Dear Families,
Over the past few weeks, we have had some incredible student accomplishments, and I am excited to share them with you.
In this edition of MacGregor's Message:
- State champion archery teams and students
- State champion gymnast
- State champion DECA teams
- Hutchings Elementary fifth grade National Parks Expo
- April Family Educational Series information
- MI Student Voice Family Survey Reminder
Our archery teams excelled at the Michigan National Archery in the Schools Program State Bullseye and 3D tournaments. Logan Long, a freshman at Howell High School, was named the tournament Grand Champion with the highest combined score from the two events. Gabriel Williams, a sixth-grade student at Parker Middle School, claimed first place in the middle school State 3D and Bullseye Tournaments. Howell High School's Archery Team 1 dominated the high school state Bullseye Tournament and the high school state 3D tournament, claiming the state championships in both tournaments. Several of our other archery teams and archers earned top-five finishes at the state tournaments, which you can read more about at https://bit.ly/3wX3zQD.
At the Michigan High School Athletics Association Division 1 Individual Gymnastics State Finals, Howell High School senior Maria Petru claimed the state championship in the Floor Exercise competition. Additionally, Maria earned all-state honors with fourth-place finishes in the Uneven Bars and All-Around competition and an eighth-place finish in the Vault competition.
We also had students shine at the State DECA Competition, with two teams being named state champions and advancing to the National DECA Competition next month. Nolan Hudnut and Marco Sanchez were named state champions in the Buying and Merchandising event. Jackson Vohwinkle and Sean Mitchell earned top honors in the Sports and Entertainment Marketing event. Additionally, two teams of students were named state finalists in their respective events. Ethan Keider and Landon Hund earned that honor in the Entrepreneurship event, and Sami Vanwinkle and Morgan Tyrpak in the Hospitality Services event. To read more about the State DECA Competition, please visit https://bit.ly/3PxlO5B.
On Wednesday, Hutchings Elementary's fifth-grade students hosted their annual National Parks Expo to celebrate the end of their comprehensive research unit. Students have explored and learned about various national parks for the past few months using online resources, brochures, books, and encyclopedias. Some students were even able to contact and interview park rangers to deepen their understanding of their selected parks. During the National Parks Expo, the students showcased their efforts to family and fellow students by presenting individual displays about their chosen parks. The project engages students in research and cultivates an appreciation for the nation's natural landscapes. In addition to completing their research project, four students, Alex Christopherson, Emmett DiMassa, Tucker Frantti, and Grace Greer, created a special presentation on why they believe Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore should be made a National Park. During the Expo, the students presented their research and reasoning to representatives from Senator Debbie Stabenow and Representative Elissa Slotkin's office. To read more about this project and the National Parks Expo, please visit https://bit.ly/3ILbanZ.
Please mark your calendars for the next installment of our family educational series webinar set for Thursday, April 11, at 6:30 p.m. The April session is the ABCs of Substance Use and Vaping. During the webinar, families will learn about signs to watch for, signs of addiction, and ideas for talking to children about vaping and substance use. To learn more about April's session, please visit https://bit.ly/4cs34hG. To join the webinar on April 11, please visit https://cookcenter.info/April11Livingston.
If you have not taken the MI Student Voice Family Perception Survey, please take a few minutes to do so. The survey only takes about 15 minutes to complete and provides valuable insights into how we are doing as a district. Please complete the survey for your oldest child's school, and if your time permits, we would greatly appreciate your input on any other schools your children attend within our district. To access the survey, please visit https://bit.ly/4a7xnIB. The survey window is open through Friday, March 29, 2024.
I hope you have an enjoyable and relaxing Spring Break. If you are traveling, safe travels. If you are having a staycation here in the Howell area, check out the Explore Brighton Howell Area website at https://explorebrightonhowellarea.com for fun things to do in our area.
Sincerely,
Erin J. MacGregor, Ed.S.
Superintendent
Howell Public Schools