King eNotes - 4/21/11

King School eNotes

April 21, 2011

Calendar

Friday, April 22, 2011

·    Today:  No School

Sunday, April 24, 2011

·    eNotes submissions due to kingschoolpto@gmail.com

Thursday, April 28, 2011

·    Noon – 2:30:  Mr. Huyck's and Mrs. Warner's Classes to Leslie Science Center

·    6:30 – 7:30: Third Grade Open House/Music Night

Friday, April 29, 2011

·    Tonight:  King School Silent Auction Gala Event! Please plan to attend!

Sunday, May 1, 2011

·    eNotes submissions due to kingschoolpto@gmail.com

Monday, May 2 – Friday, May 6, 2011

·    Teacher Appreciation Week

Monday, May 2, 2011

·    9:15 – 11:45 – Mrs. Gracey's class to Leslie Science Center

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

·    Election Day – Please Vote!

·    6:30 – 7:30 PM – Kindergarten Open House/Music Night

Thursday, May 5, 2011

·    6:30 – 7:30 PM – Fourth Grade Open House/Music Night

News and Information

Open House/Music Night dates approach!  The Kindergarten and Fourth grade Open Houses and Music Nights are approaching.  We hope to see everyone.  Thank you to Mrs. Vanek and the classroom teachers for sponsoring these events.

Leadership Appreciation Breakfast @ May 4, 8:15 AM

PTO Volunteers Needed on Friday, May 6 For Flower Day!

April 29th Family Science Night and Science Olympiad Medal Presentations

PTO Volunteers Needed on Friday, May 6 For Flower Day!

Leadership (i.e. Teacher) Appreciation Flower Day!  The PTO will provide flower for the children to give to their teacher.  We need six volunteers to assist with the flower distribution.  Volunteers should be at the school by 8:40 and will be done by 9 a.m.  Please email Francine (romac696@comcast.net) if you are able to help!  

Leadership Appreciation Breakfast @ May 4, 8:15 AM

The what?  Yes, we've changed the name of Teacher Appreciation Week to make sure we recognize ALL of the wonderful individuals who have influenced our children this year!)  We'll host a breakfast on May 4 from 8:15-9 a.m.   Click on the doodle link to volunteer to contribute to this event!   http://doodle.com/enhnbfuxirsbqk9w

April 29th Family Science Night and Science Olympiad Medal Presentations

Join us from 7:30pm - 8:30pm for hands-on science activities in the
King Elementary Multipurpose Room. Staff from the Ann Arbor Hands On
Museum will be running interactive experiments and demonstrations.
Come and explore the exciting world of science that is all around us!
Additionally, participants and coaches of the King Science Olympiad
teams will be recognized and presented with medals.

Disability Awareness Workshop - Thank You!

Thank you to everyone who volunteered March 25th, 2011 at the
Disability Awareness Workshop.

It was a great learning environment for our 4th grade students.

And a big thanks to the King School teachers and staff for letting us
use the teachers' lounge and multipurpose room for this workshop.

We really appreciate the support, and we look forward to working with
a new group of kids next year!

Darla Dubin (co-coordinator/chair DAW)

2010 MEAP Scores Released

The fall 2010 MEAP data have been released by the State of Michigan. The updated reading, writing (only given in 4th grade), math, and science (only given in 5th grade) scores for King show below. We are very, very proud of King students and how they performed on the test. We analyze the data from the test to help us understand what is needed next in our teaching.

3rd Grade
Reading - 96% proficient, 73% advanced
Math - 100% proficient, 84% advanced

4th Grade
Reading - 99% proficient, 70% advanced
Writing - 91% proficient, 42% advanced
Math - 97% proficient, 87% advanced

5th Grade
Reading - 97% proficient, 88% advanced
Math - 99% proficient, 91% advanced
Science - 92% proficient, 78% advanced

Based on the 2010 MEAP, Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School ranks as the sixth highest scoring elementary school and the twelfth highest scoring school overall in the state of Michigan.  We are a strong school community and these scores are certainly reflective of the commitment that exists from all stakeholders in the community to providing excellence in education.  

Thank you to the King staff and parents for their work in supporting out students.  Most of all, congratulations to our students for their fine efforts!!!

2010 MEAP Scores

The fall 2010 MEAP data have been released by the State of Michigan. The updated reading, writing (only given in 4th grade), math, and science (only given in 5th grade) scores for King show below. We are very, very proud of King students and how they performed on the test. We analyze the data from the test to help us understand what is needed next in our teaching.

3rd Grade
Reading - 96% proficient, 73% advanced
Math - 100% proficient, 84% advanced

4th Grade
Reading - 99% proficient, 70% advanced
Writing - 91% proficient, 42% advanced
Math - 97% proficient, 87% advanced

5th Grade
Reading - 97% proficient, 88% advanced
Math - 99% proficient, 91% advanced
Science - 92% proficient, 78% advanced

Based on the 2010 MEAP, Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School ranks as the sixth highest scoring elementary school and the twelfth highest scoring school overall in the state of Michigan.  We are a strong school community and these scores are certainly reflective of the commitment that exists from all stakeholders in the community to providing excellence in education.  

Thank you to the King staff and parents for their work in supporting out students.  Most of all, congratulations to our students for their fine efforts!!!

The fall 2009 MEAP data:

The fall 2009 MEAP data has been released by the State of Michigan. The updated chart of the King scores shows below for reading, writing, English language arts (ELA), math, and science (only given in 5th grade). We are very, very proud of ALL King students and how they performed on the test. We analyze the data from the test to help us understand what is needed next in our teaching.

3rd Grade
Reading - 100% proficient, 69% advanced
Math - 100% proficient, 91% advanced

4th Grade
Reading - 96% proficient, 81% advanced
Writing - *
Math - 100% proficient, 93% advanced

5th Grade
Reading - 94% proficient, 74% advanced
Math - 97% proficient, 93% advanced
Science - 94% proficient, 81% advanced

* As of 4/14/2010, writing scores have not been released.


The fall 2008 MEAP data:

3rd Grade
Reading - 96% proficient, 69% advanced
Writing - 93% **
ELA - 96%**
Math - 100% proficient, 97% advanced

4th Grade
Reading - 94% proficient, 73% advanced
Writing - 78% proficient, 0% advanced
ELA - 94% **
Math - 97% proficient, 92% advanced

5th Grade
Reading - 97% proficient, 80% advanced
Writing - 93% **
ELA - 99%**
Math - 99% proficient, 93% advanced
Science - 99% proficient, 85% advanced

** The last year for the writing test in third and fifth grade was the 2008-09 school year. Since ELA (English Language Arts) was a combination score representing reading and writing proficiency, 2008-09 is also the last year it could be calculated.

Congrats to Jalen Yockey, State Art Award Winner!

Congratulations to Jalen Yockey for winning honors at the State Level Art competition!  Jalen Yockey took the top 15 mark, which means his piece will travel with the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) show around the State.    More news to come…

Jalen's work will likely reach the Governer's headquarters in its travels. 

Submitted by Ms. Wayne, King School Visual Arts Studio Teacher

Attention 5th Grade Parents....Clague PTSO Needs YOU!

We are looking for individuals interested in being on the PTSO Board for the 2011-2012 school year!  Elections will be held at the April Meeting on Monday, April 11th at 7 pm in the Media Center for the following positions:

 

President

Vice President

Secretary

Treasurer

6th Grade Member at Large

7th Grade Member at Large

8th Grade Member at Large

 

If you are interested in running for one of these positions or have questions about the positions, please contact Stephanie Ritter, Clague PTSO VP, at tslcritter@comcast.net or 719-235-8861.  Check us out at http://www.aaps.k12.mi.us/clague.ptso/home !

Silent Auction Update 2

Dear King Families:
The Silent Auction is one month away--save your pennies and hoard your allowance because we've got some very special offerings this year.  In our corporate side you'll see old favorites as well as some new and interesting offerings.  Ethnic dinners, parties, and other creative talents are part of our wonderful King Family Donations.  

In the upcoming weeks, we are going to preview featured items; here's a small sample of some great items. 

 UM Basketball Tickets (MSU Game and state bragging rights), a Charles Woodson Fathead (Wall Sticker), Private Stringed Instrument Lessons (from a  King parent and member of the A2 symphony ), and much.... much.... much... more - stay tuned!

Two quick points as we head into Spring Break.  
- Do you like a quick registration process, an organized food line, and a check out that moves quickly?  All this is possible with VOLUNTEERS.  Please sign up for a 30 minute slot.      Silent Auction Volunteer Sign Up

- We don't have much time - but we are accepting cover art from King student artists!  Have your kids draw a 3" x 2" picture of their FAVORITE PTO SPONSORED EVENT.   For a full listing check out the chair listing in your directory - ideas are International Night, Ice Cream Social, Classroom Support, 5k Run... etc.   The auction exists to support these programs - we thought it would be fun to have some kid art showing this on the cover.  Put a name, and indicate the event on the back.  Use magic marker or really dark pencil.  Four will be selected.

Donations are also accepted up until the day of the auction, however, donations received after March 31 are not guaranteed to make it into the catalog.  E-mailking.silent.auction@gmail.com, or sign up at Donate to the King Auction.

Thank you - have a wonderful Spring Break and remember--auction time is near !!  - Alena Stocking, Auction Chair

PHOTO: What is this? Email your answer to karrk@aaps.k12.mi.us

Extended Day Option 2011-12 Update

As of March 24, one Extended Day Option (EDO) classroom has been confirmed at King School for the 2011-12 school year.  All families who submitted EDO applications before March 24 are confirmed for an EDO spot for 2011-12.

A second EDO classroom is still possible for 2011-12, so families should continue to sign up through the Rec & Ed office.  Downloadable forms can be found at:
http://www.aaps.k12.mi.us/reced.childcare/extended_day_option
A final decision about a second EDO classroom at King for 2011-12 will occur around May 1.

If you have questions, please call the King School office at 994-1940.

Silent Auction Donations Needed!!

The Silent Auction is about 5 weeks away.  We have seen a lot of great submissions this year - a hula class, speaker set, homemade cookies, handmade jewelry and much, much more!  These are donations from our King families and the creativity is wonderful.  Donations from families are down at this point this year - but almost 1/2.   I encourage everyone to consider how you can support the silent auction.  Share a hobby, make a meal, donate a certificate or gift item you would never use.  All donations are welcome - no matter how big or small.  The success of the auction depends on all of us - so please consider donating.  The deadline is March 25!  Please e-mailking.silent.auction@gmail.com with questions or donations - or look for the donation forms that have come home in Friday folders.  Thank you for your consideration!  - Alena Stocking, Silent Auction Chair

Last Call for International Night 2011 DVD Orders!

Did you have so much fun at King International Night that you want to experience it all over again? Did your video batteries die or your memory card fill just before your child went up on stage? Do you want to share the King International Night experience with grandparents far away? Well, here's the answer.  Click here for the DVD order form.

thx!

Frances Kai-Hwa Wang

Book Fair Exceeds Expectations!

A big heartfelt thank you to the King community for making this year's
book fair a success! This event could not have happened without the 20
parent volunteers who generously donated over 150 hours to the fair.
We are grateful for the 5,000+ donations of books, movies and music as
well as the $117 for the One for Books coin drive. Scholastic will
donate 117 books to charities on our behalf and the $117 will go
towards purchasing books for the King Library.

We're happy to report that the Scholastic Book Fair sales exceeded our
expectations by almost 25% and the Used Book Fair not only put books
into our students' and teachers' hands but it helped King school
donate boxes of movies to the Mott Children's Hospital and boxes of
books to needy charities.

Christine Kukucka, Kim Lyon and Sandy Aldrich

Shop at the PTO Thrift Shop the week of March 27 through April 3 and support King School!

Shop at the Ann Arbor PTO Thrift shop located on Industrial Parkway
the week of March 27 through April 3. A poster representing King and
supporting International Night will be on display. Buy great items at
low cost and support King School!

Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School International Night 2011 DVD Order Form

Did you have so much fun at King International Night that you want to experience it all over again? Did your video batteries die or your memory card fill just before your child went up on stage? Do you want to share the King International Night experience with grandparents far away? Well, here's the answer.

Yes! I would like to purchase a 2011 King School International Night DVD for $12!

Parent's Name:

Child's Name (s):

Child's Teacher:

Phone (s):

Email (print!):

Quantity: 

x $12 each (check made out to King PTO)

Total amt enclosed: $_____________

Please make checks out to King PTO and put in PTO box in office.

AAPS Budget Session Information Session

Ann Arbor Public Schools to Hold Budget/Millage Information Session on

Monday, March 21 from 6:30 – 8pm

Pioneer High Schools Cafeteria Annex

 

 

Ø    How will the State of Michigan's budget proposals impact the Ann Arbor Public Schools?

 

Ø    What has AAPS done in the past years to address the state shortfall in public education funding?

 

Ø    What are the impacts of the countywide Special Education Millage on May 3^rd?

 

Interim Superintendent Robert Allen will present answers to these questions as the Ann Arbor Public Schools prepare to present the 2011/12 budget to the Board of Education.

 

Please join the district for this important session.

Needed in the Art Room - For Earth Day Mural

WANTED:   wrappers, chip bags, soda cans, plastic bottles of Michigan made products to be used in a mural representing 350 for Earth Day.....drop them off in the Art Room.

Thanks, Ms. Wayne

Volunteers Needed for Disabilty Awareness Day!

Friday, March 25th is Disability Awareness Day.  The all day workshop for 4th graders provides hands-on, kinesthetic learning opportunities for students to experience what life with a disability is like.   We need parent support for Thursday night set up (1 hour); Friday morning workshop assistant (4 hours) or someone to bring food/lunch items for our volunteers from the Center for Independent Living (9 adults).   Parents of any grade are needed.

Please sign up in this Doodle link:

http://doodle.com/nkg2h5rtyket6brc

Thank you,

Darla Dubin

Enrolling Now for 2011-12 School Year

For families who are living in the King neighborhoods, we are enrolling now for the 2011-12 school year.  Please pass on  this information to families who are new to King.

Please call the school office at 994-1940 if there are questions.

Yearbook Orders Due

Yearbook orders are due to the school office.  If preferred, please order your yearbook copy online at:


https://www.arachneweb.net/SchoolPictures/Yearbook/

Report Cards - Monday, March 14

Report cards will be distributed to students on Monday, March 14.  If you have questions after looking over your child's progress, please contact your child's teacher.  Some common questions and answers about report cards show below.

Q1: How do I know what my child is expected to know and be able to do at their grade level?
A1: The State of Michigan's Department of Education sets the standards for what students in each grade should know and be able to do. They call these standards Grade Level Content Expectations or GLCEs for short. School districts in Michigan--including the Ann Arbor Public Schools--use the GLCEs to guide what curriculum is taught at each grade level. For example, the third grade math GLCEs say that students should be able to "Use multiplication and division fact families to understand the inverse relationship of these two operations, e.g., because 3 x 8 = 24, we know that 24 ÷ 8 = 3 or 24 ÷ 3 = 8; express a multiplication statement as an equivalent division statement"; because of this, these concepts are taught in third grade with multiple experiences throughout the year. You can download copies of the GLCEs here or if you need a hard copy, please call your child's teacher or the school office.

Q2: Why doesn’t my child get letter grades (A, B, C, etc.) on her report cards in Ann Arbor?
A2: Letter grades are a form of grading many parents are familiar with as part of their own educational experience. Grades as a form of grading are often subjective and do not necessarily reflect what a child knows or what they need to focus on next. Using the concepts reflected in the GLCEs, more of a “standard” can be applied to teaching and learning for students. With the GLCEs and the associated Ann Arbor curriculum, King School and the Ann Arbor Public Schools have established clear targets that reflect what the State of Michigan believes children should know and learn at a particular grade level.

When you receive your child’s report card, you’ll see reading and writing growth is measured in terms of continuous progress, which you might hear your child’s teacher call “the continuum.” This continuum shows which outcomes a child is currently achieving, which outcomes they have already achieved, and which outcomes they’ll be focusing on next in their learning. Sometimes an outcome on the continuum is achieved quickly and other times mastery requires additional practice and time. This is marked for each student by teachers and reported to parents in November, March and June of each school year. Using this assessment information, teachers are better able to meet the individual needs of students wherever they fall along the continuum of skillfulness.

Q3: How do teachers determine a child’s reading level?
A3: Periodically each student in class participates in a “running record” with their teacher. During a running record, the teacher listens to a child read and asks the child questions about their reading. Afterward, the information gathered during the running record can be analyzed to determine a child’s current level of performance. It also gives information about what a child needs to work on to become a more proficient reader.

Q4: I noticed my second grader (for example) is not yet achieving some of the outcomes for second grade. Should I be concerned?
A4: The outcomes represent end of the year targets, so at this point in the year it is not always concerning. If you are concerned or have a question, please contact your child’s teacher.

King Parent School Improvement Survey

Dear Parents,

Each elementary school across the Ann Arbor district is focused on continuous school improvement.  As a result,  each school is charged with the responsibility to determine the strengths and needs for improvement.  We invite you to be a part of this process by completing the survey by clicking the link below or, upon your request, a hard copy can be sent home in your child’s backpack for you to complete and return it to school.   The survey asks for your input regarding staff, lunch and recess, and your overall thoughts about the school.  We value your input and hope you will take the time to complete the survey.

Please click the link below or copy it into your browser.

http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22BYCMS4FQQ
Sincerely,

Kevin Karr and the MLK School Improvement Team

USED Books and Volunteers NEEDED

The annual King school book fair starts next week!  Please consider donating all and any used books, CDs, DVDs and games. Collection boxes can be found near the office and in front of each classroom.  If you need a pick up, please email us at:

syaldrich@gmail.com .  

We are also looking for more volunteers on Thursday 3/17.  Our goal is to have at least 5 volunteers each hour of the fair.  Please volunteer with us and help make this a wonderful event for the community.  You can sign up on our doodle board at:  http://doodle.com/w8teuychuraafkan

And, don't forget our One for Books challenge.  For every $1 donated by a king student to support our library, Scholastic will donate one book to a charity.  Collection boxes can be found in the school office and in the media center.

Thank you!

Sandy Aldrich, Christine Kukucka and Kim Lyon

Fourth Grade Disability Awareness Day Update - Volunteers Needed

On Friday, March 25th, 2011, all King fourth grade students will participate in the Disability Awareness Workshop.  Volunteers needed!

This is the fifth year that King Elementary has held this hands-on, activity-based workshop whose main purpose is to help students understand how difficult and complex daily living can be for individuals with a variety of disabilities. The program includes activities centered on an empathetic understanding of physical, speech, hearing, vision and learning impairments. The students participate in a wheelchair obstacle course, wear glasses that give them momentary vision impairments, experience speaking with an electric larynx and complete exercises that simulate several reading disabilities. The goal is for the students to learn -- through this personal experience -- that people should be respected no matter how they may look, act, walk or talk.

This workshop was developed by parents in the Rochester Community Schools Special Education Parent Advisory Committee in 1998. It has now expanded to many schools in Oakland County. In the Ann Arbor Public Schools, the workshop was first held at Logan Elementary School in 2005. In subsequent years, this increased to over a dozen buildings and is now in its seventh year in Ann Arbor.

Please consider volunteering on this day, even if you don’t have a 4th grade student. Think of it as a preview if your child is younger or an opportunity to see what you missed last year if your student is in 5th grade. We need 20-25 adult volunteers to help in the morning from 8:30 am until around noon when the students have their lunch break. You are welcome to remain for the rest of the program (12:45 pm to dismissal).

Past experience proves that this is a fun and meaningful experience for all of our children as well as the volunteers.

Volunteers will be trained to oversee students as they rotate through nine different stations, including:

Physical Impairment Centers: Wheelchairs; Walkers; and Fine Motor Activities

Vision, Hearing and Speech Stations: Hearing & Speech; Vision; and Learning

                                                             Disabilities

Accessibility Checklist (students work in teams to complete a checklist that requires

                                        some measuring and math computations)

If you are interested in volunteering, please click here to print and fill out the volunteer form.  Thank you for contributing to the success of the workshop. Please contact me with any questions.

Darla Dubin, 904-5536, darladubin@aol.com

King Parent coordinating the Disability Awareness Workshop

King Students’ Artwork on display at Palio and the Ann Arbor District Library during March

Congratulations! The following students’ artwork was chosen for exhibit at Palio and at the Ann Arbor District Library for the month of March.

Palio

Kenneth Jiang - K, Batik Watercolor

Caitlyn Fong - K, Batik Watercolor

Tim Balayar – K, Batik Watercolor

Yujin Huh – 1^st grade, Collage Still Life

Hyun Jung  - 1st grade, Batik Watercolor Letters

Kaitlyn Sabb – 2^nd grade, Still Life Pastel

Candace Jung – 2^nd grade, Still Life Pastel

Vincent Tremonti – 2^nd grade, Still Life Pastel

Avani Guduri - 2^nd grade, Graphic Design Name

Yaseen Daoud - 3^rd grade, Graphic Design Name

Youngseo Lee - 3^rd grade, Graphic Design Name

Max Brodkey - 3^rd grade, Graphic Design Name

Gretchen Parrish - 3^rd grade, Graphic Design Name

Siena Smith - 3^rd grade, Graphic Design Name

Emily Kim - 3^rd grade, Graphic Design Name

Jadyn Smith - 3^rd grade, Graphic Design Name

Shannon Stocking - 3^rd grade, Graphic Design Name

Johannes Kretzler - 3^rd grade, Graphic Design Name

Sophie Wolf - 3^rd grade, Graphic Design Name

Anastasia Papageorgiou - 3^rd grade, Graphic Design Name

Jonathan Zou - 3^rd grade, Graphic Design Name

Varsha Subramanyam – 3^rd grade, Still Life Color Pencil

Rhea Cong – 3^rd grade, Still Life Color Pencil

Anton Pereklita – 3^rd grade, Still Life Chalk

Brandon Geng – 4^th grade, Still Life Chalk

Afua Nkansah – 4^th grade, Still Life Chalk

Ayaka Asada - 4^th grade, Still Life Chalk

Julianna Caton - 4^th grade, Still Life Chalk

Saulius Galvanauskas – 4^th grade, Still Life Chalk

Clara Boudette – 4^th grade, Still Life Chalk

William Chung – 4^th grade, Still Life Chalk

Madison Downer – 4^th grade, Still Life Chalk

Beatrice Chen – 4^th grade, Still Life Chalk

Taka Fetters – 4^th grade, Still Life Chalk

Kailyn Barton - 5^th grade, Color Lino-Cut

Dong Joo Lee – 5^th grade, Still Life Color Pencil

Soham Naik - 5^th grade, Still Life Color Pencil

Peter Kalemkerian – 5^th grade, Still Life Color Pencil

Joey Hollenshead – 5^th grade, Still Life Color Pencil

Claire Deng – 5^th grade, Still Life Color Pencil

Laura Deng – 5^th grade, Still Life Color Pencil

Mairead Erhardt - 5^th grade, Still Life Color Pencil

Iris Campbell - 5^th grade, Still Life Color Pencil

Luke Renken - 5^th grade, Still Life Color Pencil

Saskia VanNieuwstadt - 5^th grade, Still Life Color Pencil

Zoe Schumacher - 5^th grade, Still Life Color Pencil

Christopher Zou - 5^th grade, Still Life Color Pencil

District Library

Henry Zocher – 1^st grade, Water Color Batik

Sebastian Berofsky – 2^nd grade, Serape

Avani Guduri – 2^nd grade, Serape

Candace Jung - 2^nd grade, Serape

Derek Hwang - 2^nd grade, Serape

Brayden MacBride - 2^nd grade, Ceramic Bowl

Samantha Chan - 2^nd grade, Ceramic Bowl

Priyanka Naik - 2^nd grade, Serape

Kosuke Nakamura - 2^nd grade, Serape

Christian Wright - 2^nd grade, Serape

Alex Kukucka - 2^nd grade, Serape

Timothy Hamill - 2^nd grade, Ceramic Bowl

Benjamin Pollitz - 2^nd grade, Ceramic Bowl

Dimash Umirbayev - 2^nd grade, Serape

Angie Zhou - 2^nd grade, Serape

Mike Shi - 2^nd grade, Serape

Koen VanNieuwstadt - 2^nd grade, Serape

Bridgett Jung - 2^nd grade, Ceramic Bowl

Sophia Schuster - 2^nd grade, Ceramic Bowl

Elizabeth Kolias - 2^nd grade, Ceramic Bowl

Ji Yoon Shin – 2^nd grade, Graphic Design Name

Maddie Bower - 3^rd grade, Graphic Design Name

Varsha Subramanyam – 3^rd grade, Yarn Painting

Joy Li – 4^th grade, Amate Bark Painting

Clara Boudette – 4^th grade, Still Life Pastel

Hannah Parrish - 5^th grade, Still Life Color Pencil

Shivani Jayendraprasad – 5^th grade, Basketry

Carina Wilson – 5^th grade, Basketry

Joy Chen – 5^th grade, Basketry

Jennifer Zhu – 5^th grade, Basketry

Maya Millette – 5^th grade, Basketry

Carmen Giger – 5^th grade, Basketry

Amiritha Anupindi – 5^th grade, Basketry

Charles Berofsky – 5^th grade, Printmaking

Yuto Asada – 5^th grade, Printmaking

Zoe Schumacher – 5^th grade, Printmaking

Katarina Kretzler - 5^th grade, Printmaking

Matthew Dubin - 5^th grade, Animated House

James Riddell - 5^th grade, Animated House

Amritha Anupindi - 5^th grade, Animated House

Mariana Lopez - 5^th grade, Animated House

Carmen Giger - 5^th grade, Animated House

These students and their families are cordially invited to a Youth Art and Music Month reception on Sunday, March 13, 2011.  The following events will be held:

2-4 pm Art Walk. View Ann Arbor Public School students’ artwork in merchant windows and at the Ann Arbor District Library while en route to the Michigan Theater for the concert and awards ceremony.

2-3 pm Refreshments at Palio Restaurant, 347 S. Main.  Pick up your Art Walk map and enjoy meeting the other participants.

4-5 pm Sea to Shining Sea, a Benard L. Maas Family Concert presented by the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra. This special concert features music about water and earth while showcasing the themed artwork of AAPS students.

5 pm Awards Ceremony. Following the A2SO Concert, students will be presented with an award on the Michigan Theater stage.

Congratulations!

We ARE proud of our students’ achievements.

Ms.Wayne

Art Educator

King Elementary

PHOTO: First graders at lunch

Remembering Mrs. Mazie Hamilton, King School Nurse

Many of our families at King School knew and worked with the long-time King School nurse, Mrs. Mazie Hamilton, who passed away on Tuesday, March 1, 2011.  I personally appreciated Mrs. Hamilton for many reasons when I worked at both Northside School and King School over the last 20 years.  I hope others will remember her and all the good she did in her work as a school nurse.

Mazie E. Hamilton, School Nurse

Ann Arbor Public Schools

Mazie E. Hamilton, age 65, died peacefully Monday, February 28, 2011 with family by her side.  Mazie was born February 18, 1946 in Houston, TX and later moved to Ann Arbor where she has lived for nearly 43 years.  In addition to her loving husband of 43 years, Lionel, Mazie is survived by her daughters, Cynthia (Dale) Harrison and Pamela Hamilton; son, Jeffrey Hamilton; and grandsons, Anthony Hamilton and Dale Harrison Jr.


Mrs. Mazie Hamilton served the last 27 years of her life as a nurse for the Ann Arbor Public Schools with many of those years spent at Northside Elementary.


Please join the King School family in extending our heartfelt condolences to the family.  Personal condolences can be forwarded to the family at 2981 Bluett Road, Ann Arbor, MI  48105.


Please sign her guest book at www.starkfuneral.com.

Extended Day Option Kindergarten for 2011-12

For incoming kindergarten families, I want to let you know I am exploring the possibility of opening up more than one Extended Day Option  (EDO) Kindergarten program for the 2011-12 school year.

What is EDO Kindergarten?  It is a program that combines the traditional half-day kindergarten program with a half-day of fee-based day care.  This program has always been successful and highly sought after for King families who need to have a full-day program for their children.  It is also appealing because children stay with their teacher all day, even during the day care portion of the day.

How will the determination be made as to whether there will be one or two programs at King in 2011-12?  I am confident we will have one EDO at King in the fall.  If there is enough interest from families, we will open a second program as well.

Please note the deadline for applying for EDO is March 21, 2011. Paperwork should be turned into the Rec and Ed department.

If you'd like to know more about EDO, please click the link below:

http://www.aaps.k12.mi.us/reced.childcare/extended_day_option

If you have any questions, please email or call us at school (994-1940).

Sincerely,

Kevin Karr

Silent Auction Family Donations

Welcome back from Winter Break.  The Silent Auction preparation is in full gear and we need your support.  Please consider donating to the auction.  Consider an experience (cook a meal, host a party, host a craft day), an item (tickets to a game, frequent flier miles, vacation spot) or your expertise (refinishing furniture, yard clean-up).  The King School community is so creative and diverse - and our auction represents that diversity with your donations!  Donations are due March 25, 2011.  E-mail king.silent.auction@gmail.com or fill out the form that came home before the break. 

Thank you for your support!  - Alena Stocking, Silent Auction Chair

Book Fair Carnival...Your Ticket to Read! Coming March 17 – 18!

You are invited to the King PTO Used and Scholastic Book Fair (http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/homepage/kingschoolpto), a reading event packed with excitement for students and families.  Our theme – Book Fair Carnival – will make reading as entertaining as a carnival midway. The entire school community will delight in an exciting atmosphere of great books, thrilling stories, and fun. Readers of all ages will walk away from the Book Fair with the grandest prize of all: a lifelong love of reading. 

This year we will join thousands of schools across the country by participating in the One for Books Coin Drive.  Scholastic will match the monetary donations we generate with a donation of one book for every dollar we collect to three national non-profit organizations dedicated to helping kids and families in need: Kids in Distressed Situations, Inc., the Kids In Need Foundation, and the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. We are asking King families to help us reach the goal of $1 per King student to raise $409 for the school library and to donate 409 books to these charities.  Coin collection boxes will be located near the school office and in the media center. 

As noted in the flyer that went home before mid-winter break, posters and book reviews to promote the fair will be due to the school office by Monday March 7th.  Since there is no school on that Monday, we will accept posters until end of day Tuesday March 8th. 

Fair Dates:

March 17th - Student shopping throughout the school day.  Open to family and friends  

                      3:45pm - 8:30pm.

March 18th - 8:00am - 9:30am during Bagels and Buns

Volunteers needed:

We need lots of help to collect/sort used books and to run the book fair.  Please visit our doodle board (http://doodle.com/w8teuychuraafkan) and sign up today.

Flyers with more information about the book fair will be sent home in the Friday Folders.  Please join us to make this Book Fair the BEST our school has ever seen.  

Thank you!

Sandy Aldrich, Christine Kukucka and Kim Lyon

Used and Scholastic Book Fair Co-Chairs

May 2 – 27 BOX TOPS CONTEST

Save those box tops!!  In May, we will have our annual contest to see which classroom brings in the most box tops.  The winning classroom gets a smoothie party and bragging rights for the next year!

Kindergarten and First Grade families (including siblings) are invited to....

FAMILY READING NIGHT!
Put on your p.j.’s and come to the school Media Center on
Thursday, March 24
from 7-8pm.

Cuddle up with your grownup(s) and read read read--all over the library.  Pillows and teddy bears are welcome! We’ll have a brief group story time at 7:30, and a snack-to-go. 
You can even check out EXTRA books!

Not required:  but if you can, please send this back to your child’s teacher to help us plan:
____________________________________________________

We are planning on coming!            Family name:

# of adults                # of kids

A pair of poems for our children at King School International Night - AnnArbor.com

A worthwhile read from Frances Kai-Wang, the King School International Night chairperson.

A pair of poems for our children at King School International Night - AnnArbor.com

Mid-Winter Break - 2/19 through 2/27

I want to wish the King Community a safe and restful mid-winter break. 

Classes will not be in session from February 19 - 27.  Classes will resume on Monday, February 28.

'Let's Read Math' Saturday Workshops Featured on annarbor.com

Twenty MLK School families signed up to be a part of the Let's Read Math workshops recently shared on annarbor.com

'Let's Read Math' series aims to dispel 'math-phobia' in children - AnnArbor.com

Kindergarten Round Up Presentation

Share your King International Night Photos

Thanks to the Moellers, we have photos from King International Night! Please upload and share yours with the King community! The site is password protected for our children's safety.

http://gallery.me.com/moellerluzio#100724

Username: kingschool
Password: king


Frances Kai-Hwa Wang
King Intl Night Chair

King School International Night Thank Yous

THANKS SO MUCH to all the performers, teachers, parents, friends, families for all your hard work putting together such a wonderful program! We had 29 performances and 350 students performing,  representing over 25 countries and cultures, about 1000 people for dinner, and an amazingly fun time.  This was our biggest and best (and smoothest) king intl night yet! The quality and creativity of the performances continue to amaze me. AND almost every group it seemed had one or two tiny cute little brother or sister who was just unbearably adorable and irresistible. We could not do this every year without so much commitment and support and hard work of all the parents and families and teachers. Thanks all around.

Special thanks to Queen of the Feast Lisa Kohn; Music Maestro Mrs. Vanek; Music Tech Mr. Vanek; Tech Team Leader Wulue Zhao; Security and Parking Czar Carl and Linda Ryan; Stage Managers, Wayne Millette, Kirti Karia, Line VanNiewstadt; Stage Runners: Maya, Catherine, Morgan; Display Divas: Padma Anupindi; Stage Decorations Yunyao Chen, Kirti Karia, Meghna Chauhan  Red Envelope Team: Daphne Lin, Huijuan Tang, Bianca Zhao, Diana Wong, Donna Chen, Linda Ryan, Becky, Catherine, Hao Hao, Niu Niu, Nico, Clague and Huron and Greenhills Alumni esp Chinese Yo-Yo Team and APEX Glowsticking Team; Photographers Mauricio Moeller, Dug Song; Bagels and Bananas Laura Boudette; Principal Karr, Mrs. Greene, Ms. Basta, Mrs. Jarjoura, Mrs. Arbor, Ms. Shah, Jeff Kelly, Cliff Williams, King Care, Rec and Ed, King PTO, and YOU!!

Thanks also to all our alumni now at Clague, Huron and Greenhills who came back to help and perform and watch--they really help contribute to the family nature of this event. And wasn't the Chinese Yo-Yo and Glowsticking amazing?!!

We will be setting up a password protected site for King families to share photos of the event. Anyone who wants to share photos and videos, please do! i have no photos otherwise. :(

Please bookmark or RSS feed http://kinginternationalnight.blogspot.com/ for continued updates and information. You may also enjoy my column, Adventures in Multicultural Living, at http://www.annarbor.com/passions-pursuits/ every Sunday if you want to keep this conversation going year-round.

Think of us during your travels and business trips this coming year--bring us back small coins and stickers.

Thanks again for everything, and thank your children, too! See you all next year!

Frances Kai-Hwa Wang
King International Night Chair

King eNotes - 2/11/11

King School eNotes
February 11, 2011


Calendar
Sunday, February 13, 2011
·    eNotes submissions due to kingschoolpto@gmail.com

Monday, February 14, 2011
·    Today:  NAAPID (National African American Parent Involvement Day) – All parents invited to King School today.
·    2 – 3 PM, Jazzistry Assembly:  More at http://www.jazzistry.org/ - Thank you to the PTO for their support of this program.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011
·    NO SCHOOL For Students – Teacher professional development day

Friday, February 18, 2011
·    Today:  Mid-winter break begins at the end of the day.  School resumes on Monday, February 28.

February 19 – 27
NO SCHOOL: Mid-Winter Break

Sunday, February 27, 2011
·    eNotes submissions due to kingschoolpto@gmail.com

Monday, February 28, 2011
·    School resumes

Friday, March 4, 2011
·    Today:  Popcorn Friday!  Thank you PTO!
·    7:30 – 8:30 AM – School Improvement Team meets


News and Information - for more information on the news items below, please look for links to the right of this post.
NAAPID Parent Invovement Day - 2/14 - All Day - All Parents Invited

Jazzistry Performs At King School - 2/14 @ 2 PM

Kindergarten Round Up - 2/15 @ 6 PM

Grant Received: Stand Up Desks

Continued Chess Success!

International Night Photos?

If you have one or two really great International Night photos and you are willing to share, please forward a digital copy to karrk at aaps.k12.mi.us.

Thank you.

International Night - WOW!

Good morning,
While I'm sure the buzz our International Night will continue for quite some time, I needed to share that last night's event stands out for me as the best International Night ever at King.  Everything seemed to come together last night in a perfect way - perfect performances, families being together, a rich sharing of culture.  There was happiness in the air last night!
The list of thank yous to pull off an event of last night's magnitude is long.  I'm sure I can't  tell you everyone who was involved, but I can tell you there is one person who makes this event happen more than anyone:  Frances Kai-Wang.

Frances - your energy and commitment to King's International Night is inspriing.  On behalf of the King School community, thank you for your continued dedication to organizing and running International Night.  You've made this "best night at King School" happen for seven years running and after talking to you last night I'm already looking forward to next year's "main event!"
Sincerely,
Kevin Karr

Crossing Guard Update - Waldenwood Drive

Dear King School Families, 

I have been informed that starting February 28, 2011, the Ann Arbor Traffic Safety Committee will place a crossing guard on Waldenwood Drive close to the entrance of the King School front drive.

At this point, I do not know the new crossing guard's name, but I do hope you will join me in welcoming them to our community.

The crossing guard at Tremont and Glazier Way will continue as in the past.

If you have questions, please let me know.  I'll do my best to help.

Sincerely,
Kevin Karr

Invitation: King School International Night

The Families of King School are cordially invited to attend:

King School International Night is here!
Thursday February 10 6:30-8:30
Bringing us together. Celebrating our diversity.

International Night is an incredible evening of pride and celebration for the King School Community. We begin with an International Potluck of delectable dishes from around the world. Then we have a Showcase of Student Performances (325 students last year!)—such as Arabic Debkeh Dance, Israeli folk dance, Korean fan dance, Bolivian Dance, Dutch song, Greek folkdance, American Hip-Hop, Indian Bollywood dance, Beijing opera, Chinese martial arts, Taiwanese ribbon dance, Japanese Okinawan dance, Gospel music, and more! We also decorate the hallways with informational Country Displays and art projects for a World Tour.

Schedule:
6:30-7:30 International Potluck (don't be late!)
7:00-8:30 Student Performances (Performances will be simulcast into the gym.)

Please bring a dish to pass (enough to feed 18 people!)
With serving utensil
Without nuts or peanuts please!
Label with name of dish, country of origin, and ingredients

Please dress in heritage clothing

Carpool and be prepared for parking difficulties (one year the Superintendent had to park over a mile away on Erhardt Road!)
We still need volunteers! Sign up at http://doodle.com/5w449wxuctnnxebb to be a part of this most wonderful event!

Up to the minute information at www.kinginternationalnight.blogspot.com.
Sponsored by the King PTO

See you soon!
Frances Kai-Hwa Wang (Margot, Hao Hao, Niu Niu, and Nico's mom)
King School International Night Chair

International Night Safety Procedures

Dear MLK Families,

The PTO's Annual International Night will begin at 6:30 on February 10! This is one of the premier events each year at MLK. I hope to see you there! Because this event is typically attended by over 800 people, it is important to review the following information:

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. Be aware of the evening safety procedures at MLK--including NO PARKING IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING.


Parking
Due to the limited availability of parking at King, parents should plan to park in the neighborhood during all evening events at King.
There is NO PARKING in front of the school, by the fire hydrant, or on the left-hand side of the front circular drive.

Reason: The front drive is a fire lane and must be kept accessible for emergency vehicles. The fire hydrant area must also be kept clear.
Drop Off/Pick Up
The front entrance will be available for drop off and pick up ONLY. AT NO TIME SHOULD PARKING OCCUR IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL.

Emergency Exits

Below is a map of the school with the arrows indicating emergency exits. Before you come to an evening event at King, please consider designating a place outside the building for your family to meet in the event that the building needs to be evacuated.

Front Entrance

If you have any questions, please call the school office. We'll be happy to help.

Sincerely,
Kevin Karr
Principal
MLK School

Grant Received: Stand Up Desks

With grant funding from the Ann Arbor Educational Foundation (AAEF), King School recently purchased four stand up desks!  Here is what they look like:


These are obviously not the typical kind of desk used in classrooms.  There is no chair and it is adjusted to be the height of a typical counter.  This type of desk allows a student to stand and do their classwork.

This type of tool makes sense in a classroom setting where students are afforded flexibility in experimenting with their best learning position all while keeping focused on learning and the task at hand.  In practice the use of the stand up desk is entirely similar to the ways in which adults complete work--sometimes adults sit to work, other times they might stand or something in between sitting and standing.  It is our hope that the effective use of the desks in accommodating student learning needs will help to increase student achievement.

If teachers at King think the stand up desks might be useful in their classroom, they can "check them out" using what we call our Achievement Team process.

Congratulations (and thanks) to the AAEF grant receipients:  Connie Ehlke, occupational therapist; Dr. Mary Spence, school psychologist; Kevin Karr, King School principal.

Jazzistry Performs At King School - 2/14 @ 2 PM

I’m excited to announce that with support from the King School PTO and grants from Ann Arbor Band & Trust and the Mardi Gras Foundation, Vincent York’s Jazzistry program will visit King School on the second Monday in February – 2/14 – at 2 PM!  This will certainly be an exciting day at school since it is also Valentine’s Day and the date of NAAPID (National African American Parent Involvement Day), a day when parents are invited to come to school and be a part of the day’s activities. 

In case you didn’t know . . .

Jazzistry is an educational program that uses live performance to teach children and adults the story of jazz and its role in American History in order to:

·    Expand how we view our society;

·    Cultivate a personal relationship with our history;

·    Demonstrate the benefit and beauty of our multi-cultural heritage; and

·    Create a new generation of jazz lovers.

In other words, Jazzistry is a history lesson, a music lesson and a geography lesson combined!  It will be an exciting and educational performance.  Parents who are coming to school for NAAPID are also invited to attend the Jazzistry performance.

 

NAAPID Parent Invovement Day - 2/14 - All Day - All Parents Invited

Dear MLK School Parents,

All parents are invited to be a part of King’s plans as we observe National African American Parent Involvement Day (NAAPID) on Monday, February 14, 2011. 

What is NAAPID?

NAAPID - "Take Your Child to School/Visit Your Child in School" Day

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 a more conducive learning environment for all students.

What happens 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—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 with refreshments.  Please stop by and enjoy the treats!

Also, at 2:00 PM, there will be an all-school assembly called Jazzistry with Ann Arbor’s own Vincent York, who happens to be the father of King fourth grade teacher Cedric York!  It is going to be an exciting and educational presentation.   

We hope to see many, many families at King School on February 14.

Sincerely,

Kevin Karr and the King School NAAPID Committee

Kindergarten Round Up - 2/15 @ 6:00 PM

Kindergarten Round Up—February 15, 6:00 – 7:00PM

I am excited to announce that Kindergarten Round Up at King School will be on February 15 from 6:00 – 7:00 PM.  Children who turn five on or before December 1, 2011 are eligible to attend Kindergarten for the 2010-11 school year. 

At the round up presentation, we'll share important information about the kindergarten year including registration information and information about the kindergarten curriculum.  The presentation is intended for parents, however, you can register for free school aged child care, provided by the King Care staff.  If you anticipate needing the child care option, please note that when you call.

If your child falls into the eligible age range, please do two things now:

1. Call the King School office at 994-1940 to give your child's information.  This will let us know to expect you for the Round Up presentation.  When you call, please also indicate if you'll need childcare on the night of round up.
2. Put Kindergarten Round Up on your calendar.  It will be held in the multipurpose room at King.

Also, if you know of a family who will have a kindergarten aged child for next year (and the family lives in the King School area), please share this information with them.  

If you have questions, please call the school office at 994-1940.

Sincerely, 

Kevin Karr

Principal

Continued Chess Success!

Sixteen King kids were among the 500 participants at the 2011 Michigan
Elementary Team Chess Championship on Saturday, Feb. 5 at Michigan
State University. One of our K-5 teams (Joy Chen, Andrew Alson, Ryan
Li, and Aayush Unadkat) won the state championship, the fourth year in
a row that King has won the K-5 state title, which we believe to be a
record. A second K-5 team (Christopher Zou, Connor Wright, Soham
Naik, and Jack Santinga) also did well. One our our K-3 teams
(Anthony Liao, Jonathan Zou, Aarnav Unadkat, and Christian Wright)
finished 5th in the state, and a second K-3 team of mostly beginners
(Timothy Hamill, Harrison Baker, Haru Iizuka, and Eva Erhardt)
finished 3rd in a reserve section. Several King players won
individual medals.

King also had approximately 20 players at the local Thurston Kids
Chess Tournament on Jan. 22, organized by Thurston and King parents,
and King kids placed first in three of the four sections.

The King chess program continues to thrive under the leadership of
local chess teacher Ray Garrison.

Submitted by Jeff Alson

King School eNotes - February 4, 2011

Calendar
Sunday, February 6, 2011
·    eNotes submissions due to kingschoolpto@gmail.com

Tuesday, February 8, 2011
·    7 – 8 PM, PTO Meets

Wednesday, February 9, 2011
·    Student Count Day – this is the day Michigan school districts count students.  Twenty percent of school funding from the state comes from this number. The other 80% is derived from the number of students counted in the fall of each school year.
·    RESCHEDULED – 6:30 – 8 PM, Family Writing Workshop – Family NIGHT to be held in the music room.

Thursday, February 10, 2011
·    6:30 – 8:30 PM, International Night at King School

Friday, February 11, 2011
·    Today:  Jump Rope For Heart
·    Today:  Wear International Clothes To School

Sunday, February 13, 2011
·    eNotes submissions due to kingschoolpto@gmail.com

Monday, February 14, 2011
·    Today:  NAAPID (National African American Parent Involvement Day) – All parents invited to King School today.
·    2 – 3 PM, Jazzistry Assembly:  More at http://www.jazzistry.org/ - Thank you to the PTO for their support of this program.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011
·    No School For Students – Teacher professional development day

Friday, February 18, 2011
·    Today:  Mid-winter break begins at the end of the day.  School resumes on Monday, February 28.


News and Information
King School International Night coming Thursday February 10 6:30-8:30

Food and volunteers needed for International Night Potluck!

Time to Sign Up Your Kid(s) For Science Olympiad!



To stop receiving all email messages distributed through this system on behalf of Ann Arbor Public Schools, follow this link and confirm: Unsubscribe

King School International Night coming Thursday February 10 6:30-8:30

Bringing us together. Celebrating our diversity.

International Night is an incredible evening of pride and celebration for the King School Community. We begin with an International Potluck of delectable dishes from around the world. Then we have a Showcase of Student Performances (325 students last year!)—such as Arabic Debkeh Dance, Israeli folk dance, Korean fan dance, Bolivian Dance, Dutch song, Greek folkdance, American Hip-Hop, Indian Bollywood dance, Beijing opera, Chinese martial arts, Taiwanese ribbon dance, Japanese Okinawan dance, Gospel music, and more! We also decorate the hallways with informational Country Displays and art projects for a World Tour.

Schedule:
6:30-7:30 International Potluck (don't be late!)
7:00-8:30 Student Performances (Performances will be simulcast into the gym.)

Please bring a dish to pass (enough to feed 18 people! we have a lot of hungry grandmas)
With serving utensil
Without nuts or peanuts please!
Label with name of dish, country of origin, and ingredients

Please dress in heritage clothing

DVDs of performance will be available for order that night

Everyone, PLEASE PLAN AHEAD TO AVOID GRUMPINESS.

FEAST: We still need volunteers for the feast: contact lisa kohn LKohn@umich.edu

Country Posters: For those who would like to be a part, everyone is invited to make a country poster to teach about a special country or culture that you like! This is a great family project. Posters will be displayed for two weeks before and after International Night. Posters must be flat and able to be taped to the wall. Photos are great! Creativity encouraged! Celebrations of achievements of Americans of that ethnic heritage appreciated by the kids! Maps are cool, but no flags please. Contact Padma p_anupindi AT hotmail DOT com for information about country posters.

More information at http://kinginternationalnight.blogspot.com

Thanks,
Frances Kai-Hwa Wang (Nico, Niu Niu, Hao Hao, Margot's mom) fkwang@aol.com

Food and volunteers needed for International Night Potluck!

Thursday, February 10th is International Night; a celebration of our diverse cultures.  The evening kicks off with an International Pot Luck at 6:30 pm.  Latkes, hummus, Be Bim Bop, Sushi, Dumplings, Chana, Macaroni & cheese--it's all delicious and your contributions are what make it special.  Please bring a LARGE quantity of your favorite ethnic food; enough for 15 people.

Also, please check out the DOODLE calendar as we will need volunteers to help make the pot luck run smoothly.

http://doodle.com/5w449wxuctnnxebb

Lisa Kohn

lkohn@umich.edu

734-417-7129

Time to Sign Up Your Kid(s) For Science Olympiad!

The 9th Annual Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad will be held on Saturday, June 11, 2011 at Skyline High School. Practices will be held at King School throughout the spring, where children learn about science through hands on activities. There are 18 different fun and exciting events! Event descriptions can be found at http://www.aaps.k12.mi.us/wesowizards.home/events_2011 .

To sign up your child(ren) for Science Olympiad practices, please go to: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CQLMWBY    

Vivian Lin and Erika Levin, King Elementary Science Olympiad co-head coaches,

vhl@umich.edu and emlevin@umich.edu .

NO SCHOOL - Wednesday, February 2

The Ann Arbor Public Schools will be closed on Wednesday, February 2 due to the weather. 

PHOTO: Snow Soccer!

The Disability Awareness Workshop will be held on Friday, March 25, 2011.

Dear King School Parents,

On Friday, March 25th, 2011, all King fourth grade students will participate in the Disability Awareness Workshop. This is the fifth year that King Elementary has held this hands-on, activity-based workshop whose main purpose is to help students understand how difficult and complex daily living can be for individuals with a variety of disabilities. The program includes activities centered on an empathetic understanding of physical, speech, hearing, vision and learning impairments. The students participate in a wheelchair obstacle course, wear glasses that give them momentary vision impairments, experience speaking with an electric larynx and complete exercises that simulate several reading disabilities. The goal is for the students to learn -- through this personal experience -- that people should be respected no matter how they may look, act, walk or talk.

Please consider volunteering on this day, even if you don’t have a 4th grade student. Think of it as a preview if your child is younger or an opportunity to see what you missed last year if your student is in 5th grade. We need 20-25 adult volunteers to help in the morning from 8:30 am until around noon when the students have their lunch break. You are welcome to remain for the rest of the program (12:45 pm to dismissal). Past experience proves that this is a fun and meaningful experience for all of our children as well as the volunteers.

Volunteers will be trained to oversee students as they rotate through nine different stations, including:

Physical Impairment Centers: Wheelchairs; Walkers; and Fine Motor Activities

Vision, Hearing and Speech Stations: Hearing & Speech; Vision; and Learning Disabilities

Accessibility Checklist (students work in teams to complete a checklist that requires some measuring and math computations)

Thank you for contributing to the success of the workshop. Please contact me with any questions.  If you are interested in volunteering, please click here to print and fill out the volunteer form.

Darla Dubin, 904-5536, darladubin@aol.com

King Parent coordinating the Disability Awareness Workshop

King School International Night coming Thursday, February 10, 6:30 - 8:30

International Night is an incredible evening of pride and celebration for the King School Community. We begin with an International Potluck of delectable dishes from around the world. Then we have a Showcase of Student Performances (325 students last year!)—such as Arabic Debkeh Dance, Israeli folk dance, Korean Tae Kwon Do, Bolivian Dance, Dutch song, Thai dulcimer, American Hip-Hop, Indian bhangra dance, Chinese fan dance, and more! We also decorate the hallways with informational Country Displays and art projects for a World Tour. We are also always open to new innovative ideas! 

Country Posters: For those who would like to be a part, everyone is invited to make a country poster to teach about a special country or culture that you like! This is a great family project. Posters will be displayed for two weeks before and after International Night. Posters must be flat and able to be taped to the wall. Photos are great! Creativity encouraged! Celebrations of achievements of Americans of that ethnic heritage appreciated by the kids! Maps are cool, but no flags please. Contact Padma at p_anupindi@hotmail.com for information about country posters.

More information at http://kinginternationalnight.blogspot.com