October 6, 2023
October 6, 2023
- Observations Around Saline Area Schools
- Curriculum Corner
- Parent Partnership Series
- Groundbreaking at the Hornet Operations Center
- Rachel's Challenge Recap
- Sex Education Advisory Board
- Matching Family Needs and Community Resources
- Upcoming Events
Observations Around Saline Area Schools
Here’s what we observed around the District the last two weeks:
Harvest
1st graders practicing counting skills with “think spot” partners while helping each other learn.
2nd graders working with their WIN groups to improve literacy skills.
3rd graders using story sketches to help break down ideas into stories, bit by bit.
Pleasant Ridge
1st graders learning about their classroom friends and then writing sentences from what they learned
2nd grade artists working on abstract hand designs
Students in Media class studying a “mystery” genre while reading The Light Has Been Stolen
Woodland Meadows
2nd graders visiting the Weber-Blaess one room schoolhouse to experience hands-on history
2nd graders on a “Feel Good Friday” supporting National Hispanic Heritage Month by reading Just Ask, Be Different, Be Brave, Be You by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor
3rd graders discussing how to score well on the four parts to their Small Moments Writing Rubric: Organization, Context, Conventions, and Quality
Heritage
Students practicing saying ‘hello” to each other at the beginning of class to follow the Heritage code of “Respectful, Responsible and Kinder than Necessary”
Students learning about the importance of saving money through a program hosted by TRUE Community Credit Union
Students taking a math test covering numerical expressions and place value
Student leading the Heritage Morning Announcements to keep the entire building informed of daily events
Saline Middle School
Students learning about intrinsic and extrinsic motivation during advisory period and how to stay motivated, even when it’s tough
Algebra I students practicing absolute value inequalities
7th grade Social Studies students researching characteristics of and advancements in the development of ancient civilizations
Saline High School
US History students studying World War I propaganda and the impact of the war on America.
Health sciences students practicing taking vitals
Dark room photography students wrapping up a 6-week project understanding how light makes images, using 35 mm film, dark room development, and converting to digital images
Biology students preparing for an upcoming molecules exam
Capstone Project students visiting Food Gatherers to better understand community support systems and the ways they can get involved
Saline Alternative High School
Students discussing the benefits of challenging perceptions and the benefits of identifying common ground, using the Saline Bridge to Civility as a guide for discussion
Young Adult Program
Students practicing time-telling and clock reading skills, preparing for employment opportunities
Harvest
Practicing counting skills
Woodland Meadows
Middle School
Young Adult
Practicing time management and clock reading skills
Curriculum Corner
School & Family Partnership Series: Strategies to Support Student Wellness
TEDx Youth Event at Saline High School
Saline High School students would like to invite the community to attend their student-run TEDx event on Saturday, October 7 from 7-9 p.m. The event will feature six speakers (including five SHS students) who will speak on a theme of "The Next Chapter." Speeches will focus on topics ranging from anxiety, political polarization, the importance of communication, global citizenship, and more. Interested attendees can reserve free tickets to the event online.
Groundbreaking at Hornet Operations Center
Saline Area Schools broke ground on the new Hornet Operations Center at Tefft Court on Monday, September 25. We’re thankful for the voters and community who voted in support of the 2022 bond, making the Hornet Operations Center possible. The relocation of three departments to the new Operations Center will allow the existing spaces to be renovated for student use. New renovations at the site of the current Operations Department will feature a STEAM Center for our Middle School students, Middle School athletic facility upgrades, traffic flow improvements around central campus, a new Cosmetology Training Center for the South and West Washtenaw Consortium, and enhancements to the Saline Senior Center. Additionally, Building Trades students will be included in the construction journey and will start to visit the site monthly to work & learn with experts in their fields of construction.
Rachel's Challenge Recap
Saline High School students kicked off the Rachel’s Challenge program this week, bringing in a speaker to share the story of Rachel Joy Scott, the first victim of the Columbine High School shooting in 1999. High School attendees were encouraged to complete five challenges in Rachel’s memory related to eliminating prejudice, dreaming big, choosing positive influences, speaking with kindness, and starting a chain reaction. The speaker was especially impressed with our students and the respect they demonstrated during the presentation, saying, “Be proud of this community, this school, your kids, your educators, and your administrators.” We certainly are. Thank you to the Michigan Schools and Government Credit Union for sponsoring this event.
Sex Education Advisory Board
Matching Family Needs and Community Resources
Hornets Helping Hornets is an internal Saline Area Schools platform managed by Saline Area Schools social workers used to anonymously post and fulfill needs of students at Saline Area Schools. The platform makes it possible for Hornet or community families to fulfill student needs while keeping identities confidential. Students needs might include things like coats, boots, snacks, gas cards, head phones, etc. If you'd like to receive emails to be notified of and help fulfill student needs at our schools, please use the link to sign up.
In addition, Saline Area Social Services has been a long-time community partner of Saline Area Schools. Families with students at Saline Area Schools are eligible for services at Saline Area Social Services. Families can learn about eligibility and sign up by calling 734-429-4570. Additionally, Saline Area Social Services is currently seeking holiday sponsors interested in supporting families for Thanksgiving and December Holidays. Learn more and sign up on the Saline Area Social Services website.
Upcoming Events
- October 7: TedX Youth Event: The Next Chapter, SHS Auditorium, 7-9 p.m.
- October 10: Board of Education Meeting, Liberty Board Room, 6:30 p.m.
- October 10: Washtenaw ISD Mental Health Parent Education Series, Zoom, 7-8 p.m.
- October 11: School and Family Partnership Series, SHS Media Center, 6-7 p.m.
- October 11: SHS Extracurricular Activities Night, SHS Commons, 6:30-8:00 p.m.
- October 19: Early Release Day
- October 20: No School
I hope you all have a great weekend!
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