Fire Safety Week

I am sure many of you noticed over the past month that your student has been talking more and more about fire safety - including checking your smoke detectors, having an exit plan, where to meet when you get out of your house, etc...  I spoke with many parents who got the message from their young children.  That comes from Fire Safety week, which culminated on October 12 with the fireman assembly.  The highlight for me was watching a couple of staff members dress up as fireman.  The highlight for the kids was...well you can see below.

 Mrs. Reaume Gettting geared up to fight fire!

 Mrs. Reaume, is that heavy?

How far can that water go?

We must say thank you to firefighter's John and Randy and the
Ash Township Fire Department for giving us a great experience!!!

MEAP is upon us....

The MEAP can be a very stressful time for some students.  Others find it fun and exciting (I'm not sure I am one of those).  Still others just want to get through it as fast as they can.  Unfortunately, like it or not, MEAP is a state requirement for all 3rd-5th grade students.  The scores are assigned not only to your child, but to our school as a whole - these scores help determine our ranking on the state Top-to-Bottom list.  It is important for all of us (parents, students, and staff members) to help our students do their best.  Below are some things that can help you prepare your child for the MEAP.  We will also be doing some things at school to help.  First, the Eyler PTO will be providing breakfast for students on their test days.  Second, we will be having spirit days throughout the MEAP.  Finally, we will be providing some incentive for our students to be successful on the MEAP.

Monday (No Test) - we will BEAT THE MEAP as a TEAM - wear your favorite sports shirt or jersey!

Tuesday - Reading MEAP (3rd-5th grade) - Words on your shirt day!

Wednesday - Reading MEAP (3rd-5th grade) - Wear a button with words on it!

Thursday - Writing MEAP (4th Grade) - Write our best!

Tuesday Oct. 16 - Math MEAP (3rd-5th Grade) - Numbers on your shirt day!

Wednesday Oct. 17 - Writing MEAP (4th Grade) and Science MEAP (5th Grade) - Animal cloths day! 

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR STUDENTS COME TO SCHOOL ON TIME EACH DAY!!!

Ways you can help your child do 

their best on Testing days 

·  Learn everything you can about the test your child will be taking. Talk with her about the kinds of questions that may appear on the exam.

·Provide words of encouragement to your child, be their biggest cheerleader! Encouraging words can go a long way, slip a note of encouragement in their lunchbox or backpack and let them know you are rooting for them to do their best!

·  Watch for anxious behaviors in your child and discuss any anxiety they may be feeling about taking the MEAP.

·  Acknowledge that tests are stressful. But emphasize that, with preparation, your child will be ready for the challenge.

·  Sleep. Make sure your child gets enough sleep the night before the test, and send him off with a good breakfast. Avoid any conflicts on the morning of the test.

·  Support. Assure your child that if he's done his best, both you and he can be satisfied. 

Additional Resources available to parents:

http://www.metroparent.com/Metro-Parent/October-2011/MEAP-Test-Taking-Tips-for-Kids/  This is a great article that talks about test taking strategies to use while taking the MEAP

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/5ssrel99_94494_7.pdf

http://mmc.edzone.net/documents/debwahlstrom/Using%20MEAP%20Released%20Test%20Items%20WORKSHOP%20VERSION.pdf

This web page offers some previous MEAP questions for your child to practice.

Showing our Spirit....

Last week was Spirit week and it gave the students (and teachers) a chance to show off their school spirit.

What an exciting week that was capped off with the high school football players and cheerleaders coming over to show the kids some cheers and some passing - as well as pass out a few wrist bands for the kids.

 Jets QB Brandon Potcova throws passes to several Eyler boys!

Some of the Eyler girls show off their cheer to show their school spirit!

Even Mr. Roberts showed off his school spirit! 

PTO AND STUDENTS HELPING WITH THE FLOAT!

THEIR WORK PAID OFF - WHAT A GREAT FLOAT!!!

Finally here...The first week of school!!

I wasn't sure we were going to get everything ready for the first day of school (I am pretty sure I am not the only one that had some concerns), but we made it...well except for Kim, Lori, and I in the office. We had a great first week of school.  All the classrooms were in perfect condition as the students arrived Tuesday morning and the looks on their faces as they entered the building and walked around for the first time was incredible.  The building truly does look brand new and the kids deserve it.  Below are pictures of our first week in the classroom, I look for many more exciting days ahead.

 Mrs. Cote instructs her and Eyler's first computer class.

 Mrs. Mooney providing whole group instruction.

 Mrs. Trombley in her newly designed room - look, no desks!!!

Healthy, yummy lunches are part of back to school.

 Learning takes place in Mrs. Kayal's class...even on the first day of school!

 Students in Mrs. Green's class working together.

 Mrs. Reaume teaching her kindergarten the routines of school!

Mrs. Carmack provides fun examples to explain the rules of school.

Preparing for school...

I took a little walk through the building this morning to see how the construction and the preparations for school (Doug and Tony) are going.  I was pleasantly surprised as I walked through the building.

The paving has begun on the new parking lot on the west side of the building!!

New tile in the hallways adds for a new look!

New bathroom tile and look in the bathrooms!

New ceiling tiles, lights, and fire alarm system!

One casualty of construction...the 'E' in the gym:

Construction - 2012

As most of you know this summer Eyler, as with most of Airport Community Schools, has undergone major changes thanks to the passing of the bond issue in February of 2011.  These changes were for several reasons, including safety (entrance to buildings), energy efficiency (heating and cooling systems), usability (bathrooms and new paved parking lot), and aesthetics (new floors in hallways, ceilings, lighting, etc…). All projects are moving along as planned and we will be ready for school on September 4th! There are too many projects to write about each one, so I will let the pictures do the talking for me.

 My first look as I entered the building was a little scary!

Hard hats required to walk around the building!

 Redesigned front entrance, so all visitors will have to go through office before entering building.

Redesigned entrance to preschool and bright beginnings to provide waiting area for families inside, but no access to the rest of the building!

Progress on the bathrooms - new floors and ventilation system.

Redesigned main office - it has walls now!!!

 New paint and Smartboard in the Bright Beginnings room - and new ceilings for all classrooms!

New paint in the preschool room!

 3rd Grade co-Taught room new paint and new floors - toilets not permanent!

 New paint in 3rd grade co-taught room!

3rd grade co-taught room with portion of wall removed!

Redesigned entrance into gym and new cafeteria tables!

Summer 2012

At the start of school years we (teachers) notice a drop in student achievement levels from where they left off the previous year. This drop is often created by simply not practicing what was already learned for a significant period of time.

I often times use sport analogies to explain my points and this is an excellent time for one. The summer learning gap is similar to that of a basketball player. The basketball season is traditionally played from November until March. Basketball players practice every day shooting, dribbling, and defense, but when March comes many of those players stop until the next season. When November comes the players that stop practicing don't shot as well as they did in March or will in the coming months since they are practicing every day. This is the same with reading, math, or anything a student learns.

Mrs. Dishaw working with a group of students!

To help students (and parents) Eyler is running a summer skills program two days a week. Eyler's summer bridge program has provided opportunities for students to work with Mrs. Russell (reading), Ms. Andrews (math), and Mrs. Dishaw (anything you want to learn) on reading and math skills - along with the students' parents.  We meet four separate times at either Frenchtown Estates community center or at the Carleton library.  Students have been able to get a head start on our new educational software program, SUCCESSMAKER, and now have a login to use at home as well.  The summer program was only for certain students who qualified, but next summer we plan to offer to the entire school.

Mrs. Russell work on SuccessMaker!!

If you are not able to attend there are several things you can do at home to help your student such as...

1) Read a book to your child

2) Have your child read to you

3) Play the card game War - use two cards at a time

4) For younger children have them read signs while you drive

If there are other things you try at home please share them with others!

 Mrs. Andrews playing a math game with three students!

One of our parents working on SuccessMaker with his son!!