Dear Families,

What an interesting winter we have had. This year, Mother Nature has given us snow, rain, flooding and sun, all in one week. The State of Michigan requires schools to provide 180 instructional days and 1,098 instructional hours. The state does allow schools six inclement weather days.  With last Friday’s snow day, we have used seven inclement weather days, which means we must currently make up one lost day of instruction. To make up this day, we have extended the school year to Thursday, June 14, 2018. Hopefully, the worst of winter is behind us, and we will not need to use any additional inclement weather days.

Tomorrow, Saturday, March 10, I will hold my third Coffee Chat of the school year. This chat will be held at the Proper Cup Coffee Bar from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. If you have some free time, please stop in for a good cup of coffee and even better conversations about our district. The Proper Cup Coffee Bar is located at 2340 Genoa Business Park Drive, Brighton.

For several months students in the Howell High School leadership class have been working to bring a special program to Howell High School. The #WhyYouMatter campaign was started at Chelsea High School last year and has spread to schools across the county. The campaign seeks to remind students of their importance and celebrate each student’s uniqueness. The leadership students have taken a photo of every student and staff member at the high school holding a sign on which they have written something unique about themselves or a reason why they are important. On Thursday, March 15 from 6 to 8 p.m. the school will host a #WhyYouMatter Open House where students, parents, and community members are invited to view all of the photographs. The event will include performances by the school’s band and choir, and light appetizers.

Like many districts in our county, state, and across the nation, we have heard that some of our students may participate in a walkout out on March 14 to honor the victims of the recent school shooting in Parkland, Florida and advocate for safer schools. As a public entity, we are not supporting or opposing this action, and our staff will not engage in it. We do, however, have plans in place to ensure that if students do participate, they remain safe at all times. You can read more about our plans at https://goo.gl/5tCQxX.

Recently, four students from Three Fires Elementary competed in the Michigan History Day district competition and are now advancing to the state competition. Students at Highlander Way Middle School are raising funds to support ALS research, and the Howell High School JROTC cadets have launched an initiative to honor alumni who have served in the armed forces. I have shared more on each of these stories below.

Three Fires Students Excel at History Competition

After excelling at a recent Michigan History Day Competition district event, four fifth grade students from Three Fires are headed to the state level competition. For the competition, the students had to select a topic relating to the competition’s theme, complete a thorough research project, and present to a panel of judges. Addison Caldwell, Harper Collins, Duncan Gary, and Emily Wagner will all represent Howell at the state event. To learn more about the competition and the students’ research projects, please visit https://goo.gl/BCz9hc.

Highlander Way Project: Find a Cure for ALS

The Highlander Way Middle School student council and the student reporters of T.H.N. The Hawk News have teamed up to launch Project: Find a Cure for ALS. Between now and the end of the school year the students hope to raise $2,000 to support the research being completed by the ALS Association’s Treat ALS research group. The students are holding fundraisers and collecting donations to help reach their goal. To read more about Project: Find a Cure for ALS, please visit https://goo.gl/HXjT3V.

Howell High School JROTC Creates Hometown Heros Wall

Cadets and parents involved with Howell High School’s JROTC program have undertaken an initiative to honor alumni who have served in the armed forces. The Hometown Heros wall features a mural which includes all of the branches of the armed forces and includes a spot for the names of Howell High School alumni who have served in the armed forces. The cadets are selling name plaques to honor those who have served. To view the plaque order form, please click here. The goal is to hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Hometown Heros wall in mid-May.