Dear Voyager Families,
As you may be aware, on Monday, April 8, 2024, there will be a solar eclipse. Even though Howell is not in the path of totality, this is still a very exciting astronomical event. However, the risk of eye injury to everyone, especially children who may not understand that the danger of looking directly at the sun is heightened during an eclipse. In Howell, the eclipse will begin at 2:40 p.m., reach near totality around 3:15 p.m., and end by 4:20 p.m. During this time, children are transitioning to their homes, after-school activities, and after-school care, which presents a challenge in providing sufficient adult supervision. Please remind your child that at no time will it be safe to look at the sun without the protection of authentic and properly certified eclipse viewing glasses. At Voyager Elementary, we are taking the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of our students during this event.
It is important to note that only our 5th-grade students will be participating in viewing the solar eclipse as part of their science curriculum. Safety glasses will be provided to them, along with clear instructions and supervision during the viewing. However, we understand that some families may prefer for their 5th grader not to participate, and therefore, an opt-out option has been communicated by our 5th-grade teachers. Students in grades BK-4th will not be participating in the eclipse viewing.
We will be implementing the following safety plans due to the timing of the eclipse coinciding with our afternoon dismissal:
Bus Dismissal: Students riding the bus home will be dismissed by bus number. This allows our supervisors to manage fewer students at one time and provide reminders not to look directly at the sun.
Pick-Up Dismissal: We will have additional staff members stationed to remind students of safety precautions and supervise as they exit the building and head to their cars.
If you are planning to keep your child home on this day, we kindly ask that you consider calling their absence today. This will assist our office staff in managing the increased volume of attendance calls expected for that day. Additionally, if you plan on picking your child up early, please be aware that the eclipse will begin at 2:40 PM.
Your child's safety is our top priority, and we appreciate your cooperation and understanding as we implement these safety measures.
Sincerely,
Danielle Schmidt
Senior Survivor Kick-Off Carnival
Howell High School's Student Council is excited to launch this year's Senior Survivor Week with the Senior Survivor Kick-off Carnival. The carnival will be held on Friday, April 19, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the high school field house. There will be activities for all ages, including inflatables, games, a photo booth, entertainment, student performances, food trucks, crafts, raffles, prizes, and other attractions. Admission is $10 for children and students ages 3-18 and free for adults and children under 2. To learn more, please visit https://bit.ly/3qff1Ry.
Voyager Junior Survivors
Thank you for supporting our Junior Survivors this week with our popcorn day. Don’t forget tonight they are hosting a Hawaiian Family Fun Night from 6-8 PM. Our Junior Survivors have been working hard making some amazing crafts to sell on Tuesday, April 9th through Thursday, April 11th. They will be selling in the main hallway by the gym before school starts each morning. All proceeds will benefit Senior Survivor and Community Catalysts.
2024 State of the District Event
On Thursday, April 18, at 6 p.m., we will host our State of the District event. During this event, Superintendent MacGregor will update district stakeholders on this district's innovative initiatives and programs, district initiatives, projects relating to the Our Kids, Our Community, Our Future bond, and our vision for the future. The event will be held in the Edinburg room at the district's administrative offices.
Family Educational Series
Please mark your calendars for the next installment of our family educational series webinar set for Thursday, April 11, at 6:30 p.m. The April session is the ABCs of Substance Use and Vaping. During the webinar, families will learn about signs to watch for, signs of addiction, and ideas for talking to children about vaping and substance use. To learn more about April's session, please visit https://bit.ly/4cs34hG. To join the webinar on April 11, please visit https://cookcenter.info/April11Livingston.
Schoology/PowerSchool Grade and Assignment Issue
We have learned about an issue regarding confusing grading information for students in grades third through 12 in our learning management system, Schoology. While it is possible that grades can appear in Schoology, they should not be considered the official grade. Official grades are entered into PowerSchool. We recommend using Schoology to keep updated on the daily happenings in your child's class and PowerSchool to monitor attendance, grades, and assignments.
Pinwheels for Prevention
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. To raise awareness of child abuse prevention, our school is joining LACASA, and several businesses, community organizations, and other schools in displaying a pinwheel display in our office as part of LACASA's Pinwheels for Prevention Campaign. To read more about Pinwheels for Prevention, please visit http://bit.ly/3KHOtDj.