Kindergarten Round Up Info

Prospective MLK School parents are invited to our annual Kindergarten Round Up presentation on February 20 from 6 - 7 PM. During the presentation, parents will receive information about:

• Kindergarten registration for the 2008-09 school year
• The Half-day Kindergarten and Extended Day Option (EDO) Kindergarten at MLK
• The Ann Arbor Public Schools Kindergarten curriculum

If you need FREE childcare during Round Up, please call 994-4485 to register. The childcare is sponsored by the MLK PTO and the KingCare childcare program.

After Round Up, families are invited back to MLK with children to several school events to help your child continue their transition to MLK School--and to showing their MLK PRIDE! Dates include:

• Thursday, March 13 from 4 - 8:30 PM for the MLK PTO Book Fair in the multi-purpose room
• Friday, April 18 from 6 - 8 PM for the PTO Silent Auction
  
• Thursday, April 24 at 7PM for a concert from the 2007-08 Kindergarten students in the multi-purpose room followed by an Open House in the Kindergarten classrooms with the Kindergarten teachers
• Friday, May 16 from 8 - 9:15 AM for Bagels and Buns Breakfast, a monthly MLK community event in the multi-purpose room
• Friday June 6 from 6:30 - 8:30 PM for the MLK Ice Cream Social on the MLK playground

We're looking forward to seeing you at Kindergarten Round Up 2008! If you have any questions, please call us at 994-1940.

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.

Green Team Update

by Linda M. Ryan, landscape chair

To the Parents:

As you may recall, every student at King Elementary School is called to serve on the Green Team. Being on the Green Team initially meant keeping King School clean and litter free. Good, clean, responsible fun, right? Yes! Well, the Green Team met their goal to keep King grounds clean for a month right before winter break, and everyone went home with a green pencil as a reward!

The 4th grade girls in Mrs. Knorr's class who have chaired this Team, namely Zoe Zimmerman and Michi Ota can't rest with just this monumental task completed. They have forged ahead with additional ways to help the environment. They needed help to do this, so Laura Hanselman and Christine Jahn have joined in on the leadership. They have made initial plans to ask the students at King to do 5 or 6 tasks at home. They will present one task per week through the end of March. The tasks include turning down the thermostat, carpooling more often, changing light bulbs to fluorescent bulbs, reusing paper, and cutting back on junk mail. The challenges aren't meant to be burdensome, just practical and "green!"

Watch your e-notes for each new task. Point it out to your child, if you can. Also take a look at the green posters in the halls for encouragement. We will be taking anonymous surveys to measure our change in environmental savvy and willingness to become more "green!"

To the Students at King:

Challenge #1 Cutting back on JUNK MAIL!

Is your mailbox filled with more catalogs than personal mail? Do you often see lots those same catalogs piling up in your recycling bin? Well, if you want to get rid of that junk, then go to www.catalogchoice.org.

Follow their directions, saving the backs of the catalogs to remove each catalog company by name. In a month or so, those catalogs will be out of your waste bins and back at the factory!

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).

Meat Recall FYI

Dear AAPS Parents and Guardians,

This past weekend the USDA issued a recall on meat products that were distributed as a commodity item through the United States Department of Education’s school lunch program.

The Ann Arbor Public Schools does have some of this meat product (beef patties and taco meat) in our possession but it has never been served to any student in this district.

On January 30th the USDA informed food service providers across the nation, including Chartwells the AAPS food service provider, to place a hold on this meat. Immediately Chartwells employees marked the meat “DO NOT USE” and stored it in freezers until further notification. With the recall issue this weekend the meat will now be gathered and placed in a separate freezer away from all schools until the supplier picks it up for disposal. Since this meat was a commodity product many districts across the nation have some supply of the product.

The safety of our students is our number one priority. Chartwells is in full compliance with government safety and sanitation codes and regulations as well as local health codes. In addition Chartwells practices a sophisticated food safety, sanitation and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point program that assures quality service. Chartwells will continue to monitor the situation for any further instructions from the USDA.

For further information you may refer to the release from the Secretary of the USDA concerning this recall: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/Recall_005-2008_Release.pdf.

Sincerely,

J. Todd Roberts, Ed.D
Superintendent

International Night a HUGE Success!

Thanks to everyone in the King Community for making International Night such a great success (again)!

The snow held off, 1000 or so people ate an incredible gourmet meal, 300+ kids learned and performed 24 music/dance/martial arts acts representing 20 cultures from around the world, the technical and logistical details held together, everyone pitched in and helped where needed, and we even finished 4 minutes ahead of schedule! It was crowded and hot and chaotic and wonderful, but I hope you all felt it was worth it. We will see the real results in the weeks and months to come in terms of individual growth, school spirit, and community pride. (Did you notice how many middle school alums chose to come back for this event?)

Thanks to our approximately 200 volunteers for working all year to make this event a great success. I want to take a moment to thank all our committee chairs and team leaders, without whom we could not have accomplished what we have accomplished for our children and our school:

Queen of the Feast: Lisa Kohn (3)

Tech Team Leader: Kun Yang (4)

Security and Parking Czar: Carl Ryan (2)

Stage Managers: Sujata Shetty (3), Wayne Millette (2, 4), Lingzhi Chen (2, 4), Maneesha Gulati (3)

Music Maestro: Mrs. Barb Vanek and Mr. Vanek too

Special Guest Pianist: Corky Landes

Display Divas: Padma Anupindi (1), Sandra Wong (1)

Stage Decoration Team: Hiroe Peterson (1), Margot and Hao Hao Wang Pontius (alums)

Red Envelope Team: Lei Ding (4), Yu Tang (4), Lingzhi Chen (2, 4)

Photographers: Mauricio Moeller (3), Thomas Kanjirath (3), Chung Choi (4), Randy Karr (Mr. Karr's Dad!)

Drinks Sales: Mrs. Knorr, Mrs. Shafie, Mr. Petty, fourth grade families

Technical Advisors: Kaori Ohara (Angell School International Night Chair) and Linh Song (Mamnon Organization)

Custodians (please thank them when you see them): Greg Harris, Cliff Williams

Performance Team Leaders: Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jarjoura, Lily Au, Stephanie Kearns, Yongchu Lee, Amy Meltzer, Zoe Koosis, Lei Ding, Donna Chen, Julie Li, Raphaela Luzio, Fu You-Yin, Sujata Shetty, Kirti Karia, Jon and Laurie Galia, Line and Michiel van Nieuwstadt, Yu Tang, Xuhong Cao, Heather Schweitzer, Ksenia Kosak, Eileen Rich, Anna Yan Yu, Padma Anupindi, Rachel Sabb, Sarah Liang, Jen-Hwen Wang, Mrs. Vanek

Dance, music, martial arts teachers: Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Vanek, Mrs. Jarjoura , Hiroko Ohsako, Noriko Miyaji, Kazuko Kawai, Stephanie Kearns, Katie Radoluvic (Clague), Percy Pryor (Clague), Julie Li (who came back from Shanghai to teach her students this dance!), John Sanderson, Raphaela Luzio, Amy Meltzer, Zoe Koosis, Aviva Gordon, Emily Gitlin, Li Ai, Jennifer and Jeffrey Pan (Greenhills), Kirti Karia, Sun Ok Kim, Jon Galia, Michiel van Nieuwstadt, Sarah Malick , Rec and Ed class teacher (sorry I didn't catch her name!)

Supporting Organizations: King PTO, King Care, Ann Arbor Public Schools Rec and Ed, Ann Arbor Chinese Center of Michigan, Ann Arbor Chinese Dancing School, Ann Hua Chinese School, Language Adventure, Ann Arbor Public Schools.

More thanks to our Special Guest Superintentent Todd Roberts,Principal Karr, Mrs. Greene, Ms. Basta, Ms. Houser, Mrs. Vanek, Mrs. Jarjoura, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Knorr, Mrs. Shafie, Mr. Petty, Ms. Hughes, Ms. Wayne, Ms. Lake, King teachers and staff, fourth grade families, Greg Harris, Cliff Williams, King Care staff, King PTO Board and members, Maneesha Gulati, Alisha Fenty, Kea Berry, Camille Ziolek, Matt Schuster, Susan Aaronson, Laura Boudette, Cynthia Gur-Arie, Sassa Akervall, Lily Au, Linda Ryan, Susan Gechter, Melanie Snook, Laurie Barnett, Lola Killey, Beth Kelley, Corky Landes, Margot and Hao Hao Wang, and EVERYONE on the International Night Committee (sorry, too many names to list)!

And of course A BIG THANKS to all the performers, students, parents, teachers, families, and friends who helped with performances, posters, food, drinks, clean up, set up, security, parking, lunchtime enrichment, and of course attending! We could not have done it without you all.

As my four year old said at the end of the night, "We Rock!"

--Frances Kai-Hwa Wang, International Night Chair (Margot, Hao Hao, Niu Niu, Di Di's mom)

School Closed - February 1, 2008

The Ann Arbor Public Schools are closed on Friday, February 1 due to inclement weather.

Tuition Pre-School Open Houses

If you have a child who will be 4 years old by December 1, 2008, we'd love to have you visit the Ann Arbor Public Schools' tuition pre-school program. We are pleased to offer this program at two outstanding locations. Children in the program benefit from a rich developmental curriculum, certified early childhood teachers, and support services that are uncommon in a traditional pre-school setting. The program operates according to the school district calendar, with flexible scheduling options available. If you'd like to learn more about this exemplary program, please visit one of our open houses:

• Thurston Pre-School Open House (2300 Prairie): Thursday, Feb. 21 at 6:30-7:30 p.m.
• Allen Pre-School Open House (2560 Towner Blvd): Thursday, March 6 at 5:30-6:30 p.m.
  

These open houses are an informal opportunity to meet the staff, explore the space and hear about the philosophy and program. While the presentation is geared for adults, children are welcome to attend with their parents.
* * *

International Night Invitation

Dear King Families,

I’m looking forward to International Night at King School this Thursday from 6:30 – 8:30. I’m hoping that you will make time to attend also. It is truly one of the hallmark events on the King School calendar. I am particularly proud of our International Night Committee, who deserves many thanks for all of the planning and work that has gone into this wonderful event.

Please keep in mind that evening activities at King are family events. Parents and guardians are responsible for the supervision of their children. This means children cannot attend without a supervising adult. I have also reminded children that acceptable behavior at evening school events is the same as acceptable behavior during the school day. Thank you for your support.

Most importantly, I want to remind you about safety procedures for evening events at King. This is especially important when considering our typically high attendance at International Night. Please review the information sent home on Tuesday, February 28. In particular, please do NOT park in the front of King School. This area needs to be left open in case of emergency.

If you have questions, please feel free to ask.

Recess and Winter Weather

Outdoor lunch recess is scheduled each day at MLK unless it is raining or the wind chill/actual temperature is below 0 degrees Fahrenheit.

Parents--please send you child to school with all of the appropriate gear necessary to participate in outdoor noon hour each day. If you have questions, please feel free to call us at 994-1940.

Recess and Student Illness

From time to time, teachers receive requests asking that students stay inside during recess because of illness—or because they are recovering from a recent illness. Please know that if children are at school, they should be able to participate in all school activities--including recess. When students return to school after being ill, they must be well enough to participate at recess too. Of course we all want students to be at school as much as possible, but if a student's health is in question they should be monitored at home.

Safety Patrol and Wind Chill

Dear Parents,

There is some concern regarding safe temperatures for the safeties on outside duty. I'd like to attempt to help clear the issue. District policy for the Ann Arbor Public Schools states that when the wind chill is below zero degrees Fahrenheit, children should not go outside. Therefore, safeties will not be on duty on days when the wind chill is below zero. Checking wind chill temperatures can be very difficult to determine. If you have the internet available, you can check by going to:

http://.www.wunderground.com

or you may go to any other site that may assist you in determining the wind chill in Ann Arbor.

Some children may still continue to walk to school even though no safeties are on duty. Therefore, my suggestion is for you to review safe procedures of crossing the street with your child. This is a very important matter that needs your immediate attention!

Yours truly,

Tom Clarkson

Safety Patrol Supervisor

MLK International Night progress report 1/22/08

Dear King School International Night Team:

WOW!!! We are 1.5 weeks away from King School's fabulous International Night! Remember!

Thursday, January 31, 6:30-8:30. (and maybe a little later)

(If you are performing or working, plan to get there no later than 6pm or whatever time your team leader tells you to be there. Some teams start work when school gets out at 3:41).

NEEDED: STAGE DECORATION TEAM to put up decorations. Contact fkwang@aol.com

NEEDED: COUNTRY DISPLAYS

If you have a country display or would like to make one, please bring it to the office this week and we will hang them on the walls so the kids can take their time looking at them and learning from them! Be as creative as you want to be. We are looking for wider representation and political balance. Please remember no flags. Contact our Country Display Chairs Padma Anupindi p_anupindi@hotmail.com 769-5928 and Sandra Wong swong47@gmail.com 418-3290 for questions.

PERFORMANCES: Attached is a program draft, please check the info there, esp the names, and send me any missing/incorrect info! Team Leaders: Please read all the names, not only the names in your group, to double check the kids who are in other groups and let me know about kids who are double booked that may not have enough time to change clothes. I think i have everyone spread out enough but i may have missed a few people. Thanks!

The order is tentative and will still change.

Please give your music on CD to Mrs. Vanek by Thursday 1/24 so she can burn one cd (this is new).

Remember:

3 minutes max,

enter from ramp side, exit from parking lot side,

practice your bows,

have parents assigned for both sides of the stage to help get the kids on and off stage,

tell your performers when to meet (you can meet in the music room, but don't keep them there all night),

feed your performing kids before you come,

music must be on cd to mrs. vanek by Thursday 1/24

send me anything you want me to say to introduce your group

Remember time is very tight so speedy entrances and exits are key!

FEAST COMMITTEE:

Contact the Feast Committee Chair Lisa Kohn, lkohn@umich.edu, 662-1601! Entails set up, clean up, trash patrol, serving food, greeting people, decorations, etc. Mostly day of event, 3:00-9:00. If you pick up your kids after school, consider helping with the initial set up right when school gets out at 3:41. We need all hands!

TECH TEAM:

If you signed up for the Tech Team, Chair Kun Yang, yk523@yahoo.com, 222-9497, will contact you soon. Entails set up of video equipment for simulcast and recording, manage and set up microphones system, making DVD of performances. Mostly day of event, 3:30-9:00. If you are technically minded and want to be a part, contact Kun now!

Red Envelope Team: Lei Ding, ldzhu@yahoo.com, 327-0162, Yu Tang, yutang@umich.edu, 222-9497

Entails helping stuff red envelopes, passing out red envelopes, helping get kids on and off stage, cleaning stage before last song. Some prep work, mostly night of event, 6:30-8:30. Easy!

Team Leaders: Please forward this email to your team members if they are not on the list already

Thanks so much everyone! Things are really shaping up! See you soon! Contact me with any questions!

Frances Kai-Hwa Wang

King International Night Chair

FYI: Fatal Shooting in Ann Arbor

Dear MLK parents,

Please be aware of the following Ann Arbor news story. The Ann Arbor Police Department has assured the AAPS there is no danger to the public or to the schools. Our end of the school day procedures will take place as usual.

Kevin

from mlive.com: Ann Arbor Police investigate fatal shooting

The University of Michigan issued a security alert while Ann Arbor police search for a suspect in an off-campus shooting death Wednesday night.Authorities said a 29-year-old Ypsilanti man was killed inside a duplex near the university's north campus Wednesday night. Police withheld his name and aren't discussing a motive.They're hunting for a 28-year-old male resident for questioning. Police said he is considered armed and dangerous.

from the U-M Crime Alert

Ann Arbor Police Department are looking for a person of interest - Andrew Robert Myrick, white male, 28 years old, 6', 200 pounds, heavy build, black shoulder-length hair and brown eyes. He should be considered armed and dangerous.

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

2008 MLK Day Event at U-M

Looking for something to do to celebrate the life and legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.? Wondering how to help your school-age students grasp the reasoning behind having the day off from school and or celebrating this historic figure?

Come join us on MLK Day, Monday, January 21, 2008 where CREATIVITY, DIALOGUE, & ENTERTAINMENT is on the program for students in grades K-12.

The University of Michigan hosts the largest MLK Symposium in the world, and has the premier Children & Youth Program. This premier program is specifically designed to engage students at each of the elementary and secondary grade-levels. The two programs run simultaneously in the same building. Guided by teacher-leaders from the School of Education and volunteers from the School of Social Work, The Ginsberg Center for Community Service and Learning and many more campus schools and organizations, K-12 students enjoy both small and large group activities which focus on the work of Dr. King and how it relates to their lives today.

For more specific information see the MLK Children & Youth website at http://www.umich.edu/~tauep/mlkkids.html

5th Grade Bake Sale - Friday, 1/16

King School 5th graders sponsor popular Baked Food Sales throughout the year in their efforts to raise money for end-of-the-year field trips and specific classroom needs. This year we are promoting an even greater variety of snacks that include healthy choices.

The next Baked Food Sale will be onJanuary 16. Items are priced at 25¢ each. Look out for some great snack selections!

Bagels and Buns!

Come join us for breakfast and conversation:

FREE Starbucks coffee!

Fri, Jan 18th, 8:15 am until school starts. Bagels $1, buns $2, juice 50 cents.

PS: Calling early risers: Join our B&B volunteers, contact Julie at hollenshead@comcast.net, or Line at
linevn@umich.edu, if you're interested.

Photos from Bingo Night!

Bingo Night was a great success. We had at least 165 BINGO players--and every one of them yelled BINGO before the night was over. Personally, I was really happy to see so many families having fun at school, and I enjoyed being the "caller" for third year in a row! Thanks to Melanie Snook for chairing this dynamite PTO event!

2008_01_10_005_2

BINGO NIGHT is coming!

This Thursday night, January 10 from 6:45-8:00 is the 4th annual MLK Bingo Night!

K and 1st grade families play in the multi-purpose room from 6:45-7:05 pm
2nd and 3rd grade families play from 7:15-7:35 pm
4th and 5th grade families play from 7:40-8:00

If you have more than one child, you can choose which session you will play.

Small prizes will be given to every child.

Pizza and drinks will be sold. It is strongly recommended that you preorder your cheese or peperoni pizza by emailing Lisa Kohn at lkohn@umich.edu. Pizza is $10 per pie. There will only be a few extras, so please preorder by Wed. night, Jan 9!

See you then for all the fun!

Ann Arbor superintendent prepares to tackle budget

from the Ann Arbor News education blog by David Jesse

Between the start of another hard budgeting process and the rollout of a new five-year strategic plan, Ann Arbor Public Schools Superintendent Todd Roberts has a lot on his plate in the next couple of months.

And that doesn't include the day-to-day stuff, or even the fast approaching opening date of a new high school.

Roberts talked about two of the biggest issues - the budget and the district's new strategic plan - as he got ready for students and staff to come back from winter break.

Q: What are some of the big issues facing the district?

A: Work on the strategic plan was completed prior to break, thanks to staff members, community members and parents, about 150 people, who worked to put it together. It's the end of about seven months of work.

It will be going to the (school) board at their first meeting of February (Feb. 6). We're working right now on the phasing of the plan - it covers five years - as well as how it impacts the budget.

We're also beginning to develop the budget for the 2008-09 school year. That will take place over the next several months. We're working on getting our projections together in the next couple of weeks. We'll go out to the community to get their input and hope to present it to the school board in the late spring.

Q: What should parents look forward to in the strategic plan?

A: Some of the real emphasis in the plan is on making learning more personal. That includes personalized learning plans for each student, along with how we can make our schools more personal.

It also looks at how do we ensure that we have adequate resources.

We also looked at our education program and not only how we measure up locally, across the state, with the nation, but also internationally.

We also talked about how we make sure we are doing a good job communicating with our community.

Q: Are there big changes included in the strategic plan or just minor tweaks?

A: Some of them are tweaks of things we are doing. Some of these are significant, such as world language at the elementary level.

Q: Will the district have to make cuts in the 2008-09 budget as it has been doing over the last several years?

A: We certainly are projecting a deficit. Hopefully it won't be as significant a deficit as in previous years, with the retirement rate being rolled back as well as us getting the benefits of previous year's cuts.

Q: The district recently received $4.8 million from the state in a settlement of a dispute over tax money from the Scio Township Downtown Development Authority. Would that wipe out the deficit?

A: The $4.8 million is money that was our money. In the 2004-05 school year, we ended with a $6 million deficit, a lot of which was the result of the state taking the money away from the district.

This is one-time money. We don't expect the state to continue to give us $4.8 million each year. That means we shouldn't use it for recurring costs, or we'd be faced with the same issues next year.

It will allow us to look at some other needs in the district that are not recurring costs. With the new state standards for high schools, we are looking at some new textbooks at the secondary level.

It still doesn't solve our structural problem, with costs increasing more than revenues are.

Q: Are you projecting any increase in the per-pupil aid coming from the state for the 2008-09 year?

A: We're going to project a zero increase, like we did for this year. If there is an increase as we move through the budgeting process, we can change that.

Q: What else is going on in the district parents should be looking for?

A: There will be a lot of opportunity for input around the budget as we work through that process. We'll also be out talking about the strategic plan. Parents should pay attention to be part of those opportunities.

Winter Break, 12/22/07 - 1/6/08

Winter break is upon us! We'll look forward to seeing students again on
January 7--ready to learn!

Please notice that all of the students below are using their Lifelong
Guidelines and Lifeskills. There is no snow throwing, everyone is
included in the fun, and there is lots of cooperation. Nice job to
our MLK boys and girls!

Building Project Committee update

Today I met with representatives from the MLK building project committee including representatives from Barton Mallow, Mitchell and Mouat Architects, TMP Architecture, AAPS district representatives, and MLK teacher Karen Haddas. Our meeting was the second meeting this year to plan for the 2005 bond identified building renovations at MLK. The work will include all of the following:

- electrical upgrades

- installation of a new security system

- replacement of classroom flooring

- updating of all bathrooms in the building

- installation of lockers in hallways

- replace cabinetry and sinks in classrooms

- reconfigure drop off area in front of school to better insure safety of students

- replace heating system

- install wireless infrastructure

The exciting part: Conceptual Drawings! At this point, I have conceptual drawings from the architects of what would be done at MLK . . . so . . . it is time to share the concepts and offer any final input on the concepts. With this goal in mind, I've left the drawings and the design specifications in the school office conference room. Please feel free to look them over. In addition, I will be available to share them on Thursday, December 20 from 11:30 to 1 and on Friday, December 21 from 9 to 10. I hope to see you at one of the meetings.

School Closed - 12/17/2007

Due to the weather conditions, the Ann Arbor Public Schools will be closed on Monday, December 17, 2007.

Barnes and Noble Funraiser

Thank you to everyone who helped make the PTOs Barnes and Noble fundraiser happen. In particular, thank you to Susan Gechter for her leadership.

As you can see from the pictures, it was a lot of fun!

First Healthy Bake Sale

The first 5th grade healthy bake sale was a GREAT success. Thanks to all who helped bake!! Sometimes it took awhile for students to try the healthy items.... but once they did, there was a rush to buy them.

Publishing Kid Writing

After finding out Lily Mohr will be featured in Highlights magazine, our media specialist Ms. Hughes said there are some other great places for kids to get their writing published. Read on to find out where!

Publishing Resources for Young Writers

From: Shutta Crum www.shuttacrum.com

CHILDREN'S WRITER'S AND ILLUSTRATOR'S MARKET: Writer's Digest Books. Published annually. Lists publishers and contests, including a section for young writers only.

Magazine Outlets:

AMERICAN GIRL (www.americangirl.com) 8400 Fairway Place, Middleton WI 53562. (608) 836-4848. Bi-monthly magazine. Uses material written by 8 to12 year-olds.

CREATIVE KIDS (www.prufrock.com/productdetails.cfm?PC=411). P.O. Box 8813, Waco TX 76714. (800) 998-2208. Quarterly magazine. Uses material written by 8 to 14 year-olds.

NEW MOON (www.newmoon.org) P.O. Box 3620, Duluth MN 55803. (218) 728-5507. Bi-monthly. Uses material written by 8 to 14 year-olds.

SKIPPING STONES (www.efn.org/~skipping). P.O. Box 3939, Eugene OR 97403. (541) 342-4956. 5 times/year. Material written by writers younger than 18.

STONE SOUP (www.stonesoup.com). Children's Art Foundation. P.O. Box 83, Santa Cruz CA 95063. (831) 426-5557. 6 times/year. Uses material written by writers through the age of 13.

Online Resources:

www.amazing-kids.org/contest.html. Amazing kids site, lots of writing opportunities for kids, and interviews with well-known writers. Sponsored by a non-profit educational organization with a TV show, etc.

www.cs.bilkent.edu.tr/~david/derya/ywc.html. A young writer's club.

www.kidpub.org. Kid Pub. Requires a small registration fee to post, but stories can be read free.

Student Writing In Highlights Magazine

Congratulation to MLK's own Lily Mohr whose poem will be featured in an upcoming issue of Highlights magazine! Nice job!

Snow and Safety at School

Since the first snowfall of the year, we have been working with students to help them understand snow and safety at school. Essentially this means:

• No throwing snow.
  
• If a child is sliding on the snow (on the grassy areas), take turns.
• NO sliding on ice.
• We must maintain safety at all times.
  

In the beginning we had a few issues with a few students not following these school rules. Since then we have done better (and I suspect we will continue to get better), but we do have a ways to go still. When you have a moment, please ask your child about how they are doing with snow and safety at school. Thanks.

The MLK Green Team!

Have you heard about the King School Green Team? Every student at King is on this special team. The challenge for each member is to help keep the grounds at King clean... you know, no littering, period! The idea started with several of Mrs. Knorr's fourth graders, Zoe Zimmerman and Michiko Ota. In their minds, thoughts about the Green Team might involve more conscientious recycling, encouraging people to car pool, reducing wastes, and as a starter, keeping the grounds clean. I, Linda Ryan, chair the landscape committee and have picked up litter over the course of the year now and then. On my last round, I thought maybe this job could be become everyone's responsibility, but how would I pull this off? When I chatted with Mr. Karr about the issue, he told me about the Green Team ideas. As a matter of fact, he had a pile of great ideas that had been accumulating on his desk. He was looking for a way to enable Zoe and Michi to put their green thoughts into action! Thus, the Green Team challenge evolved. The challenge will last for one month ending right before winter break. At that time Mrs.Ryan will surf the King grounds for litter. If less then 3 cafeteria trays of litter are found, then the students at King will each get a reward. Posters, trash buckets by the doors, and weekly skits will encourage us all to keep the grounds clean. Are you up to the challenge?

Report from Parent Writing Workshop

Good evening! I am writing from the MLK media center on the evening of December 3, 2007 surrounded by parents from 22 families who have assembled for a Parent Writing Workshop for the purpose of understanding writing instruction and how it pertains to their children. This event has been planned and implemented by the MLK School Improvement Team both this school year and last. In fact, I am very happy to announce that with tonight's participation, over 150 families total have participated in the workshop. In the near future, I will announce a second parent opportunity for families to learn about writing, again sponsored by the MLK School Improvement Team. Watch for it!

Back to tonight's blog entry . . . Here are a few pieces of information that were shared at tonight's presentation that would be helpful for all of us to remember:

1. All children can and should write. From the time your children can hold a crayon, encourage them to draw, scribble and write. In order to be successful and fluent writers, students need to know they can write--even if it doesn't look perfect!
2. Teachers must help student find real purposes to write. Help your children communicate their hopes, dreams, fears, and concerns. When your children see writing as serving a real purpose, they will be more likely to try it.
3. Students need to take ownership and responsibility. Kid writing should sound like kid writing! When kids believe that their writing is their own, they will become more likely to invest themselves in it.
4. Effective writing programs involve the complete writing process. Our children like all writers, have different ways of approaching writing tasks. Tune in to your children's learning styles and needs as writers. Writing in different styles and genres will take time. Some genres will take just one draft while others will take multiple drafts.
   
5. Teachers can help students get started. Talk with your children about their ideas and encourage them to draw, freewrite, and make lists of verbs in order to get started.
6. Teachers can help students draft and revise. Listen to our children's drafts and ask real questions about content. Heartfelt questions are the best way to encourage kids to keep on writing.
7. Grammar and mechanics are best learned in the context of actual writing. If you notice errors in conventions in your children's writing, pick just one area at a time to work on (such as punctuation, dialogue, or capitalization). You might also refer to real texts (books, newspapers, letters, magazines) to see how published authors tackle issues of punctuation, spelling and more.
8. Students need real audiences and a classroom context of shared learning. Help your children find real audiences (famliy, friends, neighbors) to communicate with.
9. Writing should extend throughout the curriculum. You can write just about anything at home: letters to family and friends, songs and plays to perform for the family, lists for grocery shopping . . . The list is endless!
10. Effective teachers use evaluation constructively and efficiently. Your job as a parent is to encourage and support any effort your children make in writing. Be lavish in praise and specific and limited in your suggestions for improvement.

I hope that everyone will find the above information useful and helpful, even if you couldn't attend one the parent nights.

Please also join me in thanking the Eastern Michigan Writing Project, Susan Lake, Diane Massell and the MLK School Improvement Team for their work around tonight's workshop and achievement at MLK.

King School Barnes & Noble Book Fair this Friday & Saturday!

A new & exciting event is happening this week for King School families & friends! On Friday, December 7 and Saturday, December 8, the King PTO will be hosting the King School Barnes & Noble Book Fair at Barnes & Noble on Washtenaw Avenue!

The King School Barnes & Noble Book Fair is a great way for our families & friends to purchase holiday gifts for themselves & others as well as books to read while traveling over the winter holidays. The best part about this book fair is that almost every single item in the Barnes & Noble store including: children & adult books, music, movies, games, bookmarks, calendars, gift items, cafe items, & more will be available & will count as purchases towards the King School Barnes & Noble Book Fair (when a King School voucher is provided at checkout)!

Various activities will occur at Barnes & Noble throughout the two days. On Friday, there will be a dance performed by King School students in the High School Musical class at 4:15. At 4:30, Dr. Michalik, Mrs. Haddas, & Mr. Taylor will read a story followed by Mr. Karr reading at 4:45! Saturday's readers include Mrs. Jones at 11:30, Ms. Gatonez at 6:00, and Mr. Clarkson at 6:15! There will also be a variety of activity stations for families to try out at Barnes & Noble.

Invite your family & friends to come shop at Barnes & Noble on 12/7 - 12/8. Make sure to hand the cashier the King School voucher at checkout!

Please contact Susan Gechter if you have any questions.