November 17, 2023
November 17, 2023
- Observations Around Saline Area Schools
- District Strategic Council
- Curriculum Corner
- School and Family Partnership Series
- Family Pulse Survey
- Knots for Mott
- Upcoming Events
Observations Around Saline Area Schools
There were many great things happening around the District the last two weeks! Here's what we observed:
Harvest
Kindergarten students practicing “tapping” strategies to read words in pattern books
2nd graders free building with engineering play sets in iLab class
1st graders working on the "sneaky silent e” in reader’s workshop
Kindergarten students working on their holiday calendars and practicing the identification of numbers and counting
3rd graders reading a book in celebration of Native American Heritage Month
1st graders identifying a character’s feelings in the book Cool Bean
1st graders identifying and writing compound words in their “word detective” notebooks
2nd graders putting on an incredible Veteran’s Day musical concert where they showcased patriotic songs such as: Let Freedom Ring, America, America and This Land is Your Land
Physical Education students learning basketball skills while playing the game “Elimination Basketball” (NOTE: Mrs. Wilcyznski eliminated me in warm-ups)
- Students competing “around the world” with multiplication flash cards
- 5th graders assessing the fictional book Stray
- Students using a Venn diagram to compare and contrast two different books in their Realistic Fiction Books Clubs
- Art students learning important techniques with clay while designing and sculpting clay food creatures
Saline Middle School
Geometry students creating and testing their own theorems
ELA students completing a formative assessment related to The Hunger Games
ELA students completing a response to "story starter prompts" as they begin their narrative writing unit
7th grade scientists engaged in hands-on formative assessments using Newton's 3rd Law
- Students in our English Language Learner classroom exploring grammar and punctuation in various writing prompts
- College Writing students completing reflections of how they have improved their writing over the course of the trimester as part of their final project
- Video Production I students using Adobe Premiere to produce music videos
- The SHS Writing Center hosting students from AA Pioneer and Skyline to present on “Writing Center” best practices for peer consultants. Student-led sessions ranged from artificial intelligence to providing thoughtful feedback.
- Students learning from Veterans on November 10th about their experiences in the service in honor of Veteran’s Day
- Animation students presenting their animated tutorial final projects to showcase what they have learned over the course of the trimester
Early Childhood Special Education students practicing their sensory skills by learning how to cut, use slimy sand and other sensory materials
Alternative High School students studying Algebra II inequalities and parallel lines
Alternative High School students raking leaves as a community service project
Young Adult Program students paper shredding to assemble “fire bricks” (fire starters) to sell at the Craft Show on November 11th
Young Adult Program students out at their job sites Nu2U Again, Yost Ice Arena, CVS, Tractor Supply, Saline Social Services and Costco
Woodland Meadows
2nd grade Veterans Day presentation
Heritage
Working with clay in art class
Liberty
Working with slime in Early Childhood Special Education.
High School
Writing Center students attending the first Writing Center conference
District Strategic Council
Saline Area Schools is re-launching our District Strategic Council in order to focus on Strategic Goal #4- "Demonstrate fiscal responsibility in the management of daily and future operations, decisions, and planning to ensure the financial health and prosperity of the district to best support the success of the District strategic goals."
We are committed to maintaining our strong focus on academic opportunities for our students, and want to be proactive in seeking feedback from various groups of stakeholders to brainstorm opportunities to re-imagine the District, being mindful of budgetary and enrollment realities. This team will include various groups of stakeholders including administrators, teachers, students, parents, and community members. Interested parties should complete this form by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, November 19, 2023.
Curriculum Corner
The Saline Alternative High School, housed at Liberty School allows for flexible schedules and engages students in community-based service activities as part of their curriculum. Since its reorganization in 2010, the school increased graduation rates by over 60% and boasted a 100% graduation rate with the class of 2023. In the senior exit survey administered by the Washtenaw Intermediate School District last spring, 100% of Saline Alternative High School graduates responding stated they would recommend the school to other students. The District supports this type of alternative programming for non-traditional students and celebrates its successes.
Family Pulse Survey
Saline Area Schools is partnering with K-12 Insight to launch the Family Pulse Survey next month. Each month, a small percentage of families will be randomly selected to receive a short, three-question survey. The survey will ask the same questions to a random sample each month to help our district measure feedback and identify trends. We appreciate your willingness to contribute to our ongoing efforts to provide exceptional educational experiences districtwide.
School and Family Partnership Series
The next session in the School and Family Partnership Series focuses on Early Literacy Development and will be held Tuesday, December 5 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Liberty School Board Room. Join SAS team members to discover fun and effective ways to enhance early literacy skills at home and gain confidence in understanding your child’s literacy progress. An RSVP is appreciated, but not required to attend.
Please save the date for the next session in the series featuring New York Times Bestselling author Julie Lythcott-Haimes speaking on topics from her book, How to Raise an Adult. The session is funded in partnership with the Foundation for Saline Area Schools and is scheduled for Thursday, February 1 at 6 p.m. at the Saline Middle School Auditorium. Interested participants can RSVP here.
Seventh Annual "Knots for Mott" Fleece Blanket Tying Event
Saline Middle School students and staff along with members of the Saline High School National Honor Society are extending the invitation to the Saline Community to participate in this Knots for Mott gathering. The 2022 event yielded 108 blankets, and students are hoping to surpass that total this year. Please join us as we get in the holiday spirit and have some fun while working for a meaningful cause.
There are a few ways the community can help:
Volunteer. Families of Middle School students are especially welcome to volunteer. Join us on December 5th, 3-5 p.m. in the Saline Middle School Media Center
Donate fleece. There will be plenty of hands on deck, and donations help to keep them busy. Fleece should be cut to two yard lengths, in coordinating pairs of fabric.
Make a financial donation at the Middle School office toward purchasing fleece sets for tying.
Questions about this annual event can be directed to Laura Mayers at mayersl@salineschools.org.
Shop at the Edge!
The Saline High School store, the EDGE, run by marketing students will be open November 20-21 from 11:10 am - 3:00 pm. Community members can enter through the west (pool-side) doors and stock up on Saline gear before the holidays. New markdowns and promotional items will be available. Plans for extended holiday hours are underway. Stay tuned for more information. Online shopping and curbside pick-up are always an option.
Upcoming Events
- November 17: K-8 Half Day (High School Full Day)
- November 20: Half Day
- November 21: Half Day
- November 22-24: No School
- December 5: Knots for Mott, 3-5 p.m., Saline Middle School Media Center
- December 5: School and Family Partnership Series: Strategies to Support Early Literacy, 6-7:30 p.m., Liberty School Board Room
- Now through December 20: Student art installation continues at Pittsfield Township Hall
- February 1: School and Family Partnership Series: How to Raise an Adult, 6 p.m., Saline Middle School Auditorium
I hope you all have a great weekend!
Sincerely,
Stephen D. Laatsch, PhD
Superintendent
Saline Area Schools, The Pursuit of Excellence
7265 N. Ann Arbor St., Saline, Michigan 48176
734-401-4001
laatschs@salineschools.org