SLCS District Update
1.6.2022
Superintendent's Update
Good evening SLCS Community,
Hopefully you had a wonderful break. Despite the challenges that persist, our students and staff started the new year continuing to make the most of these unique times. Thank you to all who are doing their part by staying home when not feeling well.
Students, there are three weeks remaining in the first semester. Keep up the good work and stay focused on finishing strong! Borrowing a quote from C.S. Lewis, “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”
SLCS Proud!
Steven Archibald
Superintendent
Stakeholder Input Reminder
Positive Solutions for Families
Parents of young children (ages 0-6) are invited to join the Positive Solutions for Families group. This is an empowering series with instruction and discussion for developing your child's social and emotional skills, understanding challenging behavior, and encouraging positive behavior. See the below link to a flyer for dates and registration.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aLhTus5R9yp-Z1QPk85iNWimDBcLN7FJ/view?usp=sharing
Michigan Attorney General Video
Wellness
SLCS will be participating in the MI Backpack program through the MDHHS. This is a voluntary program which offers free at-home COVID-19 tests for students, staff, and their families. In order to receive the free test kit, families must complete the survey from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and sign up through our school district.
On Monday, January 10th families will receive an email from their child’s school which contains a link to the school’s MI Backpack Voluntary Sign Up Form. The form will confirm that you have completed the MDHHS survey and it will collect information that will help our district distribute the test kits efficiently. You can complete the MDHHS survey prior to completing our district form by visiting the following site: MDHHS MI Backpack Pre-Survey. The parent sign up will be open for a very short window of time before closing on Thursday, January 13 at 8:00 AM. The kits will be sent home with students on Friday, January 14 if their family signed up.
Be on the lookout on Monday for the MI Backpack Voluntary Sign Up Form from your child’s school.
COVID Information
Families that have COVID related questions can call the OCHD "Nurse on Call". The nurses on call are a group of experienced nurses and will know the latest COVID recommendations from the county. Families can also email questions. See the below contract information.
· OCHD Nurse on Call
· 1-800-848-5533
Celebrate Hope
Special Education
We hope 2022 is off to a good start. Our SLCS Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) Representative, Amanda Fitch, is happy to share that the Michigan Alliance for Families is offering an online IEP Course!
This is perfect for parents of children with special needs. The course will teach the different parts of the IEP process in addition to one-on-one help from a Michigan Alliance for Families Parent Mentor. Participants are expected to attend all five sessions.
Space is limited, registration closes January 19 or when class is full. Registration is required and can be completed by visiting this link.
SLHS Unified Basketball
We are looking forward to our South Lyon/East Basketball event tomorrow Friday, January 7th at SLHS. Between the varsity showcase games we are excited for the inaugural SLHS Unified Basketball Event. Unified sports joins students with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. It was inspired by a simple principle: training together and playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding.
With the support of the South Lyon Boys Basketball team and boosters, our PEERS (Positively Empowering & Encouraging Relationships with Students) program, our students, staff, especially our special education staff, and families we look forward to providing a unique opportunity for all of our South Lyon High School students.
The Schedule:
5:15: Girls varsity game
6:40 Unified Game (6:40 or the conclusion of the girls' game)
7:15 Boys varsity game
Our PEER's students will be collecting donations to support our Unified program. The goal is to grow the program, and eventually play other Unified programs in the area.
Recognition
Pathway Changes
For those interested in making a second semester pathway change for their student, the window is open until tomorrow (Friday, January 7, 2022) at 11:59 PM.
Current Virtual Learning Pathway (VLP) families should have received a link to the form to request a pathway change earlier this week.
Current in-person families who wish to move to an entirely virtual instructional model should reach out to their child’s school for further information. At the elementary and middle school levels, please contact your child’s principal. For South Lyon East High School, please contact Leslie Munger, Assistant Principal and at South Lyon High School, please contact Matt Turney, Assistant Principal.
Please note: if you do not wish to change your student’s learning pathway for the remainder of the school year, no action is required.
Kindergarten Enrollment for 2022-23
Enrollment for our 2022-23 Kindergarten and Junior Kindergarten classes will open on January 27, 2022.
To be eligible for Kindergarten, students must be 5 on or before September 1, 2022.
Students turning 5 between September 2 and December 1 may enroll in either Junior Kindergarten or in Kindergarten with a signed waiver.
Students who turn 5 after December 1, 2022 are NOT eligible for Kindergarten or Junior Kindergarten for the 2022-23 school year. Students in this group may be eligible for the Great Start Readiness free preschool program coordinated by the district’s Early Childhood Center, depending on your family’s income. Children in this age group can enroll in the tuition preschool programs at the Early Childhood Center as well. Call the Early Childhood Center at 248-573-8330 or visit their page on the district website for additional information.
Junior Kindergarten is a free, optional first year of school designed for students who turn five between September 2 and December 1 of 2022 (students who would only qualify for kindergarten using a waiver). Students who attend Junior Kindergarten go on to attend a full year of traditional Kindergarten the following school year. When space permits, students who turn five between June 1, 2022 and September 1, 2022 may be considered for the Junior Kindergarten program and there is often room within a few of the JK classrooms for these students with late summer birthdays.
Enrollment forms for Kindergarten and Junior Kindergarten will be available on the district’s website in late January and we highly encourage families of incoming kindergarten students to visit the district’s website now to learn more about what documents are needed to enroll. We suggest you begin gathering the needed documents now as it takes time to be sure you have all the required items.
Please note, vision screenings are required to begin Kindergarten but are often completed by families in the summer months leading up to Kindergarten. Immunization records are updated as your child has his or her well check visits at your pediatrician’s office. If you do not have those documents ready at this time, both can be turned in at a later date but must be provided before your child begins Kindergarten. All other required documents must be provided at the time of enrollment.
Additional information will be shared in January about Kindergarten and Junior Kindergarten enrollment details.