Our reasons for undertaking this change include: 1) the elementary principal can be more effective working in one location, 2) 6^th grade students who are grouped with other elementary students experience fewer behavior problems and better academic success, and 3) all services will be more accessible to all students.

We would like to offer all parents the opportunity to learn more about the upcoming changes, and share any concerns with the staff.  Tuesday, May 24 we will be hosting a meeting at 5pm in the elementary multi-purpose room for parents to talk with us about the transition forward to our next school year.  We hope to see you at the meeting!

Your involvement in your child’s educational experiences at school is extremely important. Not only does it show that you are willing to help and do what it takes to help your child succeed, it also shows your child that you care enough to take the time to be involved in an important part of their daily life. Here are just a few reasons for why you should to be involved with how your child’s doing in school:

1.  How and what they do in school can affect their behavior in other aspects of their life.  A child’s success or failure (more specifically failure) in the classroom can affect a child’s physical and emotional behavior. If as a parent, you are unaware of slipping grades or lunch bullies, you may not understand why your child is behaving differently when they are at home.

2.  Sometimes teachers are aware and catch things that parents might miss.  Since teachers spend most of the day with children they might be able to offer some helpful insight into why a child is acting up when they come home, or why they don’t want to stay and eat lunch at school, or why they hate reading.  Open lines of positive communication bet ween you and your child’s teacher will help you know what is happening at school.

3.  Helping them at home is directly related to how well they do during the day.  If your child brings home an assignment, but you have neglected to show interest in what they’re doing in school, will you be able to offer much help with that assignment, or will you even be asked for help in the first place?  Quite often assignments that are sent home by teachers, are sent home with the understanding that and sometimes the expectation that parents will help the child work on the assignment.

4.  It shows your child that you care about what they’re doing.  It gives them a sense of responsibility to someone and tells them that someone cares whether they fail or succeed.  This is so important to children today, as technology and society allows them to become more and more self-reliant.  A good sense of responsibility to others helps all children become successful participants in the world around them.

Although the recognition and rewards are about to end, the reading must continue.  Below are just a few statistics which highlight the importance of making reading a priority for families.  The staff at Inland Lakes is dedicated to helping all families make reading a daily occurrence at home.  Our teachers have many books available for students to take home, as well as the vast selection in our schools’ libraries.  All children at Inland Lakes Elementary have the opportunity to take books home to read, lets help them take advantage of these opportunities.

*Students who reported having all four types of reading materials (books, magazines, newspapers, encyclopedias) in their home scored, on average, higher than those who reported having fewer reading materials.

*Good readers in 5th grade may read 10 times as many words as poor readers during a school year.

This past Friday, Inland Lakes Elementary students grades 4-5-6 witnessed one of the most exciting presentations our school has seen in a long time.  With funding from our county prosecutor Daryl Vizina, we were able to host the high energy Jim Linehan Dance Troupe at Inland Lakes Schools.   All the way from New York City, the troupe  performed outstanding hip-hop dance routines, and spoke about the need to stay away from drugs, tobacco, and alcohol if you want to meet the goals you set for yourself.

The final message the troupe taught our students was to be true to themselves and believe that no one else can or should determine the choses they make for themselves or how they feel about themselves.

After carefully analyzing all testing results and other important student data with much deliberateness, students were placed in the appropriate reading groups that best meets his/her reading skills.  Each group is taught by a qualified teacher and/or para-professional.  The groups will be ‘flexible’ (meaning student movement will take place when student growth or lack of growth is determined) and teachers will meet regularly to be certain of each student’s placement.

If you should have any questions please do not hesitate to ask.

This is the mission statement for the newly formed Upper Elementary Council on Bullying which held their first meeting this past Friday.  The council is made up of approximately 12 students, Mrs. Bruning, School Success Coach, and Mr. Van Vuren.

During their first meeting, the council discussed possible ways to help reduce bullying in Inland Lakes Elementary.  When the discussions finished the council decided on two specific strategies for reducing bullying:

1.  Educating students about how to be a good person

2.  Providing help for students who are being bullied

The council also talked about the need to help students identify the difference between bullying and a one time negative incident.  Many council members shared good ideas about how to help their fellow classmates identify bullying behavior and how to deal with being bullied.  During their next meeting, the council is going to work on creating posters that will share their ideas with all students.

This past Friday night, we hosted a Book Bingo Night that was well attended by many K-6 students and their parents.  All who participated enjoyed a complimentary bag of popcorn and drink while playing games of bingo in hopes of winning books to take home.

Another reading related chance to help at Inland Lakes Elementary is to volunteer for our upcoming Scholastic Book Fairs.  Interested parents and grandparents may sign up to work a 2 hour time period.  Flyers were sent home this past week with dates and contact information, sign-up sheets are located in both the elementary and secondary libraries, or you may call Donna Powers, media para-professional, at 238.6868 ext. 9105.  All volunteers are encouraged to attend the Meet & Greet on January 28, 3pm – 4pm in the Secondary School Library.  Many volunteers are needed to make this a successful event.

The Book Fairs run the week of February 21 both during school and during Parent-Teacher Conferences.  In addition to providing an opportunity for families to purchase books at discounted prices, the Book Fairs also give the schools to a chance to improve their offerings for the students.

January 28:  Report Cards Go Home

January 28:  MIBLSi Reward Day

February 4:  5th Graders to Petoskey Winter Sports Park

February 5:  Shrine Circus for 6th Graders

February 11:  Jump Rope for Heart Performance

February 11: Early Release Day

February 14:  Wrap You Community in Love Activity Day

February 18:  Family Night at the Book Fair, 6pm to 8pm

February 21-24:  Book Fair

February 22:  Parent/Teacher Conferences, 6pm to 9pm

February 23:  Parent/Teacher Conferences, 4pm to 7pm

February 24:  Mid Winter Break Begins at Noon

March 1:  Read-A-Thon Kick-Off