More time to support the Book Fair

Visit bn.com/bookfairs to support us online from 12/10/10 to 12/16/10
by entering Bookfair ID 10581205 at checkout.
A percentage of all sales from the store and café benefit Allen Elementary School!

Barnes and Noble Book Fair

A huge Thank YOU to Jenn Franklin and Karen Meints for organizing the book fair at Barnes and Noble. Several Allen families came to the store to show their support.   The Allen Chorus performed and the Allen Dance Team performed also.  The kids were able to make book marks as a craft project to take home.  Thanks to Mrs. Mobley, Ms. Lewit and Ms. Campbell for their time and energy organizing these activities.  Mr. Bruder and Mrs. J were also on hand assisting with the study sessions.   All the while, the store was filled with Allen families buying books and other items to support our Allen School Library.  Thank you all for your time, energy and efforts!!

Ms. Fitz

Celebration of Excellence Award

Did you know that parents can recognize a Teacher throughout the district's Celebration of Excellence Awards!  Below is some information and the link at the bottom of the page if you would like to nominate an Allen teacher.

The COE committee invites nominations of individual staff members in two categories of excellence. They are:

• INNOVATION - This award will recognize staff members who have demonstrated creative and innovative approaches to their jobs. Staff members worthy of this award are always thinking about how to improve, and they actually do something to make things better. Their innovative ideas get implemented and improve the school district in some way, whether it is a small improvement or a large one. Staff people are innovating all the time, yet frequently no one knows about it except the closest co-workers. The committee welcomes nominees who have accomplished both the big and the small, because each contributes in his or her own way.
• CUSTOMER SERVICE - All employees have "customers", whether they're students, other staff members, parents, or the public. This award celebrates those staffers who provide outstanding service to their customers. The nominator(s) will be asked to describe the ways the nominee is able to brighten the day or take care of those he or she serves. The awardees are the staff people who help everyone else, by figuring out what they want, how to get it for them and how to go the extra mile.

For the link to the nomination form click on:  
http://www.a2schools.org/aaps/boe.exc/online_nomination_form

Top 10 K-12 Public School Funding Advocacy Opportunities

As the legislative session heats up in Lansing, the stakes are incredibly high for students and families. With the threat of over 100 Michigan schools going bankrupt and more funding cuts looming, we must join together at this critical time to influence legislators on behalf of schools.

Please take part in at least one of the advocacy opportunities below. As you decide what your message will be, please read our Talking Points.

• Email Governor Snyder and urge him to establish a stable funding base for schools.

• Call, mail or email your legislators and ask them to fight for guaranteed school funding levels. If you are unsure who your legislator is, use these links to find your Representative and find your Senator.

• Sign an online petition indicating your support for a fair and responsible state budget that fully funds K-12 public education.

• Write a letter to the editor that illustrates how the devastating cuts will impact your school or community.

• Participate in a rally in Lansing to advocate for stable school funding. See Save Our Schools (SOS) for more info.

• Invite your legislator to your school for a site visit. Contact a PTOC member atptoc.a2advocacy@gmail.com if you’d like help organizing and preparing for your legislator visit.

• Attend a coffee hour or town hall meeting with your legislator. This time of year the legislators want to hear from the people they represent on issues that matter to them, and are scheduling meetings in your neighborhood. See the calendar above for coming events and meetings. Print our Leave-Behind Sheet to share with people you meet. 

• Fan our "Ann Arbor PTO Council Advocacy Committee" page on Facebook to get the latest news and advocacy opportunities about school funding advocacy opportunities in Michigan.

• Submit your comments to the House Education Committee.

• Spread the message. Encourage your networks, coworkers, board members, friends, and family members to get vocal and make our message ring loud and clear in Lansing.

Continue to visit this page for updates as the budget and the legislative session evolve in Lansing. Please contact us at ptoc.a2advocacy@gmail.com if you have questions or need specific information about these issues.

Silent Auction a Success!

Thank you everyone who attended the Silent Auction Saturday!  We had a lot of fun and lots of great items were donated and bid on by those in attendance.   Thank you again to Lynne Pauer, Amy McFarren, and Spring Tremaine for their hard work over the past 6 months.   This fundraiser supports the many field trips and opportunities that our students are provided to our students.   Thank you all again for your donations and contributions.  Thank you staff for your attendance and support.

Joan Fitzgibbon

No school Tuesday November 8th

Please remember there is no school Tuesday November 8th.

Ann Arbor Budget Forums

         Ann Arbor Public Schools         

Community Budget Forums

We need your input and suggestions as we prepare the 2012/2013 budget.

Please join Dr. Patricia Green, Superintendent

and Robert Allen, Deputy Superintendent for Operations for this important discussion.

Thursday, November 10

Huron High School Cafeteria

2727 Fuller Rd.

 

Monday, November 14

Pioneer High School, Cafeteria Annex

601 W. Stadium

Both sessions begin at 6:30 p.m.

Allen Celebrates 50 Years

Please plan to attend Allen's 50 Year Anniversary Celebration
Sunday November 6th from 2:00 - 4:00 PM

We are looking forward to several alumni  staff and students to return to help us celebrate the day.  
We hope you will be able to join us.

MindSET

We are once again thrilled to have some of our fourth and fifth grade students  invited to attend MindSET – a math and engineering program sponsored by Tau Beta Pi at U of M’s north campus.

A second round will occur in the Spring so if your 4th or 5th grade student has not yet been invited to participate please let their teacher know you are interested.   The commitment is four Saturdays from 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM.

For more information please go to migamma.org/mindset

Comcast supports low income families

Comcast Basic Internet, low cost computer - Servicio de Internet Básico, computadora de bajo costo

More information
http://www.internetessentials.com/más información
http://www.internetbasico.com/

EASE comes to Allen

The Energy Awareness and Sustainability Education (EASE) booth will be coming to Allen school on Wednesday, November 2.  The booth will bring awareness to energy and sustainability practices.  The booth will contain an idea tree for students to populate, a pledge for them to take, your building performance update and an interactive lighting display.  Students and staff will then have the opportunity to interact with the booth throughout the lunch period.

EASE Announcements for this week!

Monday, October 31

• What can you do to save enough energy to watch TV for 3 hours? Recycle an aluminum soda can.

Tuesday, November 1

• If you connected all the natural gas lines in the U.S. end-to-end how far would they reach? They would be long enough to go to the moon and back 4 times.

Wednesday, November 2

• Please remember to recycle glass bottles and jars. Glass made from recycled glass uses about one-third less energy than glass made from raw materials.

Thursday, November 3

• How long do you think it would take before all the oil is used up, using the known amount of available oil and at the present rate of consumption? It would take 40.6 years. Imagine a world without oil.

Friday, November 4

• Sixty percent of all computers and monitors are left on at night, and 40% of all monitors are not enabled for power management.  That is $900 million in electricity per year being wasted.  This electricity wasted is equivalent to the emissions of 1.5 million automobiles!

Ratatouille- For Real

Serving up Green Camps’ Cooking

In the AAPS Food Service Kitchens!

November 4^th

On Friday, November 4^th 2011, the lunch menus at (Insert your school name here) Elementary School will feature Rec&Ed’s Green Camp camper grown and cooked Ratatouille!  This French-inspired vegetable stew is chock full of heirloom organic tomatoes, eggplants, tomatillos, and scallions that were planted and cared for by students attending Green Camp last summer. 

In August, elementary students at Green Adventures Camp experienced a cooking lesson in the Pioneer High commercial kitchen. Under the direction of Chartwells’ chefs, campers used their homegrown produce in several recipes including ratatouille.  The food was then 'flash frozen' to be used for school lunches on this designated day.  This project was the result of a collaborative effort between Rec&Ed Green Adventures Camp, Chartwells (the AAPS food service provider), and the AAPS Farm to School Collaborative.

We hope your child enjoys the ratatouille at school on November 4^th.   Registration for Rec&Ed’s Green Adventures Camp will begin in February for Summer 2012.

It's been a fun and busy year!

I am back after a short hiatus from posting.   We have been busy MEAP testing the past few weeks and look forward to getting back to the routine of school.

A few fun and exciting things to look forward to:

Allen will Celebrate its 50 Year Celebration on November 6, 2011 from 2-4PM   We hope all current and former alumni staff and students will join us for this open house.

November 12th we have our awesome Silent Auction.   The event will be held at Genesis of Ann Arbor located on Packard Road from 7:00 - 9:30 PM.  Child Care is offered and the tickets are only $10.   Our Silent Auction Committee has been working tirelessly to obtain fabulous donations for this school fundraising event.   We hope you will join us for a fun adult evening.  

More to come......

Ms. Fitz

Back To School Handbook

Dear Allen Families,

I hope you are enjoying the last few weeks of the summer!!  Soon your children will be back to school and starting another fabulous year.   A few quick announcements:

1)  The Back to School Handbook is online and you are encouraged to review it online as hard copies will not be sent home unless you do not have access to internet.  The bus schedule is located in the back as well as an outline of stops and bus #'s.

http://a2schools.org/aaps/parents/back_to_school

2)  Save the DATE!! Tuesday, August 30th from 3:00 - 4:00PM Will be this year's MEET and GREET!  At the meet and greet you will get to meet your teacher, have a popsicle and see your friends.



See you soon!

Ms. Fitz

Happy Summer

I hope you are all enjoying a wonderful summer.   We are very much looking forward to next year.

The following staff will be returning:

Kindergarten- Leslie Binder, Pam Dabbs, Marie Lemmer
First Grade- Dawn Dennis, Kim Gardiner, Jenny York
Second Grade - Nancy Cocco, Roberta Cole, Jennifer Harris ( All 3 teachers are looping)
Third Grade- Andrew Sargent, Karen Slotten, Laura Wolf
Fouth Grade- Ryan Bruder, Cindy Johengen
Fifth Grade - Sue Bates, Alice King


All other itinerant staff will be returning as well.

See you soon.   Stay tuned for more information via the blog and School Messenger.

Ms. Fitz

Important Invitation

You are invited:

Join Ann Arbor Public Schools, the Washtenaw Area Council for Children and the Ann Arbor Police for a panel presentation covering digital citizenship, online privacy, cyberbullying, sexting and more.

When:
June 6, 2011, 6PM

Where:
Forsythe Media Center

The event flyer is available at the below link for your convenience.http://goo.gl/nCja5  

Science Olympiad

Science Olympiad location has been changed to Pioneer High School.    Please join us for some or all of this awesome event and watch Allen Eagles participate.

	WESO 2011     You are invited to attend the 2011  Washtenaw Elementary Science  Olympiad Saturday, June 11, Pioneer High School 8 AM to 6 PM More than 1500 Elementary Students from 25 local schools will compete in events ranging from Anatomy and Water Rockets to Mystery Architecture and Circuit Wizardry. Participants are challenged to show their mastery of science concepts and the practical applications of that knowledge. Please come and see what an extraordinary event the  9th Annual Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad is! This entirely volunteer driven Olympiad is the largest of it's kind in the U.S. It provides enriched opportunities for students to learn and have fun doing science activities in cooperative and competitive groups, paving the way for prepared citizens of the future.

Mark your calendars for Friday June 3rd 6:00 - 8:00 PM for our Annual Country Fair.  Lots of people have been putting in countless hours to prepare for this fun event.   Come join us for the fun.   Thanks to the volunteers who have organized this special event.  We are still looking for more volunteers so if you are able to work a short half and hour shift please email me   fitzgibbster@gmail.com.      Thanks.  Joan

Way to Go Mrs. Bates Class!!

Mrs. Bates' fifth grade class received a grant for $100 from the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation.  The class voted to have bake sales to raise money for the Huron Valley Humane Society.  After three bake sales, Mrs. Bates' class raised $223.00, which they presented to the Huron Valley Humane Society on May 7.


Way to give back!!  Ms. Fitz

Free Night at Hands on Museum!! Mark you calendars

Allen Elementary Families are invited to a “free”

Sunday, May 15, 2011   5:00 – 7:00 pm @ Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum

Families and children of all ages, enjoy hands-on activities, refreshments, and loads of fun!

RSVP the number attending to rsvp@aahom.org; Parking is free on Sundays!

Sponsored by: Rotary Club of Ann Arbor 

Thank you !

Dear Allen families,
thank you for the compassion and support that you have expressed over the passing of my father. Your kind words, cards and hugs have helped. A special thank you to Parent council for the beautiful plant for my father. I would also like to thank the Allen staff who are truly my extended family for their support and leadership during my recent absences. I am very thankful to be a member of this wonderful school and Allen community.

Thanks again,

Joan Fitzgibbon

March is Reading Month Storyteller

We were thrilled to have Storyteller Kathleen Wright (also a Kindergarten teacher at Lakewood Elementary) come to Allen during March is reading month.   She was so much fun and did an amazing job not only with her storytelling, but also her focus on writing and personal narratives.

Third Grade Performance and the Space Shield Tile

The Third Grade Performance was a lot of fun and a learning experience for us all.   We also acknowledged Ms. German who donated the Space Shield Tile to Allen School.  Thank you for the gift and support.

Allen gets in the GROOVE

Groove - a high energy percussion group from the University of Michigan -
visited Allen Elementary School on Friday.  Based on a percussion
foundation, Groove's instruments include paint-bucket drums, construction
barrel drums, propane tank steel drums, trash can drums, and much more.
Their assembly introduced students to how they think of new instrument
ideas, how they compose songs, and how fun and easy it can be.  What fun!!

MultiCultural Potluck 2011

What a success!   Thanks to everyone who was able to attend the MultiCultural Potluck and the evening Book Fair last night.   Thank you to the several volunteers who helped organize this wonderful event.   The Chinese Dancers were outstanding and the food was delicious.  Here are a few photos:

Barnyard Moosical

 The first grade was awesome in their Performance on Tuesday!   The stage was full of Chickens, Pigs, and Cows!!   Here are a few photos from the performance.  Nice job first grade!!    Ms. Fitz

Eating in the Round

Thank you Parent Council for purchasing four round tables for the Allen cafeteria.

We started using them yesterday and the kids are thrilled.   Now you might be asking why would we want round tables?  Well,  round tables provide students with the opportunity to have their own dedicated seat, the ability to talk to many more friends and not have to talk over anyone, and most importantly the volume level is reduced due to the change in structure.    So Thank You!!   we will rotate students through the use of the tables in two week rotations as we only have enough for one class at a time for each lunch period. Here are some photos of the new arrangement.

And here is a picture of the the original tables.

Disability Awareness Workshop

Friday the fourth grade students participated in our 6th annual Disability Awareness Workshop.  Thanks to Karen Meints and several volunteers the day was again a huge success.   Please click on the wonderful AA news article for pictures and more details.  Thank you everyone for providing this educational day for our students.    Joan

http://annarbor.com/neighborhoods/central-ann-arbor/allen-students-learn-respect-for-others-at-disability-awareness-workshop/

Chinese New Year

Tomorrow is the Chinese New Year!  Chinese New Year is the most important of the traditional Chinese  holidays!  This year is the year of the Rabbit.  Our students will enjoy a powerpoint presentation tomorrow which was created by some of our students.  We also have our front showcase and hallway decorated with various Chinese paintings and artifacts.  I hope you will ask your child to tell you what they learned about Chinese New Year.  Here are a few facts from the powerpoint.

Some activities include:

• Dragon dance parade; lantern festival; new year TV gala show; visiting friends and relatives

Some of the traditional food includes:

• Jiaozi (dumpling), Niangao (sticky rice), fish, meats, sweets.

Some of the decorations include:

• Red color brings luck, fortune, and wealth. Paper cuttings, lanterns, and couplets. 

Eagle Eyes Mrs. Binder's Class

Mrs. Binder's class has been reading several books about Mrs. Wishy-Washy and Friday they got a chance to paint her.   Here are a few pictures!  Enjoy and ask the kids what Mrs. Wishy Washy likes to do.

Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS)

Allen staff is in the process of developing a Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) program.   Within the next few years each elementary school in Ann Arbor will have this program in place.   PBIS is a proactive, team-based framework for creating and sustaining safe and effective schools.  The system focuses on positive behaviors and teaches students what these behaviors look like.  Having PBIS in place will create common expectations, language and rules for all students to follow wherever they go in the building.  Allen staff will work throughout the rest of the year developing the necessary components for PBIS implementation.   We plan to roll out the program next September.  We will continue to provide updates as we move forward with the development of the new program.

The Flu

Well after being home sick for two days with a bad case of the stomach flu, I wanted to tell you how important it is to remind your children to frequently wash their hands while at school.   I also want to take a moment to ask that you please keep your child home if they say they don't feel well for their well being as well as the health of others.  I do not want your children to get this bad case of the flu.   Thanks for your support.

Joan

Free Tickets U of M Basketball

The Michigan Women's Basketball team would like to invite the students at Allen Elementary to the annual Elementary School Day on Sunday January 23 at 2:00 PM at Crisler Arena.   Each student will receive two free admissions to the game today in their backpack.

On the concourse before and during the game, U of M will have lots of great activities for you and your family.  There will be clowns, face painting, balloon animals, Michigan face tattoos, poster making stations and a Michigan Rollibanner giveaway for the first 1500 fans.  

As a special incentive, the school that has the most students in attendance will receive a monetary donation to be used anyway the school sees fit.  The first place school will receive $500, and the second through fifth place will receive donations as well.     If you are looking for a fun and inexpensive way to have fun with your family go to the U of M women's basketball game Sunday at 2:00 PM.

MLK Performance

The eagle eyes are highlighting the wonderful performance the 5th grade students put on Friday January 14th.   The students songs and words emphasized the many contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King.   If you are interested in viewing the opening video  I showed the students google Trinity Higgins.   Her words from a youth perspective emulate what I want our students to do.

The Ann Arbor News was also at the event and featured Allen in an article on January 15th.   Go to
http://annarbor.com/neighborhoods/central-ann-arbor/allen-students-celebrate-life-of-martin-luther-king-jr


Thanks fifth grade for a job well done!

Eagle Eyes our Pride Teams

Did you know Allen has two Pride Teams??  The Allen 4th grade Pride Team, led by Mrs. Jenny York, currently meets every Thursday at lunch.  Their current work surrounds a fundraiser that they are planning in which the school will have a contest to see which animal from the Howell Nature Center we will "adopt" or sponsor.   The animals they can adopt are: a white tailed deer, a coyote and a woodchuck.  The students are researching the animals and creating informational posters.

In addition they focus on recycling which includes the recycling center and processing recycled items (such as Capri Sun containers) for sending in.  

The 4th grade Pride Team is instrumental in submitting the application for green school by March 1 and then working for the rest of the year to complete the items outlined in the Application.  Allen has been either a Green School, Emerald School, or Evergreen school for the past three years thanks to the Pride Team.

Students in the Pride Team also work throughout the year to complete their Green Passports which are filled with different types of environmental activities.

Fifth grade Pride Team, led by Ms. Alice King, meets on Wednesdays at lunch recess about twice a month.  For some meetings all students attend.  Other meetings sub groups attend to do tasks such as box top cutting, Thanksgiving place mats, etc.  Other pride team activities include students reading with the kindergarten classes on different days of the week and some students working on a news article about fifth grade pride team for the Wednesday newsletter.

Thanks Pride Teams for your work at Allen School.    Ms. Fitz

Remembering Mr. Kooistra

Dear Allen Families,   Mr. Robert Kooistra (Joan Brush's father) will be remembered dearly by the Allen staff and families.  Mr. Kooistra passed away January 5th but leaves a piece of his love of nature at Allen School.   Mr. Kooistra created the garden that is directly across from the Pre-School wing (attached are some photos).  He was a huge help each year on Allen's Grounds Clean-up days. Mr. Kooistra was known for his strong hands and incredible work ethic as he could get the best of any tree stump or stubborn bush.  Mr. Kooistra loved his walks, the outdoors and poetry.   The sign in the garden is reminiscent of his words.   We will always remember him fondly.
Ms. Fitz

Allen acquires a piece of history

Thanks to a generous and thoughtful alumni, Jennifer M. German, Allen school will receive a shuttle heat shield tile from NASA . Jennifer was in second grade at Allen school in 1985-86 when her class was studying the Earth and space with Mrs. Caviani, and received a lot of literature, pictures, and possibly other items from NASA. That's when and where her love of outer space and science in general started. Jennifer wanted our school to have this piece of science history, and hopefully inspire another child or two to study the sciences. I have pasted some information from NASA regarding the program below:

NASA Offers Space Shuttle Tiles To Schools And Universities


WASHINGTON -- As the Space Shuttle Program nears retirement, NASA is looking for ways to preserve the program's history and inspire the next generation of space explorers, scientists and engineers. Beginning Wednesday, NASA is offering 7,000 shuttle heat shield tiles to schools and universities that want to share technology and a piece of space history with their students.

The lightweight tiles protect the shuttles from extreme temperatures when the orbiters re-enter the Earth's atmosphere.

More information to follow.

Joan



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Happy New Year

Dear Allen Families,
In an attempt to push myself in the world of technology I have decided to undertake the creation and update of a Blog.   I will admit that while it appears to not be too difficult my posts at first may not look very fancy or have much information.    The purpose of the Eagle Eyes is to keep you updated on Quick reminders and updates of the many great things that are happening at Allen School.    I hope you will enjoy this and provide me with feedback as I learn and grow.

Joan