The Voyager Viking View 03/22/2019
Dear Voyager Families,
March came in like a lion and appears to be going out like a lamb. We celebrated the first day of Spring on Wednesday, and the weather is finally starting to reflect it. I hope that each and every one of you enjoys time together as a family next week during Spring Break. It is this part of the year that really starts to move quickly towards the finish line as we embark on our last quarter of the year on April 8th. May all of you have a restful and peaceful Spring Break. I look forward to seeing all the smiling faces when we return to school and friends reunite.
Bond Proposal
On May 7, 2019, the Howell Public Schools community will be asked to vote on a $39 million bond proposal to fund much-needed improvements to each of our 11 buildings. This is a no-frills proposal that will help the district address critical infrastructure needs, increase safety and security at our buildings, improve educational spaces, replace aging buses, and address athletic facilities that have not kept pace with the needs of our student-athletes. The bond will allow the district to address these needs while lowering the current debt millage. To learn more about the bond proposal, please visit HowellSchools.com/ForOurKids.
Senior Survivor
Howell High School’s annual Senior Survivor fundraiser is just over a month away. This year, the Howell High School student council is creating a community-wide event to kick off Senior Survivor Week! All Howell Public Schools’ students and families are invited to the carnival on Friday, April 26 at 6 p.m. in the Howell High School Field House! The carnival activities will include games, inflatables, photo booth, arts and crafts, raffles, entertainment, and food. Admission is $10 per person (kids under age 3 are free), or you can buy a family pass for $30 (up to 5 family members from the same home.) An adult must accompany students in eighth grade or below. All proceeds from the carnival will go towards a scholarship in memory of Julianna Ward-Brown.
Placement Consideration Forms
The Howell elementary schools have adopted a process that allows parents to provide the school with information about their child that will assist in the placement of the child through the use of a Placement Consideration Form (PCF). The form asks that you describe the educational setting, (academics, behavioral and physical), that you would like to have for your child without naming a particular teacher. We do not accept specific teacher requests. It is important to be as detailed as possible stating the type of classroom environment that would benefit your child. The form will be available in the school office beginning on Monday, April 15th, 2019, and will be accepted through Friday, April 26th, 2019. Remember that your child’s current teacher knows the learning style that best suits your child.
2019-2020 School Year Calendar
As Superintendent MacGregor shared in his email earlier today, through a collaborative effort of the Howell Education Association (HEA) and the district, we have reached an agreement on the 2019-2020 school calendar. You can view the full calendar at https://goo.gl/TzJtDB. Please note, that the district and the HEA are still working on finalizing the open house and conference schedule. The district will provide updates regarding those items as they become available.
Attention Fifth Grade Parents
All fifth-grade parents should have recently received an email or letter from the district regarding the upcoming Fifth Grade Reproductive Health Parent Night which is set for Thursday, April 4, 2019, at 7 p.m. at Three Fires Elementary. The letter also included information about the district approved fifth-grade reproductive health lessons that will be taught in April and May. If you are a fifth-grade parent and have not filled out the permission slip for this, please visit http://bit.ly/health5thgrade by Thursday, April 18, 2019.
Counselor’s Corner with Jennifer Starkey: Planning for Spring Break
For many families, spring break is a good opportunity to rest and reconnect. Here are a couple of suggestions for making the most of this week off from school!
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Engage your kids in the plan. Kids like to feel that they have choices and that their opinions count. Write down all the ideas the kids have for activities, places they’d like to visit, friends they’d like to see, etc. Try to make one or two of them happen.
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Have a schedule...but be flexible. Having some sort of schedule helps things run more smoothly and helps kids better understand expectations. However, when things are out of the ordinary, kids are going to be out of the ordinary. Plan on allowing everyone a little extra grace.
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Consider playdates. With technology taking over, kids are missing out on meaningful opportunities to play with peers. This time with others helps them learn important skills like communication, conflict resolution, and sharing. Plus, it’s fun!
Play and explore at the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum (http://www.aahom.org).
The Howell Conference and Nature Center is a multi-faceted facility with an educated staff that shares a love and commitment to children and the environment. Home of the DTE Raptor Education Center, Wetland Habitat, and Visteon Eagles Eyrie. Call (517) 546-0249 or visit http://howellnaturecenter.org/.
Get outdoors at Kensington Metro Park. Our beautiful county has lots of activities, pathways, and exploration to offer families (http://www.metroparks.com).
Read, read, read at Howell Carnegie District Library. Call (517) 546-0720 or
http://howelllibrary.org/.
Play games at Crepes and Games, Michigan’s largest board game cafe. For $5, you can stay and game all day. For $9, kids 12 and under can have a kid-sized crepe, drink, and unlimited gameplay: 751 South Latson Road. Call (517) 518-8288 or visit https://crepesandgames.com.
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At the least, make a point to talk and connect. With one less thing fighting for your energy and attention (school), take advantage of some time to really cuddle, communicate, and play!
Think Spring!
Sincerely,
Mindy McGinn, Principal
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