Great Start to the School Year
We have had a great first two weeks of school! I hope you feel the same way and that you and your student(s) are adjusting well to the daily routines that the school year brings. I would also like to say thank you for your efforts and support so far this year. Your attention to detail and the information we send out has been outstanding and very much appreciated!
After School Pick-Up
When picking up your student at the end of the school day, you or another verified adult must be the ones present for the teacher to release your child. When other siblings (elementary aged) are the ones waiting to get our students, it causes a great deal of anxiety for our teachers and presents some major safety concerns. Also, with our parking lot being so busy at the end of the day, please do not allow your student(s) and their siblings to travel without you by their side. There have been a couple of situations in the parking lot and would like to make sure we take the necessary precautions to keep everyone safe. I appreciate your understanding with all of this! As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to come and speak with me or call 989-695-5721.
PBIS and SOAR
I would like to explain a little bit about our Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports (PBIS) system. Our goal is to ensure a consistent school-wide approach to how we teach and reinforce appropriate student behaviors to enhance our school environment. Starting this week and every week going forward, our staff will be explicitly defining, teaching, and modeling desired behaviors in and around the school. Those locations include the hallways, cafeteria, restroom, playground, computer lab, as well as important times such as arrival/departure, indoor recess, and assemblies. A major component of any PBIS system is positive reinforcement. Here at the Learning Center, our staff recognizes positive behavior by handing out SOAR slips when students are caught making good choices and meeting the expectations outlined in our behavior matrix.
SOAR Matrix
SOAR Matrix
Upon receiving a SOAR slip, students will write their name on the slip and place it in their classroom container to be entered into our weekly drawing for prizes. The SOAR slips have a perforated strip to allow them to detach the name portion of the slip, while keeping the other part to bring home. If your student happens to show you a SOAR slip that they received, please be sure to ask them how they received it.
Hats On for Cancer
On Friday, September 20th, we are inviting students to wear a hat for a $1 donation with all proceeds going to the Freeland Clash for a Cure fundraiser. That same night, the varsity football team will be playing against Frankenmuth at 7:00 p.m. in the Clash for a Cure game. Last year, the Learning Center was able to raise just over $300 with the Hats on for Cancer Day to support this amazing cause. Students wishing to participate should bring $1 to school to and give it to their teacher to wear a hat of their choice for the day.
Morning Drop-Off Routine
As a reminder, the Learning Center opens at 8:30 every day, at which time you may drop-off your child. All students arriving between 8:30 and 8:55 must wait in the gym. When the 8:55 bell rings, students waiting in the gym, as well as those on the buses, are released to go to their classroom. The students have quickly become independent in learning this morning routine. Thank you for your efforts in helping to make this go so smoothly!
