Happy Holidays!

Hello Hoover Rockets,

Thank you for supporting the Hoover Candy Cane Sale.  We raised money for our Helping Hearts Fund.  The Student Council Students enjoy selling the Candy Canes and counting back change.

We had great flavors to pick from!

Ms. Charochak, Mrs. Hawker and some Candy Cane Shoppers.

Hat Day was a lot of fun at Hoover last week.  This is a picture of Mrs. Christensen's class sporting their hats.






Mr. O'Loughlin taught the students Holiday Glow Ball.  Bowling with lights.  Thanks Mr. O.

Did you know that some of our classrooms are trying Flexible Seating this year?  Flexible classrooms give students a choice in what kind of learning space works best for them, and helps them to work collaboratively, communicate, and engage in critical thinking.  There are a variety of extra seats in the classroom besides the standard chair.  Students can choose where they would like to sit while they work for a designated amount of time.  For example, during math, in Mrs.Skibinski's class, the girls chose to sit in these seats. 

During writing time, they might select a different style of seating perhaps a stool or a bean bag chair.  

Ms. Stack has purchased stools and has made stools with cushions for students to use while they work at their table or the Guided Reading Table.  

Since implementing flexible classrooms, Ms. Stack and Mrs.Skibinski have noticed that:

• Their students seem happier and more engaged.
• Their students are participating more and having more invigorating conversations.
• Their students are choosing seats that work best for their individual needs.

Ms. Stack made these stools herself!

Ms. Stack bought these stools at IKEA!

Thank you to our Masterworks Volunteers who come into classrooms and teach our Hoover Rockets about a variety of art.  This week I saw Mr. Hilling in Mrs. Lipinski's room discussing impressionism.  Thank you Mr. Hilling.

1/9 First Day Back
1/10 Hearing Re-screenings
1/11 PTA Meeting 1:00
1/13 Skate Night 6:00-8:00 p.m.
1/16 No School MLK Day
1/26 & 1/27 Star Lab
1/27 Crazy Hair Spirit Day

Science at Hoover

Hello Hoover Rockets,

Mrs. Mehelich came into Mrs. Cannell's third grade class last week, to take Eco Action on behalf of the endangered Monarch butterflies!  She taught the class about how Monarchs migrate from Canada to Mexico, how their nutrition comes soley from milkweed, how milkweed is dwindling due to climate change and wide spread use of weed killers.  Then the kids planted 3 varieties of milkweed on Hoover's grounds by Mr. Tony's shed.  The seeds will undergo cold, moist stratification under the soil over the winter and should germinate in May - just in time for the arrival of the Monarchs in June!  We hope they enjoy the nectar and lay eggs on the leaves!  We learned so much!

Mrs. Mehelich

Mrs. Cannell's class.

Our Hoover Rockets have been bowling in Physical Education this week.  

Mrs. Cannell's Class Bowling in PE

Hoover Rocket Bowling

Mrs. Lipinski's class learned about static electricity.

Mrs. Mehelich also visited Mrs. Flak's classroom.  She came in to talk to the children briefly about Hanukkah, read a story about it, showed a menorah, gave a bit of background on it, and also taught the children to play the dreidel game.  

LUNCH UPDATE:  Tomorrow we will be serving CORN DOGS and ONION RINGS instead of Quesadillas.

NO CANDY CANE SALE ON MONDAY!  WE ARE SOLD OUT!!!!  Thanks for supporting Hoover.

We are missing a Detroit Tigers Fleece Blanket from Kids Night Out on Friday.  If you accidentally brought an extra blanket home, please send it in to Hoover.  We have one sad Hoover Rocket.  Thank you!  

Did you know that the following classes won the Golden Challenge last week?

Golden Ball- Hawker

Golden Tray- Horgan and Lipinski

Golden Paint Brush-Lipinski

Golden Book-Moritz

Golden Guitar- ? 

Keep up the great Respectful and Responsible Behavior!

*Thank you for supporting the Hoover Holiday Shop. Over $400 was donated for Helping Hearts!  We will use these funds to support a Hoover Family for the Holidays.

* Thank you for supporting our Hoover PTA with your Dearborn Ham and Dave and Buster purchases.

*  We had a great turn out for Kid's Night Out.  Fun was had by all!

Kids Night Out Game Room

Kids Night Out Craft Room

Kids Night Out Movie Finding Dory

12/19 2nd Grade and Mrs. Flak's class Field Trip to Henry Ford
12/21 Cookie Exchange for Staff
12/22 Dearborn Ham Pick Up
12/23 Half Day of School Student dismissal 12:10
12/26-1/6 Holiday Break
1/9 First Day Back
1/10 Hearing Re-screenings
1/11 PTA Meeting 1:00
1/13 Skate Night 6:00-8:00 p.m.
1/16 No School MLK Day
1/26 & 1/27 Star Lab
1/27 Crazy Hair Spirit Day

Practicing reading on devices!

Hello Hoover Rockets,

Please check your child's backpack for their report card.  It was sent home on Friday.  Please read and review the report card with your Hoover Rocket.  It is important for students to know that you are working as a team with their teacher to help them achieve academic success.

We are working hard at Hoover with our Reading skills. Students are practicing reading on Chromebooks. Reading and responding to questions using a device is a skill that is required for all students to be successful in the future.  The M-STEP assessment is administered using a computer.  As you think about your daily reading habits I am sure the majority occurs with a computer or device.

Chrome Books
One day a week, Mrs. Horgan brings in a whole class set of Chrome books that were purchased with the building renovation/technology bond money. Her class has the opportunity to read electronic books from 3 different educational websites: Starfall, Bookflix and Pebble Go. Each website has an amazing amount of books in all different genres. What Mrs. Horgan likes best is that struggling readers can enjoy the books as well because the website will read the book to them if they need support. These are all websites that students can access from home as well.

Increasing Minutes Reading

We are trying to increase the number of minutes that are students are reading.  Last week Mrs. Lipinski and Ms. Charochak's class practiced reading with their Reading Buddy.  The students enjoy reading to an older or younger peer.  

Did you know that next year Hoover's parking lot will be redone?  You might have noticed some bright orange paint sprayed on the black top in various places.  They have begun to measure and plan for the summer project.  This is part of the bond/renovation project.  

*Thank you for all the shoe donations.  We are waiting to hear the results as they are still counting all the bags of shoes.  We have learned that it is down to Garfield or Hoover.  We have a 50/50 chance of winning the $1000.  

*The Dearborn Ham and Dave and Busters forms are due on December 13!  Thank you for supporting Hoover.

*Still need to get some shopping done?  Sign up for Kids Night Out and spend an evening shopping while your children enjoy an evening with their friends at Hoover.  Dinner, craft, PE activities and movie will be provided.

12/12-12/19 Candy Cane Sale in the Rocket Pad
12/13 Dave and Buster Power Card Forms Due
12/13 Dearborn Ham Order Forms Due
12/14 & 12/16 Kids Night Out (Yellow Flyer came home)
12/16 Hat Spirit Day ($1 to wear a hat)
12/19 2nd Grade and Mrs. Flak's class Field Trip to Henry Ford
12/21 Cookie Exchange for Staff
12/22 Dearborn Ham Pick Up
12/23 Half Day of School Student dismissal 12:10
12/26-1/6 Holiday Break
1/9 First Day Back
1/10 Hearing Rescreening
1/11 PTA Meeting 1:00

Going for Gold!

Hello Hoover Rockets,

Hoover is a community with character that cares for our students, staff and families.  We are working hard to teach our Hoover Rockets Character Elements.  These include RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, GRIT, MINDFULNESS, EMPATHY, INTEGRITY, REFLECTION, and CONFIDENCE.  As we begin to role out this program, we will be working on 1-2 elements each month.  We will be naming, noticing and of course modeling these elements every day at Hoover.

This week, we will be kicking off our Golden Behavioral Incentive Plan.  Last Thursday, Mrs. Bice and I went into each classroom to explain the competition.  Once a week, each special teacher (Mr. O'Loughlin, Mr. Murphy, Ms. West, Ms. Mitchell and Mrs. Jungwirth) will select one class that has shown amazing character.  That class will receive the golden object (see picture).  We will begin in December with Respect and Responsibility.  At the end of the month, the class that has earned the most "Golden Objects" will win a pizza party in January.  Who will win the most gold?

Golden Tray, Golden Guitar, Golden Baseball, Golden Book, Golden Paintbrush)

*Mention Hoover while shopping at Five Below until 12/11 and Hoover will earn a percentage of your sale.  Thanks for supporting Hoover while shopping!

*Also just in time for the holidays...you can purchase Dave and Buster's Power cards and order a Dearborn Ham.  Both fundraiser checks and forms are due December 13th.

* Save the date for December 14th or 16th for the Hoover Kid's Night Out.  You can drop off your 

K-4 Hoover Rockets curbside for an evening of fun, fitness, holiday arts and crafts, dinner, popcorn and a holiday movie with friends.  Admission $10 per child paid in advance and $12 per child at the door.

*Hoover's Holiday Shop needs your help! We are looking for volunteers to help the children with their shopping on Thursday, December 8th and Friday, December 9th. Shopping will run from 9am-2:30pm on Thursday and 9am-2pm on Friday. Use the link below to view the sign up genius. Thank you in advance for any amount of time you may be able to volunteer!
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080B4EA5A622A64-holiday2

Did you know that Mr. Tony, our building supervisor, also works in the lunchroom, and in the parking lot.  He assists students if they need any help opening water bottles, lunch containers or fruit cups.  Mr. Tony provides napkins with a smile and enjoys talking to the students.  Beginning at 6:30 am Mr. Tony arrives to Hoover and walks around to check and make sure the building is secure.  Then he opens the doors, checks the heat and prepares for the day.  Mr. Tony can be seen helping students with a jammed locker, cleaning up a water bottle spill or playing recess games in the Multipurpose Room with some of our Service Squad students.  Thank you Mr. Tony for all you do for our Hoover Rockets.

11/25-12/11 Five Below FUNdraiser
12/8 Holiday Shop
12/9 Holiday Shop
12/9 Report Cards Go Home
12/12-12/19 Candy Cane Sale in the Rocket Pad
12/13 Dave and Buster Power Card Forms Due
12/13 Dearborn Ham Order Forms Due
12/14 & 12/16 Kids Night Out
12/16 Hat Spirit Day
12/21 Cookie Exchange for Staff
12/22 Dearborn Ham Pick Up
12/23 Half Day of School Student dismissal 12:10
12/26-1/6 Holiday Break

Hoover Thanksgiving Fun!

Hello Hoover Rockets,

Though we only had two days last week they were very busy.  The 4th graders learned about Owls and dissected Owl Pellets.

Jessica dissecting an Owl pellet in Mrs. Lipinski's class.

Lauren measuring the Wingspan of an Owl.

Miss. Fortier's class in PE.

Mrs. Flak's class in PE.

 Mr. O set up some great physical activities in the Multipurpose Room last week.  The students were gathering items for the Pilgrims and Indians.

Mrs. Poteracki's class made turkeys.

* Mention Hoover while shopping at Five Below between 11/25-12/11 and Hoover will earn a percentage of your sale.  Thanks for supporting Hoover while shopping.

*If you ordered Legoland tickets don't forget it is this Friday, at 10:30 at Great Lakes Crossing.

*Look for your child to bring home a Holiday Shop envelope next week.  Please take a moment to review with your child which family members they will be shopping for.

Please join the Livonia Public Schools Board of Education to discuss proposals for future facility use, including potential program relocation and school consolidation. Format will include informational presentation followed by small group discussions with Board members and district administrators.

Come learn about the in-depth enrollment and facilities studies and offer input on the recommendations that are before the Board of Education, as it strives to fulfill the district’s Shared Vision while serving as good stewards of our resources.

 Tuesday, November 29  Riley Upper Elementary               7-8:30 p.m.

 Thursday, December 1   Frost Middle School                  7-8:30 p.m.

Parents and community members may attend either forum – they will be identical.

11/25-12/11 Five Below FUN-raiser
11/29 Hearing Screenings (KG, 1, 2, 4)
12/1 1st Trimester Ends
12/2 No School Work Day for Teachers, Legoland 
12/8 Holiday Shop
12/9 Holiday Shop
12/9 Report Cards Go Home
12/12-12/19 Candy Cane Sale in the Rocket Pad
12/14 & 12/16 Kids Night Out
12/16 Hat Spirit Day
12/21 Cookie Exchange for Staff
12/22 Dearborn Ham Pick Up
12/23 Half Day of School Student dismissal 12:10
12/26-1/6 Holiday Break