5th Graders to Space Camp in Alabama

Our fifth graders boarded buses to the U. S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama on Saturday night around 11:45. The buses traveled throughout the night (with a couple of planned stops) and arrived in time for students to begin learning--and enjoying.

This annual fifth grade experience began about ten years ago and explores many of the science concepts students have studied throughout elementary school. Check back to find out more about what our students are doing. Here is our first update:

We're here, safe and sound.

All the kids slept, at least a little. The buses were very quiet until around 6:30. We stopped at the Tennessee border for breakfast at the Visitors' Center. Then we made a second stop near Nashville for a stretch-your-legs, run around for an hour play period. We arrived at 12:30 Huntsville time, 1:30 Ann Arbor time.

It took us awhile to get beds for everyone because some other schools were short of beds. All our kids were taken care of. Then we had our first meal. What a riot... Chicken-Fried Steak. The kids all talked about the weird, brown chicken. I guess we should have taught them about Southern Cuisine.

Back at the Habitat, the kids unpacked and made their beds. Counselors took over after a slide show presentation. We are now off to dinner and an adult orientation. Then everyone is going to get some well-needed sleep.

AAPS Strategic Planning

Dear King Community,

Last week I began working with other district and community members on the Ann Arbor Public Schools Strategic Plan. In particular, the work I will focus on will be as an Action Team Leader. Action Teams will focus on one of the strategies mentioned in the flyer. Click here for more information.

If the strategic planning process is something you'd like to be a part of, I encourage you to call/email Liz Margolis at 734.994.2236 or margolis@aaps.k12.mi.us . Please respond by May 18th.

If you have questions, I'm happy to help direct you.

Sincerely,

Kevin Karr

Science Olympiad Success!

I want to congratulate all of our King students who participated in the Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad (WESO) this past weekend. From the medals being worn at school today, I can tell King was very, very successful.

In particular, it should be noted that the overall 5th grade championship was awarded to King School! Please look for the championship trophy next time you're at MLK.

In addition, the King team stood out in the following ways:

• 2nd Grade won medals in total of 7 events
• 3rd Grade won medals in total of 4 events
• 4th Grade won medals in total of 3 events
• 5th Grade won medals in total of 8 events

These results are really exciting and mark a banner year for science at MLK, along with the 100% passing mark King students earned on the 5th grade science MEAP.

Thanks to the King PTO and King parents who made WESO a huge success again this year!

Feedback from Parent Writing Workshop

Last night was the first of three Parent Writing Workshops offered by the MLK School Improvement Team. CLICK HERE for more info.

At end of the workshop parents gave feedback. Here is some of what was offered:

1. I learned more about how I should respond to my children's writing: less critical, more praise.
2. The useful, straight forward tips the instructors gave will be very useful.
   
3. I enjoyed examples of how to make writing fun.

If you are still interested in signing up for either the May 10 or May 15 presentation, please call the school office.

THE ELEMENTARY SUMMER LEARNING INSTITUTE RETURNS!

This year’s Elementary Summer Learning Institute will serve current second grade students. The program will run from Monday, July 2 - Friday, July 27 at Logan Elementary School. There will be no school on July 4.

In order to attend, students must be referred by their classroom teacher. Students who have not yet reached grade level reading targets or have not yet reached a secure target on selected second grade math outcomes, are eligible. Teachers and principals are just now receiving applications for the program. If your child has been referred and you have further questions, please contact your child’s teacher. With further questions, feel free to contact this year’s Co-Principal, Michele Madden, at 994-1686 or madden@aaps.k12.mi.us.

Silent Auction Almost Here!

Dear King Families,

In case you’ve somehow missed it, the 3rd King Silent Auction will kick off at 4 PM this Sunday, April 29. This exciting fundraiser offers a wide array of donated goods and services including condominiums, cooking classes, parties, hotel stays, gift certificates—and much, much more. The complete catalog for the silent auction is available at

http://www.gulari.com/King-Silent-Auction.html

The event is open to all, so if you would like to share the link above with someone who isn’t typically part of the King School community, please feel free. It is even possible for out of towners to bid by proxy! Special thanks goes to Laurie Barnett,Terri Brodkey and Amy Cell who are chairing this event and have done professional level work in making all happen. Thanks also to the many volunteers who are working before, during, and after the event to make it all happen.

Two reminders:
1. Evening activities at King are family events. Parents and guardians are responsible for the close supervision of their children. Children cannot attend without a supervising adult.
2. Please follow all safety procedures during evening events at King. This includes no parking in the front of King School. Please plan on parking in the neighborhood during the evening of the silent auction.

If you have questions, please feel free to ask.

Sincerely,
Kevin Karr

Top Ten Reasons To Block Out 4 - 8 PM This Sunday

Top 10 Reasons
to block out 4-8pm Sunday, April 29 at 4-8pm
in your PDA and family calendar now!

10. Photo opportunities galore during the Science Olympiad award ceremony!
9. Feast on multicultural fare provided at reasonable prices from Evergreen, Qdoba and Shalimar!
8. Bid on over 150 incredible, must-have-at-any-price items!
7. Children’s Mystery Bags!
6. Bid on fun events including the ever popular King Community Party, Mom’s Night Out and new this year – a Poker Party!
5. Science Displays and activities to entertain and enrich!
4. Wii system raffle! You won’t have to stand in line for days!
3. Try to win lunch with a friend and Principal Kevin Karr -- in a limousine ride to a fun Ann Arbor restaurant!
2. Get to know families and teachers in your King community even better!
1. Two words – Balloon Animals.

Follow up to: A special day at MLK

An email received this weekend:

This is great, Kevin. I can tell you when I got home from work, my

first grader, could not wait to tell me all about it. And, one part of the

story was -- "he came because lots of kids wrote letters!"

This is exciting! It is great to hear that kids are making a connection between writing and accomplishing something.

A Special Visitor at MLK

We had a special visitor at MLK today . . .

It started with a knock on my office door and an urgent message saying that help was needed in the gymnasium. It was an emergency! Of course, I responded running down the hallway into the gymnasium where Mrs. Arbour said "come this way," moving towards the multipurpose room.

As I entered the multipurpose room I didn't find an emergency. I found the excitement of a blue and gold filled arena.It was a birthday surprise . . . for me. It was very nice; it felt very special. We sang songs, had happy birthday wishes, and there were even gifts! I was truly stunned!

But it wasn't over yet. The most exciting part was still to come!

This year, the focus of our school improvement has been writing. We would like our students to become better writers, and our teachers and the School Improvement Team has been working on this . . . so it was very appropriate that our students wrote letters to invite a special guest to visit MLK. Here is one of the letters, written by Rachel, a fourth grader at MLK.

Dear Coach,
I am writing to you from King Elementary School. You know my gym teacher, Mrs. Arbour. You're probably wondering why I am writing to you. I have to keep this letter top secret because we don't want my nice, caring, fun principal to know about this letter.

Do you want to know why? You guessed it! Mr. Karr (who says you're his long, lost cousin . . . Karr . . . Carr . . . get it?) well anyway his dream as a boy (and still now), is to meet YOU! His birthday is April 26th.

Now, I know you are a very busy person, but if you could take some time out of your day to come to my school, it would be greatly appreciated. It's okay if you say no . . . I'm shocked you would even have time to read this letter! I want to show Mr. Karr that children can help each other too. But I can't do that without you!

So if you could come to my school and surprise my principal that would make me and my school very happy, not to mention my principal.

Sincerely a Fourth Grader,
Rachel

P.S. Don't contact King Elementary School. Remember it's a top secret mission and a surprise for Mr. Karr

What happened next was the result of all of the letters written by MLK students. Mrs. Knorr told me that I needed to sing the greatest fight song ever written which, of course, is "The Victors." Now I'm a good sport, but I don't always sing on pitch . . . so I said to would do it--if everyone helped me out. Everyone agreed and we started singing. It sounded pretty good with all of my great back up singers.

Then an amazing thing happened. As I was singing, a special guest at MLK began walking up behind me. Everyone could see him but me. As we finished singing "The Victors," I felt a hand on my shoulder. When I looked up, I saw Lloyd Carr, the coach of the Michigan football team!
I couldn't believe it! The letters written to Coach Carr persuaded him to come and visit MLK. It is hard to believe it happened. I want to thank all of the boys and girls for their effort in being the best writers they can be! Nice work! And keep it up! We're going to be the best school of writers anywhere!

I also want to thank the MLK teachers and staff. They are a wonderful, dedicated, and talented group of educators. I really appreciate working with such a fine group of professionals.

Last, but not least, thank you to Lloyd Carr for taking the time to be a part of MLK today. It was a wonderful birthday visit that helped us reinforce the power of writing. GO BLUE!

Do You Want to Help Your Kids With Writing This Summer?

The King School Improvement Team presents a
Parent Writing Workshop

by the EMU Writing Project!

This event will be held on three dates for the convenience of our parents at MLK:

Choice #1: Wednesday, May 2
Choice #2: Thursday, May 10
Choice #3: Tuesday, May 15

7:00-8:30 pm
King Media Center

Parents will:
*Explore “best practices” in teaching writing
*Learn practical ways to encourage
your kids to write
*Talk with experts who are parents, too

The presenters:
Cathy Fleischer (Ph.D. University of Michigan, 1990) is a professor in the EMU English department where she coordinates the English Education program and teaches courses in both English education and Written Communication. She writes and presents extensively on literacy education. She is the mother of two teenage sons.

Kim Pavlock (MA, Eastern Michigan University, 1997) is the Family Literacy Coordinator for the EMWP. She teaches first-year writing at EMU. Additionally, she presents literacy workshops for families and professional development workshops for teachers and administrators. She is a mother of three children, ages 8, 12, 14.

Lori Loewer (MEd, National Louis University, Illinois, 1993) is a former elementary teacher and currently a guest teacher in South Lyon. She has two children, ages 8 and 10.

----------------------------------------------
Each session is limited to approximately 40 people. If the date you selected above is overbooked, you will be contacted. Babysitting will be provided by King Care, courtesy of the King PTO.

To sign up, please return the form that came home with your child OR call the school office at 994-1940.

Virginia Tech

A couple thoughts to share regarding the horrific events at Virginia Tech this week and how to address your children's concerns.

1) If the kids are discussing it, you need to discuss it. If you don't, you send the message that it is too horrible to discuss, and that is terrifying to children. What kids imagine is worse than the facts.
2) Stick to the facts. There are lots of rumors and unfounded stuff out there. Stick to what is known and say "we don't know" for the questions that don't have answers.
3) Emphasize that this is a big deal because it is unusual. Kids don't have the perspective we do as adults that what makes the news is the rare, not the common.
4) Everyone deals with fear and related feelings in their own way. Some kids don't want to talk about it. Some kids do. Some seem "inappropriate" in what they say. Respond to the feelings and not the content.
5) Don't dwell on it. When the main facts and feelings have come out, it's time to get on with your regular routine. Make sure kids know you're available to talk later if they want.
6) Short term normal reactions to this sort of thing include changes in appetite and sleep. It may also turn up in children's artwork and in conversations about other frightening or sad things they have experienced. All of these things should fade as time goes on. If they don't, you may wish to consult your pediatrician or someone in the mental health field. Please let us know at school if we can help.

Also, I, like many, was struck by Nikki Giovanni's poem which she read at the memorial yesterday in Blacksburg. It shows below.

We are Virginia Tech.

We are sad today and we will be sad for quite awhile. WE are not moving on, we are embracing our mourning.

We are Virginia Tech.

We are strong enough to know when to cry and sad enough to know we must laugh again.

We are Virginia Tech.

We do not understand this tragedy. We know we did not deserve it but neither does a child in Africa dying of AIDS, but neither do the invisible children walking the night to avoid being captured by a rogue army. Neither does the baby elephant watching his community be devastated for ivory; neither does the Appalachian infant killed in the middle of the night in his crib in the home his father built with his own hands being run over by a boulder because the land was destabilized. No one deserves a tragedy.

We are Virginia Tech.

The Hokier Nation embraces our own with open heart and hands to those who offer their hearts and minds. We are strong and brave and innocent and unafraid. We are better than we think, not quite what we want to be. We are alive to the imagination and the possibility we will continue to invent the future through our blood and tears, through all this sadness.

We are the Hokies.

We will prevail, we will prevail, we will prevail.

We are Virginia Tech.

Animals at MLK

Over the past month, several incidents involving animals at school have prompted several questions about what is appropriate. The questions include the following:

1. Can dogs/rabbits/hampsters/gerbils/cats come to school? Can my dog come to school for the morning?
   
2. My child is scared of dogs. Aren't dogs supposed to stay off of school grounds?
   
3. Can I walk my child to school with my dog?
   

The answers to these questions show below but before the answers, please know that my car license plate does not say "DOG HTR." :-) The answers are intended to reflect a focus on student needs and safe, clear practices.

• Answer to Q1: It might be OK for an animal to come to school for a short period of time that is prearranged with the classroom teacher. However, it might also inappropriate based on the individual needs in the classroom. In all cases, a plan with the classroom teacher is necessary before any animal comes to school.
  
• Answer to Q2: Dogs should not generally be on school grounds when the school is being used for school activities (including KingCare and evening PTO activities). When school is not in session, the community is welcome to use the walking track and other areas provided the area is kept clean of pet waste.
  
• Answer to Q3: If you walk to school with your child and dog, please know that some are afraid of the presence of dogs (yes, even your docile dog). Please feel free to walk your child and dog to the school boundary, but please also be aware that the closer you are to the school building, the greater the anxiety for some.
  

King Elementary School Clean Up

Many hands make light work, and King School needs people who care about how our school looks to come and help beautify the grounds. There are leaves to rake, mud mounds to remove, mulch to put down, bushes and trees to prune, litter to be disposed of properly, etc. While giving a helping hand, you can catch up on positive school and neighborhood topics. Bring gardening gloves, 5 compost bags, and any of the following tools such as a rake, shovels, pruners, and/or push broom. It would be great to get this all done in one day and then enjoy what nature has in store for us . . . spring trees blossoming out, newly planted bulbs smiling in the sun, green grass and leaves on the trees, laughter from kids at recess, balls being kicked up high . . . Oh my . . . can't wait.

Meet outside the north entrance of the school. Hope to see you there!

submitted by: Linda M. Ryan, PTO Landscape Chair

Great Job Academic Games Team!

Congratulations goes to the 2006-07 King Academic Games Team who concluded their season recently. We are pleased to report a successful year with over 30 students participating. Thanks goes to King alumni Christy Vanek, parent Mike Vanek as well as King teacher Mrs. Vanek (yes, they are a family ☺) for their coaching and organizational efforts. All of the students and coaches have done an excellent job!
We also want to celebrate the King Academic Games Team and their success at the 33rd Annual Michigan League of Academic Games State Super Tournament in Grand Rapids from March 14 – 16, 2007. It was a very successful trip for our students with second and third place finishes in the Equations competition, a second place in On-Sets, and honorable mentions in the Presidents competition and the Propaganda competition. We couldn’t be more proud of our Academic Games team!

Safety and MEAP Scores

March 4, 2007


Dear King parents,

I write today with some of the most exciting news of the year—and some of the most disappointing news, which is where I’ll start.

Safety—Drop Offs—Pick Ups
The disappointment: several parents approached me recently to express dissatisfaction and disappointment with safety during drop-off and pick-up times. After watching in the front drive of the school on several occasions, I couldn’t agree more. Our problems during these times are serious and are on-going issues. We need to come together to address this NOW!

What’s wrong and why it should be changed:
• Parents are dropping off and picking up students from the left hand lane of the circle drive in the front of the school. This means students cross in front of other cars to get to and from the school—and as unthinking, sometimes too rushed drivers leave the school, students could be hit and hurt or worse.
• Parents backing their cars up—even if just for a couple feet—in the front drive. Students may be standing in driver’s blind spot (or may step out from the curb) while some unthinking, unknowing driver backs up and hits them, hurts them or worse.
• The above two bullets exemplify parent practices that are not acceptable. Other unacceptable parent practices include driving too fast around the school, parking in the front of the school during pick up and drop off, and standing in the left hand lane of the front circle drive.

What needs to be done to act safely:
• Parents must obey traffic signs around the school;
• Parents must slow down when dropping off and picking up students. This does not only mean to drive more slowly but also means exhibiting patience to realize it makes more sense to make a second loop to the front drive than to pick up students in an unsafe manner;
• Use the left hand lane of the front drive for driving only;
• Never back up in the front circle drive;
• From 8:40 – 9:10 and from 3:30 – 4:00, you cannot leave your car while in the front drive (i.e. no parking allowed).
• If you are perpetrating any of the above-mentioned dastardly deeds, you should change your behavior. If you are not doing these things, talk with other MLK parents about the issues. We must raise awareness that what is happening is dangerous.

Beyond this we need to think, as a community, about how to best address this in an on-going, safer way. Some of the suggestions I’ve received this year:
• Ask the Ann Arbor Police Department to monitor traffic at school. I would love it if it were this easy but the AAPD gives tickets on Waldenwood Drive, not in the King driveway.
• Ask the PTO to form a Safety Committee to help address the issues. I would welcome the help from such a group.
I would be happy to receive additional suggestions about this topic. Thank you.

Now on to some of the more exciting news at MLK. Let’s get right to the fall 2006 MEAP scores, which were released not too long ago. Here you go:
3rd Grade
Reading- 96
Writing- 74
English/Language Arts- 96
Math- 97

4th Grade
Reading- 98
Writing- 83*
English/Language Arts- 97
Math- 99

5th Grade
Reading- 98
Writing- 91*
English/Lang. Arts- 98
Math- 98
Science- 100*

* denotes highest score achieved at King School in given area

As you can see, King School continues to perform on the MEAP tests at an exceptional level. Few schools in the state have shown this type of success from year to year. Nice job everyone!

During Curriculum Night in the fall of this school year, I shared the MEAP scores from 2005. Writing was the area that “stuck out” in our achievement data (as well as the achievement data for the AAPS and the composite data for public schools in Michigan). So, looking at the scores above, there is reason to celebrate! I hope you’ll join me in congratulating our students and teaching staff on this accomplishment. Effort, work and thought has gone into addressing writing—and it has shown signs of paying off!

As a learning community we need to continue to be committed to the improvement of writing beyond the scores above. So far this year, the following have taken place that contribute to our writing improvement:
• The King School Improvement Team and staff established writing as an area of focus in support of the AAPS Action Plan;
• K-2 and 3-5 teachers have participated in several sessions of professional development around writing instruction and implementation of the AAPS writing curriculum;
• Schedules for implementation of the writing curriculum have been established and are reviewed;
• Additional resources for the teaching of grammar have been purchased for teachers use;
• The State of Michigan Grade Level Content Expectations have been reviewed;
• In consultation and planning with me, fourth grade parents established an after-school writing program for interested students with the assistance of 826michigan.org;
• A parent writing program from the Eastern Michigan Writing Project was offered to a pilot group of parents and teachers including the School Improvement Team and the PTO board;
• Discussions and planning is underway to offer the parent writing program to other interested parents (hopefully in May!).
I’d like to give thanks to the King staff and our School Improvement Team members for their work and initiative around our efforts in writing. The School Improvement Team members for this year are Laurie Barnett, Mona Berry, Elizabeth Donovan, Kevin Karr, Susan Lake, Reema Jarjoura, Colleen McAlinden, Teresa McMahon and Laura Stidham. I’d also like to give thanks to fourth grade parents Ksenia Kozak and Monica Tecchio for their initiative on the 4th grade after-school writing program. It is my hope that we’ll identify others who may be interested in developing similar opportunities for other grades. If you are interested, feel free to contact Ksenia, Monica, Maneesha Gulati, the PTO educational chair, or me ☺.

Kindergarten for fall 2007 - INFO

We had a dynamite turn out at Kindergarten Round Up last evening. It was really enjoyable meeting our incoming King families!

If you missed it, you haven't missed out altogether! Here is the essential information you need:

1. Kindergarten enrollment for fall 2007 begins NOW! Please come to the school office to pick up/drop off enrollment forms for next fall.
   
2. At King School, we offer a traditional half-day kindergarten program as well as Extended Day Option (EDO) kindergarten (half-day kindergarten, half-day tuition-based daycare). If you are interested in EDO, you should contact the Rec and Ed department to sign up (994-2300, ext. 0) as soon as possible but before March 15.
3. If you are in need for before- or after-school day care, please contact our wonderful KingCare program for enrollment at 994-4485 or stop by when you are at school.
4. After you've enrolled, you are welcome to come back and see us with your child for all of the following events:
   
   • Thursday, March 15 from 6 - 8: King School Book Fair
   • Thursday, April 19 at 7:00: Kindergarten Concert followed by Open House in classroom at 7:30
   • Friday, June 1: King Ice Cream Social at 6:00
   We are hoping these events will help your child better transition to school in the fall.

Last, if you have questions, please give us a call at 994-1940.

King Elementary School Book Release!

Location: Crazy Wisdom Tea Room
Thursday, March 8, 2007. Time TBA.

For six weeks in January and February, 826michigan volunteers will be working with King Elementary students in an after-school creative writing workshop. The King Elementary Parent Teacher Organization has generously committed to funding a publication of their work. Their teachers, parents, peers, and the general public are invited to hear students read and to see the completed publication at this book release party.

Crazy Wisdom is located at 114 S. Main Street in Ann Arbor. Hope to see you there!

NO SCHOOL - 2/14/2007

Due to road conditions, school is closed today.

AAPS Invites Community to Budget Forums

Superintendent Todd Roberts invites Ann Arbor Public School parents, staff and community members to attend one of two forums on the state of the district’s finances.

Monday, February 19
Pioneer High School
Cafeteria
7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, February 21
Huron High School
Cafeteria
7:00 p.m.

At these sessions Superintendent Roberts, along with Deputy Superintendent for Operations, Robert Allen, will give an overview on how public school districts are funded, the district’s revenue projections and an overview of the district’s budget.

There will also be facilitated small group sessions in which attendees will be asked for input on district priorities and funding recommendations.

International Night Photo--Thanks!

Just a quick thanks to Randy Karr, my dad, for taking time to photograph International Night at MLK. One of his photos of the audience in the International Night audience in the multipurpose room: