Challenger Families,
First of all, don't forget that we will not have school the week of March 30th - April 3rd, 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 6th for the final 39 days of the school year.
Can you believe we are already preparing for the 2026-2027 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 accepted now through Friday, April 10th. Please complete them electronically through the form below.
Enjoy your break!
Mr. Cherry
Electronic Placement Consideration Form
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Help Celebrate Great Teachers
National Teacher Appreciation Week is May 4–8, 2026, and the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) is celebrating educators throughout the month with its Teacher Appreciation Video Project. Families are invited to submit a 15–30 second video of their student thanking a teacher who has made a positive impact. Videos can easily be recorded on a cell phone and submitted through MDE’s online form. Submissions are being accepted through April 15, 2026. To learn more, please visit https://bit.ly/4rwD0sh.
Reminder: Family Perception Survey Now Open
Families are encouraged to complete the MI Student Voice Family Perception Survey to help our school and the district identify strengths and opportunities for improvement. The anonymous survey takes about 10 minutes and focuses on family satisfaction, student engagement, connection, and belonging. Families with multiple children should respond based on their eldest child (with the option to complete it again for additional children). Please take a few minutes to share your feedback by completing the survey at: https://bit.ly/4sEGwlf.
Parent Summit & Wellness Fair is March 21
The Second Annual Livingston County Parent Summit and Wellness Fair is next Saturday, March 21, from 8:15 a.m. to 12:35 p.m. at Parker Middle School. This free event will feature TED-style talks, interactive workshops, and family resources centered on this year’s theme: Tech, Talk, and Well-Being: Finding Balance in a Digital World. To learn more or view the full event agenda, visit: https://bit.ly/4bccaAx.
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Counselor's Corner
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.
This week’s focus: Building Problem-Solving Skills
As we head toward spring break, many students are feeling tired and less patient with challenges. Helping children learn how to solve small problems builds confidence, independence, and resilience.
Try these simple strategies at home:
- Pause before jumping in. When your child has a problem, ask: “What do you think you could try?”
- Brainstorm together. Encourage your child to come up with two possible solutions and talk through what might work best.
- Normalize mistakes. Remind kids that mistakes are part of learning and help us figure out better solutions next time.
When children practice solving everyday problems, they build skills that help them succeed in school, relationships, and life!