Challenger Families,
Today marks an exciting day at Challenger, one your children will likely come home talking about! We officially unveiled our new therapy dog, and the excitement in the building was unmistakable.
Many of you may remember Champ, our previous therapy dog who joined us about two years ago. Champ was a wonderful dog with a great personality, but over time we noticed that the busy, unpredictable nature of an elementary school made him anxious. After lots of effort and a tough decision, we determined that the school environment wasn’t the best fit for him. Champ is now happily living with Mrs. Angelovic, one of our teachers, where he’s thriving and enjoying life with her family and their dogs.
Fast forward to today, and we’re thrilled to introduce Howie, our new 8-week-old English Cream Golden Retriever. Howie was carefully selected through a training company that sought the perfect match for Challenger. He arrived at my home last night and began his training journey right away. Howie will be visiting Challenger regularly to get used to the sights, sounds, and routines of school life from a young age.
The students’ faces lit up when they met him today. His calm, friendly presence is already making a difference, and I’m confident that as he grows, Howie will bring even more peace, comfort, and joy to our school community.
As with any new adventure, there may be a few “kinks” to work out. If your child is afraid of dogs or you have any concerns, please let your child’s teacher and me know. We’ll work together to create an individualized plan to ensure that every student feels safe and comfortable, whether that means avoiding interactions or helping your child gradually build confidence around Howie.
Thank you for your continued support as we welcome our newest member of the Challenger family.
Have an awesome weekend!
David Cherry
Meet Howie
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Start the Day with a Healthy Breakfast!
The Howell Public Schools Food Service Department serves a healthy and nutritious breakfast every day in every school building. A nutritious breakfast helps students stay alert, focused, and ready to learn throughout the morning. Thanks to the Michigan School Meals Program, school breakfast is free for all students. Breakfast is served from 8:30 to 9:05 a.m. each day. Encourage your child to start the day strong with a delicious, balanced breakfast at school!
Help Make the Season Bright for Local Children in Need
Each year, the Christmas Elf Program partners with Howell Public Schools, Livingston ESA, Brighton Area Schools, and the local community to ensure a bright holiday season for children in need. Thanks to the generosity of families, staff, and community sponsors, last year the program supported more than 300 children from birth through eighth grade and nearly 100 high school students. You can help make a difference this year by sponsoring a child at https://bit.ly/47hT2z6 or by making a monetary donation at https://bit.ly/4q3GBOV, which helps provide gift cards for older students. The Christmas Elf Program is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and all donations are tax-deductible. The deadline to sign up to sponsor a child is Wednesday, October 29.
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Counselor's Corner
HELPING KIDS BUILD FOCUS AS LEARNING RAMPS UP
Howell Public Schools is committed to helping every student become “Future Ready for college, careers, and life.” This year, our newsletters will feature quick, plug-and-play tips you can use at home to support your child in building the skills they need for a successful
future.
As curriculum becomes more challenging this time of year, you may notice your child needs a little extra support staying focused. Attention skills are like muscles — they get stronger with practice! Try these simple strategies at home:
- Set short focus goals. Encourage your child to work for 10–15 minutes, then take a quick stretch or water break. Gradually increase focus time as stamina grows.
- Limit distractions. Designate a quiet, clutter-free spot for homework and keep devices out of sight unless they’re needed for learning.
- Practice mindfulness. Take one minute to pause, breathe, and “reset” before starting a new task — even young children can benefit from this habit.
- Celebrate effort. Praise your child for sticking with challenging tasks, even if the work isn’t perfect. Effort and persistence are key to focus and success.
Small, consistent routines like these can make a big difference in helping students stay engaged and confident as school work becomes more demanding — and in building the focus and self-management skills that will help them become Future Ready for college, careers, and life!