1-3-24 PAW'S PRESS

Dear Cherokee Families,

We hope all of our our families had a wonderful holiday break! We wish everyone all the best in 2024!

Other Important Updates:

• January lunch ordering links is below.
• Classes resume after break (January 3rd)
  
• FastBridge Assessment Window (January 8th - February 2nd) - Grades K-5
• Parent Cyber Safety Presentations (January 10th & 17th) - See below
• Martin Luther King Jr Day (January 15th) - NO SCHOOL
• Student Cyber Safety Presentations (January 19th) - See below for more details (Grades 2-5)
• Leadership Celebration (January 26th) - Wear class shirts or other Cherokee gear
• Progress reports go home (February 5th)
• 100th Day of School Parade (February 9th) - Students are welcome to dress like they are "100 years old."
• Valentine's Day Parties (February 14th) - Classroom teachers will share details.
• Half Day (February 16th) - Dismissal at 11:44 AM. Break begins at dismissal
• Mid Winter Break (February 16th - February 25th) - Classes Resume February 26th
• Professional Development - NO SCHOOL (February 27th)

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

Sincerely,

Heather Batko

Cherokee Principal

hbatko@cvs.k12.mi.us

• Even though lunch is free for all students, we still need parents to complete the digital online ordering form so that we have an accurate count and enough food for all students.

• Ordering deadlines: Please note that we have received communication from food services that families need to order lunch by 9:30 AM the school day prior. For example, when ordering lunch for pizza on Monday, please order by 9:30 AM on Friday. This helps with the accuracy of our lunch count. We of course always order extra but this helps with accuracy.

• There is a charge of $1.50 for ordering doubles.

Click here to order your hot lunch for January.

Click here for printable January lunch menu.

We had our leadership assemblies and ticket store on Wednesday, December 20th. We talked about kindness and celebrated some great student leaders! Click here for the video we watched on kindness.

Cherokee students give the best holiday hugs!

School safety is a top priority here at Cherokee and within Chippewa Valley Schools. Students within Chippewa Valley Schools will be participating in a Cyber Safety Assemblies to promote internet safety and digital citizenship. Cherokee students in grades 2-5 will attend Cyber Safety Assemblies on January 19th.

Background Information:

• Cyber Safety Consulting is an expert in the field of internet safety, having developed and delivered programming focused on Internet safety and digital citizenship for students, parents, and educators nationwide. They offer age-appropriate presentations designed to effectively teach students by increasing their ability to not only understand online dangers but to be able to RECOGNIZE them when encountered and self-protect. Additionally, they tie in a strong discussion of appropriate online behavior and positive solutions to the issues students face online.

Below are the topics that will be covered during each presentation.

2nd-3rd Grade Topics:

• Using devices and asking permission to be online
• Protecting personal information
• The importance of safe usernames & strong passwords
• Real friends vs. online friends
• Introduction to cyberbullying

4th-5th Grade Topics:

• Digital citizenship and positive digital footprints (safe and appropriate behavior)
• Protecting personal information online
• Awareness of unsafe people on internet and online friends
  
• Cyberbullying and the importance of upstanders

Sessions will educate parents on the dangers that children face every day in their online life and provide them with strategies to parenting. By increasing their comfort and awareness on these issues, parents will be more involved in their children's online life thus increasing the communication on this topic and their children’s safety. Additionally, this session will provide practical, technical knowledge on the apps and devices that children are using every day. Presented by Cyber Safety Consulting, a leader in the field of Internet safety, having developed and delivered programming focused on cyber safety and digital citizenship for students, parents, and educators nationwide.

Topic: Cyber Safety: Parenting in the Digital Age

Time: Jan 10, 2024 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81816718635?pwd=OVY5RjVVcjlNUlIxZFRUcTNuc0xhUT09

Meeting ID: 818 1671 8635

Passcode: 040497

Topic: Cyber Safety: Parenting in the Digital Age

Time: Jan 17, 2024 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82974851087?pwd=U29Ua2RKdHZ1cmxVbkIwSU9qU2t3dz09

Meeting ID: 829 7485 1087

Passcode: 056218

At Cherokee we have indoor recess if the temperature or "feels like" temperature is below 20 degrees. Otherwise, we typically take students outside for recess.

See below for appropriate dress for cold weather. If your child is in need of a coat, please email our social worker, Mrs. Gilbert, at mgilbert@cvs.k12.mi.us and we will do our best to find your child a coat.

On Monday, December 18th the Wyandot Middle School Band and Choir performed for the 4th and 5th grade students at Cherokee. The students were in awe! Thank you to Mr. Rodriguez for coordinating this with Mrs. Slayton and Mr. Cook from Wyandot. What a fun experience!

Thank you again to our PTO for our amazing Elf Adventure Holiday Party! We had so much fun! It was so nice to see so many families!

• Please be sure to follow allergy guidelines for our upcoming holiday parties. Thank you!
• 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 classes, common areas, etc.
  
• Kindergarten, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3/4 Blend, 4th grade and 5th grade classrooms are peanut/tree nut alert zones. Foods/snacks that contain peanut/tree nuts should not be consumed in these classrooms.
  
• Pods for all grade levels are peanut/tree nut alert zones. Foods/snacks that contain peanut/tree nuts should not be consumed in pods.
• Due to the severity of some of our students with allergies it will be asked that some classes avoid bringing peanut/tree nut products for both lunch and snacks consumed in the classroom. The lunch period for 4th grade and the 3/4 blend is a peanut/tree nut alert zone. Peanut/tree nut products may not be consumed during lunch by students in these classes.
• Your child's teacher will review guidelines and answer any specific questions.
• The link for the Snack Safely Guide is below. This guide has many great many recommendations for foods that do not have peanuts, tree nuts and are not processed in facility with these items. This guide updates regularly so it is best to check the link below rather than printing.
• Click here for the Snack Safely Guide.

We are so lucky to have such a supportive PTO and school community at Cherokee!

Check out their Facebook page for regular updates!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/CherokeePTO/

• Last year we created the Paw's Pals Lunch Volunteer Program at Cherokee. The name for the program was inspired by our school mascot, Paws (he is Wildcat).
• This program is very similar to the Watch D.O.G.S program that was in place at Cherokee prior to the pandemic. It is not limited to male volunteers as the Watch D.O.G.S program was.
• The purpose of the program is to help children have a sense of belonging and build positive relationships. Kids love extra attention at lunch! They love to talk about sports, toys and what they like to do for fun! Having extra adults at school shows children that education is important and they are important!
• Please understand that these volunteers are not in place of lunch monitors.
• Our lunch monitors will be responsible for supervising the students, cleaning, etc.
• Paw's Pals volunteers will have time to chat with their own child (children) and other Cherokee students during lunch periods. If recess is outdoors, they are also welcome to go outside and spend recess with students.
• Just like any other school volunteer, our Paw's Pals volunteers will respect the privacy of our students.
  
• In order to participate in the program there are 2 steps to complete.
• Step One: Click here to select a date to volunteer. Keep in mind that if your 2023-2024 volunteer background check is not on file, it takes two weeks to process.

• Step Two: Click here to complete the Paw's Pals Application. The volunteer background check is a part of this application.
• Please give our main office a call at least 48 hours prior to your volunteer date if you are not sure if your background check has been approved. If you already know that you have a background check on file for this school year, you may come to the main office on the date you have selected.
• Thank you to Monica Radyko for her help with this program!

• Throughout the school year we are required to complete 5 fire drills, 3 lockdown drills and 2 tornado drills.
• We already completed three fire drills and the students did a great job!
• We completed 3 lockdown drills and will complete an additional drill in the near future. These drills are comprised of age-appropriate lessons as well as practicing other tasks such as relocating to a safe place, utilizing our blue light/lock down alarm, etc.
• We do not tell families or students the exact dates/times of these drills for safety reasons.
• The book, I'm Not Scared I'm Prepared, that is utilized for the lockdown drills is below in a PDF format in case you would like to review it with your family. This book is used at all elementary schools in the district.
• Our teachers do a great job of reviewing procedures in a way that makes students feel safe.

• Chippewa Valley is excited to offer free breakfast and lunch to all students starting this school year thanks to the Michigan Healthy School Meals Program!

• Students DO NOT need to arrive early for breakfast at the elementary level. Breakfast will be served after the first bell in classrooms once the school day has started.Breakfast is free for all students. Our goal is to improve student success by providing a nutritious meal at the start of the day.
  

• Even though meals will be provided for free, it is important for families to continue sharing household income information in order for our schools to receive full access to federal and state funding for educational programs that our students are entitled to. Click here for the School Meal Application Form or see the image below.

• Also, please view the document below for allergy information for parents and well as other important information from Food Services.
• Food Allergy Flyer
  

BUS TAG WITH ROUTE NUMBER/SIGNS - Students in grades K-2 will be given a tag with their bus route number/color on it. Please leave this tag on your child's backpack until they are confident about their bus number. If the tag falls off before they are confident about their bus number, please write their number on their backpack or provide another tag. Adults will be guiding students to their busses and adults will be holding a signs to match the bus tag route number. A sample backpack with tag and corresponding bus sign are below.

LABELING ITEMS WITH STUDENT'S NAME - Many students have difficulty repeating their first and last name to unknown adults. It is often a good idea to write your child's name on their backpack so adults can get them to the appropriate class/bus if they can't repeat their first and last name. It is also a good idea to label other items so they don't get lost (jackets, lunchboxes,etc.).

IMPORTANT - FROM TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT:

Families are urged to check bus stop information prior to the start of school

Dear Chippewa Valley Families,

Make sure you check the Info Finder Bus Stop Information page before school starts to verify your child’s bus stop. Several routes have changed because of new student enrollments and driver changes.

https://www.chippewavalleyschools.org/departments/transportation/

Have a great school year! Thank you.

Updated - Arrival Times:

• Students may enter the building at 8:50 AM.
• School begins at 8:55 AM.

Updated - Half Day Dismissal Times

At Cherokee we have a staggered dismissal for safety purposes.

11:40 AM - SACC, Service Squad and Safeties

11:44 AM - Walkers and Parent Pick Up

11:48 AM - Bussers

11:50 - School Fully Dismissed

Updated - Full Day Dismissal Times

At Cherokee we have a staggered dismissal for safety purposes.
3:29 PM - SACC, Service Squad and Safeties
3:33 PM - Walkers and Parent Pick Up
3:37 PM - Bussers
3:39 PM - School Fully Dismissed

Bus Riders:

• Busses may run slightly late picking up students the first few days of school as our drivers and students learn their new routes. It is still recommended that students arrive at their bus stop 10 minutes prior to their scheduled time.
  
• More information from the transportation department will be coming soon.

Walkers/Riders:

• Walkers/Riders should line up and be dismissed from their grade level/ classroom entrance doors. Teachers will pick-up their students from their entrance at 8:50 AM when the morning music begins.
  
• An updated map of grade level/classroom entrances is below.
  

Parking Lot:

• Please review the parking lot procedures map below.
• Staff will be present in the parking lot, bus loop and building entrances to help ensure a safe and smooth arrival and dismissal process.
• We ask for your patience and support as our new families learn the process and our returning families get back-in-the-swing-of-things :)

Small revisions have been made due to the recent change in bell times.

Click here for the 2023-2024 Chippewa Valley Schools District Calendar for Parents.

• See below for a summary of some important dates.
• A PDF file is also available below.

Our District Medication Policy requires all prescription medications to have a Request for Administration of a Prescription Medication to student form filled out with a physician’s order with parent’s signature each school year. The medication must be in a new original container and/or prescription bottle with the child’s name on it. Over the counter medication will also need a Request for Administration of Non-Prescription Medication to student form filled out and signed by parent.

All medication administration forms can be found on the chippewavalleyschools.org web page (click here). Forms can also be picked up at the school in the main office.

Please bring in completed forms signed and dated by your health care provider with parent signature along with any required prescription medications.

Parents must hand deliver medications with completed forms to the Health Aide in the main office to be checked for full accuracy. No medications will be administered at school without accurately completed forms. Also please check the expiration date on medications as we cannot accept expired medications.

• If your child is not feeling well, please keep them home and call our attendance line.
• Our attendance line is 586-723-4899.
• Attendance at school is of course very important. However, if a child is not feeling well they should stay home so they are able to rest and recover.
• We a want to prevent the spread of illness as much as possible.
• Students should be fever free for at least 24 hours (without the assistance of fever reducing medication) before returning to school.
• Students should also wait at least 24 hour to return to school after vomiting.
• Students who are having difficulty breathing, severe cough, etc. are also strongly encouraged to stay home.

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 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 3:15 so we can be sure to get the information to our staff.
• Families are asked to preorder lunch using the online ordering system. Links for the menu and online ordering will be in the Paw's Press Newsletter as soon as they are available.
• 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.
• As staffing levels increase, so will our ability to enroll more students. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.
  
• 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.

NOTE: SACC will continue to remain peanut/tree nut fee.

Ashley Murphy

Cherokee SACC Director

(586) 723-4860

• CLICK HERE to access the CVS SACC informational page.

We choose to Inspire, Believe, Achieve & LEAD!

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

If your child is going to be absent, please call our attendance line at 586-723-4899.

https://www.facebook.com/CherokeeWildcats

https://www.facebook.com/groups/CherokeePTO/