PICKFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS -- PANTHER POST -- JANUARY 2014 · 2017-06-15 · PICKFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS...
Transcript of PICKFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS -- PANTHER POST -- JANUARY 2014 · 2017-06-15 · PICKFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS...
PICKFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS -- PANTHER POST -- JANUARY 2014
Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed
is more important than any other.
~ Abraham Lincoln
The New Year is associated with initiating new beginnings and new behaviors to help us lead more successful lives. Who among us
hasn’t made a resolution to lose weight, bolster our savings account, decrease our stress, or increase our knowledge about various
topics. Resolutions are often made easily, but carrying them through into practice is usually somewhat more difficult. If we don’t
believe this just from our own personal experience, there is some research to support the idea that only about 1% of all New Year’s
resolutions are ever actually accomplished. Now before you use this statistic as a reason to scrap all those resolutions you made
almost a month ago, take a moment to consider how thinking differently about the traditional method of setting resolutions might
increase our odds of actually achieving them.
James Clear http://jamesclear.com/ has written a number of interesting articles about goal-setting. He promotes determining your
path and taking action to transform your habits with a departure from the customary methods endorsed for quality goal setting.
James says that establishing goals (set destinations) will actually impede your desired progress, while taking the time to establish
"systems" will better pave your way. In other words, according to James, if you're a coach, your goal is to win the
championship. Your system is what your team does at practice every day. Using this method of establishing systems, there is less
likelihood that individuals will get discouraged with the short-term "hit it or miss it" approach that is prevalent in a goal orientation.
A system – a defined and measurable process – is more long-term and on-going. We can consistently stick to working and modifying
a system every day and be happier and more successful because of it.
Now, how does this apply to schools? Obviously schools have a multitude of systems: data systems, communication systems,
instructional programs and processes, assessment systems, management systems, and financial & budgetary systems. All of these
systems are constantly fine-tuned and modified to bring about the most positive outcomes for students. Pickford Public Schools has
added several NEW components to our existing systems recently. Here are just a few that we are especially proud of:
New Instructional Strategies and Programs – Art classes for K-12; HS Research and Design Class; Robotics Club; Reading
Strategies Class; onsite advanced Algebra instruction for college credit; Middle School Tech Media/Broadcasting Class;
departmentalization for 5th grade Math, Science and Social Studies; Reading and Writing Workshop for elementary literacy
instruction; multiple classroom service learning projects (read more about most of them in this newsletter); Science Fair for K-8;
afterschool Math Support Program for grades K-8 (coming soon!)
New Communication/Information Systems – Enhancement and continuous updating of district website and FaceBook page; School
Messenger system; Illuminate Student Information System Parent Portal; Remind 101 app for homework updates; second semester
Student Led Conferences; student planners and classroom newsletters for grades K-5; Standards Based Reporting for grades K-5;
and Parent surveys (coming soon…watch for them on the website!)
New Technology – Updated wireless access points to allow better internet access for staff and students; tablet computers for grade 5
students; iPad cart to share between grades K-2; refurbished laptop computers to replace ancient desktops in elementary classrooms;
addition of a bank of desktop computers to the library
New ways to keep our students safe and healthy – Elementary Mileage Club and Walking Program; Breakfast in the classroom for
all students K-5; Water Bottle Filling Stations in HS and elementary (coming soon to the lunchroom and gym!); Camera surveillance
system for elementary and secondary buildings; Bus cameras; installation of fence guards in athletic complex; and emergency kit
bags in each classroom
As with anything new and different, some of these system additions take a certain amount of time to fully implement and get used to.
Some changes to the system originate from within and some are imposed from external sources. Our systems are constantly affected,
for better, and unfortunately more often for worse, by state and federal legislative requirements, available funding, and decreasing
population trends. Our challenge is how to maintain the best possible educational system for our students while meeting state and
federal accountability requirements, as well as doing what is necessary to qualify for funding incentives and categorical and grant
allocations that all come with their own guidelines and stipulations. Now, more than ever, it is important to be a supporter of our
public school system. Read about new legislation impacting your local school, come to School Board meetings, talk with your
legislators, be informed, and be an advocate for providing adequate levels of funding to our area districts. Our resolution is to
provide the best systems possible to help our students succeed. Feel free to contact us with any suggestions that will help us reach our
goal. We would love your input!
Angela Nettleton, Superintendent/K-12 Principal
PICKFORD CALENDAR UPDATES
HIGH/MIDDLE SCHOOL & ELEMENTARY
OFFICE HOURS: 8:00 AM TO 3:30 PM
School Phone: (906) 647-6285
High School Reception/Library: Ext. 207 – Jan Fehner (until 12:00 p.m.)
Elementary Office: Ext. 2 – Marilynn Crisp
Chuck Bennin, Athletic Director: Ext. 4
Sherry Miller, C.C.S.S.: Ext. 6
In an effort to keep the flow of education within the classroom, please
be advised that all incoming calls to teachers will be sent to voicemail.
Return calls will be made during the teachers’ prep time or after school.
Messages to students will only be given during lunch time and at the
end of the school day. Only in the case of an emergency will a class be
interrupted.
It is important to us that your child is placed on the right bus at the end
of the day. Any changes in daily bus routines should be sent in writing
to the teacher. If a change is necessary after your child has been sent to
school, please call the office prior to 2:30 p.m. so that every effort can
be made to give the teacher and child the message.
STUDENT ABSENCES
When your child is absent from school, late, or
needs to leave early, you must contact the
school by phone, send a note, or email:
[email protected] (grades 6-12) ext. 207
[email protected] (K-5) ext. 105 ,
no later than 10:00 a.m. the day they return
or the absence will be considered unexcused.
When students are absent or not completing work, they are missing key
components in their lessons which have an impact on their grades and
testing. Please make an effort to see that your child attends school
regularly.
Illuminate – Student Information System Pickford Public Schools has joined the Easter Upper Peninsula Consortium in the use of a regional student
information system, Illuminate. In this system, you will be able to view all of your child’s schedule, attendance,
and grades through the “Home Connection” feature.
Student and parent portals have been enabled. If you need assistance in viewing your child’s information,
please contact (Janet Haske) [email protected] for access code information. You can also register for an
account online at:
http://pickford.eup.k12.mi.us//site/Default.aspx?PageID=689
January
25 District Solo and Ensemble
February
5 Tom Thelen Anti-Bullying Assembly
12 EUP Regional Science Fair
Pre-Festival Band Concert 7:00 p.m.
13 Student Led Conferences
14 Winter Break - No school
17 Professional Development – No
School for Students
March
17 B.O.E. Meeting 7:00 p.m.
19 Winter Athletic Banquet
21 End of Third Marking Period
April
1-4 Spring Break
7 Professional Development Day
No school for students
8 School Resumes
11 Kindergarten Round-Up 18 Good Friday – No School
21 B.O.E. Meeting 7:00 p.m.
May
1-2 Sixth Grade Camp
13 Evening with the Arts 6:00 p.m.
Spring Band Concert 7:00 p.m.
19 B.O.E. Meeting 7:00 p.m.
21 Spring Athletic Banquet 6:30 p.m.
24 Graduation
26 Memorial Day
29 Elementary Spring Program 7:00
June
6 Last Day of School ½ day
Pickford 3rd graders wish to thank the Pickford Grange
for donating 35 dictionaries!
- Mrs. Kietzman and her students did an amazing job at the Holiday Band
Concert and the K-4 Christmas concert.
- Mrs. Jacobson received a Fuel Up to Play 60 grant to fund blenders for
smoothies and mileage charms for the walking program.
- Mrs. Metrish received $1500 from the George and Anne MacDonald
Science and Math Opportunity Grant. The money will be used to to create
hands on science projects that promote inquiry. The 2nd graders will have
the opportunity to be more engaged in constructing, measuring, observing,
developing, and demonstrating scientific knowledge.
- Pickford FCCLA raised money for, shopped for, and delivered gifts to over twenty families in our
community. We would like to thank the local banks, churches and community members that support
this program. FCCLA also raised several hundred dollars at the Dig Pink game to donate to Mrs.
Feldhake for supporting her daily travel to and from Petoskey for radiation treatments.
The High School Student Council held a TALENT SHOW December 20 to showcase many hidden student
talents. Prizes were awarded to the top 3 finishers which were:
1st Place – The Leprechan Farmers Who are Gamblers
(also known as Jack Slater, Eli Kott, and Eli Reilly) 2
nd Place – Kayla Rambo singing White Christmas
3rd
Place – Elizabeth Schell - Comedy Sketch
8th Grade US History students were given
the extra credit assignment over Christmas
break to create a board game based on the
Bill of Rights (the first 10 amendments of
the Constitution). There were 7 fantastic
games turn in that allowed students yet
another way to learn about the details and
application of the guaranteed rights of
citizens protected by our Constitution. __________________________________________________________________________________________
KINDERGARTEN ROUND UP - APRIL 11, 2014
You will need to bring an original, state issued birth certificate, current
immunization record, and proof of residency for each student you wish to
enroll. Please call Marilyn Crisp at 647-6285 ext. 105, to schedule an
appointment.
The entry age for kindergarten is being gradually changed to requiring children
to be 5 years old by Sept. 1.
2014-15 School Year – A child may enroll if the child is at least 5 years of age on OCTOBER 1, 2014
2015-16 School Year – A child may enroll if the child is at least 5 years of age on SEPTEMBER 1, 2015
Immunization Requirements for NEW KINDERGARTENERS
Students entering Kindergarten in the fall are required to have the following immunizations:
DTP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis) – 5 doses (the last dose given on or after 4th birthday)
Polio – 4 doses (the last dose given on or after 4th birthday)
MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) – 2 doses
Hepatitis B Series
Chicken Pox vaccine – 2 doses (unless your child has already had chicken pox) _____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Using the positive behavior approach (Paw Laws and Panthers ROAR) that we practice in our school we are going to be
focusing, especially, on bus expectations for the next few weeks, and then revisiting them for the rest of the year. Please
speak with your child/ren about our expectations and why it’s so important to behave appropriately on the bus for the
safety of everyone riding. Bus transportation is a privilege. Please remind your child/ren to be respectful, responsible, and
safe on the bus:
Use a quiet voice and talk to those seated near them
Wait their turn in line
Be respectful of the bus driver and follow his directions
Keep track of their belongings
Stay seated -- back to back and bottom to bottom when the bus is in motion
Keep aisles clear of arms, legs, feet, and backpacks
Place any trash in the garbage can
Use appropriate and respectful language
Be on time for pick up
Ride your assigned bus and get off at your assigned stop unless you have a note from your parents or the office.
We will be teaching lessons at school to reinforce these behaviors. Your help at home is appreciated and will make
for safe travel on our busses.
Students are enjoying the first new water bottle filling station installed. This was
made possible with assistance from the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians Water
Access Initiative. Four filling stations will eventually be installed throughout the
building.
Support our Public Schools - The Michigan Public Schools Partnership (MPSP) is a coalition of 21
school-related organizations and school districts committed to promoting the good news about Michigan public
schools. By standing strong for public schools, MPSP showcases positive school stories to counter the negative
image public schools have mistakenly been given. The mission of MPSP is to promote the value of public
education in Michigan. Community public schools are a key component of our democracy that ensures all
students have access to a quality education and a brighter future. MPSP will provide news, information, data
and resources to school districts, communities, the general public and the media confirming that community
public schools are successfully nurturing and educating students to be productive Michigan citizens.
Stories of public school successes can be submitted by school staff, students, parents, and community members
to the MPSP website. These stories can be about anything regarding you and/or our district. Submit a Story
today!
http://www.standingstrongforpublicschools.org/
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Pickford's 7th grade Language Arts class and their teacher Ms.
Caitlin Mortinsen are assisting with a Service Learning Project on
recycling. Students have created posters to explain more about
recycling that will be displayed in the school hallways, and created
brochures to send home with students with ideas for recycling at
home. They have also written and recorded a recycling song which
can be viewed on the school website. The goal is to have all
classrooms recycling paper and plastic.
Give Kids a Smile
February is Dental Health Month. The American Dental Association is once again
sponsoring GIVE KIDS A SMILE! Dentists across the nation are providing treatment and
education to help children with limited access to dental care.
Dr. Morrison, Dr. Toner and their staff will be participating in this event. They would
like to extend an invitation to children in the Pickford area who do not have dental
insurance to receive dental care. The day of the event will be Friday, Feb. 7, 2014. There
will be no charge to patients on GIVE KIDS A SMILE! day.
________________________________________________________________________________________
Military-Connected Children The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) is participating in a national initiative to support the children of military
families. By being aware of military-connected children in their school districts, as well as the challenges they face, it is
hoped that teachers and principals will be able to support these students and their families by helping to ensure that they
are able to meet all their needs when it comes to furthering their education.
All children residing in Michigan with a parent or legal guardian currently serving in any component of the Army, Navy,
Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard are considered to be military-connected children. This includes the children of any
uniformed personnel serving with the Michigan National Guard, in any of the Reserve United States forces, or on Active
Duty.
Please contract Tracy Rye, Business Manager if your child/ren are MILITARY-CONNECTED
CHILD/REN. [email protected], Pickford Public Schools, P.O. Box 278, Pickford, MI 49774,
906-647-6285, ext 203
Deadline: January 30, 2014
COUNSELING OFFICE NEWS I cannot adequately THANK YOU for your many kindnesses as I battle breast cancer. I am happy
to report that I am done with my radiation treatments and have returned to school full time (so at
Pickford that means I am here all day on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and I am also here
each Friday afternoon). I feel great and expect a full recovery. Your cards, messages, Dig Pink
benefit game, blanket and other goodies from FCCLA, prayers and gifts got me through this. You
are an AMAZING community and I am so thankful for all you have done for me and my family. I
certainly hope to pay it forward.
Pat Feldhake
Elementary:
This school year we have had 17 of our high school students serving as mentors in the elementary classrooms. The
mentors spend one hour of their school day with the elementary students. We have found that this benefits both the
elementary and high school students as the younger students receive academic and social help; while the older students
discover whether or not they might want a career in education.
Starting the first week of February the BABES Buddies will be performing five puppet shows in the first, third,
third/fourth grade classrooms for five sessions. Parents are most welcome to attend these twenty minute presentations
which deal with topics such as decision making, peer pressure and coping skills (a letter will be sent home listing the
exact dates and times). The high school role models this year are: Sierra Johnson, Hillary Taylor, Kassidy Yarnell, Taylor
Miller, Camden Ledy, Kaitlin Clatterbuck and Noah Brooks.
Middle School:
The sixth graders seem to be adjusting well to Middle School. After being used to having one main teacher, they have
now gotten in the swing of having seven different instructors – one for each of the seven hours in the school day. They are
learning to be more responsible by completing assignments and studying for tests. It has been good to watch them develop
important lifetime skills. If your student is struggling in a particular area (academic or social), don’t hesitate to contact me
to see what we can do to help.
The seventh and eighth graders will be taking a new test called ASPIRE this spring (probably in May). This is a national
test that has been created by ACT to replace the EXPLORE and PLAN tests we have used in the past. It is designed to
assess a student’s knowledge and skills relative to college and career readiness. The test has four main parts: English,
math, reading and science, and it will be taken on the computer. This test is completely aligned with the Common Core
which will make it very useful in knowing how both our students and teachers are mastering the concepts we are
exploring daily in our classrooms.
High School:
Students tend to hear students. On Dec. 19th five PHS Alumni served on a question/answer panel in the school library.
They spoke to the current PHS juniors and seniors about college coursework, buying books at a discount, dorm life,
homesickness, clubs and activities, and a myriad of other related topics. These alumni were recommended by the PHS
faculty. If YOU have an alumni you think would do a good job on this panel please let me know and I will add his/her
name to next year’s panel list. A big thank you to the five who served this year: Jessica Arman- Lake Superior State
University for Fisheries & Wildlife; Koryn Beacom – Central Michigan University with an undeclared major; Phillip
Coullard – Lake Superior State University for Electrical Engineering; Chelsea Kronemeyer – Michigan State University
for Animal Science/Management; and Olivia Smith – Kirtland Community College for Cardiac Sonography.
Current Seniors should be sure to get their Free Application for
Federal Studentl Aid (FAFSA) filed by going to
www.fafsa.ed.gov by March 1, 2014. Parents and students
from both the junior and senior classes are encouraged to
attend a Financial Aid Information meeting in the school
library on Wednesday, January 29, 2014 at 6:00 P.M.
Scholarship information will be given out to each senior prior
to Spring Break informing them of how to apply for the many
local scholarships generously given by local businesses and
organizations.
Alumni; Jessica Arman, Chelsea Kronemeyer,
Phillip Coullard, Koryn Beacom, Olivia Smith
Anti-Bullying Assemblies
Anthony Ianni, of the Autism Alliance of Michigan, is one of the most sought after anti-bullying motivational
speakers in the region. Despite bullies, adversity and numerous personal challenges, Anthony worked hard and
never gave up. Not only did he earn his Bachelor’s Degree from Michigan State University in Sociology he is
the first known athlete with autism to play Big 10 basketball. We were fortunate to have Anthony speak to our
6-12 students free of charge. If you would like to learn more, check out his webpage
http://relentlesstour.com/meet-anthony-ianni/
On February 5 Tom Thelen will be in our district for another assembly with an anti-bullying theme. Mr. Thelen
takes the approach to teach students how to stand up for themselves, encourage positive self-esteem, and not
become a victim of bullying. If you would like to learn more, visit his website at http://tomthelen.com/. This
assembly is being sponsored by the Pickfored PTO.
Friday Game Time reward in Miss McIntyre’s room. (They don’t know they are still practicing
their math skills!)
Generating and testing hypothesis… building solar panel prototypes in industrial arts.
Author sharing time during Kindergarten Writer’s Workshop. These kiddos are AUTHORS!!!
The school library has been the fortunate recipient of many donations this semester. Books Are Fun donated several look-
and-find books along with some non-fiction books the elementary students are enjoying. The Daniel Cottle Family
donated a set of books about different varieties of dinosaurs and one about polar bears. The Casey Crimmin Family
donated several books for our younger readers. Grace Gruno also donated several books for younger readers. Sydney
Johnson donated several books in memory of her great-grandmother Mildred Warren. PTO donated over $200 worth of
books and book sets from the recent Scholastic Book Fair. The Maloney Children donated a set of 3 three Barbie books
and a set of eight Flat Stanley books. Rhoda Beacom donated Starry Night by Debbie Macomber for the high school
section of the library. Jim and Linda Crawford donated three historical fiction books for the upper elementary students.
Roberta and Crimson Lewis donated a biography by local author Linda Dale Cook, A Talent Lost/A Life with a Purpose.
Several books were also donated by the Tom Hill family. The students have been very appreciative of all the new book
choices they now have. Thank you to all who have donated books for our shelves.
******************************************************************************************
BOARD GAMES WANTED... We are seeking donations of gently used (or even new) board games for our elementary students
to be able to check out and play during inside recesss. **********************************************************************************
VISIT OUR WEBSITE: http://pickford.eup.k12.mi.us
By visiting the Pickford School’s website, you will have access to current events, student
activities, notifications, lunch menus, calendar events and much, much more. By searching
on the school calendar, you can find school holidays, scheduled athletic events, meeting
dates and other important school events. We are continually updating information and
events as they occur.
Pickford Public Schools has changed to using SchoolMessenger, the telephone
broadcasting system, which enables school personnel to notify all households and
parents by phone within minutes of an emergency or unplanned event that causes a
school delay, cancellation or an early dismissal. The service is also used from
time-to-time to communicate general announcements or reminders. We will
continue to report school closings due to snow or weather via radio and television
and will use this system as an overlay to the public announcements. Please see the
school website for a full listing of radio and television stations.
We will also use this system to notify you of transportation problems, delayed runs, etc.
Lunch/breakfast charges (the system will remind parents/guardians, on Sunday evenings, of lunch balances for
students owing $20 or more)
When an early release happens, it is important that parents/guardians refrain from calling the school to ask if and when
the students will be released or if a game is cancelled. We ask that the phone lines be kept open in the event parents need
to make other arrangements for K-5 students to be taken to a different location other than their regular drop off point.
Please contact the school if your information has changed to make sure your records are up to date. School Messenger
also has the ability to contact you via email or text. If you wish to enable these options, please contact Janet Haske at the
Central Office. (extension 207)
STUDENT SAFETY ARRIVAL/DISMISSAL GUIDE
The area on the east side of Pleasant Street is designated as a loading and unloading zone during
school hours. PARKING ON THIS SIDE OF THE STREET DURING SCHOOL HOURS IS
PROHIBITED. Exit and entrance during school hours will be on Francis Street only. Parents
dropping students at the elementary end of the building will be encouraged to do so by coming
from M-129 down Francis Street and dropping students off on the curbside. Parents are strongly
encouraged to drop students off and continue to move to prevent traffic build-up.
Parents are asked, if they are picking up students, to remain in their cars in front of the school for quick departure.
Student pick-up prior to 3:10 p.m. is strongly discouraged unless there are extenuating circumstances. No parents
will be allowed down the hallways during dismissal time. They may proceed down the hallways after dismissal is
completed. __________________________________________________________________________________________________
Indoor Recess
Just a reminder to dress your child/ren appropriately for the day’s weather.
Children are expected to go outside for recess unless the temperature is at or below
zero, or wind chill factor of at or below zero. Students sometimes want to take
their jackets off during the winter months while playing outside. Our playground
directors are advised to have all students keep their jackets on while there is still snow on the ground. Exercise
is an important part of the day!
________________________________________________________________________________________
https://www.facebook.com/Pickford-Public-Schools
ART CLASS WITH MRS. IZZARD I want to take this opportunity to thank those of you who have generously donated materials to the Art Department. It
makes such a difference to students, because it is relatively difficult to start an art program. Many everyday items are
necessary to having the class run smoothly each day. Any donation (such as a box of crayons or markers, old magazines,
old calendars, or small yogurt containers) is most welcome. Thank you for your support.
There will be an Evening with the Arts in the spring. Please watch future postings for dates and times.
Middle School Art:
The first group of eighteen 7thand 8
th-graders have almost completed their semester in the art room. It is nice to see the
enthusiasm that they have for most parts of the artistic process. Since September, students have completed projects in
pointillism, collage, paint, colored pencil, graphite pencil, and clay. They have studied a little art history with Islamic 7-
circle Designs, small group PowerPoint presentations of famous artists, and Greek mosaics. This group will soon move to
Tech Media and another group will take their place in the art room.
High School Art:
There are twenty-four high school students in the art room, 7th hour each day. In September, the class began learning the
Elements of Art (such as line, shape, texture, etc.), and learning some of the tools and processes involved in creating
drawings. Their portrait grid drawings were fantastic, giving us all the enthusiasm to try new challenges. Since then,
students have been using colored pencils, charcoal, and clay to complete other projects. We are now in the process of
firing the glazed pieces of pottery that students have created – it’s always exciting to see just how each piece turns out.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Spelling Bee 5
th, 6
th, 7
th, and 8th grade are preparing for the Local Spelling Bee. Each student will be given a list of words to
study and the top two spellers from each grade advance to the District Competition. This competition will be held
February 5, 2013 at 3:30 p.m. in Pickford, and will include top spellers from Cedarville, Detour, Brimley and
Pickford. Good luck spellers!
Sixth Grade Spring Camp Mark your calendar for May 1
st and 2
nd ! Together CCSS and Pickford Public Schools have organized
an educational outing at the Northwoods Camp, south of Pickford. The camp will run for two
days. There will be activities such as canoeing and water safety, water ecology, team building, soil
conservation, archery and many more. Sixth graders from Cedarville, DeTour, Brimley, Paradise and
Pickford will be attending. Look for information after Spring Break.
You can now create an account enabling you to see your child's lunch balance and history. You will need a valid email address to create an account and a secure password will be sent to you. Then you will be able to login and add your children to your account. You must have your child's lunch ID (four digit number) to add them. The link to create an account can be found on the school website main page under Parent Shortcuts, Food Service Information. Please contact Janet Haske if you need further assistance.
PTO has been very active this past semester. With the help of the community, money was
raised from the Believe sales to be used for several project areas throughout the school system.
The profits from last year’s Believe sales went to support new playground equipment. This year, money went to support
the K-12 physical education program, the elementary and the high school art programs, and the industrial arts program.
PTO held a Halloween Carnival; and it looked as if all who attended enjoyed themselves. The Scholastic Book Fair was a
success; many books were donated to the school library, and many other books were donated to individual teachers who
put in requests for their classroom libraries. A new undertaking this year was the Secret Santa Shop, and the elementary
students seemed to have fun picking out gifts for their friends and family from it.
Currently, PTO has a handful of dedicated members who have undertaken the work of organizing, setting up, and
operating the activities mentioned above. They want to thank community members who have volunteered to help with
some of those activities. The current members would be very happy to welcome anyone new who might be interested in
attending and helping out with future projects. At this time, there is no meeting yet scheduled for the second semester.
Watch the school calendar for the next meeting; and in the spring be sure to come to the buy-one-get-one-free Scholastic
Book Sale
Our PTO has also donated to provide new teacher grants -- $100 each for 2 new teachers for classroom supplies and
projects.
We appreciate the support and fundraising efforts of the PTO members that allow us to provide these "extras" for our staff
and students. If you are interested in becoming a member of the PTO, please contact the central office at 647-6285. Help
us support our kids!
______________________________________________________________________________________
Breakfast/Lunch News Applications for free and reduced-priced meals can still be obtained by contacting any school office
or visiting the school website. If your income status changes anytime during the school year, your
child/ren may be eligible for free or reduced priced meals. Also, a new addition to your family could
change your family’s eligibility. You may apply at any time during the school year.
Payment can be made in the elementary classrooms or the superintendent’s office before school begins
or at lunch time. Please utilize My School Account (http://pickford.eup.k12.mi.us/Page/777) to track
the lunch balance of your student(s). If your student has an outstanding balance of $20 or more by May 1, he/she will no
longer be allowed to go through the serving line without pre-paying for his/her meal for that day. We're sorry if this
creates an inconvenience; but in an effort to settle all accounts prior to the end of the school year, this process will be
utilized.
If you do not want your child to participate or charge either breakfast or lunch, please advise the main office in
writing.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Notes from the Band Room
5th-12th grade students will be having an Omni Fundraising sale (sausage, cheese, chocolate) to benefit the
band program (instruments, uniforms, supplies,etc.). Delivery will be within the first two weeks of February.
On Saturday, January 25, 2014 District Solo and Ensemble will be held in Pickford. Student musicians from
area schools will perform as soloists and as members of small group ensembles for expert adjudicators.
The Middle School and High School Bands are preparing for MSBOA District 13 Band Festival. We will be
having a Pre-Festival Concert in the Pickford Gym on Tuesday, February 12 at 7 p.m. The District Band
Festival will be held in Newberry this year Feb. 20-21, 2014. Please check the school website for new
information and performance times.
Science Fair 2014
Science, technology and engineering are basic skills expected by employers. As
Twenty First Century citizens, students will also have to make some of the toughest
decisions of any generation, based on their understanding of emerging science and
technology.
Science fairs involve students in the practices of science and engineering, requiring them to apply those skills to
a topic of interest to them. Doing science is key to understanding science.
Our school held the science fair on January 21, 2014 for all students in grades kindergarten through 8th grade.
Hands-on scientific investigation and invention are the focus at our particular fair.
Local winners will be invited to attend the Regional Science Fair on February 12 at Lake Superior State
University. Check the school website and Facebook page for a complete list of winners.
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Pickford Public Schools is participating as a rookie team
in the FIRST Robotics Competition. The task is to build, in only
six weeks, a robot that will compete with an alliance of other
robots to drive around and be able to throw and/or catch a 2-ft
exercise ball. The first round of competition will take place in
Escanaba on March 14th
, and the second competition is a week
later in Traverse City.
The goal of the FIRST organization is to foster student
enthusiasm for the subjects of science, technology, engineering, and math, while building capacities in
organizing, promotion and fundraising. The 20 members of the Pickford Robo Panthers team include
freshman through seniors of Pickford High School.
The Robo Panthers are seeking support from area businesses and individuals who can donate
mentoring time, materials for construction, and who may be able to financially sponsor the team. For
more information contact the team at [email protected] or follow our Facebook group at Team
5175 Robo Panthers.
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Every year, the Pickford Yearbook gives parents the opportunity to buy an ad in the
yearbook to congratulate their senior student. If you wish to have pictures in the ad, you
may have the student bring them in or, if you wish to do it in secret, you may email
them to Mrs. Walker at [email protected] We will also need what you wish to
say. This can be a quote or just a message to your student of how proud you are of
them. This can also be sent in an email to Mrs. Walker.
Pricing is as follows:
16th
of a page $30
8th
of a page $40
4th
of a page $60
Half page $80
Full Page $125
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR YEARBOOK!