Volunteer Breakfast will be Wednesday May 27th.

Swine Flu Update, click here for more information.

Summer School Information- We have prepared a short list of commonly asked questions about summer school for your reference.

HOMEWORK HELP!!!

The Ann Arbor District Library now has available live online homework help for students grades 3 and up. It is available 7 days a week from 2pm-11pm at any library location (during open hours) or from home with your library card.
Chat online with live tutors who will help students: understand homework problems, build skills and critique your writing. Help is available in Spanish and English.
Homework Help is powered by Brainfuse and is available with tutoring in these elementary, middle school and high school subjects, including Advanced Placement:
• English/language arts
• Writing lab (submit your paper or resume for critique)
• Math (including Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Trigonometry and Calculus)
• Science (including Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Earth Science)
• Social Studies
Live online AADL.ORG/HOMEWORK

The Downtown Library is also hosting onsite tutoring by the University of Michigan's Circle K on Wednesdays from 4-8pm for school aged children in the story center. For more information contact the youth desk at 327-8301.

Do you ever wonder how much to share with your kids?
As election day draws near and the rhetoric escalates, I sometimes wonder how much to share with my kids. I want to protect them from bias, but I also want them to be informed at an age-appropriate level. What to do?
Remember: every moment is a teachable moment.

Talking Politics with your Children
Chick Moorman and Thomas Haller once again offer sound advice for challenging times. Click below to read great ideas about talking politics with your children. Suggestions include respecting different viewpoints, asking questions to help your child shape opinions, and taking your kids to the polls to see democracy in action.
Article: Talking politics with your children
Need a little hope for democracy?
You might enjoy this little story.
A hope we can believe in
A Special Invitation: Join the conversation
I've launched a new interactive website:
BeyondJustMom.com: Reflections on family, faith and the flux of life. . . for thinking women (and a few brave men)

This site will include parenting tips and personal reflections. You may agree or disagree with my point of view, and that is welcome. My hope is to open up dialogue and respectful discourse on sometimes touchy topics so we can learn from one another.

Sound interesting? If so, please visit, add your comments to the conversation, and subscribe to the posts!
Visit BeyondJustMom.com
Schedule winter programs now
I'm working on some new programs that will be offered this winter:
-What happened to my great kid? Dealing with Adolescent Angst
-Achieving with the Attraction Principle
Have you ever thought about offering a program at your worksplace, school, neighborhood or community? Winter is a great time to give families a boost through the dark days.
Reply now and let's start planning.
Check out new program options
Contact me if you have any comments, questions or suggestions.
Enjoy Halloween, Election Day and the holidays to come!
Pam

Your school could win 10,000 Bonus Box Tops!
Dicken has won money through these sweepstakes before.  If you have the time, request the email reminder to enter each day.  When you open the reminder, you click one button to complete your daily entry.  It's that easy!  Click here to go to their website!  BoxTopsforEducation


Look to the links at the left for the letter for parents and staff regarding the security assessment.


We are very happy to announce that Dicken Elementary School is now teamed up with Plum Market for the SCRIP (or E.G.G.S.) program.

Plum Market is located on 375 N. Maple Street in Ann Arbor (827-5000).  They feature a wonderful selection of fresh fruits and vegetables along with a beautiful display of fish, poultry and meats.  They also like to feature locally made products and support other locally owned businesses.

Plum Market will provide Dicken with a check of 5% of total bill accumulated just by using their SCRIP cards.  SCRIP cards can be picked up and reloaded ONLY at their Guest Relations Counter.  If you plan to shop at this Market, please stop by the guest relations counter and receive a Scrip card to be used each time you shop there.

Thank you for helping to support our school!!

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call Cindy (369-3075) or email Cindylec@umich.edu


SISS Transition Forum Flyer now in link on left!


PLEASE TAKE SPECIAL NOTE OF SCHOOL DROP-OFF AND PICK-UP PROCEDURES - 2008

*    Please be mindful to use only the Carol Street parking lot for dropping off and picking up students.
*    You may ONLY park your car in the AVAILABLE PARKING SPOTS to escort your child to the door, if you wish.
*   Please DO NOT PARK or leave your vehicle unattended at the curb of any of the Dicken School parking areas. There have been several reports of children nearly being hit by vehicles unable to see because of cars parked at the curb(s).  REMEMBER:  A yellow curb means no parking per Ann Arbor City ordinance.  All of the curbs at Dicken are yellow.
*    Cones will be placed at the Runnymede Blvd. entrance of the school to stop vehicles (with the exception of school buses) from approaching the building during drop-off and pick-up times.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION!


AAPS is now using a system called MealpayPlus to handle online meal payment for our families.  The web site is http://www.mealpayplus.com/ and we have more information about the system on the district web site: http://www.aaps.k12.mi.us/aaps.forparents/mealpayplus_information.


Dicken Calendar, always up to date, click here!   Or look to links on left!


New Safety Letter on website!


New Comments/Guestbook on website!  Click on link at bottom of page to leave us your comments about the website!  (What do you like?  What do you think can be improved?)


Calling all lunch hour supervisors!  Would you like to spend one hour or 1.5 hrs. per day with some wonderful Dicken Dolphins?!  Now is your chance.  We are seeking additional lunchtime supervisors.  You will get paid, and you do not have to work every day.  We are currently short staff, and would sincerely appreciate a few more good workers who would enjoy working with our students.  Please call Karen Jones, lunch hour coordinator at 994-1928 if you are interested. There is necessary paperwork and required fingerprinting that you will need to do, but it does not require much time.  Our Dicken Dolphins need you!


Log onto www.Boxtops4education.com to enter into monthly sweepstakes for chances to to win Bonus Boxtops!

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Lunch Balance Notifications
Yahoo email accounts "block" POS (AAPS/Chartwell software system for billing) automatic notifications. Yahoo responds as if it's spam.  Parents with Yahoo accounts can still log on to their POS account to check on the status of the fund balances they just can't receive the automatic reminders.


We love our Dicken families!  But, we do need to ask our parents and babysitters who have strollers, to either park them outside of the school before you enter, or stroll them along side of our hallways.  The hallways are getting congested especially near the end of the day.  We have a number of classes who are returning from special area classes during that time.  Today we did have a collision.  Fortunately, no one was hurt.  We want to keep ALL of our kids safe, even our toddlers!  Thank you for understanding.

Please, please, please, do not drop off or pick up our students in front of the school, unless it is quite early or late, and your child attends childcare. We have had some close calls that could have  injured our students with cars moving too quickly, or children walking away from their parents in this area. The Carol Street Lot is for pick-up and drop-off. This also includes our dear kindergartners.  ALL of our students and staff thank you for understanding that we must keep safety at the top of our list.


TUITION PRE-SCHOOLS ARE UP AND RUNNING

This fall the Ann Arbor Public Schools opened new tuition pre-schools at Allen and Thurston elementary schools.  The pre-schools are housed in outstanding new classrooms that were especially designed for young children.  Although the programs are new, the curriculum and design are the result of the district's long-term experience with pre-school education at the Pre-School and Family Center.  Serving 3 ½ and 4 year olds, the teachers utilize Dialogic Reading, Pre-School Everyday Math, and other curricula that promote developmentally appropriate learning opportunities.  Parents may choose from five scheduling options, including both full day and half-day programs. New enrollments are welcomed throughout the year.   For further information, check out the district's website (preschool.a2schools.org) or call 994-2234.