Friday Notes, 6/3/2022

Dear Panther Families,

It was great to see so many families come out to support our Orchestra and Drum Choir students yesterday. What a great concert! Also, a special congratulations to Ms. Boyer as she led her last concert as our music teacher. Her impact has been and is tremendous on the educational quality and spirit of our school. Congratulations to Ms. Boyer on her upcoming retirement!

Thank you for finishing the school year strong at Parkwood Upjohn. Please make a note of our schedule for next week:

Monday, 6/6 through Wednesday, 6/8: We have full days of school with a normal schedule.

Wednesday, 6/8: Student Field Day. Please do not park in the staff lot on this day and make sure that your child comes ready for fun, outdoor, Field Day events!

Thursday, 6/9: 1/2 day of school for students ending at 12 PM.

Friday, 6/10: Last day of school for the year – 1/2 day of school for students ending at 12 PM.

If you would like to order a Parkwood-Upjohn Yearbook you still can! Parent’s can order with their students’ unique order code. If they do not have their code they can request it here: inter-state.com/myordercode. If you are going to order a yearbook please select the “gray background” and “package 11”. 

Have a great weekend,

Mr. Murray

Friday Notes, 4/22/22

Dear Panther Families,

Congratulations to all of our Read-a-Thon winning students! It was great to see so many of our students earn prizes this morning for remembering to READ, READ, READ! Thank you to our Parkwood-Upjohn PTO for organizing our annual Read-a-thon.

Also, thank you to every student, parent and teacher that helped make M STEP testing successful this year. We appreciate everyone’s patience and flexibility as we helped each student do their best on their state assessments this year.

Have a great weekend Panthers,

Mr. Murray

Friday Notes, 4/8/22

Dear Panther Families,

We are enjoying the last day of our Read-a-thon Spirit Week – happy Pajama Day! Keep reading Panthers and don’t forget that April 11th is the last day to turn in reading logs and donation envelopes.

Next week, we begin MSTEP testing for 3rd-5th grade students. Here is the testing schedule:

Tuesday, April 12th – Grades 3-5 English Language Arts

Wednesday, April 13th – Grades 3-5 English Language Arts

Thursday, April 14th – Grade 5 Social Studies

Here are a few important MSTEP reminders:

1. Students may NOT have phones or Smart watches with them on test days. Teachers will have a place to store phones and Smart watches if this is necessary.
2. Please make sure students are present and at school by 8:55 AM on testing days.
3. Students and teachers may not share information regarding test questions with each other or families. The state of Michigan strives to make sure that questions and answers are not distributed online so that tests do not become invalidated.
4. Students in Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd Grades do not take MSTEP tests.

Also, make sure to check out the latest edition of Paw Prints – Parkwood-Upjohn’s student newspaper. Great job, writers and editors! 

Finally, please help Girl Scout Troop 80409 help our families in need by donating non-perishable items. These community-minded Panther students are trying to fill a barrel by the end of the school year.  Just place the items in the Loaves & Fishes barrel in the front office foyer.

Have a great weekend Panthers,

Mr. Murray

Friday Notes, 1/14/2022

Dear Panther Families,

Thank you for continuing to work with your children and Parkwood-Upjohn teachers and our support staff to make sure our school community is as healthy and safe as possible. We appreciate all of your support!

Here a a couple of notes:

1. January 17th is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We look forward to celebrating in school on Monday!

2. Our Art Teacher, Ms. Zuniga, is collecting bottles that have “bumps on the bottom” for an in-class project. We will have a collection receptacle set up in the entry if you wish to donate empty bottles.

3. If your child regularly rides a car home from school, this week we have been reissuing placards with your child’s name on it to increase safety and efficiency at dismissal. We also did this in August. If you did not receive one this week and would like a placard, please feel free to contact the office at 337-0720 and request one. Please display the placards in the windshield or driver’s side car window at pick up in the afternoon. For students who are picked up via car rarely, please contact the office or your child’s teacher when you wish to pick up your child by car.

Have a fantastic weekend,

Mr. Murray

Friday Notes, 12/19/21

Dear Panther Families,

The end of the First Trimester of the school year is rapidly approaching. Thank you so much for partnering with Parkwood-Upjohn as we have relaunched in-person learning with a team approach that has benefited all students! It’s been a great start to the school year!

A few reminders:

1. Students are NOT in school beginning Tuesday, November 23rd for Thanksgiving Break. School will resume on Monday, November 29th.

2. On Sunday, December 12th you have the opportunity to help raise funds for our Community Garden by coming out to a K Wings game! Join us for a K Wings game on December 12th at 3:00 PM! All proceeds from in-game fundraising will go directly to the Upjohn Community Garden.

To participate:

A. Order tickets for your family here

B. Consider selling “Chuck-A-Puck” bags with your child to raise funds by contacting Caroline Martin at martinch@kalamazoopublicschools.net

C. Bring a stuffed animal for the “Teddy Bear Toss”. All donated stuffed animals will go the Bronson Children’s Hospital.

Thanks for being a Panther!

Mr. Murray

Friday Notes, 11/5/2021

Dear Panther Families,

Thank you for a great four day week of teaching and learning! This week was also the first time that we had noticeably cold weather (by Michigan standards). Make sure to continue to send your child with proper cold-weather clothing for recess.

Here are a few important reminders and important events coming up:

Monday, November 8th – Picture Retake Day. Picture retakes will be indoors. If a student will be retaking pictures please make sure that the child physically brings in the picture(s) that you wish to have exchanged. These will need to be given to our Inter-State personnel. 5th grade students may enter the building as early as 8:30 AM on Monday only, if they will be retaking pictures. This will allow 5th grade students to have retakes completed before they go to Sherman Lake Camp.

Sunday, December 12th – K Wings Upjohn Community Garden Fundraiser. Join us for a K Wings game on December 12th at 3:30 PM! All proceeds from in-game fundraising will go directly to the Upjohn Community Garden. To participate;

   1.  Order tickets for your family here

   2. Consider selling “Chuck-A-Puck” bags with your child to raise funds by contacting Caroline Martin at martinch@kalamazoopublicschools.net.

   3. Consider bringing a stuffed animal for the “Teddy Bear Toss.” All donated stuffed animals will go the Bronson Children’s Hospital.

Also, don’t forget that Artsonia is live at Parkwood-Upjohn! During the 2021-22 school year, families will be able to view and even purchase art work created in Art Class through the Artsonia website for Parkwood-Upjohn. Please contact Ms. Zuniga at zunigale@kalamazoopublicschools.net with questions. Thank you Ms. Zuniga for connecting parents with student art created at school!

Thanks for being a Panther,

Mr. Murray

Friday Notes, 10/29/21

Dear Panther Families,

Thank you all for being an integral part of our Panther Prowl and Spirit Week! This afternoon, our Literacy Parade will round out the week. Unfortunately, due to the potential of inclement weather, the Literacy Parade will be held indoors. Parents will not be able to attend the parade in-person but we will make sure to send out digital updates afterwards! Also, I know our students will be excited to talk with you about their class costumes when they come home from school today.

 Also, don’t forget that there is no school this coming Tuesday, November 2nd. 

Thank you for partnering with us as we endeavor to create the optimal learning environment for all students.

Have a great weekend Panthers,

Mr. Murray

Friday Notes, 10/22/21

Dear Panther Families,

We are looking forward to an exciting Spirit Week starting on Monday that includes our Panther Prowl and Literacy Parade! Here is the schedule;

Monday, 10/25 – Pajama Day

Tuesday, 10/26 – Grade Level Color Day. Here is a link to the grade level color list.

Wednesday, 10/27 – Panther Prowl – keep turning in tickets from donations to support our P.E. program and Sherman Lake Camp! In addition to donating, parents may;

1. Watch the Panther Prowl on neighborhood sidewalks but will not participate. See your child’s teacher for your child’s exact route and Prowl time.

2. Volunteer to assist with Panther Prowl organization.

Students are encouraged to wear Panther Colors (blue and white) or Panther Gear on Wednesday (parents can too!). Here is how to order new Panther Threads

Thursday, 10/28 – Mismatch Day

Friday, 10/29 – Literacy Parade; K-3 students make costumes in the classroom and students in 4th and 5th grade may dress up as their favorite book characters!

Thank you for making Parkwood-Upjohn great!

Mr. Murray

Friday Notes on Thursday, 10/14/21

Dear Panther Families,

Thank you for helping your child grow academically, socially and emotionally by participating in Parent-Teacher Conferences this week. Conferences will continue as scheduled today.

Also, please do not forget that today, Thursday, 10/14/21 and tomorrow, Friday, 10/15/21 are half-days ending at noon.

Finally, thank you to all of those wo have donated to our P.E. and Student Camp programs by participating in the Panther Prowl! Tomorrow is out first raffle prize drawing for students. When students meet fundraising goals for the Panther Prowl they simply cut out the appropriate coupon, fill out the back, and return the ticket to their teachers. Our fundraiser will continue for the next two weeks culminating with the Panther Prowl Walk on October 27th during school.

Thanks for being a Panther,

Mr. Murray

Friday Notes, 10/8/2021

Dear Panther Families,

It was great to see so many of you at our Outdoor Movie Night sponsored by the Parkwood-Upjohn PTO last Friday! Please don’t forget that this Friday, 10/8, is 1/2 day for students that ends at noon.

Next week, our schedule will look different as well as we make time for Parent-Teacher Conferences;

– Thursday, 10/14 is a half-day for students ending at noon

– Friday, 10/15 is a half-day as well

If you have not made plans to conference with your child’s teacher, make sure to do so right away!

Have an excellent weekend,

Mr. Murray