www.mccardinals.org Spring 2021

District Vision Statement Michigan Center School - The cutting edge leader in educational advancement empowers all students for life-long success in a changing world.

District Mission Statement The mission of Michigan Center School District is to engage, challenge and motivate life-long learners toward excellence through innovation.

Michigan Center Schools 400 S. State St ▪Michigan Center, MI ▪ 49254

news & views

First graders would love to say thank you to the supporters of our Friday popcorn days. Thank you: Magical Vacation Planner Jamie Clemens, Jackson Free Methodist, Iverson Family, Justin Mitchell, Mitchell Motor, Travis Dorer, Sew Covered Plus, Pat King, Brittany Lester@Production Realty, Jessica Villarreal@Five Star Real Estate, Corts & Flowers Families, Jerry Cox@Art oehn, Weatherproof, 2 anonymous donors, Adams & Watson Families, and the Michigan Center School Board. We appreciate your donations so much. Popcorn day is the best!!

Michigan Center Schools Popcorn Days at Arnold

During March is Reading Month, sixth-graders (in-person and remote) battled valiantly to reach their goal of reading 250 books as a grade level. Not only did the class of 2027 MEET that goal within the first two weeks of March, but they surged forward and SURPASSED that goal - reading a total of 422 books! In addition to meeting their grade-level goal, homerooms battled to see who would prevail and earn a class party. Congratulations to Mrs. Mehney's class for reading 157 books and winning the homeroom reading challenge! Last, but not least, we would like to honor the top readers from each homeroom: Addison Hill, Ashlyn Lamberson, Lennox Mikolajczyk, Carter Simmons, Matthea Bunch-Hernandez, Mason Holbrook, Jayla Browning, Amiyha Shuberg, Kali Bancroft, Brayden Pepper, and Delanie Sauceda. Overall, March is Reading Month was a HUGE success! From dress-up days to the ice cream social and a Class Fun Day, sixth-grade students gave it their all throughout the month of March and, most importantly, expanded their love of reading.

Michigan Center Schools Sixth Grade “Battle of the Books”

The United States is now a year into the COVID-19 pandemic. While this is a respiratory disease, it has created an even bigger pandemic; that of mental health. “Everyone is in the same boat” is an all too familiar saying. While yes, everyone is dealing with the same pandemic, not everyone has the same coping mechanisms. Those with pre-existing mental diagnoses are going to struggle more than those without; and those with no pre-existing mental diagnoses may be able to cope for the most part, they may also need some extra support and help. There has been so much stress, anxiety, fear of the unknown, and the isolations that it has lead some into substance abuse, mental breakdowns, or even suicide. If you are in need of some mental health assistance, please reach out! Your primary

care physician is the best place to start, however, if you feel that you are beyond a scheduled doctor appointment, or may begin to have suicidal thoughts, PLEASE seek emergency help at the emergency room! It is OK to not be OK! Here are some resources available to those in Jackson County.

Lifeways Community Mental Health 24-HOUR CRISIS HOTLINE 1.800.284.8288 www.lifewayscmh.org

Highfields 517.783.4250 www.highfields.org

Segue, Inc. 517.783.3434 www.segueinc.org

Integro, LLC 517.789.1234 www.integroservicesmi.com

Health Corner Michigan Center Schools

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

800-273-8255

Upcoming Testing Events M-STEP

3rd-7th Grade ELA and Math 5th, 8th, and 11th Grade Science and Social Studies

PSAT

8th, 9th, and 10th Grade

SAT 11th Grade

ACT WorkKeys

11th Grade

MI Access (alternate assessment as per IEPs) 3rd-8th and 11 Grades

High School News

SAT/ACT WorkKeys/M-STEP Testing Week Schedule for JUNIORS

Monday 4/12 Regular Day for All Students grades 7-12 Tuesday 4/13 SAT 7:40am-1:00pm (approximately) No Career Center for Juniors Seniors Virtual School Day: No In Person School Wednesday 4/14 ACT WorkKeys 7:40am-11:45am (approximately) No Career Center for Juniors Thursday 4/15 M-STEP Social Studies/Science 7:40am-10:30am (approximately)

Juniors are allowed to leave after testing IF they have been present all three days. No Career Center for Juniors Friday 4/16 Normal School Day Juniors: Please report to the Ray Haynes Gymnasium no later than 7:40am all three mornings. Please bring a calculator! You cannot bring phones, books, snacks, etc…into the gym during testing. Please dress in layers in comfortable clothing. Get lots of rest and eat breakfast!!!!

Other Upcoming Events MCHS Prom May 15th Senior Exams: The week of May 17th Please note: Due to COVID19 dates, times, location, and events are subject to change. Parents and Seniors will receive emails with the latest information leading up to events. May 21st: Seniors Last Day May 25th: Senior Graduation Rehearsal (Mandatory) 9:30am HS Gym June 2nd: Senior Class Night (Mandatory) 7pm June 3rd: Senior Baccalaureate 7pm June 4th: Graduation Commencement Ceremony 7pm

Congratulations Snowball King Lucas Shadden & Queen Anna Reynolds

Michigan Center Schools

The Michigan Center Bands are working very hard in-class and online! On March 4, we celebrated “National Marching Band Day” (“March Forth”) with marching band parties in each class! The HS band wore their favorite marching band shirt and played pep band tunes, the 8th grade band learned the HS Fight Song - complete with drumline parts -, and the 7th grade learned “Let’s Go Red” and “7 Nation Army.” It was very motivational to think about “marching forth” through the wild year!

Michigan Center Schools Michigan Center 7th-12th Grade Music News

In response to the current pandemic, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS)and the Michigan Department of Education(MDE) are working on a new P-EBT program for the current 2020-2021 school year. The program will provided food benefits to help families with children who are eligible for free or reduced priced meals through the Federal School Breakfast or National School Lunch Programs. If you are not currently approved for free or reduced-price meals and feel you may qualify, please fill out a new application at www.LunchApp.com.

Applications can be filled out at any time throughout the remainder of the school year if your household income decreases or household size increases.

The State of Michigan will automatically add the benefits to SNAP cards or mail a card to the address on file at the school. To prevent delays, please make sure the school has your current address. No further action is required if your student is already approved for free or reduced-price meals.

If you have any questions regarding P-EBT, please contact the Michigan Department of

Health and Human Services at 1-833-905-0028. The local school does not administer

the P-EBT program.

Michigan Center Schools Pandemic P-EBT