Dear Families,

I hope this message finds you doing well.

In this edition of MacGregor's Message:

• Teacher Appreciation Week
• Construction Career Day
• Air Force JROTC Cadet Earns Scholarship
• Our Kids, Our Community, Our Future Bond Update
• Howell Carnegie Library Board Trustee Opening
• Howell Education Foundation Golf Outing

Today marks the end of Teacher Appreciation Week. I am honored to work alongside the incredible educators and staff who make Highlander Nation such a special place. Each day, they ensure that our students come to a safe learning environment. In their classrooms, they bring our curriculum to life, finding new and exciting ways to engage students and helping ensure our students are future ready when they graduate. Their dedication goes well beyond the walls of our schools and out into our community, often supporting various events and causes. It is not uncommon to see our teachers and staff support current and former students at various athletic events or musical performances. Please join me in thanking our outstanding teachers and staff members for their dedication to our students, families, and community.

Last week, students from Highlander Way Middle School and the Howell High School Construction Trades program who are interested in jobs in the construction industry attended the Michigan Construction Career Day event hosted by the Operating Engineers Local 324. At the event, the students experienced various construction jobs up close and had the opportunity to use the tools, materials, and even heavy equipment the industry uses. These authentic learning experiences help prepare our students for their future careers.

Cadet Noah Flores, a Flight Sergeant in Howell High School's Air Force Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (AFJROTC) unit, has earned a highly competitive Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) National Scholarship. The scholarship provides full tuition at any university with an NROTC program, an annual book stipend, a monthly stipend, and summer training cruises with Naval Officers to gain on-the-job experience. Cadet Flores plans to attend the University of Hawaii to major in marine biology and train to become a leader in the Navy. To read more about this accomplishment, please visit https://bit.ly/3JY63BM.

In November, our community approved the Our Kids, Our Community, Our Bond proposal that will fund improvements around our district. Since then, we have been working and preparing for several projects, the biggest being the replacement of Northwest and Southwest Elementary schools and the major renovation at Highlander Way Middle School. While these projects are still in the planning and visioning stage, we have created a webpage at HowellSchools.com/Bond to provide updates on the various projects. As we have updates, we will add them to that page.

The Howell Carnegie District Library Board of Trustees manages the library's business and property and ensures that all decisions benefit the community and support the library's mission. It consists of seven members, four appointed by the Howell Public Schools Board of Education and three by the Howell City Council. With staggered four-year terms, the trustees bring diverse skills and insights and play a crucial role in shaping the library's strategic direction and services. The term for one of the seats appointed by our School Board is currently ending. While the person who currently holds that seat has expressed an interest in serving a second term, we are also accepting letters of interest from individuals residing within the district who may want to serve on the library board. Letters of interest must be received by Friday, May 31, and can be sent to [email protected].

The Howell Education Foundation (HEF) is hosting its annual golf outing, a fun-filled event that directly supports our students through classroom grants. These grants cover various projects and field trips, enriching the learning experience for our students. The event will take place on Friday, June 7, at the scenic Chemung Hills Golf Club. If you would like to form a team to play in the outing and contribute to our cause, please visit https://birdease.com/26191. If you are interested in sponsorship packages that include golf and hole sign sponsorships, please visit https://birdease.com/26191/sponsorships.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Go Highlanders!

Sincerely,
Erin J. MacGregor, Ed.S.
Superintendent
Howell Public Schools