Hornet Nation,

This weekend, we will be moving back to daylight saving time. I love that although most of us have digital time pieces nowadays that reset themselves, we still use an analog clock to demonstrate the change. As a young child, I remember feeling so accomplished when I learned how to tell time.

As we continue to live in a world where new technologies emerge every day, our partnership with you could not be more critical. Both at home and in school, we need to make decisions about what we permit, what we need to learn more about, and what is not appropriate or desired. In schools, it feels like a constant balancing act between preparing our students for life beyond high school and building strong cultures of belonging. Certainly, one of the items that schools have been balancing for close to two decades is cell phone presence and use in schools.

Several members of our Board of Education joined other area school board members for a working/learning dinner last week. Our facilitator spent quite a bit of time having us think about the emerging field of artificial intelligence, and how it might impact our seniors (Class of 2024), and our preschoolers (Class of 2037). This was aligned with other learning I have recently taken part in, which suggested that very soon, employers and postsecondary institutions will be expecting our graduates to have at least a basic understanding of AI and how it might be used to support problem solving. Before we can support our students in this learning, we need to do some learning on our end as well.

To that end, last month our high school principal and a staff member joined other learners from across the state for a day of learning around AI. Next week, I am registered for another learning session via a webinar. We also hope to offer learning to all of our staff members in February when we have a full day of professional learning planned. These "toes in the water" moves are designed to help us make other decisions down the road. If any of you are using AI in your job, I would love to hear from you, and perhaps leverage your knowledge for our staff.

One thing I know for sure -- the pace of advancement will continue to be faster than our ability to digest each new item at a deep level. Thus, we need to continue to make strategic, educated choices about if, how, and when to implement new learning with both our staff and students, and to engage with you around around those shifts.

In partnership and with Hornet Pride,

Judy

Judy Walton

juwalton@harrisonschools.com

989.539.7871

The staff of Harrison Community Schools, in the spirit of a growing and changing community, pledge to educate all students by teaching the District Curriculum and beyond, ensuring the development of responsible learners prepared to take an active role in a complex society.

[CLARE] – Clare-Gladwin Career and Technical Education (CTE) announces the expansion of its educational offerings with the introduction of the Diesel and Heavy Equipment Technology program in partnership with Northern Logistics. This addition to the curriculum prepares high school students with the skills and knowledge needed for careers as diesel service technicians, mechanics and heavy equipment operators. Click here to read the article in the Clare County Cleaver.

Several times over the school year, the weather causes us to delay or cancel school. Have you ever wondered how the decision is made? The short answer is safety, and the long answer is all of the factors that go into the safety category.

Looking at weather forecasts and radar is always a bit tricky, because patterns can change so quickly. But that is usually our first step - knowing we may need to pay extra attention on certain days and at certain times. Typically, the conversation starts around 4-4:30 am, in two ways. Our area superintendents communicate via a group text, and each of us communicates with our transportation director. One or more of our bus drivers may take a trial run and report back regarding road conditions, and often we hear from law enforcement. Even when the main roads are in decent shape, secondary and "back" roads may be very different.

Our district covers 240 square miles, with a variety of different road types and conditions. Our bus drivers need to head out by 6:15 am to start their routes, so we have to decide before that time, using the best information on current conditions and forecasted conditions. When we chose a two-hour delay, it is because we believe the forecast will improve enough to have school. However, there are times when that decision turns into a full closure because not enough improvement happens by the next decision window of time.

Sometimes the decision across area districts is similar, and other times it is not. But our individual decisions do impact whether the CGRESD, and specifically the career/technical programs, delays or closes, so we want to maintain contact with our neighbors. All decisions are ultimately made based on whether, with the information we have on hand, our students can safely be at bus stops, and whether our buses can safely drive all routes. While it is vital that we have our students in school and learning, we will not jeopardize their safety in getting to or from school. Occasionally, the weather may dramatically improve after we have made a call to close, but we would rather err on the side of safety.

If we do change our schedule, you will be notified through our school information system (if you have signed up for alerts). We also post on our social media sites, and advise regional TV stations.

• With a positive COVID test, 5 days from either the onset of symptoms, or if no symptoms, from the test date. Onset of symptoms or test date = day zero, and student may return on day 6 with a mask assuming symptoms are improving. This is the same as employees.
• For 24 hours after fever, diarrhea, or vomiting ends, without medication.
• Contagious diseases such as chickenpox, measles, strep, pinkeye, flu, etc. Ask your doctor or health care provider when they can return to school. Generally, the following apply: chickenpox (no school until all spots /lesions are dried and crusted), lice (no school until after the first treatment), strep throat or other strep infections (can return if they do not have a fever and have been on antibiotics for at least 12 hours).

November 7: 2nd & 3rd Grade music performance at high school (see info above)

November 8: Half day for students (teachers have professional learning in afternoon)

November 15: No school for students or staff

November 22-24: No school for students or staff

• Early Childhood & Larson Elementary, 989.539.3259 (Principal Andrea Andera, aandera@harrisonschools.com, Assistant Principal Sandy Hargraves, shargraves@harrisonschools.com)
• Middle School, 989.539.7194 (Principal Jennifer Thrush, jthrush@harrisonschools.com, Assistant Principal Brad Carlstrom, bcarlstrom@harrisonschools.com)
• Hive, 989.539.7417 (Principal Stacey VanAntwerp, svanantwerp@harrisonschools.com)
• High School, 989.539.7417 (Principal Joe Ashcroft, jjashcroft@harrisonschools.com, Assistant Principal/Athletic Director Brad Carlstrom, bcarlstrom@harrisonschools.com)

Superintendent, 989.539.7871 (Judy Walton, juwalton@harrisonschools.com)

Special Education (Stacey VanAntwerp, svanantwerp@harrisonschools.com)

Homeless Child/Youth Services (Andrea Andera, aandera@harrisonschools.com)

Bus Services, 989.539.7082 (Kelli Whitaker, kwhitaker@auxilioservices.net)