September 26, 2022 

Dear Breton Downs Families,

This year’s Student Leadership Team had their first meeting Tuesday where we discussed possible Spirit Week themes for Homecoming Week (October 3-7) and Hearts of Gold Week (17-21), as well as goals we have for our school this year. This list includes helping and managing our new recess equipment carts and teaching all students how to address issues in a positive manner.  Our Student Leadership Team will continue to meet throughout the school year to make positive change on behalf of their classmates.

A big thank you to Sherry Sharrard and the BRAVO! planning committee for organizing and planning a wonderful night for our Breton Downs families.  Also, a thank you to the many volunteers who came together to make the night a success by donating items or their time to this fantastic event.

Spirit Week (October 3- 7)
Next week East Grand Rapids High School celebrates Homecoming and our Breton Downs students enjoy participating in some of the activities.  Here are the “Spirit Week” happenings:

Spirit Week:  October 3- 7

• Monday, October 3- Pajamas and Nose in a Book Day

• Tuesday, October 4- What I Want to Be When I Grow Up Day  

• Wednesday, October 5- Wacky Wear and Hair Wednesday

• Thursday, October 6- Dress Like a Teacher Day

• Friday, October 7- Go East Day (Blue and Gold)

Homecoming Parade- Friday, October 7
The parade will start at 4:30 p.m. at Beechwood and Lake Drive and then turn westbound onto Lake Drive towards the high school.  It will continue on Lake Drive before turning right onto Breton, left into Gaslight Village, left onto Croswell, and ending in front of the High School on Lake Drive.

We will keep our tradition of throwing candy during the parade; however, candy will only be thrown from walking parade participants. Walking parade participants have been instructed to throw candy near the sidewalks and not in the streets.  We ask for your assistance in keeping our children safe. Young children tend to run into the street, putting them too close to the moving vehicles in the parade.  We are requesting that parents keep children near the curb and not allow them to enter the street.

Homecoming Football Game- Friday, October 7
The football game will start at 7:00 p.m. at Memorial Field.

Picture Day is Tuesday, September 27
This is a friendly reminder that Picture Day is Tuesday, September 27.  Everyone will have a school picture taken and you order and pay once you receive your proof.  You will also be able to order a school yearbook at this time.  Information will come home with your student once they have their picture taken.  Picture retakes will take place on Tuesday, October 25.

Upcoming Author Visit
The three elementary buildings are excited to announce that children’s author, Matthew Cordell, will be visiting our district thanks to a partnership with the Friends of the East Grand Rapids Library. Matthew Cordell has illustrated many books for children including works of poetry, novels, and picture books including The Only Fish in the Sea and Follow That Frog by Philip Stead. He has written and illustrated numerous picture books himself including Hello, Neighbor! The Kind and Caring World of Mister Rogers, Bear Island, and Wish. His work has been published around the globe in many different languages, including Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Spanish, French, and Italian.  Matthew’s books have been recognized as Best of the Year selections by the New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Boston Globe, and his first wordless picture book, Wolf in the Snow, was awarded a 2017 Boston Globe-Horn Book honor award and the 2018 Caldecott Medal. Matthew lives in suburban Chicago with his wife, author, Julie Halpern, and their two children.

“One of the great pleasures of my career is being able to meet the many children and adults all over who might have encountered my books. It means so much to be invited into a school, a book festival, or a conference to share my love of reading, writing, and drawing with children, educators, and parents who in turn provide endless inspiration to me.” - Matthew Cordell

Matthew will visit Breton Downs on October 26. This order form was sent home in Friday folders with all students so that families who are interested in purchasing some of his titles are able to do so in time for books to arrive before his visit. 

Kids Have Rights
Beginning in the 2015-2016 school year, East Grand Rapids Public Schools presented the body safety program, Kids Have Rights to students in kindergarten through 4th grade. Kids Have Rights is a program offered through The Children’s Advocacy Center of Kent County.  This program meets the requirements outlined in Erin's Law (signed into law January 2013) for Michigan elementary students. The Kids Have Rights lessons incorporate information on:

• The “Rights” all kids have to keep themselves safe.

• Identifying the Safe Adults in a child’s life they can go to if they need help.

• Recognizing different kinds of touches (safe vs. unsafe).

The Kids Have Rights material is presented in a non-threatening way and is different for each grade level. This ensures the information is age and developmentally appropriate.

Additional information, including an opt out form, was sent home today.  You can also learn more about the program by visiting the Kids Have Rights website.  If you have questions or would like additional information please contact Mrs. Erin Huffer, our School Social Worker or me.

New Staff
Once again we will be highlighting staff members in our Breton Beat.  In today’s newsletter you will find information regarding one of our new kindergarten teachers, Ms. Jenna Jenkins. 

Calendar
Please click here to view upcoming events on the Breton Downs School calendar.

As always, my door is always open. Please reach out anytime with questions, concerns, or to say hello.

Warm Regards,

 https://twitter.com/principalcannon

Available Supports for Families

UPDATED Choir Information

Staff Spotlight

Safety Patrol Information

Safety is our Focus:  As the 5th grade students get ready to leave for camp on September 28th, 29th and 30th, their posts will be covered by 4th grade substitute safeties. Our 4th grade sub safeties are trained and eager to do their best. We have attempted to cover the major crosswalks, however, some crosswalks may not have coverage. Please talk to your child about these changes, as their walk to school may look a little different these days.

Huffer's Highlights

Please click here for a note from our School Social Worker, Mrs. Erin Huffer, on "flexible thinking".

What’s Next?

That’s a question we never stop asking our EGRPS staff. In our fall newsletter, we share highlights of four grants among the 34 we funded last year totaling $238,114. This month, we’ve already had two Big Check Days to tell teachers their time-sensitive grants had been approved. Right now, teachers are applying by October 1 for a new round of fall grants that our board will consider at its next meeting. This vital work for our students and schools never stops.

So what’s next? We can’t wait to see! And we can’t wait to share the news with you.

 Lunch Info 

Elementary Menu
Lunch this year is $3.50.  If your student only wants milk, the cost is $0.50.  If your student plans to eat lunch, please set up a My Payments Plus account using your students EGR ID number plus two 0's in front of it.  Questions, call the office at 616-235-7552.

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With the expiration of the COVID “free lunch for all students” program, every family is encouraged to submit a free or reduced lunch application.  It has been reported by some families that the online application (http://egrps.mealapp.org) has not worked for certain birthdates.  The software vendor has acknowledged this problem and is working on a solution.  READ MORE