HEMLOCK MIDDLE SCHOOL
Feb. 27th - Mar. 5th
Weekly Update from our Superintendent
This is our 25th week of school as we remain committed to providing you with a regular update for the 2020-2021 school year.
This past week our students had their first asynchronous snow day; this allows us to make some progress with content and learning while also balancing the difference between the demands/expectations of our synchronous remote learning days with the potential joys of a snow day.
This week, we will start tomorrow, Friday, February 26th, and continue through Monday, March 1st, and Tuesday, March 2nd, a series of asynchronous learning days as our staff is getting their 2nd dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Our vaccine clinic for our 170+ employees was spread out over several days, and the potential known side-effects would have likely made it impossible to staff each day adequately.
Our Huskie Pack has done an amazing job fighting back against COVID-19, with daily health screeners, wearing masks, social distancing, and washing/sanitizing hands. Also, our staff and custodians have done their part to disinfect and sanitize our buildings. After six months of school, we understand that a handful of students/parents have issues with fading of clothing material that might come in contact with seating areas that have been cleaned. Please know that we are sorry if you are experiencing this; however, we have not changed our proven cleaning products or procedures since August. If things are looking differently coming out of the wash at home, we would recommend talking with your child and advising them not to sit in chairs or desks that are still damp from cleaning supplies but rather wait for them to dry or add a layer to avoid the staining of clothing material by requesting a paper towel ensuring the space is dry before sitting down.
Yesterday one of our staff shared a post about woman drivers (driving robots), this post caused some frustration, we recognize the frustration and the post was removed. In 2021, there is no room for comments that may appear to slight someone based on their gender or other factors. Although this post was presented and received poorly, the underlying message was intended to be inspirational. All too often, young ladies have been either turned away or turned off by STEM-related activities. Still, here at Hemlock Public School District, we are pleased by the level and depth of our female students' participation in STEM-based activities, including things like being part of the drive team for robotics. We champion women to be leaders in the classroom, in competition, in the work world, and every facet of life.
The amount of support and positive energy from all stakeholders for our school system is outstanding. Hemlock Public School District's mission and vision are to innovate, collaborate, and educate our community of learners.
It continues to be exciting to report that we have not had any new school-related cases of COVID-19 or school-related quarantines since our return to school after the holiday break. Click here to review our COVID-19 Dashboard with data updates in real-time. This link brings pertinent information together into one easy-to-access place.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to let me know my number is 989.642.5282 or send me an email at killingbeck@hemlockps.com.
All the best,
Don
Rauchholz Memorial Library News
Now through Sunday, February 28th you can download, fill, and submit your prediction bracket (follow the link below). Please email your filled bracket to library@rauchholzlibrary.org in order to submit it. Or you can print it and turn it in at the library. The first round of voting will start March 1st!
Click here to view the bracket (you will need to download to fill it out!): https://drive.google.com/…/13PC9oWug-XGlyo4sUo6utcQGT…/view…
Staff Recognition Highlight
“Antes de conocerte, no podía entender ni una palabra.” “Understand? Me neither until I met Profe K,” shared Principal Chase.
Monica Kaczynski has a plethora of experience at Faith Lutheran School in Bay City, Peace Lutheran School in Saginaw, St. Peter Lutheran School in Hemlock, and Valley Lutheran High School in Saginaw. Most of that time she was a shared-time traveling teacher for Carrollton School District. This is her first year at Hemlock Middle School.
Currently, Profe K teaches 8th grade Spanish 1, Exploratory Spanish for grades 6th and 7th, and 7th Grade Careers. In the past, she has taught Elementary Spanish (Pre-K through 8th) and High School Spanish 1 and 2. Mrs. Kaczynski is a native Spanish speaker and was born in Lima, Perú.
Teaching is Profe K’s second career. Her first career started in Business Management. She worked in insurance and the financial sector for many years. After taking a few years off when her kids were little, she started volunteering as a Spanish teacher at their elementary school. It was then that she realized that she was meant to be a Spanish teacher.
“My proudest moment was finishing my certification coursework at SVSU,” Kaczynski said with a smile, “with straight A’s, and as the oldest student in my graduating class!”
Mrs. Kaczynski is married to her husband Alan and has two children. Her daughter, Angela, is 22 and is studying to be an elementary teacher at Grand Valley State University. Her son Samuel is a Senior in high school and hopes to study finance and marketing upon graduation.
Middle School Principal Chase said, "We are very fortunate to have such a dedicated teacher on our staff. Mrs. Kaczynski has a skill set that sets her a cut above. Her attention to EACH student is just one of the things that makes her a fantastic educator!”
Mrs. Kaczynski loves reading, traveling, gardening, and decorating sugar cookies! Her go-to favorite stress reliever… decorating cookies while listening to audiobooks. Her favorite Spanish author is Isabel Allende, and her favorite English author is John Steinbeck. “You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” by Eleanor Roosevelt is her favorite quote. Profe K says, “Nothing can boost your self-confidence more than having conquered your own fears.” She loves to travel! She has been to 13 world countries and visited Machu Picchu (the ancient city of the Incas in her native Perú) four times. She has also visited 27 of the 50 states in the US.
I guess the only thing left to say is “Bienvenida al equipo, Profe K., eres la mejor!” We appreciate you and you really are the best!
Richland Township Park News
The ice rink is ready to enjoy and plowed. Weather permitting it should stay good for a while. The Park Supervisor has programmed the lights to come on from 5:30pm - 10:00pm.
Enjoy and stay safe.
Thank you to our Student Council for putting on a fun Spirit Week. Students and staff did a great job dressing up and had a lot of fun too.
Breakfast and Lunch is FREE to all students
Thomas Township News
Dr. Seuss' birthday is Tuesday, March 2nd and in his honor, March has been designated as National Reading Month - a month to motivate Americans of all ages to read every day. Reading is fun and has many benefits, regardless of your age.
Did you know that the first book Dr. Seuss ever wrote was rejected by 27 publishers? Ted Geisel's (Dr. Seuss' real name) life and works inspire perseverance, kindness, inclusion, leadership, stewardship, and other values.
Dr. Seuss' all-time best-selling book was created on a bet. Dr. Seuss' editor, Bennett Cerf, bet him he couldn’t write a book using 50 or fewer words. The result was 1960’s “Green Eggs and Ham.”
Although the Cat and the Grinch are among Seuss’ most iconic characters, the story of Sam-I-Am trying to convince an unknown character to eat green eggs and ham has sold more than eight million copies since publication.
Can you craft a best-selling book with these 50 words?
a, am, and, anywhere, are, be, boat, box, car, could, dark, do, eat, eggs, fox, goat, good, green, ham, here, house, I, if, in, let, like, may, me, mouse, not, on, or, rain, Sam, say, see, so, thank, that, the, them, there, they, train, tree, try, will, with, would, you
Jyllian Genwright Corwin, 2/27
David Guthrie, 2/27
Dylan Kowalski, 2/28
Cameron Lewis, 2/28
Preston Guilbeaux, 2/29
Kenadi Canole, 3/2
Cooper Rugenstein, 3/3
William Dunton, 3/4
WHAT'S COMING UP NEXT ..................
- Friday, 2/26: Virtual day for everyone!
- Monday, 3/1: Virtual day for everyone!
- Tuesday, 3/2: Virtual day for everyone!
- Friday, 3/26: Virtual day for everyone!
- Monday, 3/29 - Monday, 4/5: Spring break!!!
- Tuesday, 4/6: School resumes!
HEMLOCK MIDDLE SCHOOL
Email: kienitz.kris@hemlockps.com
Website: hemlockps.com
Location: 525 North Maple Street, Hemlock, MI, USA
Phone: 989-642-5253