January is Board of Education Recognition Month. Those taking on this role do so with the best interests of the students and community in mind. They spend countless hours providing input, answering questions, and working to ensure the best outcomes for all children as well as the District as a whole. Thank you to Lorie Fox, Travis Aultman, Karen Bressette, Chris Blake, Angela Brooks, Jennifer Murray, and Kevin Bock for your time and energy toward this cause. Thank you for serving on Coleman Community Schools' Board of Education!
We are so looking forward to having students return to in-person learning on January 25th, 2021. This will include all of our students who are currently remote as well as those who were in the Online Learning Academy and are coming back to in-person.
To be prepared for the second semester, it is still important to wrap up the first semester. Please remind your children the importance of getting all of their work turned back in this week and completed. Grades can be seen in the Parent Connect system, but please remind your child if they just completed things, it will take a bit for teachers to get those things graded. Some of those things, especially at the Jr./Sr. High grade level may be past due and not receive full credit as those students are older. Those who submit all their work at once instead of when it was due, may have to wait a bit to have it graded. Should you or your child have ANY questions at all, please reach out to your child's teacher or the school office.
Chromebook Devices and Chargers can be returned/checked-in at the dates and times below. If you are unable to drop them off due to work, students can bring them back to the office first thing on January 25th. The more devices we can bring in on Jan. 21st and 22nd, the quicker we can get them checked in, wiped down and cleaned and in to the classrooms for use by the students. Devices should NOT be returned until your child has submitted all of their work for the 1st semester. Devices can be turned in at the elementary or jr./sr. high, regardless of which school your child attends. Times/dates for return are:
Thursday, January 21st
Jr./Sr. High or Elementary 1-3:00 p.m.
Friday, January 22nd
Jr./Sr. High- 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Elementary- 8:45 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Friday is Communications/Technology Employee Appreciation Day! Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of those who work on our technology and communications staff. Our IT guys have been ESSENTIAL this past year getting and keeping many of us online, while our communications team makes every effort to keep all of us up to date.
Again, thank you!
The marking period ends at the end of next week, and grades will count! Make sure your students have turned in all assignments and, for those taking exams, make sure they have what they need to prepare. Please contact teachers or the school office ASAP if you have concerns.
For those in our community age 65+: You are part of vaccination Priority Group 1B. Those with internet access who plan to get the vaccine should complete this survey from the Midland County Health Department: https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/143b2d73d75845e6848e0209b5e95148. Those with no internet access should call 211.
1st Semester Exam information is included in the link here: https://5il.co/ofqq and will be sent home with students this week. Please take a minute to read through the information . Should you have any questions, please contact your child's teacher or the Jr./Sr. High School Office.
Please take time to look at the letter in the link below which shares follow-up information regarding remote learning and the survey that went out earlier in the week: https://5il.co/of2c
This is a friendly reminder if you have not filled out the survey sent yesterday, please do so by tomorrow, Wednesday, January 6th, at this link: https://forms.gle/WUWhbrywvghT5WKk6 . Even if you don't have a strong opinion or are comfortable with whatever district decisions are made, we would like you to complete it and check "no preference" in the survey. If you have already completed the survey, thank you! Please do NOT fill it out twice. If your child(ren) are in the Online Learning Academy (OLA), please do not complete this survey.
We are taking this opportunity to elicit feedback from Coleman Schools' Parents with regard to the remote learning currently taking place and things we may be able to do to assist them.It will also be used as we plan going forward in conjunction with all other important information as shared yesterday.
The information and input we get from some families may be directly opposite to what we receive from others and all of these factors must be weighed as decisions are made. For this reason, the final few questions about mental health and other hardships have been added so we can find ways to assist you. We are currently scheduled to be remote through January 22nd, 2021. If there are any changes, that will be communicated as far in advance as possible to all families.
Please complete the survey by Wednesday, January 6th, 2021. Thank you!
Would you like to positively impact Coleman Schools? Here’s your chance!
With all students receiving free meals, families may feel it is not important to return a free and reduced application or Household Information Report. Free & Reduced applications and Household Information Reports are used for more than just Food Service. Students and schools both benefit from approved free & reduced apps/HIR on file. Students that are approved for free or reduced priced meals may be eligible to receive help with home internet, college applications fees and financial aid, etc.
Students also benefit when the schools benefit! Schools depend on free and reduced applications and HIR to determine the amount of funding they receive from a variety of State and Federal supplement programs like Title I, At-Risk, Title II, E-Rate, etc. These programs have the potential to offer support and services for our students including but not limited to: ● Technology (Chromebooks, internet services, etc.) ● Instructional support (staff, supplies & materials, etc.) ● Non-instructional Services (counseling, social work, health service, etc.) ● Professional Learning for staff ● Parent and Community engagement supplies and activities - such as field trips
Even if your child/children do not intend on eating meals from our food service department, it is still critical that families return a free and reduced application or HIR. By doing so, you are helping your family and helping all Coleman families.
Elementary Parent- Please fill out the HIR (Household Information Report)
Jr/Sr High Parents- Please fill out the free and reduced application
If you have students in both buildings you will need to fill out BOTH forms. Free and reduced applications and HIR are confidential.
You may fill out an application online through Lunchapp.com, or you may pick an application up at your child’s school. It was also included in your Comet News from August 2020. If you would like an application mailed to you or have any questions about the application, please call 989.442.1997 or email Melissa Gohl at mgohl@colemanschools.net.
We are taking this opportunity to elicit feedback from Coleman Schools' Parents with regard to the remote learning currently taking place. Link is at the bottom. If your child(ren) are in the Online Learning Academy, please do not complete this survey.
Information received in this survey will be reviewed to help assist families. It will also be used as we plan going forward in conjunction with all other information: e.g. safety of our students and staff, consistency for parents/family planning, other feedback from stakeholders, staffing levels, knowledge of quarantine timelines following holidays, attendance levels, ability to provide a consistent and solid instructional program for all students whether in-person or remote while supporting the Online Learning Academy students, information from the Health Department, State orders and knowledge of upcoming press releases, direction from Michigan Department of Education and other details.
The input we get from some families may be directly opposite to what we receive from others and all of these factors must be weighed as decisions are made. For this reason, the final few questions about mental health and hardships have been added so we can find ways to assist you. At this time, we are scheduled to be remote through January 22nd, 2021. Should there be any changes, that will be communicated as far in advance as possible to all families. We would like to thank you for your input to this survey. Please complete the survey by Wednesday, Jan. 6th, 2021 at: https://forms.gle/SrRn9SmyDkZ7QYWQ6
Blood Drive coming up Thursday 8:45-2:45 at the Jr/Sr High! Appointments are recommended at https://donate.michigan.versiti.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/124724.
Return to remote learning for all on Monday. Just 3 more weeks, though! We'll be back to in-person January 25 as planned, and we can't wait to have everyone in the buildings again!
Seniors: Get your caps and gowns ordered! You can order online at www.highschool.herffjones.com. Early bird prices end today 12/31/20.
Outstanding job to all of our band students, Mr. Burkhart and Santa on the "Virtual- not at Warriner- Concert" tonight. Very well done in a new way. Thanks for getting us in the spirit. Watch for "Holiday Sing" material posted soon courtesy of Mrs. Tallman! More of our traditions done virtually by some talented people.
Congrats Comet Alum Kenz Shelby on receiving your cosmetology license after passing both your practical and theory exams this week!
Are you looking for a 3-drawer or 4-drawer file cabinet? There are some at the school and can be yours for a donation to the school. File cabinets do not have locks on them. Contact Mike Huss at 465.6172.
Urgent Need: Donation registration is low for the drive coming up NEXT Friday at MidMichigan Medical Center-Midland. Could you, would you, consider donating? Holidays are always difficult on the blood supply!
Shedule an appointment at https://donate.michigan.versiti.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/122170 or call 866-642-5663.
The Midland County Food Pantry will host a Holiday Box Mobile Pantry December 30. Pre-registration is required by next Wednesday at 989.305.9659 or 989.486.9393. Limited quantities are available.
https://5il.co/ntcc
Please review the following letter from Coleman Community Schools: https://5il.co/nqit
Midland Open Door will be serving grab-and-go-style Christmas dinners from the front porch of the soup kitchen at 412 W. Buttles St.
