SLCS District Update

Dear SLCS Families and Staff Members,

It was a terrific first week of school as many worked to transition from their summer routine to their school routine. Personally, I couldn’t be happier to have school back in session and things operating at full speed.

I will have visited each of our schools by the end of the day tomorrow. The smiles, excitement, and energy are contagious and always have me leaving a school feeling better than when I walked in. Keeping students engaged and enthused throughout the school year is a challenge we embrace as educators and our students’ accomplishments help provide meaning to the important work we do.

A special treat this week was spending some time with one of the kindergarten tables in the Salem cafeteria. They were so sweet and many not afraid to ask for a little help opening a carton of this or a container of that. In one case, we were able to transform a near meltdown into a smile and some laughs. A success for both of us.

In any event, I imagine students and staff will be a little more tired than usual this weekend. Be sure to get some rest this weekend and we have much learning and great things to accomplish in the weeks ahead.

SLCS Family!

Steve Archibald

Superintendent

Each of our secondary schools will be hosting an in-person Curriculum Night event the next few weeks to welcome parents into our buildings. These nights are designed for parents to go to each of their child’s classes to learn about the class, as well as meet their child’s teacher. Below are the dates and times for each of our events:

Millennium Middle School September 8, 2022 6:30 pm

South Lyon High School September 14, 2022 6:30 pm

Centennial Middle School September 15, 2022 6:30 pm

South Lyon East High School September 21, 2022 6:30 pm

Please see the communications from your child’s school for more information about these events.

Our students and staff follow the ALICE protocol for emergency situations in which a lockdown or evacuation is needed. The ALICE acronym is a follows:

Alert

Lockdown

Inform

Counter

Evacuate

Each year middle and high school students are shown this video during the first ALICE drill of the school year. The video provides an overview of the ALICE process. Please take a moment to view the video and discuss with your children as appropriate.

Come support our South Lyon East HIgh School's 1st Annual Kick Off for Autism Acceptance Night! The event will take place on Friday, September 9th at the Varsity football game!! This is a very special school-wide event and a new tradition at South Lyon East. There will be a tailgate with food trucks from 5:00-7:00 pm and the Varsity game against Waterford Mott will begin at 7:00 pm. Proceeds from the event will benefit Fredi the Pizzaman Foundation (equips sensory rooms in the State of Michigan) and the South Lyon East Special Education Department.

Ways to support the event:

• Purchase a Tropical Smoothie Coupon card, Kick Off for Autism Acceptance bracelet or Kick Off for Autism Acceptance t-shirt (limited quantities available) during the tailgate

• Attend the tailgate and game and purchase food from the Food Trucks. All Food Trucks will be donating a portion of their proceeds to the event!

• Donations will also be accepted during the game as well

Plan on attending a morning of inspiration and fun on the gridiron for individuals with special needs (ages 6-21) who live in the South Lyon Community School district. Participants will enjoy a full game day experience with football drills, cheer activities, refreshments and more! This event is hosted by South Lyon High School’s Varsity Football team. For more info contact: gglaszek@gmail.com , fitchamanda@gmail.com or Coach Henson at (734) 777-3626.

Families are required to update their child’s school in a prompt manner when their address changes. Please submit a Change of Address form which can be found on the District website.

• A student who begins the school year at one school and then moves within the District to another in-district school boundary, may remain at that school for the remainder of that school year only.

• A student who begins the school year at one school and then moves outside of the District after the first state Count Day may remain at that school for the remainder of that school year only.

• If the student begins the 7th grade year, but then moves to the other middle school´s boundary he/she may remain at the school to finish his/her middle school experience.

• If a student has begun his/her freshman year in his/her high school program, but then moves to the other high school´s boundary he/she may graduate from that school.

In all of the situations summarized here, students who reside in a different school boundary and elect one of these options, transportation between home and school is the responsibility of the parent/guardian. If families are unable to provide their own transportation in these cases, the student would need to enroll in the new boundary school.

We recommend that district families check the boundary maps on our website prior to purchasing a home or signing a rental agreement if they are relocating elsewhere in the district and desire a specific school or to remain in the boundary of their current schools. Remember that as the district’s population changes, school boundaries occasionally change as well.

Thank you to all of our bus drivers for a safe start to the school year. We are aware that some buses have been crowded. Adjustments are currently being made (some started today) to alleviate the crowding. Thanks for your patience.

Thanks as well to our Food Service staff to a great start to the year. Click on this video to learn more about food service for the 2022-23 school year.

Four in 10 teenagers report they feel "persistently sad or hopeless," according to a recent CDC survey. Our new Saturday afternoon workshop series for teens can help young people struggling with these kinds of feelings. The online workshops are geared toward helping teens understand the causes and consequences of emotions. Participants will learn how to turn off self-judgment, manage relationships better, and regulate their ups and downs with the goal of finding more meaning and purpose in life. Mental health counselor Zeinab Moussa, M.A., LLPC, will lead the workshop. Zeinab specializes in facilitating dialogue about feelings and emotions. She has children of her own and understands the negative impact COVID-19 has had on the mental health of teens and young adults. To participate, all you need is an Internet connection to Zoom, paper and pencil, and an open mind. All sessions are free of charge. Click here to REGISTER

Week 1 / Saturday, Sept. 17 at 2 p.m. - Give yourself permission to feel

Week 2 / Saturday, Sept. 24 at 2 p.m. - Emotional Intelligence vs. Emotional Judging

Week 3 / Saturday, Oct. 1 at 2 p.m. - Practical Coping

Week 4 / Saturday, Oct. 8 at 2 p.m. - Moving Forward

Please visit this link for information happening around SLCS.

The South Lyon Police Department is in need of two crossing guards. These individuals serve an important role in helping elementary students cross the road safely on their way to and from school. Please contact Lt. Baaki at baakid@southlyonpolice.com or 248-437-4193 for more information.

Over the past two years, we have become much more alert as to when someone is sick. Please use these three basic categories as to why you would keep your student home:

• Anytime they do not feel well enough to be able to effectively learn and participate in the normal activities that take place at school.

• If their illness will be a disruption to the rest of the class and/or teacher.

• If their illness is contagious and would be harmful to the health of others around them.
  
  

See this link for some specific reasons and tips to help guide you in making the tough decision as to whether to keep your student home or send them to school.

Additional information can be found at OCHD Communicable Diseases.

September 14-SLHS Curriculum Night

September 15-Centennial Middle School Curriculum Night

September 21-South Lyon East Curriculum Night

In 1961 Sayre Elementary was built and later used as a junior high before reverting back to an elementary school.