The Highlighter - September 2024

As part of our continued collaboration with the City of St. Johns, we are planning to apply for the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Grant funded through MDOT. As part of the application process, a certain percentage of students (starting with 3rd grade) and parents need to complete the surveys below. The surveys takes approximately 5-10 minutes and students will complete them at school.

"The SRTS Grant is a movement and a federal program to make it safe, convenient, and fun for children, including those with disabilities, to bicycle and walk to school. When routes are safe, walking or biking to and from school is an easy way to get the regular physical activity children need for good health. Safe Routes to School initiatives also help ease traffic jams and air pollution, unite neighborhoods, and contribute to students’ readiness to learn in school" (shared from SRTS website). For more information, please go to https://saferoutesmichigan.org.

Eureka Elementary School:

• Student- https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/eurekastudent
• Parent- https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/eurekaparent

Oakview South Elementary School

• Student- https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/oakviewstudent
• Parent- https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/oakviewparent

Gateway North Elementary School

• Student- Not Applicable
• Parent- https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/gatewayparent

Riley Elementary School

• Student- https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/rileystudent
• Parent- https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/rileyparent

St. Johns Middle School

• Student- https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/stjohnsmiddlestudent
• Parent- https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/stjohnsmiddleparent

St. Johns High School

• Student- https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/stjohnshighstudent
• Parent- https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/stjohnshighparent

As the needs of our aging facilities continue to present challenges to our district operations, we have assembled a representative Steering Committee to review and discuss relevant information to ensure alignment of district facilities to its educational mission and associated goals to best serve the community. The group of more than 35 individuals represents a range of stakeholders from across the community: students, staff, administrators, alumni, parents, and community members.

In our first few meetings the Committee has established priorities to guide group decision-making, learned about the intricacies of school finance, reviewed current conditions and needs of district facilities, and established the major areas of focus for a recommendation to the Board of Education for a potential 2025 bond proposal. Stay tuned as we continue this great work!

Visit our Facility Planning Process webpage to follow the process. Here we will continue to share the slides and outcomes from these meetings.

At the Cook Center for Human Connection, we understand the challenges of parenting in today’s world. In the September Newsletter (English/Spanish), we’re focusing on an important issue every parent faces: peer pressure. In this newsletter, you’ll find practical advice and strategies to help your child confidently navigate peer pressure and make healthy, positive choices.

We’re also excited to share valuable resources, including ParentGuidance.org, a site designed to support you in addressing any mental health challenges your child may encounter. Whether you’re looking for expert advice, helpful tools, or a supportive community, we’ve got you covered.

Jean Hibbler is an essential member of the transportation team for St. Johns Public Schools. She began her journey here at SJPS as a substitute bus driver. After relocating to the area in 2006, she worked in daycare. One day, she had the idea, "Perhaps my next step could be bringing daycare to a bus!" She spent three years as a substitute driver, then regular driver before taking on a routing role, ultimately becoming the full-time Office Manager.

What is a typical day like at your job?

A typical day for Jean begins at six in the morning. She is responsible for ensuring that drivers are fully informed about their routes, including any necessary substitutions and daily adjustments involving additions or deletions of stops. Additionally, Jean manages communication with parents, making certain that all changes are addressed. She also organizes all daily routes, special trips, athletic events, and more. "The mechanics take care of the buses, I take care of the drivers!"

What is your favorite part of the job?

"The routing is my favorite part. I love creating the routes. Every year students move up to middle school. With the elementary schools, especially Eureka and Riley, on a different time schedule, when they get bumped up to high school and middle school it becomes a bit challenging, but I love that part, I love fitting a puzzle together. "

Jean believes that the new app at SJPS has proven to be quite successful. Communication between parents and bus drivers has been significantly streamlined. Some of the features include:

• The office manager can track the buses on their routes in real time.
• Parents receive notifications regarding arrival times, important updates, drop-off times, and more.
• Each driver is equipped with tablets that provide step-by-step GPS directions accompanied by voice prompts.
• Safety features are in place, requiring parents to receive an invitation to access the system.

"Can we give a huge shout out to Ms. Jean Hibbler at SJPS Transportation Office!?! With the new app and everything, I know she's working extra hard to make sure all these kids get to their schools!! I left a message yesterday thinking she'll get it in the morning and call me back today. She called me last night!!! On a Sunday!!! Because she knew how chaotic today is probably going to be. ❤️ I hope y'all have a wonderful day and be patient with the staff trying to keep everything running smoothly!!! ❤️❤️❤️" Trish H.

Parade at 5pm (traditional route on Clinton Ave. through downtown St Johns)
Varsity Football game at 7pm (Redwings vs Fowlerville)
Homecoming Dance 9/14

Homecoming Court

Freshman Homecoming Representatives: Max Wardin, Savannah Butler

Sophomore Homecoming Representatives: Aidan Wirth, Rachel Kirk

Junior Homecoming Representatives: Nic Hiner, Kelseigh Schalow

Senior Homecoming Representatives: Emma Arts, Charlie Boak, Sylvia Bunn, Ramiah Caroland, Taylor Cook, Gabe D'Valentine, Isabelle Kosto, Joe Sklapsky, Ty Wardin, Cole Wardin, Honorary Senior Representative Tryston Bancroft

Grand Marshall(s): Dave Koenigsknecht

Honorary Redwing: Vicki & Kevin Schafer

Click photos to follow links

The Redwing Marching Band performs at halftime of the varsity football game and victory over Okemos!

The varsity football team is off to a hot 2-0 start! They will look to make it 3-0 when they take on the Fowlerville Gladiators in the Homecoming game!

Varsity girls swim and dive won their first dual meet of the season 89-76 over Alma last week. They're back in home water on 9/12 taking on East Lansing!

The Redwings are running strong again this year! Ava Schafer was the girls champion at the Marauder Invitational hosted by Uncle Johns Cider Mill. Reagan Ward was fifth for the boys.

The Redwings are having a strong season, 4-2 so far in head to head matches. Their hosting Williamston on 9/12.