Shawnee Star News Weekly Update
🍂 Friday, November 6, 2026 🍂
Hello Shawnee Families,
November is here, and that means the holiday season is right around the corner! We have lots of fun activities, special events, and exciting experiences planned for our students as we head into this festive time of year. It’s always a special time in our school as we create memories, celebrate traditions, and enjoy the excitement that comes with the season. We look forward to sharing all the fun with our students and families! Be sure to check out the information below so you can prepare and mark your calendars.
Please take a moment to review the arrival and dismissal procedures outlined in this newsletter. Following these procedures consistently is essential to maintaining a safe and orderly environment for all of our students and families. We appreciate your cooperation and compliance as we work together to ensure arrival and dismissal are safe, efficient, and positive experiences for everyone.
Please be sure to read through all of the information in our weekly newsletter as it is our main form of communication with our families. We don't want you to miss out on any important details or happenings. We appreciate your continued cooperation and support.
Together We Will Shine!
❤️Mrs. Simon
November 6 ~ PTO Cupcake Wars
November 9 - 13 ~ Student Council Kiwanis Food Drive
November 10 ~ PTO Red Robin Dine In Night
November 11 ~ Fall Pictures Retake Day
November 13 ~ SWPBIS Star Ticket Store
November 17 ~ PTO Bagel Day
November 18 ~ Mickey & Minnie Mouse Day
November 21 ~ PTO Cutting Edge Gym Jam
November 24 ~ Fall Fundraiser Chocolate Fountain Party
November 25 - 27 ~ No School: Thanksgiving Break
December 1 ~ PTO Skate Night
December 4 ~ PTO Holiday Extravaganza
December 7 - 11 ~ PTO Holiday Shop
December 8 ~ 4th Grade Holiday Concert
December 14 ~ Cyber Security Assemblies (2nd - 5th)
December 17 ~ Classroom Holiday Parties
December 18 ~ Half Day of School - Dismissal @ 11:50 AM
December 21 - January 1 ~ Holiday Break
January 4 ~ Classes Resume
Chippewa Valley Schools is continuing free school meals (breakfast and lunch) for all students through the 2026-2027 school year. Parents will order hot lunch in advance for their children using our monthly Shawnee Lunch Order Forms. The link below will lead you to a form so you can make lunch choices for your student. Simply enter your child’s name, and select their grade and teacher. Then, choose the dates and lunch options your child would like to order.
The link is live now! You may order and make changes anytime between now and 8:00 AM on the day before you are requesting lunch. After that, you will not be able to order for the next day as our totals will be submitted.
Please be sure to check back often as menu changes can occur.
Students can order Lunch Plus / Doubles for lunch. Hot lunch is free but the cost of doubles is currently $2.00. Students will need to preorder doubles just as they do for hot lunch. Lunch Plus / Doubles will be an option on our lunch form. Please be sure your child has money on their lunch account. You can deposit money to your child's account using the following link: http://chippewavalley.familyportal.cloud/.
Please be sure to plan ahead and order on time so we can ensure we have lunches for all students who need them. Thank you for your help and cooperation.
- Lunch orders must be placed by 8:00 AM the day before you are requesting lunch.
Square 1 Art order forms will be coming in soon! The kids have been working hard in art class making beautiful art for the Square 1 Art fundraiser. You will be able to order keepsakes with your child’s art! Watch for order forms to come home soon!
Fall Picture Retake Day is scheduled for Wednesday, November 11. If you want your child to have picture retakes or they were not photographed on our first picture day, please mark your calendar for November 11th.
- If your child was absent on or is new to Shawnee since our original picture day, your child will automatically be photographed.
- If you purchased a picture package and are not satisfied with their first picture, you must return the entire picture packet with your child on November 11th and we will have them go to the photographer for a redo.
Please see the flyer below for more information and details.
Calling all 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students who love science: Science Olympiad applications are available now! Applications are due on Monday, November 16th and the test will be in Ms. Kopinski's classroom on Tuesday, Nov. 17th from 3:45 PM - 4:30 PM. If you are interested, please read the entire application (found below) to ensure that you understand all student and parent requirements. Visit the Macomb Science Olympiad website for more information about this incredible program or reach out to Ms. Kopinski with any questions. Thank you!
On Monday, December 14th, Cyber Safety Consulting will be visiting Shawnee to give cyber safety presentations to our students in grades 2nd - 5th. The presentations are designed to teach students to not only understand online dangers, but to be able to recognize them when encountered. Additionally, they tie in a strong discussion of appropriate online behavior and positive solutions to the issues students face online. Each grade level (2nd - 5th) will have their own presentation in the MPR. Please see below for further information and an opt-out form.
We appreciate our veterans and the sacrifices they have made for our country and our freedoms. We want to take the opportunity to honor the men and women who have so bravely served or are currently serving our country in the United States Military. We need your help to make our Veteran’s Day celebration a success! We would like to create a “Wall of Honor” at Shawnee to help us remember these special individuals this Veteran’s Day (November 11th). Below you will find a page to recognize any of your family members or friends who deserve to be honored for their service. Please complete a form and return it to school with a picture attached so we can build our wall. These pages will be proudly displayed throughout the month of November in our main hallway. A form was sent home with all students, however, if you would like to honor more than one veteran, please click below for additional forms. We hope you will join us in this effort to show our gratitude and support to our veterans! Thank you!
We need your help! Please click the links below to volunteer at our upcoming events. We appreciate your support to make these occasions a success for the Shawnee community.
November 6th - Cupcake Wars
November 11th - Holiday Shop Pricing Party
November 11th - Picture Retake Day
November 13th - Star Ticket Store
November 23rd - Deck the Halls of Shawnee
December 4th - Holiday Extravaganza
The holidays are right around the corner and we understand that some of our Shawnee families may struggle with them due to financial difficulties. We may be able to help you find assistance. Please contact our school social worker, Michele Stateczny, with any concerns that you may have. Feel free to contact her via email or phone at 586.723.6884.
For the safety of the Shawnee Community, we ask that dogs are on a very short leash if on school grounds. We also ask that you keep all pets off the main sidewalks and away from the school entrances and busy areas. Thank you for your understanding as we are trying to be sensitive to student allergies and fears, along with safety. We appreciate your support and cooperation!
By law, schools are required to do safety drills each year, including fire, severe weather and lockdown. Our safety drills will begin taking place in the near future so we wanted to provide some information to our parents. Please see below for additional resources and information.
View the book here!
At Shawnee we have a School-Wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (SWPBIS) program. SWPBIS is a broad range of systematic and individualized strategies for achieving important social and learning outcomes while preventing problem behavior. In other words, we recognize students’ correct and positive behavior to set the standard and climate at Shawnee. We know that when good behavior and teaching come together, our star students will excel in their learning. As a staff, we have established Shawnee Stars behavior expectations for all areas of the school: classroom, cafeteria, assemblies, hallways, playground, bus, and bathrooms.
Shawnee Stars – Take Responsibility – Are Always Safe – Respect Others – Shawnee Stars
The premise of SWPBIS is to reward the good behaviors and work to improve the negative behaviors. The staff will work to teach, model, rehearse, reinforce, and praise students for appropriate behaviors. See below for further details and information.
As we welcome our new GSRP Preschool program to Shawnee, there are a few important arrival and dismissal considerations we want all families to be aware of.
GSRP Preschool operates on a different daily schedule than our elementary students and does not always follow the same school calendar. This means our GSRP students are arriving or dismissing at different times than our elementary students and may be in session on different days then our school calendar.
Because of these differences, your cooperation is essential in helping us keep our parking lot, entrances, and arrival and dismissal procedures safe and running smoothly. We ask that all families carefully review and follow the arrival and dismissal procedures outlined in this newsletter.
Following these procedures helps us:
- Keep traffic moving efficiently
- Reduce congestion in the parking lot
- Ensure students are supervised and safe
- Provide a smooth arrival and dismissal experience for everyone
- Keep designated entrances and areas accessible to the students who use them
An especially important detail is that GSRP Preschool also utilizes our Kindergarten entrance and exit, Door 20. Because this entrance is designated for our GSRP students during their arrival and dismissal times, we need families to be mindful of this area.
The front playground is not to be used from 8 AM - 5 PM. Please do not allow children to play on or enter the front playground while students are arriving or leaving school. Students can enter this area when instructed by staff. Keeping this area clear is important for student safety and allows GSRP families, kindergarten students, and staff to use Door 20 safely and efficiently.
We recognize that adding a preschool program brings some changes to the routines our families are accustomed to, and we appreciate your patience and flexibility as we establish these new procedures. Our goal is to create a safe, welcoming, and efficient arrival and dismissal experience for all of our Shawnee students and families.
Thank you for doing your part, following the procedures, and helping us make this transition a successful one. When we work together, we can ensure that every child begins and ends their school day safely and successfully! Thank you for your partnership and cooperation!
Students will enter and exit the building through assigned doors:
- Door #1 (West Wing Walkers)
- Door #2 (Bus Riders)
- Door #20 (Kindergarten Walkers)
- Door #22 (East Wing Walkers)
Bus Tags:
- On the first day, colored bus tags will be provided to bus riders (K-2). Please be sure these tags remain attached to students and are visible for staff to assist.
Arrival Times:
- First Bell - 8:48 AM ~ Doors will open and students may enter through their assigned doors.
- Second Bell - 8:55 AM ~ After the second bell rings, all doors will be closed and all students must buzz in at Door #1. Students will be marked tardy if they arrive after 8:55 AM.
Arrival:
- Students cannot be dropped off early or left unattended while waiting to enter school.
- We encourage parents and students to wait in their vehicles until the first bell has rung and it is time to enter the building.
- Visitors are not permitted into the building. Staff and 5th Grade Safeties will be positioned around the school to help students get to classrooms.
Staggered Dismissal Times:
- 3:35 PM - SACC (School Age Child Care), Safeties & Service Squad
- 3:37 PM - 3rd, 4th & 5th Grade Walkers/Parent Pick-Up
- 3:38 PM - Kindergarten, 1st & 2nd Grade Walkers/Parent Pick-Up
- 3:39 PM - Bus Riders
Dismissal:
- We stagger dismissal to help eliminate the formation of crowds.
- Staff and safeties will be positioned around the school to help students.
- Students will exit the same doors they enter. Unless students are dismissed from another classroom (i.e. specials, MTSS) at the end of the day, in which case this could change.
- Please arrange a meeting spot with your child so they know where to meet you upon exiting the building.
- If you are picking up a student who is a member of Safety Patrol or Service Squad and will be one of the last to leave/be dismissed, we ask that you please wait in the parking lot during the initial dismissal rush before pulling into the drop-off/pick-up lane. This is supposed to be a moving line of traffic and cars should not be sitting for long periods of time in this space.
Unless your child is attending SACC or a pre-arranged activity, they should not be arriving at school before 8:48 AM. Also, staggered dismissal begins at 3:35 PM. Please be sure that you pick up your child on time or have childcare arrangements. There is no supervision for children before and after school. Thank you for your cooperation.
We would like to remind everyone just how important it is to follow the parking lot safety procedures. For the safety of your child and the entire Shawnee community, please follow the parking lot procedures. Be patient with each other and always remember you are the #1 role model for your children; they learn by watching us! We want to ensure that every child makes it to and from school safely. We can only accomplish this important task with your help and support.
We are asking for your help in keeping our students safe during arrival and dismissal. These are very busy times at school, with large numbers of students and families moving through the front of the building and parking lot.
In the past, we have noticed a number of students who are unsupervised and playing or wandering in the front of the school during these busy periods. This has created several safety concerns, including close calls with students being hit by balls, balls being kicked or thrown into the parking lot, and balls striking school windows and other property.
Students should not be playing sports or games during arrival and dismissal. With the large crowds and increased traffic during these times, there simply is not enough space to safely play. In addition to the potential for injury and property damage, it can be difficult for staff to determine which students are waiting for their parent/guardian or ride and which students may be wandering without supervision. This is particularly important because we need to be able to quickly identify any student who may be without a ride or adult.
Moving Forward➡️
To help us maintain a safe and orderly environment, all students must remain next to their parent/guardian or designated adult during arrival and dismissal. Students should not be playing, wandering, or participating in sports while waiting.
We ask that parents and guardians please:
- Keep your children with you during arrival and dismissal.
- Ensure students are not playing sports or games in the front of the school.
- Remind children to stay out of the parking lot and away from vehicles.
- Make sure students remain with their adult rather than wandering around the school grounds.
- Help your children follow these expectations consistently.
Our students' safety is our top priority, and keeping them safe takes all of us working together. We understand that students have energy and enjoy spending time with friends, but arrival and dismissal are not appropriate times for recreational play due to the congestion and safety risks.
Thank you for your partnership, cooperation, and help in making sure every student can arrive and leave Shawnee safely each day. Together, we can keep our school community safe!
Free breakfast will be offered to our students each day. Grab and Go style breakfast items are available during our morning arrival. Students can grab a breakfast bag from one of our breakfast carts in the hallways before heading to class. There is no need to order breakfast. Please be sure to let your child know if you want them to get breakfast.
Promoting Strong Families is a series of brief videos that provide tips for parents. The link below gives you access to the most recent Tip. Additional tips are available on the district website and that of the Chippewa Valley Coalition for Youth and Families - www.cvcoalition.org
SACC is open each day school is in session beginning at 6:45 AM and after school until 6:00 PM. SACC is available to students in Kindergarten through fifth grade, currently attending Chippewa Valley Schools.
SACC registration is on a first come, first served basis. We will process registrations in the order they are received. Each registration is dated and time stamped. We will work our way through the registrations based on this order.
SACC Registration
- Existing families should use current username and password. Please do not create a new account.
- Once your registration application is submitted through Eleyo, you must receive the registration approval email before your child may attend.
Registration Steps:
- Eleyo Registration Link (Explore All Programs).
- Eleyo Help Sheet - Instructions on creating an account.
- CVS Students - Registration opened on August 17, 2026.
- Program registration and tuition will be online and AutoPay with a valid credit or debit card is required. Please note that ACH (checking or savings account), cash, and check payments are not accepted. Failure to comply may result in your child being dismissed from enrollment and/or the SACC Program.
- All registrations will remain in pending status until they have been reviewed and approved by a Program Director.
- There is a non-refundable registration fee of $40 per child with a maximum of $80 per family.
Breakfast and lunch will be available at no cost for all Chippewa Valley Schools students during the 2026–2027 school year. Join us for breakfast and lunch to help fuel your student's day with delicious, well-balanced meals!
Your participation helps secure vital funding for programs that support our students and may provide your family with access to additional financial resources and benefits. All are encouraged to apply. Click here to apply today or scan the QR Code!
We are also looking for substitute lunch monitors, crossing guards, teachers, etc. Being a substitute allows you to work when you want to and have the flexibility to work around your schedule. If you are able to work, even one day a week, we could use the extra help. Apply Here!
Thank you for your consideration and help.
