Dear Families,
Today marks the end of National School Counseling Week. National School Counseling Week highlights school counselors' essential contribution to the educational system. Our counselors have a tremendous impact as they support students' academic, social, and emotional needs. From helping build social skills to supporting the exploration of post-secondary options, our counselors are always there for our students. Please join me in thanking our elementary, middle, and high school counselors for the numerous contributions they make to our district.
Unfortunately, this week we have had what I would consider avoidable quarantine situations. I say avoidable because in a few cases, had the students stayed home when they began feeling ill, we could have avoided quarantining some of their classmates. Let me be clear, when a student attends school when showing signs of illness, it puts the health of our students and staff at risk. When students attend school when showing signs of illness or with COVID-19 test results pending, it puts our ability to continue to provide in-person learning at risk. While the vast majority of COVID-19 cases within our district have been traced to outside exposures, we have seen minimal COVID-19 transmission in our schools. Two of our schools appeared on the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services School COVID Outbreak Report this week because two cases of COVID within the school were determined to be related. As a district and community, we cannot become complacent with our COVID-19 health and safety protocols. We all must work together to ensure we limit the spread of COVID-19 and keep our schools open for in-person learning. Students cannot be attending school when showing signs of illness; even if it only appears to be a common cold, they need to stay home. Students cannot attend school if they have been tested for COVID-19 and those test results are pending. We all must continue to wear a mask when in public, practice frequent hand washing, and avoid large and indoor social gatherings. As a district and community, we have done an outstanding job with these safety measures, and we must continue to do so.
Next Tuesday, February 9, at 1 p.m. I will host a Virtual Coffee Chat. During the chat, I will provide updates on the upcoming bond work, the reopening of the Highlander Aquatics and Fitness Center, and answer any questions that stakeholders may have about the district. You can attend this virtual coffee chat at http://bit.ly/3jpMUKW. The Meeting ID is 863 2459 6282 and the passcode is 0JGSRh.
Several Parker Middle School students were selected to perform with the Michigan School Vocal Music Association State Honors Choir. As we work to reopen the Highlander Aquatics and Fitness Center, we would like feedback on what types of programs our stakeholders would like to see offered at the center. Lastly, please remember that next Friday, February 12, will be an asynchronous learning day for all students. I have shared more on each of these below.
Sincerely,
Erin J. MacGregor, Ed.S
Superintendent
Howell Public Schools
Parker Students Selected for State Honors Choir
Ten Parker Middle School students were selected to perform with this year's Michigan School Vocal Music Association State Honors Choir. The students Isabella Armbruster, Morgan Caldwell, Cruz Carignan, Grace Caviness, Evelyn Chamness, Cort Gehringer, Margaret Hauck, Kara King, Natalie Strickland, Maryn Ulman worked incredibly hard to learn the musical pieces. This year's honors choir was a virtual event, so in addition to learning the music, the students also had to create recordings of them performing the songs. The State Honors Choir's performance premiered last Friday and can be viewed online at https://bit.ly/3tmc5Tf.
Highlander Aquatics and Fitness Center Program Survey
We continue to work towards reopening the Highlander Aquatics and Fitness Center. While we have not set a date for the reopening, we hope that it will take place by early spring. As we plan for this, we would like to gather stakeholder feedback on what types of programs and classes they would like to see offered. If you are interested in providing input regarding the classes and programs offered at the Highlander Aquatics and Fitness Center, please complete our short programming survey at http://bit.ly/3pMGZBO.
Reminder: Friday, February 12, is Now An Asynchronous Learning Day For All Students
Please remember that Friday, February 12, has been changed to an asynchronous learning day for all students. Students will not attend school that day. Instead, they will complete assignments individually from home. The assignments will be provided through the district's learning management systems SeeSaw and Schoology. We have also switched Friday, April 23, from a half-day to an asynchronous learning day.
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