Awesome FUN RUN!

What a great time we had yesterday at the Fun Run!!
The students and staff had a wonderful time on a beautiful fall day!
We are thrilled to have met our goal and will be enjoying our Pajama Day celebration next Wednesday on Halloween.   We actually exceeded our goal and are still receiving pledges as the deadline is November 1st.   A huge thank you to everyone for their support and to the extended family and friends who supported Allen.   A huge thank you to Heidi Harris for her time, energy and efforts coordinating this wonderful healthy event.

Joan

MEAP Test

Today we began MEAP testing for students in grades 3,4, and 5.   Thank you very much for having your child at school on time, rested and ready.   During my visits to the classrooms, the students were ready to go this morning feeling prepared to take the test.

Thank you for your support as we take this State Assessment.  Our performance is used to determine AYP and our status as a focus school.

Joan Fitzgibbon
Principal

Basketball Jones visits Allen

Basketball Jones visited Allen yesterday and the students had loads of fun.  There were several great basketball tricks he did but most important was his message about being kind to others, respecting yourself and not being bully.   There was a lot of laughter and fun had by all and the students were excellent participants showing great respect, enthusiasm, and support for each other.   Students participated in a few team events and several individual students were called upon to help him demonstrate his basketball tricks.  Please ask your child what was their favorite part of the assembly and what was the overall message.   Thanks again to Parent Council for supporting these events for our students.  

Ms. Fitz

Tonight we had our first Parent Council meeting!  We also had the new parent welcome gathering from 6:00 - 6:30PM.  Parents and kids enjoyed conversation and some pizza and pop.   It was a good turn out and we saw several new faces tonight.    My bulleted report for the meeting is below:


Thank you to Parent Council (PC) for
The social gathering on opening day
The PC calendar for the year
Organizing the book fair


We are off to a great start this school year.
PBIS is in its second year and going smoothly
NWEA testing has started for grades 1-5
Basketball Jones assembly will be September 27th with a focus on anti-bullying

MEAP will take place in October for students in grades 3-5


Curriculum Night was fairly well attended but if you missed this evening please contact your child's teacher.


Next PC meeting is Thursday, October 18th at 6:30 PM

Curriculum Night

Thank you for attending Allen's curriculum Night last evening.   It was a wonderful opportunity for parents/guardians to hear about the academic and social education that will take place this year.   Please know that we need you and value your input and support.   Come to lunch, help in the classroom or volunteer for a Parent Council event.  This is a partnership and we want you to be as involved as you can.

Thanks again for your support.   I am very excited about the school year.

Upcoming activities for school:

NWEA testing begins next week
School Pictures are September 20th
Parent Council is September 20th with NEW FAMILY Orientations starting at 6:00 - 6:30
Parent Council Monthly Meeting is September 20th from 6:30 - 8:00 PM and Child Care is provided for school age children
Basketball Jones will host and assembly for all students on September 27th and focus on character building and bullying
PBIS is in full swing stay tuned for your child's classroom celebrations and thank you for reviewing the Matrix with your child at home

See you soon!
Ms. Fitz

Welcome Back!!

I hope had a wonderful summer.  The school year is around the corner and the staff and I are excited to begin the 2012-2103 school year.   I hope that you will come to the Meet and Greet next Wednesday August 29th from 4:00 - 5:00 PM on the playground.   In preparation for the school year I have posted the staff assigned to Allen for this school year.   See you soon.  Ms. Fitz

STAFFING: 

Our 2012-2013 Allen Staff:
Kindergarten                  Leslie Binder, Pam Dabbs, Marie Lemmer
Grade 1                          Nancy Cocco, Roberta Cole, Jennifer Harris
Grade 2                          Dawn Dennis, Kim Gardiner, Jennifer York    
Grade 3                          Andrew Sargent, Karen Slotten, Laura Wolf       
Grade 4                          Sue Bates, Ryan Bruder, Jessica Orr
Grade 5                          Cindy Johengen, Alice King
Art                                          Deb Campbell
Library/Computer                          Amy Rodriguez, Peggy Armstrong
Physical Education                         Katie Lewit
Vocal & Instrumental Music          Kim Mobley
Instrumental Music                        Deborah Katz, Kim Mobley
Resource Room                             Tim Hulett
Teacher Consultants                       Pamela Lowe
Social Worker                   Johanna Phillips Carpenter
Reading Intervention                     Sandy Sheremet     
Title One Teacher                          Carol Clyde
ESL                       Sandy Sheremet
Psychologist                   Tracy Loveland
Custodians                   Madeline Allen, Anthony Anderson
Food Services                                 Julie Drake
Noon Hour Coordinator                 Pauline Samida
Office Staff                                    Anne Meade and Kayley Meade

Climate Survey- We Need Your Feedback!!

Dear Allen Families,

Elementary Climate Survey - As the school year comes to a close we’d like to ask your help in

providing us with feedback about your experiences at our school. We take the education and safety of our

children very seriously and your input will help us identify areas of strength as well as areas for

improvement. The survey can be found at:

http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22FPTV62SC7/

Thank you very much for your participation.   Joan Fitzgibbon, Principal

Disability Awareness Day

I would like to thank Karen Meints and the many people who helped organize and volunteer the day of the workshop.  This workshop is a unique day for our fourth grade students during which they learn about different  disabilities through the use of adaptive equipment and presentations from guest speakers.  Using the adaptive equipment gives students an opportunity to experience and appreciate what it might be like to live with a particular disability.  We thank all of our staff and students for their participation and support!    

Allen in the Ann Arbor News for March is Reading Month

http://annarbor.com/news/pioneer-high-school-teacher-helps-allen-elementary-kids-celebrate-reading-month/

Girl Scout Luncheon

Thank you to the Allen Girl Scout troops for providing the staff with lunch on Wednesday this week.   The food was delicious but more importantly eating with the girls was a treat!   Thank you for your kindness!

Allen Staff

Yearbooks still available

Allen 2011-12 Memory Books are still available online at www.schoolpictures.com until Friday, Feb. 17.  Parent Council will continue to accept handwritten orders with order forms available in the school office extended until March 2.  Checks should be made out to Allen Parent Council. 

Excellent opportunity for students and parents

The Gaming and Internet Trap”—speaker Kevin Roberts, author of Cyber Junkie: Escape the Internet and Gaming Trap.

Thursday, March 1, 2012 from 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.

Burns Park Elementary School, 1414 Wells (auditorium)

Kevin Roberts, M.A., a University of Michigan and Antioch University graduate, is an educator, comedian, coach and author.  Students and families are encouraged to attend for an entertaining and informative perspective on gaming and cyberspace. Learn about internet safety and how to prevent our students from becoming too consumed with computer time.  Join us for this free event sponsored by Angell, Allen, Burns Park, Pattengill/Bryant Elementary Schools and Tappan Middle School.

Happy New Year!!

Today was a great first day back after a long winter break.   The students got busy engaging their brains and getting back into the routines.  I hope you all had a wonderful break and are ready for an exciting 2012 school year.

An exciting opportunity at the Ann Arbor District Libary:


Stretch Your Math Noodle with Mathnasium Coaches

Sunday, January 22 | 1:00-3:00 PM | Downtown Library Multipurpose Room | Grades K-5

Have a blast pumping up your math muscles. Mathnasium staff will help you practice addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and logic thinking skills through fun games and team competitions.