HEMLOCK MIDDLE SCHOOL
Sept. 26th - Oct. 2nd
WEEK 5 UPDATE FROM OUR SUPERINTENDENT
We are wrapping up our fifth week of the school year.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!
If you are reading this update, you are most like one reason we have had a successful start to the school year.
· The staff has done a fantastic job adjusting to all the new requirements and expectations.
· Parents have done a fantastic job supporting children on remote learning Fridays and
ensuring to keep any sick children home.
This was our third week with all of our face-to-face students on campus Monday-Thursday and everyone remote on Friday. We still have approximately 90%+/- of our students that have selected in-person learning, and this number continues to grow each week.
We continue with free breakfast and lunch for all, and our athletic teams continue to compete. We encourage you to watch our teams utilizing our streaming network.
As the adage goes, "it takes a village to raise a child," and together, we keep moving forward safely and healthily. With each week, it is essential to remember that we continue to provide these opportunities to our students and families because everyone is doing their part, right now we need to remain disciplined and continue to follow all of our required protocols and procedures.
We continue to practice and teach our students to follow the 3 W's to reduce our risk of COVID-19. The 3 W's are:
· Wear a Mask
· Wash your Hands
· Watch your distance
As of right now, we can report there are no reports of new Covid-19 cases from our fifth week back at school. The Saginaw County Health Department, last Friday, showed zero cases in the 48626 zip code for the age range of 0 to 19 years old.
Again, we all must do our part to keep our children and everyone else safe. Please remember to complete a health screener with your child before sending them to school.
Our goal is to be back in school five days a week; we are currently operating in a hybrid model with Monday-Thursday face-to-face and Friday online for everyone. At this time, we continue to review this format but have determined that if we continue along our current path, we will be back five days a week with face-to-face instruction no later than the first week of November.
Right now, we will continue to have remote Fridays on October 2, 9, and 16, with the remaining two Fridays in October TBD (to be determined). We will communicate our intentions regarding the future Friday's in my weekly update, no later than October 15th regarding October 23rd and 30th.
If you should have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.
All the best,
Don Killingbeck, Superintendent of Schools
The following are lessons learned from this week.
1. 95%+ of Hemlock parents would recommend our school district to their family and friends.
2. We are all stronger than we ever imagined.
3. Students and staff continue to be excited about being back to school.
WAY TO GO MR. BICIGO!!!
Hemlock Public School District is committed to their mission and vision to innovate, collaborate, educate, a community of learners. Recently, the district released an internal proposal for the instructional staff to pitch ideas that would improve instruction and remote learning due to the changing landscape of education in this new era of handling COVID-19 and a world-wide health crisis/pandemic.
K-12 Music and Band Director Charles Bicigo made a compelling pitch that would not only improve remote instruction, enhance face-to-face, but would also save the district and the Hemlock Band Boosters thousands of dollars over the next handful of years.
Superintendent Don Killingbeck said, “I am very pleased that Mr. Bicigo demonstrates the forward-thinking that we need in our educators today. His proposal was thought-provoking and made good sense to support.”
Bicigo’s plan will enhance day-to-day instruction, remote learning, and allow him to be able to utilize software, and to arrange and re-write music to accommodate the changes in band instruction. This will allow him to generate the high school marching band drills, and save dollars during the process.
Former Band Director and new MS Principal Joshua Chase was equally excited for the program upgrade and anxious to see all the great things that Bicigo will do with the increased computing power.
“This is just another example of how Hemlock Public School District supports innovation and moving programs ahead,” said Principal Chase.
WEAR YOUR MASK
WASH YOUR HANDS
STAY 6 FEET APART
MASKS MUST ALSO BE WORN ON THE BUS
SENIOR CITIZEN THANKSGIVING DINNER 2020
Hemlock Public School District has been a destination for senior citizens during the month of November for a half a century. This tradition started in 1970 as a way of honoring and thanking our senior citizens for supporting the children of the community. This year would mark a 50-year milestone!
Unfortunately, due to regulations, executive orders, and the time needed to serve our be-loved seniors, we find it necessary to postpone this event.
Superintendent Killingbeck said, “This is one of the best events of the year, it is great to connect with our senior citizens and share a good meal. Hopefully soon, when the regulations and executive orders allow us to put on an event like this, we will review and schedule it with enough notice to properly execute this event.”
In recent history, this event has occurred on a Friday in early to mid-November. Seniors enjoyed the traditional Thanksgiving meal served by HPSD Food Service Department and our students. Prizes and donations were received from among our community businesses. We have been fortunate to have some local celebrities be our Master of Ceremony for the event, such as WNEM retiree Eric Jylha, Senator Ken Horn, and Listen to the Mrs. Host Art Lewis, to name a few.
Kelly Phillion, Director of Communications, said, “This has always been such a well-deserved community outreach. It is always such a pleasure to give back to our seniors for their support to our district. I hope we will still be able to host this event down the road.”
A HUSKIE FAREWELL
Our former colleague, friend and Huskie Pack member, John Weiskirch, has lost his battle with cancer.. John was a Hemlock graduate, worked for the district for 25 years in our custodial and maintenance department, and just retired three years ago. A memorial service will take place on Friday, September 25th at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Hemlock. Please keep John's family in your thoughts and prayers.
BUS DRIVERS NEEDED
Join the Huskie Pack today as a bus driver!
No previous experience and training required.
Training will be provided. Call (989) 642-5282
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2020 HBA WINNERS
Beautification: Hemlock Lions Club
Citizen of the Year: Samantha Turner
Educator of the Year: Kalena Kenny
Member of the Year: Joan Mulvaney
Organization of the Year: Hemlock School District
The Lumberjack Holiday Craft show is going to continue to go on this year! With recent events that have happened this year, we had to move our event outdoors to comply with the governors orders, and we have moved up our event 1 month earlier to Saturday Oct. 17th 2020 at Richland Twp Park.
Since Sawdust Days had to be postponed until 2021, we need to raise funds for our scholarship and community donations. All proceeds from this event will go directly towards the scholarship and community fund where we give back to others. We will also have a silent auction in the barn and we are asking for anyone who is willing to donate any items, we would gladly appreciate it! Send us a message to let us know!
Interested in becoming a vendor? Please go to our website at: https://www.hemlocksawdustdays.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Lumberjack-Holiday-Bazzar-Vendor-Application-1.pdf Vendor spots are limited, so it will be first come first serve.
Save the date! For more information, please see our event
https://www.facebook.com/events/956007874875602
We can't wait to see you there!
GROCERY STORE AND HARDWARE COMING TO TOWN SOON!
The Rosati’s Fresh Market will be coming to Hemlock along with Ace Hardware opening in the old Family Dollar location!
Rosati's is a family owned store, living local to the Mid-Michigan area. A traditonal supermarket with an emphasis on providing fresh meat and produce, while having a variety of groceries.
The goal is to open at the end of October, but it will depend on licensing. They are working on making the conditions of the store a pleasant shopping experience!
If you are interested in working at the new store, please look them up online and send them a message requesting an application. Rosati's is excited to open and serve our community!
TOP 10 TREES - BEST FALL COLORS
There are tons of trees that change color during the fall. In fact, almost all of them do. If they do not change color, they usually just fall off, which is why it is called fall, I guess. Here are the top 10 types of trees that made the favorites on the most popular websites:
- Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera) grows to up to 50 feet and are typically red and yellow in the fall with white, peeling trunks. That is why they are called the paper birch.
- Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) have black or gray branches topped with orange or yellow leaves and grow up to 75 feet.
- Dogwood (Cornus florida) has gorgeous red shiny leaves that can even look purple in some areas and grows up to 30 feet tall.
- Vine Maple (Acer circinatum) has reddish-orange to scarlet leaves and grows to 35 feet tall.
- Red Oak (Quercus rubra) is a northern tree with orange and red leaves with acorns that feed deer, squirrels, and other critters. It can grow up to 75 feet.
- Aspen (Populus tremuloides) is very popular and has round leaves that turn gold to orange. They can grow up to 50 feet tall.
- Bitternut Hickory (Carya cordiformis) Grows up to 75 feet or more and is one of the first trees to change color every year. Their long leaves are yellow and they have bright yellow buds.
- Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) has mitten-shaped leaves that can be purple, red, orange, or yellow and it grows up to 50 feet.
- Washington Hawthorn (Crataegus phaenopyrum) grows up to 30 feet and has glossy red fruit and purple leaves.
- Black Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica) has yellow, orange, and purple leaves with gray bark.
How many of these trees do you have in your yard at home???
Tatianna Hull, 9/26
Christian Garcia, 9/28
Mrs. Donoghue, 9/28
Alayna Bell, 10/1
Owen Rathbun, 10/1
Rylee Sullivan, 10/1
WHAT'S COMING UP NEXT ..................
- Monday - Friday, 9/28 - 10/2: SPIRIT WEEK!!
- Monday, 9/28: 7th & 8th Grade Volleyball at home against Alma. Game starts at 4:30 pm.
- Tuesday, 9/29: Cross Country Jamboree at Home. Starts at 4:00 pm.
- Wednesday, 9/30: 7th & 8th Grade Volleyball at John Glenn. Game starts at 4:30 pm. (Bus at 3:20 pm)
- Friday, 10/2: Virtual Day for EVERYONE.
- Friday, 10/2: Homecoming Varsity Football game at 7:00 pm.
HEMLOCK MIDDLE SCHOOL
Email: kienitz.kris@hemlockps.com
Website: hemlockps.com
Location: 525 North Maple Street, Hemlock, MI, USA
Phone: 989-642-5253