9-23-16 From the Desk of Mr. Downey

TO: Parents of Turrill students

FROM: Principal, Robert Downey

DATE: September 22, 2016

RE: Oak Street Resurface and Water Main Project

I would like to inform our Turrill community that starting Monday, September 26, 2016, the City of Lapeer will be closing Oak Street to daily traffic until November 11, 2016.

The City of Lapeer will begin a project to resurface the street and replace a 12” water main on Oak Street from Turrill Avenue to McCormick Street. During the project Oak Street will be closed to normal traffic.

The City has advised us to have all school traffic use Summit St. off of M-24 to access our Turrill west parking lot/drop-off. The city will maintain open our driveway entrance from Oak street during construction. (Please see enclosed map for traffic flow.)

We are requesting all of our Turrill community members to enter our west parking lot from Summit St, off of M-24. Then continue around our parking lot and exit school grounds onto Elm st, making a right hand turn only to keep traffic flowing. Proceed east to Madison St, go north on Madison to Turrill Ave. to exit the neighborhood. Following this traffic flow pattern will give our school the least amount of traffic issues possible during this period of construction.

We appreciate everyone’s cooperation on this matter.

8-5-16 From the Desk of Mr. Fitzpatrick

Your child will be participating in the Elementary Physical Education program this year.  The students will be involved in activities that will help them in their growth and maturation, and ultimately help them in the classroom.  Your child will receive 45 minutes of physical education per week in grades E5 through fifth grade. 

On your child’s report card, you will see a grade each trimester for physical education.  
Below is the grading key. 

Students will be participating in various physical fitness tests throughout the year.  Each test has a goal or benchmark that students will be trying to reach for each test.  The benchmark is based on the student’s age and gender.  In order for students to successfully pass the test they need to meet the benchmark for their age and gender.  A benchmark is an objective defining the necessary criteria each student needs to pass each of the fitness tests.  Students meeting the benchmark on all five of the tests will receive the Gold or Silver award at the end of the school year. 

 
Participation in physical activity offers many health benefits, including increasing general mood, self-esteem, confidence and sleep quality.  Due to the fact that we only see your child once a week, for 45 minutes, they are expected to participate every week.  Students who cannot participate for one week need a written note  from a parent.  Students who cannot participate for multiple weeks will need a doctor’s note. 

One way that you can help your child have a successful year in Physical Education is by making sure that he/she is dressed appropriately on the designated day.  It is important for students to have tennis shoes for Physical Education class.  Tennis shoes are required to participate in Physical Education class.  Four or more Physical Education classes without tennis shoes will result in an IP grade on the report card. 

Sincerely, 

Deb Cooper, Ken Baginski, and John Fitzpatrick  

Gold Physical Fitness Award Qualifying Scores (85th percentile) 

Silver Physical Fitness Award Qualifying Scores (50th percentile) 

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7.1.16
 Dear Parent or Guardian,

I’m very excited to write this letter to introduce myself as the new Principal of Turrill Elementary. My name is Robert Downey and I am looking forward to meeting both you and your child over the course of the upcoming school year.

I have over twenty years of experience in education as a teacher and administrator. For the past four years, I have served as the elementary Principal in Dryden where we have started many of the same initiatives currently in place at Turrill. However, I am looking forward to learning all about our school, the staff, students and your families. Lapeer has been a district of change and certainly moving in a positive direction and I look forward to collaborating with my new staff and families to continue improving our school for our students!

I will be working diligently to provide the students of Turrill opportunities to prepare them to be world class citizens of the 21st century with a solid foundation of academic and social skills developed here at our school. As Principal, my door is always open and I welcome your input. Please feel free to stop in or call to make an appointment to discuss any suggestions or ideas you may have to help make this a great year or just to say "hi"!

As a reminder, the first day of school is Monday, August 1. Again, I look forward to working with you and your child.

Yours in Education,

Robert Downey
Principal, Turrill Elementary School
785 South Elm Street Lapeer, MI 48446
Tel: 810-538-2379
Fax: 810-667-2470