full but overflowing; our schedules are so tight they’re cutting off blood flow and our to-do lists are endless. The last thing any of us truly wants to do is commit to another project, group, or organization.
But there’s one area where we shouldn’t be cutting corners or making excuses, and that’s volunteering at our child’s school. The ongoing social, academic and emotional success of our kids relies heavily on the amazing network of parents and guardians.
You might think you don’t have anything to offer, or that someone else is better fit to volunteer their time. But passing the buck is exactly why so many volunteers end up burned out; it’s always the same five people going to the meetings, planning the events, executing the fundraisers, counting the money, and cleaning up other people’s messes. If you’re a parent or a guardian, and your child goes to school, you have an obligation to find a way to volunteer.
Now, before you show up on my doorstep with your pitchforks in hand, I’m going to let you in on a little secret: volunteering doesn’t have to be painful.
Here are five reasons why should get involved (and how to do it without getting overwhelmed).
It takes a village: As the saying goes, “It takes a village to raise a child,” and the same is true for creating and maintaining a positive and nurturing school environment for an entire student body. While teachers and administrators are responsible for providing enriching academics and professional support, school is much more than just a place where worksheets are distributed and graded. Building a tight knit community of volunteers who dedicate their time and resources to building a solid foundation of support creates a lasting impression on staff and students alike. But planning events, organizing fundraisers, donating time and energy to cleaning up and beautifying the campus, and using professional and personal connections to benefit the school takes some serious manpower. Your child’s school is the village and you, my friend, are a villager, so get to work.
A little goes a long way: Maybe you work full time. Maybe you run a Girl Scout troop. Maybe you haven’t had a decent shower since your firstborn arrived in 2004. I’m busy too, and odds are so are the other parents at your child’s school. The big mistake here is thinking volunteering has to be an “all or nothing,” thing. It doesn’t. When it comes to helping out, a little can really go a long way. Spending once a week or even once a month making copies, distributing fliers, sending out emails, or painting posters takes the edge off of someone else who’s probably already doing more than their fair share. So check your calendar and figure out how much time you can really devote to volunteer work, then make a commitment and stick to it.
Everyone has something to offer: I get it – you can’t bake your way out of a paper bag. Or maybe you have the social skills of an aardvark. Volunteer work at your child’s school can certainly seem daunting if you buy into the idea that you have to be Martha Stewart or have the personality of a politician to contribute anything of worth. But volunteering is so much more than decorating the perfect holiday cupcakes or greeting parents during school events. There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes work to be done that doesn’t require anything other than a true willingness to give your time and energy. Everyone is good at something which means everyone has something to offer. Library books are just begging to be organized in school libraries across the county, fundraising ideas are just waiting to be discovered and implemented, and emails about upcoming meetings are dying to be typed out and sent. What are you good at? How can you apply your skills and passions to your child’s school community? In other words, don’t sign up as the PTA treasurer if you barely passed 10th grade Algebra — you’ll hate what you’re doing and end up quitting (and maybe even bounce some checks while you’re at it). The trick is to find your niche and apply it to volunteer work accordingly.
Your child will benefit: Some parents take for granted that their child continues to benefit from the hard work of others. School is so much more than just drop-off and pick-up, yet a large percentage of moms and dads regard the place where their child spends the majority of their childhood as nothing more than an overcrowded babysitting agency. The majority of assemblies, teacher wish list items, book fairs and special events are organized and implemented by volunteers who believe your child is worth the extra effort. Helping to oversee some of these programs and projects will give your child a more meaningful school experience — and that should be motivation enough for anyone.
You’ll feel good: Not only will your volunteer efforts pay off by enhancing your child’s experience on campus, you’ll feel pretty good about yourself too. Doing for others feels right, and it’s contagious. Plus those “I’m a volunteer!” stickers you get to wear are pretty awesome (sometimes I purposely leave mine on long after I’ve left my sons’ campuses while I run errands throughout the day; it’s a badge that says I care about my community and makes me feel kind of special). I’m not going to try and sell you on volunteer work without tapping into the fact that it’s sure to get those feel-good endorphins flowing.
So do your child’s school – and yourself – a favor: become a volunteer in whatever capacity you are able to, and get ready to get your buzz on. I’ll be looking for you and your giant sticker in the Starbucks line.
Traffic Pattern
Parking/Drop-off
As we all need to get our children to school, safety is always the primary concern. We will do our best to help ensure an orderly drop-off/pick-up daily, but we need your help in making that happen.
** No child should run across the street to get into a car, or out.
**Help our traffic issues around school by parking a block or so away and WALKING your child before and after school.
**School traffic flow MUST go clockwise around the school. Make sure that your passenger door is ALWAYS closest to the curb.
BE SMART! BE PATIENT! BE CARING! BE KIND!!! BE RESPONSIBLE!!
Breakfast and Lunch Program
Parents can setup a free account online at https://www.mypaymentsplus.com/ . You will need their child’s student id number to setup the account and can get the id number from parent connection, the school office or the FS office. To view your child’s meal account information and/or make payments online at https://www.mypaymentsplus.com/ (link is on our website). There is a small transaction fee charged to make online payments. The lunch program will continue to accept cash or check as we always have.
MyPaymentsPlus Free Mobile App available for download on IPhones, Androids and Tablets!!
**If you believe that you may qualify for free or reduced lunch, we ask that you please submit the application that went home in September or pick up a new one from the office as soon as possible. Our total count for free/reduced lunch helps the district receive federal funds to run our Title 1 program and help our at-risk students.
If you are not sure about the guidelines or have
any other questions, please call the office @827-1050
On behalf of the entire Arno staff, I would like to welcome all of our wonderful families back to another great school year! I would also like to extend a warm welcome to those families who are new to our building this year, a truly remarkable year awaits you. We are very excited to get started with much anticipation of Cougar success. I am so very proud of all the work our staff and students are doing at Arno. The M-STEP results that will be coming out for our 3-5th graders have shown significant increases over last, especially in Language Arts. We implemented many different programs last year to help better prepare our students for all testing circumstances they encounter throughout the year, including NWEA (3 times a year tested). I look forward to all of our future accomplishments this year as we help all of our students at Arno master their academics!
We also continue to look forward to all of the fun PTA events, assemblies, Arno Olympics and camp to name a few. I believe in all of our students and staff here at Arno and I know it’s going to be an unbelievable year of accomplishment!
CLASS ASSIGNMENT INFO
Student schedules will be available today, August 30, 2018 at 4:00 p.m.
Please be sure you have completed all of the Back to School updates that are necessary in order to access your child’s teacher.
New MiSTAR App
The wait is over…Parent Connect just got a whole lot easier to access
Arno Elementary will provide a system of support to empower
and inspire students to become collaborative learners
that strive for academic excellence
MEET THE NEW FOLKS…
STAFF CHANGES FOR 2019-2020
So many new changes and classroom changes for this school year. Please help me welcome all of our new staff for the 2019-20 school year.
Erica Saville- School Social Work
Hello, Arno family! My name is Erica Saville and I’ll be your new School Social Worker! I got my MSW from the University of Michigan (go Blue!) and have worked in neighboring districts for the last 5 years. Outside of school, I love spending time with my own sweet daughter and husband, and traveling to visit my family. We are particularly fond of the National Parks, so look for my souvenir stickers in my office. I am so excited to be joining this team and can’t wait to get to know the Arno staff, students and families!
Lindsay Garza- 5th grade
Hello!
My name is Lindsay Garza and I am excited to be joining the Arno team this year. Teaching has always been a passion of mine, even as a child. Growing up my dream of being a teacher never wavered. I graduated from Alma College with a bachelors in Elementary Education in 2016. After graduation I was given an opportunity to pursue another passion of mine, coaching cheerleading at the collegiate level. I coached at Alma College for two years and won two national championships in the process! In 2018 I moved back to the Downriver Area to finally become a teacher. I was a substitute teacher in a number of schools for the 2018/19 school year, which also included a long term substitute position in Gibraltar schools. I’m excited to finally live my dream of being a teacher and sharing my love of learning with others!
Fun Facts:
– I have a dog named Aria
– My favorite color is blue
– I love tacos!
– I love traveling abroad! So far I’ve been to Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland, England, and Costa Rica!
– I can do a back flip
Ciara Zuke- 5th grade
My name is Ciara Zuke. To fulfill my lifelong dream of becoming a teacher, I attended the University of Michigan – Dearborn and received my Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education in 2018. I student taught in Southgate, Michigan in a fourth-grade classroom. I plan on going back to school to obtain my Master’s Degree.
This year will be my very first year of teaching in my own classroom, and I am very excited to be teaching 5th grade! I began my teaching career as a substitute teacher in Allen Park and Southgate and continued as a Title 1 Math and Reading Interventionist in Southgate. I have worked with students from Kindergarten through 5th grade. I am also a lifelong Allen Park citizen! I attended Arno Elementary, Allen Park Middle School, and Allen Park High School and still currently live in Allen Park. I am very thankful to be starting my teaching career back at Arno!
Emilie Talamonti- 4th grade
Hello! My name is Emilie Talamonti and I am a new teacher at Arno Elementary this upcoming school year. I graduated from Michigan State University in 2013 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. In 2018, I obtained a Master’s Degree from Eastern Michigan University in Learning Disabilities. I have been teaching fourth grade for the past five school years. When I am not teaching, I enjoy cooking and being outside with my family. I am so excited to join the Arno team!
2019-20
Young fives
Jeanine Haskin
Kindergarten
Cassie Harrison
Kindergarten
Nickie Stanley
Kindergarten
Cristina Mercer
First Grade
Julie Martinchick
First Grade
Barb Pushman
First Grade
Dawn Watson
Second Grade
Nicole Amonette
Second Grade
Alexandra Cervantes
Second Grade
Megan Schultz
Third Grade
Sarah Kalis
Third Grade
Renee Guyot
Third Grade
Rachel Warneck
Fourth Grade
Megan Johnson
Fourth Grade
Emilie Talamonti
Fourth Grade
Brian Trionfi
Fifth Grade
Ciara Zuke
Fifth Grade
Lindsay Garza
Fifth Grade
Erin Higgins
Cross Categorical Classroom
Katie Jensen
ECP Program
Sara Bleau
Life Skills
Stella Boyer
Media Lit Arno/Bennie
Colleen Byrne
Media Tech Arno/Bennie
Carrie Solak
Art Arno/Bennie
Elisabeth Cunningham
Art Arno/Lindemann
Rachel Trapani
Speech
Andrea Alvarez
Vocal Music
Tracy Hoffman
Instrumental/Vocal Music
Jeff Skebo
Physical Education Arno/Bennie
Lisa Smalley
Social Work Arno/Bennie
Erica Saville
Resource Room
Michele Sbonekk
Reading Coach/Title I
Beth Wesley
Summer Book Swap
It was another great summer of swapping as we saw many students up here at Arno looking for new books- we are so PROUD of our Cougars ! Now that summer is over, we need to set up the return of the books so that we have good stock for next summer’s swap. Please plan on sending in your child’s summer books by Friday, Sept. 6 to their teacher. Returning the bag is optional, but if it’s in good shape- you may return that as well. Ms. Stanley will need all summer reading logs as well as the students may have earned an extra recess and popsicle in early October.
NEW: Receive push notifications on the AP app!
Download the Allen Park Public Schools app from AppStore or Google Play
Make sure you allow Push Notifications from the app
Click Menu → My Channels
Click Parents → Click the checkmark next to Arno Elementary
Click SAVE at the bottom
From the PTA
Welcome Back to Arno Parents!
Hope you’re ready for another fun filled year! The PTA
would like to welcome back all of the Arno Cougars students current and new! Just as a
reminder, Student teacher assignments will be available through the new app for MiSTAR Parent
connect. This should make it a lot easier to see your Arno Cougars info. Remember that you
must log in and complete the back to school section before you will have access to see your
child’s teacher on Aug 30th. You can also view it through the Parent Portal on the Allen Park
Schools website at www.allenparkschools.com
Spirit wear is in with 2 new awesome designs! We have a Magical Unicorn and
Minecraft design! $15 for youth sizes XS-L, and adult sizes S-XL, and $18 for adult sizes 2XL-
3XL. The spirt wear will be available at our first PTA meeting on Thursday, September 5 th at
6:30pm in the Arno Cafeteria and then again at meet the teacher night September 12 th !
Fun Run Event is coming soon on September 27 th ! We have chosen a LEGO theme! We
are also in need of volunteers for that event as well! Invite your family and join in on the fun!
There will be an awesome DJ and sweet prizes! Come one come all and have some fun with our
Cougars!
This year the PTA is having a “Western Roundup” membership drive theme! Each
classroom will have Wanted posters on display on the bulletin board. At the end of each week
from now until the end of October we will add one Western Stamp for each PTA member that
joins per classroom! There is also the option to donate extra money to the PTA to purchase an
extra Western Stamp for our class Wanted Poster! As an additional incentive the PTA is offering
the top three competing classes a prize!
Register https://arnopta.memberhub.store/
3rd Grade Reading Law
The Law officially kicks into effect this year. It’s important to understand that there can be a huge help at home if your child reads daily, either with you, by themself, or is read to by an adult. Being a partner with Arno is critical to your child’s literacy development.
The legislature passed what is known as the Third Grade Reading Law last school year. This law has many moving parts, see below for more info:
K-3 parents have to be notified if their child has a reading deficiency starting this year
Any student below grade level on reading (deficient) must have a school and home reading plan for success
By 2019-20 school year, any 3rd grade student one year or more below grade level as measured by a state assessment will be retained. This year’s third graders will be the first group in to be affected.
There are a number of ways to exempt the student from retention ie. parent waiver, shows better results on another local assessment, etc.
As a result of this law, we now are required to issue reading plans (IRIP) that shares information on testing, a plan, and what parents can do at home for K-3 students. These are issued out in the fall, winter, and the spring for those students who are below grade level as identified in our standardized assessment, NWEA. If your child is to receive one in the fall, you will be notified at the first parent-teacher conference. As always, we will provide quality instruction and interventions for all of our Arno students. If you would like more information, please visit: http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2016/10/08/third-grade-reading-retention-bill-now-law-what-parents-need-to-know/
Line up procedures will remain the same as last year with indoor lineup with the exception of the first day of school– students will line up outside the grade level doors. Indoor lineup will start on the second day of school.
The first day of school, line-up will be OUTSIDE their assigned door.
Indoor line-up starts September 4th
Outside doors are closed and will be opened at 8:20 daily for students to enter for indoor lineup, not before that time, however
Breakfast doors still open at 8:05
Students should still report to their assigned outside door to enter the building
Parents will not permitted to enter with students/stand in the halls- normal protocol to sign in with the main office does not change
Students will enter the classroom at the 8:30 bell after waiting in the hall
Door Assignments
Five reasons for Parents to get Involved in their Child’s Education
Higher grades and better behavior are just a few of the benefits of parent involvement.
What if you could help your child enjoy school more, get better grades, and reduce behavior problems at the same time? Reams of research has shown that regardless of parents’ income and educational background, their involvement in education helps their kids do better in and out of school.
Here are 5 reasons you should get involved in your child’s education though there are many more than just these:
Higher grades – Kids whose parents are involved in their education get better grades and have higher test scores. And the more parents are involved, the more their children seem to benefit. A study of parents highly involved in the educational process showed that their children were more likely to improve in reading and math.
Better behavior – Kids develop better social skills and show improved behavior when their parents are involved at school. Studies have also shown that kids are less likely to skip school, less disruptive in class, and more likely to do their homework when their parents are involved. One study showed that when dads are highly involved in schools, their children enjoy school more and are less likely to be suspended, expelled, or required to repeat a grade.
Improved education – Research shows that parent involvement can help improve the quality of schools, raise teacher morale, and improve a school’s reputation in the community. Involved parents gain the respect of teachers; as a result, teachers have higher expectations of their children. Involvement pays off in the long term, too: Children stay in school longer and are more likely to continue their education after high school.
Increased confidence – When students feel supported at home and school, they develop more positive attitudes about school, have more self-confidence, and place a higher priority on academic achievement. Children of involved parents are more likely to feel that they’re accepted, included, and respected and at school.
Parents benefit too – When parents become involved in their children’s education, they become more comfortable in the school building, gain confidence in their parenting skills, and feel more capable of helping their children learn. They’re also more likely to continue their own education.
Involvement is easy. You don’t have to log hundreds of volunteer hours for your child to benefit. Even if you can only volunteer a few hours a year, every little bit counts.
Please contact the main office for your background check form to start the journey to Volunteering at Arno!
Traffic Pattern
Parking/Drop-off
As we all need to get our children to school, safety is always the primary concern. We will do our best to help ensure an orderly drop-off/pick-up daily, but we need your help in making that happen.
** No child should run across the street to get into a car.
**Help our traffic issues around school by parking a block or so away and WALKING your child before and after school.
**School traffic flow MUST go clockwise around the school. Make sure that your passenger door is ALWAYS closest to the curb.
BE SMART! BE PATIENT! BE CARING! BE KIND!!! BE RESPONSIBLE!!
2019-20 School Information
Office is open daily: 7:30-4:00
School day for students: 8:30-3:30
Latch key hours: 7:00-8:30
3:30-6:00
Student arrival time: 8:20
Half-Day dismissal 11:30
*If your student participates in the breakfast program, breakfast starts serving at 8:05.
*If your child is not picked up consistently 20 minutes past dismissal, you will be required to enroll in latchkey services.
Student Attendance
Please read the attitude article on the importance of student attendance, which is mandatory by the laws of the State of Michigan. Please be aware that we are required to follow up with families either verbally, in writing, or both when absences reach the 10 full day mark.
Parents can setup a free account online at https://www.mypaymentsplus.com/ . You will need their child’s student id number to setup the account and can get the id number from parent connection, the school office or the FS office. To view your child’s meal account information and/or make payments online at https://www.mypaymentsplus.com/ (link is on our website). There is a small transaction fee charged to make online payments. The lunch program will continue to accept cash or check as we always have.
MyPaymentsPlus Free Mobile App available for download on IPhones, Androids and Tablets!!
**If you believe that you may qualify for free or reduced lunch, we ask that you please submit the application that went home in September or pick up a new one from the office as soon as possible. Our total count for free/reduced lunch helps the district receive federal funds to run our Title 1 program and help our at-risk students.
If you are not sure about the guidelines or have
any other questions, please call the office @827-1050
Be sure to mark Sept. 12 on your calendar for our Meet the Teacher night. This is a wonderful opportunity to come to Arno and meet your child’s teacher, hear about grade level curriculum, classroom policies, and important classroom information.
There will be a short presentation at 5:45 for Second and Third grade parents only on the Third Grade Reading Law
There will also be a short presentation from our new Title I teacher, Beth Wesley, at 6:15-6:25 in the media center
The evening starts at 6:30 and runs until 7:30 p.m.in your child’s classroom.
Please call 313-827-1050 if you have any questions.
See you there!
Put On Your Smile…
Please mark your calendars for September 26 for picture day, retakes will be on Nov. 14. Information will be coming home soon.
Although we cherish every birthday here at Arno, we wanted to remind everyone that birthday food treats are not allowed and will not be brought down to the classroom. Pencils, bookmarks, etc are acceptable alternatives. Thank you for your support!!
Please enjoy some last pictures of 2018-19 school year! Have a great Summer!!
School Supply Lists are out and ready to go…
This year we are using Teacherlists.com to post all of our supplies. You can access the lists down below from the click-button, or you can access from our Arno site off the main APPS website. This feature also allows you to choose a store, if you wish, which auto sets up the list for purchase and lets you finish the process without ever setting foot in a store.
The district will be in contact with all families this summer to go into MiStar Connect. It is very important that you log in and go to Back to School updates- where you will review forms for next year. Be sure your email address is updated in our system as class lists will not be posted this fall. Families will not be able to view the new teacher for the fall until that step is complete. Please visit MiStar Parent Connect on Aug 30 after 4:00 p.m. to see your child’s placement once you have completed your updated information. Paper copies will be available the first day of school to be sure everyone gets to their correct classroom.
Class of 2026:
APMS has set up a new facebook page for the incoming 6th graders. Please search for “APMS Class of 2026” on FB, Please request to be added.
Field Day 2019
NWEA Celebration Picnic
Certificate of Excellence
Our Arno Cougar’s Retirees were honored at Monday’s Board Meeting for all of their years of service. Congratulations to Dr. Barb Chuby, Sandy Bennett, Jenny Dalton, and Cathy Gorski!
Super Cougar Celebration
Congratulations to all of our 2018-19 Super Cougars who enjoyed an ice cream for all of their efforts throughout the year!
**Office closes on June 21. We will reopen on August 19
Have a Fantastic Summer!
See you Fall 2019!!
Congrats to the Class of 2019 APHS!! Today’s Senior Walk at Arno
School News…
School Supply Lists are out and ready to go…
This year we are using Teacherlists.com to post all of our supplies. You can access the lists down below from the click-button, or you can access from our Arno site off the main APPS website. This feature also allows you to choose a store, if you wish, which auto sets up the list for purchase and lets you finish the process without ever setting foot in a store.
It is very important that you are sure your email address is updated in our system as class lists will not be posted this fall, please visit MiStar Parent Connect during the last week of August to see your child’s placement. Paper copies will be available the first day of school to be sure everyone gets to their correct classroom.
NO BACKPACKS PLEASE…
Please note that students may continue to carry backpacks through Monday, June 10. They will no longer be allowed for the next 3 half days leading up to the last day.
Some New Beginnings
Some people would say that change is good. In some cases they would be right,, but not in this case. This year we must say goodbye to three of our MVP’s of Arno- Sandy Bennett, Dr. Barb Chuby, and Jenny Dalton. The mark they have left on us, and the tremendous impact on kids that they have had is immeasurable. They are truly the professionals that put kids first everyday, but have also been tremendous supporters of our staff. We wish them well in their retirement as they begin anew, waiting for their next big adventure. They will always be an Arno Cougar- We will miss you!!!
Sandy Bennett
Mrs. Bennett is an Arno veteran and our social worker , while also splitting her time with Bennie Elementary. Sandy has a way with kids. She can get on their level, she knows every strategy to get them to feel comfort, calmness, and safety. The students and staff have trust in her, and confidence that she helps the students in extraordinary ways that they can focus on their schoolwork. Sandy has also been pivotal in Arno’s implementation and maintenance of our building PBIS program, as well as proving a mentor program for our 5th grade to mentor younger students. Her dedication to her profession shines through every time she enters our building. You will be missed Sandy!
Dr. Barb Chuby
Dr. Chuby is also an Arno veteran and has been our number one At-Risk teacher. She coordinates a staff that have the charge of moving up all of our students that may be struggling, along side our teachers. Barb is at the top of her game- the movement in scores that we have seen this year is incomparable. Like Mrs. Bennett, she too has developed those key relationships with kids and staff that develop trust. She inspires them to have a positive mind-set- motivating them to learn, which includes her tireless help in building our new M-STEP programming and motivational vocab videos. She is an integral part to our success and you will be missed Dr Chuby!
Jenny Dalton
Mrs. Dalton has been a fixture here at Arno and Bennie for a long time. As we all know, gym is one the student’s favorites- and Mrs. Dalton certainly is the main reason for that. She is skillful at giving the kids an immersive experience when they play new games, and even bring guests out like she did this for her bowling unit. In the age of video games, gym is such an important subject to help motivate kids to get exercise and play games on their own- Jenny has done a great job of that, inspiring so many to put the devices down and get outside and play! We will miss Mrs. Dalton and your motivational lessons!
We also say goodbye to two of our 5th Grade Teaching Veterans
At a recent district meeting, Mrs. Hool and Mr. Creutz accepted new positions at Allen Park Middle School in Science and English Language Arts.
Melissa Hool
Just as the aforementioned staff, their contributions will be missed! Mrs. Hool was instrumental every year in her efforts for 5th grade camp. She tirelessly worked on fundraising with families to help pay down the cost of camp so that more students could participate. She also ran one of our great March events- Bingo for Books. What a better prize for a student to receive than a book, and Melissa made sure the entire event was enjoyable and fun for our families! We will wish her all the luck in science at APMS- We will miss you Mrs. Hool!
Todd Creutz
Mr. Creutz will be joining the Language Arts department at APMS in the fall. He has been a great mentor for kids and worked very closely with our ESL language students to give them the very best experience in learning. Todd also did a great job with our Arno Broadcast team and worked with the students who put together a successful broadcast program for the students and staff throughout the year. We will miss you Todd!
Other changes for the fall 2019
Mrs. Wesley will be moving to the reading specialists role at Arno
Mrs. Smalley will be moving into physical education
Mrs. Kalis will be moving to third grade
Ms. Johnson will be moving to 4th grade
Mrs. Harrison will be returning and placed in kindergarten
We kicked off another celebration of our students who have worked so very hard to meet their goals on the NWEA. This time around, all students who met their goal or achieved grade level on their NWEA will receive an extended recess. We also have a Top 10 reading scores per grade, and a “Biggest Jump” category for those who saw the biggest jump in score from Sept. to May. All Top 10 and Big jump kids will be attending a pizza picnic at Boccabella park on June 5- those students have a note and permission slip to take home. It was so great to see all of the smiles and the M-STEP charm necklaces, which were very filled up to end our testing season!
Congratulations!
Mrs. Wesley
Mrs. Warneck
Mrs. Guyot
Mrs. Smalley
Mrs. Kalis
Mr. Trionfi
Mrs. Hool
Ms. Higgins
Mr. Creutz
Top 10
Biggest Jump
Arno Therapy Dog Program at the Board
Your fellow Cougars took to the main stage last night at the Board Meeting. They were showcasing one of the many wonderful programs we do at Arno- the Reading TherapyDogs in Mrs. Warneck’s, Mrs. Jensen’s, Mrs. Bleau’s, and Mrs. Haskins’s classrooms. The dogs were a hit as well as the great job our little Cougars did (Ariana, Luke, Matthew and Gwen), Thank you for all you do to make special moments like this happen! So Proud!
5th Grade Graduation
It’s hard to believe that we are already upon the end of the year. That always means celebrations, picnics, and special activities. The biggest event that takes into the summer, though, is 5th Grade Graduation. We will be hosting the celebration on June 12 starting at 9:00. Following the program, the students will be going next door for a fun brunch of goodies. Please mark your calendars
The May PBIS reward ws modified this time to introduce PBIS clubs. The idea is that the student get their choice of 5 different classrooms that have a themed “club”- Some examples include LEGOs, puzzles, stuffed animals, games, etc. The kids had a great time and were all smiles during their club time.
Arno Cleans Up
As you can see from the pics below- our Arno Cougars have been working hard cleaning up the grounds. We thank them for all their community service- they did a great job!
Arno Elementary will provide a system of support to empower
and inspire students to become collaborative learners
that strive for academic excellence-
Field Day Volunteer Link
Arno Field Day 2019
Thank you for giving your time to make this Field Day a success for the Arno students! This event is not possible without the help of all the wonderful parent volunteers. Please sign-up to run one of the seven field day game stations. Please report to the Arno gym at your scheduled time so I can give you game instructions and materials. Thank you in advance for your help!
On behalf of the entire Arno staff I want to thank you for all of the good food and yummy treats throughout this Teacher Appreciation Week! Your thoughtfulness really matters to our staff and they are feeling VERY appreciated this week! Everyone knows it’s a lot of work and coordination to prepare such a wide variety of snacks and meals, gathering all of the volunteers, getting donations, and putting that extra special touch to show how much the staff is valued.
Thank you Again
Mr. Zielinski and the Entire Arno Staff
Congrats to our 4th and 5th Grade
What a beautiful spring concert this past Wednesday as we enjoyed any songs from our 4th and 5th graders at the APAC. Kudos to Mr. Hoffman and Mr. Skebo for letting our students shine through song!
New Skating Party Announced
The PTA will be holding an end of the year skating party at LP Skating Party FREE admission- you can either bring skates or rent. Thanks to Patty Messer for winning this free party for Arno!
June 18 from 6:00-8:00
M-STEP is wrapped up
Although the scores will not be out for a few months, I can tell you that the effort our kids put into the test year was like no other year I’ve seem it. There were posters, cards for our M-STEPers from the younger grades, clapouts, and kids even writing themselves a personal message of encouragement on scrap paper before they started the test- it was AMAZING. We may not know all of the scores right now, but we do our kids are the BEST and gave their personal BEST!!
Kindergarten Roundup Wrap up
The classrooms and gym were packed for our annual Kindergarten Roundup! We had over 60 families attend the evening event and got to meet many of our new families that their future kindergartners.
5th Grade Band Rocks the House!
Thank you to Mr. Hoffman and all of our talented Band students!
Congrats to Wyatt Douglass and Hannah Booher for their Band Awards!
Teacher Appreciation Luncheon- New Lunchtimes 11:00-12:00 K-5
May 10
No events
May 13
Jazz Band 10:30
May 14
Arno Spring Concert Grades 4/5 6:30
May 15
No events
May 16
6th Orientation for students @Arno 9:00
May 17
No events
***Reminder: Please be sure that you child does not arrive at school until 8:20-8:30 daily (Unless the receive breakfast) Thank you
Last Day of Yoga is May 30
Arno Vision
Arno Elementary will provide a system of support to empower
and inspire students to become collaborative learners
that strive for academic excellence-
TEACHER REQUEST PROCEDURE
As we close one school year and begin to plan for the next, student placement is one of our primary considerations. Our school team of teachers, administrator and social worker spend many hours working together to form classrooms for next year. We strive to balance classrooms with a blend of students based on academic strengths and needs, social and emotional supports, and the unique personalities of each child.
If you have any special concerns about your child’s placement for next school year, please submit a written explanation of the concern. For example, “my son is very active and needs to be placed in a classroom where he will have opportunities to move around” or “my daughter struggles with reading and needs a teacher with a strong background in reading”.
We do not/cannot accept any requests for a specific teacher. Letters requesting a specific teacher will be not be considered. The one exception is a request for your child to not be placed in a specific classroom based on previous first-hand experience you’ve had with a teacher. And, that parent concern / issue should be documented in the office. All such letters are due to the office no later than Friday, May 17, 2019.
This is the same procedure that has been used in previous years and is the same procedure used at Lindemann and Bennie. If you have any questions or concerns about this process, please feel free to contact my office.
Steve Zielinski, Principal
From the PTA
We still need help with breakfast Mon the 6th 7-8:30. Even if you can’t help before school please come a little early to drop your kids off & help tear down. We must clean up quickly when the bell rings so the gym can be used for classes.
We are in need of more donations of individual wrapped snacks for staff lounge treats. Even if you can just pick up one box of 12 or a few boxes, any sort of individual wrapped snack is great. You can drop them off to office any day marked “Staff Appreciation”. *please remember no nuts*
Agendas for appreciation week went into all staff mailboxes today (Thursday). Set up will begin at 3:30 tomorrow, Friday so we have less work to do way early Mon am. Jay Rays BBQ is ready to rock the lunch Thursday.
Parents please remember this is a week for all of us to encourage our kids to love & honor the staff. Of course they love gifts but sending in a gift doesn’t have to be limited to monetary or purchasing something. It can be as simple as having your child write a Thank-you note to their teacher, lunch aid, office gal, favorite specials teacher, etc.
Thanks for all your help and many donations so far! Together it’s sure to be a great week for all the staff!
6th Grade Orientation
Dear Current APPS 5th Grade Families,
We are excited to meet with you on Tuesday, May 21, 6:30 pm, at Allen Park Middle School for our 6th Grade Parent Orientation.
The evening is designed to help give all of our 5th grade parents a good understanding of our philosophy, academic expectations and curriculum, daily life at APMS, and our many extra-curricular opportunities.
The APMS main doors (by the flagpole) will open at 6:00 pm–come in and head toward the south side of the building to the cafeteria, where we will start the program at 6:30 pm. The program will take just over one hour.
We highly encourage you to attend this important night! We greatly look forward to meeting with you on May 21, and welcoming you to APMS!
This evening is a Parents Only event, we have a special orientation for all of our incoming 6th graders on WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28th from 8–11 AM. On this day, 6th graders will meet their 8th GRADE WEB LEADERS, pick-up their schedules and locker assignments, and tour the school. The school is open the rest of the day until 4 pm, and again the remainder of the week for students to set up and practice their lockers, walk their daily schedules, and get a good feel for the building, and even meet their Principals, Teachers, and Staff.
Thank you!
4th Grade M-STEP is Underway
Grade 3 ELA M-STEP Kickoff
M-STEP Coming Up
Grade 4 Math M & T
Grade 3 ELA (Con’t) M
Grade 3 Math W & Th
Teacher Appreciation Week Begins Next Week
Please read below if you would like to explore some ways you can thanks your child’s teacher.
Creative Ways to Thank Your Child’s Teacher
With summer near, it’s natural to reflect on all the amazing things your child’s teacher did over the year. So how do you actually show how much that means to you? Check out this list of what teachers really want!
By Elena Donovan Mauer
We asked teachers how they like to be shown appreciation, and the general consensus is that they don’t need to be thanked. But when they are, it means a lot.
“I absolutely love my job as a second grade teacher. My students make each day wonderful in their own little ways,” says Aimee Brenn of Boston. “But when parents show appreciation for my work and dedication, I feel rewarded in ways that my words cannot truly express. It’s those little forms of validation that make teaching such a remarkable profession.”
Beyond a simple, heartfelt “thank you,” these ideas can help your child’s teacher feel the love.
The teachers we talked to said personalized letters and cards were by far the most rewarding ways to be thanked. But forget the generic store-bought cards — take time to write something personal. Even better: Get your child involved. You both can write what you liked about the teacher and his or her class.
“A simple note can make me melt!” says Lori Slates Vance, a second grade teacher in Macdonald, Pennsylvania. “My most treasured gift was from a student and her mom. The student wrote me a letter that told me how she liked being in my class. Mom wrote about how her daughter had improved and grown that year.”
“If the cards are personalized, it would be something to hold onto forever,” agrees teacher Katherine Mottola, of Marshfield, Massachusetts. “A child once wrote ‘I love when Mrs. Mottola reads us silly stories.’ Another child wrote ‘I like Mrs. Mottola because she smiles at me.’ So simple but so touching. It’s the little things that make the job so fulfilling.”
Group Gifts
If you want to make a grand gesture, consider going in on something with the rest of the students’ parents — and it doesn’t have to cost a thing.
“One year, my class’s room mother contacted all the other parents and sent out papers for each of my students to complete, telling me about their favorite experiences throughout the year and what it meant to have me as their teacher,” says Brenn. “The papers were then compiled and laminated in a book for me, with each student’s picture and writing. I will always cherish the time and effort that went in to creating that special keepsake.”
Grand gestures during holidays and special dates are fine, but the teachers we spoke with emphasized that they like to feel appreciated year-round — and one of the biggest ways is by getting involved with class activities.
“Take a day off work and devote your time,” suggests Brenn. “Be a mystery reader; help with a craft or science project; be a chaperone on a field trip.”
Classroom Supplies
Can’t take time off work? Donate some supplies to the classroom; many teachers end up purchasing some of these out of their own pockets, so helping them stock up on tissues and crayons — or a bigger ticket item, like the electric pencil sharpener that Brenn was gifted one year by some class parents — can be a huge relief.
Helping with supplies helps teachers save some of their own money, of course, but it also makes them feel appreciated, knowing parents and students have really listened and paid attention to their needs and wants.
A Little Pampering
Michelle Holmes, a preschool and pre-kindergarten teacher in Plano, Texas, and her colleagues once each received chair massages as gifts — and she loved hers. Before Brenn’s wedding, her class’s parents threw her a surprise bridal shower. Teachers work hard, and to show them you know that, consider something that makes them feel special or pampered.
Sounds pricey? It doesn’t have to be. For many teachers, a hot lunch might be all it takes to feel like they’re indulging. “Our lunch block is never long enough to leave to go get food, and it’s usually filled with tasks like making copies, using the restroom, and returning emails,” says Karen Mensing, a first and second grade teacher in Phoenix. “Contact the teacher in advance to check for allergies and preferences, and swoop in at lunchtime with a burger, salad, or slice of pizza and beverage. It’s a treat every teacher I know would relish!”
Gift Cards
If you want to buy your child’s teacher a token of appreciation but you don’t know what to get, you really can’t go wrong with a gift card.
“If they feel the need to buy me something, I like gift cards to some place I can use,” says Leon Scott Baxer, a third grade teacher in Santa Barbara, California. “One year, parents pooled their finances got me a $100 gift card to a teaching supplies store. I was stunned and so very appreciative.”
Gifts
As for gifts themselves, the teachers all downplayed their importance — they were much more enthusiastic about the previously mentioned ideas (and, trust us, they’ve got enough candles, lotions, and “#1 Teacher” coffee mugs already).
You’re better off buying or making something more meaningful. “I have incredible pictures that my students spent hours on decorating my walls,” says Baxter. “We love creative projects that make us remember our kids even 20 years later and that we can tell were made from love.”
At Holmes’s school, during Teacher Appreciation Week one year, each teacher was given a vase, and each student brought a flower to put in it — they formed a beautiful arrangement. Another idea: Have each child bring the teacher a piece of fruit to fill a basket. Or have each kid bring a plant for the school garden.
However you choose to show your appreciation, remember this: “It’s not about the amount of money,” says Baxter. “For many of us, if there’s heart behind the gift or if it’s something that we can truly use, we will talk about it for years.”
Allen Park Summer Kids Camp is open to all districts and offers children ages 3-13 an opportunity to enjoy a variety of fun activities, field trips and more! Each week offers a different theme and a special event. Our staff will help your child have fun, make memories, and create friendships in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. Flyer with more info attached – registration form on district website – allenparkschools.com – https://www.allenparkschools.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=971884&type=d&pREC_ID=1292547
Allen Park Public Schools Latchkey program is designed to provide children with a safe, well-supervised environment when an adult is unable to be at home. The activities include crafts, games, outdoor and indoor play. Our program is play-based and encourages a relaxed environment for the child who is in school all day. We are licensed with the State of Michigan to take care of children between the ages of 3 and 13 years of age. Flyer with more info attached – registration form on district website – allenparkschools.com – https://www.allenparkschools.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=971884&type=d&pREC_ID=1292543
Safety Town is an interactive safety awareness program for children from 5-6 years of age. Each day the children will be introduced to various safety issues in a fun and safe environment. The program is taught by a Police Officer and an AP teacher, with hands-on topics led by community guest speakers as well as visits from the Allen Park Police & Fire Departments. Teen volunteers from Allen Park High School lead the children through Safety Town every day and receive valuable training along with obtaining National Honor Society service hours. The children learn about stranger danger, water and beach as well as playground safety, fire safety, pet and bus safety, electrical and gun safety, and personal safety with an emphasis on pedestrian safety. The kids will be bicycling through a miniature town complete with streets, sidewalks, buildings, stop signs and a working traffic signal. Importance is placed on having the children memorize a cell phone number to call if they should ever become lost. We use fun songs to reinforce all of these principles and the children memorize our very own Safety Town Pledge!
Parent Orientation: All children and parents will meet for a 30 minute orientation on the first day of your session (Children stay for full session). It is the parent’s responsibility to bring their child to Safety Town daily and to pick them up promptly. Parents who will have someone else picking up the child will designate that on the enrollment form the first day.
School Lunch Hero Day (Saying Thank You to our lunch staff)
ARNO VISION
ARNO ELEMENTARY WILL PROVIDE A SYSTEM OF SUPPORT TO EMPOWER
AND INSPIRE STUDENTS TO BECOME COLLABORATIVE LEARNERS
THAT STRIVE FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
Daddy/Daughter Dance
What a beautiful night filled with Arno Princesses- at the annual Daddy/Daughter Dance. Once again the Prestige was filled with excited families and friends who enjoyed good food, fun dancing, and some daddy/daughter time. Thank you to the Arno PTA for putting on another spectacular event for our families!
M-STEP Walkabout
Our 5th graders were treated to applause and cheered on as they made their way to the ELA M-STEP on Tuesday. We are so proud of our students and know that they will be successful!!
From the PTA
A huge thank-you to April Lowry and Amy Muse for planning a very successful Daddy Daughter Dance! The event was absolutely beautiful, so well organized and very memorable! This event is a massive one, it requires lots of time and dedication to host a party for 337 people! These ladies along with a team of volunteers totally rocked it! Thank-you all from the hearts of many!
Staff appreciation week is coming up!! This year we are having a summer theme Staff Appreciation Celebration the week of 5/6-5/10! Join us in giving back to the staff by donating items or your time & signing up below! All items must be labeled “for staff appreciation” and turned in to Arno office by Fri 5/3 unless noted below. We can’t wait to spoil all of Arno’s wonderful staff!
Are you interested in chairing an event for next school year? We still are in need of several chairs for next years events. Without a chairperson the PTA can not hold the event. Contact the Arno PTA atarnopta@gmail.com and reserve your event today!
We are happy to announce the Executive PTA board for 2019-20 school year will be:
President: Stacey Sisson
VP of Fundraising: Maribel Martinez
Treasurer: Julie Hegedus
Secretary: Sascha Mansfield
This will be the last year on the Executive board for several members. If you are interested in shadowing a board member during the next school year please contact us at arnopta@gmail.com.
Be sure to watch the weather…
Have to love that Michigan weather, right? While we have certainly had some tastes of spring, we are having cooler days in between that require a jacket for outdoor recess. Please be sure to check the weather update before sending your child to school without a coat. Students go outside even on cool days and we do not have an area for those without a coat to remain in. Thank you for you help on this.
5th Grade M-STEP is Underway
Congrats to our 5th graders for completing 3 of their tests already (SS, Science, and ELA). Next week they will wrap it up with math before 3rd and 4th grade get underway in May. We are very excited to the scores from our shining stars!
M-STEP Coming up…
4/23 & 4/24 5th Grade Math
4/29 & 4/30 4th Grade ELA
5/1 & 5/2 3rd Grade ELA
5/6 & 5/7 4th Grade Math
5/8 & 5/9 3rd Grade Math
Arno’s Green Team
As yo know, Arno has a very active Green Team that helps out with many things through the year including:
Recycling
Gardening Club
Courtyard and Building Grounds Cleanup
Earth Day Stations
Buddy Benches coming soon- made from recycled plastic caps
Thank you to Mrs. Solak, Mrs. Kalis, Mrs. Jensen, Ms. Stanley, Mr. Creutz, Mrs. Haskin, Ms. DiCarlo, Mrs. Smalley, Mrs. Bleau, and all of our staff and students who perform all of these tasks to keep Arno Green!
Martian Marathon
Honor Choir Opens Up April
Congratulations to all of our Arno Honor Choir members and Mr. Hoffman for a fantastic performance on April 8th!
Mobile Dentist is Coming to Arno on April 25th (See links below)
The Allen Park Public School District has established a successful Schools of Choice Program for the past several years and the Board of Education has approved continuation of the program for the 2019-20 school year for Kindergarten through 8th Grade. (Requests for specific elementary schools cannot be guaranteed)
Applications will be available beginning Monday, April 8, 2019 at the Riley Education Center, 9601 Vine or at www.allenparkschools.comCompleted applications will be accepted beginningMonday, April 8 through Friday, April 26, 2019 from 7:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. weekdays in the Pupil Accounting Office at the Riley Education Center. Completed applications may also be emailed to schoolofchoice@appublicschools.com by Friday, April 26, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. Absolutely no late applications can be accepted.
A random draw selection will be held on Tuesday, April 30 at 9:00 a.m. at the Riley Education Center. The draw will determine numerical selection for acceptance of candidates.
We ask that you help us by sharing this information with friends and/or family members who may be interested in having their children become a part of the Allen Park Public Schools Family.
For more information about the Schools of Choice Program, please see the attached FAQ’s, visit our website at www.allenparkschools.com or call (313) 827-2105.
Allen Park Summer Kids Camp is open to all districts and offers children ages 3-13 an opportunity to enjoy a variety of fun activities, field trips and more! Each week offers a different theme and a special event. Our staff will help your child have fun, make memories, and create friendships in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. Flyer with more info attached – registration form on district website – allenparkschools.com – https://www.allenparkschools.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=971884&type=d&pREC_ID=1292547
Allen Park Public Schools Latchkey program is designed to provide children with a safe, well-supervised environment when an adult is unable to be at home. The activities include crafts, games, outdoor and indoor play. Our program is play-based and encourages a relaxed environment for the child who is in school all day. We are licensed with the State of Michigan to take care of children between the ages of 3 and 13 years of age. Flyer with more info attached – registration form on district website – allenparkschools.com – https://www.allenparkschools.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=971884&type=d&pREC_ID=1292543
Safety Town is an interactive safety awareness program for children from 5-6 years of age. Each day the children will be introduced to various safety issues in a fun and safe environment. The program is taught by a Police Officer and an AP teacher, with hands-on topics led by community guest speakers as well as visits from the Allen Park Police & Fire Departments. Teen volunteers from Allen Park High School lead the children through Safety Town every day and receive valuable training along with obtaining National Honor Society service hours. The children learn about stranger danger, water and beach as well as playground safety, fire safety, pet and bus safety, electrical and gun safety, and personal safety with an emphasis on pedestrian safety. The kids will be bicycling through a miniature town complete with streets, sidewalks, buildings, stop signs and a working traffic signal. Importance is placed on having the children memorize a cell phone number to call if they should ever become lost. We use fun songs to reinforce all of these principles and the children memorize our very own Safety Town Pledge!
Parent Orientation: All children and parents will meet for a 30 minute orientation on the first day of your session (Children stay for full session). It is the parent’s responsibility to bring their child to Safety Town daily and to pick them up promptly. Parents who will have someone else picking up the child will designate that on the enrollment form the first day.
April is a month where students take standardized tests. Your child’s ability to learn and succeed in the classroom improves when he or she has eaten breakfast. When your children eat breakfast at home, try to include three different food groups. An example of this might be low-sugar, whole-grain cereal with milk and a glass of 100% fruit juice or a sliced banana on the cereal. If time is not on your side, that’s okay! Whole grain waffles, a handful of nuts and an apple to eat in the car on the way to school will work. A peanut butter and banana sandwich is also easy to eat on the go and tastes great! Don’t forget that leftovers from the night before can make a good breakfast. Or you could make a fruit smoothie! Blend whatever fresh, frozen, or canned fruits you have on hand with ½ cup of low-fat or non-fat yogurt and you’ve got a delicious breakfast ready to go! Lastly, you can always pack a breakfast to go the night before, so you don’t have to worry about making breakfast in the morning.
4th Grade Storm Drain Presentation
4th Grade Ecosystems
March Wrap-Up
A BIG Thank you to all of the teachers who participated in or had a role in organizing March is Reading Month activities, especially Mrs. Smalley and Mrs. Cervantes!
Thank you so much for your generous donations to Rock Your Socks Day at Allen Park Schools! This celebration of World Down Syndrome Day has been so much fun! The students loved showing off their socks. It was so amazing to see the community come together to support and celebrate all “EXTRA” special kids. The district’s Cognitively Impaired programs greatly appreciate your support more than words could ever convey.
Coming soon to Arno…
***Spring Break April 1-5 No School
April 8
School Resumes
Choir Concert APAC 6:30
April 9
No events
April 10
Fire Drill
April 11
Penny War Movie 1:45
PTA Meeting 6:30
April 12
Daddy Daughter Dance
April 15
No events
April 16
No events
April 17
No events
April 18
Energy Safe Kinds 4th grade
April 19
Good Friday- No School
From the PTA
ARNO VISION
ARNO ELEMENTARY WILL PROVIDE A SYSTEM OF SUPPORT TO EMPOWER
AND INSPIRE STUDENTS TO BECOME COLLABORATIVE LEARNERS
THAT STRIVE FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
Library Book Damage
This year has unfortunately been a big year for damaged library books. Students are taught how to handle books, but it’s not carrying over as they bring them home. Damaged books are generally not used on shelf anymore and it is quite an expense to the school. We are asking that you help your child make good choices in how they are treating the book at home (Not by water, not in a couch cushion, etc.) Thank you for your help.
Mobile Dentist is Coming to Arno on April 25th (See links below)
Our next PTA meeting will be Thursday April 11th at 630pm. Lots of updates and changes to be discussed! Have a happy and safe Spring Break!
5th Grade Camp Rocks!
Mr. Peace Motivates for the M-STEP
Limited Schools of Choice Program for 2019-20
The Allen Park Public School District has established a successful Schools of Choice Program for the past several years and the Board of Education has approved continuation of the program for the 2019-20 school year for Kindergarten through 8th Grade. (Requests for specific elementary schools cannot be guaranteed)
Applications will be available beginning Monday, April 8, 2019 at the Riley Education Center, 9601 Vine or at www.allenparkschools.comCompleted applications will be accepted beginningMonday, April 8 through Friday, April 26, 2019 from 7:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. weekdays in the Pupil Accounting Office at the Riley Education Center. Completed applications may also be emailed to schoolofchoice@appublicschools.com by Friday, April 26, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. Absolutely no late applications can be accepted.
A random draw selection will be held on Tuesday, April 30 at 9:00 a.m. at the Riley Education Center. The draw will determine numerical selection for acceptance of candidates.
We ask that you help us by sharing this information with friends and/or family members who may be interested in having their children become a part of the Allen Park Public Schools Family.
For more information about the Schools of Choice Program, please see the attached FAQ’s, visit our website at www.allenparkschools.com or call (313) 827-2105.
Safety Town is an interactive safety awareness program for children from 5-6 years of age. Each day the children will be introduced to various safety issues in a fun and safe environment. The program is taught by a Police Officer and an AP teacher, with hands-on topics led by community guest speakers as well as visits from the Allen Park Police & Fire Departments. Teen volunteers from Allen Park High School lead the children through Safety Town every day and receive valuable training along with obtaining National Honor Society service hours. The children learn about stranger danger, water and beach as well as playground safety, fire safety, pet and bus safety, electrical and gun safety, and personal safety with an emphasis on pedestrian safety. The kids will be bicycling through a miniature town complete with streets, sidewalks, buildings, stop signs and a working traffic signal. Importance is placed on having the children memorize a cell phone number to call if they should ever become lost. We use fun songs to reinforce all of these principles and the children memorize our very own Safety Town Pledge!
Parent Orientation: All children and parents will meet for a 30 minute orientation on the first day of your session (Children stay for full session). It is the parent’s responsibility to bring their child to Safety Town daily and to pick them up promptly. Parents who will have someone else picking up the child will designate that on the enrollment form the first day.
April is a month where students take standardized tests. Your child’s ability to learn and succeed in the classroom improves when he or she has eaten breakfast. When your children eat breakfast at home, try to include three different food groups. An example of this might be low-sugar, whole-grain cereal with milk and a glass of 100% fruit juice or a sliced banana on the cereal. If time is not on your side, that’s okay! Whole grain waffles, a handful of nuts and an apple to eat in the car on the way to school will work. A peanut butter and banana sandwich is also easy to eat on the go and tastes great! Don’t forget that leftovers from the night before can make a good breakfast. Or you could make a fruit smoothie! Blend whatever fresh, frozen, or canned fruits you have on hand with ½ cup of low-fat or non-fat yogurt and you’ve got a delicious breakfast ready to go! Lastly, you can always pack a breakfast to go the night before, so you don’t have to worry about making breakfast in the morning.
March Reads On…
Dr. John Tafelski reads to Arno students
Chief Edward Cann reads to our Cougars
Tania Jett has our Cougars
Penny Wars
Congratulations to Mrs. Cervantes and Ms. Stanley’s class for winning the Penny Wars. In addition to first place, each year an additional winning spot is chosen- this year, 4th place were also the winners! Each class will enjoy a snack and a movie with Mr. Zielinski. We raised $2814.98 which goes towards next year’s March is Reading Month activities.
6 Spring Break Literacy Activities for Families
Spending time in nature is a great Spring Break activity that can also have a literacy component. Have your child write words describing what they see, and later compose a poem using those words.
Springtime is fast approaching, and with that comes school spring break. Whether your family plans to spend the week at home or traveling, here is a list of 6 activities to keep children engaged in literacy throughout the break from school.
1. Play a Game as a Family
Playing games is a great way to build literacy skills. The conversation that goes on while playing games can help children build language. It also offers a chance to introduce new vocabulary words and phrases. For example:
Have your child help read board game instructions. Help him follow each of the instructions.
Playing word/letter related games, such as hangman and crossword puzzles, can provide lots of fun ways to practice spelling and reading.
2. Library Visit
Take the extra time with your children to become more familiar with the free resources your local library offers. Libraries offer children’s programs that support reading. In addition to books, you can also get access to technology and learning games.
3. Write About Outdoor Play
Connect playing and learning by getting outdoors. For example:
Take your child to a neighborhood playground to have fun and get some physical exercise. When you get home, ask him to write about his favorite part of your time outdoors. If he is just learning to write, ask him to dictate a few sentences to you. Provide assistance with forming the sentences when needed.
Spend time observing nature. Sit outside and watch birds, or study clouds in the sky. Help your child write down some words that describe his observations such as sounds he hears or movements he might see. Using the descriptive words, help him write a short poem.
Below you will find an example of a poem my children and I wrote together:
Spring is near. Can you hear?
Chirping of birds,
Running of kids,
Buzzing of bees.
Spring is near. Can you see?
Budding of plants,
Brightening of grass,
Opening of windows.
Spring is near. Can you feel?
Taking off of winter coats,
Feeling the warm sun,
Blowing of the wind.
4. Look for a Little Free Library
A Little Free Library is a small container of free books that can be exchanged within a community. These community sharing libraries help motivate readers, young and old. Click here to read a past blog about Little Free Libraries in Iowa. Use this map to see if there’s a little free library in your neighborhood. If so, talk to your child about a book she might like to donate to the library in exchange for getting a new book.
5. Write a Letter to a Favorite Author
Communicating with an author can be a fun way for a child to connect reading and writing. How to connect with an author:
Have your child choose one of her favorite authors.
Help your child write a letter to the author. The letter can include your child’s questions for the author. It also should discuss reasons she liked the author’s book(s), and perhaps how she made a connection to the story.
Look for the author’s email address. The author’s personal website might have the email address listed. You also might be able to connect with the author through social media.
If you can’t find information on how to connect with the author online, you can send a physical letter in the mail. Look inside the book for the publisher’s address, and address the letter to the author.
6. Record Your Own Audiobook
Let your child have a turn reading aloud by making an audiobook. How to create an audiobook:
Have your child select a book he would like to record himself reading.
Have him read the book to you a couple of times. Each time your child reads the book, have him try changing the voices for the characters or the way he uses expression when reading the sentences. Ask him if the different ways he read the book changed the meaning of the story.
Record your child reading, using a tape recorder or a smart phone.
Garden Club Community Involvement Request
Read below to find out more about our therapy dogs and reading
Mrs. Smalley poses with her Top 10
