8-7-22 PAW'S PRESS

Dear Cherokee Families,

I hope you are enjoying the last few weeks of summer! Even though I love these warm summer days, I am eagerly anticipating fall and the start of this school year. I am so excited to begin my first year as the Principal of Cherokee and continue working with such an amazing community.

Cherokee has always been a positive environment for students to learn and grow. It is my strongest desire to use my 20+ years of teaching and administrative experience to fuel the love of learning and promote success for all Cherokee students. I plan to continue the many wonderful traditions and methods of communication already in place at Cherokee. I am eager to continue getting to know the many spectacular students and families at Cherokee.

I hope to see all of our students and families at our Sneak Peak and Curriculum Night on Tuesday, August 30th. See below for more information. This event will give students and families a chance to meet their child's teacher(s), tour the school and hear about all of the wonderful things they can look forward to learning. A special thank you to our PTO for setting up selfie stations and providing a popsicle treat. I will be near the main entrance of the school during this event, I hope to have the chance to say hello to you then!

As in the past, the Paw's Press newsletters will include key information and typically will be sent on Sundays. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help make the school year a success for you and your child! See you soon!

Sincerely,

Heather Batko

Cherokee Principal

hbatko@cvs.k12.mi.us

• Our Sneak Peek and Curriculum Night will be held on August 30th.
• Sneak Peek is a chance for students and families to meet their teachers, explore the building and take pictures at the selfie station. Doors will open at 5:00 PM.
• Families will receive information about class placements via email prior to Sneak Peek/Curriculum Night. Welcome back letters with important start-of-the year information will also be sent.
  
• Each teacher will be hosting Curriculum Night presentations during this event as well. Students and their families will visit their teacher's classroom for the presentation. Each teacher will hold two sessions of their presentation in order to accommodate the needs of our families. It is only necessary to attend 1 session for each child/student.The teacher will share the same information in both sessions.
• Curriculum Night Session 1 will be from 5:30 PM -6:15 PM.
• Curriculum Night Session 2 will be from 6:30 PM -7:15 PM. Families with multiple children will attend this Curriculum Night Session if needed. Additionally, if a family is unable to attend the first session, they are welcome to attend the second session.
• Students can join PTO and their friends outside following the curriculum presentations for a popsicle treat.

Click here for the link to the district calendar. Printable versions are available at this site as well.

Click on the Supply Lists picture above to view suggested supply lists for each grade level. Information on how/when to bring in student supplies will be provided in your child's welcome back letter sent at the end of August.

Additionally, BrightKitz will be providing families with the opportunity to purchase all school supplies and have them delivered directly to school in the fall. To purchase school supplies through BrightKitz, click on the link below. Next click, "Order Kits." In the "Find Your School" search box enter Cherokee Elementary and click on the magnifying glass. Click on "More Information" next to your child's grade level.

Click here for Bright Kitz link.

• During the past two years, free breakfast and lunch have been offered to all students. However, this year families will need to have an approved application on file for free breakfast/lunch benefits.
• 2022/2023 Meal Benefit Application - Students receiving meal benefits in 21/22 that do not have an approved 2022/2023 application on file as of October 14, 2022, will no longer receive meal benefits.
• The 2022/2023 application may be completed online at https://www.chippewavalley.familyportal.cloud.
• Paper copies will be distributed at the start of school and are always available from the school office. There can be no exception to the due date of October 14th.
• Please see the document below with key information.
• Free breakfast will take place before the start of the school day(approximately 8:00 AM-8:30 AM). Breakfast services beging September 12th. If a student is not eligible for free breakfast, they are still welcome to purchase breakfast. See information below.
• Click here to access the Food Services website.

• We have many students at Cherokee with severe peanut/tree nut allergies. Therefore peanuts/tree nuts products and products contaminated in a facility that processes peanuts/tree nuts will not be allowed in many classrooms, lunch periods and common areas of the school.
• If your child's classroom or lunch period is directly impacted, you will be notified at the start of the school year. Thank you in advance for helping keep all of our students safe!
• The link for the Snack Safely Guide is below. This guide has many great many recommendations for foods do not have peanuts, tree nuts and are not processed in facility with these items.
• Click here for the Snack Safely Guide.

Keep learning with the resources provided to all our CVS students! Click here to access at-home learning items!

Information on Cherokee's Kindergarten Registration for the 2022-2023 School Year can be found by visiting our Kindergarten Kick-Off Smore!

Families can also click here to access Cherokee's Welcome to Kindergarten Letter.

• We love having parent volunteers in our building, attending field trips, supporting PTO events, etc. We hope to have many more opportunities to volunteer this year!
• If you even think you might want to volunteer, please fill out the Volunteer Background Form as soon as you are able. It does take time for the forms to be processed so the sooner you submit the form the sooner you can be eligible to volunteer.
• A Volunteer Background Form needs to be submitted each year.

Click on the document below to access the Volunteer Background form.

Please remember, ALL of the policies and procedures put in place at Cherokee are intended to keep our children safe. Many of these policies are district-wide and can either be found in the CVS Return to School Guidelines, the CVS Student Code-of-Conduct, or Cherokee's Paws' Policies & Procedures. Links can be found below.

We appreciate your understanding and appreciate those families who continue to model kindess, patience, and respect. You make a difference & we are all doing the best that we can!

Please Remember:

• Adults are to remain outside of the building and must be "buzzed-in" by the front office.
• All adults must show their ID at the entrance if they need to drop something off or pick-up their child early.
• Contact information must be up-to-date in case we need to contact your family.
• We release children to only those people listed on your child's PowerSchool contact list.
• Changes in your child's dismissal process must be called in no later than 2:30 so we can be sure to get the information to our staff.
• Families are asked to preorder lunch using the online ordering system below.
• Refrain from parking on Rivergate near the school including the bus loop.

A NOTE FROM MRS. ASHLEY

For families looking to register for SACC

• SACC registration is first come first served.
• Due to limited staff and capacity limits some registrations may not be approved at this time until more staff are available.
• Once your registration application is submitted you must receive a registration approval email before your child can attend.
• Registrations will remain pending in the system and will be approved as openings become available.

For families currently enrolled in SACC

• Adding on additional days other than what was originally scheduled may be limited at this time due to student and staff ratios. You will be notified if your schedule change can be approved (some days may be available where others may not)
• If your child does not need to attend on a scheduled day please remove them from the schedule to open up a spot for someone else.

We appreciate your understanding at this time and anticipate more staff to be available soon. Until then we must adhere to the Licensing Rules for Child Care Centers and stay within the required student to staff ratios. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Ashley Murphy

Cherokee SACC Director

(586) 723-4860

• CLICK HERE to access the CVS SACC informational page.

Click to visit: CVS Transportation Webpage

Click here or below to access step-by-step directions on locating your Bus Stop Information

Click here to log in to VersaTrans

In December, some CVS schools piloted a new bus tracking system. This system is now available to Cherokee Families as well! Click on the MyStop button below for more information.

Click image to access site for more information.

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Website: https://www.chippewavalleyschools.org/schools/elementary-schools/cherokee/
Location: 42900 Rivergate Drive, Clinton Township, MI, USA
Phone: 586-723-4800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CherokeeWildcats