January 12, 2024
January 12, 2024
- Observations Around the District
- Curriculum Corner
- School and Family Partnership Series: How to Raise an Adult
- Thanks to Transportation Department
- Hall of Fame Nominations Now Accepted
- Family Pulse Survey Continues
Observations Around Saline Area Schools
Here’s what I observed around the District the last two weeks:
Harvest
Kindergarten students in Innovation Lab and Media classes participating in a collaborative Winter Wonderland with a spectrum of activities
2nd graders learning about Kwanzaa and a number of other holidays from around the world
2nd graders on a Camouflaged Consonant Hunt to see if they can find the “silent k" and other tricky letters around their classroom
Pleasant Ridge
- Kindergarten students playing book trivia with the story Who Is Pip to practice comprehension while practicing various popcorn (sight) words
- 2nd grade artists using metallic colored pencils to draw beautiful dragons in preparation for studies related to the Lunar New Year
- 3rd graders sharing different approaches to mental math strategies to solve story problems
- Physical Education students playing Go Fish, a new game that involves rolling a ball into a sea of hula hoops and then collecting the number of points (practicing math skills) associated with the objects in the hoop
Woodland Meadows
Young 5 artists learning about Pagodas in preparation for an upcoming art project.
Media Students using “Codespark” and “Codeable” apps to learn the basics of coding while creating video games
Kindergarten students practicing the use of popcorn (sight words) like “was, on, the, is” in order to develop sentences
Heritage
- Physical Education students having a blast playing “towel volleyball” as they work on communication and teamwork skills
- Students researching and writing about natural disasters (ex: earthquakes)
- Innovation Lab students practicing KATA strategies to work on achieving goals through collaboration by building puzzles as a team, establishing a baseline, and discussing improvements to achieve new goals
- Heritage mathematicians finding estimates and evaluating answers
Saline Middle School
6th graders learning about clay (and all the variety of ways you can work with clay) in art class
6th graders participating in a budgeting activity through Junior Achievement, building their financial literacy skills
Algebra I students discussing which "doesn't belong" in a provided series, helping them identify mathematical patterns while collaborating with peers
7th grade social studies students preparing for their big “Athens vs. Sparta” debates, demonstrating research, writing, public speaking, collaboration, and critical thinking skills
Multimedia students creating "Snow Day Steve" graphics in preparation for the winter weather (maybe we will see some in the coming months!)
Saline High School
- Marketing students playing “Jeopardy” with categories like…..Types of promotional mix, Things that impact your promotional mix, and Digital Marketing
- Students working on developing games like “frogger” in AP Computer Science
- Algebra II students working on quadratic equations
- Senior Strategies students developing a meal plan for a meal to cook at home
- Pre-Calculus students working on synthetic division, functions and solutions
Liberty
Young Adult Program (YAP) students preparing to go out to their job sites ranging from vending at the Saline Recreation Center, cleaning at Yost Ice Arena, hanging clothes at Nu2UAgain, and stocking at Tractor Supply
Alternative High School students enjoying open gym/activity time with Liberty Club attendees
Alternative High School students baking delicious treats (they shared!)
Harvest
Camouflaged Consonant Hunt Prep
Pleasant Ridge
Go Fish
Heritage
Towel volleyball
Middle School
Athens vs. Sparta Debates
Curriculum Corner
School and Family Partnership Series: How to Raise an Adult
Saline Area Schools invite parents and community members to participate in an informative and engaging evening with New York Times bestselling author of How to Raise an Adult, Dr. Julie Lythcott-Haims, on February 1, 2024 from 6:00-7:30 p.m. at the Saline Middle School Auditorium. Drawing on her experience as a mother and her research with educators and admissions officers, Lythcott-Haims, the former Dean of Freshmen at Stanford University, will lead a thought-provoking talk and offer practical strategies that underline the importance of allowing children to make their own mistakes and develop the resilience, resourcefulness, and inner determination necessary to become healthy, thriving adults. Family, friends, and community members are welcome. This event is sponsored in part by the Foundation for Saline Area Schools and is a continuation of our School and Family Partnership Series. An RSVP is appreciated at bit.ly/44D74a9 This event will be recorded and available for 30 days for those unable to attend in person.
Thank You Transportation Department!
Thanks to the dedicated work of our bus drivers, mechanics, substitutes, and Operations Team, we cancelled only 2% of our bus routes this fall AND hired several new bus drivers. While bus route cancellations are always possible, they are unlikely, and we will be ceasing our weekly updates about the status of bus routes. Impacted families will be notified directly if route cancellations are necessary.
Hall of Fame Nominations Now Accepted
The Foundation for Saline Area Schools Alumni Association is seeking nominations for Saline graduates or former faculty, staff, coaches, or administrators that deserve recognition. Nominees should have gained recognition or made notable contributions in their selected field and/or community service. Nominees should be people of good character and integrity, and should exemplify the principles, philosophy, and mission of Saline Area Schools. Nominations are open until February 20.
Family Pulse Survey Continues This Week
Did you receive a survey in your inbox this week? Saline Area Schools is continuing to partner 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. Another small sample of families received invitations to participate in the survey this week. If you were randomly selected to provide feedback, we appreciate your contribution as we strive to provide exceptional educational experiences District-wide.
Upcoming Events
- January 15: No School In Observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- January 23: Board of Education Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Liberty School Board Room
- January 25: Pleasant Ridge Science Fair, 5-8 p.m. (Sign-up by January 15)
- February 1: School and Family Partnership Series: How to Raise an Adult, 6-7:30 p.m., Saline Middle School Auditorium
- February 20: Deadline for Hall of Fame Nominations
- February 28: Saline Middle School Science Fair, 6-7:30 p.m., SMS Cafeteria (Sign-up by February 21)
- March 9: Foundation for Saline Area Schools Blue Jeans and Bling Fundraiser, 6-10 p.m., Sheraton Hotel, Ann Arbor
I hope you have an excellent extended weekend. Stay safe and warm! *Photo courtesy of SMS Multimedia students.
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