MICHIGAN AVENUE ELEMENTARY
PUPPY TALES
District Mission Statement: Education
Which Inspires All To Their Highest
Potential.
MAE Mission Statement: MAE is a Place
where Cooperative Active Learners are
Responsible for their Educational Success.
(MAE CARES)
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FROM ADMINISTRATION
FCAT is over! Our 3rd-5th Grade students
“tried their best” on FCAT Reading, Math,
and Science. We THANK OUR
TEACHERS WHO WORKED SO
HARD PREPARING THE STUDENTS
FOR FCAT! In 5 days of testing, there
was only ONE TARDY! HOORAY! We
also had 8 classes who had Perfect
Attendance! ANOTHER HOORAY!
Thank you to our many parents who
served as FCAT Proctors! Hopefully,
students’ FCAT scores will be returned
before the last day of school. Our school
grade will be announced at the end of June.
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The students at MAE have shown incredible
perseverance so far this year. Our 3rd, 4th,
and 5th grade students “survived” FCAT
and were up to the challenge. Now the
real test starts……... Will your child
continue to give his/her best effort
until the last day of school? The
teachers have much to cover this last quarter
of school. Studies indicate that children tend
to slack off during the last quarter of school
because they think they have “made it to the
next grade level”. Negative attitudes can
start developing toward homework and
grades. As a result, the child’s learning and
his/her grades may plummet!
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What can you do as a parent to ensure
your child is academically successful for
the remaining days of this school year?
April, 2009
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*Solve the homework dawdling problem by
setting the timer and challenge your child to
finish before the timer goes off!
*Respect your child’s study time. That may
mean no television for him/her which will
keep distractions at a minimum.
The last thought I would like to leave with
you is …there is no such thing as “no
homework”. Each night, children can
READ, review their math facts, READ,
practice writing, and READ!
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With spring weather and warm temperatures
upon us, I wanted to remind you of our
Osceola County Uniform Policy:
*PLEASE send your child to school with
his/her shirts tucked into the waistband of
the pants or skirts.
*The hem of girls’ skirts, dresses, and
shorts (back and front) shall be no
shorter than the tip of the fingers when
both arms are extended by the side.
*The size of shirts and pants must be
appropriate to the students’ body size and
not oversized or undersized.
*Flip-flops and sandals shall not be worn.
Shoes must have a closed toe and heel to
protect the entire foot.
*Pants or shorts with belt loops must be
worn with a belt so that the waistband is
worn at the waist and not below.
*Encourage your child to persevere. Tell
him/her to keep on trying and don’t give up!
The School District of Osceola
County, Florida
Student Achievement - Our Number
One Priority
*Hats/caps shall not be worn with the
exception of field day/field trips (if the
teacher permits).
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EDUCATION IN THE PARK
The Osceola School District proudly hosts
its annual free Education in the Park
event on Saturday, April 25, at
Kissimmee’s South Lakefront Park from
10 am-3 pm. Highlights of the event will
include:
* Educational displays featuring over 100
interactive booths showcasing Osceola’s
public and charter schools, as well as
numerous district-wide programs and
community youth organizations
*Nickelodeon Hotel fun, games, and
characters for kids of all ages to enjoy
*Radio Disney fun and games and Artist
Jordan Pruitt! Jordan has endured great
success since the release of her Hollywood
Records debut album, "No Ordinary Girl.”
Jordan’s second album "Permission to Fly",
is currently in limited release and Jordan has
toured with “The Jonas Brothers,” “The
Cheetah Girls”, Vanessa Hudgens, and the
sold-out “High School Musical: The
Concert” along with many others.
*FREE family fun – KUA Kids Area,
Moon Walks, Rock Climbing Wall, Velcro
Wall, Bungee Jump, Face Painting, Balloon
Artists, and more!
Our school will have a booth at
Education in the Park manned by
MAE staff members. Please come by
and check out our booth filled with
students’ work. Children will make
totem poles and bookmarks.
There will be free admission and free
parking. A free shuttle to and from the
lakefront can be found in the county
parking lots beside the Courthouse.
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Los padres y estudiantes de (Name of your
School) están invitados a “Educación en el
Parque”, un evento gratis y divertido para la
familia auspiciado por el Distrito Escolar de
Osceola el 25 de abril del 2009, desde las
10:00 a.m. hasta las 3:00 p.m. en “South
Lakefront Park” en Kissimmee. Eventos
importantes incluirán:
interacción destacando a las escuelas
públicas y “charter” de Osceola así como
también programas del distrito y
organizaciones de jóvenes de la comunidad!
Nickelodeon para el deleite de niños de
todas las edades!
además de Jordan Pruitt!
Jordan ha tenido un gran éxito desde que
salió a la venta su primer álbum No
Ordinary Girl de la casa disquera Hollywood
Records. Pero una gira musical a través del
país y una serie de exitosa de discos
sencillos fue solo el comienzo. El segundo
álbum de Jordan, Permission to Fly,
actualmente ha salido limitadamente a la
venta y recientemente ella terminó su
presentación en 2008 Gymnastics’
Superstars Tour. Jordan ha estado de gira
con The Jonas Brothers, The Cheetah Girls,
Vanessa Hudgens y High School Musical:
The Concert y muchos más.
¡Además de mucha diversión familiar
GRATIS- área de niños de KUA con Casa
de Saltos, Escalamiento de Pared de Rocas,
Pared de Velcro, Salto “Bungee”, Pintura de
la Cara, Artistas de Globos y más!
¡Vengan y disfruten de un día lleno de
diversión en el evento más grande dirigido a
los estudiantes del condado Osceola,
Educación en el Parque! Como siempre,
habrá admisión y transportación gratis.
Pueden encontrar el autobús gratis desde y
hasta el Lakefront Park en los terrenos de
estacionamiento al lado de la corte – tomen
este autobús para que no tengan problemas
de estacionamiento.
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SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL
INFORMATION
The School Advisory Council (SAC)
Meeting was held on Tuesday, March 3, at
7:30 am. Minutes and budget were read and
approved. Mrs. Lawson reminded members
that the April 21 SAC Meeting would be at
the REJE campus. After the meeting
members will work on the evaluation of the
2008-2009 School Improvement Plans. This
will be followed by members writing the
2009-2010 School Improvement Plans. All
district teachers will take another climate
survey because the district has added/deleted
questions on the original teacher online
survey. Our teachers will complete the new
survey on Wednesday, March 25, in the
media center. Mrs. Lawson will facilitate
the process. Mr. Toothe shared the findings
from our school’s Safety and Security Audit.
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WALT DISNEY’S
DREAMER AND DOER
Each year our school selects a student from
the 5th Grade as the Walt Disney Dreamer
and Doer. This program recognizes students
who have demonstrated outstanding efforts
in citizenship, academics, and involvement
in school and community activities and
events. Students who wish to be the school
representative have to write an essay
explaining why they want this special
recognition. Based on the essay as well as
the students’ participation in school and
community activities, the following 5th
Grade students have been selected as the
2008-2009 Disney Dreamer and Doers
from their homerooms:
Mrs. Braun:
Mrs. Hauser:
Mrs. Lawson:
Mrs. McCormick:
Mrs. Timmerman:
Elaina Davis
Hannah Runnels
Alex Knipe
Kacie Johnson
Rashelle Catalano
The 2008-2009 School Disney Dreamer
and Doer is KACIE JOHNSON! Disney
will review all the Dreamer and Doer
applications from elementary schools in
Osceola County and select only 3 students to
attend the 2008-2009 Walt Disney Dreamer
and Doer recognition in May.
CONGRATULATIONS TO KACIE
JOHNSON and our 5th Grade Homeroom
Representatives!
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CURRICULUM INFORMATION
KINDERGARTEN ROUND-UP
Our school will have a Kindergarten
Roundup Family Night on Thursday,
April 30, from 5:30-7 p.m. We will have a
Power point presentation about
“Kindergarten”, important speakers in the
cafeteria talking about how to be a school
volunteer, how to enroll your child in
“extended day”, etc., and staff who will
process registrations for the 2009-2010
school year. Please spread the news about
the Kindergarten Roundup Orientation,
on Thursday, April 30, to your relatives,
neighbors, daycare providers, and church
friends.
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THIRD GRADE NEWS
Mrs. Triplett would like students to send in
their empty juice pouches and Capri Sun
containers. The process is simple…. We are
recycling the pouches and Capri Sun
containers into purses and backpacks! This
is called Terracycling. Please support our
efforts in bringing in the above items to
help raise money for our classrooms and
school.
FIFTH GRADE NEWS
For a month, students have been busy
writing and practicing speeches in
competition for the annual 4-H Tropicana
Speech Contest. The following are the
TOP 12 FINALISTS who presented their
speeches to three judges, from the local
community, on Thursday, March 26:
Mrs. Braun's Class
1st Place - Kaley Rivera
2nd Place - Edriana Tavares
3rd Place - Victoria Singh
Honorable mention: Skylin Benedetto
Mrs. Hauser's Class
1st Place - Joshua Karshner
2nd Place - Andrea Aguilar
3rd Place - Elijah Moser
Honorable mention: Kyle Carpenter
Mrs. Lawson's Class
1st Place - Jacob Baldwin
2nd Place - Destiny Fraizer
3rd Place - Jazmine Ramierz
Honorable mention: Chase Ritter
Mrs. Timmerman's Class
1st Place - Vanessa Barrios
2nd Place - Matthew Suarez
3rd Place - Gabby Betancourt
Honorable mention: Andrea Young
CONGRATULATIONS to the
WINNER and RUNNER UPS:
First Place:
Kaley Rivera
Second Place: Edriana Tavarez
Third Place: Jacob Baldwin
CONGRATULATIONS TO KALEY
RIVERA, the Runner-ups, and
homeroom finalists!
Kaley Rivera will represent our school at the
District 4-H Tropicana Speech Contest.
Mrs. Hauser, 5th Grade Science Teacher,
was awarded funding for the “Japanese
Kite Festival” Grant. Through this grant,
the 5th Grade students will learn scientific
and mathematical principles, through handson activities, in the context of history and
culture. With the design and construction of
kites, students will explore the principles of
flight. The culminating activity allows the
students to participate in an authentic
Japanese Kite Festival, complete with
Japanese food, customs, dress, and
traditional fighter and box kites.
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ART NEWS
Linda Robinson, Art Teacher
Congratulations to the following students for
having their artwork displayed at the 19th
Annual Osceola County Student Exhibit:
Kacie Johnson :
5th Grade
Federico Ramirez:
4th Grade
Brooke Grno:
4th Grade
Lisa Corbo:
4th Grade
Ciera Enberg:
3rd Grade
Miguel Guzman:
3rd Grade
Rebecca Beam:
2nd Grade
Emily Armstrong:
2nd Grade
Katelynn Serrano:
2nd Grade
Ramiro Rodriguez:
1st Grade
The awards reception will be on
Thursday, April 2, at 5 pm at the Osceola
Center for the Arts. The students’ artwork
will be on display at the Osceola Center for
the Arts from Thursday, April 2, through
Tuesday, April 28. Immediately after the
awards recognition on Thursday, April 2, the
15th Annual Arts Alive Visual and
Performing Arts Showcase will be held.
I am proud to announce that the
following 5 students will have a piece of
art displayed at The Orlando Museum of
Art in its Student Gallery from Monday,
April 13, through Monday, July 13:
Kacie Johnson:
Yulixa Melendez :
Haley Bass:
5th Grade
5th Grade
4th Grade
Tommy Spaeth:
Kaley Nolting
2nd Grade
2nd Grade
On Thursday, April 23, MAE is hosting
its first Fine Arts Festival from 6 – 8 pm.
The PTO will be selling snacks that
evening and holding a special Art Auction
featuring a whole group project from
each classroom!
Mrs. Miller’s chorus will be performing for
your enjoyment. Every student that
returns his/her Kids Art Fair Invitation
RSVP will have his/her artwork displayed
in a beautiful frame and mat. Kids Art
Fair will only be providing frames and
mats for the total number of RSVP forms
so to guarantee that your child’s work is
displayed, please remember to return
your RSVP. The matted and framed
works are available for purchase and
ready to hang in your own personal art
gallery! We hope to see you at our first
Fine Arts Festival!
On Saturday, April 25, Osceola County is
holding the annual Education in the Park
at the Kissimmee Lakefront from 10:00
am – 3:00 pm. The MAE booth theme is
Mapping the Americas and will be
featuring work by many students. When
you visit our booth your child will be able
to make totem poles and bookmarks. This
year the Arts Teachers of Osceola County
are also having a special interactive art
booth with displays of artwork by teachers,
arts and crafts, and demonstrations. There
will even be an “Instrument Petting Zoo”
where you can try to play an instrument!
So come out on Saturday, April 25, and
visit the MAE booth at Education in the
Park! There will be lots of food, fun, and
fantastic booths from all of our schools.
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PTO NEWS
The PTO Spring Fundraiser will be from
Monday, April 13-Friday, April 24.
Students will be selling Dominoes
"Delivering the Dough" pizza cards for
$10 each.
We are looking for a new PTO President
and Treasurer for the next school year. If
you are interested and would like to know
more about these positions, send in a note
addressed to PTO with your name and
telephone number.
The next PTO meeting will be held on
Thursday, April 2, at 3:30 pm in the
media center.
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VOLUNTEER INFORMATION
Thanks to all our volunteers who have
helped our students and staff this year! To
date, our school has logged over 1,200
volunteer hours! Our volunteers are
involved in school activities that range from
serving on our School Advisory Council,
going on class field trips, to helping keep the
school grounds maintained. Just a
reminder….As we start the final nine weeks
of the school year, there are a variety of
planned classroom and grade level activities
in which you may want to volunteer.
Presently, it takes three weeks to complete
the volunteer application process. If you
know of an upcoming activity or event in
which you want to volunteer, please call or
meet with Mrs. Sklarek, office receptionist,
or Mr. Toothe, Assistant Principal.
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FLORIDA HERITAGE MONTH
The annual Florida Heritage Month is
from March 15-April 15. During this time,
residents and visitors will have special
opportunities to experience and celebrate the
wealth of historical sites, cultural activities,
and literary programs throughout the state.
To learn more about upcoming events and
other educational components related to
Florida Heritage Month, please log onto
www.floridaheritagemonth.com
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SUMMER READING SKILLS
PROGRAM
Summer Reading Skills Programs,
sponsored by the University of Central
Florida, are being offered in Orlando and
Kissimmee for students. Depending on the
age of the student, the programs concentrate
on phonics, comprehension, vocabulary,
study skills, speed reading, and the “love of
reading.” For more information or to
register, please call 1-800-978-9596 or go to
www.ce.ucf.edu/language/reading. The
Kissimmee location will be at Liberty High
School on Pleasant Hill Road.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Friday, April 3
Field Day:
Kdg.-2nd Grade
9-11:00 am
3rd-5th Grades
12-2:00 pm
April 6-10
Monday-Friday,
Spring Break for
Students & Staff
Monday, April 20
CELLA Begins for
ESOL students
Tuesday, April 21
School Advisory
Council Meeting,
8:15 am-2:30 pm,
REJE Campus
Thursday, April 23 MAE Fine Arts
Festival, 6-8 pm
Friday, April 24
Arbor Day
Saturday, April 25
EDUCATION IN
THE PARK
Kissimmee Lakefront,
10 am-3pm
Thursday, April 30
Kindergarten
Round Up, 5:307pm, MAE Cafeteria
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REMINDERS
*Bring in BoxTops for Education.
*Bring newspapers to our recycling bin
(staff parking)
*Please visit our collection of jackets,
sweaters, lunchboxes, etc. so that you can
FIND a LOST item.