Principal's Corner

Principal's Request

School begins at 8:40 a.m.  If you drop off your child at school after 9:00 a.m., you must come down to the office and check him/her in.

If your child is going to be absent,

Please call our attendance line by 9:00 a.m.

The attendance line telephone number is

(313) 827- 4701.

Being on time shows responsibility

At Henry Ford Elementary we teach all the core values.  One of these values is “responsibility”.  Being on time for school is one way students can show responsibility for their actions.  It also helps them in the classroom and reduces interruptions for teachers and their classmates.  Everyday there is a number of students who arrive late to school.  SCHOOL BEGINS AT 8:40 A.M. 

Thank you to all the parents who make sure their child is here and ready for learning. 

School of Choice

School of choice Applications are due to Student Service by May 1st.  If you want your child to attend a school other than his home school, you have to fill out a school of choice application. 

IF YOU MOVE you must notify the office of your new address or new telephone number immediately. 

 Don’t let your child quit when school is tough!

Successful students don’t quit when schoolwork gets difficult.  Here are some tips to help your child develop an “I can finish this” attitude:

• Never offer to finish a project for her/him- no matter how she/he whines.
• Help her/him develop a plan for long-range assignments.
• Praise her/him for working hard and persevering, not just on the final product.
• Tell her/him persistence is more important than perfection.

Reading Program

A-R-C spells success for students reading textbooks.

Reading a textbook is a lot different from reading a novel.  Yet students don’t always know the skills they need to get the most from their textbooks.  You can help your child by teaching him the A- R- C method.  This three step process will help your child understand what he reads. 

A is for associate.  Before your child starts to read, he should think about what he already knows about a subject.  Then have him skim through the chapter looking at the pictures, headings and subheadings.  Also, have him look for words printed in bold type.  Have him write questions he expects to find answers to as he reads the chapter. 

R is for read.  Have your child read one section of the chapter.  Then have him stop.  Can he tell you, in his own words, what he just read?  If not, have him go back and reread.  This is the time to have him write down any words he doesn’t know.  Can he figure out what they mean?  Have him write down their definitions.

C is for connect.  Once your child has finished reading, see if he can answer the questions he wrote before he read the chapter.  You can also have him answer the questions at the end of the chapter

Click here and check out this reading program

Pizza Hut Book it Program

Good Health and Physical Well-Being

School-aged children can concentrate better in class if they eat nutritionally balanced meals.
Children require regular medical and dental checkups and immunizations
children need opportunities to exercise and develop physical coordination.
Parents of youngsters with disabilities should see a doctor as soon as a problem is suspected. Early intervention can help these children develop to their full potential.

Social and Emotional Preparation

Young children are often very excited about entering school. But when they do, they can face an environment that's different from what they are used to at home.  Children at school will need to work well in large groups and get along with new adults and other children. They will have to share the teacher's attention with other youngsters. The classroom routines may also be different.
Children improve their chances for success if they develop these qualities:
Confidence.  Children must learn to feel good about themselves and believe they can succeed. Confident children are more willing to attempt new tasks--and try again if they don't succeed the first time.
Independence. Children need to learn to do things for themselves.
Motivation. Children must want to learn.
Curiosity. Children are naturally curious and must remain so in order to get the most out of learning opportunities.
Persistence. Children must learn to finish what they start.
Cooperation. Children must be able to get along with others and learn to share and take turns.
Self-control. Preschoolers must understand that some behaviors, such as hitting and biting, are inappropriate. They need to learn that there are good and bad ways to express anger.
Empathy. Children must learn to have an interest in others and understand how others feel.
Parents, even more than child care centers and good schools, help children develop these skills. Here are some ways you can help your child acquire these positive qualities:
Youngsters must believe that, no matter what, someone will look out for them.
Set a good example. Children imitate what they see others do and what they hear others say..
Have a positive attitude toward learning and toward school. Children also become excited about school when their parents show excitement.

Provide opportunities for repetition. It takes practice to crawl, pronounce new words, or drink from a cup.

A new defibrillator for medical emergencies has been purchased and installed at Henry Ford School.  It is located on the first floor of the main building near the office.

Donate your inactive cell phones:  The Dearborn Public Schools Education Foundation is collecting inactive cell phones. They will turn them in for money that will be used for our schools. There is a collection box in the main office.

Henry Ford students, staff and families collected $1737 for Pennies For Patients. Mrs. Janoskey’s class won the competition for raising the most money. Students and staff also brought in over 2000 canned and boxed foods that were donated to the Salvation Army.

New ESL Class for Adults to Begin:

Beginning on February 6, 2006 we will begin an ESL class for adults here at Henry Ford.

The class will be at 9:15am-11:15am on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The class is for adults only, we are sorry there is no babysitting available.

Please contact the school office if you are interested or know someone who is

Working Together

Work With Your Child’s Teacher to Resolve     Problems

Having a concern or problem with the teacher puts a parent in an uneasy situation.  You want to resolve the problem, but you don’t want to offend the teacher.  Parents often make a mistake, says Gifted and Talented Teacher Lisa Dean.  Instead of discussing the issue with the teacher, they discuss it with other parents.  Or they go directly to the principal.  She recommends that parents take these steps instead:

• Go to the teacher first.  Call to set up a conference.  Chances are, the teacher will be able to clear up any issues or concerns you have.  You may be reassured when you hear the teacher’s reasons behind a decision or action.
• Get your story straight.  If you have a grading concern, gather the papers in question.  Plan to bring them with you.  If it’s a discipline issue, know the facts.  If your child tells you about a problem, have him/her be specific when sharing the details with you.
• Call for an appointment with the principal if you’re still concerned.  You may want to ask that the teacher also attend your meeting. That way, all issues can be aired and addressed immediately.  

If everyone involved stays focused on what’s best for your child, it’s likely you can work out a plan to resolve the problem and your child will learn about solving problems through teamwork.

Home work tips for your children

1-Television

Turn off the television.

2- After School Care

If your child is in after-school care, carefully work out a time schedule for homework that doesn't stress you or your child. Can some of the "easier" work be done at the after-school program? Then save time for the more difficult homework to be done with mom or dad nearby for support.

3- Free Time

If you find that there's free time in the evenings, bring out the board games, cards, or books. It's family time!

4- MathStories.com

Does your child love doing math word problems? Or does he need a little extra practice? Check out websites that have math games for the internet generation.

5- Expectations

Determine exactly what the teacher's expectations are, especially for your younger child (K-3).

 6- Reward System

If your child is one to kick and scream (figuratively speaking) at the idea of doing homework, find a reward system that will help him to get in gear and stay there.

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Kids Safety

Top 10 Simple Tips to Help Keep Children Safe When They Go Back-To-School

Children should

• Walk to and from school in groups.
  2) Never accept a ride without first getting permission from parents.
  3) Never take shortcuts. Always stick to routes selected by parents, and stay on main roads.
  4) Leave home with money for telephone calls, or a calling card. Remind them that 911 is a FREE call, even from a pay phone.
  5) Never advertise if they are "latch key kids," and wear their house key on a string underneath clothing.
  6) Have "home alone" plans for emergencies, and for phone and door answering.
  7) Have landmarks on school routes, like "on my way home, if I am past the church on Front Street and there's a problem, I'm closer to home and should go there. If I haven't reached the church, I'm closer to school and should go back."
  8) Be aware of "safe havens" along walking routes (police stations, fire stations, retail shops), which represent the "right" strangers from which to seek help in immediate danger.
  9) Report ALL suspicious behavior and "new adult friends" to parents.
  10) Never leave school with anyone without checking with school officials.

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