The Jayhawk Journal

A big thank you to our students who have worked so hard on their I-Ready Tests this week. Just a reminder that students will take both the Math and Reading Test before it wraps up at the end of the week. Please speak about the importance of these tests to your students. We use them to watch and measure growth to analyze our teaching practices. When our staff meets on the 12th for Professional Development, we will be focusing on using this data to plan the next round of instruction needed for our students for Small Group Instruction (SGI Hour).

Our SOAR Celebration will be this Tuesday. A special thank you to Phoenix Theatres Laurel Park for always donating popcorn to support this event. Students who went the first trimester without getting a major infraction or 3 minors will be invited to join the movie. Every trimester, all of our students start with a fresh slate as the goal it to always get every student to these celebrations at the end of every trimester.

We will have a Spirit Week the week of the 15th to 19th before we leave for break. A schedule with the themes of every day will be released early next week so you can plan. We are looking forward to ending the year strong with so much more to accomplish these last 2 weeks!

- 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 hallway expectations. With two short weeks, we were able to focus on how we use the hallways here at Johnson. Please see the attached matrix to go over SOARing expectations for all aspects of the building. Please see the information about the SOAR Celebration for December 9th to end the first trimester in the Principal Corner from Mr. Traub. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions to Mr. Traub or Mr. Bublitz.

LPS Food Pantry and Clothing Depot- LPS has a food pantry and clothing depot that are housed at Franklin High School, and run by the Franklin Transition Program students and staff. Please contact Mrs. McLean at mmclean12@livoniapublicschools.org for details on how to gain access to the Clothing Depot or click on Garfield Garments

Other Resources for Food:

Elmwood Blessing Box

m211 Food Assistance

Forgotton Harvest

Gleaners

Little Free Pantry

We would like to congratulate Mrs. Gonyou for being voted this award by her colleagues this week! Mrs. Gonyou is a Paraprofessional here at Johnson. She is committed to always going above and beyond for any student that she works with. She has a great sense of humor, can sing a song at any given moment, and spreads so much joy and positivity to everyone around her. She is dedicated to doing whatever is necessary to help her colleagues. She is a great leader in the building and sets a great path for many to follow. We are lucky to have her here at Johnson!

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

The kids!

Some Of My Favorite Things

Place To Travel: Up North

Foods: Potatoes

Color: Orange

College: Michigan

TV Show: The Morning Show

Sports Team: Green Bay Packers

School Subject: ELA

My Hobbies....

Reading, gardening.

If you would like to volunteer and help with the Holiday Shop, please sign-up using the link below.

JOHNSON UPPER ELEMENTARY PTA: HOLIDAY SHOP HELPERS

Just a reminder that you must have an approved I-Chat form for LPS in order to volunteer at school.

Thank you!

- The Johnson PTA

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

A Joyful December: National Stress-Free Holidays Month

Dear Community and Staff,

The holidays are upon us—a time for joy, connection, and creating meaningful memories with loved ones. It’s also a season that can bring its own pressures, like planning visits, managing gift budgets, and organizing events. With everything on your plate, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

While traditions and celebrations are meaningful, it’s just as important to care for your mental well-being. National Stress-Free Family Holidays Month reminds us to be mindful of stress and take steps toward self-care. Here are a few tips to help make your holidays more manageable and joyful:

• Modify traditions if needed. It’s okay to adjust traditions if they feel overwhelming. Your mental health takes priority.
• Learn the power of saying "no." If a commitment feels too much, give yourself permission to decline.
• Plan ahead. Use a calendar to stay organized and avoid last-minute tasks that can create unnecessary stress.
• Share your feelings. Talk to someone you trust if you're feeling anxious or missing a loved one. You are not alone.
• Take time for self-care. Make sure to rest and recharge, even as you care for others.

If you’d like professional support, Care Solace is available to help connect you or your loved ones to mental health services. This is a complimentary, confidential service provided by Livonia Public Schools.

Access Support:

• Call: 888-515-0595 (Multilingual support 24/7/365)
• Visit: caresolace.com/livonia, search for a provider or click “Book Appointment” for assistance via video chat, phone, or email.

For immediate support:

• Call 911 and request a Crisis Intervention Trained (C.I.T.) response.
• Text “Hello” or “Home” to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor.
• Call or chat with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988: suicidepreventionlifeline.org
• Trevor Lifeline (LGBTQ+ support): www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help

Wishing you a peaceful and stress-free holiday season filled with joy and meaningful moments.

Monday 12/8

Tuesday 12/9 - SOAR Celebration - PTA Family Trivia Night

Wednesday 12/10 - Bagel Day

Thursday 12/11

Friday 12/12- No Schol Professional Development Day

12/9 - SOAR Celebration

12/9 - Family Trivia Night

12/10 - Bagel Day

12/12 - No School Teacher Professional Development Day

12/17 - Report Cards Available on Parent Connect

December 22nd - January 2nd - Winter Holiday Vacation

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.

"Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can't see." - The Conductor on the Polar Express