Dear Challenger Families,
First of all, don't forget that we will not have school the week of March 25th - March 29th as we are on SPRING BREAK. Regardless of where your spring break takes you, I hope you have a restful, relaxing, and safe week. We will see everyone back at Challenger on Monday, April 1st for the final 43 days of the school year.
Can you believe we are already preparing for the 2024-2025 school year? It is this time of year that we begin to determine teacher grade level placement as well as student placement in individual classes. All Howell elementary schools use a process that allows parents to provide the school information about their child that will assist in the placement of their child through the use of a Placement Consideration Form (PCF). The form asks that you describe the educational setting, (academics, behavioral and physical) that you would like to have for your children without naming a particular teacher. It is important to be as detailed as possible stating the type of classroom environment that would most benefit your child. Example: structured, relaxed, hands-on, challenging, quiet, teacher-directed, etc. Please note: When a specific teacher name is written on the form, the form will not be accepted or considered.
We will use these forms to support our process, but remember that your child’s current teacher knows the learning style that best suits your child. We work hard each spring to properly place students to ensure a successful year of growth. Thank you for your support in this process.
PCFs will be available via the electronic form below, forms will be accepted starting today through April 12th.
PLACEMENT CONSIDERATION FORM
Enjoy your break!
Mr. Cherry
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MI Student Voice Family Perception Survey
This past Monday, Superintendent MacGregor sent an email inviting you to share your insights on our school and district through the MI Student Voice Family Perception Survey. Your feedback provided in the survey helps us gauge how we are doing as a school and district and informs us of our continuous improvement efforts. Please complete the survey for your oldest child's school, and if your time permits, we would greatly appreciate your input on any other schools your children attend within our district. To access the survey, please visit https://bit.ly/4a7xnIB. The survey window is open through Friday, March 29, 2024.
Mobile Food Pantry in Howell on Thursday, March 21
On Thursday, March 21, Gleaners Food Bank's Mobile Food Pantry will be in the bus lot at 411 N. Highlander Way (between Highlander Way Middle School and the Freshman Campus). The pantry will be open from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Anyone in the community needing food can drive through and pick up food from the Mobile Food Pantry. If you have any questions regarding the Howell Food Mobile or food access in Howell, please contact Gleaners Food Bank at 517-548-3710.
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Counselors Corner: Planning for Spring Break
For many families, spring break is a good opportunity to rest and reconnect. Here are a couple of suggestions for making the most of this week off from school!
Engage your kids in the plan. Kids like to feel that they have choices and that their opinions count. Write down all the ideas the kids have for activities, places they’d like to visit, friends they’d like to see, etc. Try to make one or two of them happen.
Have a schedule...but be flexible. Having some sort of schedule helps things run more smoothly and helps kids better understand expectations. However, when things are out of the ordinary, kids are going to be out of the ordinary. Plan on allowing everyone a little extra grace.
Consider playdates. With technology taking over, kids are missing out on meaningful opportunities to play with peers. This time with others helps them learn important skills like communication, conflict resolution, and sharing. Plus, it’s fun!
Seek out some new opportunities in the community. Here are a few of our favorites:
Explore the Howell Conference and Nature Center
The Howell Conference and Nature Center is a multi-faceted facility with an educated staff that share a love and commitment to children and the environment. Home of the DTE Raptor Education Center, Wetland Habitat, and Visteon Eagles Eyrie.
Call (517) 546-0249.
http://howellnaturecenter.org/
Get outdoors at Kensington Metro Park
Our beautiful county has lots of activities, pathways, and exploration to offer families.
http://www.metroparks.com
Read, read, read at Howell Carnegie District Library
Call (517) 546-0720
http://howelllibrary.org/
At the least, make a point to talk and connect. With one less thing fighting for your energy and attention (school), take advantage of some time to really cuddle, communicate, and play!
Think Spring!