Voyager Elementary School

Dear Voyager Families,

Since school closed on March 13th, this is my third issue of the Viking View - I sent one on Monday, March 23rd, one on Friday, March 27th, and am sending this one today.  Each time I have written one, we have had a new date relative to when schools would reopen. With the writing of this letter, we now know that our staff and students will not be returning to “school” as we know it this year.  On Thursday, April 2nd, Governor Whitmer announced that she was shuttering all schools across the state for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. 

Important Information:

In the four weeks that schools have been closed (one of those weeks was spring break), students/parents have been receiving K-5, Special Area, and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Choice Boards.  Although classroom teachers, special education/support teachers, specials teachers, and counselors have been interacting with students in a variety of ways during this time, interacting with the choice boards has been optional and ungraded. During the initial state-mandated school closure, districts were encouraged to provide families with materials and resources that would help them keep their children academically engaged, but did not have specific mandates/expectations relative to teaching, learning, and assessment.

On Thursday, April 2nd, Governor Whitmer signed an Executive Order ending in-person instruction for the remainder of the school year and requiring school districts to implement a Continuity of Learning Plan.  The district’s Continuity of Learning Plan and COVID-19 Response Plan outlines and highlights the components related to teaching and learning that are required in the Executive Order.  Districts/Schools must keep students at the center by planning for student learning, developing a weekly plan/schedule, and contacting parents so as to continue to build and maintain relationships with students and families.  Districts/Schools need to teach content, deliver instruction in multiple ways, provide feedback, and engage students and families.  All student learning needs to take place under the direction of a teacher of record.  

At the elementary level, our teachers will be delivering two English Language Arts lessons and two Math lessons along with assignments/tasks related to those lessons each week for six weeks.   During those six weeks, teachers will be interacting with students, contacting students/parents, and reviewing/assessing the work. Student participation in these lessons is highly recommended. Please be patient as teachers navigate this new method of teaching and learning. We are all in this together!

Howell Public Schools policy is based on a “do no harm” philosophy, where pupils unable to fully participate will still be permitted to move forward next year. 3rd quarter report cards will not be issued.  All elementary students will receive one of the following marks in ELA and Math at the end of the year: Not Evident (NE), Developing (D), or Secure” (S). Pupils who were unable to fully participate will receive a Not Evident (NE) informational mark without penalty and may receive remediation and support based on need in the fall. 

Our classroom teachers will be providing more details and information regarding the plan for advancing our curriculum. Starting on April 13th teachers will be connecting with students on specific choice board items leading up to new content being delivered starting on April 20th.  We are living in unprecedented times and all families (staff families, as well) are dealing with different issues related to COVID-19. We want to first make sure that the physical and social-emotional needs of our students and families are being met and also want to provide instruction for our students to the best extent possible. Please reach out if you have any questions about the information contained in this letter.

In closing, I wanted to remind you that even though your child’s teacher or other school staff may be reaching out to you or you may be reaching out to them, you can reach out to me as well if there is something I can assist with as you navigate the coronavirus and the impact it is having on your life.  I can be reached through my district email address at [email protected], or you can text me at 517-404-1682.  If you choose to text me, please make sure you identify yourself at the start of the text so I know who is reaching out to me.  Please tell your children that Ms. Naghtin says, “Hi!” and that I miss them a lot - it has been great seeing several of their smiling faces in the grade level Zoom Meetings.  If they would like to send me an email, I would love to hear from them - I promise I will write them back! I am continuing to keep all of you in my thoughts until we are able to be together again in the school building we call “home”!!  Please do reach out if you need anything at any time between now and the start of the 2020-2021 school year in mid-August.

Sincerely,

Kari Naghtin, Principal

Counselor’s Corner 

Helping Our Kids Make Sense of the School Closure From Your HPS K-12 Counselors

The potential concerns our kids can have about the cancellation of school is vast. You may have a kindergartner that misses her teacher. A third grader that never got to be the star student. A fifth grader that is curious about whether he will see his friends again before they go off to middle school. A 6th grader that finally started to feel comfortable at school. Or a senior that is grieving the unexpected end of her high school experience.

There is no right or wrong way to address your child’s concerns. All kids are different. They need different information to feel safe, they look for a different level of detail, and they are impacted by different parts of the story. 

Here are five general tips for navigating these emotional conversations.

1. Empathize. Regardless of their question or concern, let them know that what they’re feeling makes sense. Whether they feel nothing at all or they feel very deeply, let them know their feelings are completely normal and okay. Some kids don’t have the language or skills to communicate how they are feeling. You may see other signs of distress, like talking back or irritability. 

2. Reflect. Whatever they’re feeling or exhibiting, let them know that you get it by reflecting it back to them. Say, “I can see you’re feeling scared. That’s completely understandable. This is a strange time for our community.” Avoid saying things like “Oh, don’t worry” or “That won’t happen here.” Though said with good intentions, it does little to take worry away.

3. Reframe. Help them put this into a positive context by giving them the good news. “This has been scary, but look at all the people working really hard to keep us safe,” or “I wouldn’t wish disease on anyone, but I’ve enjoyed having more time with you.” They need to have faith in the world and the people in it. Whenever there is trauma in the world, there are also remarkable demonstrations of solidarity and kindness, love and support for strangers. 

4. Explore. Try to identify what they are specifically worried about, and help them make a plan. Are they worried about not seeing their friends? Help them make a list of people they want to connect with and develop an innovative way to make that happen. Are they concerned about getting sick? Make a specific list of things the family can do to stay safe. This will give them a sense of control over the spread of disease. It’s okay for you to not have an answer - saying, “Much of this doesn’t make sense to me either. I really wish I knew the answer” is okay.

5. Be available. Let them know that they can come to you with questions, feelings, ideas and thoughts and that nothing is off-limits. Give them extra cuddles or an extra story. For older ones, spend extra time sitting on the edge of their bed at bedtime. They might raise things with you or they might not, but at least you’re there if they need to. 

Lastly, the University of Michigan’s Department of Psychiatry recommends providing reassurance, looking for opportunities to help others, and creating new routines. For the full infographic, click here.

The bottom line: give yourself some grace. This experience is strange, uncomfortable, and inconvenient for everyone, and there is no “right” way to feel or behave. Tap into local resources, and don’t hesitate to reach out to your school counselor for support: https://bit.ly/2QGLoqD.

Your Partner in Education,

Jennifer Starkey, School Counselor

This information is inspired by https://www.heysigmund.com/how-to-talk-to-kids-and-teens-about-world-trauma/ and https://zerotothrive.org/.

Music Room Updates from Ms. Schoendorff

A few weeks ago, Ms. Schoendorff, Music Teacher at Voyager, posted a video on the Voyager Facebook page.  The video contained some updates regarding a number of music room events that were on the calendar for March, April, May, and June.  Knowing that not all of our families are on the Voyager Facebook page, I wanted to make sure that I shared these updates here, as well, so that all of our families had this information.  The video that was posted on Facebook was posted before we knew that we would not be returning to school, so some of the updates have had to be updated with new information. Here is the information that Ms. Schoendorff wanted to share with families:

3rd grade video recordings = I will let parents know if and when these will be ready.  Due to school being closed, there is a possibility that they won't be finished until school is back in session (which we now know won’t be until the fall).  We will update parents when we have information to share.

4th grade musical = It is being rescheduled for fall of 2020.  They will be performing the same musical, it will simply be their 5th grade program instead.

Kdg music program = Due to the closing of schools for the rest of the year, there will not be a Kindergarten music program this year.  This year’s current Kindergartners are scheduled to perform a Christmas concert in December of 2020.

Choir - Choir and all of the end of the year activities have been cancelled with the closing of school.  Choir will resume in the fall for fourth and fifth graders. The Choir’s performance at the Lansing Lugnuts game on May 1st has also been cancelled and will not be rescheduled.  Ms. Schoendorff is working with the business office to get refunds to people who had already ordered tickets for the game.

Please reach out to Ms. Schoendorff at [email protected] if you have any questions.

District Updates

Meal Distribution Information

We have partnered with The Salvation Army to continue providing meals to our families in need during this time. On Monday, April 13, The Salvation Army will distribute pantry boxes containing breakfasts, lunches, and snacks. The distribution will take place from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at The Salvation Army Warehouse at 3600 East Grand River Ave., Howell. Families must provide a student’s school ID or proof of Howell residency.

Howell Public Schools COVID-19 FAQ

The district has created a FAQ that has answers to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding the state-mandated school closures and the district’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. You can access the FAQ at https://bit.ly/2yR440R. If you have questions that are not addressed in the FAQ,  you can submit them at https://bit.ly/2y1qyeW. 

Virtual Coffee Chat With Superintendent MacGregor Next Week

On Thursday, April 16, 2020, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., Superintendent MacGregor will host a Virtual Coffee Chat. During the chat, Mr. MacGregor will share updates on the district’s response to COVID-19 and answer questions that district stakeholders have about the current situation. You can access the Virtual Coffee Chat at https://bit.ly/2UUOoSz with the password 9Ew3Xq.

District Issued Chromebook Technology Support

Technology support for school-issued Chromebooks is available by calling 314-635-0638 Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. For the immediate future, and following the Governor’s Stay at Home Order, on-site tech support has been discontinued. 

Athletic Facilities and Playgrounds are Closed

For the duration of Governor Whitmer’s Stay at Home Order, all Howell Public Schools athletic facilities and playgrounds are closed. While we know the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and exercise during this time, we are concerned about groups gathering and not practicing safe social distancing. In the end, this will help keep our students, families, and community safe.

Dear Voyager Families,

I know that I sent you an issue of the Viking View this past Monday, and I am sending another today.  In all the craziness that has come with the coronavirus, there was some uncertainty as to when and how building principals were going to send communications from their individual buildings.  Prior to closing, all building principals were sending their building level newsletter every other week and Superintendent MacGregor was sending a communication on the weeks in between our building level newsletters.  It was decided this week that the district will send COVID-19 updates on Tuesdays and Thursdays and that building principals will send a communication every other Friday following our pre-closing schedule for bi-weekly newsletters.  That schedule has us sending a letter today. My next letter will be sent to you on Friday, April 10th.

Hopefully, during the past week and a half, your child(ren) have had an opportunity to complete some of the activities that were in the email that was sent to families on Wednesday, March 18th.  The purpose was to keep students engaged in a variety of activities during these first two weeks of school being closed - at the time that those were issued we were scheduled to return to school on Monday, April 6th.  Also during this time, teachers have been reaching out to students and families in a variety of ways to check on how families are doing, to identify needs that existed, and to maintain the teacher-student relationships that occur when we are in school.  Teachers have also been working with students and families to make sure that they are able to access some virtual platforms known as SeeSaw and Google Classroom.  Please reach out to your child's teacher if you are having trouble accessing SeeSaw (mainly K-2) or Google Classroom (mainly 3-5) - your teacher should have already let you know which platform he/she will be using with his/her class.

We now know that school will for sure be closed through Monday, April 13th, and could continue being closed after that date.  As a result, the district has been planning for the week after spring break and determining the types of activities and communication students and teachers will engage in during that week.  On Monday, April 6th, families and students will be receiving information from their classroom teacher either through SeeSaw or Google Classroom. Please plan to look for this information on that day.  During the week of April 6th-10th, students will be asked to complete activities of their choice from the choice boards that will be sent home. Teachers will then post a question to students relative to the activities that they are choosing to complete or have completed.  The focus during the week will be on students and teachers interacting at least once through a variety of ways (email, phone, SeeSaw, Google Classroom or Google Hangouts, Zoom Meetings, etc.) around the activities on the choice boards. Once you receive the information on April 6th, please reach out to your child’s teacher(s) if you have any questions.  Please remember that if your child has more than one teacher (a general education teacher and a resource room teacher for special education services, for example), both teachers will be reaching out and interacting with you and your child!!!

In closing, I wanted to remind you that even though your child’s teacher or other school staff may be reaching out to you or you may be reaching out to them, you can reach out to me as well if there is something I can assist with as you navigate the coronavirus and the impact it is having on your life.  I can be reached through my district email address at [email protected], or you can text me at 517-404-1682.  If you choose to text me, please make sure you identify yourself at the start of the text so I know who is reaching out to me.  Please tell your children that Ms. Naghtin says, “Hi!” and that I miss them a lot. If they would like to send me an email, I would love to hear from them - I promise I will write them back!  

I am continuing to keep all of you in my thoughts until we are able to be together again in the school building we call “home”!!  Please do reach out if you need anything, even if it is next week while we are technically on spring break. I will be staying put in my house just like every other Michigander so will be available if you should need anything!  Stay safe and healthy!

Sincerely,

Kari Naghtin, Principal

Counselor’s Corner

This information is taken directly from the National Association of School Psychologists and School Nurses and The Child Mind Institute.

The news of the Coronavirus can make parents and children very anxious and uncomfortable. Acknowledging the concern, without panicking, is important. Children look to adults for guidance and cues on how to react to stressful events. Here are some tips for answering questions and providing reassurance. 

• REMAIN CALM AND REASSURING. Children will react to and follow your verbal and nonverbal reactions. What you say and do about the Coronavirus, current prevention efforts, and related events can either increase or decrease your children’s anxiety. Point out all the adults in their school and community there to keep them safe and healthy. Provide a variety of opportunities for kids to calm their minds and bodies, like providing access to books, puzzles, music, and other engaging activities.

• TAKE CUES FROM YOUR CHILD. Invite your child to tell you anything they may have heard about the coronavirus, and how they feel. Give them ample opportunity to ask questions. You want to be prepared to answer (but not prompt) questions. Your goal is to avoid encouraging frightening fantasies. 

• DEAL WITH YOUR OWN ANXIETY. “When you’re feeling most anxious or panicked, that isn’t the time to talk to your kids about what’s happening with the coronavirus,” warns Dr. Janine Domingues, PhD, a child psychologist at the Child Mind Institute. If you notice that you are feeling anxious, take some time to calm down before trying to have a conversation or answer your child’s questions.

• STICK TO A ROUTINE. “We don’t like uncertainty, so staying rooted in routines and predictability is going to be helpful right now,” advises Dr. Domingues. This is particularly important if your child’s school or daycare shuts down. Make sure you are taking care of the basics just like you would during a spring break or summer vacation. Structured days with regular mealtimes and bedtimes are an essential part of keeping kids happy and healthy.

• REVIEW AND MODEL BASIC HYGIENE AND HEALTHY HABITS. Giving children guidance on what they can do to prevent infection gives them a greater sense of control over the spread of disease and will help to reduce their anxiety.

  • Wash hands multiple times a day for at least 20 seconds (singing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star slowly takes about 20 seconds).

  • Cover their mouths with a tissue when they sneeze or cough and throw away the tissue immediately, or sneeze or cough into the bend of their elbow. 

  • Avoid sharing food or drinks.

  • Practice giving fist or elbow bumps instead of handshakes. 

  • Encourage your child to eat a balanced diet, get enough sleep, and exercise regularly; this will help them develop a strong immune system to fight off illness.

As uncomfortable and unsettling as this experience is, this is a great opportunity to work together as a community and encourage healthy habits. 

I am available via email to help during this time. If you need support or access to resources, please email me: [email protected]

Your Partner in Education,

Jennifer Starkey 

School Counselor

Dear Voyager Families,

What an unbelievable time we are living in...as we embark on week two of our schools being closed, I wanted to touch base with all of you let you know that even though your child’s teacher or other school staff may be reaching out to you or you may be reaching out to them, you can reach out to me as well if there is something I can assist with as you navigate the coronavirus and the impact it is having on your life.  I can be reached through my district email address at [email protected], or you can text me at 517-404-1682.  If you choose to text me, please make sure you identify yourself at the start of the text so I know who is reaching out to me.  Please feel free to have your children email if they would like to do that - I promise they will get an email back from me!

As we continue to navigate these uncharted waters, the need to stay connected is going to become greater.  This weekend as I reflected on the past week, I realized that due to the birth of my grandson on Monday, March 16th, and a lot of behind the scenes work that administrators were involved in, I was feeling very disconnected from all of you by the time Friday rolled around.  I decided on Sunday that this week I need to actively pursue ways to stay connected with my Voyager “family”...I miss all of you!! The way that I have decided to do that is to have more of a visible presence on the Voyager Elementary School Howell, Michigan Facebook page. Prior to the schools being closed, I rarely had time to visit our Facebook page, and kept abreast of what was going on via other avenues.  Starting this week, I will be reacting to and commenting on posts and will even be posting some pictures as I participate in Howell’s Senior Survivor Spirit Week and Voyager’s Spirit Week. Please share my pictures with your children so that they can see me my favorite stuffed animal (try asking them who they think my favorite stuffed animal is), see me wearing my Detroit Tigers jersey, or see me reading in a cozy spot at my house.

If you are on Facebook, I would encourage you, if you haven’t done so already, to like the Voyager Facebook page and regularly find a time to interact with it.  I will be encouraging staff to do this, as well (although many of our staff do already interact with our families on Facebook). If you don’t have a Facebook account, I would encourage you to set up an account just for the purpose of interacting with our page and staying connected with us.

This weekend, three activities that I would like to highlight for you were posted on the Voyager Facebook page (some teachers have also emailed or sent these activities to their families by another avenue and I am including them here in case you aren’t on Facebook):

1. Senior Survivor at Howell High School is hosting a Virtual Howell Home Spirit Week.  Here is the link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=EjKqhY-7q_8&app=desktop and here is the link to the daily themes:
   image0.png
   At Voyager, we have three 5th grade students who are representing Voyager as a Junior Survivor.  Our Junior Survivors and their teams are as follows: Jack MacGregor is with #TeamBradbot (Sapphire), Brad Young is his Senior Survivor; Kate Johnston and Maddie Papiez are our other Junior Survivors and they are with #TeamNo-Slak (Royal Blue), Sara Lakotich is their Senior Survivor.  If you watch the video, you will have the guidelines, but in a nutshell, you need to post a picture or pictures representing each of the daily spirit week themes. Pictures should be posted on the Howell High School Senior Survivor Facebook Page, Twitter or instagram; hashtag the photo as #TeamBradbot or #TeamNo-Slak and #HPSHomeSpirit2020. Make sure you use the two # - the Team's hashtag and the #HomeSpirit2020 hashtag.  Let me know if you have any questions.

2. While on the "spirit week" bandwagon - please check out Voyager's “school specific spirit week” - here is the link to each day's themes:
   Voyager's Spirit Week
   Post your picture to the Voyager Facebook page.  Look for my pictures to be posted this week, as well!

3. Neighborhood Car Parade - Staff will be leading a "car parade" through the Voyager  neighborhoods on Wednesday from 12-1 pm. Specific details are in the attachment below.  Unfortunately I won't be able to join in the parade - with a new grandbaby and having to watch his 2 ½ year old sister from time to time, I am really limiting myself to being at my house or at my daughter's house. I will be thinking of all of you and will hope to see at least a couple of pictures posted on Facebook.  Here is the pdf file of what is happening on Wednesday: Neighborhood Car Parade.pdf

Please remember that all of these events are posted on the Voyager Facebook Page.

Before closing this letter, I wanted to outline how I see us communicating until we return to school.  The majority of the communication will come via emails from the district (several emails have been sent in the past week - all are available on the Howell Schools website at HowellSchools.com/COVID-19).  The purpose of these emails is to communicate important information consistently to all of our families. You will also be receiving emails/other communication directly from your child’s teacher - teachers will use a variety of methods to communicate with you...email, phone, texts via Remind, SeeSaw, phone, etc.  When the need arises, I will send emailed letters like this one to you through School Messenger. Please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s teacher or myself if you need something in between communications.  

In closing, please tell your children that Ms. Naghtin says, “Hi!” and that I miss them a lot.  I will continue to keep all of you in my thoughts until we are able to be together again in the school building we call “home”!!  Please do reach out if you need anything.

Sincerely,

Kari Naghtin, Principal

COUNSELOR’S CORNER: 

Please remember that our Elementary School Counselor, Ms. Jennifer Starkey, can be a resource even when the school is closed.  She can reached via email at [email protected].

Don't hesitate to contact her if you are in need of anything.

Friday, February 28, 2020

Dear Voyager Families,

It’s been a short week...two snow days does that, and today was a half-day!  I have a couple of reminders to start off this newsletter:

RESCHEDULED SPRING PICTURE DAY - Spring Pictures were supposed to be taken last week Wednesday.  Due to the snow day on Wednesday, they needed to be rescheduled.  Life Touch will now be here on MONDAY, MARCH 16th.  Please send your child's picture envelope with them that day if you still had it at home.  We still have order forms in the front office if you need one.

REMINDER - Vision Screening for 1st, 3rd, & 5th Grade Students and Referrals is THIS WEEK - Vision screening will occur this week on Monday and Wednesday (rescreening will be on Thursday).  Please notify the school on Monday morning if:  1) You have a concern for your child and your child is not in the above grades, or 2)  You do not want your child screened. Please provide your child’s name and his/her teacher if either of these situations apply to your child.  Please let the office know if you have any questions about vision screening.

REMINDER - Registration for the Feelin’ Good Mileage Club 2020 ENDS ON MONDAY - From April 13-May 29, students are provided opportunities to walk or run during identified lunch periods.  Students earn a toe token for every five miles logged up to 20 miles. When they reach 20 miles they earn a water bottle.  This is a free program, however, any student who chooses to walk/run even on one day has to be registered to participate.  As a result, I encourage you to register your child even if he/she is not sure if he/she wants to participate (some of our younger students decide they want to participate after they see friends participating).  You can register on your phone, tablet, or computer at SparrowMilesClub.com.  Please contact the office if you need a hard copy of the form! Let’s shoot to have 90-100% of our Voyager Vikings registered to participate. 

**** A program like this requires a large number of volunteers - information on how to volunteer is on the Voyager Facebook Page and it was emailed to everyone earlier this week.  Please take a look at this information so you can see how you might support this program once or twice; on a weekly basis; or even more than that if your schedule allows. It’s a fun way to be involved at the school that doesn’t require any prep work or a long term commitment!!!

NEW INFORMATION - 

Reading, Reading, Reading - As everyone knows, reading is a very important part of what we do here at school!!  Even though March is designated as reading month, our belief is that reading should be the focus every month of the year not just during March.  With that said, we as educators do typically place a heightened focus on reading during the month of March - Dr. Seuss’ birthday is Monday and reading is celebrated nationally during the month.  We typically hold a spring book fair in March (this year’s fair will be the week of March 9th - more information will be coming home soon, although I’ve heard it has a “jungle” theme)!!! Another way that we focus on reading in March is through our wonderful parent group’s “Read-a-Thon.  The Voyager Booster Club (VBC) utilizes the “Read-a-Thon” as their major fundraiser of the year to raise funds for the activities and materials that they provide to our staff and students. I’m looking forward to experiencing my first “Read-a-Thon” fundraiser at Voyager - it is kicking off today and runs through March 31st.  Students will be bringing home information about the “Read-a-Thon” and information will be posted on the Voyager FaceBook page. I strongly encourage you to check out the staff video to kick-off the “Read-a-Thon” - it’s posted on the Voyager FaceBook page. In wrapping up this section on reading, even the National Association of Elementary and Secondary Principals focuses on reading in March.  They shared this flyer with their members across the country this past week: Report to Parents:  The Rewards of Reading 

2020 Census - Every 10 years, the United States conducts a census to determine how many people live in the United States (all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and 5 U.S. territories are counted).  2020 is a census year. In mid-March, homes across the country will begin receiving invitations to complete the 2020 Census form.  The form will be able to be completed on-line, by phone, or by mail. No matter when a person completes their form, they will be reporting their information relative to their status on April 1st - this has been designated “Census Day 2020”.  If you would like more details about the census and why it is important that everyone is counted, here is a link to the US Census Bureau website - What is the 2020 Census?  Since January, the US Census Bureau has been sharing census resources with schools across the country.  Next week (March 2nd-6th) has been designated “Statistics in Schools” Week and they have provided a flyer for schools to share with families relative to the upcoming census.  Here is a link to the flyer and a fact sheet: They Grow Up So Fast and Counting Young Children Fact Sheet.  In mid-March, keep your eyes peeled for the invitation to complete your census form for the people residing in your house on April 1st -  there are 9 short questions for each person who is being counted. Census Trivia - The first census was conducted in 1790 - 230 years ago!!!

There are several “District Updates” this week (I’m rerunning a couple of the ones that were in the previous bi-weekly newsletter just in case you missed them due to President’s Day weekend).  Please read these “District Updates” and the “Counselor Corner”. Every other week, our wonderful Elementary Counselor, Ms. Jennifer Starkey shares information with parents - this week’s Counselor Corner highlights three school/community initiatives that may be of interest to parents - Mobile Dentists, Mentor Livingston, and the Michigan Education Savings Program.

As always, please feel free to contact me at anytime.  My email is [email protected] or you can reach me by calling the main office at 517-552-7500 ext. 46503.

Sincerely,

Kari Naghtin, Principal

District Updates:

NEW Updates:

Coffee Chat With Superintendent MacGregor

Superintendent MacGregor’s next Coffee Chat is scheduled for Saturday, March 7, from 9 to 10 a.m. at Black Iron Coffee Roasters located at 119 W. Grand River in Downtown Howell. At the chat, attendees will hear updates on district happenings and there will be time for questions from district stakeholders. Additionally, there will be an in-depth look at the various ways that the district is working to educate the whole student through social and emotional learning and increased counseling support. 

Got Art Art Student Art Exhibit

Several of our students will have their artwork featured in the 22nd Annual Got Art Student Art Exhibit at the Historic Howell Opera House. The elementary exhibit will run from Tuesday, March 17 through Sunday, March 22. The exhibit will be open from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. on weekdays and noon to 5 p.m. on weekends. For more information on the Got Art Student Art Exhibit, please visit http://bit.ly/2T7SXZ2. 

In addition to the student artwork that will be on exhibit for Got Art, Voyager students also have artwork on display at the Howell District Library from March 1st-31st.

PAST Updates:

Information for Fifth Grade Families Regarding Middle School

As you and your child prepare for the transition to middle school, the middle school principals wanted to share some upcoming dates. On March 12 and 13, the middle school principals and counselors will be visiting all fifth-grade classes in the district. During these visits, they will be going over the changes to expect in the transition to middle school and some things students can start doing now to prepare. Additionally, they will review how the middle school day is structured and the encore class choices available to students. A fifth-grade parent night will be held at both Highlander Way and Parker on Wednesday, March 18th at 6:30 p.m. Students and parents are encouraged to attend this meeting.

Kindergarten Registration is March 17

Howell Public Schools will hold its annual Begindergarten and Kindergarten registration event on Tuesday, March 17. To learn about the district’s Begindergarten and Kindergarten programs, find your child’s home school and begin the online enrollment process, please visit HowellSchools.com/KDG.      

Senior Survivor Kick-off Carnival

Howell High School's Senior Survivor fundraiser is coming up soon! This year's charity is the Special Olympics of Michigan. To kick off Senior Survivor, the high school is hosting its second Senior Survivor Kick-Off Carnival on Friday, April 24th from 6-9 p.m. in the Howell High School Field House. The Carnival will have bounce houses, face painting, balloon animals, inflatables, food trucks, arts and crafts, a DJ, games, raffles, etc. The survivors will be there with their buckets for donations and interacting with everyone. Admission is $10 (ages three-18), and donations are appreciated for adults and children two and under. 

Livingston Educational Service Agency Early Childhood Programs are Enrolling for Fall 

Livingston Educational Service Agency Early Childhood Programs are enrolling for the 2020-2021 school year. Head Start and Great Start Readiness Programs offer no-cost/low-cost preschool to income-eligible or children “at-risk” who qualify under federal and state guidelines. Families meeting eligibility guidelines have access to learning opportunities, health and wellness, social and disability services, and other community resources. Children of all abilities are encouraged to apply. To learn more, please call 517-548-2100 or visit www.startfreepreschool.org to complete an application. 

COUNSELOR’S CORNER: 

MOBILE DENTIST COMING ON TUESDAY, APRIL 28

Health and wellness are central to success at school, and this includes taking care of our children’s teeth. The Mobile Dentist will be visiting and servicing our school on April 28!   Your child should have brought home the Mobile Dentist permission slip - if dental services are desired, please fill out the form and have your child return it to school as soon as possible.   Additional information can be found at https://www.mobiledentists.com/   If you need another permission slip, let your teacher know and we will send one home with your student!

PLEASE HELP! MENTOR LIVINGSTON NEEDS MENTORS FOR OUR STUDENTS 

Imagine what the world would look like if every child had a caring adult that listened to them, nurtured their self-esteem, and showed them the possibilities of the world.  Mentor Livingston, formerly Big Brothers Big Sisters, is currently recruiting caring volunteers who are willing to mentor (and share lunch with) an elementary student twice a month. We currently have a long list of “littles” in our district waiting and hoping to be matched with a “big.”   If you know of anyone (parents, friends) who could provide this opportunity for a Howell elementary student, please reach out to Alyson Mapes at [email protected] or 517-546-1140.

MICHIGAN EDUCATION SAVINGS PROGRAM

Also, don’t forget about the Michigan Education Savings Program (MESP).  Visit www.misaves.com to discover everything you need to know about saving for college, what the Michigan Education Savings Program (MESP) can do to help, and how to help maximize your savings even on a modest budget.

It takes a village! Please reach out with questions, concerns, or requests for additional support: [email protected]

Your Partner in Education,

Jennifer Starkey 

Dear Voyager Families,

Happy Valentine’s Day!!! There is a district reminder below, but please remember that there is NO SCHOOL for staff and students on Monday, February 17th!!!  Enjoy the long weekend!

Vision Screening for 1st, 3rd, & 5th Grade Students and Referrals - Vision screening will occur at Voyager on March 2nd & 4th (re-screening will be on March 5th).  Here is some information from the Health Department regarding vision screening:

The Livingston County Department of Public Health will be conducting Vision Screening at Voyager. All Health Departments in Michigan provide routine vision screening to identify children who have vision problems or might be at risk for vision problems. Children who do not pass the initial screening will be rescreened. If a child does not pass the rescreen, a letter will be mailed home recommending the child see an eye doctor for a complete eye examination. Students in 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th grade will receive vision screening. Vision screening will also be provided to students in other grades who are last-year follow-ups and parent/teacher requests. 

Please notify the school (prior to the first day of screening) and provide child’s name and teacher if:  1) You have a concern for your child and your child is not in the above grades, or 2)  You do not want your child screened.  

Please let the office know if you have any questions about vision screening.

REMINDER - Registration for the Feelin’ Good Mileage Club 2020 is open through March 2nd - From April 13-May 29, students are provided opportunities to walk or run during identified lunch periods.  Students earn a toe token for every five miles logged up to 20 miles. When they reach 20 miles they earn a water bottle.  This is a free program, however, any student who chooses to walk/run even on one day has to be registered to participate.  As a result, I encourage you to register your child even if he/she is not sure if he/she wants to participate (some of our younger students decide they want to participate after they see friends participating).  You can register on your phone, tablet, or computer at SparrowMilesClub.com.  Please contact the office if you need a hard copy of the form! Let’s shoot to have 90-100% of our Voyager Vikings registered to participate. 

**** A program like this requires a large number of volunteers - information on how to volunteer will be available next week from our VBC.  Please be on the lookout for this information so you can see how you might support this program once or twice; on a weekly basis; or even more than that if your schedule allows.  It’s a fun way to be involved at the school that doesn’t require any prep work or a long term commitment!!!

On Tuesday, I will be on the morning announcements, encouraging students to have their parents register them for the program, will be sharing some new “features” of the program this year, and will be letting students know that I will be walking with students when my schedule allows.  I LOVE Sparrow’s Feelin’ Good Mileage Club!

There are several “District Updates” this week.  As a result of this, I am going to keep my letter short this time - enjoy the three day weekend with your families!  Please read the “District Updates” and the “Counselor Corner”. Every other week, our wonderful Elementary Counselor, Ms. Jennifer Starkey shares information with parents - this week’s Counselor Corner features information about an in-school program that is offered to all of our 2nd graders - 2nd Grade Ability Awareness Day!  Please read the information even if you don’t have a 2nd grader - Ms. Starkey needs volunteers to help with this program!

As always, please feel free to contact me at anytime.  My email is [email protected] or you can reach me by calling the main office at 517-552-7500 ext. 46503.

Sincerely,

Kari Naghtin, Principal

District Updates:

No School on Monday, February 17 

Please remember that there is no school on Monday, February 17 in honor of Presidents’ Day. Classes will resume on Tuesday, February 18.

Senior Survivor Kick-off Carnival

Howell High School's Senior Survivor fundraiser is coming up soon! This year's charity is Special Olympics of Michigan. To kick off Senior Survivor, the high school is hosting its second Senior Survivor Kick-Off Carnival on Friday, April 24th from 6-9 p.m. in the Howell High School Field House. The Carnival will have bounce houses, face painting, balloon animals, inflatables, food trucks, arts and crafts, a DJ, games, raffles, etc. The survivors will be there with their buckets for donations and interacting with everyone. Admission is $10 (ages three-18), and donations are appreciated for adults and children two and under. 

Kindergarten Registration is March 17

Howell Public Schools will hold its annual Begindergarten and Kindergarten registration event on Tuesday, March 17. To learn about the district’s Begindergarten and Kindergarten programs, find your child’s home school and begin the online enrollment process, please visit HowellSchools.com/KDG.      

Information for Fifth Grade Families Regarding Middle School (5th grade parents received this information via a separate email from me on Thursday)

As you and your child prepare for the transition to middle school, the middle school principals wanted to share some upcoming dates. On March 12 and 13, the middle school principals and counselors will be visiting all fifth-grade classes in the district. During these visits, they will be going over the changes to expect in the transition to middle school and some things students can start doing now to prepare. Additionally, they will review how the middle school day is structured and the encore class choices available to students. A fifth-grade parent night will be held at both Highlander Way and Parker on Wednesday, March 18th at 6:30 p.m. Students and parents are encouraged to attend this meeting.

Livingston Educational Service Agency Early Childhood Programs are Enrolling for Fall 

Livingston Educational Service Agency Early Childhood Programs are enrolling for the 2020-2021 school year. Head Start and Great Start Readiness Programs offer no-cost/low-cost preschool to income-eligible or children “at-risk” who qualify under federal and state guidelines. Families meeting eligibility guidelines have access to learning opportunities, health and wellness, social and disability services, and other community resources. Children of all abilities are encouraged to apply. To learn more, please call 517-548-2100 or visit www.startfreepreschool.org to complete an application. 

COUNSELOR’S CORNER: 

Celebrating Diversity and Ability

We are pleased to offer an informative and interactive experience for our second-grade students: Ability Awareness Day! This is a program of many activities designed to heighten sensitivity and appreciation for people who are perceived as “different.” On Tuesday, March 10,  our second-grade teachers and our counselor, Mrs. Starkey, will help our students better understand how children with various disabilities (learning, physical, emotional) are just like other children through hands-on learning activities, an interactive puppet show, and much more!

To make this happen, we need volunteers! If you would be willing to volunteer at one of the hands-on learning stations, please reach out to your child’s 2nd-grade teacher (or me, if you don’t have a second-grade student) as soon as possible.  We will need volunteers from approximately 8:45 a.m. (the classrooms will begin rotating through the centers at 9:15 a.m.) until around 11:15 a.m.

Feel free to contact Jennifer Starkey at 517-552-7500, ext. 46124 or at [email protected]  for more information!

Jennifer Starkey, School Counselor