Dear Families,

This week Mrs. Sharin Smith, Howell High School’s building secretary, was named the 2019-2020 Howell Public Schools Support Person of the Year. In each of Mrs. Smith’s nominations there were common themes: she is always calm, always friendly, and always willing to help students, staff, and parents. Mrs. Smith is known for going above and beyond to get the job done. Please join me in congratulating Mrs. Smith on this honor. To view a video of the award presentation, please visit http://bit.ly/2TlQJW6. To read more about Mrs. Smith and the 2019-2020 Support Person of the Year Award, please visit http://bit.ly/38neyAV.

We know that the Coronavirus (CONVID-19) is on the minds of many people. Please know that we are closely following developments regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19). While there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Livingston County or Michigan, we will follow the direction of the county and state health departments as it relates to COVID-19. To that end, this week, the superintendents of each of the county’s school districts met with officials from the Livingston County Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS). This meeting provided us with a better understanding of the current situation directly from public health officials and experts. Additionally, it provided an opportunity for DHHS staff to share what role schools should play in the county’s community response efforts. This joint meeting will ensure that each school district is approaching the response utilizing best practices in a consistent manner. Since we are the experts in education and not communicable diseases, we will continue to follow the advice of local, state, and federal health officials. Medical experts indicate that the best ways to prevent the spread of COVID -19 are the same recommendations for preventing the spread of the flu, which include
  
 * Avoiding close contact with people who are sick
 * Avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
 * Staying home when you are sick
 * Covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash
 * Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe
 8 Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing

Please help us reinforce these practices by reviewing them with your child(ren) on a regular basis.

Additionally, the Livingston County Health Department has compiled resources and guidance regarding the Coronavirus on its website. You can find those resources by visiting http://bit.ly/3cAVySI. We will continue to keep you updated on this issue.

Every ten years the United States Census Bureau counts the population in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands). The census is mandated by the Constitution and provides the basis for reapportioning congressional seats, redistricting, and distributing more than $675 billion in federal funds annually. An accurate count of the population in our district and county is critical as it will help determine how money is allocated for Head Start programming, grants that support teachers, and funding for special education services. Next week, households will start receiving official Census Bureau mail with detailed information on how to respond to the 2020 Census. When you receive this information, please be sure to respond to the short questionnaire. either online, by phone, or by mail. To learn more about the census, please visit https://2020census.gov/.

This week a Three Fires Elementary teacher was honored by WHMI for “making the grade.” On Tuesday, Southwest Elementary students held a science fair. Next month Howell High School will host a Teen Financial Reality Fair. You can read more about each of these items below.

Three Fires Teacher “Makes the Grade”
This week Three Fires Elementary Fifth Grade Teacher Mr. Ryan Johnson was surprised by WHMI with one of the station’s “Making the Grade” awards. The award honors an outstanding teacher in Livingston County. Mr. Johnson was selected as one of four winners from a pool of more than 100 nominations. During the award presentation, Mr. Johnson’s students shared how he makes learning fun and how much they enjoy being in his class.

Southwest Elementary Students Showcase Projects
On Tuesday Southwest Elementary third, fourth, and fifth-grade students shared their science projects during the school’s Science Fair. For the science fair, each student selected an experiment, developed a hypothesis, tested their hypothesis, and tracked the data of the research. Additionally, the students created a display board to share their experiment results with science fair attendees.

Volunteers Needed for Teen Financial Reality Fair
On Tuesday, April 7, students in Howell High School’s Career Decision Making and Personal Finance classes will take part in a Teen Financial Reality Fair. A Teen Financial Reality Fair is an interactive experience that allows students to research and identify their career choice and starting salaries. Then the students complete a budget sheet requiring them to live within their monthly salary while paying for basics such as housing, utilities, transportation, clothing, and food. These fairs will give students a view of real-life budgeting while illustrating the impact of their choices on their lifestyle. To make the event a success, we need volunteers. To learn more or to sign up to volunteer, please visit https://conta.cc/31zQ85q.