River Oaks

It’s time for students to nominate their favorite Dearborn Public Schools teacher for the 2020 Alberta Muirhead Teacher of the Year Students’ Choice Award, sponsored by the Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce and presented by LaFontaine Automotive Group.  The nomination deadline is Monday, March 9, 2020 at 5 p.m.  Nomination forms can be found at the District website at https://dearbornschools.org. Please see Ms. Sandi in the office to pick up an application and fill it out…

Printed nomination forms may be picked up at any Dearborn Public School and the District’s Administration Office, 18700 Audette. Completed forms can be dropped off or mailed to the Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce, 22100 Michigan Ave., Dearborn, MI 48124 or faxed to (313) 584-9818. Adults may assist students in completing nominations when necessary, but no more than two teachers can be nominated per student.

Students may nominate any new or veteran teachers whom they feel has made outstanding contributions to the teaching profession.  Pre-school through second grade students are asked to describe how their teacher makes learning fun.  Students in this category can include a nice drawing, if they wish, but it will not be part of the selection process.  Third through fifth grade students must describe how their teacher has created a classroom where learning is positive and fun.  Middle school students (grades 6-8) are asked to explain how their teacher connects classroom learning with everyday life.  Students in high school must describe how their teacher is preparing them to be college and career ready.

“Nominating a teacher for this award is an outstanding way for students to show teachers how much their work is valued and appreciated and the positive impact teachers have on students’ lives. We have so many excellent teachers deserving of this recognition, and I hope many of our students will take a few moments to nominate their favorite teacher,” said Dearborn Public Schools Superintendent Glenn Maleyko.

Applications will be assessed on the quality of the nomination, not on the number received.  Award judges are members of the Dearborn Chamber Education Committee and are not provided with the teachers’ names.  One winner from each category will be announced at a special ceremony to be held at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center on Thursday, April 23, at 4:30 p.m. 

Teachers selected to receive the Teacher of Year Award are recognized as positive role models who consistently provide unique, productive, positive classroom experiences.   Winning teachers receive a $1,000 cash prize and a glass award commemorating their achievement.  They also will join a select group of Dearborn teachers who have been recognized by the community for their dedication and passion for teaching.

“I want to thank the Chamber of Commerce and all the sponsors for once again providing this event,” Maleyko added. “Our district is very fortunate to have so many great community partners.”

PTA Meeting is tomorrow February 11th at 2:00. Topics on the agenda are Valentine Grams, Book Fair, PTA Read In, Movie Night and Cultural night. Please be sure to attend to learn what is going on in your child’s school.

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Fact Sheet: Flu (Influenza)
What is influenza?
It is a disease caused by a virus that infects the respiratory tract, and is commonly
called “the flu”. Compared with most other viral respiratory infections, such as the common cold, influenza
infection often causes a more severe illness.
What is the treatment?
●Get plenty of rest.
● Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration (i.e., water, juice, and tea).
●Take non-aspirin medication for fever and body aches.
How is it prevented?
The best way to prevent influenza is to be vaccinated against it. The influenza vaccine is made from
inactivated (killed) influenza viruses each flu season; the vaccine will boost the immune system’s ability
to fight various flu viruses. There is also a flu vaccine available as a nasal spray which is a weakened
form of the live virus. Sometimes, an unpredicted new strain may appear after the vaccine has been
made and distributed. Even if someone does become infected with the new strain of influenza, the
disease symptoms may be milder because the vaccine may provide some protection. You cannot get the
flu from the flu vaccine.
Additional prevention measures:
● Wash hands frequently, especially after coughing, sneezing and handling used tissues.
● Avoid close contact with those who have cold or flu-like symptoms.
● After contact with a person who is ill, wash your hands and keep your fingers away from your
eyes, nose, and mouth to prevent the spread of the virus.
● Boost your immune system by eating a healthy diet, and getting regular physical activity and
plenty of rest
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms usually appear within 2 to 4 days after being infected and include:
● Fever (usually 100.5 F to 103.5 F in adults and often even higher in children)
● Cough
● Sore throat
● Runny or stuffy nose
● Headache and muscle aches
● Extreme fatigue

Most people who get the flu recover completely in 1 to 2 weeks, but some people develop serious and
potentially life threatening medical complications, such as pneumonia. Flu-related complications can
occur at any age; however, the elderly, people with chronic health problems, pregnant women and
young children are much more likely to develop serious complications after influenza infection.
How is it spread?
Viruses that cause flu are spread by direct contact with respiratory droplets (i.e., coughing and
sneezing). Flu viruses enter the body through the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose or mouth.
Those at highest risk for infection live in densely populated areas, are in crowded living situations, or
attend school.
This fact sheet is for information only and is not meant to be used for self -diagnosis or as a
substitute for consultation with a health care provider.
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention at: www.cdc.gov

؟ وهو مرض يسببه فيروس يصيب الجهاز التنفسي، ويسمى عادة “االرشح/ الزكام”. وبالمقارنة مع معظم االلتهابات التنفسية الفيروسية األخرى، مثل البرد العادي، وغالبا ما تسبب األنفلونزا مرض أكثر شدة. ما هو العالج؟ ●كثير من الراحة . ● شرب الكثير من السوائل لمنع الجفاف) مثال : ماء، عصير ، و شاي( ● تناول األدوية الخالية من االسبرين لعالج الحمى و اآلم الجسد. كيف يتم الحد منه؟ أفضل طريقة لمنع االنفلونزا هي التلقيح ضده. ويتكون لقاح األنفلونزا من فيروسات األنفلونزا المعطلة )المميتة( في كل موسم إنفلونزا؛ فن اللقاح يعزز قدرة الجهاز المناعي على محاربة المرض. وهناك أيضا لقاح إنفلونزا متاح كبخاخ أنفي و يحتوي على نسبة ضعيفة من الفيروس الحي. في بعض األحيان، قد تظهر ساللة جديدة غير متوقعة بعد إجراء اللقاح وتوزيعه. حتى لو أصيب شخص ما بالساللة الجديدة من األنفلونزا، قد تكون أعراض المرض أكثر اعتداال ألن اللقاح قد يوفر بعض الحماية. ال يمكنك االصابة باالنفلونزا عبر تناول اللقاح. تدابير وقائية إضافية: ً وخاصة بعد السعال والعطس ولمس المناديل المستخدمة. ً و تكرارا ● غسل اليدين مرارا ● تجنب التواصل الوثيق مع أولئك الذين لديهم أعراض تشبه أعراض البرد أو االنفلونزا. ● بعد التواصل مع شخص مريض، اغسل يديك وحافظ على أصابعك بعيدا عن عينيك وأنفك وفمك لمنع انتشار الفيروس. ● تعزيز الجهاز المناعي من خالل اتباع نظام غذائي صحي، واو التمارين الرياضية المستمرة بانتظام والكثير من الراحة ما هي االعراض؟ عادة ما تظهر األعراض في غضون 2 إلى 4 أيام بعد إإلصابة وتشمل: ● الحمى )عادة 50001 F إلى 50301 F عند البالغين، وغالبا ما تكون أعلى عند األطفال ● السعال ● إلتهاب الحلق ● سيالن أو إحتقان في األنف ● ألم في الرأس و العضالت ● التعب الشديد معظم الناس الذين يصابون بالنفلونزا يتعافون تماما في مدة

Thank you to all the parents and students that attended our Winter Fest. We had a total of 268 parents and students. The students had a great time at the photobooth, getting their face painted and playing all the games. Thank you to the following businesses for the basket donations. Warren Bike Shop for the girls bike, St. Hedwig Cemetery for the boys bike, Joyview Meat Market for the donation of potato chips. Enjoy the pictures below.

Kindergarten and Young 5 students will not be attending school on Friday February 7, 2020 due to a District Professional Development meeting for all Kindergarten Teachers.

5th – Late Start

6th – 100th Day of School

6th – PTA Roller Skating Night at Lincoln Park Rink 5:00 – 7:00 pm

7th – No school for Kindergarten

11th – PTA Meeting at 2:00 pm

17th – 21st – No School Mid Winter Break

25th – Coffee with the Principal

28th – PTA Pizza Sale for the students $1.00 per slice

River Oaks PTA is sponsoring a Roller Skating Night at LINCOLN PARK SKATING RINK..

Thursday February 6th

Time: 5:00 – 7:00

Address: 1419 Southfield Rd. Lincoln Park

Cost: $6.00 pre sale or $7.00 at the door

The price includes admission and skate rental and skate helper…

Fill out the form that was sent home if you want tickets in advance and save a $1.00…. CASH ONLY….

To all 5th grade parents that have an interest in their child attending STEM next year please review the following established process. Keep in mind that STEM is a Magnet school located on the Dearborn Heights Campus with the Michael Berry Career Center. This means that all parents are responsible for providing transportation to and from school. Our start and end times are aligned to high school times, 7:15 am – 2:15 pm. 

There is no enrollment process for our new 6th grade class.  Instead, we will be sending out invitations to the top 120 5th grade students in the district and asking them to apply. If your student is in district, but not a DPS student, there will be an application posted on our blog (https://stem.dearbornschools.org/) mid-February .

We have set a minimum NWEA reading score of 222 and a minimum NWEA math score of 231 as our baseline (winter 2020 5th grade scores).  In addition, students will need to have earned a 3 or a 4 on their 4th grade math and reading M-STEP tests.  However, having these minimum scores does not mean that a student will receive an invitation.  The top 120 students may very well achieve beyond these minimum scores.  Invitations to apply will be mailed home sometime in March.

For a non-DPS student that applies, his/her application will be ranked with the 120 invitations that we send home to DPS students.  If s/he ranks in the top 120, s/he will be emailed an invitation letter and be asked to email his/her interest in attending in the Fall.  If s/he does not rank in the top 120, s/he will not receive a final invitation.  Again, meeting the minimum scores does not guarantee acceptance.

Once the 120 students have responded to their invitations, if we have more than 60 students “accept”, there will be a lottery.

Dearborn Public Schools this week mailed letters to the families of all 1,500 third grade students in the District, providing them with information about the Read by Third Grade Law.

The Michigan Legislature passed Public Act 306 in 2016, but the law does not take full effect until this year.  Current third graders will be the first ones forced to repeat that grade if their state M-STEP scores show they are a year or more behind in reading.  Third graders will not start taking the test until late April.

“Dearborn Public Schools does not believe retention is an effective way to help students master a subject or to help them succeed at school,” Superintendent Glenn Maleyko wrote in the letter to parents of third graders. “Our philosophy is to provide your child with quality instruction from the time they become our students.”

The District letter explains that if a student scores below 1253 on the M-STEP, the state will send that child’s family a letter saying that the student should repeat third grade. State letters are expected to arrive by May 23 or 14 days after the Michigan Department of Education receives the assessment results.  Parents should be aware the state plans to send the notifications via certified mail, so someone in the household will need to sign for the letter.

Parents who receive a state letter have 30 days to request an exemption that would allow their student to go on to fourth grade.  The District’s letter stressed that parents have a right as a student’s legal guardian to request a good cause exemption.  In the days after the state notifications arrive, all Dearborn Public elementary schools will hold a meeting to explain the exemption process to parents or guardians and to assist parents who want to request an exemption for their child.  The law provides several reasons why a child would be allowed to continue to fourth grade.

Using last year’s scores as a benchmark, the vast majority of Dearborn Public Schools third graders would have met the reading requirement.  Of the few dozen Dearborn third graders who fell short of required score, all would have qualified for an exemption for other reasons, such as still learning English. How this year’s third grade class will do now that the law is in effect is yet to be seen.

Dearborn Public School’s letter is part of ongoing District efforts to help parents understand the Read by Third Grade Law and its potential impact on students.  Last school year, Dearborn formed a Read by Third Grade Community Task Force, inviting parents and others from the community to participate.  Internally, the District has worked since the law’s passage in 2016 to strengthen its already strong focus on helping struggling students learn to read.  That work included additional professional development for teachers, more intervention and assistance for struggling students, closer monitoring of student reading levels, and increased communications with parents.

“When a student is struggling in any subject area, we will support them with additional programs and early interventions to help that student be successful,” Maleyko wrote.