Aggie Connection
August 12, 2022
Mission Statement: Sand Creek Community Schools is committed to delivering an effective 21st century educational program that prepares its students to live happy, healthy, productive, and successful lives.
Superintendent Update
August is here and the start of school is only a week away! It is always surprising to me how fast the summer flies. No different than when I was a kid, when summer vacation seemed to take forever to arrive - and then was over in a flash!
Even as I wonder what happened to the summer, I look forward to what I always consider a "fresh start", the start of a new school year. We are all looking forward to having our students back in the buildings.
The 2022/2023 school year will bring many new faces, of both students and staff, into our buildings. I hope you will join me in making each of our new Aggies feel welcome. Check out the "Welcome to Sand Creek" section in this newsletter to meet our new staff.
Over the summer, we have been completing many exciting improvements and upgrades in both of our buildings. These include:
- New high school gym floor
- Tuckpointing/concrete repair work at both buildings
- Interior and exterior painting at both the elementary and 6-12 building
- Jr./Sr. High School band floor replaced
- Jr./Sr. High School computer lab floor replaced
- New, upgraded, Phone System and additional interior security cameras, both providing an increase to safety and security
- External fiber installed to our Gorman Road facilities. This improvement adds internet and network capability to the press box, football concession stand and bus garage.
- Live-streaming cameras added to the Jr. High Gym. This addition gives us streaming capabilities in the high school gym, jr. high gym and football field.
Improvements still coming....
- Smart Clean/UVC System - Installation will start this school year
- New Pre-School Playground (thru grant proceeds) - to be installed early fall
In addition to the improvements to our buildings and facilities, we are excited about our academic goals for the coming years also.
The District and Building Implementation Teams will be kicking off the implementation of the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) this coming year. MTSS is a infrastructure system that will allow district improvement teams to effectively address needs, changes, barriers or new processes and to ensure the effective use of all practices and programs. It is a systems approach to ensuring we meet the individual needs of the whole child by putting in the tools to monitor and measure the effectiveness of each program, curriculum or practice. To put it simply, this can take us from "Letting It Happen" to a "Making It Happen" mindset. Please see the MTSS section below, and the attached presentation, for more information.
This will be our 2nd full year of the NWEA assessment testing, which is given to all grade levels, 3 times per year. We will also continue to schedule 2-hour delay start days this year for staff to work in grade level or curriculum groups to analyze NWEA and other assessment data. Our focus will be to use this data to identify needs; and drive curriculum and instruction changes - both with students individually and as a whole.
As your student enters one of the buildings later this month, they will find a more "normal" look to most of our procedures. Each of our principals will be recording video updates on what you can expect this coming year. These recordings will be posted on the district website soon. Please take a moment to view these videos as they each contain important information for the coming year.
Regarding any COVID-19 protocol, as was our practice last spring, we are asking any student or employee either experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or who have tested positive for COVID-19 (regardless of symptoms) to stay home from school and all activities. As always, if your student is feeling ill and/or has a fever, please keep them home.
Please review the attached Table One for the recommended exclusion times for COVID 19 and all other common childhood Illnesses.
Visit the district website at www.sc-aggies.us or the Sand Creek Schools Facebook page for more information throughout the year.
Click here for a video message from your Superintendent.
Sharon E. Smith
Superintendent/Chief Financial Officer
Sand Creek Community Schools
6518 Sand Creek Hwy.
Sand Creek, MI 49279-aggies.us
Ph. 517-436-3108
Fax. 517-436-3143
New High School Gym Floor!
Concrete Repair Work and Fresh Paint!
Fresh paint!
WELCOME BACK STUDENTS
We look forward to seeing you!
Open House
Mark your calendars for these important dates. We hope to see you at one (or all) of the following scheduled Open Houses.
- 6th Grade Open House - Tuesday, August 16th from 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
- Open House: Elementary - Wednesday, August 17th from 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
- Open House: Jr./Sr. High School - Wednesday, August 17th from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
**Free Ice Cream! Sand Creek Phone Company is offering a free ice cream treat during Open House on Wednesday evening - from 4 - 6 p.m. Stop in and see them and pick up dessert!
Thank you Sand Creek Phone Company!!
Phone System Upgrade
This safety upgrade also brings us up-to-date and in compliance with the E-911 regulations. Emergency or 911 calls from any phone in the building can be traced back to the exact location by emergency personnel.
This upgrade was paid for with ESSER Grant funds.
Sand Creek Families Urged to Apply for Free, Reduced-Price School Meals
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (or USDA) has not been given Congress' consent to keep providing free breakfast and lunch to all students. The waivers are set to expire September 2022.
Changes have been made to the free and reduced meal program and the USDA has raised the income amounts to qualify for the program. Even if you have not qualified in the past, we encourage everyone to apply this year.
Parents may apply on the Meal Magic Parent Portal. Click here to go to the portal to apply. Assistance in this application process will be provided at both buildings during Open House on August 17th.
Program in the Spotlight: MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Support)
Over the past year, District and Building Implementation Teams have met monthly to evaluate and work on the initial implementation steps of MTSS. We have often found ourselves, asking each other with this question: What is MTSS again? We are actually only "half kidding" when we ask each other this, as MTSS is hard to define in one short sentence. We have been challenged by our Lenawee ISD - Regional Team instructors to do just that. How would we describe MTSS to someone who had no idea what it was or meant?
Well, here it is. MTSS is a comprehensive framework that uses a collection research-based strategies (tools) designed to meet the individual needs of the whole child (academic, behavioral, physical, social and emotional). Whew!! I still feel like that is a mouthful and a little hard to understand.
So, in my own words, this is how I would describe this MTSS process we are embarking upon.
- We want to have an educational system in our district where we know why we have chosen the curriculum, procedures, or processes we use.
- We want to be assured, through measurement tools and data, that the programs are effective and are being implemented fully and completely.
- We want to be able to explain to community, students and parents why we know that this is the best fit for Sand Creek Schools. Also, we want to continue to monitor the program to ensure it continues to be a good fit, or if it should be eliminated and replaced.
- MTSS provides the systematic processes to make this all happen. But, this is a long process and will take time.
- We have our sights on our goal, to move from the point of "Letting it Happen" to "Making it Happen".
- By "Making It Happen", we mean to reach our academic, behavioral and social/emotional goals for our district and each student; not by happenstance, but by intentional and research based plans and supporting data.
Please take a moment to read through the attached PDF overview of the MTSS work we have done this past year. Contact the school with any questions.
"Welcome to Sand Creek"
Mr. Steve Walters, Athletic Director/Student Support
My name is Steve Walters, I am the new Athletic Director at Sand Creek Community Schools.
I attended Western Michigan University and have taught Health and Physical Education as well as coach for the past 12 years. Coaching has been a big part of my life as I have coached basketball, golf, soccer, track and cross country. I spent a majority of my educational career at Monroe Jefferson Schools where I served as the Middle School Cross Country and Track coach as well as the Varsity Boys Basketball Coach.
I have a passion for working in educational athletics and believe athletics intended to supplement the education that our student athletes receive during the traditional school day.
GO AGGIES!
Ms. Molliey Gill, Japanese Teacher
Hello! I am originally from Ohio, but have spent the past ten years living and teaching in both South Korea and Japan, where I adopted two wonderful dogs.
My passion for language learning has lead me to travel and experience the world! My husband and I love learning (and eating) new recipes and trying new foods.
I am excited to introduce Japanese language, culture, and food to the Sand Creek Community!
Mr. Kyle Townsend, 5th Grade Teacher
Hello! I graduated from Sand Creek in 2013 and the University of Toledo in 2017. The last two years I was a fifth grade teacher at Lenawee Christian.
My wife Alora and I recently welcomed our baby boy Caspian to the world. He was born on May 1st of 2022.
Ms. Andrea Gallatin, Elementary Special Education Teacher
Hello! My name is Andrea Gallatin and I am excited to join Sand Creek School as the elementary special education teacher. I am a 2008 graduate of Sand Creek School and a 2013 graduate of Siena Heights University. I previously taught elementary special education at Adrian Public Schools the past nine years.
I currently reside in Adrian with my 13 year old Golden Retriever Simon. Some of my hobbies include playing basketball, running, and watching MSU sports.
I am excited to be back "home" and look forward to a great school year at Sand Creek!
Mrs. Paxton Dunn, 3rd Grade Teacher
Hello! My name is Paxton Dunn and I am so excited to be teaching here at Sand Creek in third grade. This is my first-year teaching as I recently graduated from Adrian College, where I studied elementary education and majored in math.
I live near Hudson with my husband and two Australian Shepard's. Outside of school, I enjoy camping and spending time with friends and family. Go Aggies!
Mrs. Wendy Danna, Middle School Math Teacher
Welcome back to Sand Creek, Wendy!
*Picture was not available at the time the newsletter was published.
Miss Alexa Moore
I graduated from University of Michigan-Ann Arbor with a major in Secondary English, with double majors in Spanish and Drama. In my spare time, I love to travel, hike and cook.
Miss Rachel Myers
- Student scheduling and assessments
- Assisting students with career plans
- Exploring career and college options with students
- Working with students to ensure they are on track academically
We are excited to have this new Career Center focus and know Rachel will serve our students and families well in this new role.
Miss Myers' office is located in the Counseling Office, across from the main high school office.
Miss Abby Slusher
Separating our Career Center Counseling needs from our Social/Emotional Counseling needs will allow us to better meet the needs of our entire student body in both of these areas.
Miss Slusher's office will be located on the 2nd floor of the Jr/Sr High School building.
Did you Know?
This school year you can watch your Sand Creek Aggies from anywhere! Live streaming is now available from the Varsity Football Field, Jr. High Gym and the High School Gym. Be ready to catch all the action!
Click here to purchase your monthly or yearly pass now. All passes include: Full access to Live regular season and post season sporting events at Sand Creek Schools.
What's Happening This Fall
August
- 8th - HS Sports began
- 15th - HS Marching Band Camp
- 16th - HS Marching Band Trip - Cedar Point
- 16th - 6th Grade Open House 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
- 17th-18th - Teacher In-Service Days
- 17th - Open House: Elem 4-6 p.m.; JH/HS 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
- 22nd - First day of school - Half day for students (a.m.)
- 26th - No School
September
- 2nd - No School
- 5th - Labor Day - No School
- 7th - Picture Day (6-12 building)
- 19th - Picture Day (elementary)