A Time to Reflect...
Our annual Thanksgiving Sing is Friday, November 20th at 2:45 in the gym. The doors will open to parents and other family members at 2:30. This is a wonderful way to start the holiday season and is one more example of the many things we have to be thankful for.... The Kerby Community!
As many of you know, Parent-Teacher Conferences will follow a schedule similar to last school year, consisting of a morning session, an afternoon session, and two evening sessions. The purpose for this is two-fold: to provide an opportunity for parents to attend conferences based on what works best for their schedules, and to better balance the number of instructional days between the AM and PM Kindergarten sections. The challenge lies in the schedule- we only have 20 minutes per conference allotted due to the number of conferences that each teacher must accommodate in the 4 sessions. We truly appreciate your cooperation with being on time and respecting the time that the teacher has available for your child's conference. Our goal is to work with you as a team in meeting your child's educational needs. We know that this can only be accomplished through open and frequent two-way communication. The schedule for the December PT conferences is:
Wednesday, December 2nd: School for students (8:25 to 3:38)
PT conferences (5:00 to 8:00)
Thursday, December 3rd: No School for Students
PT conferences (8:30 am to 11:30 am)
(12:30 pm to 3:30 pm)
(5:00 pm to 8:00 pm)
Most parents signed up for conferences at Back to School Night and conference invitations were sent home in October. If you have not yet received your conference invitation, please contact your child's teacher. Please leave younger siblings home so that you can devote your full attention to your child's conference. We look forward to partnering with you as your child continues to engage in a school year filled with challenge and lessons learned.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Thursday, October 1, 2009
It Takes a Village!
Teamwork and cooperation are such an important part of the learning process. Although we still pay attention to individual progress and academic achievement, we emphasize the importance of working together to accomplish great things. Research shows the importance of empathy and social skills in the workplace, school and in relationships with family and friends. We all have strengths to share with others and we need to recognize the strengths and talents of others. Throughout our school day in our classrooms we make our best efforts to help teach students skills that will help them work together productively and take responsibility for their own learning. These are valuable life-long skills.
In order to promote team-building and build a stronger school community, we are going to meet monthy to have a whole school 'Go Green' assembly for students and teachers. Although the assemblies will be relatively brief, we will provide time to recognize outstanding behaviors, celebrate successes, share skills and talents, and strengthen our school community across the grade levels and throughout the years. We are looking forward to spending this time together, getting to know each other and creating lasting memories at Kerby.
In order to promote team-building and build a stronger school community, we are going to meet monthy to have a whole school 'Go Green' assembly for students and teachers. Although the assemblies will be relatively brief, we will provide time to recognize outstanding behaviors, celebrate successes, share skills and talents, and strengthen our school community across the grade levels and throughout the years. We are looking forward to spending this time together, getting to know each other and creating lasting memories at Kerby.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Looking forward to another GREAT year!!
Welcome Back!
September is such an exciting time..... filled with new beginnings in which every student and staff make a fresh start and build upon the lessons learned in previous years. There has been much activity over the summer and we are looking forward to a year filled with many successes. We were able to obtain a document camera (purchased through the 'Gaffney demonstration grant" for every classroom. The Kerby library also has new computers, a 'SMART' board and a portable computer lab which allows our students and staff to use these instructional tools to support teaching and learning in every classroom.
We are also adopting PLC Mondays for teacher collaboration. These meetings will be scheduled with late-start and early dismissal on Mondays for elementary students, consistent with Grosse Pointe secondary schools' current practice. The common time will allow teachers at all grade levels the opportunity to examine school improvement initiatives focused on best practice and student achievement.
There are many great things happening at Kerby and we are ready for another great year!!
September is such an exciting time..... filled with new beginnings in which every student and staff make a fresh start and build upon the lessons learned in previous years. There has been much activity over the summer and we are looking forward to a year filled with many successes. We were able to obtain a document camera (purchased through the 'Gaffney demonstration grant" for every classroom. The Kerby library also has new computers, a 'SMART' board and a portable computer lab which allows our students and staff to use these instructional tools to support teaching and learning in every classroom.
We are also adopting PLC Mondays for teacher collaboration. These meetings will be scheduled with late-start and early dismissal on Mondays for elementary students, consistent with Grosse Pointe secondary schools' current practice. The common time will allow teachers at all grade levels the opportunity to examine school improvement initiatives focused on best practice and student achievement.
There are many great things happening at Kerby and we are ready for another great year!!
Friday, May 29, 2009
Time flies......
It is unbelievable that this is the last post of the 2008-09 school year! I'd like to thank the entire Kerby Community for all that you've done to make it a successful, engaging, fun-filled school year for all our students. This year, parents, grandparents, older brothers and sisters, aunts, uncles and community members have spent approximately 3,751 hours volunteering to help make the experiences students receive at Kerby the best they possibly can be.
I sincerely hope that each of you have a relaxing, safe and fun-filled summer!!
See everyone in September!
I sincerely hope that each of you have a relaxing, safe and fun-filled summer!!
See everyone in September!
Friday, May 1, 2009
Looking Ahead...
Kerby teachers and I will soon be making plans for classroom assignments for the 2009-10 school year. We will work as grade level teams to assign students to a particular classroom group. Our teachers have worked with your children throughout the school year and have gained valuable insight regarding the social, academic, and emotional needs of your children. We will consider the following factors as we prepare classroom assignments for the next school year:
Academic abilities
Cluster groupings
Gender balance
Student personality and interaction
Student behavior
Class size
Social mixture
Individual learning styles (auditory, visual, hands on)
Students benefiting from being together or separated
Student social/emotional needs
Information provided from parents on the student information form.
Our main objective is to produce the most positive classroom environment that enables students to achieve their greatest potential!
At this time of the year we are trying to firm up our Kerby enrollment so we can plan for the number of sections in each grade level and the number of teachers we will need to teach these students. With this in mind, we really need your help. If you plan on moving before the start of the school year, it is very important that you let us know by calling the Kerby Office.
You can help us out by approaching neighborhood parents, whose children may be of kindergarten age or first grade and new neighbors who may move in over the summer. Please have them give us a call or contact the Office of Residency and Enrollment at 313-432-3083.
Academic abilities
Cluster groupings
Gender balance
Student personality and interaction
Student behavior
Class size
Social mixture
Individual learning styles (auditory, visual, hands on)
Students benefiting from being together or separated
Student social/emotional needs
Information provided from parents on the student information form.
Our main objective is to produce the most positive classroom environment that enables students to achieve their greatest potential!
At this time of the year we are trying to firm up our Kerby enrollment so we can plan for the number of sections in each grade level and the number of teachers we will need to teach these students. With this in mind, we really need your help. If you plan on moving before the start of the school year, it is very important that you let us know by calling the Kerby Office.
You can help us out by approaching neighborhood parents, whose children may be of kindergarten age or first grade and new neighbors who may move in over the summer. Please have them give us a call or contact the Office of Residency and Enrollment at 313-432-3083.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
What a Wonderful Community!
Throughout the years I have learned many things, but there is one thing that has been reinforced daily— the Kerby community is committed to its children and is willing to give freely of its time, energy and talents to make sure that our students continue to thrive. This commitment is evident as this year’s Kerby Auction, ‘Dream Big… The World Awaits’ is about to become a reality. An event like this takes hours and hours of time, collaboration, and commitment by everyone involved. The Kerby family is filled with generous, caring, talented individuals that are willing to work together to make a difference in the lives of children. My thanks to our community members who donated services and products to further help our cause– our children! Finally, I’d like to thank all of you for attending or contributing to the evening in any way. I know if I made a list, it would be never ending.
There is no doubt that the Kerby community works together! It is your generous support that will ensure that our students will step into the future complete with the tools necessary for success. I am once again reminded of the following quote:
‘Never doubt that a group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.’
~ Margaret Mead~
Your vision for excellence and willingness to partner with us will make our dreams a reality. Thank you for your participation in this extraordinary event!
There is no doubt that the Kerby community works together! It is your generous support that will ensure that our students will step into the future complete with the tools necessary for success. I am once again reminded of the following quote:
‘Never doubt that a group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.’
~ Margaret Mead~
Your vision for excellence and willingness to partner with us will make our dreams a reality. Thank you for your participation in this extraordinary event!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
March is Reading Month!
It’s hard to believe that Spring is just around the corner, but after the amount of snow and cold, windy days we’ve had, I know the warming winds of Spring will be a welcome change! As we begin to celebrate March is Reading Month, I thought I’d share 25 ways to Promote Reading in Your Family:
Spend 30 minutes a day reading to your child
Keep reading materials visible and available in your house
Talk about the story as you read
Give books as gifts
Have a family reading time. DEAR– Drop Everything And Read
Sing songs, say nursery rhymes and poems together
Read environmental print with your child– food labels, signs, posters etc.
Follow a recipe with your child
Exchange refrigerator messages with your child
Make reading together a happy time
Take your child to the Library once a week
Encourage your child to write and make books
Establish a routine time for daily reading
Read favorite books over and over again
Encourage your child to ask questions about the story
Take books and tapes in the car. Read while traveling and waiting for extracurricular activities to begin
Make lists together
Talk about the pictures in the books
Make cards and send them to family and friends
Look at the book cover. Encourage your child to make predications about the book
Let your child see you reading for enjoyment
Make a writing box for your child. Select a special place for writing
Read the mail with your child
Talk about the story after reading it. Encourage your child to retell the story.
Read, Read, Read, Read, and then Read some more!!
Over the next few weeks at Kerby, we will have a “Read In”, “Assembly with Author Lisa Wheeler”, “Get Caught Reading” and time to “Read Together”. Next time you are in the building be sure to take a look at the “How do We Read at Kerby” bulletin board across from the gym. Many thanks to Anne Maurer, Kerby’s Media Specialist, for all of the time and effort she has put in organizing these special activities.
Spend 30 minutes a day reading to your child
Keep reading materials visible and available in your house
Talk about the story as you read
Give books as gifts
Have a family reading time. DEAR– Drop Everything And Read
Sing songs, say nursery rhymes and poems together
Read environmental print with your child– food labels, signs, posters etc.
Follow a recipe with your child
Exchange refrigerator messages with your child
Make reading together a happy time
Take your child to the Library once a week
Encourage your child to write and make books
Establish a routine time for daily reading
Read favorite books over and over again
Encourage your child to ask questions about the story
Take books and tapes in the car. Read while traveling and waiting for extracurricular activities to begin
Make lists together
Talk about the pictures in the books
Make cards and send them to family and friends
Look at the book cover. Encourage your child to make predications about the book
Let your child see you reading for enjoyment
Make a writing box for your child. Select a special place for writing
Read the mail with your child
Talk about the story after reading it. Encourage your child to retell the story.
Read, Read, Read, Read, and then Read some more!!
Over the next few weeks at Kerby, we will have a “Read In”, “Assembly with Author Lisa Wheeler”, “Get Caught Reading” and time to “Read Together”. Next time you are in the building be sure to take a look at the “How do We Read at Kerby” bulletin board across from the gym. Many thanks to Anne Maurer, Kerby’s Media Specialist, for all of the time and effort she has put in organizing these special activities.
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