November 7, 2024 | Volume 43, Issue 10

PREPARE YOUR STUDENTS

for the SCIENCE FAIR

Thu., Nov. 14, 7 PM

Parents, our Science Fair is coming up on Thursday, November 14th at 7 pm. The presentations will be done in the classroom. Please make sure you arrive by 6:45 p.m. so that students can prepare and parents can view all the projects.

ATTIRE: Since this is a formal presentation, it would be appropriate for BOYS to wear dress pants with a button shirt or dressy sweater and nice shoes. Please no jeans, gym shoes/shorts, or t-shirts. Appropriate attire for GIRLS is dresses (not party dresses), skirts, dress slacks with blouses or sweaters, and nice shoes. We'd like the students to experience academic presentation behavior, which includes appropriate clothing for an academic audience.

PRESENTATIONS: Students will present their topics and explain what they’ve learned, followed by a brief question and answer period before we move on to the next presenter. Everyone should take boards and projects home unless they have been selected for year-long display.

OTHER: Parents, please leave electronics (iPads, etc.) at home as this is one of the planned socializing opportunities for students.

REFRESHMENTS: Please bring finger food to share after the presentations have concluded. Be sure to mark your dishes with your name and avoid tree nuts or peanuts because we have a nut allergy in our Steppingstone family.

DRESS FOR THE WINTER WEATHER

While recent weather has been unusually pleasant for this time of year, this is Michigan and that could (and probably will) change at any time.

Parents, please make sure your students bring appropriate outdoor Winter Wear. As the temperature drops and winter weather arrives, they will need:

• Insulated Jackets
• Waterproof Mittens or Gloves
• Hats & Scarves
• Insulated Snow Pants
• Insulated Boots

Unless it’s raining, students go outdoors every day. The fresh air break helps them focus on the afternoon enrichment classes. 

If it’s bitterly cold, they still go outdoors but sometimes just for a walk-around. Be assured that teachers get cold before students so they will not be outdoors too long.

ROUND UP YOUR CREW for a

NIGHT OF WESTERN FUN!

Got an office full of hardworking cowboys and cowgirls? Show them your appreciation with a Table for Ten and let them kick back and enjoy a night they’ll never forget!

Or maybe you know a true Wild West enthusiast? Treat them to the “Hoedown” for an evening of foot-stomping line dancing, great grub, refreshing drinks, exciting raffles, plus live and silent auctions!

Secure your spot today! Grab your tickets by Friday, December 13th, at just $80 per person! Want to get the best deal? Book a Table for 10 for only $750—a $50 discount!

Be sure to share our Auction Facebook event to catch exclusive previews as the planning unfolds!

SECURE YOUR WESTERN HOEDOWN TICKETS NOW!

NOVEMBER SPIRIT DAY

Thu., Nov. 7th

Today we celebrated the second Spirit Day of the year! We honored our students’ October achievements. In addition, students who wore their Steppingstone gear were given 50 Kids’ Auction dollars. 

CONGRATULATIONS to Vera (pictured below), our High Stepper Button Designer! She drew pumpkins and ghosts in celebration of October.

HIGH STEPPER

What is a High Stepper? Students who are in their seats at 9 AM with all of their work completed for each school day for the month earn this distinction. For October 2024, our High Stepper was Aliya (pictured below)!

RUNNER OF THE MONTH

Each day at recess after doing some stretching, we run laps around the track. Our second graders run 4 laps (1 mile) while younger students are required to run only three laps. Based on these requirements, we have two Runners of the Month for October! 

Owen [1st gr.] (pictured left) ran the most laps with an extra 14 laps, which is 3.5 miles for a total of 14.5 miles! Finley [2nd gr.] (pictured right) ran the most miles with an extra 7 laps, which is 1.75 miles for a total of 18.75 miles!

As part of our Spirit Day tradition, family guests are invited to join us for lunch. Pictured below, Finley’s mom and great-grandma stopped by to share a meal with us.

CONGRATULATIONS, OWEN & VERA!

WINTERFEST TICKET SELLING

Round 1

Congratulations to Owen & Vera (pictured below) for selling 16 Winterfest pre-auction raffle tickets each! The winners of this 1st round were given Kid’s Auction Gold Coins!

SALMON IN THE CLASSROOM

The “Adopt-A-Salmon” program is an annual fundraising program where anyone may adopt a salmon through the Salmon in the Classroom program. Details in the next newsletter.

Dr. Morse and Mr. Liou will be picking up salmon eggs next week! Adopters will have an opportunity to release their salmon around March.

Volunteers

Auction Chair

Chris Isberg

Auction Acquisitions

Michelle Belt, Chair

Anthony Bonanni

Dena Nehme

Brad Styke

SMART Center Chair

Robert Schiff

SPARC Chair

Michelle Tan

Marketing

Jorge Contreras

Yearbook & Keepsake Editor

Barbara Malnar-Styke