Dragon's Tale

Dear Dragon Families,

What a fantastic few weeks it’s been here at Keith Elementary School! I want to take a moment to send a heartfelt thank you to our amazing PTA for organizing such a successful and fun Book Fair. Your time, energy, and dedication to our students truly made the event special. It was wonderful to see so many kids excited about picking out new books—thank you for helping to spark that joy!

A special shout-out also goes to our dedicated teachers for hosting a wonderful Literacy Night. Your creativity and passion made the night both educational and fun, and it was inspiring to see families come together to celebrate the power of reading. Thank you for promoting a lifelong love of reading in our children!

We also want to express our deep appreciation to Lauren June and all of our incredible parent volunteers who helped plan and lead the activities for our Giving Garden on Earth Day. It was a beautiful event, full of hands-on learning and community spirit. Our students loved digging in the dirt, planting seeds, and learning about how to care for the Earth. Thank you for helping to make it such a meaningful day.

To all of our parents and caregivers: thank you for the time you spend reading daily with your children. Whether it’s a bedtime story, a few pages before school, or a weekend library visit, your support at home makes a huge difference in your child’s reading journey. We appreciate all you do.

Just a quick reminder: Tuesday, April 29th is a half day for students. Please plan accordingly for pick-up and afternoon arrangements.

Thank you for being such a wonderful part of our school community. Please be sure to read our Dragon's Tale Newsletter.

Warm regards,

Marci Augenstein, Principal

Apr. 1 - Keith PTA Meeting - 6:30pm Keith Learning Commons

Apr. 4 - Lifetouch Spring Picture Day

Apr. 7 - Mr. Peace Assembly

Apr. 14 - 22 - Spring PTA Book Fair (Details below)

Apr. 15 - Keith Family Literacy Night (Details below)

Apr. 18 - No School

Apr. 22 - PTA Earth Day Event (Details to come)

Apr. 29 - 1/2 Day of School - Dragon Dismissal 12:25pm, 12:30pm Prime Time and Walkers, 12:42pm Buses Depart Keith

Our very own Mrs. Diana Tyrrell and Mrs. Alice Johnson have been selected as this year’s Kindness Matters Award Recipients. Missy Mergner, their colleague, nominated both of them for the welcoming environment they’ve created in our office, along with the kindness they show all visitors. Please note that the Board of Education Meeting at which you will be honored is on Thursday, May 1st beginning at 7:00 p.m. Thank you for celebrating our most deserving secretaries at Keith!

5th Grade Families,

Students will be receiving a t-shirt for the graduation ceremony and the party, and we would like an updated size. Please submit your child’s size by April 30th! If we don’t receive an updated size, we will use the size we have from the fun run. Kids grow like weeds, and we assumed some kids' sizes have changed since then.

Thank you for your help! :)

T Shirt Size Form

Lifetouch reports: - Only 263 of 555 yearbooks have been ordered!

Our Keith Elementary Lifetouch Yearbook Order form is here! Please visit ybpay.com and note the following information:

School Name: Keith Elementary School

Yearbook ID Code: 2099025

Order Deadline: April 27, 2025

Please see the informational flyer below for additional information.

You can log in to Lifetouch.com and check to see if you've already purchased your yearbook.

.

Placement of children for the next school year is a team process. The classroom teachers, special area teachers, and I meet to consider the best placement for every child. Many aspects of a child’s development – academic, emotional, and social are very carefully considered. Because we view the process as so important, our staff will invest many hours to ensure the very best placement decisions. The staff working with your child has learned a great deal about his or her learning style, strengths, challenges, and opportunities for growth. In addition to individual needs, we also consider the balance of each classroom, so that optimal learning environments are created for all children. While it is never appropriate to request a specific teacher, if there is important information you wish to convey regarding your child’s learning needs, I welcome you to complete the 2025-2026 Parent Placement Input Form by Monday, April 28, 2025 by 9:00am. I understand that this is a sensitive issue. In fairness to all children and staff members, please trust in us to handle placement with the care and sensitivity that is necessary for these important decisions.

Dear Dragon Families,

As the days grow warmer, we are excited to see more of our students walking and biking to school each day. It's a wonderful sign of the season and a great way for students to start their mornings with fresh air and exercise.

With this increase in walkers and bikers, we want to take a moment to remind everyone in our school community to stay alert and drive with extra care around our school, particularly during arrival and dismissal times.

Please remember:

• Slow down in school zones and neighborhoods—especially during the times students are arriving and leaving.

• Yield to pedestrians at all crosswalks.

• Avoid distractions such as using cell phones while driving.

• Watch for students on bikes, especially near intersections and driveways.

We’re proud of our students for choosing healthy and eco-friendly ways to get to school, and we truly appreciate your help in keeping them safe on their journey.

Thank you for being such a supportive and caring part of our community.

Warmly,

Marci Augenstein, Principal

Hello, Walled Lake Families!

This April, you can recognize your favorite Walled Lake staff member by nominating them for a "Super Star Staff" award with a $10 donation to the Foundation for Excellence (FFE).

Your nomination enters them into a drawing to win one of two $500 prizes, sponsored by the Walled Lake Schools Federal Credit Union.

Here’s what your $10 donation includes:

• One raffle entry for your nominated staff member
• A personalized certificate with your winners message, delivered to them

All donations go to support the FFE’s mission to bring more resources to Walled Lake classrooms. Just last month, they gave over $51,000 to 70 classrooms!

You can nominate any staff member in the district—teachers, bus drivers, administrators, custodians, para-professionals, etc.

Important Dates:

• Nomination Deadline: April 30
• Winners drawn: May 2. (No public announcement will be made as the winners will be identified with a surprise visit to their work location.)
• Surprise Visits to winners: During Staff Appreciation Week (May 5–9).

Click here to submit your nomination: Super Star Staff Nominations

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Jackie Gurwin, Executive Director of the FFE, at JackieGurwin@wlcsd.org.

Let’s celebrate the amazing people who support our kids every day!

*************************************************

Thank you,

Jackie Gurwin

Foundation For Excellence – WLCSD

Executive Director

248-956-2116 (w)

248-860-0293 (c )

We will be holding a whole-school music concert at WLN Auditorium on May 13th! K(JK)-2 will perform from 6:00-6:30. 3rd-5th grades will perform from 7:00-7:30.

Please join the Keith Elementary community for an evening of fantastic music! Tickets are free. Every person wanting to see the show must have a ticket. Please only select the number of tickets you will need for those attending so we have enough seats for all patrons. For questions about ticketing please contact the Walled Lake Consolidated Schools Box Office (248) 956-5353

Please use the QR code and/or links below to "purchase" the free tickets for this music event. The purpose is so that when you arrive to the WLN auditorium your seat is reserved and we can account for the size of our audience for this performance.

The district is now requiring Criminal History Background Check Forms to be submitted electronically.

Link: Criminal History Volunteer Form

Once completed, it will be possible to forward the Form to Alice Johnson, Keith Building Secretary, to review and submit to the Board Office for processing.

PLEASE NOTE: If you have already submitted a Criminal History/Background Check form for the 24-25 school year, YOU DO NOT NEED TO SUBMIT ANOTHER FORM. Only one is required each school year.

Thank you for your help in moving forward with this new format for filling out and submitting Criminal History/Background Check Forms.

Dear Fifth Grade Parents!

DEADLINE: APRIL 18th TO SUBMIT SLIDESHOW PICS (or your kid will not be in the slideshow)

Reminder! Please send/upload the 5th grade slideshow pics by April 18th so we have time to process them all. All kids should have minimum 2 pics submitted of them, a BABY pic and a CURRENT pic. Where do you send these?: Find the links either on FaceBook's Fifth Grade Group, OR check your teacher's emails, as they have included this information in their emails to you.

We still need a parent leader for Ms. Tyrrell and Mr. Hewitt -- Please consider signing up for that (to make sure each kid has a pic submitted). Thank you!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080C4CA8A928ABFB6-55991996-5thgrade

THANKS!

Sincerely,

5th Grade Slideshow committee:

Kate McLean (248) 804-0801 mcleanstrong@gmail.com

Kate Tomasik (248) 724-6721 K8Tomasik@yahoo.com

To celebrate the upcoming transition of your 5th grader from Keith Elementary School to Clifford Smart Middle School, please consider purchasing a yard sign from the 5th grade parent committee.

WLCSD has partnered with OCHD to provide free in-district Kindergarten Dental Screenings for our incoming kindergarten students. The district website has been updated with the new dates. These clinics will be walk-in. There is no need for families to call to schedule an appointment.

8/12/2025 4p-6p at Dublin

8/14/2025 4p-6p at Walled Lake El

8/18/2025 4p-6p at Meadowbrook

What to watch for in April:

Tue, April 8th ~ Marco's Pizza Day ~ $2.00 extra slice, $1.25 chips

Fri, April 11th ~Ice Cream Day ~ $1.25

Thur, April 17th ~ Rice Krispie Treat Day ~ $1.25

Fri, April 25th ~ Tubby's Subs & Ice Cream Day ~ $1.25

Mon, April 28th ~ Lucky Tray Day

Wed, April 30th ~ Marco's Pizza Day ~ $2.00 extra slice, $1.25 chips

As always, parents can add funds to student accounts via Skyward, or cash / check can be given to Mrs. Link in the kitchen.

Dear Dragon Families,

At Keith Elementary School we are always looking for ways to have a positive impact on our students and our community outside the classroom. On Wednesday, May 7, 2025 we will celebrate Bike & Roll to School Day with thousands of other schools throughout the nation.

Bike & Roll to School Day was established after the overwhelming success of Walk to School Day, which has been an annual international event since 1997. Bike to School Day is a great way to bring together school and community leaders to encourage more walkable and bikeable communities.

While walking to school was commonplace just a generation ago, traffic jams around schools are now the norm. Students are losing an opportunity for regular physical activity that is good for their health by riding to school in cars. On Bike to School Day, students have a special opportunity to celebrate the fun of walking and biking.

Please join students, parents and community members for our school’s Bike to School Day. Simply walk with or allow your child to arrive to school walking, riding their bike, skateboard, rollerblades and more.

We value your support. If you have any questions, please contact me.

Sincerely,

Marci Augenstein, Principal

In an effort to find additional ways to celebrate our staff, the WLCSD Community Relations department requests that families fill out the information below for staff who are rock stars in their classrooms and school communities.

A sample of what these shout outs will look like on social media and in our district newsletters can be found below.

Back by popular demand! It's Pizza!Pizza! Time. The Little Caesar's Pizza Kits are back and ready to fill freezers with easy lunches, dinners, & snacks.

-Online ordering instructions: PizzaKit.com-->Products-->Shop -->Ship My Order to the Group--> Fundraiser ID 458728

-Online orders due by Sun., Apr 27th, at 11:59 PM

-Brochures coming home in backpacks. Orders via brochure due back to the office by Fri., Apr 25th. Checks payable to Keith Elementary PTA.

- Pick up will be the week of May 12th. Watch the Dragon's Tale for the exact dates.

Green Team Earth Day Celebrations:

Several children have engaged in classroom activities this year with the Keith Green Team. We have successfully been recognized as a green school again this year and it's time to celebrate. Let us know if you want to participate, so we can reserve a spot for you - first come first serve and merit basis.

https://forms.gle/bDwsxGY1T2SZQznLA

Title: Michigan Green Schools Awards Ceremony
Date(s): May 1, 2025
Time(s): Arrive anytime after 9:00AM. The ceremony will be held at noon.
Location: The Detroit Zoo, 8450 West 10 Mile Road, Royal Oak 48067
Audience: School Coordinators and Green Teams
Meal(s): Snacks will be provided. School groups may bring lunch or purchase it at the zoo.
Questions? Please contact steam4hc@gmail.com

https://forms.gle/bDwsxGY1T2SZQznLA

Please click on the button below to learn more about our Keith Green Team!

Thanks to all the families who came out for the La Vida Loca concert. Please note a date change for our next pre-concert Club meet is now Friday, April 25, 2025 at 7:30pm followed by the 8pm Woman Rock! concert.

For the families who plan to come out to this concert, please note I am moving our pre-concert Club meet to 7:30pm Friday night, so the majority of students have the opportunity to book tickets. Our originally planned concert on Sunday April 27th is sold out. If you have not yet reserved your free Soundcard student ticket yet, please note the box office anticipates tickets selling out. Also, do email/text me should you be attending either the concert or club meet, so I can keep track of who to expect.

For those students who usually reserve their free ticket online, please note the DSO has transitioned to only booking Student Soundcard tickets through visiting or calling the box office 313.576.5111.

Upcoming concerts where we plan to meet as a group:
· Friday, April 25 2025, 7:30 Club meet, 8pm Women Rock! (Changed from Sunday April 27 due to concert being sold out)
· Saturday, May 24 2025, 2:30 Club meet, 3pm Ben Folds

Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me:
monique.levu@gmail.com

Thanks to all the families for their continued support of this club!

***Your student soundcard membership allows you to attend many more concerts in addition to the ones listed above. Please consider making the most of your membership and check out other concerts at DSO.org***

It is not too late to join now! After attending only 1 concert, your student membership will have paid for itself.

Cost: $25 per student membership unlocks one free ticket to almost every Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) 2024-2025 concert series, including the concerts outside of those we plan to meet at, and up to two companion tickets (bring or invite your parents/sibling/friend/teacher) for $5 each, access to the best seats, access to DSO Replay and online Live streaming performances. Carpooling opportunities are available!

We will be learning more about the music, the performances, the artists and attend concerts with:

Oldies Music by The Drifters, Roy Orbison, Nat King Cole, The Beach Boys, and The Beatles; Ray Chen; Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker; Broadway Love Songs; Music of Enrique Iglesias, Gloria Estefan, Santana, & Ricky Martin; Women Rock! (Music by Carole King, Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin, Pat Benatar, Tina Turner), Ben Folds and many more!

See Music Appreciation Club Details Document for more information and link to Google form for registration https://forms.gle/3eAmCFB4Vf9FCP626

May 6, 2025 at 6:30pm - Keith Learning Commons

Visit our PTA's Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/KeithElemPTA/

Hold your horses — it’s time for a Kentucky Derby Day Fundraiser helping the Walled Lake Middle School Equestrian Team!

When: Saturday May 3rd

Where: Hoffman Farm

2521 Rose Center, Highland

Time: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Get ready for: Pony Rides, Meet Barn Yard Friends, Derby Hat Decorating, Bake sale, Raffles, Stick Horse Races, Photo Fun!

Come out to support our amazing riders this season.

Want to volunteer or donate an item?

Please contact Coach Jennifer Saylor at Juniorequestrianteam@gmail.com.

We hope to see you at the races!

Sincerely,

Coach Jennifer Saylor

The Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Campaign Day, will be on April 26th, from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

The drug overdose epidemic in the United States is a clear and present public health, public safety, and national security threat. DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day reflects DEA’s commitment to Americans’ safety and health, encouraging the public to remove unneeded medications from their homes as a measure of preventing medication misuse and opioid addiction from ever starting.

During #TakeBackDay, DEA will be hosting and participating in Take Back events throughout the country.

For more information, and to find a location, please visit https://www.dea.gov/takebackday.

Please remember to register or re-register your Kroger Plus card to Keith Elementary. Last year we made just over $2,000! It’s easy! Just go to www.krogercommunityrewards.com and go to the community rewards section. You must re-register your card annually. Anyone having an issue with their email address or password can call 1-800-KROGERS for customer service.

The Walled Lake Consolidated School District is committed to supporting the health and well-being of our students and families. To help address concerns about vaping, we are sharing valuable resources that provide information on the risks of vaping and strategies for prevention. These tools are designed to empower families with knowledge and support meaningful conversations at home. Together, we can help every child make healthy choices every day.

• E-cigarettes and Vaping: What Parents Should Know - American Lung Association
• E-cigarettes and Youth: What Parents Need to Know - Centers for Disease Control

• E-cigarettes/Vaping Facts - Oakland County Health Department

The Keith Elementary School Community will inspire and empower all- academically, socially, and emotionally.

Diana Tyrrell - Principal's Secretary

DianaTyrrel@wlcsd.org

Alice Johnson - Building Secretary

AliceJohnson@wlcsd.org

Marci Augenstein, Ph.D. - Principal, Keith Elementary

MarciAugenstein@wlcsd.org

Email: DianaTyrrell@wlcsd.org
Website: http://wlcsd.org/schools/elementary/keith/
Location: 2800 Keith Road, West Bloomfield Township, MI, United States
Phone: (248)956-3700
Twitter: @KeithElementary