"Stop and Think... Be a Bobcat."
Winter Count Day - February 8th
Botsford Elementary Families & Friends,
Count Day is an important day for districts all over the State of Michigan. This particular day is associated with how the school district's funding is determined & it is vital that ALL students attend the full day of school on February 8th, 2023, which is an early release day as well with a dismissal of 210 PM.
In celebration of this important day & its students, students who are in attendance will be entered into a drawing to have a chance to win a prize from the "MYSTERY RAFFLE." Please join the fun & value the importance of attending school to engage in learning & create experiences each & every day, but especially on Wednesday, February 8th.
"True success is found in the lives you changed... not in the things you've obtained.
Mr. DeCaire, Botsford Elementary Principal
Botsford Dates to Remember
JANUARY
24 - K-12 Community Engagement & Wellness Night @ 6 PM
25 - Early Release Wednesday @ 210 PM
26 - Board of Education Meeting @ 630 PM
27 - Botsford B.E.S.T Festival of Trees @ 6-730 PM
30 - Report Cards Sent Home
FEBRUARY
1 - Early Release Wednesday @ 210 PM
2 - Global School Play Day
6 - WIDA Testing Begins
7 - My School Dentist Visit
8 - Count Day
8 - Early Release Wednesday @ 210 PM
8 - Botsford Elementary B.E.S.T Parent Meeting @ 6 PM
13 - Fire Drill
14 - Valentine's Day
15 - Early Release Wednesday @ 210 PM
20 - NO SCHOOL, Presidents Day
22 - Ash Wednesday
22 - Early Release Wednesday @ 210 PM
Clarenceville Community Engagement & Wellness Night
Please join the Clarenceville School District for our first-ever Community Engagement & Wellness Night @ 6 PM in the Clarenceville High School Cafeteria! This invite is open to ALL of our students and families, kindergarten through 12th grade. We will have giveaway prizes, food sponsored by Boneyard BBQ, music, yoga, and more!! Come and join us for a night of fun together with our families! Reach out to district coordinators, Patrick McNally or Venessa Zverotic for any questions. We look forward to seeing you!
Patrick McNally, District Engagement Coordinator
patrick.mcnally@clarencevilleschools.org
Venessa Zverotic, District Wellness Coordinator
MY School Dentist - February 7th
My School Dentist will be visiting Botsford Elementary on February 7th. Permission Forms were handed out & scheduled to be turned in by January 17th. For more information, please visit the online link @ www.MySchoolDentist.com.
WATCH D.O.G.S Volunteer Program
WATCH D.O.G.S. began in 1998 in a single school in Springdale, Arkansas, and has since grown into a nationally recognized program that has brought hundreds of thousands of fathers and father figures into the school classrooms and hallways across the country, creating millions of hours of "in school" volunteer time and having a tremendously positive impact on the educational process.
The Clarenceville School District & Botsford Elementary felt as though it would be wonderful & beneficial for our students to bring this program into our learning community. If any fathers or father figures (grandfathers, uncles, brothers, etc) within Botsford Elementary or its learning community are interested in volunteering for this program please complete the form below.
More information will follow once our list of volunteers is generated.
SPECIAL DELIVERY - Report Cards, Jan. 30th
Students of Botsford Elementary will be delivering their report cards along with a parent report outlining/summarizing the winter assessment administered.
It is encouraged & recommended that families review the report card to observe the growth their child may have made within their learning & behavior. Be sure to read any of the comments that have been provided by the classroom teachers as time & effort are provided in their thought processes. If there are any questions regarding the report card please be sure to contact the classroom teacher.
As a learning community, we have to continue building our partnership as we have half of a school year to complete (2nd Semester) & we have to work together while providing your child(ren) a pathway to success.
Safety Protocol - RUN, HIDE, FIGHT
Run, Hide, Fight Drill - Friday, January 20th
As our learning community, we continue to gather & analyze information, I encourage you to talk to your child about being safe at school. Below you will find a summary of what safety protocol is being implemented & transitioned into for safety.
What is Run, Hide, Fight?
Run, Hide, Fight is a safety protocol recognized by law enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security. The Clarenceville School District implements the Run, Hide, Fight method based on the recommendation from the Livonia Police Department and because of the options provided to staff & students during a possible threat. Our district continues to teach & train staff who will then continue to educate our students on what to do in these situations such as barricading in a classroom & hiding. While this is sometimes the best option, the Run, Hide, Fight concept displays that there are other options. The district believes that knowing your options — Run, Hide, or Fight — increases your chance of safety.
Some important information regarding lockdown drills:
- Student training includes practicing the hide portion of Run, Hide, Fight.
- At the elementary level, staff will discuss Run, Hide, and Fight with students.
- In all schools, the drill begins with the announcement “Lockdown.....Lockdown......Lockdown.....This is a drill. This is a drill. This is a drill.” and ends with the announcement “The drill is now over. Resume normal operations."
- Following the drill, parents may receive an informational email from their building principal to notify them that the drill was conducted.
The goal of any drill is to evaluate & improve our ability to protect students. While students & staff are aware the drill will be occurring, in the future, date(s) and time(s) will not be shared so we can better evaluate our emergency preparedness plans and improve our response skills.
WIDA Testing
WIDA Testing - February 6th-23rd of 2023
All students who have a language other than English spoken at home & are identified as English Learners must take a state assessment called WIDA ACCESS for ELLs (Accessing Comprehension and Communication in English State to State for English Language Learners). The Enrollment Office form that was completed when your son/daughter enrolled in the Clarenceville School District provided us with this information. Students will take the assessment even if they are not attending ESL/ELL classes. The assessment is for Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking, and Comprehension in English. Students will take the assessment between February 6-March 23, 2023. We will mail your child's test results to you when we receive them from the Michigan Department of Education. If you have any questions, please contact Karen Morrison at 248-919-0402.
Employment Opportunity - NOON AIDE
Botsford Elementary is seeking members of the learning community who are interested in an employment opportunity to serve as an elementary school noon aide to assist with the afternoon responsibilities of monitoring lunch & its students along with various other school-related tasks. The block of time needed would be from 11 AM until 2 PM, Monday-Friday.
Please be sure to contact the main office @ 248.919.0402 or email bryan.decaire@clarencevilleschools.org if you are interested in this valuable opportunity.
Qualifications Include: Must be fingerprinted & pass a security clearance along with the willingness to work with young children.
LABEL Student Belongings
As a building, we have collected & a number of different belongs have accumulated due to being misplaced or left on the playground during recess periods. It is vital & helpful if these items such as lunch boxes, coats, sweatshirts, water bottles are labeled with the students name and/or room number so that they can be returned to its owner. These belongings are placed into the "lost & found" but over time if these items are not retrieved they will be donated after a period of time being left behind.
B.E.S.T Festival of Trees
B.E.S.T Parent Organization of Botsford Elementary will be hosting a FESTIVAL OF TREES for Botsford Elementary students & their families.
On the evening of January 27th from 6-730 PM, families & friends will have an opportunity to walk through Botsford Elementary to view the decorated "classroom" trees & then vote on the family favorite. The winning classroom will earn a $100 Amazon Gift Card to spend on their classroom.
Proceed outside to take a picture with Olaf & the Winter Tree. Warm up with a cup of hot chocolate or enjoy a delicious bakery item for $1.
B.E.S.T. is seeking donations of fake holiday trees, please contact B.E.S.T. if after the holidays a family wishes to share their tree for this event.
Please review the flyers below for more information.
BEST Parent Meeting - February 8th
BEST Parent Meeting - February 8th @ 6 PM
Our B.E.S.T Parent Meeting will be hosted in person on Wednesday, February 8th @ 6 PM. The B.E.S.T. Organization will continue to gather each 2nd Wednesday of the month until advised differently.
The following dates have been scheduled for our meetings:
February 8th
March 8th
April 12th
May 10th
June 7th
Meeting Minutes
SEE BELOW
FUTURE Kindergarten Vision Screening
As kindergarten round-up & registration approaches, families of our learning community should read the information provided regarding hearing & vision screening requirements for those families who may be considering either Botsford or Grandview Elementary in the near future.
According to the Michigan Public Health Code (Act 368 of 1978), children entering kindergarten must have their hearing and vision tested before the first day of school and parents must submit a certificate of hearing and vision screening or statement of exemption to the school district.
Additionally, the Revised School Code (Act 451 of 1976, section 380.1177 requires that parents of children entering kindergarten present a statement to school officials confirming they have received the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Vision Screening or a statement signed by a Health Department Technician, a licensed eye care provider (optometrist or ophthalmologist) or medical/osteopathic physician. School officials are required to enter vision screening data into the MCIR/SIRS system for all kindergarten students new entrants by November 1st of each year. A separate report to MDHHS or the Oakland County Health Division is no longer required.
The goal of the law is early identification and treatment of hearing and vision problems that can affect the child’s ability to learn. Although the Public Health Code rules state hearing and vision screening shall be done at least once during the ages of 3 through 5 years, the best practice is within six to twelve months of entering kindergarten.
Oakland County Health Department/Health Division offers free hearing & vision screening by appointment for all children who will attend kindergarten in Oakland County. Please review the hearing & vision screening information below or call 248-424-7070 if you have additional questions.
If you have questions about either program, please feel free to contact Oakland County Health Division:
- Hearing and Vision Screening: Dianne Ferber at (248) 424-7071 or ferberd@oakgov.com.
FUTURE Kindergarten Dental Screening
On December 29, 2020, a new law was passed in Michigan recommending students entering kindergarten have a dental screening before or shortly after their first school year begins.
Dental cavities are a common childhood illness that can cause pain. Cavities can prevent children from eating and keep them awake at night. Both eating and sleep help kids learn. Dental screening helps identify and treat oral health problems, so children are well-rested, able to eat, and ready to learn!
Oakland County Health Division is now available to offer Kindergarten dental screening in Oakland County schools.
If your school is interested in receiving in-school kindergarten dental screenings, please call (248) 858-1306 or dobiasl@oakgov.com.
If you have questions about either program, please feel free to contact Oakland County Health Division:
- Kindergarten Dental Screening: Lisa Dobias at (248) 858-1306 or dobiasl@oakgov.com.
Weather Changing - Dress Apparel
With temperatures beginning to drop & winter approaching, Botsford Elementary wants to remind families, friends & students about the danger of not dressing appropriately for the cooler weather.
As building principal, I want to continue allowing & encouraging play outside when appropriate weather & temperatures allow for recess. The school community will be going outside when temperatures are 10 degrees or above. It is important that ALL students wear the appropriate clothing while waiting for a school bus or playing outside during school hours. This means & I strongly encourage wearing a hat, heavier coat, layers & gloves at the very least.
Those families & friends who DO NOT bring or have appropriate clothing are still expected to participate outdoors & cannot remain indoors or in the main office. If your child has a medical condition that restricts them from being outside, please DO NOT send a note drafted by you, the parent as it needs to be a medical note.
I encourage BOTH partnerships to speak with our children about what to wear when it is cold outside & that staying warm is important. In addition, discussing what can happen if we DO NOT take the proper precautions will be beneficial also.
Bobcats Who are Feeling Sick
A Message From Our District Nurse
Children Not Feeling Well – School Tips
There are many different viruses going around during this time of year. The flu, RSV, the common cold, and COVID are all going around and some children can get more than one virus at the same time. We have seen all of these in our buildings already this year and they will continue to go around until the weather starts to get warmer. It is important to keep your students home if they are not feeling well. This will help your child get rest and be more prepared to learn as well as prevent more germs from spreading to others. Some illnesses can linger so it can be confusing at times to know when to send your child back to school. Here are some tips and recommendations for sick students.
We follow Oakland County guidelines for excluding a child from school. We want to be cautious and not spread illness but we also do not want your child to miss more school than necessary. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions!
Fever: If your child has a fever, they should be fever free without medication for at least 24 hours before returning to school. Giving your child fever-reducing medication and then sending them to school will not help them feel better, they need to rest when they are sick and at some point, the medication will wear off during school hours. This would also expose others to the illness so please keep your child at home until their fever is gone for at least 24 hours.
Coughs, sneezes, and running noses spread germs. The viruses above will spread through these respiratory routes. If your child has a new cough, sneeze, or runny nose please keep them home. For most illnesses, the first few days and possibly even a couple of days before an illness starts, a person can be contagious and spread a virus. A cough may linger for weeks so it is important to consult your primary care provider to help determine if your child can return to school.
Allergies: Many of us have seasonal allergies so it can be difficult to know if we are having allergy symptoms or if we have a virus. Allergies will not cause a fever and for most people, they do not cause a sore throat, coughing, or achy feeling. An itchy nose, eyes, and mouth can be a sign of allergies that typically do not occur with a virus.
Prevention: Practice good hand hygiene and cover your coughs and sneezes! Hand washing can make a significant difference in spreading a virus or catching one. We should encourage our students to wash their hands well with soap and water or hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available. Covering a cough and sneeze with a tissue or with your elbow helps keep the germs to yourself as much as possible.
Title IX Prohibits School Harassment & Violence
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (“Title IX”), 20 U.S.C. §1681 et seq., is a Federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs and activities. All public and private elementary and secondary schools, school districts, colleges, and universities (hereinafter “schools”) receiving any Federal funds must comply with Title IX. Under Title IX, discrimination on the basis of sex can include sexual harassment or sexual violence, such as rape, sexual assault, sexual battery, and sexual coercion.
Below is additional information regarding the specific requirements of Title IX as they pertain to sexual harassment and sexual violence.
What are a school’s responsibilities to address sexual harassment and sexual violence?
- A school has a responsibility to respond promptly and effectively. If a school knows or reasonably should know about sexual harassment or sexual violence that creates a hostile environment, the school must take immediate action to eliminate the sexual harassment or sexual violence, prevent its recurrence, and address its effects.
- Even if a student or his or her parent does not want to file a complaint or does not request that the school take any action on the student’s behalf, if a school knows or reasonably should know about possible sexual harassment or sexual violence, it must promptly investigate to determine what occurred and then take appropriate steps to resolve the situation.
- A criminal investigation into allegations of sexual harassment or sexual violence does not relieve the school of its duty under Title IX to resolve complaints promptly and equitably.
Every School Must Have And Distribute A Policy Against Sex Discrimination
- Title IX requires that each school publish a policy that it does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its educational programs and activities. This notice must be widely distributed and available on an ongoing basis.
- The policy must state that inquiries concerning Title IX may be referred to the school’s Title IX coordinator or to OCR.
The Clarenceville School District Title IX Policy is located on the District Website at
https://www.clarenceville.k12.mi.us/district/title-ix/
Title IX Policy LINKED BELOW
Every School Must Have A Title IX Coordinator
The Clarenceville School District Title IX Coordinators are:
Dave Bergeron, Assistant Superintendent Business/Support Services/Finance
Melissa Carruth, Assistant Superintendent of Learning Services
Safety Protocols & Guidelines - COVID POSITIVE
According to the Oakland County Health Department, anyone who tests POSITIVE for COVID-19 and/or displays COVID-19 symptoms shall isolate at home for 5 days, AND if symptoms have improved or no symptoms developed, may leave isolation after day 5 & wear a mask for 5 more days ending after day #10. If POSITIVE, with no symptoms, monitor for symptoms for 10 days as well.
If someone is EXPOSED to COVID-19 personal or household contact regardless of vaccination status shall monitor symptoms for 10 days & wear a mask around others for 10 days after the exposure. Then test 3-7 days after exposure or if symptoms develop. Avoid unmasked activities or activities with a higher risk of exposing vulnerable individuals.
Handwashing Reminders
How to Practice Good Hand Hygiene
Sing the ABCs while washing hands.
Wash hands regularly, with soap and warm water, for at least 20 seconds while singing the ABCs
Hand Sanitize as a Back-Up
If soap and water are not available, the next best option is hand sanitizer.
Be sure to wash your hands...
After using the bathroom, sneezing, coughing, or blowing your nose. Before eating meals or snacks & immediately after coming inside from playing outdoors.
If a child is refusing to wash their hands or becoming upset when asked to do so, it might help to give them a small reward, such as the HAND-WASHING SUPERHERO BADGE, or compliment them for doing a really good job while washing their hands. It also helps when parents set an example by washing their own hands frequently.
Significance of School Attendance
As a partnership, we can agree that education is important for your child’s success in life. Regular attendance ensures that your child gets all the benefits the school can offer. When students are missing school, they are missing out on those benefits. School attendance is so important, that Michigan law makes it compulsory for all children ages 6 to 16 to attend public schools. When children are excessively absent, the law holds parents/guardians accountable. If your child is truant (missing scheduled school time without an accepted excused absence), you and/or your child could end up in court with serious consequences. Attendance may be the single most important factor in school success because:
- Children do best in school when they are in class every day. The U.S. Department of Education reports that for every missed day of school, it takes a student two days to catch up.
- In addition to academics, children learn valuable lessons about personal responsibility and commitment.
- Children keep up with their peers and have stronger bonds with the school and community.
- Annually, students who graduate from high school will earn 30% more than those who don’t complete high school.
- 1 in 10 kindergarten students misses nearly a month of school every year. In some districts, it runs as high as 1 in 3.
- Kindergartners who miss 10 percent of school days have lower academic performance when they reach first grade.
- Chronic absence in kindergarten translated into lower fifth-grade achievement.
Below is some important information about the correlation between attendance and achievement.
Make a Change w/School Attendance
Attendance letters have been sent out to families within their child's report cards. It is important for your child's progress to make a change within that number of absences & make an adjustment.
Some suggestions that may help in achieving this adjustment include:
- Setting a regular bedtime & morning routine.
- Layout clothes & pack backpacks the night before.
- Disallow your child from staying home unless they are truly ill.
- Talk to staff and/or teachers if your child seems anxious about going to school & advice can be given on how to make him/her feel more comfortable & excited about learning.
- Be sure to make alternative plans for getting to school in case a challenge has arisen. Call on a family member, a neighbor, or another parent.
- Try & avoid medical appointments & extended trips when school is in session.
Elementary School Attendance
Botsford Elementary students who are returning to in-person, hybrid school, attendance is taken two times per day. Students are marked "tardy" beginning at 840 AM so we encourage our families to be timely so that multiple absences DO NOT begin to accumulate.
As mentioned within this newsletter on "Attendance" that truancy laws will be upheld. Under the Michigan Legislation, TRUANCY is defined as a student who has 10 or more unexcused absences per school year. For students who are enrolled in our In-Person Learning, classroom teachers will take attendance during BOTH the morning & afternoon sessions of learning.
Botsford Communication Hub
Email: bryan.decaire@clarencevilleschools.org
Location: 19515 Lathers Street, Livonia, MI, USA
Phone: (248)919-0402
Twitter: @BotsfordElem