The Buzz
Concord Community Schools Newsletter
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GOOD LUCK ROBOTICS TEAMS!!!!
Our FIRST Technical Challenge teams (7th and 8th grade) are attending their state qualifying meet in Mason tomorrow. The three teams with more than 30 student members are fresh off their first season in the South Central Robotics League. Joining the league this year allowed our kids the opportunity to compete three different times before making the attempt to qualify for states. The last two months have been an incredible experience for them, and I have never seen three teams this prepared to compete against the other powerhouse teams in Michigan.
Last weekend the 3rd through 6th-grade teams competed, and they were so impressive. See the article below for all of the details. It is incredible to see the levels of excellence our kids grow into when we give them the opportunity to drive their own learning.
GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF OUR TEAMS TOMORROW!! #SHATTEREXPECTATIONS #ONEHIVE
FLL TEAMS SHATTERED EXPECTATIONS AT COLUMBIA QUALIFIER
On Saturday Concord's three FIRST Lego League robotics teams attended their very first competition at Columbia Central High School. The teams were composed of the following students:
#21364: Emily Smith, James Jordan, and Auden Mckenzie
#53360: Lexton Stanhope, Levi Otto, JJ Davis, and Mason Stumph
#513870 Brandon Watkins, Emma Norris, Finn Hutchinson, Greg Johnson, Anthony Philips, and Hayden McCann.
Two weeks ago we were not sure we would have working robots and these kids SHATTERED EXPECTATIONS!!! A good score for a beginning team is 100 points, and each of these teams crushed that goal!
#21364 Emily and Maddie made an outstanding team that made practice and perfection a priority. James and Ayden used grit to ensure they were able to pull off a very successful mission at the last minute. This team showed teamwork and gracious professionalism all day and their high score was 125 points.
#53360: This team had a high score of 160 points. They struggled to believe in themselves and had to fight to keep it all going in the right direction, but they were so successful at the end of the day. Lexton used a gyroscope sensor to complete the perfect turn. Mason launched the cargo planes almost every single time with his unique weighted bar, and Levi and JJ had ice water in their veins as they unloaded the crane consistently and successfully!! This team secured an award for the school as well. Their unique bots and programs allowed Concord to win the Coach and Mentor award.
#53870: This team took home an incredibly high score of 185 points. Emma and Finn teamed up to complete three missions in one run down the field earning the team over 70 points in one run. Hayden and Anthony were cargo warriors as they used their plow to consistently deliver cargo. Brandon and Greg worked hard debugging and fixing their program all day. They had the only active tool among the Concord teams- the tool was shaped like a forklift and was able to pick up and move cargo with a third motor. In the last match of the day were able to successfully move their package from one end of the board to the other.
Congratulations teams!!! We are so proud of you!! You demonstrated a growth mindset, determination, and confidence as you kept working on getting better each and every match!
We will have an awards ceremony in the ES cafeteria on Tuesday, December 14th at 5:30.
SPORTS SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 15TH
Holiday Season Opportunities
PREVIEW OF BOYS BASKETBALL
PREVIEW OF WRESTLING
K-8 YELLOWJACKET OF THE WEEK!!!
these exceptional YellowJackets earned recognition for their optimistic attitudes!
An optimistic person focuses on the positives and works hard to develop a
a positive outlook on life (both the good things and the hard parts). Optimistic
people are willing to take on challenges- by showing determination- and turn
mistakes into learning opportunities- which means optimistic people must have
a growth mindset too!
Optimism is the feeling that setbacks are only temporary and success is definitely waiting around the corner.
REPEATED UPDATES AND REMINDERS SECTION
SCHOOL VIOLENCE - WITH LETTER FROM THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY
I also ask that we come together as a community and make keeping kids safe our mission. I do not claim to know the answers, but I do know that there are things we can do to be proactive. First and foremost, we need to love and respect one another. Hate, anger, and violence will not solve problems.
We need to give each other the gift of time. Our kids need us to put down our phones, close our work, and shut off Netflix, and just be with them. Giving them time lets them know we love them. Loneliness is a breeding ground for anger and hate. We must reach out and ensure everyone feels connected.
We need to monitor our children's social media and internet use. That often can give us great insight into what they are thinking and wondering about. Social media can be a tool for communication and connection, but only when it is used appropriately. Additionally, we need to speak to them about the dangers of social media and making threats. Multiple schools were closed across the state following this tragedy because of copycat threats made on social media. Students need to know the prosecutors are charging students making threats against the school with felonies. It is very serious. Please talk to your kids about this.
Today there was a picture uncovered and shared with the Concord High School administrator that depicted one of these copycat threats. After investigation, it was found that it was not made by our students nor towards our school. I thank the brave students who shared information today. We are proud of you! However, these threats speak to a bigger issue; there are many students across the country that are hurting and need help.
We need to be vulnerable and let kids know it is okay to need support. When we need help, we need to feel comfortable asking for it. If you are worried about your child or someone else in your family, please reach out. Getting help, especially mental health support, is critical when we are experiencing hardships. The sooner mental health issues are treated the easier and quicker we heal and move forward. Waiting for our loved ones to outgrow the issue can sometimes lead to much larger and more complex problems.
Lastly, we each need to make sure that if we have guns in our home they are stored safely in a secure location out of the reach of our students.
Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
NEW WEBSITE LAUNCHED
WHEN DO I KEEP MY CHILD HOME IF THEY ARE SICK?
Further, if you do take your child to the doctor and have a Rapid COVID-19 test and a PCR test done. You must keep your child home from school until you have the results of the PCR test EVEN IF the Rapid test is negative. You cannot send your child to school if you are waiting for PCR results. Many of our academic courses allow a student to access materials virtually, so if you must keep your student home, we can ensure they are keeping up with their learning.
In advance, we greatly appreciate your help. This will allow us to continue to maintain high levels of face-to-face instruction. When we do not follow these protocols, we end up having to put more students into quarantine. If you have questions, call the office. They will help walk you through determining how to approach any situation.
Elementary and Middle School Facebook Page
Have you liked the Elementary/Middle School Facebook Page? What about the Concord Community Schools Facebook Page??
If you have not yet, this week is a great time to start. The Elementary and Middle schools use the Facebook page to post many updates, announcements, and student photos; the Concord Community Schools page is a great way to see how a YellowJacket week unfolds! Don't miss the news - like and follow the pages today.
Concord Elementary/Middle School Facebook Page
YELLOWJACKET TEAM MEMBERS NEEDED!!
SOCIAL MEDIA ALERTS - PARENTS PLEASE READ
JACKET JAVA
FOOD FOR THOUGHT BACKPACK PROGRAM RETURNS
Upcoming Events
Concord Community School
Email: rebecca.hutchinson@concordschools.net
Website: www.concordschools.net
Location: 405 South Main Street, Concord, MI, USA
Phone: (517)524-8850