Defer Dragon’s Burning News

Defer Elementary School

15425 Kercheval

Grosse Pointe Park, MI 48230

Phone: 313/432-4000

Fax: 313/432-4002

www.gpschools.org/defer

June 7, 2013

Defer Behavior Pledge

Today, I will DO my best to BE my best.

I will be respectful.

I will practice responsibility.

I will always be safe.

I will show my Dragon pride.

Ahhh! Summer. A time to relax and enjoy those lazy days filled with trips to the park, family vacations and backyard barbecues, right? Not so fast! Summer can entail more than just a change from the usual routine. For children, it can mean a serious loss of learning. Research shows that many children experience a ‘summer slump’ and can lose about four weeks of growth from the previous school year. However, there are many things a parent can do to keep their child’s brain active. Here are a few ideas recommended by experts to help prevent the dreaded ‘brain drain.’ Read between the lines. Have your child join the local library’s summer reading program or start their own reading program or book club. They can set a goal for reading so many books and even keep track on a book ‘growth’ chart. Incorporate reading into everyday activities by pointing out billboards, fliers, food containers and such. Younger children can play the alphabet game on longer drives. Talk the talk. Ask questions about anything and everything, but not the kind of questions that only illicit “yes” or “no” answers. For instance, ask “What did you like about…?” Get children talking, and you may be able to turn a normal experience into a teaching moment. Got Game? Organize game nights not just for your family, but in the neighborhood. Play educational games like Scrabble, Uno crossword puzzles, Sudoku or basic card games. They make for a fun night and reinforce skills such as memory, concentration, logic and reasoning. They also teach children how to take turns, and be both a good winner and a good loser. Vacation your body, not your mind. Going on a trip can be a great time to expand more than your physical horizons. Use the library and internet to learn about the destination and its historical sites. Study maps and plot mileage. It all adds up to fun. According to the National Summer Learning Association, losing math skills is the biggest threat. Try a number of activities to reinforce math skills. For instance, look at the measurements in a recipe you’re making and ask your child to double it. Ask your child to compute the 15% tip on the restaurant bill, or determine how many gallons of gas are needed to travel the 50 miles to grandma’s house. Make math a part of your everyday life. Let’s stamp out summer slump when it comes to our Defer Dragons!!

Karen Sullivan Defer Principal

School Improvement 2012 – 2013 The Year in Review

We did it!!! All of us!! We accomplished great things this year – the kids, the parents, and

especially the teachers! My staff put School Improvement on center stage, and I am proud of all we accomplished.

Let me give you a few highlights:

• Mastery of Basic Facts in Math (3 + 6, 8 – 2, 4 x 9) Knowing math facts is essential to every kind of math problem and when you ‘lose your place’ because you can’t remember the math fact, things quickly fall apart. In January we set to work and have never stopped! We have gone from 50% to 97% of our students knowing their math facts fluently. Wahoo!!

• Writing a Constructed Response (C.R.) – This type of writing requires the student to 'construct'

answers to questions on Reading, Math, and Science, or Social Studies. C.R. is a great way to determine whether or not students have really gotten it – can they explain it. Our staff embedded Constructed Response practice weekly into their instruction. Next Fall’s MEAP tests will tell us how much gain we have made in this area.

• Technology Grants – How do we increase student engagement? Simple, put a set of iPads with

apps. in the hands of a great teacher and stand back!!! That’s what Defer did! The Grosse Pointe Foundation for Education accepted four grant applications written by the Defer staff either last Fall or this Spring. They are used to provide skill practice and reinforcement, Skype with other classes during similar projects or work, research topics, and we are just scratching the surface of all we can do!

• Writing Blitz – In preparation for the Grosse Pointe Writing Assessment teachers analyzed

student weaknesses and then blitzed them with intensified instruction in that area. Students were immersed in extended lessons on their skill area and were armed with strategies for success.

• One Book, One School – This year, with the support of the Defer PTO, the entire school from

Kindergarten through fifth grade during the month of March read Lemonade Wars. Students held class discussions, participated in Trivia Tuesday, and enjoyed the read-aloud during lunch hour. In fact, it was such a success that we found families was reading well ahead of the school pace – they just couldn’t put the book down!

• After-School Math Club – Defer receive a grant from the Grosse Pointe Foundation for Public

Education to fund an after school Math Club for students in grades 3 and 4. Twice weekly students met with four Defer staff members to work in our Computer Lab. Students were paired with teachers and progress was monitored closely for growth. This was a great opportunity to provide additional support to students in math.

• Fountas and Pinnell Reading Testing – This year staff set in place a system for testing Reading

levels three times a year. This allowed us to monitor student growth and place students in books that match their Reading level. This helped us keep a steady hand on learning growth and helped us to identify students who needed further Reading interventions.

Dates to Remember June 10 4th Grade Class Picnic@ Windmill Pointe Park 10:00—3:00 4/5 Magnet Class Picnic @ Windmill Point Park 10:00—3:00 1st Grade Class Picnic @ Patterson Park 11:00—1:00 11 3rd Grade Class Picnic @ Windmill Pointe Park 9:00—3:00 2/3 Magnet Class Picnic @ Windmill Pointe Park 9:00—3:00 Last School Lunch—-Pizza Day Ice Cream sale after school—all ice cream $1.00 12 Kindergarten Class Picnic @ Patterson Park 8:50—11:00 Awards Ceremony @ Gym 10:00 am Dismissal at 11:36 am / NO PM SCHOOL for Students 13 5th Grade Promotion Ceremony @ Gym 10:00 am Dismissal for Summer Vacation @ 11:36 am

Does my child suffer from Summer Slump?

Next week in addition to bringing their report card home students will have a

print out of their cumulative NWEA scores in Math and Reading. An indication

that your child is experiencing learning lose over the summer is if you see a pat-

tern of the Spring Score being higher than the following Fall score in Math or Reading.

Are You Moving?

Please stop in at the office and let us know if your child will not be returning to Defer Elementary next year as well as which school he/she will be attending. This information is

necessary so the district can budget and staff appropriately.

Also, any moves within the district or phone number changes must be reported to the Enrollment/Registration office at 389 St. Clair. Please call 432-3083 with that information.

Lunch Debts

Lunch debts need to be paid in full by Tuesday, June 11th. If your child has a balance, you will be receiving a letter stating the amount owed by back-pack mail on Friday, June 7th. If you have any questions about your account, please call Sodexo at 432-3208. Thank You!

Defer’s 2nd Grade Brownie Troop

Defer’s 2nd Grade Brownies took a trip to the Wigs 4 Kids Wellness Center, where the girls learned about what the foundation does for children with cancer and other things that cause them to lose their hair. The troop donated $800 to Adopt-a- child, which will provide a boy or girl with everything he or she needs from the wig itself to care products to classes of all kinds. The girls had a great time seeing the facility and learning about what goes on there! In the process, they also earned a financial literacy badge called 'Giving Back', which is about philanthropy.

Reminder from the Library

All library books are due back in the Defer Library by Monday, June 10th. Thank You!

2013—2014 Important Dates

September 3rd School Resumes September 10th Back to School Night December 23-January 3 Winter Vacation

February 17-February 22 Midwinter Vacation April 18-April25 Spring Vacation

From the Office…..

It has been a pleasure working with your children for another school year. We have enjoyed watching your children grow. You should be very proud of each and every one of them! We would also like to thank all of the parents that have volunteered in the clinic and/or with Absentee calling. We really appreciate your help! We hope that all of you have a wonderful, safe summer and look forward to seeing your children again in the Fall. Mrs. Lightbody and Mrs. Russo

Third Grade Math Fun

Sunny skies and sidewalk chalk made

multiplication fun in the sun for our third grade mathematicians.

Fifth Grade Goes to Camp Howell Defer’s Fifth Grade went on their annual Camp Howell camping trip from May 29th until May 31st. The students were kept busy with activities such as scaling the rock wall, climbing the high ropes course in the pine trees, canoeing, archery and dancing. The weather cooperated and all of the students had a great time!

SAFETY/SERVICE 2012-2013

In May, Defer Safety/Service enjoyed their final fun night of the year. A rainy day changed our plans to Pierce Middle School gym. We enjoyed hot dogs, fruit, snacks, drinks and desserts. Thank you to those parents who so generously donated snacks and desserts. Everyone enjoyed good fun, food and friends. Thank you to Mr. Srebernak who grilled for us. Also, Mrs. Boley, Mr. Herrell, and Mrs.Herrell who chaperoned. To all Safety/Service members who are finishing your time at Defer, you should be proud because you made Defer a better, safer place. May you enjoy success in your future endeavors and re-member to represent your alma mater, Defer Elementary in the best way.

Safety/Service Member of the Month-May

Safety: Bashar A. Service: Clare A.

Safety/Service Member of the Month-June

Safety: Calvin S.

Service: Matthew S. If you see a Safety/Service member doing a good job, please tell them – their time is running out. Helen Srebernak Safety/Service Coordinator

P.E. News Dear Defer Parents and Friends, Many thanks for your help with this year’s

Defer Field Day 2013!!! Field Day could not have been possible without the continued support and help of our Defer Volunteers and Defer PTO! Time is so very precious and we are all busy with our lives…… We appreciated your time off work, your time filling up water balloons, your time and help with set-ting up the activities and of course your patience with providing our Defer students with the very best of fun!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you…… Have a healthy, active, fun summer! Defer Physical Education staff

Library News

Summer is almost here, and that means the Summer Reading Club will start at the public library with a kickoff of fun events for the children on Friday June 14. Face painting at all branches, family jazz band at Ewald, and a storytelling concert with puppets & clowns at the Woods branch. The Youth Librarian from the Ewald Branch library came to our Defer library to give the students all the details. Enjoy your summer, and happy reading!

Mrs. Quinlan Defer Library Media Specialist

Defer Talent Show The talent show was a huge success! Defer has many, many talented students that entertained us with their voices, gymnastics, dancing, magic tricks, drumming and playing instruments. Each and every student should be very proud of themselves. Bravo!

Medications

The Defer School policy requires that parents pick up any student medication still left in the office no later than Thursday, June 14th. Any medications not picked up by this date will be discarded.

NOTE: We are unable to release any medications to students.

Student Council News

The Defer Student Council did a great

job this year! The Student Council Representatives

celebrated their hard work with a popsicle treat.

Special thanks to the Officers for the 2012/2013 school year.

New officers will be selected when

school resumes in the Fall.

First Grade Readers Theatre

Defer First Grade students entertained parents, staff and students with their wonderful stories and great reading skills.

PTO News

Happy June! I trust you are all looking forward to some down time after the craziness of the school year schedule. I am so appreciative and grateful for having had the opportunity to serve you as PTO President. It has been a great year, and I feel like much has been accomplished. It will be exciting to come back in the fall and see all of those new lockers installed—thanks to all of you and your amazing generosity! At every single event, and every fundraiser, large or small, DEFER, you stepped up, as you always do. Many, many thanks. Each and every one of you contributes to making Defer such a wonderful place to bring our kids every day. A HUGE thank you to our outgoing PTO Board Members that have been with us for so many years. They are saying goodbye to Defer as the last of their children moves on to Pierce. Jessie Schenk, Nancy Fabry, Julie Verlinden and Kim Kalmar, you are so very much appreciated and we will miss you terribly!! To all of our volunteers: whether you helped in a large or small capacity, WE APPRECIATE YOU. The PTO cannot succeed at any task without each of our volunteers. Thank you for your time and commitment to our children. Last, but not least, I would like to thank the staff for the amazing job they do every single day, and for loving our kids as much as we do! Your commitment and support make us proud Defer Dragons. I hope everyone has a safe, relaxing and enjoyable summer! See you in September…. Michelle Kramer PTO President

A short personal note: Another year has come to an end. It just amazes me how quickly time flies. 6 years ago, I walked home after the last day of school with Nicholas (who had just “graduated” from Kindergarten), and my two girls who were still in preschool. I was crying, marveling at what an amazing first year our family experienced here at Defer. Now, I am going to be crying again next week as Nicholas is promoted from the 5th grade. I watched this year go by in awe of those little friends he made that first year, wondering how all of them suddenly became the “big kids”??? So much has changed, but the one thing that stayed the same is the great feeling here at Defer. I am so proud to see these 5th graders grow into such amazing young men and women!