THE INDEPENDENCE UPDATE

6850 Hubbard Road Chris Turner, Principal Clarkston, MI 48348 Ray Lebert, PTO President (248) 623-5500 March, 2015

From the Principal . . .From the Principal . . .From the Principal . . .From the Principal . . .

We are very excited to announce that due to the incredible success of our recent Winter Carnival, as well as the Clarkston Community School Boards recent decision to allocate new technology for our school, plans are underway for Independence Elementary students to have a renovated Computer Lab in the coming weeks! The renovated lab will benefit students in the future, as well as contribute greatly to the administration of the Michigan Department of Educations new Assessment System Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress (M-STEP) which will be given this spring to all students in grades 3-5 throughout the State. Even though we have not completely reached the initial monetary target, we are well on our way thanks to everyones support! The current plan is to have the first phase of the computer lab renovation complete following Spring Break... be sure to ask your child about it! Thanks again for everyones involvement and support for this much-needed addition to our School!!

Chris Turner

Important Dates to RememberImportant Dates to RememberImportant Dates to RememberImportant Dates to Remember March 13 No School Teacher Records Day March 17 Market Day March 17 & 19 Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m. March 19 Fifth grade Group Picture 9:00 a.m. March 24 Variety Show Preview 4:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. Fifth grade visit to SMS 8:45 a.m.-11:40 a.m. March 25 Late Start Day School begins at 9:25 a.m. March 26 S.O.C.K.S. Day 9:00 11:30 a.m. March 27 PTO Board meeting 9:30 a.m. April 1 Movie Night Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey 6:30 p.m. April 3 No School Spring recess begins April 13 School resumes April 16 Fifth grade Music Concert 7:00 p.m. April 20-28 Hearing Screening for Y5s, Kindergarten, 2nd & 4th grades April 21 Kindergarten Orientation 9:15 a.m. & 1:15 p.m. (No school for Young Fives & Kindergarten students) Market Day April 22 Late Start Day School begins at 9:25 a.m. Variety Show dress rehearsal 4:00 6:00 p.m. April 23 Variety Show 6:30 p.m. April 24 PTO Board meeting - 9:30 a.m. April 30 Second grade Music Concert 7:00 p.m.

A Message From Kids Connection Pre-paid use only from April 27th June 9th

Credit card forms for last 6 weeks will be available at Kids Connection starting April 13th.

YEARBOOKS are

now on sale!

Order your copy today!

Price - $12.00

Order forms are available in the main office.

All orders due by Friday, March 20, 2015

March is Reading Month Update

If youve been in the front entry of the school lately, you may have noticed that Independence Elementary has been transformed into Gooseberry Parkour March is Reading Month book! Each family will be receiving a copy of Gooseberry Park along with a pacing guide and discussion questions. Each week students can visit the Media Center for the opportunity to push their thinking about the book and enter their name for a prize drawing. There will also be weekly Drop Everything And Read times where everyone stops what they are doing to read.

Every Wednesday at I.E. is a special reading theme: March 11 - Reading Jogs Your Mind Day (wear comfy jogging clothes for reading) March 18 - Stuffed Animal Day (bring a stuffed animal to read with) March 25 Hit a Home Run with Reading (Wear your favorite sports team apparel to school for reading) April 1 Wear Your Words Day (Wear clothes to school that have words on them)

Another exciting activity during March is Reading Month is our 2nd annual I.E. Movie Night on Wednesday, April 1st. At 6:30 p.m. we will premiere Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey. The cost is $2 ahead of time and $3 at the door. This movie ties nicely to Gooseberry Park by following the same themes of friendship and determination.

Happy reading!

A HUGE thank you to Mrs. Boewe, Mr. & Mrs. Carter, Mrs. Berney and the rest of the March is Reading Month committee for the

awesome decorating job they did for our school. The building is looking great!

Its time to Think Springat least in music class!Its time to Think Springat least in music class!Its time to Think Springat least in music class!Its time to Think Springat least in music class! Please mark your calendar for the following music conPlease mark your calendar for the following music conPlease mark your calendar for the following music conPlease mark your calendar for the following music concerts:certs:certs:certs:

5555thththth Grade concert: Thursday, april 16 Grade concert: Thursday, april 16 Grade concert: Thursday, april 16 Grade concert: Thursday, april 16thththth ---- 7:00 p.m. in the gym 7:00 p.m. in the gym 7:00 p.m. in the gym 7:00 p.m. in the gym

2222ndndndnd grade concert: Thursday, April 30 grade concert: Thursday, April 30 grade concert: Thursday, April 30 grade concert: Thursday, April 30thththth 7:00 P.M. in the gym 7:00 P.M. in the gym 7:00 P.M. in the gym 7:00 P.M. in the gym

Both of these concerts will conclude between 7:30Both of these concerts will conclude between 7:30Both of these concerts will conclude between 7:30Both of these concerts will conclude between 7:30----7:40. 7:40. 7:40. 7:40. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

GwGwGwGwen Stewart, music ken Stewart, music ken Stewart, music ken Stewart, music k----5555 248248248248----623623623623----5515551555155515

gsstewart@clarkston.k12.mi.usgsstewart@clarkston.k12.mi.usgsstewart@clarkston.k12.mi.usgsstewart@clarkston.k12.mi.us

STUDENT COUNCIL

MOVIE NIGHT

NOW SHOWING Homeward Bound:

The Incredible Journey

Wednesday, April 1st at 6:30 p.m.

$2 per person for advance tickets $3 at the door

(Sponsored by the IE Student Council)

Parent/Teacher Conferences are being held Tuesday, March 17, 4 7:30 pm Thursday, March 19, 4 - 7:30 pm

NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS ON FRIDAY, 3/13/15

Lost & Found Parents, please remind your students to look through our Lost & Found for any items they may have lost. We have many snow pants, hats, gloves and boots that are waiting to be claimed.

There is still time to place your March Market Day order! Keep in mind that we have an opportunity to earn more for Independence through Bonus Days. Why not order an old favorite dessert or try something new like the Orange Creamsicle Pie?

This month you can receive a FREE 4-Pack of ChicNSteaks with a $90 online purchase: Promo Code: MARBONUS. As always, new customers can save $5 off of a $25 purchase made online by using Promo Code: NEWFIVE. Also, dont forget to qualify for Market Days Spring Freequent Buyer program, simply make two purchases of $40 between February and April, then place a third order of $40 in May to receive a FREE Set of Collapsible Bowls at your May sale pick-up. You have until Tuesday, March 10th to place your order. Online orders may be placed until 11pm that day, or turn in your hard-copy form to school by Friday, March 6th.

Everything will be ready for you to pick up in the cafeteria on Tuesday, March 17th, from 3:15-4:15. As always please contact me with any questions.

We hope to see you on pick up day! Thank you! Carrera Gach 847-404-0305

NON-DISCRIMINATION CLAUSE In compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, the Americans with Disability Act of 1990, and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, it is the policy of the Clarkston Community School District that the Board of Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, age, height, weight, marital status, genetic information, or any other legally protected characteristic, in its programs and activities, including employment opportunities. For information, contact the Director of Personnel, 6389 Clarkston Road, Clarkston, MI 48346, (248) 623.5400. For information regarding ADA, contact the Deputy Superintendent, 6389 Clarkston Road, Clarkston, MI 48346, (248) 623.5400.

IE needs your help to receive FREE money!!

Sign Up TODAY and Shop, Swipe and Earn for IE! ___________________________________________________

Last year, IE received over $3,400.00 from this program to help fund important classroom enhancements/projects with only 85 families participating. Imagine how much our school could receive if all families participated! Now is the time to Enroll or Re-Enroll with Kroger! The new Kroger year began May 1st! Please help us receive a cash donation based on the percentage of your purchases! It will take less than 5 minutes of your time. Simply follow the directions below to link your Kroger Plus Card to our Account #82420. It's FREE and SO EASY to set up! Then, just SHOP, SWIPE AND EARN for IE!! Please note: Your Kroger Fuel Points are not impacted with this program. You can earn Fuel Points and $ for IE!! Directions for 1st Time Enrollment: 1. Click on www.KrogerCommunityRewards.com 2. Click Create Account 3. Enter your e-mail address, create a password and confirm password. 4. Select your preferred store. (This is for information purposes only for Kroger; all shopping done with your card will still go towards IE.) Enter zip code, select store, then click Create Account. 5. Enter your Kroger Plus Card number and last name used for your Kroger Plus card 6. Go to Community Rewards (near bottom) 7. Complete the fields (name, address, etc.) 8. Enter Independence Elementary or type in our Account Number: 82420, then click Enroll Now 9. Select Independence Elementary 10. Click Enroll You are now Enrolled!!! THANK YOU!!! Directions to Re-Enroll: 1. Click on www.KrogerCommunityRewards.com 2. Click Sign In 3. Enter your e-mail address and password used to enroll your card, then click Sign In 4. Enter Independence Elementary or type in our Account Number: 82420, then click Enroll Now 5. Select Independence Elementary 6. Click Enroll You are now Re-Enrolled!!! THANK YOU!!! Assistance? If you need assistance registering, please call 1-800-KROGERS, press 5 for customer service, press 5 to speak to a customer service representative.

Passive Fundraising Update

THANK YOU!

A very special THANK YOU to everyone who is participating with the Passive Fundraising Programs your efforts are record-setting and IE will definitely benefit!

Box Tops for Education/Labels for Education: t takes a team effort to make these programs happen! To date, we have earned over $2,500 from Box Tops and 6,700 Labels for Education points alone this school year! Those little labels add upso keep them coming, as we collect them all year long.

Hat Day for Box Tops was another BIG success! Thank you for showing your support for IE! We collected 3,400 Box TopsThats $340 we earned from our February Hat Day! We also collected 2,800 Labels for Education points. Hats off to everyone for another successful Hat Day for Box Tops!

Kroger Community Rewards: THANK YOU to everyone who has enrolled in the Kroger Community Rewards! We now have 102 families enrolled and our most recent check was $1,010! WAY TO GO IE FAMILIES!! If you havent enrolled yet, theres still time! Simply click on www.KrogerCommunityRewards.com and follow the prompts to link your Kroger Plus Card to our Account #82420. Earn $ for IE while you shop!

E-Labels for Education: Remember to Shop. Swipe. Earn! This program allows our school to earn one point for any Campbells Labels for Education purchases automatically. To sign up, register on-line by following the prompts at www.E-LabelsForEducation.com. Enter your Kroger Plus Card number, and select our school to receive the E-Labels for Education points. This program is in addition to any points/labels you send in, so keep those coming as well!

Target: THANK YOU to all of you who participate with the Target REDcard Take Charge of Education program by designating IE to receive a percentage of your purchases. We currently have 43 families enrolled. To participate, program information can be found at www.target.com/tcoe. Link your Target REDcard to our ID# 114251.

We also continue to participate with the Meijer Community Rewards (www.Meijer.com/rewards), Office Depot and Tyson (www.Tyson.com/ProjectAPlus) programs. Complete program info can be found at: www.clarkston.k12.mi.us/ie. Just click on PTO and then Passive Fundraising.

Also, remember to multiply your efforts by asking friends and family to participate on behalf of our school, too!

Thank you for your continued support!Thank you for your continued support!Thank you for your continued support!Thank you for your continued support!