October, 2013 Becker Elementary .Home of the Bearcats!

IRIS BECKER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Parent Newsletter

October, 2013 Becker Elementary….Home of the Bearcats!

Visit the Becker Website at http://becker.dearbornschools.org/

October 2013 Calendar IMPORTANT Parent Meeting

10/2Late Start – School Begins @ Friday, Oct. 4 @ 9:00 AM 9:3010/4S.M.A.R.T. Parent Meeting @ 9:00 Refreshments @ 8:4010/8MEAP Begins – Oct. 8th – Oct. 23rd 10/14-10/16No School - Monday, Oct. Becker will hold a VERY IMPORTANT Parent Meeting this Friday, October 4th in 14th – Wednesday, Oct. 16th 10/19Robert Cipriano the gym beginning at 9:00 AM. Feel free to Cross Country Run10/23City Beautiful Breakfast @ come to the gym after you drop off your 7:00 AM10/29Math Night – Tues., Oct. 29th, 3:45- child for refreshments and social time prior 5:00 10/31Halloween Party – PTA Sponsored, to the start of the meeting. Mr. Higgins will welcome everyone at 9:00 AM, introduce Thursday, Oct. 31, 3:35-5:00 representatives from Dearborn Public Becker Welcomes Schools to discuss and share information New Staff Members about the S.M.A.R.T. Bond (see below), and then welcome Mona Farrouk from ACCESS Becker Elementary welcomes several to discuss programs they will offer at new staff members for the 2013-2014 Becker. Following those two presentations, school year. As many of you are aware, we the PTA will share information about rd th were able to dissolve the 3 /4 split upcoming exciting events! classroom and welcome Ms. Melissa Berry The Dearborn Board of Education will back to the fourth grade! We also welcome present a S.M.A.R.T. School Bond Election Ms. Mary Warsop as our new teacher on the November 5th ballot. The $76 million consultant. In the gym we welcome bond proposal will provide funding for physical education teacher, Mr. Sean Security, Modifications, Additions, Peecher, in art Ms. Maggie Patroniti, in Renovations, Technology, and music Ms. JaNell Wilder and Mr. Matt Laura, Transportation. and in foreign language, Ms. Najwa Youssef Representatives from Dearborn Schools and we welcome back Ms. Ghada Salah- will be at Becker on Friday, October 4th at Omari. We will have a new media teacher 9:00 for an informational meeting, sharing and another music teacher join our staff in how the bond will affect all of Dearborn the near future. Mr. Hassan Berry is serving Schools and specifically Becker Elementary. as our current media specialist. Please join me in welcoming all of our new staff to the Becker Family!

Labels for Education

Welcome to an exciting year at Becker Elementary! This year our school will be participating in the Labels for Education program. Ms. Jennifer Murray is the coordinator for our school. Through the program we can collect UPCs and beverage/sauce caps from participating products to earn points that can be redeemed for FREE educational merchandise! Our goal this year is to collect 5,000 points that we can redeem for electronic school materials. It’s easy to help – simply save UPCs and beverage/sauce caps from participating products and drop them off at Becker Elementary. If you have any questions, or would like to help with our Labels for Education collection drive, please contact me at 313-827-6950 or via email at [email protected]. Thank you for your support. Together with the Labels for Education program – we can build a better school for our children! Halloween at Becker

The PTA will be hosting a Halloween Party on Thursday, October 31st from 3:35-5:00 in the school gym. More information to come soon. Students will be allowed to dress in costume on Halloween, October 31st. However, no fake or real weapons of any kind are allowed! Teachers will review costume specifics with your children. Weather permitting – students will parade around the track on the 31st.

Student Code of Conduct

Students will have a meeting this week with Mr. Higgins to discuss the student code of conduct. The Code of Conduct establishes expectations for all students at school, as well as consequences for incidents of inappropriate behavior while on the school grounds. If you would like a copy of the Dearborn Schools Code of Conduct, please contact the office at 313- 827-6950 or stop by the office to receive a copy of the booklet.

Concussion Awareness

Your child will be bringing home information about concussions for you to review. You are required to read this information, sign the form, and then return the form to your child’s teacher at Becker. Thank you for your help in returning these forms in a timely manner.

Please Remember…

 Daily Schedule: 8:35-3:35 (Kindergarten dismisses @ 3:25 to a parent or guardian).  The doors will remain locked throughout the day for the safety of your children. You must check in at the office.  Students should be at school no later than 8:30, but no earlier than 8:20 unless they are eating breakfast. Breakfast begins at 8:00.  Please have students to school ON TIME and picked up from school ON TIME.  Students are to go directly home after school. Please review safety procedures with your child as he/she walks to school every day.  You will receive a Parent Contract soon to discuss with your child – please sign and return!  If your child is going to be absent or late coming to school, we ask that you call the school by 8:30 in morning at 827-6950. The school office is open daily from 8:00-4:00.  Please update the office on any changes to your contacts and/or emergency phone numbers. It is very important that we have at least two emergency numbers on file. Late Start: Wednesday, October 2nd School begins @ 9:30 on Late Start Days