THE INDEPENDENCE UPDATE

6850 Hubbard Road Chris Turner, Principal Clarkston, MI 48348 Ray Lebert, PTO President (248) 623-5500 May, 2015

From the PrincipalFrom the PrincipalFrom the PrincipalFrom the Principal

Parents, have you seen our new computer lab? Thanks to your generosity our lab has been transformed into a wonderful new work space for our students!

Thanks to the community support of our Winter Carnival we now have a spot where our students can use updated technology to think, create, and collaborate.

Features of our new lab: 32 wireless chrome book computers Genius bars for standing work or other hands-on projects Write-on walls for students to share their thinking Movable tables and chairs for collaboration Projector with chrome cast which allows for teachers to project on an

interactive whiteboard 48 additional wireless chrome books for use in classrooms

Thank you for your support of this project. The students love their new lab! Stop by to check it out when youre in the building.

Have a great month!

Chris Turner

Important Dates to Remember . . .Important Dates to Remember . . .Important Dates to Remember . . .Important Dates to Remember . . .

May 6 A.C.E.S. Day (All Children Exercise Simultaneously) 9:00 a.m.

May 8 Hat Day for Box Tops

May 11 Muffins with Mom (A-M) 8:00 a.m.

May 12 Muffins with Mom (N-Z) 8:00 a.m.

May 13 Late Start Day School begins at 9:25 a.m.

May 14 Young Fives Kindergarten Orientation 9:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m.

No school for Young Fives students

May 19 Market Day

May 21 5th grade field trip to Greenfield Village 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

May 22 No School for Students Developmental Day

May 25 No School Memorial Day

May 26 School resumes

May 28 Volunteer Recognition Celebration 8:50 a.m.

May 29 PTO Board Meeting 9:30 a.m.

June 2 4th grade field trip to DIA 9:00 a.m. 2:30 p.m.

2nd grade field trip to Cranbrook 8:45 a.m. 3:30 p.m.

June 3 Kindergarten field trip to Westview Orchards 9:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m.

June 5 Field Day

June 9 Fifth Grade Celebration 9:30 a.m.

Last Day of School Half-day 11:51 a.m. dismissal

Independence Elementary Scholarship

The Independence Staff donated their Casual for a Cause money to provide two $750 scholarships to Clarkston High School Seniors

that attended Independence while in elementary school.

This year, the recipients of the Independence Elementary Staff Scholarships are Lindsay Pike and Grace Sementkowski.

Congratulations to Lindsay and Grace and to all the graduating seniors at Clarkston High School especially those that are former

Broncos!

Its another Independence Elementary Night at Culvers on Sashabaw Road!

Join us on Thursday, May 7th from 6-8 p.m. Look for your I.E. Student Council

members working during that time. 20% of both lobby and drive-thru sales

between 6-8 p.m. will directly benefit our school! We hope you can stop by for

some dinner and/or dessert!

May Election to Ensure Full May Election to Ensure Full May Election to Ensure Full May Election to Ensure Full Funding Funding Funding Funding for Students Without Increasing for Students Without Increasing for Students Without Increasing for Students Without Increasing

Homeowner TaxesHomeowner TaxesHomeowner TaxesHomeowner Taxes On Tuesday, May 5, Clarkston Community Schools will ask voters to approve a Non-Homestead Millage Renewal allowing the district to levy 18 mills on non-homestead property (businesses, commercial and rental property). This renewal will This renewal will This renewal will This renewal will not affect the taxes on the house in which you live.not affect the taxes on the house in which you live.not affect the taxes on the house in which you live.not affect the taxes on the house in which you live. This renewal will allow the district to levy 18 mills on non-homestead property for ten years. The last tax collection, which also levied 18 mills on all non-homestead property, will expire with the 2015 tax levy. According to state law, it is assumed that all Michigan districts collect 18 mills on non-homestead property in order to receive full per pupil funding. Voters are asked to approve a millage exceeding 18 mills (19.2491 total) to anticipate any necessary adjustments for a deficit caused by a Headlee rollback and ensure a full per pupil allowance from the state. Without the renewal, the Clarkston School District will lose approximately $7.3 million in funding. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Please Please Please Please remember to vote on May 5remember to vote on May 5remember to vote on May 5remember to vote on May 5thththth!!!!

Welcome New Students!Welcome New Students!Welcome New Students!Welcome New Students!

Ava Smith Kindergarten

Isabelle Smith Third Grade

Attention Fifth Grade Parents!

The Fifth Grade Celebration will

be held on Tuesday, June 9 at 9:30 a.m. in the gym.

Please plan on joining us for this special event.

2014 2014 2014 2014 2015 2015 2015 2015

Yearbook Cover

Contestants

We are happy to announce that we have two winning entries in this years fifth grade Yearbook Cover Contest. Congratulations Max Powers and Maya

LaBruzzy! There were many fantastic entries and we appreciate the effort that the following students made. Thank you to all who participated. What talented, artistic

students we have!

2015-2016 Student Placement Process

Clarkston Community Schools

Considerable work is done to ensure the proper placement of each student from one grade level to the next. The principal begins the process in the spring with input from teaching staff and parents:

Teacher Input: Teachers will fill out a placement form for each student which includes: special assistance, known disabilities, achievement levels in reading, math and language, test scores, areas of strengths, academic difficulty, and special interests of the child. In addition, there are comments regarding initiative, self-control, and work habits.

Parent Input: Information from parents must be submitted during the planning and information gathering period. District policy prohibits asking for a specific teacher. Parents may request a type of atmosphere if their child has some special needs (e.g., My child is very shy and needs a nurturing environment, etc.).

A request must be in writing and sent to Mr. Turner by Friday, May 8, 2015. Notification of student placement will be made by letter, mailed home in late August.

Elizabeth Adams Kendall Gretka Olivia Richie Olivia Aranosian Ella Grubb Adam Schmitz Brooke Berney Libby Haar Sarah Sholte Maddie Blomberg Jamie Haines Emma Spitzer Gabby Botello Gwendolyn Kohl Sophie Tadavich Erika Casetti Faith Kroll Sydney Tadavich Cheyanne Cofffin Leanna Kroll Cailey Vickers Kaiya Cooper Caden Ladd Sophia Walker Adrianna Daigle Mia Langlois Elise Wilhelm Logan Engel Melody Lebert Anna Wilson Stephanie Enright Megan Ludwig Brooklyn Wilson Zoe Forbes Joe Maconochie Sophie Wirth Hayley Frick Lucy Malys Logan Wise Maggie Gallagher Reagan Moore Kelsey Young Gino Giannini Sarah Plesz Madisen Zilka

It is Always the Small Pieces that Make the Big Picture News from the PTO

I was recently in a puzzle store in Gatlinburg, TN, and I couldnt help but be amazed on how many different varieties there were. Looking up on the walls, there were 3D puzzles, ones that shaped certain objects, small ones, and huge mural-sized puzzles. All in all, I couldnt make my mind up as to which one that I wanted, so I walked out of the store, thinking to myself, Ill never have the time to finish one of these, so I might as well save my money.

It probably would have just been put in the closet when I came back to Clarkston. But, the store had me thinking about this past year, and the experiences I have had working with the PTO at Independence Elementary.

Putting together quite a few major puzzles this year, members of the school - teachers, administrators, the Clarkson School Board, grandparents, students, community members, businesses, and of course, the parents - finished the most impressive puzzle I have seen in quite a while. All the before-mentioned parties worked together to upgrade our computer lab. It seemed that putting the lab together worked so much easier with all hands on the table.

At first, a Computer Lab Committee of parent volunteers created the outline. From this point on, colors and shapes were divided, and others began prepping each component. Eventually, the night of the Winter Carnival arrived, and the puzzle was finally completed.

Im happy to say that all of your efforts have, and will continue to have, a lasting impact on the school and the community. With all of your donations, the PTO has approved the purchase of an entire cart of 16 laptops, and has worked with the school to hire two contractors to transform the computer lab to a more open space; one that will allow for teamwork, visual thinking, all the while, accommodating different learning styles. Some of the walls have been upgraded with white-board paint, while standing stations line another side of the lab. This will facilitate students who like to stand up while working, as well as other functions.

All of these pieces couldnt have come together at a better time. The M-Step testing has begun, and the technology in the school was a necessity for the students and teachers. They all have more options of using the vast technological resources to accompany their lesson plans, and we couldnt be happier to help you all piece this together.

There were so many people involved in making this happen that you do not have to look very far to find them. Just find the nearest mirror. They were all of you. Mr. Turner would love you to stop by and take a look at the renovated computer lab this year, so please feel free to see it for yourselves. The work was done over Spring Break. If you would like to add a date to your calendar, Muffins with Moms is coming up on May 11 and May 12 (Monday and Tuesday). All of those in attendance will be invited to tour the lab during (and after) this event - so RSVP as soon as you receive the invite in your childs take-home folder. We will be announcing next years PTO Board slate as well, and would love to hear your approval of these dedicated volunteers.

Who knows what sort of puzzles they will put together during the 2015-16 school year? Thanks for all that you do teachers, staffers, administrators, students, and parents. It has

been a fulfilling school year!

Ray Lebert Independence Elementary PTO President

Passive Fundraising Update

Thank YOU!

A very special THANK YOU to everyone who continues to participate with the Passive Fundraising Programs your efforts are continuing to show!

Box Tops for Education/Labels for Education: Thank you to everyone for submitting Box Tops and Labels for Education points! We collected over 25,000 Box Tops and over 15,000 Labels for Education points. We have received over $2,500.00 from Box Tops alone this school year. Those labels really add up, so keep them coming as we collect them all year long.

Hat Day for Box Tops! Coming Friday, May 8th! Dig out all those Box Tops youve been saving and wear your favorite hat to school! Thank you for showing your support for IE during the first three Hat Days! We collected 16,000 Box TopsThats $1,600 we earned from Hat Days! ****Lets aim for another successful Hat Day for

Box Tops on Friday, May 8th!****

Kroger Community Rewards: Its time to RE-ENROLL! Thank You to everyone who enrolled in the Kroger Community Rewards. April 30th marks the end of the 4th Quarter for this program. Everyone must re-enroll to keep earning money for IE. Its very important as this program generates dollars quickly for IE when you register each year. Simply click on www.KrogerCommunityRewards.com and follow the prompts to link your Kroger Plus Card to our Account #82420. Please see the attached one-pager with step-by-step directions to enroll or re-enroll! Registration is very quick and easy, so please do it today !

E-Labels for Education: Remember to Shop. Swipe. Earn! This program allows our school to earn one point for any Campbells Labels for Education purchases automatically. To sign up, register on-line by following the prompts at www.E-LabelsForEducation.com. Enter your Kroger Plus Card number, and select our school to receive the E-Labels for Education points. This program is in addition to any points/labels you send in, so keep those coming as well!

We also continue to participate with Meijer Community Rewards (www.Meijer.com/rewards), Office Depot, Target (www.Target.com/REDcard), and Tyson (www.Tyson.com/ProjectAPlus) programs. Complete program info can be found at: www.clarkston.k12.mi.us/ie. Just click on PTO and then Passive Fundraising.

Also, remember to multiply your efforts by asking friends and family to participate on behalf of our school, too!

Thank you for your continued support!Thank you for your continued support!Thank you for your continued support!Thank you for your continued support!

IE needs your help to receive FREE money!!

Sign Up TODAY and Shop, Swipe and Earn for IE! __________________________________________________ Last year, IE received over $3,400.00 from this program to help fund important classroom enhancements/projects with only 85 families participating. Imagine how much our school could receive if all families participated! Now is the time to Enroll or Re-Enroll with Kroger! The new Kroger year begins May 1st! Please help us receive a cash donation based on the percentage of your purchases! It will take less than 5 minutes of your time. Simply follow the directions below to link your Kroger Plus Card to our Account #82420. It's FREE and SO EASY to set up! Then, just SHOP, SWIPE AND EARN for IE!! Please note: Your Kroger Fuel Points are not impacted with this program. You can earn Fuel Points and $ for IE!! Directions for 1st Time Enrollment: 1. Click on www.KrogerCommunityRewards.com 2. Click Create Account 3. Enter your e-mail address, create a password and confirm password. 4. Select your preferred store. (This is for information purposes only for Kroger; all shopping done with your

card will still go towards IE.) Enter zip code, select store, then click Create Account. 5. Enter your Kroger Plus Card number and last name used for your Kroger Plus card 6. Go to Community Rewards (near bottom) 7. Complete the fields (name, address, etc.) 8. Enter Independence Elementary or type in our Account Number: 82420, then click Enroll Now 9. Select Independence Elementary 10. Click Enroll You are now Enrolled!!! THANK YOU!!! Directions to Re-Enroll: 1. Click on www.KrogerCommunityRewards.com 2. Click Sign In 3. Enter your e-mail address and password used to enroll your card, then click Sign In 4. Enter Independence Elementary or type in our Account Number: 82420, then click Enroll Now 5. Select Independence Elementary 6. Click Enroll You are now Re-Enrolled!!! THANK YOU!!!

Assistance? If you need assistance registering, please call 1-800-KROGERS, press 5 for customer service, press 5 to speak to a customer service representative.

The LAST sale for Market Day this school year will be in May! It is a good time to start stocking up. Fill your fridge and fund your school!

This month you can receive a FREE 4-pack of Cheesecake Pops with a $90 purchase using promo code: MAYBONUS. New Customers can save $5 off of a $25 purchase made online by using Promo Code: NEWFIVE.

Also, Pizza & Cookie Bonus Days Are Here Earn up to 45% Profit for Your School!

You have until Tuesday, May 12th to place your order. Online orders may be placed until 11pm that day, or turn in your hard-copy form to school by the end of the school day.

Everything will be ready for you to pick up in the cafeteria on Tuesday, May 19th, from 3:15-4:15 p.m. As always please contact us with any questions.

We hope to see you on pick up day! Thank you! Carrera Gach 847-404-0305

NON-DISCRIMINATION CLAUSE In compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, the Americans with Disability Act of 1990, and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, it is the policy of the Clarkston Community School District that the Board of Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, age, height, weight, marital status, genetic information, or any other legally protected characteristic, in its programs and activities, including employment opportunities. For information, contact the Director of Personnel, 6389 Clarkston Road, Clarkston, MI 48346, (248) 623.5400. For information regarding ADA, contact the Deputy Superintendent, 6389 Clarkston Road, Clarkston, MI 48346, (248) 623.5400.