Friday, October 11, 2019

10.11.19

Hello Hoover Rockets,

We are looking forward to sharing your child’s progress next week. Parent teacher conferences will be taking place October 16-18th. 
If you are unable to make your scheduled conference day and time, please contact Mrs. Holmes in the office for assistance. We are looking forward to seeing everyone at Conferences!

 The following guidelines were developed to help parents have successful conferences. I hope a few of these hints will be helpful to you:

*Decide in advance the questions you want to ask the teacher. It's a good idea to jot them down. Pinpoint specific situations and avoid generalities.

*Ask your child if there is anything she/he would like you to discuss with the teacher.

*Be ready to tell the teacher what she needs to know. Teachers are not prying when they ask about your child's health, hobbies, homework habits, or feelings about school. Knowing these things will be helpful in her teaching approach to your child.

* If you're concerned about something you have heard, or something your child has told you about school, keep an open mind until you hear the facts.

* Ask how you can work together with the teacher to meet your child’s needs.

* Take notes during the conference and review them when you get home. Start right away on the action steps you and the teacher agreed upon.

The conference doesn't end here. You have the right to know, at any time, about your child's progress. A telephone call to your child's teacher, will allow you to set up an appointment at a time convenient to both of you. Teachers value the interest and opinions of parents.

We look forward to seeing you at parent-teacher conferences and I hope you will feel free to stop in and visit with me.



Rocket Pad-School Store

It is with great excitement that we are happy to announce that The Hoover School Store, The Rocket Pad opens on Monday.  This year, the students on the Hoover Leadership Team will be working at the store and helping customers with their purchases.  The store sells everything from pencils to glue sticks and look for special surprises during the holiday seasons.  The Rocket Pad will be open on Mondays only this year.  Items range in price from a nickel to three dollars.  Gift cards are also available in fifty cents and $1.00 denominations.

Climate Character Trait for November BE KIND - This month, we will be focusing on acts of kindness. Students could share pencils, provide care when friends are injured, walk peers to the office, open milk containers for younger students or help classmates zip coats.

Canned Food Drive
Hoover Girl Scouts are collecting food for the Livonia Goodfellows.  The Goodfellows have been helping Livonia families since 1936 and are completely run by volunteers.  This drive will support their “No Child without a Christmas” campaign.  All food goes to area families.  Please bring non-perishable can or boxed food.  There will be boxes in the lobby and in each hallway.  They will be collected through November 15th.  Your support is greatly appreciated!

Helping Hearts
Unfortunately, the economy has presented challenges for many of our families. Please know there are agencies in the area that offer holiday assistance. While it may seem early many of these programs are already accepting applications. I do have applications available but if you prefer to contact them directly their information is listed below. Additionally, Hoover Elementary has the Helping Hearts Fund which is used to support our families in a time of need. Any information shared will remain confidential. We care deeply about our families and respecting their privacy. For more information, please contact Jan Bice at 734/744-2730 ext. 20120, Livonia Goodfellows 313-438-0862, Salvation Army 313-563-4457 or Toys for Tots Linda Rankin at 248-777-0510.

Halloween
We will be having Halloween parties at Hoover but not a parade. Students can bring in their costume and change for the party or they could wear “Halloween Spirit clothes” such as orange and black or shirts with the word “boo” written on them. The teachers will be communicating with you what time the Halloween parties will begin. 
PS….As you are picking out those awesome costumes, please note that masks, weapons, blood, etc… are not allowed for the party or Hoot N Howl.  Thank you.

Picture Retakes
Picture Retakes will be Thursday, October 24th in the morning.  Please send in your child's picture envelope on October 24th and we will have their picture taken again.

Caring Community
Mrs. Holmes will be returning to Hoover on Monday morning.  Her husband George Holmes passed away after fighting a long battle with cancer.  She appreciates all the support and love that our Hoover Community has given her during these difficult times.  Thank you to Mrs. Gregg, Mrs. Williams and Mrs. Papich for all the extra help in the office.  Hoover is truly a caring community!


Hello! My name is Emily Gage and I am one of the new 1st grade teachers this year! This will be my 4th year of teaching and my first year here at Hoover! I received my undergraduate degree from Columbia College Chicago in Early Childhood Education and a minor in dance. Following graduation, I moved back to Michigan and began my career in Detroit. I spent my first three years of teaching between first and second grade.  I am currently working towards my Masters in Literacy at Madonna University. I am so excited to be a part of the Hoover Rocket Family!

When I am not at school, you can find me teaching dance, training for my upcoming half marathon, and spending time with my husband and our one and a half year old black lab mix Maizey! We spent the summer traveling around Northern Michigan and went abroad to Mexico; traveling is one of our favorite hobbies! During the fall, you will find us spending our Saturdays in Ann Arbor cheering on our Wolverines…Go Blue! I am looking forward to an amazing school year!

WALK-A-THON - Totals are in and $13,105.26 was raised for Hoover!  We met our goal and there will be a dunk tank on Field Day.  Way to go Rockets!!  Certificates will be awarded to all Hoover Rockets for their participation. In addition, the top earning classroom will each receive a $100 to spend as they choose, the highest earning student will receive a small gift and lunch with a staff member of their choice, and the top earning classroom at Hoover will get a class party.  
Here are the results:

Winning Classes by Grade Level
KG  Poteracki $1,141.24 TOP EARNING CLASS
1st  Grade Neville $737
2nd  Grade Vince $862
3rd  Grade Cowher $812
4th  Grade McCurry $1092

Student Winners
KG Jonah V (Poteracki) $230
1st Adelynn S (Neville) $200
2nd Dylan Barry (Vince) $302
3rd Mackenzie H (Cowher) $300
4th Dylan Zachos (Lipinski) $310

We are so proud of our Hoover Rockets for making this such a success!

BOOK FAIR, Oct 16-18: Hoover will be hosting a Scholastic Book Fair during conference week!  This is an exciting event for our students and a great way to get some early holiday shopping done for parents.   It is also the largest fundraiser for the library.  Mrs. Jungwirth and the Book Fair Committee could use some help with; set-up, helping students make wish lists during preview times, sales, and taking the fair down.  If you are able to help out, please sign-up at  bit.ly/HooverBookFair2019

BUFFALO WILD WINGS FAMILY FUNDRAISER: Wednesday, October 16th Buffalo Wild Wings will be doing a Hoover FUNdraiser.  Part of the proceeds from food sales will go back to the Hoover PTA.  Watch for a flyer in backpack mail for details.  They are located right on 6 mile across from Laurel Park Mall.  Enjoy dining out during conference week and support Hoover.  

SPIRIT DAY: Friday, October 18th is GUM spirit day.  Students can donate $1.00 to enjoy chewing gum at school.  It is also a half day of school.

HOOT & HOWL FRIDAY, October 25th 6:00-8:00 pm:  It’s almost Halloween time Hoover Rockets!  Our annual HOOT & HOWL event is sneaking up soon so plan to join us for a spooktacular night of fun.   Everyone is welcome to dress up in costume.  We kindly request no masks or (toy) weapons please.  There will be guessing games, Halloween games, prizes, face painting, tattoo station, haunted obstacle course, music, dancing and Dan The Creature Man for some creepy crawly fun!  Dinner will be available for purchase, and Dan The Kona Man will be selling his flavored freezies.  Complimentary cider & donuts will be served later in the evening while we announce the winners of the guessing games.  

The Girl Scouts will also be doing their annual “Cans For Candy” collection for the Livonia Goodfellows charity.   Bring canned goods and receive a bag of candy at the door.    
If you would like to volunteer your time or make a donation to the event, here is the sign-up genius linkhttps://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0f48acae2ba7f49-hoover4

NATIONAL PTA REFLECTIONS CONTESTCalling All Artists! Is your Hoover Rocket a visual artist, photographer, write, dancer, musician, or film maker? Then keep reading because the PTA has a program for them! Students make projects that are inspired by a theme. This year's theme is "Look Within”.  They can make a project in as many categories as they want. It is free to enter!  LPTSA will judge all the entries from Livonia Public Schools. They will choose four winners in each age range and category. Then they send those winners on to be judged at the state level. Top winners at the state level go on to national judging. Information and student entry forms went home this week. The deadline to turn in projects is November 15, 2019. The Reflections Ceremony will be held on January 30, 2020 at Stevenson High School in the Performing Arts Center.  All of the Livonia Public Schools entries will be on display. Please contact our Hoover PTA Reflections Chair, Christina TestaChristina.testa.80@gmail.com    A flyer recently went home in backpack mail

Masterworks
Masterworks is an art appreciation program looking for volunteers to present a series of fine art prints in the classroom. No art experience or art history background needed. We will provide you with all of the information you need. Presentations are typically 30 minutes and are scheduled 6 time throughout the school year. Masterworks is a unique and enriching learning experience that our Hoover Rockets love! Please see the Sign-Up Genius link below.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0f4eaba62ca7fd0-hoover4
If you have any questions, please contact hoovermw@gmail.com to learn more!
10/16 Evening Parent/Teacher Conferences
10/17 Half Day Dismissal at 12:10, Afternoon and Evening Parent/Teacher Conferences
10/18 Half Day Dismissal at 12:10, Afternoon Parent/Teacher Conferences
10/18 Spirit Day Gum Day ($1)
10/22 Flak and Harris Field Trip
10/24 Picture Retake Day
10/25 Peer and Vince Field Trip
10/25 Hoot N'Howl 6-8:00 p.m.
10/29 Hearing Rescreenings
11/5 No School Professional Development Day
11/5 California Pizza Kitchen Fundraiser
11/12 PTA Meeting 6:30 p.m.
11/15 Spirit Day UM/MSU
11/27-11/29 No School Thanksgiving Break
11/29-12/15 Five Below Fundraiser