School Start Time and Drop Off Reminders - School Begins at 8:50 AM
As of late, it seems like a lot of students are being dropped off after 8:50 AM in the kiss-n-go area. If you drive your child to school you can start dropping your child off at 8:35 AM. After 8:50 AM, the kiss-n-go lane is closed (teachers or Mr. Starkey are no longer present). If a staff member is not present at the circle drive, that means that the main entrance has been locked. Please park and sign your child in at the main office. Students are considered tardy if they are signed in from 8:51 - 9:50 AM. Students are considered absent for the AM session if they are signed in after 9:50 AM.
Younger Students at the Bus Stop
Please remember that students in begindergarten through third grade must be met at the bus stop by a parent, guardian, or older sibling. If an adult or older sibling is not present, our bus drivers will not release students in these grades from the bus. Instead, the child will be returned to Kid's Kare, and a twenty ($20) dollar fee will be charged.
Update from the Livingston County Health Department
At the guidance of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), the Livingston County Health Department (LCHD) has realigned its COVID-19 case investigation prioritization strategy. This realignment is necessary for local public health to maximize staffing resources and prevent outbreaks within the school environment and amongst the most vulnerable populations. A top priority of this realignment at LCHD is to keep schools open for in-person learning. The new strategy includes case investigation only for individuals below 19 years and above 64 years of age, as well as students attending in-person schools and those living in congregate living environments. Due to this realignment strategy, the LCHD will need help to identify individuals between the ages of 19 and 64 that test positive for COVID-19 and reside in the same household as a child attending school. To self-report a positive COVID-19 test result, please fill out the self-reporting form here: https://bit.ly/3pGWJGV. Questions about self-reporting can be submitted to the LCHD COVID-19 email at [email protected]. Please remember that if your child has been tested for COVID-19 for any reason, they should not attend school while their test results are pending.
Virtual PTO Meeting, December 7th at 7 PM via Zoom
The PTO live Zoom will be from 7:00 - 8:00 PM and can be accessed using the following link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82132702666?pwd=aDJ4R08vcUI3U2tMUk9WeEt3L1FXUT09
- Meeting ID: 821 3270 2666
- Passcode: s8dswT
Click here to review the agenda for Monday night. In an effort to address as many questions as possible during the meeting, we are asking that families email any questions prior to the meeting to the PTO Officers at [email protected] and Bob Starkey at [email protected].
PTO Updates and Reminders
Click here to view our Fall Read-a-Thon results! Thanks again for supporting this and all PTO fundraisers!
Click here to review 3 easy ways to help raise funds for our PTO.
PTO Virtual Santa Shop is Now Open! December 4th - 10th
Click here for detailed information on how to shop online. Orders will ship directly to the school the week of December 14th. The orders will be given to your child’s teacher and they will send them home. Virtual students: Please make sure you put “Virtual Student” and your teacher’s name in the note area so that pick up for their orders can be arranged. Click here to start shopping!
Enter login: Santas Secret Shop
Click "enter here"
Enter Password: TFE48843
When you place an order use the code word SNOW in the note section for free snowman putty with your order.
Timber Stickers
As many of you know, Three Fires has a new member of the pack! Timber, our therapy dog, has been with us since August. We are raising money for some daily necessities and to prepare for any unforeseen emergency needs. Next week, we will have our first fundraiser for Timber. We will be selling stickers with Timber's adorable face on them. Click here for a copy of the flier that will be sent home with your child on Monday. The order form and money are due on Friday, December 11th. Stickers will be given to your child on that day.
Lost and Found - It is hat and glove season!
Every year the school lost and found contains many personal items of clothing that are never claimed. These items are donated to local charities twice a year. To avoid losing your valuable clothing, parents are asked to clearly label all personal belongings with the child’s name so that lost items may be returned promptly. We strongly recommend that you label lunch boxes, backpacks, coats, hats, and gloves.
Holiday Break
Please remember that our last day of school before the holiday break is Friday, December 18. We will be closed from December 21, 2020, through January 1, 2021, with classes resuming on Monday, January 4, 2021.
Staffing Updates
Mrs. Cain to 4th Grade
As some of you know, Mrs. Cain has been serving as the teacher in one of our 4th grade classrooms. Since we are not able to find a long-term substitute for this classroom, Mrs. Cain will remain as the teacher in the room for the remainder of this school year.
Technology Substitute
With Mrs. Cain moving to 4th grade, this means that Ms. Mercer will continue to serve as our long-term Technology teacher for the remainder of this school year. Ms. Mercer has been subbing in this position all year.
Music Substitute
Mrs. Welty found it necessary to continue her childcare leave for the remainder of the school year. Ms. Victoria Frangedakis will continue to serve as our long-term substitute for Mrs. Welty. She has recently graduated from the University of Michigan's Choral Music Education program and carried out her student teaching last year in Howell. Library Services Coordinator
Last Monday, Mrs. Socia started her new position in the District as the District Registrar for Registration. While this is a huge loss for our school, we know what a huge asset Mrs. Socia will provide to our district and our new family members when they work with her while enrolling their child! We hope to have a new Library Services Coordinator in place after the holiday break.
Counselor’s Corner: MET AND MESP
Although our day-to-day is often chaotic, it is beneficial to spend a little time thinking about your children’s futures. Here are two great college-savings opportunities: Michigan Education Trust (MET) and Michigan Education Savings Program (MESP). MET is a 529 Prepaid Tuition Plan which allows for the pre-purchase of tuition based on today's rates and then paid out at the future cost when the beneficiary is in college. Click here for more information about MET, or visit https://www.michigan.gov/setwithmet. The MESP is a college savings account that you pay into over time. By setting up automatic contributions from your bank account or by payroll deduction (if supported by your employer), making regular contributions is hassle free. MESP can be used at colleges and universities all over the country, and it allows for unused benefits to be transferred between members of the same family. Click here for more information about MESP, or visit www.misaves.com. Both MET and MESP are simple, user-friendly, and can help maximize your savings even on a modest budget. Contributions may qualify for a state tax deduction and can be made automatically. You can even invite others to contribute to your children’s accounts through e-gifting! As always, reach out for support and resources! I am just an email away: [email protected].
Jeanie Nemeth
School Counselor
Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/threefireselementary, find our PTO on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ThreeFiresElementaryPTO/, find us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/HowellTFE