Supt's Corner
March, 2018
Safety at LCS
Over the past few weeks safety and security has become a focus for many schools around the nation. The tragic event in Parkland, Fl., has brought this topic to the forefront of our educational world. Not only has Linden experienced school violence threats, but many schools in the Genesee County have received threats at an alarming rate. Many of you have inquired as to how Linden Community Schools will continue keeping all of our students safe. I would like to offer my support and provide a perspective.
We take every threat seriously to keep all of our students safe. This is a priority! Any individual who makes a threat (credible or not) will be suspended pending an expulsion hearing, and the matter will be turned over to local law enforcement and the local prosecutor. Linden Community Schools will press charges to the fullest extent possible. We will not tolerate any threats to the safety and well-being of our students and staff.
One of the impacts that these threats have on our environment is the incredible amount of time and energy spent on each one, pulling our talented educators away from student-centered tasks.
Linden Community Schools has a great working relationship with the Linden Police Department and the Argentine Police Department. Linden is fortunate to have two school resource officers that spend a lot of time in each of our schools. Having a solid working relationship and visibility on our campuses does create a safe environment. We will continue to communicate with Linden PD and Argentine PD about their presence on our campuses.
We have met with a vendor who is working on installing a buzzer and monitoring system to the front entrance of Linden High School. We will also be updating the student entrance door (next to the student parking lot) to include a chime system and monitoring system. We are communicating with this vendor and awaiting installation plans. Individual buildings have been briefed on proper protocol for guests entering the building. Please be patient, and understand that our diligence is for the protection of all of our students.
In December we started an entirely new type of training for dealing with active shooter scenarios, ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) training. In the past, the philosophy has been to just lock down and hide. What we have learned from past horrific experiences like the one in Florida, is that we need a more adaptable and proactive approach to active shooter situations. ALICE is a more logical and strategic protocol for handling these types of situations. ALICE training is endorsed by law enforcement professionals all over the country and school districts are taking a serious look at changing how we react to active threats. This protocol will soon be very widespread! Linden Community Schools is in the process of creating an implementation plan for ALICE that will give our students, staff, and LCS family the resources and tools necessary to be responsive in a threatening situation.
Buildings are reviewing their emergency plans with staff and conducting emergency drills, which are documented and can be found on your school’s website.
I believe in Linden Community Schools and I believe in our community! I am asking for your help as parents and community members. When you see or hear of a potential threat to our student’s or staff’s safety, please contact law enforcement and/or the school immediately. We will be able to put the necessary protocols in place to ensure that each situation is dealt with in a timely fashion. Please do not spread unsubstantiated rumors on social media. Please work directly with the school as a resource instead of social media, this will reduce the spread of inaccurate information and panic.
Please take the time to have a conversation with your student and let them know of the seriousness of threats. Ask your student to be cautious when choosing to post and/or sending information about threats and/or rumors of threats. Please let them know if they see or hear something suspicious that they need to report it immediately and share it with you, their parent. Please let them know that our students are our biggest ally against future harmful threats.
In closing, I want to remind everyone that our strength as a community will bring us together for the betterment of our students. Please help us make Linden a GREAT place for students.
"Snow Day" Update
I wanted to update everyone on our current "snow day" situation. In Michigan, school districts are allowed to have 6 of their required 180 school days forgiven for inclement weather or other act of God days. Once they are over 6 days, the district must add days to meet the state-mandated 180 days.
Unfortunately, this year, we have used eight (8) days due to the weather situations we have encountered. The good news is there is a waiver process through the State of Michigan that allows districts to apply for additional days once you exceed your state-allowed 6 days. This year, many districts all over the state are in the same position as the winter weather has been much heavier than normal. The state waiver is not guaranteed, but districts all over Genesee County have used this waiver successfully in the past few years.
We will do whatever we have to do to keep our students safe, and due to the severity of the winter weather this year, we have had to call school off a number of times. Once we get through the month March, we will look to complete the waiver application process for any days that we may be over. If the waiver application is not successful, we will determine a solution to adding the additional days that we are over. We will communicate with all of you as soon as we have further information.
Gus Macker Linden
Saturday, Jun 23, 2018, 08:00 AM
Linden Elementary/Hyatt Elementary
LHS Student Honored as DAR Winner
On February 13th, Emily Buckley (12th grade student) was selected to attend the DAR Luncheon to honor the recipients of their local scholarship at Andiamo Restaurant in Clarkston. There were 5 winners at the local level that were honored. Those students were asked to write a timed essay on the United States' responsibility to the world. Those responses were then judged and Emily won that round too! She will go on to represent the entire region at the State DAR convention in Lansing on April 20th.
The ladies in the picture are Emily Buckley, LaNette Davis, Sashabaw Plains Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution Regent, and Jennifer Harris, the Good Citizen Chairperson for the DAR.
Paying for College Strategies
LCS Kindergarten-Early 5's Enrollment
2018 LHS Graduation Information
LCS Curriculum Update
During the 2017-18 school year, teaching staff is gaining a “growth mindset” and engaged in various curriculum projects!
Without a “growth mindset,” organizations and individuals do not improve. Our teaching staff strives to stay current with trends and practices with continual professional growth! This year, collaborative Instructional Feedback Teams (CIFT’s) are in each of the Young 5-12th grade buildings. Four to six teachers meet four times this year with instructional coach, Connie Hamilton. A “host” teacher shares planning, demonstrates instruction, and receives feedback from Hamilton and peers. Focus of the training ranges from lesson planning best practices, learning targets, student engagement, formative assessment practices, curriculum/pedagogy and so much more! The CIFT groups will drive professional development needs for the 2018-2019 school year.
Our curriculum review process is changing! The time has come for Linden Community Schools to take the challenge to combine expertise, knowledge and experience into a District Enacted Curriculum Map. This summer, work will begin with our Young 5-12th grade English language arts department. Curriculum writers for each grade level will work collaboratively to build curriculum maps that are not only aligned to grade level standards, but they will also have vertical alignment. In addition to writing curriculum, staff will review and recommend resources/material for approval from our Board of Education.
A common misconception in education is the meaning of curriculum. Curriculum is the scope and sequence and pacing of standards that are to be taught and assessed. Resources, such as textbooks, are often times confused as curriculum. Michigan Standards have been in place since 2010, therefore Linden Community Schools has not adopted “new” curriculum since that time. The District has implemented new resources, however, to remain current. This year, the middle school is implementing Go Math!, Eureka math, Dimensions science, and myPerspectives language arts resources. These resources work with the District’s curriculum and classroom instruction to assure our students receive every opportunity to achieve at a high rate!
Information provided by Julie Brown, LCS Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment
March is Reading Month
To kick off the month, we will celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday on March 2nd. Family Literacy Nights and Read & Eat Breakfasts connect our parents and guardians to the reading frenzy. Hyatt Student Council will travel to Argentine Early Childhood Center to read to our preschool students. Schools will have their PALS (Parents Active in Linden Schools) Book Swap events and Book Fairs too. Central Elementary will hold its Annual Battle of the Books event where teams of 4th and 5th grade students’ battle for the highest score by earning points for answering questions about their books. Elementary buildings across the district will welcome guest readers to their schools. Check out their monthly newsletters and website (www.lindenschools.org) for more information.
Another staple to the annual March is Reading Month is the “Books for Bikes,” sponsored by the Linden Masonic Lodge Local 132. Students log reading minutes to enter the reading competition. The Masonic Lodge in Linden has taken the lead again this year to donate dozens of bicycles, helmets, jump ropes, and scooters.
Linden Teacher and Student win Linden VFW Post 4642 Essay Contest
Stay Connected!
Board Meeting for February 21, 2018
- A donation was received from the Ruth Appling family. This donation will be used for Linden Elementary students and staff.
- The Gus Macker 3 v. 3 basketball tournament is scheduled to be in Linden on June 23-24.
- An update was given on the Safe Routes to School/LAFF Pathways. A presentation will be made at the March 7 Board Meeting.
- Mr. Ciesielski updated the Board on threats and school violence, and talked about the ALICE training that school personnel have been to.
- Mr. Ciesielski reported that he will be attending the GISD Superintendent's retreat on Feb. 22 and 23 in Bay City.
Special Reports
- Central Elementary Student of the Month recognition.
- Hyatt Elementary Student of the Month recognition.
- Linden Elementary Student of the Month recognition.
- Math Recovery presentation given by Cindy Fowler.
Consent Agenda
The Board approved the following consent agenda items
- Minutes of Work Session Meeting, Feb. 7, 2018.
- Personnel Summary Sheet.
- Invoices for the Month of January, 2018.
- LHS Music Overnight Trip Chicago, Il.
- Overnight Trip Request LHS Student Council, MASC/MAHS 2017 Leadership Conference.
- Revised Policy 7230- Public Gifts to the District
Unfinished Business
The Board approved the following unfinished business agenda items
- Stadium Improvements.
- School of Choice for 2018-19.
- MASB Board of Directors Election Candidate Selection.
- Transportation Contract.
- Wireless Bid.
- GISD Annual Budget Hearing Representative Designation.
New Business
- Mr. Ciesielski distributed a timeline for the 2017-18 Superintendent Evaluation. The Board was in concurrence with the timeline.
Board Reports/Announcements
- Treasurer M. Murphy announced the Comedy Club event to support Project Graduation.
- Trustee Luck indicated she is looking forward to the MASB Conference. She also thanked the community for their support, and thanked the teachers for their communication during our snow days.
- Trustee Rowden thanked the teachers for their efforts. Mr. Rowden indicated that snow days cause a lot of planning and efforts for teachers. Mr. Rowden also apologized for missing the last Board Meeting.
- Vice President S. Murphy commented on the possibility of using online opportunities for students when a snow day is called.
- President Maker commented on the positive discourse that we have with our students to create a safe and positive environment. Mr. Maker also commented on the failed sinking fund that was for security and technology.
Additional information about he Linden Community School's Board of Education, including meeting dates, can be found here.
Linden Community Schools
Email: rciesiel@lindenschools.org
Website: www.lindenschools.org
Location: 7205 Silver Lake Rd
Phone: 810-591-0983
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Linden-Community-Schools-140046436728183/