Feb 19, 2024: Monday Magi Messenger
February 19, 2024
Week of February 19, 2024
Superintendent's Monday Magi Message
Happy Monday Magi Families,
Today, while students enjoy a day off, teachers will again gather to engage in professional learning and collaboration to learn from each other and meet the needs of students. Please check out some of the memorable moments from last week - we had so many great things happening in our schools. Please enjoy this photo of my AP Human Geography class from last week, enjoying a culture simulation involving candy. They are really great kids, and I have enjoyed them keeping me on my toes! This week, I wanted to write to you about partnerships.
Last week, I had the opportunity to meet with parents each day of the week. It is not typical for me to get the opportunity to meet with parents every day, but the schedules must have aligned that way. I cannot overstate the vital role that partnerships play in students' overall well-being. Collaboration with parents is key because we see each day that education is a collective effort, and it is through partnerships with parents that we can truly ensure every child reaches their potential. When we all work together, kids see this collaboration, and it fosters a sense of community, support, shared responsibility, and accountability.
Our partnerships within the community continue to grow and strengthen. This week, we welcomed Sturgis Bank to present financial literacy to our middle school students, while our Kindergarten and GSRP teachers collaborated with Mrs. PeGan on preliminary plans for Preschool and Kindergarten Roundup. These plans involved numerous community partners who play a pivotal role in shaping our students' experiences. The importance of community and parent partnerships cannot be overstated, as they form the foundation of our entire community, where we live as neighbors.
Wishing you, your families, and all members of our community a truly magical week ahead.
Warm regards,
Mrs. Kowalski
Important Dates & Athletic Schedule
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Sturgis Bank Presents To Middle School!
🌟 A huge shoutout to our amazing partners at Sturgis Bank! 🏦✨ We had a great time hosting them during Magi Focus this week on Monday, where they delivered an engaging presentation on financial literacy to our middle school classes. From budgeting to saving, they covered it all with relevant and real-world examples that our students could connect with! 📊💰 But the highlight of the day? Some of our staff members finally figured out what Roblox is all about! 😂🎮 Thank you, Sturgis Bank, for your dedication to educating our students and making learning about finance fun and accessible. We can't wait for more collaborations in the future! 🌟
Food & Nutrition Cooking Up Some Great Eats!
Here's another post about our new Food & Nutrition Class! Superintendent Kowalski gave Mrs. Sailor and the students a fun challenge last week! They were challenged with using extra ingredients from our recent fundraiser to make some lunches for our staff. WOW, did they nail it! Every single day last week, they whipped up lunch for our CHS staff... and boy, those meals were delicious!
We were super grateful for their yummy lunches, especially those days when it was all chilly and gloomy outside. A warm meal really hits the spot and keeps us smiling! 🍲🥪👩🍳😋🌧️🌟
100th Day Of School At CES!
Yesterday marked a very special milestone for students at Colon Elementary - it was our 100th Day of School celebration! Our students had an absolute blast celebrating this special day with various activities throughout the day. From engaging math counting games around the number 100 to delicious snacks to keep those energy levels up, the excitement was evident in every classroom. One sweet highlight was DK students attempting the ultimate challenge - counting 100 licks of their favorite lollipops! We're incredibly proud of our students for reaching this significant milestone, and we're grateful for the dedication and hard work of our teachers and staff who make each day at CES special. Here's to more days of learning, laughter, and growth ahead!
Parent Volunteers At CES
You may have recently seen our district advertise for volunteers to help out at our buildings. Well, here is Kayeci Carr volunteering at CES! We even made super cute t-shirts for our volunteers, so be sure to consider this opportunity just one more time and sign-up using this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc7h0226Om6uks6P2WdZ7DX3n6BucKfFuEKQMJMjUn7rLg1cg/viewform?fbclid=IwAR1OZZnMcgVdQHxQVPVeQUfQkc1AS_ROSuNbIwcxQJ_rasZioXwtUfiqa30
Magi Junior High Wrestlers Help Out
Ms. Bohanon had some great help at FFI! Thank you to the Magi Junior High Wrestling team! They saw Mrs. Clemens, Mrs. Thaxton, and Ms. Bohanon hustling, and they all stepped up and outside to help. Thanks, Coach Ray, for the awesome initiative and teamwork from your athletes.
Sewing Machine Donations From Community
Recently we received a donation of a sewing machine that needed some TLC, and Mrs. Wagner wasted no time getting it up and running for our Life Skills class. Then, earlier this week, we put out a call to our community for more sewing machines in need of a little TLC, and wow, did our community come through! Thanks to incredibly generous donors, our middle school students were able to gather up these machines and deliver them to our very own "sewing machine whisperer"! Let's keep the sewing magic going!
PBIS Dance & Move for Middle School
We had an absolute blast yesterday celebrating Valentine's Day with our incredible middle school students who have been shining stars Thanks to their dedication to school work and citizenship, we hosted a special PBIS Dance and Movie event just for them!
There was a guest DJ... and this time, we all thought it might be Mr. Alva spinning again as he did for our Glow Party, but then we found out Principal Wielenga would mix it up! It was epic!
A huge shoutout to all the students who earned this special treat through their outstanding behavior and academics. We also want to acknowledge our teachers who helped make this happen and Mrs. Kevnick for all of her hard work!
5th Grade Visits Starbase
Fifth grade students from Colon Elementary working with engineering concepts during their trip to Starbase! STARBASE is responding directly to this need to establish and maintain interest in math and science with our nation's children. Through STARBASE, the participants interact with caring mentors and positive role models, become involved with inspiring hands-on activities, and have the opportunity to develop their teamwork and goal-setting skills. The time spent at STARBASE sparks children's enthusiasm to learn and elevates their confidence, motivating them to lead successful, self-satisfying, drug-free lives.
AP Human Geography Learning About Culture
Our AP Human Geography students kicked off a new unit with a "Candy Culture" simulation! Students were each assigned a candy and a unique culture complete with its own set of rules and norms. They then experienced the culture, interacting with their peers as members of their designated cultures. AP Human Geography is just one of the opportunities offered here at Colon Jr/Sr High School, providing students with the chance to delve into college-level coursework and earn valuable college credits. This class is instructed by our Superintendent, Mrs. Kowalski, who really enjoys getting to teach these incredible students!
🔍💡CTE Exploration Day!
Our sophomores had an incredible experience at the CTE Exploration Day! Our talented sophomores delved into various Career and Technical Education pathways, exploring their interests and potential future career paths. The event ignited their passions and sparked inspiration! Shout out to Ms. Bohanon for accompanying these 10th graders and for these amazing photos and memories!
Washington D.C. Trip: Grades 8-12, Scholarships Available
If your 8th-12th grader is interested, we do have some limited spaces left for our Washington D.C. Trip, and some scholarship funds available. Please have them stop by to see Mrs. Kowalski for a registration form.
Upcoming Events For Our Students & Schools
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February 22nd is National School Bus Driver Appreciation Day!
Please join us in thanking all of the dedicated bus drivers who safely transport our students.
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PAC Contacts
Important Links & Resources For Magi Families
Senior Dates - Class of 2024
Monday-Thursday CARE (CES) & Tutoring
iReady For Growth
Seniors: Class of 2024
2023-2024 Academic Calendar
Mrs. Kowalski, Superintendent of Colon Community Schools since spring 2022, oversees the implementation of budgets, policies, and programs at Colon Junior/Senior High, Colon Elementary, and Leonidas Elementary. Connect with her in person or via email (rkowalski@colonschools.org) or phone (248-770-5761) to share your feedback and thoughts. She lives in Colon with her family and two yellow Labradors, holds an advanced specialist degree from the University of West Florida, and is full of Magi pride!