Dear Voyager Families,
Happy New Year and happy end of 1st semester!!! First semester ends today. Report cards for all students will be available in PowerSchool on Friday, January 24th. If you have not had a chance to have a reflective conversation with your child about his/her experiences during 1st semester and his/her “goals” for 2nd semester (see the Viking View from 12/20), please consider having that conversation over the upcoming long weekend - we do not have school on Monday, January 20th - it is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day! 2nd semester/3rd quarter begins on Tuesday, January 21st.
As we look at the calendar today, Thursday, June 4th seems a long time from now. Some of you may not even know what Thursday, June 4th is - it’s the last day of school for the 2019-2020 school year! It will be here before we know it - it’s already the middle of January. The end of the school year is an exciting time for staff and students and a lot of special classroom and school-wide events/activities get scheduled. Staff and I have already met to discuss what our school-wide end of the year activity/event schedule will look like this year, and we wanted to get some dates to you at this time, as there are some events that you will want to attend and there are others that will require several parent/non-parent volunteers. We know that having these dates as soon as possible is critical for scheduling. In this newsletter, I am just providing dates. Specific information on each event/activity will come home in the future. Here is the schedule for the last week of school:
Monday, June 1st - Field Day
Tuesday, June 2nd - Rain Date for Field Day
Wednesday, June 3rd - AM - 3rd-5th Grade Talent Show (all students attend)
Thursday, June 4th - AM - 5th grade Completion (9:15 a.m. Clap Out; 9:30 a.m. CompletionProgram); PM - Oakland University Production “The Town Mouse & the Country Mouse"
I realize that this schedule looks different than the end of the year schedule that Voyager has had in the past (field day the Thursday before Memorial Day; a talent show that was two half days in length and included K-5 students participating, and 5th grade Completion in the afternoon of the last day). Staff and I reviewed what has traditionally happened, discussed events that staff would like to see changed or tweaked, and took into consideration that next year the 2020-2021 school year will end on the Friday before Memorial Day. Starting summer vacation the Friday before Memorial Day will have its benefits, but also creates some challenges (for example, the state testing window for our 3rd-5th graders typically ends on the Friday before Memorial Day). Staff and I decided that beginning to make some changes now would assist in preparing for next year’s change. With all of that said, we know that not having K-2 students involved in the Talent Show will be sad news for a lot of students and for parents. Change is hard...but is something that happens. Thank you in advance for understanding and for helping our students to understand the need for change. I am confident that we have a great line-up of events and activities to make the end of the year special for our students. In addition to what I have shared, classroom teachers/grade levels will have their own special/exciting events to add to the end of the year festivities.
Howell HS Varsity Basketball Games -I would like to highlight some HHS Varsity Basketball events that Voyager elementary students and their families have been invited to next week Friday and at the end of February. Here is the information:
Howell Varsity Girls Basketball “Pink Out” Night- 1/24/20 - 7 pm - our own “Voices of Voyager” Choir will be singing the National Anthem
Howell Varsity Boys Basketball “Voyager/Northwest” Night & “Dress Like Simon” Night- 2/21/20 - 7 pm
In addition to these two nights, 2/4/20 is a Howell Varsity Girls Basketball Elementary & Middle School Night - 2/4/20 - 7 pm; it is also “Senior Night”.
Lost and Found -I would like to draw your attention to the fact that our lost and found area is overflowing. Prior to the break, it was being publicized on our Facebook page that lost and found items were going to be donated over the winter break. A decision was made to extend the date for when the lost and found items will be donated until the end of January. If your child is missing something, please find a time to stop by and check for the item(s) that are missing or have your child check After Friday, January 31st, the missing items will not be retrievable. Subsequent donations will occur the Friday before spring break in March and after the last day of school in June.
This concludes what I have to share this week, however, there are district updates(Please note that Kindergarten Registration information for 20-21 is one of the district updates), as well as our bi-weekly note from our wonderful Elementary Counselor, Ms. Jennifer Starkey - this week’s Counselor Corner features a wonderful parent training opportunity...being a parent is hard work!!! Please consider attending. Please check the list of upcoming events that are included in this newsletter.
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.
Happy New Year!
Kari Naghtin, Principal
District Updates:
It’s Time for Kindergarten Registration
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 visitHowellSchools.com/KDG.
Coffee Chat with Superintendent MacGregor
Superintendent Erin MacGregor will host his second Coffee Chat of the school year on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020. The chat will run from 1:00 to 2 p.m. in the Edinburgh Room in the district’s administrative office. At the Coffee Chat, representatives from the district’s construction management and architectural firms will provide an update on the bond projects that will be completed this summer. Additionally, MacGregor will provide updates on district initiatives and answer any questions that stakeholders have about the district.
Teacher and Support Person of the Year Nominations
Howell Public Schools is currently accepting nominations for its Teacher and Support Person of the Year awards. These awards honor an outstanding teacher and support person for their dedication to the students of Howell Public Schools. The Teacher of the Year nomination form can be found athttp://bit.ly/2t4Nrftand the Support Person of the Year nomination form can be found athttp://bit.ly/2QEuJEp. The nomination window closes on Monday, January 27 at 4 p.m.
COUNSELOR’S CORNER:
Where will you be on Tuesday, January 21st at 6:00? I am hoping you will join me at the HHS Auditorium to experience the power and energy of Brooks Gibbs, an award-winning social skills educator.
Brooks travels around the world to teach youth and families how to be emotionally strong and resilient. This evening program is designed specifically for parents and families! It is FREE, and CHILD CARE is provided (please reach out to Kim Martin to reserve a spot for your child/ren: 517.548.6297, ext. 43106 or[email protected]).
For more information, please reach out to me or check out his website:https://www.brooksgibbs.com/.
Jennifer Starkey, School Counselor
[email protected] 517-552-7500. Ext. 46124