Hornet Nation,

Happy New Year! This week we welcomed our learners back after the two-week break, and on January 12, our first semester ends.

As we hit the halfway mark through our school year, it is a great time to reflect on celebrations. What has best enabled your child's learning? Where have they found success this year? What are their goals for the remainder of the school year? How might we as educators best support their success? Even though we do not have scheduled conferences during second semester, please feel free to reach out to any of your child's teachers to provide input or seek answers to questions.

Please make sure you scroll all the way down through this issue, to see some great pictures from the last few weeks of school in December.

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.

Zachary Driver -- Kendra Durga -- Therese Haley

James Neff -- Chelsea Roland -- Betsy Ulicki -- Carrie Whitaker

At the December Board of Education meeting, the Board selected Zachary Driver to fill the open spot due to the resignation of Courtney McCrimmon. Welcome aboard! (Photo credit Dianne Alward-Biery, Clare County Cleaver)

We are in year 1 of our implementation of new K-12 ELA resources. The resources are a mix of "in hand" and online materials, and come to life through the expertise of our teachers. One of the many important goals around literacy is to provide "informational text" for our readers. You can think of this as nonfiction reading whose purpose is to inform around a topic.

As an example, in fifth grader, our readers and writers have just begun a module on natural disasters. No pun intended, it has many natural connections to both science and social studies. This helps our students recognize that reading and writing is not solely confined to ELA, and in fact, is an integral part of all learning.

The Essential Questions guide discussions and the learning focus. They might also provide a great way for you and your child to discuss the learning at home!

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, and one or more of our bus drivers may take a trial run and report back regarding road conditions, because 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.

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).

Grateful to our sponsors, volunteers, and Chartwells partners who brought this event to fruition!

January 12: Half day of school for students (teachers have record-marking in afternoon)

January 15: Second semester begins

February 9: No school for students (teachers have professional learning)

February 12: No school for students or staff (mini winter break)

• 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.com)

Allowed waiting area for afternoon pick-up at Larson is on West Hornet Drive, highlighted in orange