Three Fires Elementary School

November 12, 2017

Welcome Angie Tyrpak:  Elementary Student Services Advisor

Angie Tyrpak has accepted the Elementary Student Service Advisor position with Howell Public Schools where she will be supporting students and staff at Three Fires.  Mrs. Tyrpak is looking forward to interacting with students, families, and staff to continue to build relationships, support positive behavior choices, and increase school attendance.  As the Student Services Advisor, Mrs. Tyrpak will facilitate and support activities and services to improve school culture and climate, address safety and security, and provide anti-bullying programs at Three Fires and other District Elementary Schools.  She has experience as an elementary and middle school teacher in Allen Park, Walled Lake, and Howell school districts.  Mrs. Tyrpak has taught at Southeast, Challenger, Southwest, and Highlander Way. She is currently in the Educational Leadership program at Central Michigan University.  Mrs. Tyrpak is looking forward to this role and getting to know and serve our students.  She welcomes and values communication, so please feel free to call or email her anytime.

LOC at Three Fires

The student run credit union is open every Wednesday at 2:45 pm.  This week, your child can play  “Jar Full of Thanks” candy guessing game to win the giant jar of candy and pick a prize when they deposit or open a new account.  Click here to access the account application.  For more information contact Stephanie Cole, Youth & Community Development Coordinator [email protected] or (248)919-5824.

2nd and 3rd Grade Music Concerts:  Ms. Welty and Mr. Sharp

Mark your calendars for our 2nd and 3rd grade music performances on Friday, December 15th.  These students will be performing as entertainment for our “Snowflake Festival” event, with the 2nd graders singing at 6:00 and the 3rd graders at 7:00.  Each performance should last around half an hour and will give you time to enjoy the other festivities of the evening!  Contact Mr. Sharp (2nd Grade concert) or Ms. Welty (3rd Grade concert) if you have any questions.  You can also follow Ms. Welty’s classroom updates and pictures at her classroom Facebook page.  Click here to access her site.   

Snowflake Festival

Our Snowflake Festival will be held on Friday, December 15th at 6 PM.  Our PTO will be sending home detailed information on this event soon.  Teachers will be reaching out to you soon regarding their classroom basket themes and the items needed for the baskets.   Students and families can win the baskets during the drawing that will take place at the Snowflake Festival.  

District-Wide Food Drive

Thank you for sending in nonperishable food items to benefit Gleaners Food Bank.  Our Student Council has been busy collecting and accounting these items. The Three Fires classroom that brings in the most nonperishable food items will win a doughnut and cider party.  Our featured item for November 13th - 17th is peanut butter.   The features item on November 21st and 22nd is cereal. Thanks for your support in the effort to prevent hunger in our community!   

Weekend Survival Kits

Howell Public Schools has partnered with the locally based nonprofit Weekend Survival Kits to provide free weekend meals to our students in need. Through the program, Weekend Survival Kits will provide eligible students with several meals and snacks to last them through the weekend. Information on this program will be sent home with your child in their take home folder next week. You can also find this information athttps://goo.gl/kmF35x. The program will launch at our school on Friday, January 12.

Online Report Cards

Just a reminder that the district has moved to online report cards. First quarter report cards are now available in the PowerSchool Parent Portal. Instructions on how to set up your PowerSchool Parent Portal and how to access your child’s report card can be found at www.howellschools.com/powerschool. Please remember that online report cards are only available through the PowerSchool Parent Portal website, not the mobile app.

First Responders at School Safety Drills

We are lucky to have a great relationship with our local first responders (fire and law enforcement). They are always willing to support our school and help ensure that we are doing all that we can to help keep our students safe. To that end, our local first responders will be attending some of our fire, lockdown and tornado drills. The goal of this is to help us evaluate our current practices and see if there are areas for improvement.

Suggestions to Help Families Get Out the Door On Time For School: Jeanie Nemeth, School Counselor

Beep!  Beep!  Beep!  If the sound of your morning alarm clock brings you feelings of stress and panic as you prepare to rush yourself and your family out the door in time for school, know that you are not alone!  As a parent/guardian, you want what is best for your child.  Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school and themselves.  It also helps with social growth and academic achievement and success.  Below are some suggestions to help your family have a productive morning and to arrive to school on time:

1. Pack backpacks and lunches the night before.   The last thing you want to be doing as you are rushing out the door is trying to find lost homework or frantically putting together a salami sandwich.  Pack backpacks (with completed homework and signed forms) as well as lunches the night before.  You can even fill water bottles ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator overnight.   

2. Lay clothes out.  This can be a huge time saver!   Many children are too tired early in the morning and some may be too cranky to want to think about clothing options.  Not only that, but this also ensures that clothes are clean, that socks match, and that clothing is weather appropriate.  

3. Set up a “Last Stop” area:  Pick an area close to the door you typically leave through and put everything there that you need to take with you in the morning.  Backpacks can go there as well as coats, hats, and mittens.   

4. Play a family favorite music list.  Music is powerful!  Music can energize you and can even improve moods.  Play the same upbeat songs that everyone likes every morning.  After a while, everyone will start to recognize the cues and where they should be.  For instance, when the second song ends, teeth are brushed.  As the last song starts, they should be getting their coats and shoes on.  

5. If all else fails, wake up earlier.  Not always the most enjoyable solution, but sometimes drastic measures are needed.  This may also include children going to bed at an earlier time to get the optimal number of hours of sleep.  According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children 6-12 years of age should sleep 9-12 hours per 24 hours on a regular basis.

If you would like to meet with your school counselor to develop a personalized morning schedule, please feel free to contact Jeanie Nemeth.  

Box Tops

Congratulations to Mrs. Park’s classroom for winning the first Box Tops competition.  Information regarding the next Box Tops competition will be coming soon!   

Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/threefireselementary

Find our PTO on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ThreeFiresElementaryPTO/

Find Ms. Welty’s classroom on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Three-Fires-Music-Room-1406-226405951214329/