The Jayhawk Journal

Once again, we realize that Mother Nature may have other plans for our week. I would like to let you all know how proud I am of our students for showing their ability to adapt and continue their hard work when they have returned from these days this year. Let's keep up the great work!

6th graders will begin COGAT Testing this week. This test helps identify the strengths of our students in many different categories and can be used to help place students in Math and ELA classes at our LPS Middle Schools. Please talk with your 6th grader about doing their best on this test this week. The window will run the next 2 weeks. Please speak to your teacher if you have any questions about exact times or dates for the test.

This will be the last week of our PTA membership drive this month, with the class who gets the most new members earning a party. Just because you sign up, does not mean that you have to be at every meeting or heavily involved with the PTA. Just your membership and support is appreciated.

Let's stay warm out here!

- 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.

This week we focused on expectations in the cafeteria. Our cafeteria is used as a hub for many events throughout the day. In addition to lunch, we serve breakfast, hold assemblies, acitvities, and use it for bus dismissal at the end of the day. Our expectations in here both start and end the day on a good note. Just a reminder that we will have our SOAR Clubs this Friday, January 30th. Talk with your students about their plans to earn 10 SOAR Bucks and what club they will be interested in.

We would like to congratulate Mr. Jeff for being voted this award by his colleagues this week! Mr. Jeff is our Nighttime Building Supervisor here at Johnson. There isn't a thing that he would not do to help our staff and students! Every night, no matter what the list is, he always finds a way to keep the building looking clean and running smoothly. He coordinates and helps out with all of our after-school events. In addition to working so hard, he has a smile that is contagious to all! He always provides a friendly conversation and great laugh to anyone who he steps in contact with. We are so lucky to have him in our building!

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

The staff - An amazing group of people!

Some Of My Favorite Things

Place To Travel: Ireland

Foods: Vietnamese Food, Steak and Cheese Subs

Color: Blue

College: Michigan

TV Show: Seinfeld

Sports Team: Detroit Pistons

School Subject: Science

My Hobbies....

Running my side business, 80's Music, going to the movies (popcorn is a must), traveling, and watching my favorite sports teams hopefully win!

We look forward to seeing you at our PTA Meeting in February! Please see our flyer for joining the PTA this month.

https://charity.pledgeit.org/2022-FTY-Blanket-Events/@JohnsonLPS

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

Monday 1/26

Tuesday 1/27 PTA Youth Making A Difference Fleece Blanket Making Night 6 p.m. in LMC

Wednesday 1/28

Thursday 1/29

Friday 1/30 SOAR Clubs

1/27 PTA Youth Making A Difference Fleece Blanket Making Night @ Johnson

1/30 SOAR Clubs

2/5 Bagel Money Due

2/10 PTA Meeting at Johnson

2/13 Bagel Day

2/16 No School Mid-Winter Break

2/17 No School Mid-Winter Break

2/23 6th Grade Day of Music

Parents, just a friendly reminder that we do not allow food to be dropped off at the office from outside services like Uber Eats, Grubhub, or Door Dash for students. Our number one priority is student safety, and using drop-offs like this, is not what is best for our students. In addition, meals and things are not coming on time which makes students get food outside of their lunchtime or hour, which takes away from our academics. We understand that things happen, and something may need to be dropped off by a family member every once in a while, we are happy to work with you in those situations. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

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.

"The time is always right to do what is right." - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.