Return to School Plans Announced!
Greetings Parents,
On Monday, August 10 the Board of Education approved a plan for all Dearborn Public School students to return to school on-line. Students from kindergarten through high school will take classes online at least until sometime around the beginning of October. Some teachers and staff will be in the buildings on a rotating basis. Parents and students will be able to make appointments with teachers if there are academic concerns, technology issues, or other concerns. The board will reevaluate conditions later in September to see if it is possible for some or all students to begin returning to their classrooms perhaps in a blended model of in-class and on-line learning.
The District understands there are parents who want their children in a 100% virtual learning program no matter what phase the State is in or how other students in the District are attending school. For the parents who want a 100% on-line option for the entire school year, the school district has created the Dearborn Virtual Learning Program for students K-12. Parents selecting this option are opting their children into the program for a one-year commitment.
Staff at William Ford will be on hand (social distancing, limited numbers, and masks will be enforced) on Wednesday, August 12th from 9:00-3:00 to meet with parents. If you have children at different grade levels and buildings, you do not need to attend meetings at multiple schools. Opt-in forms will be available and parents can opt-in all their children at one location.
In order to meet staffing, transportation, and several other components of our new school environment, it is vitally important to know how many students will join the Virtual Program. Parents seeking more information and/or are interested in opting their child(ren) into this program are highly encouraged to visit our school on date and time. Here is a link to the complete schedule of schools and meetings.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SdFISdKk-c1Lbkz7Vj5irylxEkqJOKZy2J3HJGvJ_tI/edit#heading=h.e1437s49s5yw.
If you are not comfortable meeting in a safe environment at the school or are unable to attend on one of the scheduled days, please call or email the school 313-827-6400 or higgind@dearbornschools.org so we may discuss this option and begin the opt-in process for your children.
We understand there are many questions, concerns, and uncertainties as we approach the start of the school year. Our Back to School Reopen Committee has spent many hours considering all of the health, safety, logistical, and educational concerns before making their recommendations. Our Board spent many hours reviewing those recommendations including a six hour Study Session to hear from the various sub-committees and stakeholders. We are now ready to move forward, together, to ensure what will be an interesting, but great, start to the 2020-21 school year.
Mr. Higgins and Mrs. Rabac
Thank You William Ford
Dear Parents of William Ford Students,
Summer greetings to you all! I wanted to reach out to you and thank you all for your support and partnership this school year. Our world as we knew it changed on March 12th. Our daily existence, our priorities, our economy, and essentially how we live has been greatly influenced by this silent and invisible virus. Everyone scrambled to do their best to meet the needs of our children and families while adapting to this new existence. Many of you worked from home, while ensuring your children continued the learning remotely with their classroom teacher. I thank you.
As we look towards the next school year there are still so many uncertainties. We do not know what school will look like, and likely will not know until mid to late July. School will likely be different in August, but I promise you we will work diligently and tirelessly to meet the needs of your children, our students.
The aforementioned weighs heavily on all of us here at William Ford. So where do we start the school year in 2020-21, how do we attempt to meet the needs of our students, your children…what is our priority? The answer to all of us is clear….relationships. We value the relationships our teachers already have with our students and families. Because of that, as of June 23rd it is our intention to loop nearly all students with their current class, and nearly half of the classrooms with their current teacher. In other words, most students will remain with their current classmates and nearly ½ of our teachers will move up one grade level and keep their current class. There will be exceptions. New kindergarteners and our promoted fifth graders are two examples.
Classroom rosters with your child’s teacher for 2020-2021 will be confirmed and made official in August. Until then, feel free to reach out to your child’s teacher from this past year with any questions or concerns, or suggestions for academic growth over the summer. Of course, you can always reach out to me or Mrs. Rabac as well.
Enjoy the summer with your family and friends. Read and write together. Treasure those conversations while enjoying a meal. I look forward to seeing you all soon!
Much love to all of our William Ford families,
David Higgins
Principal, William Ford Elementary
Report Cards Available through Wednesday of this Week
If you were unable to pick up your child’s report card last Wednesday they will be available Monday, June 22nd – Wednesday, June 24th in the mornings from 9:00-11:00. Buzz the front door and Mr. Higgins will answer. Please know your child’s grade and teacher.
Report Cards Available on Wednesday!
Report Cards will be available to be picked up from school on Wednesday! Office staff will be available on Wednesday outside the front doors with student Report Cards from 10:00AM -12:00. Please know your child’s grade and teacher. A table will be set up by the front doors. Tape will be on the pavement to allow for social distancing. Please wear a mask. See you on Wednesday morning!
Congratulations to Our 5th Grade Students!
Greetings William Ford Families!
On Thursday, June 11th, we will be celebrating the accomplishments of our 5th grade students as they transition to middle school. The celebration parade will begin at noon on Alber Street. Please see the flyer below for additional information about this event.
We are looking forward to a special celebration with our 5th grade students and families!
Parent School Re-opening Survey
The State of Michigan, and our District, have begun the complicated and detailed discussion on the possible reopening of schools for the 2020-21 school year. These discussions will involve experts in instruction, operations, sanitation, transportation, food service, athletics, and many other areas that are part of operating a school district. Please know that any plans developed by the Dearborn Public Schools will need to adhere to directives and Executive Orders issued by the Governor.
Your feedback is required and valued in leading these plans at the district level. Please respond to the survey below by June 12, 2020. Please keep an eye out for additional parent surveys in the near future.
Click here for the survey! https://forms.gle/DNx3eN8hcRpXsfSs5
Student Personal Items from the Classroom will be Available on Tuesday!
On Tuesday, June 2nd from 12:00-3:00 many teachers will be at William Ford to deliver any personal items students have in the classroom. Items have been placed in bags and will be available for pick-up. The schedule is below;
- Last Name beginning with A: 12:00-1:00
- Last Name beginning with B-M: 1:00-2:00
- Last Name beginning with N-Z: 2:00-3:00
Parents and Students are asked to stay in their vehicles, park next to a cone on Ternes or Alber, and a staff member will come to you with the bagged personal items. If you walk, please wait near the flag pole gathering area and a staff member will help you.
Parents, please make a simple paper sign for your car window with the name, grade and teacher of all your children. Make sure the name is visible from the outside of the car by placing the sign on the passenger window. This will help staff quickly get your items.
If students have a library book, textbook, musical instrument, etc. they can bring it on Tuesday. No return of Chromebooks at this time.
Items not picked up on Tuesday will be kept until June 12th and then discarded, recycled or sent to a charitable organization.
To our students and families…We Thank You!
William Ford Students and Families…we THANK YOU for all of your hard work, patience, resilience and your partnership with all of us at William Ford! We salute you! We will be back soon…stronger and kinder!
After every storm comes a rainbow!
Sincere thanks to Zaina Fardous and Prosigns for donating and installing this sign for William Ford!
Time to Register Your Kindergarten Student for Next Year!
Do you have a child who will turn five before December 1st? If so, they are eligible for Young 5s or Kindergarten at William Ford Elementary. See below the steps to register your child for Young 5s or Kindergarten at William Ford for the 2020-2021 school year.
- Watch this presentation for all the information you need: Click HERE!
- Come to William Ford on Tuesday, May 12th between 12:00-2:00 to pick up a special packet with registration papers and a few summer supplies for your child!
- Enroll online, OR return registration paperwork to William Ford on one of the dates below;
- Wednesday, May 13th between 9:00-10:30
- Thursday, May 14th between 12:00-2:00
- Friday, May 15th 9:00-10:30