Aggie Connection
February 28, 2022
Mission Statement: Sand Creek Community Schools is committed to delivering an effective 21st century educational program that prepares its students to live happy, healthy, productive, and successful lives.
Superintendent Update
February has been a very busy month! As is typical in this beautiful "mitten" state that we all call home, we have experienced a wide range of weather conditions this month. We have shoveled out from two winter storms and temps that have ranged from sub zero degree wind-chill weather to 60 degree weather - all in February alone! Gotta love Michigan weather!
Spring is always a busy time in the school buildings and this year is no exception. Over the coming month, winter sports are wrapping up and spring sports will be starting. Both our high school band and some of our senior class will be taking their trips to Florida and San Antonio, respectively. Our FFA team is headed to MSU for the state competition and our 5th and 6th graders are headed to camp at the end of April. AND...spring break is only a month away! These and many other activities are happening over the next 3 months.
Please take a minute to view my video and read through this very first edition of the Aggie Connection e-newsletter to get the latest on what's happening here at the 'Creek.
Have a great spring! Go Aggies!
Sharon E. Smith
Superintendent/Chief Financial Officer
Sand Creek Community Schools
6518 Sand Creek Hwy.
Sand Creek, MI 49279-aggies.us
Ph. 517-436-3108
Fax. 517-436-3143
March is Reading Month
Reading activities planned include:
- Author Day on March 11th. Zoom with local author Dori Durbin; students will also get an chance to purchase her books!
- Bookmark Design Contest! Students can enter this contest, organized by our art teacher Mrs. Benko, to design a bookmark with the theme of "Kindness".
- Spirit Mondays on March 7th, 14th, 21st and 28! Dress up around a reading theme!
- Flashlight Friday on March 18th! Read in the dark with a provided flashlight.
- Guess the number of pages in a book, for the chance to win a new book!
- March 25th - "Pop Open a Book" Day. Read and enjoy a popcorn snack!
- Guess the Mystery Word on the hallway bulletin board.
Watch the Ruth McGregor website page for more details!
Sand Creek Students take to the Stage!
You won't want to miss it so make these plans now!
NWEA- MAP Growth Assessment: See their needs. Close the gaps. Help them grow.
This past month we completed the mid year assessment test. At the February parent-teacher conferences, teachers shared with parents the Parent Report for their individual student. This report will help guide discussions and goal setting for each student.
At the February 21st board meeting, a summary of the Growth results between the fall and the midyear assessment was presented to the board. These graphs and the required mid-year Section 98b Goal Progress Reports are posted under the Transparency Reporting Icon link, then click on District Educational Goals and Reports.
Program in the Spotlight: Sand Creek Community Schools FFA Agricultural Program
Congratulations to all of the FFA members that competed on Wednesday, February 16th in the FFA regional competition that was held at Saline High School.
- Receiving 3rd place Gold and an Alternate to the State Competition is Avery Dickerson in the Job Interview Contest.
- Second place finishes and competing at the State Semi-finals at the Michigan FFA State Convention at MSU are the Jr. High Conduct team of Peyton Luck, Nick Trame, David Bauer, Grady Hazelwood, Parker Strahan, Wyatt Beal and Ezra Meckley and the Parliamentary Procedure team of Leah Gregg, Meredith Vontroba, Blain Wheeler, Ethan Huston, Abe Osburn, Daniel Meckley, and Korah Daniels.
- First place gold finishes and competing in the State Finals at the Michigan FFA State Convention at MSU are Zoe Rorick in the Creed Speaking Contest, Jorden Wilson in the Prepared Public Speaking Contest and the Greenhand Conduct team of TJ Moore, Erika Meckley, Natalie Dickerson, Reid Hulett, Layna Smith, Jonathan Fisher, and Faith Beardmore.
We are proud of our FFA students and wish them the best of luck in the state competition March 9th-11th!
Virtual/Distant Learning Day Plans
You may wonder why we are now moving to virtual days for any future cancellation days, which is different than what we have done in prior years. Let me take a few minutes to explain.
The state requires each school district in Michigan to be in session 180 days each school year. They "forgive" 6 cancellation days. In past years, when we have gone beyond the 6 forgiven days, we have added days to the end of the year to get the required number of days in. Now, with our one-to-one Chromebooks and the online learning capabilities that we now have, we can easily move to online learning. An online learning days means that each student meets at the scheduled times with their class and teacher for that "school day". This allows us to count this school day.
Sand Creek Schools has already had 3 virtual days this year. The first two were in January and were due to the large number of students we had out of the building due to our COVID positive and quarantine numbers. The 3rd day was Friday, February 25th. Our virtual learning plan was well planned out and has gone very well on each of these 3 days. Student attendance has been very good!
The virtual learning plan for each building is posted on that school buildings webpage, under the district website.
Hopefully, spring is just around the corner and we will not have any more weather closure days this year. We will be ready with our virtual plan, just in case!
Lenawee County Health Department COVID Protocol Update
Please see these updated LCHD protocols posted under the COVID-19 link on the district website. Highlights of these updates include:
- No change with positive individuals. Positive individuals are still required to stay home and isolate for 5 days. They can return to normal activities on day 6, if symptoms are improving and are noticeably better. A mask must be worn for days 6-10.
- The HUGE change is that they have eliminated all mandated requirements for close contacts who have no symptoms, to quarantine, test or mask! Close contacts, that are not symptomatic, are recommended (not required) to quarantine and/or test and mask. These changes will start immediately.
- We will still identify close contacts and send notification to parents and students if they are a close contact. However, there will not be any mandatory required quarantines or masking, according to the current LCHD procedures.
- The CDC has also lifted the mandatory mask on buses rule. Masks on buses or other school transportation is now optional.
**Certain school trips or activities may still require testing and/or masks dependent on the location or travel company rules.
Kindergarten Round-Up
- Monday, March 28th, between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., or;
- Tuesday, March 29th 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., or 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
**Please call or go online to make an appointment for registration and student screening.
Contact: Laurie Williams 517-436-3121; laurie.williams@sc-aggies.us
Staff in the Spotlight - Extraordinary Aggie
Coming soon in the next edition of the Aggie Connection will be the Staff in the Spotlight section! I am excited to start shining some light on the great things our employees are doing!
"Did you Know?"
- Did you know that Sand Creek High School offers an Honors English 11, Honors Government, Advanced Placement English 12, BioMed and Dual Enrollment college classes to academic eligible students? Last month our BioMed class took a field trip to epIQ Escapes in Jackson! Students used their forensic skills to solve a mystery and escape.
- Did you know that our PTO is planning a Daddy-Daughter dance this spring? Watch for more information on this event scheduled for April 22nd!
- Did you know that PTO Fun Night is back this year??!! Mark your calendars for March 25th and bring the kids!
What's Happening This Spring
March
- March 3rd - 5th and 6th Grade Band Spring Concert
- March 5th and 6th - High School Play
- March 9th-11th - FFA State Convention
- March 12th - JH and HS Band District Festival
- March 14th - 2 hour delay start for teacher PD
- March 15th-19th - Band trip to Orlando, FL
- March 18th - Report Cards
- March 21st - Board of Education Monthly Meeting
- March 21st-25th - Senior Trip
- March 25th - PTO Fun Night
- March 28th & 29th - Kindergarten Round Up
April
- April 1st - Half day of school
- April 4th-8th - Spring break
- April 11th - School Resumes
- April 15th - No School, Good Friday
- April 18th - 2 hour delay start for teacher PD
- April 21st - NHS Induction Ceremony
- April 27th-28th - 5th and 6th grade camp
May
- 7th - Prom - Adrian College Caine Student Center
- 12th - JH Awards Night
- 13th - Small animal day
- 18th - Spirit Wars
- 19th - HS Achievement Night (9th - 11th grade)
- Senior Awards Night
- 19th - 21st - 8th and 9th grade trip to Washington DC
- 23rd - 5th-12th grade band Cabaret Concert
- 27th - No School, teacher-in-service
- 29th - Commencement - Ayers Field
- 30th - No School - Memorial Day
June
- 2nd - Half day of School
- 3rd - Half day of School; Last Day of School
**See the calendar on the district website for more details.