Dear Families,
We are about five weeks from our May 7 bond election. If approved, this proposal would help the district address critical infrastructure needs, increase safety and security at our buildings, improve educational spaces, replace aging buses, and enhance some of our athletic and performing arts facilities. TheLivingstonPost.com recently published a guest column I wrote on the bond, which you can read at http://tinyurl.com/y39c7dfm. To learn more about the proposal, you can visit our bond webpage at HowellSchools.com/ForOurKids. Additionally, I will share the details on the bond during a community meeting on Tuesday, April 16 at 6 p.m in the Board of Education meeting room.
With the current Measles outbreak in a neighboring county, the Livingston County Health Department has been proactive in providing resources about the illness. While there have been no confirmed cases in our district or Livingston County, I thought that it was important to share them with you. I have compiled all of the resources on my blog at http://tinyurl.com/yxzptuqh.
On Tuesday, April 23 at 6 p.m. I will be giving my annual State of the District Address. The State of the District Address is a time when I reflect on the past year, share updates on the various initiatives that the district is currently undertaking, and preview some of the items that will be happening in the next year. This year’s address will be held in the Parker Middle School media center. If you are free that evening, please consider attending.
Recently, Howell High School announced this year’s Senior Survivor contestants who will be raising money for North Star Reach Camp. North Star Reach provides a summer camp experience for kids with chronic and life-threatening health challenges at no charge to the child’s family. You can learn about this year’s contestants and donate to Senior Survivor at http://tinyurl.com/y3t2ob48. Don’t forget that the Senior Survivor Community Carnival will be held on Friday, April 26 at 6 p.m. in the Howell High School Field House! The carnival activities will include games, inflatables, photo booth, arts and crafts, raffles, entertainment, and food. Admission is $10 per person (kids under age 3 are free), or you can buy a family pass for $30 (up to 5 family members from the same home.) An adult must accompany students in eighth grade or below. All proceeds from the carnival will go towards a scholarship in memory of Julianna Ward-Brown.
All of our district’s archery teams have qualified for National Archery in the Schools Program national competition. A Parker Middle School student earned fifth place in a statewide essay contest and next weekend is Howell High School’s spring musical “Guys and Dolls.” I’ve shared more on each of these stories below.
All Howell Public Schools Archery Teams Heading to Nationals
Last month our archery teams had an outstanding performance at the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) State Competition. The high school team and the Parker Middle School team were both named Michigan State NASP Reserve Champions, and the Three Fires Elementary team claimed third place at the tournament. These teams, along with the Highlander Way Middle School team all qualified for the national competition in Kentucky next month. If you would like to see the teams compete before they head to the national competition, they are hosting a tournament tomorrow, Saturday, April 6 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Parker Middle School Field House. Admission to the tournament is $5.
Parker Student Claims Fifth Place in Statewide Essay Contest
Audrey Davey, an eighth-grader at Parker Middle School, recently earned fifth place in the state in the 50th annual America and Me Essay contest. As a top ten statewide winner, she will receive a plaque, medallion and a cash award of $2,000. Additionally, Audrey will join the other winners at a banquet in Lansing to meet with Michigan’s top governmental leaders and be featured guests at a Lansing Lugnuts baseball game. Audrey’s essay was about how her third-grade teacher, Mrs. Amy Bell, was her hero.
“Guys and Dolls” Takes the Stage Next Weekend
Next weekend is the Howell High School production of “Guys and Dolls.” Show times are April 12 and 13 at 7 p.m., and April 14 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 for students/seniors and $12 for adults and can be purchased in the Howell High School main office and online at https://tinyurl.com/y4uw2k8h. All performances will be held in the Howell High School Rod Bushey Performing Arts Center. To read more about the show, please visit http://tinyurl.com/y2hs39wm.