Year: 2018

Way To Go: KRISSY BOWDELL!!!! (Lindemann)

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Dear Ms. Bowdell,
Congratulations! Lindemann Elementarry has been selected to participate in the 2018-2019 Building Healthy Communities Elementary School program. The Building Healthy Communities Program is administered by the Center for School Health at Wayne State University in partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the United Dairy Industry of Michigan and the Michigan Fitness Foundation.
 
By participating in the Building Healthy Communities program, your school will undergo a healthy school transformation that aims to improve healthy eating, increase physical activity opportunities and provide additional educational experiences for all of your students. This transformation unites the efforts of many school staff including the: 
 
* Principal
* Classroom Teachers
* Physical Education Teachers
* Student Leadership Team Adviser
* Healthy Kids Club Adviser
* Recess Monitors
* Parents, Volunteers and Community Members 
 
The Building Healthy Communities award provides a tremendous package resources including a healthy living curriculum, instructional resources, PE and recess equipment, resources for families, teacher professional development, and a school-based coordinator to help kick start and support your healthy school transformation. 
 
In order to move forward with processing your award, there a few steps to be taken: 
 
First, it is very important that everyone at your school is fully aware of the commitment they are undertaking. Please have your staff review the attached Request for Applications so they understand the commitment that is required for their individual areas. 
 
Second, when full staff commitment is assured, please review, sign, and return the attached Letter of Agreement via email. This agreement documents your school’s commitment to undertaking the healthy school transformation by incorporating the entire program. 
 
Third, please mark down the following required program dates on your staff calendar.
 
* Program Kick-Off and Orientation on August 29, 2018 at Wayne State University
* Program implementation on September 10, 2018 
 
The Kick-Off event at Wayne State University will include training sessions for many school staff and an opportunity to meet and begin planning with your assigned healthy school coordinator. 
 
If possible before the end of the school year we would like to set up a time either in person or by phone to meet with you about the coming school year. If you could reply with a time that might work for you in the month of June we will accommodate any availability you have.
The coming school year will be exciting, as well as health enhancing for your students and staff. We look forward to meeting you and working together soon. 
 
 
Take care and have a wonderful end to your school year.
 
 
Sincerely,

Laura Talsma

Healthy School Coordinator & Recruit Coordinator

Building Healthy Communities

Wayne State University

laura.talsma@wayne.edu

Mental Health & First Aid Training: Paid Stipends

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Please see attached documents for information about
FREE Mental Health First Aid Training
being offered this summer in collaboration with Downriver Community Conference.

School Personnel that pre-register and participate fully will receive a generous stipend
SCECH application pending

If you need additional information, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Thanks,
Terri

Terri Czerwinski, MSN, RN
School Health/Nurse Consultant
Wayne RESA
33500 Van Born Rd.
Wayne, MI  48184
Phone: (734) 334-1546
Fax: (734) 334-1548
czerwit@resa.net<mailto:czerwit@resa.net>

 

Special Memo from State Supt. Whiston. Sexual Assault and Harassment

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MDE Banner 2016

 

Special Memo from State Supt. Whiston

 

MEMORANDUM

 

 

DATE:          February 6, 2018

 

TO:              Local and Intermediate School District Superintendents

       Public School Academy Directors    

FROM:         Brian J. Whiston, State Superintendent Brian

 

SUBJECT:    Sexual Assault and Harassment

Recent events and reports involving universities, athletics, and celebrities, has brought necessary attention to sexual assaults and harassment taking place across this nation. As these have prompted critical conversations and action, we must continue to make progress in our K-12 realm, as well.

Sexual harassment or assault not only is morally reprehensible, it’s against state and federal law. Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act of 1976 includes within its protections a prohibition against discriminatory practices, policies, and customs based upon sex, such as, sexual harassment. At the federal level, Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 prohibits sex discrimination in federally-funded education programs and activities. The prohibition protects all people—students, employees, parents, and guardians—from sexual harassment and violence.

Under Title IX, all districts must adopt and publish a Title IX grievance procedure. Districts also must designate at least one employee to serve as the Title IX Coordinator who shall assist with Title IX compliance and the corresponding responsibilities. This staff member should be independent of conflicts; report to leadership; and have meaningful authority to fulfill the job obligations.

A Title IX Coordinator’s complete address and telephone number must also be published with the school’s nondiscrimination notice and on the district’s website. In addition, District Title IX Coordinators must be reported to the Michigan Department of Education annually through the Center for Educational Performance and Information’s Registry of Educational Personnel Report.

But your district’s responsibilities do not stop there.

Action is required. School administrators, counselors, and teachers with reasonable cause to suspect child abuse or neglect are required to make an immediate report to child protective services (See MCL 722.623). Schools and Title IX Coordinators also must take immediate and appropriate steps to investigate and determine the circumstances surrounding alleged instances of sex discrimination. This is critical. All Michigan districts need to monitor outcomes, identify patterns, and assess the effects on school climate to avoid systemic failures.

School districts looking to adopt a policy addressing sexual abuse of children may do so, but it must be substantially consistent with the recommendations and guidelines set by the task force on the prevention of sexual abuse of children created under section 12b of the child protection law (See MCL 380.1505).

We live in a world where sexual harassment and violence can take many forms- graffiti, bullying, inappropriate touching, name-calling, and postings from our devices. As leaders in the education community, it is our responsibility to shine light on harassment and create a safe and productive learning environment for all our students, employees, parents, and guardians.

Please take this moment to review Title IX requirements available at the U.S. Department of Education’s website. Ms. Elizabeth Collins, MDE’s Title IX Coordinator, is also available to assist with questions. She can be reached at 517-241-2091 orcollinse2@michigan.gov.

Thank you for taking the necessary steps to ensure that your district is a safe environment for everyone. It’s not only the law, it’s the right thing to do.

 

cc: Michigan Education Alliance

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/Title_IX_613117_7.pdf

Attention All Staff: Kelsey Montague-inspired installation

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This past year, the Allen Park art department discovered the public works of street artist Kelsey Montague, and her world- renowned wings came here to Michigan!  In November, she completed the one of her infamous #whatliftsyou murals on Woodward Ave (images attached). Like many of her projects before, the mural incorporates small icons or symbols that are representative of the surrounding place and community.  For example, in the Detroit mural, you can find the Belle Isle conservatory, the facade of Eastern Market, a coney dog, a record player, to name a few. If you haven’t had chance to check out her work downtown, its work the trip!
As art teachers, we immediately felt inspired and began teaching our students about this contemporary artist.  Elementary and high school students were introduced to her style and will be working on various projects inspired by this type of interactive art.  We are going to create a public work in this same style that encompasses the important values and aspects of this city, and will be using our students inspirations to drive the design.
Additionally, Montague states on her website that she believes “art should not be separated from the human experience. Instead, the human experience should have a hand in creating art itself.”  With that in mind, reflecting back on the past year, the losses that this district and community have felt has been exponential.  We feel that honoring those we have lost is an integral component of the design of this mural. We are inviting any staff member that would like to contribute the initials of someone they’ve lost, to send those initials to high school art teacher, Jelane Richardson (richardson@appublicschools.com)  by February 14th.
All initials will be woven into the design of the mural and acknowledged at the site.  Once the project is complete, information on the opening ceremony will be shared with everyone and the installation will remain in our school community for the remainder of the year.
Artfully,

Jelane, Rachel, Elisabeth and Michael