Picture Retake Day is on November 25th
Was your child absent on Picture day? You can still order with our Picture Day ID: EVT34R6FQ at mylifetouch.com Want picture retakes? Simply return your original package on Picture Retake Day!
Superintendent’s Holiday Card Art Contest
With the holiday season approaching, we’re excited to share one of our district’s favorite traditions: the Superintendent's Holiday Card Art Contest. This is a wonderful opportunity for our students in Begindergarten through fifth grade to share their creativity. With your support, students are invited to submit an original holiday design by emailing their artwork to communications@howellschools.com by 5 PM on Wednesday, November 27. Please include the student's name, grade, and school in the email. The chosen artwork will be featured on the holiday card sent to families and community members.
PTO Updates and Opportunities to Get Involved!
The PTO is excited to share some upcoming events and opportunities to support our school community:
Giving Tree: In partnership with DHHS Coordinator Michele Brown, the PTO has set up a Giving Tree in the main office to help bring Christmas to students in need. Each ornament represents a "need," "want," or something to read for our students. If you'd like to participate, take an ornament, purchase the listed item, and return it (unwrapped) to the main office by December 10th.
Santa Shop: Santa Shop is scheduled for December 9–13, with setup on December 6th. If you’d like to volunteer, please sign up using this link.
Dine to Donate: Join us at Mod Pizza on November 19th for our next Dine to Donate event.
Snow & Glow Festival: Save the date for our new Snow & Glow Festival on January 31st! This event will feature a glow dance, basket raffles, and an online auction. Stay tuned for more details.
Gleaners Food Drive
Our annual Gleaners Food Drive is in full swing! The drive will continue through Friday, December 6th. This important effort is led by high school students in the leadership class, and it helps provide food for families in our community who need extra support. Our Three Fires Student Council has been working hard to collect and count the donations that students have brought in so far. This year, we’re aiming to beat last year’s total of 5,579 items! The top two classes with the most donations will win a pizza party. Each week of the drive features a special theme for donations. Here’s what we have planned for the remaining weeks:
Week 3 (Nov 18–22): Canned fruit, cranberry sauce, and brown sugar.
Week 4 (Dec 2–6): Spices, seasonings, salad dressings (plastic bottles only), and microwave rice.
Vision/Hearing Screening - Parent Notification
The Livingston County Health Department provides routine vision and hearing screening to identify children who have vision/hearing problems or might be at risk for vision/hearing problems. Click here for more information on this program. Vision Screening is scheduled for December 2-4 for grades 1st, 3rd, 5th and our CI Classes. If you do not want your child screened, or if you’d like your child screened and they are not in grades 1st, 3rd or 5th, please contact our main office at 517-548-6387 by Tuesday, November 26th. Children who do not pass the initial screening will be rescreened. If a child does not pass the rescreen, a letter will be mailed home recommending the child see an eye doctor for a complete eye examination. If your student wears glasses or contacts, please remind them to wear them on the date of their screening. Hearing Screening is scheduled for January 15-17th for grades BK, K, 2nd and 4th. Rescreening is scheduled for February 10-12th. If you do not want your child screened, or if you’d like your child screen and they are not in grades BK, K, 2nd or 4th, or if your child has a hearing aid that they cannot remove/replace themselves, please contact our main office at 517-548-6387 by Monday January 13th. Please contact the Health Department at 517-546-9850 and ask for the Hearing & Vision Coordinator if your child has a programmable shunt or any implanted medical device (child should not be screened due to magnets in audiometer headphones) or if you have any questions regarding Hearing Screening.
New Optional Program Celebrates Awareness in Highlander Nation
Last month, the district launched a new optional program aligned with our Adaptive Plan focus on creating “Engaging, Positive, and Safe Learning Environments” that foster “a shared Highlander identity, appreciating each student's individuality while bringing all students together.” This program, separate from curriculum and classroom instruction, encourages students to highlight selected awareness months. For November, the topics are Homelessness Awareness Month and Native American Heritage Month. To learn about participation options, please visit https://bit.ly/3ZhjAwN. Entries may be submitted to our school office or online at https://forms.gle/fAwS6tnoyGHaeZMh6 and will be judged by the district’s Instructional Services Department.
Special Thanksgiving Lunch
Our Food Service Department is thrilled to bring back its Thanksgiving Meal. Next Thursday, November 21, each school cafeteria will serve a festive meal. The menu includes shredded roast turkey, a dinner roll, mashed potatoes with gravy, cornbread stuffing, green beans, sliced apples, and cranberry sauce. Thanks to the Michigan School Meals program, this meal is free for all students.