Dear Families,

There is so much to be proud of across our district. This edition of MacGregor’s Message celebrates student accomplishments, innovative programs, and our work to make Highlander Nation a place where all students feel welcome and supported.

In this edition of MacGregor’s Message:

• Pathways to Future Ready Recap

• Board of Education Officer Election

• Begindergarten and Kindergarten Registration

• Academia Bilingüe Application Window

• Howell High School DECA Students Qualify for State Event

• Three Fires Unified Champion Schools event

• Howell Schools Affected by Road Salt Shortage

I would like to thank everyone who joined us on Tuesday evening for our Pathways to Future Ready event. We had a great turnout and were able to share details about each of our exceptional early learning programs, from three-year-old preschool through our Spanish Immersion program. For families who were unable to attend, the presentation slides from the event are available on the Pathways to Future Ready webpage at HowellSchools.com/Pathways.

At its January 12 meeting, the Board of Education elected its officers for the year. Mrs. Christy Conn was elected President, Mrs. Stacy Pasini was re-elected as Vice President, Mrs. Crystal Zurek was named Secretary, and Mr. Jason Bedford was selected to serve as Treasurer. I would like to thank Mrs. Conn, Mrs. Pasini, Mrs. Zurek, and Mr. Bedford for their willingness to serve in these leadership roles. I would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Mrs. Courtney Tarara for her leadership as Board President over the past two years and to Mrs. Meg Marhofer for serving as Secretary during the past year. Both Mrs. Tarara and Mrs. Marhofer will join Mr. Steve Dault in serving as Board Trustees this year. 

Begindergarten and kindergarten registration for the 2026–2027 school year is now open at HowellSchools.com/KDG. On that webpage, families will find our Begindergarten and Kindergarten Enrollment Guide, which explains our programs and outlines the enrollment process. The page also includes helpful links to important resources as our future Highlanders prepare for their first year of school. If you have an incoming begindergarten or kindergarten student, please be sure to mark your calendar for the Meet and Greet event on March 10, 2026. On that day, each elementary school will welcome new families to meet the principal, tour the school, and connect with the begindergarten and kindergarten teaching staff.

The application window is now open for next year’s kindergarten class in Academia Bilingüe at Three Fires Elementary, our Spanish immersion program. In Academia Bilingüe, students learn the same academic content as their peers, but in Spanish, while developing bilingualism, biliteracy, and cultural understanding. By the end of fifth grade, students in the program will be fluent in both English and Spanish. The program was developed in response to parent feedback and is offered as a parent-choice option that aligns with district priorities outlined in the Adaptive Plan and the Portrait of a Highlander. To learn more about the program, please watch the video below. The Academia Bilingüe team is also hosting a parent night on Tuesday, February 10, at 6 p.m. at Three Fires Elementary. To complete an application, visit HowellSchools.com/DualLanguage. 

Earlier this month, members of Howell High School’s DECA program made a strong showing at the 2026 Michigan DECA District 4 Competition. Of the 53 Howell High School students who competed, 25 qualified to advance to the DECA State Career Development Conference. To earn a spot at the state level, students were required to achieve high scores on both a 100-question exam and a role-play event. DECA is an international organization that prepares students to be future ready by developing essential skills such as critical thinking, communication, leadership, and time management. To read more about the DECA program and the students advancing to the state competition, please visit https://bit.ly/4pP5axB. 

This week, Three Fires Elementary hosted its first Unified Champion Schools event of the school year, bringing students together to work as teams to build snowmen, enjoy hot chocolate, and share Rice Krispies treats. The event was filled with laughter, collaboration, and connection, and reflected our commitment to inclusion and ensuring every student feels welcomed, valued, and part of Highlander Nation. Several of our schools participate in the Unified Champion Schools program, which brings students with and without disabilities together through shared activities, leadership opportunities, and school-wide events that foster acceptance, teamwork, and belonging.

As you may have heard, municipalities and county road commissions across the state are currently experiencing a road salt shortage due to unusually high demand from several back-to-back snow systems and a harsher-than-normal winter. In some areas, more salt has been used so far this season than during the past two winters combined, making this a growing concern. Our district has also been impacted by the salt shortage, and we are making adjustments to manage and stretch our limited supply. While we will continue to plow and salt as conditions require, we have begun mixing our remaining salt with sand. This salt-and-sand mixture will continue to melt snow and ice, improve traction, and help extend our available salt supply.

I hope you have a great weekend. Go Highlanders!

Sincerely,

Erin J. MacGregor, Ed.D.

Superintendent

Howell Public Schools