March 2026
Dear D7 Families, Staff, and Community Members,
In this month's newsletter, I would like to highlight three areas of focus: District Safety,, March is Reading Month, and Calendar events.. We will also be featuring Polk Elementary and Madison Preschool in this newsletter edition..
District Safety:
First, I want to remind our families and staff of the safety measures we have in place across the district. The recent events at Temple Israel in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan are deeply saddening and serve as a difficult reminder of why school safety must remain a constant priority for all of us. Please know that the safety and security of our students and staff continue to be our highest priority, and we are committed to doing everything in our power to ensure our schools remain safe places for learning.
Over the past year, we have continued to strengthen our safety practices while maintaining an environment that is welcoming and supportive for students. One important measure we have implemented district-wide is the Smart Boot System from LockOut USA in every classroom. This security system provides multiple layers of protection and is designed to strengthen our emergency response capabilities while enhancing overall school safety:
Boot System for Door Barricades - Every classroom is equipped with a barricade device that can be engaged to prevent unauthorized entry during an emergency.
Pull Stations for Large Open Areas - In spaces without direct access to the Smart Boot System, designated pull stations allow staff to initiate lockdown measures quickly..
Critical Incident Mapping & Color-Coded Zoning - Our buildings are now mapped with color-coded placards for classrooms, offices, and exterior doors, ensuring rapid response and coordination for law enforcement..
Smart Tablets for Staff Communication - All staff members have access to smart tablets, allowing them to initiate emergency alerts from anywhere in the building. These tablets also facilitate real-time communication between teachers, administrators and law enforcement..
Ballistic Shields at Entry Points - Exterior doorways are reinforced with ballistic shields to provide an additional layer of protection and slow down potential threats..
Smart Light System for Visual Alerts - This system activates visual warnings throughout the school when triggered by smart tablets, pull stations, or smart boxes, ensuring immediate awareness of any security threat..
These safety enhancements are part of our continued effort to proactively protect our students and staff. While we hope these systems are never needed, being prepared for unexpected situations is a responsibility we take seriously. Throughout the year, students and staff participate in regular safety drills so everyone understands procedures and knows how to respond if necessary. Feedback from administrators along with personal experience suggest that the buildings get locked down within a few minutes during these drills. It is quite impressive to watch every student and staff member step into action!
We also continue to work closely with the Dearborn Heights Police Department to maintain strong communication and coordinated protocols with D7, especially during critical situations.
Thank you for the trust you place in our schools. Please continue to encourage your children to speak with a trusted adult if they ever see or hear something that raises concern.
Mark your calendars with the following dates:
Friday, March 20 - No School – K-12 students, Staff PD
Friday, March 27 - Half Day K-12 students and Staff - End of Marking Period
Monday, March 30 through Monday, April 6 - K-12 Students and Staff - Spring Break
Tuesday, April 7 - Classes resume for K-12 students and Staff
March is Reading Month:
Even though literacy is a key part of learning every day—from our Early Childhood programs through grade 12—our schools are adding some extra excitement this month as we celebrate “March is Reading Month”. Across the district, students are participating in special activities and programs designed to build a love of reading and highlight the importance of literacy. Be sure to ask your child about the fun events and activities happening at their school as we celebrate reading together this month. 📚
Check out our own Dr. Finnie, D7 Curriculum Director, making her Seuss Debut to celebrate reading with our students!!!!
Madison Preschool:
In preschool children learn many important skills; They practice recognizing letters, numbers, shapes and colors. Also while building early learning reading and counting skills. Preschoolers often take part in activities like story time, arts and crafts, music and movement, and simple science experiments. They also learn to share, follow directions and work together as a team with their peers. This helps them develop social and emotional skills. Preschool helps prepare children for kindergarten.
Preschoolers also participate in many fun extra activities throughout the year. Some of these activities include Field Day, Field Trips, Halloween Parade, and a Graduation Ceremony at the end of the year.
Preschool helps children create happy memories with their classmates and teachers. Preschool helps children build confidence and makes school a fun and exciting experience.
Thanks,
Deb Haskell, Child Care Director / GSRP Director
Polk Elementary:
Spring is just around the corner, and March is full of exciting learning opportunities and celebrations at Polk! We are proud of the amazing things happening every day with our students, staff, and families. Thank you for your continued partnership in helping our students learn, grow, and thrive.
Positive Behavior Intervention & Supports (PBIS)
Polk focuses on creating a positive, supportive learning environment through PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports). This approach helps students learn and practice important behaviors that support success both in and out of the classroom. Each month focuses on three different character traits. This month, the Character Traits are understanding Humility, Love of Learning, and Perspective. Students earn recognition and a certificate at the Student of the Month assembly.
Once a month, Polk hosts PBIS rewards to congratulate all the Polk Panthers who made great choices for the month. Students choose a half-hour reward activity. The reward activities include LEGO, Skittles bingo, a dance party, and more.
PBIS is also holding a March Madness Attendance Challenge to remind students that every day they are at school helps them learn, grow, and succeed. Mrs. Bertasio’s 3rd-grade class won the gold medal for the first challenge. Way to Go! The winning class each week will receive a brag tag, popcorn party, and a visit from Whiskers.
Families can support PBIS at home by reinforcing these same positive behaviors and celebrating their child’s efforts.
School Facility Dog – Lily
Our beloved school facility dog Lily continues to bring smiles and comfort to students at Polk. Lily is currently completing her training with her host, Ms. Gargasoulas, as well as Mrs. Dews, Mrs. Lefevre, and Dr. Portscheller. Over time, Lily will spend more time at Polk working with staff to help students feel calm, confident, and ready to learn. She may visit classrooms during reading time, encourage students who need a little extra support, and help create a welcoming environment for everyone. Lily will make her debut to the community at the D7 Board of Education meeting scheduled for March 18th.
March is Reading Month!
March is one of the most exciting months of the school year because it is Reading Month! Mrs. LeBlanc and Mrs. LeFevre have created an outstanding daily calendar of events to make reading exciting, engaging, and fun for every student. This year’s theme is:” Who Would Win?” Students will enjoy a variety of creative and interactive reading activities all month long, including these:
- Celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday with a Green Eggs & Ham breakfast offering
- Scholastic Book Fair in the first week of March
- “Magic of Stories” student assembly
- Winner’s Read Family Night, March 26th from 5-6:30 pm
- Theme days and spirit days
- Guest readers from our community
- Flashlight Friday reading activities
- Who Would Win battle day assembly
- Families can support Reading Month by:
- Reading together each night
- Visiting your local library
- Asking your child about the books they are reading at school
- Celebrating their reading progress
5th Graders Visit O. W. Best Middle School
It is hard to believe, but soon our 5th graders will begin preparing for middle school. This month, our 5th-grade students will take an exciting step toward the future as they visit the middle school. 5th graders will:
- Have a guided tour of O. W. Best Middle School
- Meet middle school teachers and staff
- Have lunch with their 6th-grade pen pals
- Learn about classes and opportunities
- Ask questions about middle school life
This visit helps students feel more comfortable and excited about the transition to middle school next year. During the summer, incoming 6th graders and their parents will be invited to attend the 6th Grade Orientation at O.W. Best Middle School, typically scheduled for August. We are proud of our 5th graders as they prepare for this next chapter in their educational journey!
Kindergarten Roundup
As we say goodbye to our 5th graders, we are preparing to welcome next year’s Kindergarteners at Kindergarten Round Up. If you have a child who will be five years of age on or before December 1, 2026, please plan to attend the kindergarten roundup, which will be held at all three elementary schools on April 16th from 6-7 pm. Please share this information with neighbors, family, and friends who have kindergarten-age children. Roundup is an excellent time to meet the teachers, tour the classrooms, and learn how to prepare children for school. We can’t wait to see you there!
District Elementary School Spelling Bee
Our annual District Elementary Spelling Bee is scheduled for April 30th. Fourth and fifth-graders across the district begin preparing for this competition in March. We are incredibly proud of the students who will represent their schools. As they practice their spelling skills, they demonstrate dedication, perseverance, and strong academic effort.
We wish all our student spellers the very best of luck! Families are encouraged to celebrate the hard work of all participants who take part in their school spelling competitions.
After School Clubs
Polk’s after-school clubs are FUN! Polk students are having a great time in our after-school Lego Club! During each meeting, students are given a fun building challenge, such as creating a form of transportation, designing a restaurant, or even building their teacher out of Legos. Club members stay after school to collaborate with friends, use their creativity, and come up with new ideas for future challenges.
Polk's Art Club (Y5-5th grade) studied Gee's Bend quilts and created their own quilt mural. Our design was inspired by the quilts made by generations of African American women in Gee's Bend, Alabama. The quilts reflect family history, community traditions, and creativity passed down through generations. Their unique style shows how color, pattern, and shape can tell stories and express resilience, resourcefulness, and cultural heritage. It has been wonderful to see students’ imagination and teamwork in action as they build and share their creations.
Thank You for Your Partnership
On behalf of the Polk staff and students, I would like to send our sincere appreciation to all our families and volunteers for your continued support of our students! Working together, we can ensure every child will succeed.
Have a fantastic March!
Dr. Claudia Portscheller, Principal
Mark R. Kleinhans, Superintendent, Dearborn Heights School District #7