Attention 4th and 5th Grade Creative Writers!

Spaces are still available in the Creative Writing Workshop!

Bring your creativity and your great ideas-for adventure stories, poems, graphic novels, plays, or any type of creative writing.  You'll get to work with writers and writing teachers, discover how to take your creative writing to the next level, and have lots of fun, too.

It's on Wednesdays, after school until 5pm, beginning October 21st and ending December 2nd.  Ask at the school office for an extra sign-up sheet, or contact Camille Ziolekacziolek@oaklandcc.edu   

Sign Up For Family Writing Night

NAAPID - 2/9 - You’re Invited

You are invited to be a part of King’s plans as we observe National African American Parent Involvement Day (NAAPID) on Monday, February 9, 2009. NAAPID is a national call to action to get all parents, but particularly those of African American children, more involved in the education of their children. It is expected that this national observation will open up dialogue among teachers, parents, and students, which will lead to greater student success.

During NAAPID, parents are invited to be a part of the school day at King. This includes being a part of your child’s classes—and even the noon hour. You might want to bring a sack lunch and be a part of the excitement! Also, the King staff will set up a hospitality table for parents in the teacher’s lounge. Please stop by and enjoy the treats!

Parent Writing Workshop Opportunity from 826michigan.org

MLK Parents--If you haven't been to one of the Parent Writing Workshops previously at MLK, you should considered attending the one below sponsored by 826michigan.org.
Kevin

How to Help Your Child Write: A Workshop for Parents.
Monday, January 19, 2009, 6:30-8pm

Do you need ideas on how to foster your child's creativity? Are you looking for sure-fire ways to support your student writer? If so, this is the workshop you've been waiting for. Join Kim Pavlock & co. from the Eastern Michigan Writing Project for what is sure to be a life-changing evening. (This workshop is for parents only, no children please. We have plenty of workshops for kids, as you well know.)

Space is limited, and YES, it's free, so register for this workshop now by emailing Amy@826michigan.org. Hope to see you there!

10 Myths About Learning To Write

During the 2006-07 and 2007-08 school years, the MLK School Improvement Team offered several parent education sessions entitled "Parent Writing Workshop." About 120 MLK families attended the sessions with presenters from the Eastern Michigan Writing Project, who shared helpful information that translate into the "Do's" and "Don'ts" of helping with writing. CLICK HERE if you'd like to review the suggestions from the meetings. If you'd like to attend a similar session on January 19 from 6:30 - 8 PM sponsored by 826michigan.org, CLICK HERE for more information.

Whether you came to the sessions or not, I thought King parents might be interested in the piece below, which I found in an online newsletter I receive. While the enumerated list is interesting, the explanations of each item really struck me as helpful and clarifying. I encourage you to print this, put it on your refrigerator (or somewhere else you will see it as time goes by), and read it from time to time.

10 Myths about Learning to Write
from the National Council of Teachers of English

Do you have fond memories of learning to write? Most people would say “No!" They’d probably add, "Writing was hard—I never got it right!"

Learning to write IS difficult. But sometimes people get discouraged for the wrong reasons. They fall into the trap of believing things about writing that just aren't true.

Members of the National Council of Teachers of English want to set the record straight with this list of myths about learning to write.

1. Kids hate to write.
It's sad but true that some kids come to hate writing through bad experiences. Yet no one is born hating to write. For instance, kids love to tell stories—their own stories—from events at school, other kids, TV, daydreams, and more. When kids begin by writing their own stories, they learn to love to write.

2. Real writers get it right the first time.
Most of us can't even write a grocery list without making some changes. Even famous authors, poets, and journalists have to produce a few rough drafts before arriving at their best work. The important thing is to keep writing until you've said what you mean.

3. Kids have nothing interesting to say.
Are you kidding? Anyone who's spent any time around kids knows they're full of lively and unique ideas about the world around them. And they always seem to find things to tell their friends. If we just give kids chances to write down their ideas, we’ll be amazed with what they come up with.

4. You have to know what you are going to say before you begin writing.
The funny thing about writing is that it actually helps you think. Many writers don’t discover exactly what they’re trying to say until after they’ve written for pages. Writing not only helps kids think deeply, but it helps them find out what they already know—not just in English class but in everything from math to biology to music.

5. If you can’t spell, you can’t write.
Oh, yes you can! Good writers first write all their thoughts and ideas. Then they revise, revise, revise until they’re satisfied they’ve said what they want to say. Then—and only then—is it time to edit for spelling and other rules such as capitalization, punctuation, and word usage.

6. Writing is built one sentence at a time.
Writing is made up of words and sentences but it’s actually written first as chunks of ideas. Kids don’t need to master the sentence before they go on to the paragraph. They just need to start writing any way they can—revising is for later.

7. Only great writers can be creative.
Baloney! Different types of writing—including creative writing like poems and plays—have different challenges, but there's no law that says kids have to learn one type first. What's important is that kids choose the best type of writing for what they want to say—whether a poem, a letter, or a report.

8. Good writers work alone.
There's probably a good writer somewhere who likes to write in a quiet closet. But most writers today are people who work in busy offices or classrooms, and who write with frequent input from their coworkers and peers. Young writers learn even more when they are part of a "community" of others—sharing ideas, asking questions, and revising their writing.

9. You can spot a good writer at a glance.
There is no gene for writing! Good writers don't all look the same, they don’t all learn the same, and they don't all use the same methods. Some writers jot a lot of notes before starting to write; others jump right in; some writers outline; some doodle in the margins while they think; some write best to music; some write best sitting under a tree. The point is that all writers are individuals and need to discover what works best for them.

10. Poor marks make good writers.
A student paper dripping with blood-red marks on every line does not a better writer make. Kids do learn best when they get feedback, but harsh grading isn’t the answer. Writers improve by first learning what parts they wrote well and then focusing on what parts still need work.

Teacher Appreciation!

Last year to celebrate the holidays, the teacher appreciation committee filled over 75 bins of cookies for the teachers and staff of King. That's a lot of cookies!!

We need your help to accomplish this once again. As you're baking cookies for your family, consider baking an extra dozen (or two). We'll be meeting on the morning of December 18th at the home of Mylinda Balint (1436 Green Rd) to fill the bins. All are welcome!! If you can't come by that morning, but want to contribute some cookies, please contact me at 623-8173 or jrb-myn@comcast.net and I'll make arrangements to get them from you.

Writing Skills Are Life Skills

Over the past two years, over 125 King families participated in parent education workshops that shared ideas on how to write with your child. You might remember these were sponsored by the King School Improvement Team. The text below comes from a National Council of Teachers of English publication and talks about some of the same ideas. The article even quotes one of the King workshop presenters, Cathy Fleishcer. Check it out by clicking the link!

When we encourage our children to do all sorts of writing, they learn to write for life. NCTE members Cathy Fleischer and Dara Mosher are quoted in this OC Family, November 2008 article.

NetDay Speak Up Survey

NetDay Speak Up Survey

The Ann Arbor Public Schools is participating in the NetDay Speak Up annual national survey, and we'd like to invite AAPS students, parents and teachers to share their thoughts on key educational issues. The survey runs from October 27 through December 19; please consider logging on and participating. At the end of the survey, our district will be able to access the aggregate data submitted by survey takers in our district and use it for future discussions and planning.

To participate:

1) Go to www.netdayspeakup.org/speakup2008

2) Click the link to the appropriate survey

3) Type in your school's name (try the short version first, e.g. Mitchell instead of Mary D. Mitchell, Bryant instead of Clifford E. Bryant), select MI from the State pull-down list, then click the Find School button

4) Click the name of your school in the list presented

5) When prompted for the "secret word" enter aaps then click the Login button.

6) Students, teachers and administrators will be prompted to click the appropriate survey; parents will be taken directly to their survey.

For more information about the Speak Up project, please visit:http://www.netdayspeakup.org/speakup2008/

http://www.aaps.k12.mi.us/ins.technology/netday_speak_up_survey

--

Monique Uzelac

Director of Instructional Technology

Ann Arbor Public Schools

phone. 734-994-9246

email. uzelac@aaps.k12.mi.us

Call for Help in the Library Media Center

It's such a pleasure working here at King's Library Media Center, and I thank you all for your warm welcome and wonderful kids.

One of my goals is to help every child LOVE reading, checking out lots of books as often as possible. To do this I need lots of parent and grandparent VOLUNTEERS--do you have an hour or two a week to spare?

It's really fun, no experience is required, and you'll know you're helping make excellent literacy possible for all of our kids.

The times listed below are still open for volunteers, about two adults per time slot is just right. (You can sign up with a friend, or come meet a new one!) Some people like to come when their child's class is in the library, but there are no exact time slots or requirements, you set up a time that's convenient to you. And if you can't come every week? I'd expect that, things come up, but I can promise you good work whenever you appear!

Needs:

Monday afternoon from 1:30 on (1:30 is Gracey's class, 2:10 is Lake, 2:50 is Huyck)

Wednesday mornings from 9 am on (9:00 is Jarjura, 9:40 is Gatonez, 10:20 is Clarkson)

Wednesday afternoons from 1:00 on (1:00 is Petty, 1:40 Knorr, 2:20 K-Shah)

Thursday mornings (9:00 Harris, 9:40 Haddas)

Friday mornings (9:00 Teshima, 9:40 Schaffer)

Did you have another time in mind? Want to sign up for one of these? Have any questions or comments? Please email me at okeefea@aaps.k12.mi.us.

Curriculum Night - 9/9 @ 6 PM

Tuesday evening, September 9 is Curriculum Night at MLK. This is a perfect opportunity for parents to become better acquainted with the world-class curriculum their child will be learning this year as well as with their child's teacher. It is also a time to sign up for the fall parent-teacher conferences.

The schedule for the night will be as follows:
• 6:00 – 6:40 – Curriculum Presentations in classrooms
• 6:45 – 7:05 – State of the School presentation in the MP Room
• 7:10 – 7:50 – Curriculum Presentations in classrooms
Also during the night, special area teachers (music, physical education, art, media center) and support area teachers (like teacher consultant and reading intervention) will be available.

There is no childcare at school during Curriculum Night, so we ask that children stay at home. Reason: In the event of inclement weather it is not possible to host the number of children needing childcare inside and still have curriculum night take place. We appreciate your support.

Volunteer Help Needed During Drop-off and Pick-up

I am in need of parent help to hand out drop-off/pick-up procedure flyers on the first day of school to remind parents/guardians If you can help, please email me. I will need help beginning at 8:30 AM on the first day and then again at 3:30.

Beyond that I would like help to monitor drop-off and pick-up each day from 8:30 - 8:48 and from 3:35 - 3:50. Please email me if you can help--even if it is one day a week for fifteen minutes.

Thanks,
Kevin

Mentor Program Information for "Old" MLK Families

King Elementary School is looking for current King families that are willing to meet a family new to the King community. Matches will be made by a facilitator. All information will be kept strictly confidential until a match is made. Matches will be based on child's gender, grade, and teacher (when available). Mentors will be notified upon a match being made.

The responsibility of a King Elementary School family mentor is to set-up a date for matching children to meet once contacted by the new King family.

If you are interested in being a King Elementary School mentor, please provide your name, phone number & e-mail. Also include your child's name, gender, grade (for 2008-2009). Please provide information for each child you have enrolled at King. The information can be turned into the King School office or e-mail the information to King Elementary School Mentor facilitator Susan Gechter at susbg@comcast.net.

Thank you for volunteering!

By providing your information, you are granting permission for your information to be shared.

Mentor Program Information for New Families

Dear New MLK Families,

Welcome to King Elementary School!

The King Elementary School Mentor Program has been created to help children ease the anxiety of starting a new school. The program is set up to provide a new King School family with the name of a current King family that has a child the same age.

Interested new families provide the facilitator with personal information to make a family match. The facilitator will contact the new family once a match is made. The idea is that the parents (new & current King families) will be able to set-up a place for the children to meet prior to starting school. This way, the new student walks into King Elementary School knowing at least one person his/her age.

Are you interested in having your children meet someone their age from King School? If yes, contact facilitator Susan Gechter at
susbg@comcast.net or 734-369-8765.

Please include:

* your name, phone number, & e-mail address

* your child's name, gender, grade, & teacher (if known)

Please provide information for each of your children enrolled at King School.

Once the facilitator is provided with your information, a match will be made and you will be contacted with the name(s) of a family (or families) that is willing to be contacted by you.

Earth Week and Spring Clean Up

Earth Week and Spring Clean-up

I was literally blown away by the King students and classroom teachers' ENTHUSIASM during Earth Week! My heart was filled with inexpressable joy as I saw landscaping feats occurring all over the place, and even in the untidy courtyards that I can never manage to tame on my own. I elected to work with 3 classes sowing seed in the areas damaged by snow removal equipment. Mrs. Shaffer's first grade, Mrs. Gracey's third grade and Mr. Huyck's third grade worked incredibly hard to haul dirt, rake it out, seed the area, then cover the seed with more dirt and straw. Pray for rain and we'll have grass!

My projects weren't the only bill of affairs...

Dr. Mihalik's class cleaned the woods and area north of the parking lot. this was a huge, messy eye sore. Thank you fifth graders! They also weighed in trash and recyclables all day on Earth Day to see which one weighed more. Ask them if you get a chance. I'm curious, too.

Mrs. Lake's class also took the trash vs. recyclable challenge. What did they discover?

Mrs. Knorr's class raked, pulled weeds and scoured Megan's courtyard, collecting over 4 bags of yard waste.

Mrs. Shafie and Mr. Petty's classes raked and equally scoured Dorothy's natural courtyard. The bird bath is filled, the window cubbies have been swept!

Thank you King classes for your willing participation. Doesn't our school look so much better?!!!!! Please let me know what other classes did that I failed to mention.

Spring Clean-up happened even with our small, hard working crew. Saturday Ellen Hopkins, Ravi and Sushruta Shankar and Linda Ryan weeded all the flower beds and removed leaves from the west entry ground cover. Thank you mighty souls!

Late Saturday the mulch arrived and the mountain was partially depleted. Shan, Brian, and Rhea Cong along with my family, Carl, Rebecca, Catherine and me hauled mulch to dress up the flower beds. Much thanks to the Congs. Family power really makes a difference.

There is still mulch to be hauled.
If you or your family can help, please email me:

4ryanhouse@earthlink.net
Linda M. Ryan, Landscape Chair

Poetry In The Wild Writing - From PTO Workshop

Congratulations to all of the creative 3rd and 4th grade writers that have participated in the Poetry in the Wild workshop over the last month. Led by Eastern Michigan University professor Carolyn Berge and her group of college students, the group has experimented with different forms of nature poetry. Many thanks to Carolyn and her students for making nature come to life on the pages of our kids' poetry journals. Check out some of the writing from the workshop...

http://mlkwriting.blogspot.com/

Citizen's Millage Committee - Can you help?

Dear Parents,

On the upcoming May 6 ballot, the Ann Arbor Public Schools will ask for a renewal of millages. These renewals are:
1. The non-homestead and homestead (hold harmless) millage and
2. The 1-mill sinking fund.
To be perfectly clear, these millages are renewals of what already exists in support of the AAPS.

I am seeking one or two parent representatives from the MLK School community to be a part of the Citizen's Millage Committee (CMC). These parents would act as leaders of the millage campaign in the MLK community. They would specifically be responsible for disseminating information to other MLK parents about the millage renewals and encourage parents to vote on May 6. The CMC will act as a resource to whoever decides to help in this endeavor.

Once parents are identified, the CMC would like to have a meeting with the parent leaders from each building and principals. I hope you'll consider helping.

If you are interested this or if you have questions, please email or call me at 994-1940. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Kevin

Monitoring Technology at Home

From time to time, parents approach me with technology related issues/questions that happen at home between students who attend MLK. Actually, this happened again this week. This was a reminder to me of the challenges that parents (including me) face at home around the appropriate use of technology by children. And there are lots of challenges. In my experience, here are some of the biggest potential challenges:

• xanga.com
• myspace.com
• facebook.com
• friendster.com
• twitter.com
• Click here for other social networking websites
• youtube.com
• instant messaging from a computer or cell phone
• text messaging from a cell phone or computer
  
• email
• cell phone usage in general
  
• websites where children will enter their personal information in order to set up an account

I'm sure there are many more. If you know of another site or activity with which you have had concern, click comments below to share your suggestion with the larger group.

As a part of the discussion that takes place following these questions, it is often apparent that parents have questions about how to appropriately monitor technology. Of course, as parents of children who are (or are becoming) more computer literate than their parents, we must be ever-cognizant of our children’s on-line experience. Suggestions for parents include the following, some of which are from the FBI:

• Communicate, and talk to your child about sexual victimization and potential on-line danger.
• Spend time with your children on-line. Have them teach you about their favorite on-line destinations.
• Keep the computer in a common room in the house, not in your child's bedroom.
• Utilize parental controls provided by your operating system, your service provider, and/or blocking software.
• Always maintain access to your child's on-line account and randomly check his/her e-mail.
• Be up front with your child about your access and reasons why.

More at: http://www.fbi.gov/publications/pguide/pguidee.htm

Of course, at school technology is monitored, blocking software is utilized, and children/families all sign the district computer-use agreement. I share this as a reminder and for your awareness.

Science Olympiad Parent Meeting & Registration

Submitted by Amy Cell

We are having a parent meeting to discuss Science Olympiad, answer questions and to distribute coach information this Thursday, February 21 at the school in the library at 7:30pm.

Registration is still open, too: Do you have a child in 2nd-5th grade? Do you want your child to participate in a fun and educational experience? If the answers to those questions are yes, be sure to sign up now for the Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad! Read all about the details of this fabulous event - the biggest in the country - athttp://www.aaps.k12.mi.us/wesowizards.home/events_2008

To register, you will need to complete a registration form for each child at the following link by February 20. Practices will start in March, and the practice dates and times during the week are listed below and on the registration form at the attached link. (Note that there are new practice times for Science Jeopardy and Wright Stuff. Practice times listed below are correct.) All students are welcome to join where they can attend multiple practices, order a t-shirt, receive a medal and participate in Science Night! (There will be 20 students per grade that will represent King on May 3rd at a competition with around 20 other schools. Additional parent meetings will be scheduled in March to explain more about WESO and the selection process. Children of volunteer coaches and committee members get priority to participate in the event on May 3rd - contact Amy Cell atAmyECell@yahoo.com to volunteer!)

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=x8_2bvnqDpV8qcLYDgFd65Aw_3d_3d

Boatmania	Monday after school (3:30-4:30)
Barge Building	Wednesday evening
Circuit Wizardry	Thursday 6:30-7:30
Estimania	requ
Map Reading	Wednesday evening
Mystery Architecture	Tuesday after school
No Bones About It	Tuesday evening
Pentathlon (spectators)	Monday evening
Puff Mobiles (spectators)	Monday after school
Rock Hunter	Wednesday 6:30-7:30
Science Jeopardy	Wednesday 5:30-6:30
Sink or Float	Monday 7:30-8
Straw Tower	Wednesday after school
Water Rockets (spectators)	Wednesday evening
What Went By?	Friday evening
Wright Stuff	Monday 6:30-7:30
Write It, Build It	Friday after school

If you have any questions, feel free to contact AnnMarie Sastry or Amy Cell.

The Book Fairs Are Almost Here!

From Susan Gechter & Diane Alson

We have a lot of information to share with you regarding King School's upcoming Scholastic Book Fair & Used Book Fair.

We will be collecting used booksMonday, March 3^rd through Wednesday, March 12^th. There are two ways you can drop off your donated books. You may send your donated books with your children to school to drop off in their classroom collection OR you may also drop off your used book donations in the boxes by the school office or the front entrance. This year we will be counting the total number of books donated by the entire school.

A reminder to students who are making "Take a Reading Road Trip" posters for the Book Fairs. Posters are due Monday, March 3^rd. Flyers were sent home last Friday about making posters. Those students who turn in a poster by March 3^rd will receive two coupons for two free used books from the King School Used Book Fair.

King School's Scholastic Book Fair & Used Book Fair will be located in the Multi-Purpose Room. King families and the community are welcome to shop on:

Thursday, March 13^th 3:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Friday, March 14^th 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

***Cash and checks will be accepted at both book fairs. Additionally, credit cards will be accepted but ONLY for Scholastic book purchases.***

Families should look for the Classroom Wish List Board when shopping at the King School Book Fairs. The Classroom Wish Lists will be located on the wall as you walk onto the stage for the Scholastic Book Fair. Look for the envelope with your teacher's name. In it will be a variety of books that he/she is wishing to be added to his/her classroom library.

We can't wait for you to join us on a Reading Road Trip!

Questions? Contact Susan Gechter (susbg@comcast.net) or Diane Alson (alsondia@yahoo.com).

Invitation to King School International Night 1/31/08

You are cordially invited to attend

Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School International Night

3800 Waldenwood Dr., Ann Arbor 48105

Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008, 6:30-8:30 PM

Bringing us together. Celebrating our diversity.

Enjoy an international potluck of amazing foods from around the world and Ann Arbor! Take a tour around the world by strolling through King School's hallways. Watch our King School students come together to celebrate our diversity by performing Arabic Debkeh Dance, Korean Tae Kwon Do, Chinese Yo-Yo, Bolivian dance, Japanese Obon Dancing, American Hip-Hop, Indian dance, African American gospel music, Ukranian song, Israeli dance, and more!

The children have been working really hard on their performances and would be proud to share their cultures and heritages with you!

Schedule:

6:30-7:30 International Potluck

7:00-8:30 Student Performances—300 kids in 20 performances of music, dance, martial arts, more!

Performances will be simulcast in the gym.

Please bring a dish to pass (enough to feed 12-14 people)

With serving utensil

Without nuts or peanuts please!

Label with name of dish, country of origin, and ingredients

Please dress in traditional/heritage clothing

Sponsored by the King School PTO

Please mark your calendar! We are looking forward to sharing this special occasion, the highlight of our school year, with you.

Frances Kai-Hwa Wang

King School International Night Chair

Ann Arbor Chinese Center of Michigan Outreach Coordinator

IMDiversity.com Asian American Village acting editor