The Jayhawk Journal

We couldn't be prouder with the number of students that were able to attend the SOAR Celebration this last week. Once again, a special thank you to Phoenix Theatres Laurel Park for always donating popcorn to support this event, and to our wonderful PTA for providing the candy and waters! We look forward to having even more students attend our next one which will be at the end of the trimester in March.

Trimester one has officially wrapped up, and we are now heading into trimester 2. Just a reminder that report cards will go live in Parent Connect on Wednesday, the 17th. Please reach out to the office if you are having trouble finding your report card and we will be able to help.

We will have a Spirit Week this week before we leave for break. A schedule with the themes of every day was emailed to the community on Thursday, the 11th. We have also attached the flyer to help you look it over. My next letter will be released the weekend before we return on January 5th. So, this is my time to wish you all a Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year. I wish you all a wonderful break, and I hope you all enjoy it with whomever you may celebrate it with!

- Mr. Traub

Johnson Upper Elementary School is committed to providing a safe, respectful environment that supports the academic and socio-emotional needs of every student as they develop the necessary skills to become capable, confident, life-long learners.

With the quick weather change, we spent time focusing on arrival and departure with students this week. It is important that we start and end the day on a positive note. We are so proud of what we are seeing from our students with this aspect! Please see the attached matrix to go over SOARing expectations for all aspects of the building. Just a reminder that the new trimester starts over with a fresh start for all students. We are looking forward to seeing as many students as we can for our next SOAR Celebration!

LPS Food Pantry and Clothing Depot- LPS has a food pantry and clothing depot that are housed at Franklin High School, and run by the Franklin Transition Program students and staff. Please contact Mrs. McLean at mmclean12@livoniapublicschools.org for details on how to gain access to the Clothing Depot or click on Garfield Garments

Other Resources for Food:

Elmwood Blessing Box

m211 Food Assistance

Forgotton Harvest

Gleaners

Little Free Pantry

We would like to congratulate Mrs. Jennifer for being voted this award by her colleagues this week! Mrs. Jennifer is our building supervisor here at Johnson. There aren't enough words to let you know how much she does for this school behind the scenes. From the many events going on, to keeping the building clean, to keeping the roads and sidewalks safe here at Johnson, we cannot thank you enough. She is always here to do what is best for the building and she loves interacting and building relationships with our students. We are so lucky to have her!

My Favorite Part of Being A Jayhawk Is....

The kids and staff!

Some Of My Favorite Things

Place To Travel: Frankenmuth

Foods: Mexican

Color: Purple

College: Michigan

TV Show: 7 Little Johnstons

Sports Team: Detroit Lions

School Subject: Math

My Hobbies....

I love going to concerts with my daughter.

With the Snow Day last week, we have decided to keep the Holiday Shop open on Monday this week!

If you would like to volunteer and help with the Holiday Shop, please sign-up using the link below.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0C4EA9AD29A64-60591642-holiday

Just a reminder that you must have an approved I-Chat form for LPS in order to volunteer at school.

Thank you!

- The Johnson PTA

For the month of Dember, all LPS schools will focus on working on mindfulness. Take the time to talk with your student about what that means to them and your family.

A Joyful December: National Stress-Free Holidays Month

Dear Community and Staff,

The holidays are upon us—a time for joy, connection, and creating meaningful memories with loved ones. It’s also a season that can bring its own pressures, like planning visits, managing gift budgets, and organizing events. With everything on your plate, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

While traditions and celebrations are meaningful, it’s just as important to care for your mental well-being. National Stress-Free Family Holidays Month reminds us to be mindful of stress and take steps toward self-care. Here are a few tips to help make your holidays more manageable and joyful:

• Modify traditions if needed. It’s okay to adjust traditions if they feel overwhelming. Your mental health takes priority.
• Learn the power of saying "no." If a commitment feels too much, give yourself permission to decline.
• Plan ahead. Use a calendar to stay organized and avoid last-minute tasks that can create unnecessary stress.
• Share your feelings. Talk to someone you trust if you're feeling anxious or missing a loved one. You are not alone.
• Take time for self-care. Make sure to rest and recharge, even as you care for others.

If you’d like professional support, Care Solace is available to help connect you or your loved ones to mental health services. This is a complimentary, confidential service provided by Livonia Public Schools.

Access Support:

• Call: 888-515-0595 (Multilingual support 24/7/365)
• Visit: caresolace.com/livonia, search for a provider or click “Book Appointment” for assistance via video chat, phone, or email.

For immediate support:

• Call 911 and request a Crisis Intervention Trained (C.I.T.) response.
• Text “Hello” or “Home” to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor.
• Call or chat with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988: suicidepreventionlifeline.org
• Trevor Lifeline (LGBTQ+ support): www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help

Wishing you a peaceful and stress-free holiday season filled with joy and meaningful moments.

Monday 12/15 Holiday PJ Day

Tuesday 12/16 Ugly Sweater Day

Wednesday 12/17 Red vs Green Day

Thursday 12/18 Ribbons and Bows Day

Friday 12/19 Festive Friday

12/17 - Report Cards Available on Parent Connect

December 22nd - January 2nd - Winter Holiday Vacation

1/5 Welcome Back to School

1/13 PTA Meeting

1/19 No School MLK Day

Just a reminder for the upcoming weather that is expected. Please drive with extra caution in the parking lot as snow begins to fall. Practice patience and understanding as our staff works to keep all students are parents safe in the parking lot. We appreciate your ongoing partnership in these areas!

We will be going outside for recess as much as we can! We will only stay inside if the windchill is below 15 degrees Fahrenheit. This will be determined by using the Real Feel on Accuweather.com. Students are encouraged to bring boots and change in their lockers. If snow is on the ground, students can go anywhere if they have boots on. If students are in shoes, they will stay on the blacktop to play during that time.

Planning to volunteer this year? Fill out the iChat form now and you'll be all set for the year! Just enter today's date (or a day next week) for when you plan to begin volunteering. Then, you'll be all set when it comes time to help with Holiday Shop, Field Day, and other events.

We ask all parents/guardians to complete the welcome back checklist on parent connect. Why? This information is who we will contact in the event of an emergency. Year after year contacts will follow a student's file if they go unchecked. Please make sure all the contacts are current.

A nutritious lunch and breakfast is available for free each day at Johnson and at all Livonia Public Schools. If you forget to pack a lunch or just run out of time, we understand. Please know we will provide your student one of our lunch options always, no matter what. We hope this option will save you a trip up to the school. We also would like to remind parents that for safety reasons, we do not allow Door Dash orders for students. Thank you for understanding.

Students cannot be dropped off for school in the morning prior to 8:15am. This is when the doors open for breakfast and when staff is available to supervise students. Prior to this time, all school doors are locked. Students are not to be left unattended, arrangements must be made. Also, dismissal is at 3:30pm daily and at 11:45am on half days. It is required that all students who are picked up in the car loop be picked up no later than 3:45pm. Staff is not available to supervise students beyond that time. The district offers a SACC program for those students that cannot be picked up by 3:45pm. Please contact SACC at (734)744-2966 to make arrangements.

If your student is arriving after the last tardy bell, please note they need to check in at the office. They should enter the building through door number one (with the arch) and check in on the chromebook in the office. Parents do NOT need to come in to drop off students only to pick up.

If you need to pick up your student prior to the end of the school day, please know you will need to come into the office to sign them out and be verified by the office staff. Whomever is picking up a student early, must be listed on the Emergency Card.

Oftentimes a student will come to the office with a medical need. The office staff is able to dispense medication as needed as long as the medication is: 1) Delivered to school by a parent in the original unopened package or prescription container, {NO MEDICATION can be brought to school by students} 2) As long as there is an individual, signed medical authorization on file for each medication {form available in the office and online} Medication includes but is not limited to cough drops, aspirin, Tylenol, Advil, prescription drugs, creams, lotions, vitamins, inhalers, EpiPens, etc.… We cannot administer any medication that is not listed on file in the office. Please reach out to Jill Jablonski or Amy Dimmer in the office to set up a time to bring in medications and to review your student’s medical needs when they are in the building.

"Holidays are the heart's reminder to slow down and love louder." - Anonymous