Join the William Ford PTA!

Registration forms were sent home with your child this week.  Only one registration per family is necessary.  The school challenge ends this Friday.

All students succeed when we work together!

September 23, 2016

Dear Parents,

Thank you for your efforts in helping William Ford get off to such a successful start to the 2016-2017 schoolyear.  I thank you for your support and encouragement!  As you know, our partnership, trust and support is so important for your child’s achievement.

If you happen to look down Ternes towards Ford Road, I am sure you have noticed the closure of the road, the orange fencing, the temporary fencing eliminating the use of the ice arena parking lot and the heavy construction vehicles.  The construction that is currently underway just south of Ford Road on Ternes is now on our section of Ternes.  Beginning next week road construction crews will begin tunneling under Ford Road as part of the major water drainage project.  Preparations for that tunneling has already started.  Once they have completed the tunneling under Ford Road, digging and construction will then take place on Ternes all the way to Alber, and then go west on Alber through the park. The entire project is likely to last through the summer of 2017.

Therefore, beginning today, Friday, Sept. 23rd, Ternes will be closed to cars, walkers and parking until the project is completed.  This will affect William Ford in many ways; our arrival and dismissal, the doors students dismiss from, parking and traffic flow.

• DO NOT use the Ternes side of William Ford for arrival or dismissal. The doors on Ternes near Ford Road will be closed until the project is completed.
• For your child’s safety, DO NOT drop your child off on Ford Road. The gate near the corner of Ford and Ternes will remain locked.
• Arrival and Dismissal Plans by Grade Level:
  • Kindergarten: Arrive through the front doors, dismiss from the cafeteria. Parents may enter through the front doors at 3:25, go to the cafeteria to collect their child and then exit out the front doors.
  • First and Second Grades: Arrive and Dismiss through the front doors at 3:35.
  • Third Grade: Arrive/line-up outside of the cafeteria doors.  Dismiss through parking lot doors on east side of the building at 3:35.
  • Fourth Grade: Arrive/line-up outside of the cafeteria doors.  Dismiss through parking lot doors on east side of the building at 3:35.
  • Fifth Grade: Arrive/line-up outside of the cafeteria doors.  Dismiss through parking lot doors on east side of the building at 3:35.
• Parking will be a major problem. Please plan on walking with your child if you are within walking distance…great exercise and less frustration with parking and traffic!  You will not be allowed to park and leave your vehicle on Alber, only drop students off.

So what can parents, teachers and students do to help during the construction?  Well, we can be patient and understanding with each other.  Perhaps you walk from home, or park 1-2 blocks away and then walk.  Please talk to your children to stay away from the road construction.  And finally, please be considerate of each other and all of our families at William Ford.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me in the office at 313-827-6400.

Best regards,

David Higgins

Principal, William Ford Elementary

Employees from the Materials Engineering Central Laboratory at Ford Motor Company donated two LARGE boxes of school supplies to William Ford!

Thank you!

Dearborn Public Schools is pleased to host the

Dearborn Schools MACRAO College Fair

September 20, 2016
6:30pm-8:00pm
Ford Community and Performing Arts Center
15801 Michigan Avenue, Dearborn 48126

Representatives from more than 60 different post-secondary schools will be available to talk with students. This event is open to all Dearborn schools and surrounding districts!

Just a few of the participating educational institutions include:

• Central Michigan
• College for Creative Studies
• Eastern Michigan
• Grand Valley State
• Henry Ford College
• Kettering University
• Lawrence Tech.
• Michigan State
• Northern Michigan
• Oakland University
• Saginaw Valley
• University of Detroit Mercy
• University of Michigan
• University of Windsor
• Harvard
• University of Illinois- Chicago
• Columbia College- Chicago
• Savanna College of Art & Design
• Syracuse University
• Gannon University

Plus many other

• Universities
• Trade Schools
• Law Enforcement Agencies
• Colleges
• U.S. Armed Forces

For more Information e-mail:Welmerg@dearbornschools.org

Just a reminder that school will be closed on Monday, Sept. 12th .  Classes resume on Tuesday.        Kindergarten will also begin full days on Tuesday.

Kindergarten Parents…

Please help us collect data on the incoming kindergarten class for 2016-2017.  Click on the link below to take this brief survey.

2016-2017 Kindergarten Survey

Full Days begin on Wednesday, September 7th, 8:30-3:35

Coffee with the Principal and Assistant Principal in the cafeteria, 8:45-9:30

Students should not arrive to school prior to 8:20 unless they are eating breakfast.  Staff is not available to chaperone children until 8:20.

Breakfast and Lunch begins with Full Days on Wednesday, September 7th.  Breakfast is served from 8:00-8:25.  Students should not arrive for breakfast before 8:00.

Kindergarten Soft Start Schedule – Week One

Wednesday, September 7th:

Kindergarten students from 8:40-11:30, all other grades dismiss at 3:35.

Coffee with the Principal and Assistant Principal in the cafeteria, 8:45-9:30

Kindergarten Parent Orientation Meeting 12:30-2:00

Kindergarten Open House for parents and children 2:00-3:30

Thursday, September 8th:

Kindergarten students from 8:40-11:30, all other grades dismiss at 3:35.

Scheduled one-on-one assessments: 12:00-3:30

Friday, September 9th:

Kindergarten students from 8:40-11:30, all other grades dismiss at 3:35.

Scheduled one-on-one assessments: 12:00-3:30

Click the following link for a School Safety Letter from Dr. Maleyko and Chief Haddad:

School Zone Safety

William Ford was recently awarded a four-year old preschool for the 2016-2017 school year!  The Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) is a Michigan state-funded preschool program for four-year olds.  We are very excited to be able to offer this program to the families of students who will attend William Ford for elementary school.  Priority will be given to qualified four-year olds who already have a sibling at William Ford Elementary.  However, students may also attend GSRP at Cotter.  For more information you may contact Cotter & GSRP at 3020 Osborn St., Dearborn, Michigan 48126.  The phone number is 313-827-6150.  You may also contact the school office at William Ford at 313-827-6400.