PARENTS, PREPARE FOR THE

FIELD DAY AND WELCOME PICNIC

Fri., Sep. 13th, 2024

ACTIVITIES & HOW THEY ENRICH THE CURRICULUM: Students will learn the rules and how to play group games in the morning. They will also have a chance to bike, hike, and fly kites, to encourage a lifelong interest in recreational sports.

DATE: Friday, September 13, 2024

ARRIVAL TIME: 9 am (NO Extended Morning Program) at Maybury State Park, Walnut Shelter (same as last year)

DEPARTURE TIME: Students may stay at park until potluck at 6:00 pm when parents will join them without being charged for Extended Day services. Parents, please arrive by 6 pm (the students will be hungry). This is the first event of the year and an important social event for your child. When s/he misses these events, an important social development opportunity is lost. This is also an opportunity for new parents to meet returning parents and to have some fun!

LOCATION: Walnut Shelter, Maybury State Park

ADDRESS: 8 Mile Road, west of Beck Road

DIRECTIONS from I-275: Exit at 8-Mile Rd and go WEST. Cross Beck Road, then turn left into the park (on South side of 8 Mile Rd)

CONTACT & PHONE: School Office (248) 957-8200, or teacher's cell (see planner)

MEAL ARRANGEMENTS: Pack substantial lunches. Students get very hungry and thirsty.

• 2-3 sandwiches (5+ snacks)
• 3-4 bottles of water or juice (freeze the night before)
• Hand sanitizer (Will be washing hands at bathroom prior to lunch as well)

Please label all non-disposable items that you wish returned, especially water bottles. You'd be surprised how many water bottles go unclaimed after lunch.

APPAREL: Loose, weather-appropriate clothing.

• Waterproof shoes (grass will be wet in the morning)
• Socks (we will be hiking in the woods)
• Poncho/umbrella (if it looks like rain)
• Jacket/sweatshirt (if it is going to be cool)

Bug Spray & Sunscreen--please apply prior to arrival.

PLANNERS: Assignments & Planners must be brought for the teacher to check before activities begin.

OTHER NEEDS:

• Picnic blanket or towel for Power Reading time
• Power Reading books of your choice
• A pre-assembled kite (optional)
• Bikes (optional) & HELMETS (if biking)
• $11 for parking (if you're chaperoning) or your MICHIGAN RECREATIONAL PASSPORT sticker (there is no charge for drop-off)
• If it looks like rain, please feel free to pack a deck of cards or a board game (make sure each piece is labeled with your child's name or initials).

POTLUCK:  Bring to Share

• Last Names A-P: Please bring a side dish/salad/veggies.
• Last Names Q-Z: Please bring a main dish.
• Staff: hot dogs & s'mores.

In addition to your Potluck contribution, be sure to pack:

• Serving utensils for your Potluck item
• Beverages for your family.



TRIP ACTIVITIES: Group games, kite flying, bike riding, and hiking

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Please follow and share our social media with your family, friends, and colleagues. This will be the easiest way to stay up to date on what we are doing and our upcoming events.

Facebook.com/SteppingstoneSchoolPARC

Instagram.com/steppingstone_school

STUDENTS LEARN HOW

To Use the LIBRARY

Last Thurs., Sep. 5th

Last THURS, Sept. 5th, our Elementary students visited the Plymouth Library, for the first of this year's monthly visits.

The purpose is to provide teachers an opportunity to teach how libraries are structured and how to use them. During these visits, teachers will be able to help students learn to choose and check out appropriate Power Reading books and future research materials appropriate for their Social Studies Expo and Science Fair projects. This is to ensure they will be ready and able to access these materials after they graduate from Steppingstone School and move on to high school. A side benefit for us is that students will learn and get to practice their "inside voices."

Pictured below (right to left), Mrs. Dudek is helping Aliya and Finley find age-appropriate books for this month’s Power Reading.

After the students have secured their books, they can enjoy the library amenities as they wait for their classmates. Pictured below (left to right), Cassie, Vera, and Aliya read books other than this month's Power Reading genre.

Pictured below (left to right), Owen created his own zoo while Finley and Finnley played with the wooden puzzle.

HEALTHY EATING

What to bring for snack/lunch

Our custom is for kids to be able to have snacks from about 10 am since some eat breakfast as early as 6 am. We ask only that they start with a serving of fresh fruit or veggies and then they can eat what they want. This provides the element of appropriate "choice" within a firm structure, which gifted children need in their environment. If they eat it all before lunch, we’ll probably alert you so you can begin to assess whether it’s a one-time thing or a prelude to a growth spurt. Students aren’t very productive in the afternoons if they haven’t had an adequate lunch.

An important policy of ours during lunchtime is that protein needs to be eaten first! If a child brings lunch and does not eat it all, s/he will be bringing the leftovers home so parents know what the child will or won’t eat. There’s not much sense in providing a lunch that the child won’t eat.

For some nutrition-related information and activities, you can refer to the Nutrition Handouts provided by Melanie Hutchings, PhD Candidate, from the Wayne State University Department of Nutrition and Food Science last year.