Avalon Elementary School

Thursday, November 20th: Early Dismissal 2:15pm

Friday, November 21st: Breakfast with Buddies 7:40am

Wednesday, November 26th-Friday, November 28th: NO SCHOOL-Thanksgiving Break

Tuesday, December 2nd: Holiday Shop during school and in the evening

Thursday, December 18th: Concerts and Cookies at Elmwood

Thursday, December 18th: Early Dismissal 2:15pm

Monday, December 22nd-Friday, January 2nd: No School Winter Break

If you have not had a parent/teacher conference, please contact your child's teacher by email, phone call or Class Dojo. You can also call the main office at (586) 435-1000.

Join us for breakfast, November 21st! Students can bring a buddy! A buddy can be a parent, grandparent, aunt/uncle etc. What a fun morning we will have! Friday, November 14th is the last day to RSVP!

Breakfast with Buddies is coming soon! Please click below if you would like to volunteer. Also, please RSVP if you plan on attending the event on Friday, November 21st at 7:45am! (See attached)

VOLUNTEER https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C054BADAC29A0FBC34-59947093-breakfast

RSVP

https://forms.gle/qW918z1tX2JR3whVA

Please see the flyers for information regarding the Holiday Shop coming to Avalon sponsored by our South Lake Elementary PTO!

You can volunteer to help!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C054BADAC29A0FBC34-60228734-holiday

Our Concerts with Cookies Event is coming soon! Please see the flyers for more information! Please be sure to RSVP it helps us know how many supplies we need for the event! We are looking forward to it!

At Avalon, we teach our students about our “At School” behavioral expectations using the phrase, “The rule at school is…” We know that for our youngest learners, especially in grades K–2, it can be hard to understand that rules may change depending on where they are. The rules at home might be different from the rules at school—or even different from the rules at a friend’s house! That’s why we focus on what our school rules are and practice them every day.

Please take a moment to review the Behavior Matrix in this newsletter. It outlines the expectations we emphasize at Avalon. We remind students that if they feel uncomfortable, see something unkind, or notice something unsafe—either happening to them or to someone else—they should always go to an adult for help. While we encourage independence and problem-solving, students should never feel like they have to handle tough situations on their own.

At school, we expect everyone to use kind words and keep hands, feet, and objects to themselves—always (no matter who started it!). If students put their hands on someone else, both students are held accountable. Together, we can create a safe, respectful, and caring environment where all children can learn and grow!

PLEASE label your child's belongings! Our Lost and Found is growing! If your child's name is on their water bottles, lunchboxes and jackets/coats/sweatshirts...we can identify what belongings belong to your child and return them. ALL LOST and LOUND ITEMS will be donated on Tuesday, November 25th.

Please make sure that your child lets the teacher know if he/she is interested in this option!

Please make sure that your child knows if he/she is HOT LUNCH or COLD LUNCH.

Friday is PIZZA DAY. Extra pizza is $1.50. Please make sure to add money to your child's account!

We are so excited to announce changes that will make lunchtime smoother and easier for everyone. We are going CASHLESS in the cafeteria!

What does that mean?

It means that in order for your child to purchase an extra piece of pizza or any extra entree money must be added to their Meal Magic lunch account. (You will use e-funds to enter money into your child's account.)

Please make note that the money deposited in the lunch accounts can take up to 24 hours to appear, so make sure that the money is put in with enough time to appear for lunch. (For example if you put money in your child's account on Friday morning and want your child to get extra pizza at lunch, the money will NOT be available.)

ALSO PLEASE NOTE THAT STUDENTS CANNOT REQUEST AN EXTRA SLICE PAST 9:00AM. If for some reason your child will be late to school and wants extra pizza, you must call the office BEFORE 9am!

You will need your child’s Student ID number. You can access your child's PowerSchool account to get their ID Number. If you have difficulty retrieving their ID Number, please contact the main office 586-435-1000.

The link provided will allow you to set up their account if you have not done so already.

https://southlake.familyportal.cloud/

Any questions please contact Carrie Hall at chall@solake.org.

Join our Facebook Page! Search Avalon Elementary School! You can also join the South Lake Elementaries Facebook Page and the district page search South Lake Schools.

• Label your child's belongings
• Snacks can be sent daily
• Send in an extra set of clothes including underwear
• Send in a water bottle (Students can fill water bottles here at school)
• Call the office if your child is going to absent! (586) 435-1540
• Drop your child off in the parent loop from the passenger side rear door
• The parent loop is not a parking lot
• The front circle drive is for BUSES ONLY from 8:30- 8:45am and then from 3:15-3:45pm
• Check your emails and Class Dojo for important information

Kindergarten through 2nd grade students are little, but that doesn't mean they can't take care of their own needs for the most part! Here is what you can do to help your child become an independent student at school!

• Give your child opportunities to do chores around the house.
• Encourage your child to clean up after self (Bedroom, toys, clothes etc.)
• Provide wait time.
• Use first/then language. (First we do chores then we get to watch TV.)
• Carry own bag and put away belongings.
• Ask your child what he/she did at school that helped him/her be an independent students!

COMMUNICATION FROM AVALON ELEMENTARY

There are many ways to receive communication for your child’s school!

· Emails from Mrs. Saleh (msaleh@solake.org)

· Class Dojo from Mrs. Saleh (Avalon Elementary) Join Mrs. Saleh on Class Dojo using the link below!

https://www.classdojo.com/ul/p/addKid?target=school&schoolID=511a88ab56096ee212000d57

· Emails/Class Dojo from your child’s teacher

· Paper notes that go home in your child’s take home folder

· Avalon Elementary School Facebook Page

· South Lake Schools Facebook Page

IF YOU ARE NOT receiving emails from Melissa Saleh (msaleh@solake.org) please make sure that your email is updated in PowerSchool. If you are having trouble with email call Mrs. Casas, 586-435-1002 or pcasas@solake.org.

If you are interested in donating supplies, see the link below!

South Lake Schools offers bus transportation for all students. You can find the bus routes for the school year via the link provided below. If you have any transportation-related questions, please contact Renee at 586-435-1622. She can assist with locating the nearest bus stop to your home and answering any other transportation inquiries.

Avalon Procedures:

At Avalon, students are escorted off the bus by adults and brought to the library, where they line up according to their bus color. They are then escorted to their classrooms by grade level. At the end of the day, an adult will gather all bus-riding students from their classrooms, organize them by bus color, and escort them to the bus for dismissal. Any student that arrives at a bus stop at the end of the day without a parent for pick-up will be brought back to Avalon where parents will be called to arrange pick-up.

Bus Tags:
This year, students will wear a bus tag on their backpacks instead of a bus button. The tag will display the student's name and bus color and must be visible on their backpack. The tags will be provided at no cost, but if lost, a replacement tag will cost $2. These tags are essential for helping staff and bus drivers identify the correct bus for each child. A picture of the tag is provided below. Latch Key students will also wear a separate Latch Key tag.

Please be patient with our bus drivers in the first couple of weeks of school. Notice that there is a pick-up time on the website for each stop in the AM, however not in the PM. We suggest parents being early to the stop until they gauge the time the bus arrives in the first week. Transportation link/bus stops can be found in the link below.

Please note that we are no longer offering transportation between Elmwood and Avalon before or after school. If you have children at both locations, you will need to handle drop-off and pick-up at each site separately. Fortunately, the drive between Elmwood and Avalon is quite short.

There is a non-refundable registration fee of $40 per child, which must be paid along with the completion of required forms for your child to participate in the Latch Key program. You can pay this fee through e-funds using the link provided below. The necessary forms are also attached.

Great news! 2nd grade classrooms (ROSS, GALLAGHER, DORDA and KROTCHE) are all moved into their NEW classrooms! The classrooms are beautiful!

1st grade classrooms (OWENS and WOOD) are moved into their TEMPORARY Classrooms. Mrs. Korte has already moved into the library with her class and Ms. Kluge is already in a new classrooms! When our 1st grade students return from winter break, they will have brand new classrooms!

We still have many construction workers at our school during the day and in the evening. They are working hard to complete the classrooms and are touching up on things that need it! We are hoping that all construction will be completed by the time we go on winter break!

ALL GRADES please send in an extra set of clothing including socks and underwear. Kids have toileting accidents, spill accidents, falling on the playground accidents and many more! It is easier to have your child change into clothing that is already at school than having a parent leave work or home to bring clothes to school. Please put the clothing in a ziplock type bag and label it with your child's name. The bag of clothing can stay in your child's cubby at school or in his/her backpack.

Please remember to refer to the approved snack list items and the birthday sharing requirements! AT LUNCH, students may have foods packed from home like chips, cookies etc.

Snack list is below!

When it is your child's birthday, he/she can bring anything to school that is non-edible (No food.)

Many students bring pencils, stickers, and other party favors for students. These expectations were shared at the beginning of the school year.

The circle drive is CLOSED to cars from 8:30-8:50am and from 3:30-4:00pm daily.

Cars that pull in between buses are subject to a ticket from the SCS Police.

Students are walking the area to get on and off the buses. Please DO NOT cause a dangerous situation!

Please adhere to all parking signs and traffic rules when dropping off and picking up your child!

Door Entry #12, -Please use EASTLAWN street for parking or the back parking lot.

Door Entry #13, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19-Please use Pallister street and neighboring side streets for parking. You can enter the parent loop, but STAY in YOUR CAR! Adults will help students get out of the cars and on to the sidewalk safely.

Door Entry #20 and #21-Please use the main parking lot or Avalon street for parking. If you are using the parent loop, your child can enter door #18 and walk through the building.

PLEASE BE PATIENT. Student safety is our TOP PRIORITY!

Ms. Castro and Mrs. Gaffigan are in charge of the Bus Safeties and students getting off and getting on buses. Please be respectful to them when they ask you to exit the circle drive.

At Avalon we focus on positive behavior! Make sure you celebrate when your child brings home a PAWS...itive Referral!

I promise to Be KIND, Be STRONG and Be WELL in all that I do.

I promise to be RESPECTFUL to myself and to YOU.

I promise to be RESPONSIBLE for my actions and SAFE in all that I do.

This is my Avalon Promise to me and to YOU!

Our focus this month is on Gratitude! We are Grateful to be talking about Gratitude! Gratitude means choosing to appreciate the people and things in our lives. Can you remember a time when someone did something for you that made your day better or made you feel happy? You probably felt Gratitude for that person in that moment. This month, we will learn more about how to practice Gratitude and how to express it to others.

Please see the family letters!

Chicken Pox, Hand Foot and Mouth, Covid, Strep Throat, Ecoli, Giardiasis, Hepatitis A, Infulenza A or B, Measles-Mumps-Rubella, Meningitis (Viral and Bacterial), M-Pox (MPV), Nora-Virus (Stomach Flu), Polio, Salmonellosis, Tuberculosis, Typhoid Fever, Whopping Cough, West Nile Virus are all diseases that must be reported to the State of Michigan (Health Department.)

It is crucial to report this information to the school to keep other students and staff safe.

Absences and/or Late Arrivals

If your child will be absent or late, please contact the office to let us know. You can either call the attendance line @ 586-435-1540 or email Mrs. Saleh msaleh@solake.org or Mrs. Casas pcasas@solake.org. When leaving a message, please state the child's name, teacher's name, date of absence and reason for absence (i.e. child is ill with fever, cough, etc.) If your child has a doctor's appointment-ASK FOR A NOTE!

Remember attendance letters go out monthly when students have missed 10% of the school days. Families will receive a letter for student absences 4 days or more.

Be sure to order a Hot Lunch if they will be late and need a lunch. Orders must be in by 9:00 AM Thank you!!

Please be mindful of early pick ups as well. When you take your child out of school early, he/she is missing important learning!

Subject: 🌟 Meet Your New PTO Team

Dear South Lake Families and Staff,

We’re thrilled to introduce the new Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) team for the upcoming school year! Our PTO is dedicated to building a strong partnership between families and school staff to support our students and enrich their educational experience.

Meet the New PTO Team:

• President: Megan Laich (Veda, Watson and Baxter's mom)

• Vice President: Danielle Shefferly (Martin's mom)

• Secretary: Lisa York (Bella's mom)
• Treasurer: Kristin Arnold (Ben and Rosie's mom)

Why Join the PTO?

• Make a Difference: Help shape the school experience for all students.
• Build Community: Connect with other families, teachers, and staff.
• Stay Informed: Be in the know about school events, initiatives, and decisions.
• Share Your Talents: Use your skills to support fundraising, event planning, communications, and more.
• Have Fun: Be part of a positive, energetic team working toward a common goal!

📅 Next PTO Meeting: We’d love to see you!

• Date: Monday, December 15th

• Time: 6pm

• Location: Avalon Elementary

Here is the reoccurring Zoom link for the PTO meetings if you can't join us in person!

SOUTH LAKE ELEMENTARY PTO is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: PTO Meeting

Every month on the Second Mon, until Jun 8, 2026, 10 occurrence(s)

Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.

Monthly: https://zoom.us/meeting/tJYqcuqtrjwqG9QWjuRZzB_aWSQRFVjyQ3Yl/ics?icsToken=DHLBxrwqGNyZNSErfgAALAAAAOHx5VHqZdmRAjlOC5gppaWEDvQA6eUwxZERMzfF_taBhS8kFNRDrIUWteM9YgeKzVK5ez3A2_5E9PDIDTAwMDAwMQ&meetingMasterEventId=j8uemfDGTCWnB9U7wCsetw

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/92753507010

Meeting ID: 927 5350 7010

Interested in joining or learning more?

Please contact us at Elempto@solake.org

We look forward to working together to make this a fantastic year for our students!

Warm regards,

2025-2026 South Lake Elementary PTO

Hello families!

We are looking forward to our next event this month, Breakfast with Buddies! PLEASE MAKE SURE TO RSVP! Check out more fun things coming soon!

Remember an extra set of clothes to keep at school is helpful! Spills happen, accidents happen and recess messes happen!

Please label your child's belongings. Our students are little and sometimes forget what belongs to them.

Find us on Facebook! Search Avalon Elementary School! Also our PTO has a Facebook page! Search South Lake Elementaries PTO!

See you soon!

Mrs. Saleh

(586) 435-1001

msaleh@solake.org