Supt's Corner
March, 2019
March is READING Month
Local schools embrace "Reading Month" with family literacy night. TC Times article feature about March is Reading Month.
Snow Day 2018-19 Update
I wanted to take a minute to keep you updated on our current "snow day" situation and communicate our snow day make-up plan. As of March 7, 2019, Linden Community Schools has canceled school 13 times for conditions (roads, cold temperatures, electrical, ice, etc.) that were determined to be unsafe for our students.
The State allows for six forgiven days in any given school year. Linden Schools has the option to petition the State for a waiver that would allow for three additional forgiven days. Our application for the additional three forgiven days was submitted and has been approved.
With nine days being forgiven, Linden Schools has four instructional days that have to be made up. The decision has been made to add these four days at the end of the current school year. Please keep in mind that if additional days of school need to be canceled, they will be added to the end of the school year.
June 7...full day of school (this was originally a half day for students)
June 10...full day of school
June 11...full day of school
June 12...full day of school
June 13...half day of school for students
Interim State Superintendent, Sheila Alles, did release a statement regarding the State of Emergency that was issued on Tuesday, January 29, 2019, and the impact it has on schools. The State of Emergency left school cancellation decisions up to the local districts. Meaning, they are not free days off and do count toward the six forgiven days granted by the State. A bill has been introduced in the State Legislature that would address days of school that were canceled during the State of Emergency. Regardless of the outcome of this bill, Linden Schools will remain committed to the addition of four instructional days (June 10, 11, 12 and 13).
Please plan accordingly as these additional days of instruction are important to the educational process of your student. Linden Community Schools is committed to the safety and overall educational process of your student. Thank you for your support!
Linden Youth Lacrosse
Young 5/Kindergarten Parent Information Night
2018-19 School Calendar at a glance- UPDATE
Traffic Safety
- Obey all traffic laws when entering and exiting the school campus.
- Allow school buses to access their respective loading areas in front of the high school and the north end of Central.
- When dropping off and picking up at LHS, please use the half drive located between the front parking lots to exit campus.
- Do not use the service drive between the high school and middle school. This is for buses only.
- 7th and 8th grade students can be picked up/dropped off in the main entrance loop.
- 6th grade students are to be dropped off in the west parking lot loop.
With Spring right around the corner, our experience tells us that we will have many more students and activities outside after school is released. Please pay attention to your surroundings when driving on campus, and drive at a very slow rate of speed. We want to continue to create a safe environment in and out of our schools. Your help is needed, and appreciated.
Safety and Security Grant Update
Update:
The process has started to update our phone and PA systems. LMS is complete. All phones at Linden Middle School have been connected and reconfigured to allow individual classrooms to make announcements through the PA system. We are in the process of connecting phones in our other buildings and plan to have this process completed by the end of Spring Break.
We are working with Pro Com Inc. to have directional amplifiers installed in all of our buildings. Directional amplifiers will allow first responders to communicate with other first responders when in our school buildings. Currently, this is not possible. Pro Com Inc. has been in our district for site visits and logistical configurations to prepare for the amplifiers to be installed.
LCS Staff Spotlight
Mrs. Bedell
Grade(s)/Subject you teach? 1st Grade at Linden Elementary
How many years have you been in Linden? This is my 6th year teaching in Linden.
What is your favorite part of teaching? I love to see the kids every day. I love lifting them up and encouraging them on their good days and being there for them with a hug to help them through the not-so-good days. I also love those “light bulb” moments when a child learns something they didn’t know they were capable of learning.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family, playing soccer, drawing, painting, baking, and running/walking outside in the summer.
Do you want to tell us about your family? My husband, Pat, and I have been married for four years. We have a son named Brennan who is 14 months old. He loves baths and getting into trouble. We love spending time with him and making him laugh!
One thing people may not know about you? One thing people may not know about me is that I’ve been on 5 mission trips to help children living in the poverty of Mexico and to help rebuild houses in America after natural disasters.
Ms. McCormick
Grade(s)/Subject you teach? I teach 2nd grade at Hyatt Elementary.
How many years have you been in Linden? I have been a teacher in Linden for 29 years.
What is your favorite part of teaching? My favorite part of teaching is building relationships with kids and families that go long beyond the year they are in my classroom.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? In my spare time, I enjoy cooking, baking, and reading.
One thing people may not know about you? One thing people may not know about me is that I have been on three mission trips and am about to embark on my fourth one to Peru in June.
Mrs. Haycock...aka Miss Kathy
Grade(s)/Subject you teach? I teach 3 year old half day preschool at the Argentine Early Childhood Center. I am a Parent Educator for our Play Together Learn Together Program (birth to five years old) and I work with K-5th grade Eagle Club and Summer Camp.
How many years have you been in Linden? I have worked in Linden for 17 years.
What is your favorite part of teaching? My favorite part of teaching is building relationships with families and being fully engaged in play!
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? I enjoy reading and learning, creating new things out of old things, and spending time with my grand daughter.
Do you want to tell us about your family? Husband Mike and I have 3 grown children who have graduated from college and making their way in the world.
Linden Schools on Facebook
GENESEE OPPORTUNITY (GO) STIPEND
The 2019 Genesee Opportunity Application window has opened for 2019 graduating seniors to begin to apply for this stipend. I thought it would be an appropriate to share information about GO and how it has progressed since 2016.
The Genesee Opportunity (GO) provides Genesee County high school graduates a stipend for college, career training, or certification licensing fees. To be eligible, graduates must reside in Genesee County or on a property that is taxed by a Genesee County school district, graduate from a high school in Genesee County and submit an application by the due date. Graduates awarded the Genesee Opportunity stipend, must be enrolled in an eligible training program or post-secondary educational institution. Graduates can apply and use the stipend up to one year after graduation (May 15, 2020 for 2019 Graduates).
The GO stipend is not based on income or grades and is funded through a millage approved by Genesee County voters.
In 2016, 1175 graduates took advantage of the stipend and were awarded a total of $512,944.00. Students in attendance all four years of high school received a one-time stipend of $450.00.
In 2017, 2769 graduates applied for Genesee Opportunity and $1,385,402.75 has been awarded to date. Students in attendance all four years of high school received a one-time stipend of $650.00. We are excited to see this number grow as 2019 graduates begin to apply.
All Linden graduates are encouraged to take advantage of this fantastic opportunity!
Please visit http://www.geneseego.org/ for more information as well
Linden Community Schools
Email: rciesiel@lindenschools.org
Website: www.lindenschools.org
Location: 7205 Silver Lake Road
Phone: 810-591-0983
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LindenCommunitySchools
Twitter: @LindenSchools