Dear Challenger Families-
I just wanted to take a moment and thank our fantastic PTO. This week Challenger students and staff were treated to Supe's Exotic Jungle presentation. This was an opportunity for students to pet a Wallaby, African Toad, skunks, snakes, crocodile and much more. Students had opportunities to hold the animals and take many photos, see our Facebook page for a snapshot of this event. These events take planning and finances. Our PTO always steps up to the plate to fund and lead these great events. Thank you to our PTO and thank you to our Challenger families that donate throughout the year.
We have an amazing PTO board that works hard to support students, staff, and families. The PTO leads our fundraisers, popcorn Fridays, spirit wear sales, monthly PTO meetings, teacher appreciation, and much, much more. These great parents give of their time and talents to make Challenger a great place to work and learn.
Although the PTO board has been an integral part of all of these endeavors, they couldn't have done it without ALL of YOU. Supporting our fundraisers this year and in the past have allowed many of these positive things to come to fruition. From the bottom of my heart I thank our current PTO board, our past PTO boards, and all of our Challenger families!
If you want to find new ways to support the PTO, please consider coming to the next PTO board meeting. At these meetings, we discuss current, past, and future events that are being planned. A large part of these meetings is also spent discussing how to best use the funds that have been raised by our generous Challenger family. The PTO is working hard to use these funds responsibly. We are committed to providing our staff and students memorable events and purchasing items that create a great learning experience. I do hope that you will attend our upcoming meetings to help share your input and look towards ending the 2024-2025 school year with some fun events for our Challenger students.
David Cherry, Principal
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Enroll Your Future Highlander Today!
It’s time to set your child on the path to success! At Howell, “Future Ready Begins Here” in our Begindergarten and Kindergarten classrooms, where curiosity grows, confidence builds, and a love of learning takes root. If you have a Begindergarten or Kindergarten student, save their seat and begin enrollment today at HowellSchools.com/KDG.
MI Student Voice Perception Surveys
This year, our school will participate in the MI Student Voice Perception Survey to gather insights for district improvement planning. This survey, taken by students in grades 5-12, goes beyond test scores to assess engagement, belonging, and social-emotional learning. It does not include questions on personal topics such as drug or alcohol use, relationships, or political and religious affiliations. The survey questions can be reviewed at https://bit.ly/3uI5Iz2. To opt your child out, submit the form by Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at https://bit.ly/49kk7QR. The survey will be conducted between March 10-21. Additionally, we will participate in the MI Student Voice Family Perception Survey, which will be emailed to families next week.
March Celebrating Awareness Theme
Our March Celebrating Awareness theme is Women's History Month. This optional program is open to all students and aims to raise awareness, foster empathy, and inspire action by highlighting the contributions of women throughout history. To learn how elementary students can participate, visit https://bit.ly/41l4upK. Submissions can be made using the link in the flyers or delivered to the office at your child’s school.
Family Literacy Night
Howell Public Schools invites you to join us for learning, laughter, and literacy during our Family Literacy Night on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, from 6:00-7:00 PM at Voyager Elementary! This exciting event is open to students in grades BK-8 and their families, offering a fun-filled evening focused on building literacy skills and fostering a love for reading. To learn more or to RSVP, please visit https://bit.ly/41ASqlB.
March Mental Health Resources
The Livingston Educational Service Agency (LESA) has partnered with ParentGuidance.org to offer free mental wellness resources for families in Livingston County. Parents can access on-demand courses, self-help tools, and a personal parenting coach for up to 30 minutes per week at no cost. Our Mental Wellness Resources webpage now features the March webinar calendar, including the Ask a Therapist Live event on Wednesday, March 12, where families can receive real-time advice from a licensed therapist. To explore ParentGuidance.org and see how it can support your family, visit https://bit.ly/3AexYvV.
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Fostering Healthy Relationships with Food: Tips for Families and Children
March is National Nutrition Month, a perfect time to reflect on your family’s nutritional practices and promote a healthy relationship with food. Here are some practical tips to guide positive conversations and behaviors around nutrition and body image.
1. Be Mindful of Your Language
Children receive countless messages about food and nutrition, both intentionally and unintentionally. Speaking about food, your body, and nutrition in a neutral and supportive manner can have a lasting impact.
Tips for Speaking About Food in a Neutral Way:
- Avoid labeling foods as “good” or “bad.” This can create unnecessary guilt or shame. Instead, focus on the nutritional value of foods.
- Emphasize nutrition over judgment. Explain that different foods contain varying vitamins and minerals, contributing to health in unique ways.
- Remember the Three Ps: All foods have a Purpose, a Place, and a Portion in a balanced diet.
Promoting Body Positivity and a Healthy Body Image:
- Highlight that food provides essential nourishment to grow, move, and learn.
- Use inclusive and positive language to support body positivity.
- Example: “The weather is lovely today—let’s go for a walk!”
- Example: “Eating late at night makes it hard for me to sleep. I’ll skip the brownie this time.”
- Avoid harsh or negative self-talk, both for yourself and others.
- Instead of: “I need to lose those last few pounds.”
- Try: “I’m focusing on feeling strong and healthy.”
2. Model Beneficial Behaviors
Children learn by observing the trusted adults around them. Demonstrating healthy behaviors can reinforce positive habits:
- Enjoy a variety of foods: Show enthusiasm when eating fruits, vegetables, and balanced meals.
- Encourage joyful movement: Speak positively about physical activities, emphasizing fun and well-being over appearance.
3. Support Best Practices in Nutrition Guidance
When offering advice to children about nutrition, ensure it is practical, balanced, and avoids unnecessary restrictions:
- Steer clear of fad diets and extreme nutrition trends. Instead, promote balanced, evidence-based practices.
- Avoid overly specific advice, which can lead to rigid or unhealthy food rules.
- Instead of: “Don’t eat dietary fats.”
- Try: “Healthy fats, like those in avocados and nuts, are great in moderation.”
- Promote balance over restriction: Rather than saying, “You shouldn’t eat chocolate,” try, “Enjoying sweets occasionally is part of a balanced diet.”
By being intentional with your language and actions, you can help children build a healthy, positive relationship with food and their bodies. This approach fosters lifelong habits that support well-being, confidence, and happiness.
As always, feel free to reach out for help or support [email protected]