SAYRE Update

October

Oct 19-23- Scholastic Book Fair (more information below)

Oct 19 and Oct 21- Kona Ice Color Run/Bubble Fun Award

Oct 20 and Oct 22- Half Days (11:09 AM dismissal) and Family/Parent/Teacher Conferences

Oct 23- Pajama Day and Boo Bash 6-8 PM

Oct 30- Costume Parade 2:00 PM (more information below)

November

Nov 3- NO SCHOOL for students- Election Day

Nov 11- Veteran's Day

Nov 12- ALICE Drill #2

Nov 13- Half Day (11:09 AM dismissal)

Nov 17- Brain Break Assembly

Nov 18- Picture Retake Day

Nov 25- NO SCHOOL

Nov 26-27- Thanksgiving Recess

December

Dec 21-Jan 1- Winter Break

Please begin reporting your student's absence in the PikMyKid App. This communicates the absence and reason to the Classroom teacher and the office.

If there is an issue with the app, email the classroom teacher and office staff (sayre@slcs.us) or call and leave the message on our attendance line - 1-248-573-8475

Again, PikMyKid is the default method of communicating your child's absence.

Next week you will have your child’s MAP Growth™ test results. These tests provide information about your child’s instructional level, but also measure their academic growth throughout the school year (and from year to year) in ELA and math. Students take the MAP Growth assessments in the fall, at midyear, and near the end of the school year.

MAP Growth tests from NWEA are unique in that they are adaptive tests taken on a computer. This means the test becomes more difficult when your child answers a question correctly. When your child answers a question incorrectly, the test becomes easier. Ultimately, your child takes a test specifically targeting their learning level. In addition, since the information presented on the test is aligned with the Michigan English Language Arts and Mathematics Standards, it covers the information that your child has learned so far in school.

The purpose of the MAP Growth tests is to help identify your student’s strengths and needs. Your child’s MAP Growth results are represented as RIT scores. Like inches on a ruler, the RIT scale measures in equal intervals, regardless of a student’s grade level—and it remains stable over time. As a result, we can accurately measure students’ growth and understand where they are performing on the learning continuum. RIT scores help teachers identify specific areas of focus for instruction.

The MAP Growth Reading assessment covers students’ comprehension skills while also providing us with information about a student’s ability to utilize craft, language, and structure of texts. For grades K-2, there is a more significant focus on the foundational reading skills including phonics and phonemic awareness. At the upper grades, the assessment provides information about how a student is able to use and understand vocabulary within text. These assessments are robust and provide teachers with details of a student’s skills as a reader.

When your student takes the assessments at midyear, you may notice that your student’s performance percentile is lower. This is not uncommon for the midyear assessment period and may happen even if your child’s RIT score has increased. Minor score percentile inconsistencies are not uncommon from one testing period to the next.

The Third Grade Reading Legislation requires us to use this as one piece of information for determining whether a student would receive an Individual Reading Improvement Plan. This test represents one piece of data from a specific moment in time. Teachers continue to use data from the DRA (Developmental Reading Assessment) and other classroom assessments and tasks, alongside information from the MAP Growth assessments to develop a more complete picture of a student’s understanding and level of performance. In the coming weeks, teachers will review the results from our assessments to help plan their instruction to meet student needs.

We hope you find these reports informative. If you have questions, please contact your student’s teacher.

For more information about MAP Growth, visit: NWEA.org/Parent-Toolkit.

Students will have a 11:09 dismissal on Tuesday, 10/20 and Thursday, 10/22. Buses are anticipated to run on time, as only elementary students have a half day.

There are times that families need to contact various members of Sayre and SLCS staff. This document identifies the staff member that can assist in asking questions or addressing concerns. In most situations, the best person to contact is the person closest to the situation.

Following the steps listed in this document will yield a faster and more efficient resolution to questions or concerns.

This document will also be available on the Sayre website.

PLEASE LABEL EVERY PIECE OF YOUR CHILD’S CLOTHING! PLEASE Plan for the weather!

We are Michiganders and winter is coming! Please be sure to send your student with appropriate layers for the changing temperatures. Please make sure your child is dressed for the Michigan weather. Layers (hoodies/jackets/sweaters) are best in the cold mornings which turn to warm noondays. Please prepare to make sure they will have a hat, boots, gloves, mittens and snow pants during the winter months.

STUDENTS HAVE OUTDOOR RECESS WHEN THE WIND CHILL IS ZERO OR ABOVE. MAKE SURE TO PLAN WINTER CLOTHING ACCORDINGLY!

If you have a concern or are unable to provide a coat/hat/gloves/snowpants please let your classroom teacher know and they can connect you to Mr. V or other area support who help provide such necessities for SLCS children.

From the student handbook regarding cough drops and other over the counter medications not permitted at school without proper documentation:

Medication at School School district policy prohibits school personnel from administering any medication to students without a South Lyon Medication Form obtained from the office. This form must be signed by the parent/guardian with the signed physician’s order indicating drug name, dose, time, and method of administration, and the duration of treatment must be provided to the school. It is also recommended that possible side effects of a medication be indicated on the form. No over-the-counter drugs will be dispensed without the written order of a physician. This includes cough drops, sunscreen, or Tylenol. Please obtain a South Lyon Medication Form for over-the-counter drugs. Medication must remain in the school office for the duration it is used. Medication should be dropped off and picked up by the parents and not transferred by the student. Medication will be disposed of at the end of the year if it has not been picked up by a parent. NO CHILD IS ALLOWED TO KEEP MEDICATION WITH THEM (SUCH AS AN INHALER) DURING THE SCHOOL DAY UNLESS THE DOCTOR HAS INSTRUCTED THAT THE STUDENT CAN KEEP IT WITH THEM AT ALL TIMES. Medication Form

Our first Scholastic Book Fair of the year is here and starts Monday!

Students can shop during their scheduled library class time and can pay with cash or use eWallet—the easiest, cash-free way for kids to shop!

**PLEASE NOTE - Due to the two half-days that week - your child's shopping time may have been moved to MONDAY, October, 19th!**

**Be sure to confirm below**

Book Fair Shopping Dates & Times:

October 19: McAfee, Kulas, Logan, Falzon, Gonzales, Swanson, Monfette

October 20: Kissel, Guastella, Creason

October 21: McShane, Sommers, Malmstrom, Miller, Schlaff, Keys

October 22: Smith, Garland, Soper

October 23: Boo Bash! - Sayre Media Center, 6-8PM families welcome!

Set up your eWallet:

Click HERE to load your student's eWallet for safe, cash-free shopping

Interested in Volunteering at Book Fair?

CLICK SignUp Genius HERE to help @ Book Fair!

If you miss your library time or would like to shop in person, families are welcome to shop together next Friday evening at Boo Bash from 6:00-8:00PM!

Happy Reading!

WHO: Sayre Students, Sayre Parents/Guardians, and Sayre Staff

WHAT: Costume Parade

WHERE: The Costume Parade Route is the Sayre Playground Walking Track

WHEN: Friday, October 30, 2026 at 2:00 PM

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Families are invited to attend! Please park and join us around the back of the building and help form our parade route along the outside of our playground walking track. Students are permitted to wear costumes over their clothes (JK/K will wear them to school). No masks or weapons are permitted.

Families who are joining their students for the parade will not be permitted into the building. Only volunteers with a volunteer badge will be permitted to enter the building. This includes for bathroom use! If someone (besides a Sayre student) needs to use the restroom, they will have to use the porta-potty near the parking lot.

At Sayre, parking spaces are very limited. Please remember to be respectful of our neighbors if you decide to park along the street and please do not block mailboxes or driveways. Please give yourself enough time to park, walk to the school, and head to the playground. Please let your child and their Teacher know if you are going to be here to watch the parade. This helps eliminate some of the confusion with your student if the family is going to be there or not able to attend.

After the parade concludes you may sign your student out of school if you wish. The sign out process will be similar to signing out after the Color Run. Here is the process:

1. Prior to October 30, select “Oct. 30- Costume Parade Sign Out”

2. Students will return to the building to gather their belongings for Early Departure.

3. You will pick up your student at their playground door. Once you have your student, please return to your vehicle and depart, as our parking lot will need to be cleared out by 2:45 pm so we may conduct dismissal.

If you have questions or concerns please reach out to your student's teacher.

Remember you can view October’s menu online at SLCS.US or you can download the menu on your phone by using the below QR code – GOOD NEWS – the android app is now available!

Please check the website under Parents and Community for the District Approved Flyers for several upcoming events and opportunities for our Sayre students and their families.

Email: sayre@slcs.us
Website: slcs.us/sayre_elementary
Location: 23000 Valerie Street, South Lyon, MI, USA
Phone: 248-573-8500