As we near February, mother nature has sure thrown some cold and snow our way! Currently, our students are finishing up their winter NWEA testing. This is our second of three test windows for NWEA. Your child's teacher will be sending home the results of this assessment soon. Conferences will be on February 8th (early release day) by invitation only.

During the winter, I know that the weather may cause you to be running late. We often have a large line coming into the parking lot to drop off in the morning. Please pull up all the way PAST the front office to the stop sign to drop off. Do NOT drop off at the first sidewalk or before it. Also, you must use the crosswalk to cross from the parking lot. The crosswalk is located directly in front of the office. Lately, I have needed to stop traffic for those crossing in between cars, this is not safe and holds up traffic during an already busy time.

Just a reminder, your child will be going out for recess as long as it feels like 20 degrees or higher. So, please send warm winter clothing and articles for going outside daily. Snowpants and snowboots must be brought to school and worn in order to play in the snow. Also, make sure that your child has gloves and hat or earmuffs. If they own a second pair of gloves, it may be helpful to keep these in their backpack, as their first pair may get wet while at first recess.

Please remember to send in a note from the dentist, Doctor, therapist, etc. when your child is absent. This will enable the office to count this as a documented absence. If your child is home sick, please call the attendance line before 9 AM so that we can count this as a called in absence. Parents that fail to call will receive a robo call and email alerting them of their child's absence. If your child is absent 10% or more of their school year, negatively affects their learning. Also, this may constitute a truancy infraction. You would receive 2 letters from our office before the last step of issuing a ticket is taken. Also, scheduling a meeting is helpful, so that we can work together to assist your child in being at school. The research is clear that when a student is absent 10% or more of their time in school, this greatly affects their learning. See the following article for more information: https://tinyurl.com/55fcarjt

Don't forget to scan the QR code located to the left of the buzzer when your student arrives late to school or needs to leave early. Only people listed in Power School or on your child's emergency card may pick up your student from school. You have the ability to update contacts through Power School.

If you have any questions or concerns, call the office at (734) 479-2550. You can also email myself (gmeli@riverviewschools.com) or Ms. Annie (aprusakiewicz@riverviewschools.com).

Go Pirates!

Gianina Meli

Please take a few minutes to share your perceptions with the school staff. Your feedback is important to us in making our school even better than it is today! https://forms.gle/49uXke8CXGEvmFXj9

JANUARY:

1/25/24 - Family Skate Night sponsored by Forest Parent Club - Dixie Skateland

FEBRUARY:

2/5/24 - Forest Parent Club Meeting 6PM

2/8/24 - Early Release // 12:40 PM Dismissal

2/8/24 - Parent/Teacher Conferences 1-7PM

2/10/24 - Small & Tall Ball sponsored by Forest Parent Club - Grecian Center

2/12/24 - 100th Day of School

2/14/24 - Valentine's Day

2/16-2/19/24 - Mid Winter Break // No School for Students and Staff

Mark your calendars and help spread the word. We cannot wait to meet all our future Pirates. More information to follow.

• Classroom teacher-classroom concerns, peer-to-peer or friendship concerns, classroom behavior concerns, playground or hallway concerns, and grading concerns

• Office Staff-attendance (absences, early releases), health needs (medications, illnesses), school events, volunteers and Watch DOGS, general school questions: Annie Prusakiewicz (734) 479-2550, aprusakiewicz@riverviewschools.com
• Transportation Department-Bussing and transportation concerns: Wendy Martin (734) 285-3900, Option #1; wmartin@riverviewschools.com
  

• Grounds/Maintenance -Building/facility concerns, cleanliness, grounds concerns: Sharon Mathews- (734)285-3900, ext. 2 (secretary to Gary Kennedy) or gkennedy@riverviewschools.com
• Student Services-enrollment questions, please contact Julie Karl at Central Office jkarl@riverviewschools.com or 734-285-9660, option 9

• Principal- major safety concerns; policy concerns; request for 504 services; concerns already addressed by the teacher, yet still not resolved. gmeli@riverviewschools.com
• School Social Worker- Social/emotional support and concerns. Jamie Busch, SSW jbusch@riverviewschools.com or call the office to be connected.

Mrs. Peterson - Collins I.

Ms. Schock - Max T.

Mrs. Stoner - I.J. S.

Mrs. Coleman - Aniyah T.

Mrs. DeJules - Charlotte H.

Mrs. Uhse - Connor N.

Ms. DeRosia - Karson S.

Mrs. Masters - Hudson F.

Mrs. Taft - Livvy S.

Mrs. Avery - Ryilee C.

Mrs. Kissel - Paisley S.

Mrs. LaFehr - Ryleigh M.

Mrs. Curry - Madelyn H.

Mrs. Grunwald - Mia O.

Mr. Snyder - Shiloh C.

Mr. Newland - Cameron C.

Ms. Rosecrans - Karina C.

Mrs. Schwein - Isabelle T.

Mrs. Gajewski has worked in Riverview Community schools for 11 years, this is her sixth year at Forest Elementary. She has been married to her husband Joel for 23 years. Mrs. Gajewski has two children, her daughter Ava is a Sophomore at University of Tampa, studying Environmental Science and Business and her son Zackary, is in 10th grade at Trenton High School.

Mrs. Gajewski admits that her favorite pastime is watching her kids grow in their activities. Flying down to watch Ava swim competitively, it helps that she swims in a warmer climate. Zackary has her running around town to all his activities from theatre to band to mock trial and tennis. She loves watching her children do what they do and support them every way she can.

Her number one hobby is simple, she loves to play PICKLEBALL. This is where all her cares and worries of the day leave her for about two hours and where she is surrounded by some of most caring and kind people she has ever met. Mrs. Gajewski is very competitive but still has fun, even when she loses. Lastly, the Gajewski family loves to travel. Disney is a favorite destination even now that the kids are grown. Alaska and Barcelona are big highlighted, and they cannot wait to visit Norway and the northern lights, UK and Ireland are also on the bucket list.

Mrs. Gajewski states that she values her ability to be flexible in the classroom and supporting teachers. Seeing a wide range of students every 40 minutes has its challenges and chaotic moments. There are different grades levels at working on different projects. The students have a wide range of levels and abilities, which requires consistent classroom management, organization and creativity daily. According to Mrs. Gajewski this is one of the reasons she enjoys teaching a special class like STEAM, where she sees a variety of students each day and watches them grow throughout the year. Being flexible allow her to change things on the fly, when she sees that she has failed, she is able to reflect, and fix it for the next group of students.

Mrs. Gajewski also values the flexibility when it comes to supporting the general education teachers. Whether it is supporting them by subbing in the classroom, building off their core standards with STEAM Challenges or if they need help with Restorative Practices in assisting with student’s behavior. She enjoys this because she is able to connect with the teachers in the building professionally and personally.

I love seeing the kids grow from year to year. In STEAM the students follow the design process which starts in kindergarten, it is so rewarding when you witness it come full circle once they are in 5th grade as projects get more challenging. Watching them improve skills such as collaboration and communication is key as they move through their young lives. The students are taught that it is okay to fail through testing designs and fixing mistakes, understanding failure is so important in the real world.

Congratulations, Mrs. Gajewski. Forest students are so lucky to have you for their teacher.

Mrs. Dyorich grew up in Detroit and Lincoln Park. She attended Our Lady of Mt. Carmel High school and Baker College. She graduated with a bachelor's in health services administration. Mrs. Dyorich worked in the medical field for five years and it didn't feel like she fit. She found that she loved working as a media secretary with Dearborn schools. This is her third year in Riverview Community Schools.

Mrs. Melissa has four children and has been married for 15 years. Her hobby is spending time with her family and friends. She just loves having family over and being together.

She values the students and staff at Forest Elementary school. She says "I'm so lucky to work with some amazing teachers, secretary, paras, lunch staff and principal."

Mrs. Dyorich enjoys talking to the students and getting to know each one of them. She loves walking into school in the morning and hearing students say "Hi, Ms. Melissa" a couple dozen times or "do we have library today?". It brings her so much joy when students stop at her desk and say, "Can I tell you something?" or " Can I have a hug?". They ask me how my weekend was, or we just have little meaning conversations. The connection she makes with Forest students is what she enjoys the most.

Congratulations, Mrs. Dyorich. Our students are so lucky to have you.

Under the instruction of Ms.Kruger, the second-grade classes of Miss. DeRosia, Mrs.Masters, and Mrs.Taft performed a series of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. inspired songs in front of friends and families in early January. With selections like “Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'Round” song by The Freedom Singers. The students rang in the new year with voices of compassion and peace in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The SEL lesson for January is Being Respectful.

Students broke into their mentor groups on Wednesday, January 24th. Some groups listened to a story about being respectful, where they heard about all the different ways they act respectful during the school day. Then students broke into groups where they had the opportunity to play games with other students. During this time they had to remain in their group. They were asked to listen with eyes and ears, hands to self, and could not talk unless the other person was finished.

It was a lot of fun!

Our district leaders have updated our Strategic Plan for the next 5 years - this plan will be the focal point and road map for all decision making that will be made for instruction, building improvements, staffing, and curriculum changes. After reading, I welcome all input from you on this plan. Strategic Plan Click Here

Our Lost and Found rack is always overflowing with found items. If you feel your child has lost any items, please feel free to check out the items located in the vestibule at the main entrance before or after school.

https://shop.dadsofgreatstudents.com/shop-all/