Birney Bobcats Newsletter 9-21-25

We are beyond excited to share that our middle school students were officially welcomed into our brand-new House System—and the hype was unbelievable! From the moment the announcements were made to the energy in the hallways, the vibe in the building was electric. We’re sure your child came home buzzing about the experience!

This week, it’s our 3rd through 5th graders turn to spin the famous House Wheel and find out which House they will proudly represent. We can’t wait to see their reactions and the excitement continue to grow.

The House System is more than just fun—it’s a powerful way to build a positive culture and climate at Birney K-8. Through friendly competition, team spirit, and community-building activities, we are laying the foundation for a stronger, more connected school family.

Thank you for your continued support as we launch this exciting new chapter!

Count Day is coming up on Wednesday, October 1st, and we need every student to be present and accounted for! Attendance on Count Day is very important for our school, and we encourage you to make sure your child is on time not just for this day, but every day.

To make Count Day extra exciting, we will be raffling off some amazing prizes for students who are in their seat and ready to learn on Wednesday morning!

Remember:

• Our doors open at 8:25 a.m. for breakfast

• Instruction starts at 8:45 a.m. sharp

Our 4th graders had an awesome time on their first field trip of the year! It was such a joy to watch them explore, experiment, and discover — we truly have a group of future scientists in the making. Each science activity sparked curiosity and kept our students engaged and excited to learn.

A huge thank you to the parents and guardians who volunteered to chaperone — we couldn’t have done it without you! Your support helps make these experiences possible and meaningful for our students.

We’re looking forward to more adventures and opportunities to bring learning to life this school year!

Monday, September 22nd 3rd -5th Grade House System Kickoff

Wednesday, October 1st -Count Day

Monday, October 6th -Kickoff of Our Pizza Fundraiser -Stay tuned for details...

• We are closely tracking our students' attendance. Unless it is an urgent matter, please do not pick up your child early from school. The cut off time for early dismissal for K-5 is 3:00 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. for middle school. We are mandated to provide 1098 instructional hours for every student. If this is habitual, we are required to elevate the issue for immediate intervention.
• All K-5 transactions will take place through Door 7 (Counseling Center).
• All middle school transactions will take place through Door 1 (Main Office) or Door 18 if you need to enter the building.
• Parents, you are no longer allowed in the building to escort your child to class. You must sign in and receive a visitors pass, if you are expected to be in the building.
• K-5 will engage in a new reading curriculum -Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA). It's a researched based curriculum that's aligned to Science of Reading.
• If your child has dog allergies or a severe phobia, please email or call Kim Pritchett, Vice Principal at kimberly.pritchett@southfieldk12.org or 248-746-8800. Our school's comfort support animal Cody Jay is working to get reacclimated to the Birney K-8 environment.

Our teachers are working hard every day to raise student achievement — but we know this important work can’t be done without your support at home. Together, we can help our students become stronger, more confident readers!

Here’s a simple strategy you can try at home to boost reading confidence and comprehension:

• Create a reading routine: Set aside time each day to read aloud together.

• Encourage independent reading: Offer books at your child’s reading level to help them grow at their own pace.

• Build vocabulary through discussion: Talk about new words and ask questions about what you read.

• Practice reading strategies: Try repeated reading (reading the same text multiple times) and summarizing stories to build fluency and comprehension.

Your partnership makes a big difference. When school and home work together, our students thrive!

If your child is in grades 3-8 and took the MSTEP Assessment this Spring, you will receive a hard copy, this week of the results and a letter from the State Superintendent Dr. Rice.

We are excited to share that our students have already begun focusing on College and Career Readiness here at Birney K-8! During the very first week of school, our 8th graders participated in an interview process designed to help them set goals and start thinking about their future.

A huge shout out to Mrs. Daniels for her forward thinking and dedication in creating this meaningful opportunity for our students. Experiences like this help prepare them not just for college and careers, but for life beyond the classroom.

We are proud of our students for taking this first step toward their future success and can’t wait to see how they continue to grow this school year!