May 17, 2024
May is an exciting time as we wrap up the school year with many special events and celebrations. I especially enjoyed seeing all of the incredible student artwork on display during the Spring Art Show last weekend. Outstanding job, students and teachers!
Here's what I've observed around the District the last two weeks.
Harvest
1st graders involved in a “What Can I See in the Sky?” science unit activity
Musicians learning about poetry and song by way of America (the first National Anthem before the Star Spangled Banner)
Kindergarten students engaging in a financial literacy lesson delivered Saline HS Econ students
Woodland Meadows
iLab students working with Clixco, Magnetic Sticks and LEGOs to build various structures
Media students coding with Code Spark, building a super vertical or making super bookmarks as part of their Super Choices rotation of activities
3rd graders performing interviews as part of their non-fiction writing unit
Heritage
Students learning about famous Jewish Americans (Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Mark Zuckerberg, etc.) as part of Jewish American Heritage Month
Band students rehearsing Star Wars, the Victors (and other tunes) for an upcoming music concert
Students engaged with an animal adaptation unit in science class
5th graders working on a Mystery Science lesson called “How Much Water is in the World?”
Middle School
6th grade mathematicians collecting data on how far their matchbox cars can travel and graphing the results
Geometry students testing on linear equations, volume and surface area
Scientists learning the difference between physical and chemical changes
Social Scientists completing an exam on the Civil War
High School
AP Literature students, post AP exam, working on passion projects ranging from Improving Students’ Mental Health to Solving a Murder Mystery using a Forensic File
Life skills students and Connecting students bowling at Station 300
Artists in Mixed Media class working on a variety of projects including political art, trading cards and painting
- Saline HS Jazz Band performing on the Liberty School stage for the Dementia Friendly community event on Saturday, May 11th
- Seniors honored for their achievements in highest academic honors and as compass award winners honored alongside their selected distinguished educators at the Compass Awards banquet
Sign Up for Summer Boosters
SAS and Saline Community Education are excited to offer the new Summer Boosters series for students who could benefit from a review of key academic content from the previous year(s). These classes cover a range of academic subjects and grades, are taught by SAS teachers, and are meant to:
Address unfinished learning
Help to meet grade-level academic standards
Provide additional academic assistance to students at risk of falling behind their peers
Boosters are NOT meant to:
Accelerate learning beyond grade/course level
Earn credits
Registration is open now and there are still spaces available in most classes! We are able to offer a limited number of scholarships through the 23g State MiKids Back onTrack grant. For further information on Boosters classes, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions.
Spring Building Walk-Throughs and Summer Bridge Programs
Spring building walk-throughs are wrapping up! Incoming Young 5, Kindergarten, and new to the District students at Harvest Elementary on Wednesday, May 22 from 6-7 p.m. Incoming 4th-grade students and families are invited to attend the building walk-through at Heritage School on Thursday, May 23 from 6-7 p.m. All students and families are invited to attend Open Houses and Orientations in the fall in conjunction with the start of the 2024-25 school year.
Saline Community Education offers summer "Bridge" programs for all Saline students transitioning to new buildings this fall. Bridge classes typically cover topics such as navigating the campus, understanding school policies and procedures, and developing effective study habits. They incorporate team-building activities and group discussions to foster a sense of community among students. By providing targeted support during this period of adjustment, bridge classes empower students to confidently navigate their new school environment and thrive academically and socially. Registration and more information is available through Saline Community Education.
Last week, Saline Area Schools were invited to participate in an event featuring innovations in Michigan schools that prepare students for their future. Saline's student-produced video featured the Saline High School Connecting Program. 10 former Connecting students currently serve within the Special Education department at Saline Area Schools, and many more have gone on to careers in Special Education in other districts and capacities. The event, hosted by Filmmaker Ted Dintersmith, included video features and panel discussions and was attended by state government officials. Governor Whitmer was present and shared a reflection with attendees.
Repeated from 4/19/24
Saline Area Schools has partnered with Care Solace to help families ease the burden of identifying mental health and substance abuse services. Care Solace is a confidential care hub with a network of over 425,000 providers and services, available to families 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Care Solace is a complimentary and confidential service provided to Saline Area Schools students, staff, and their families. Care Solace can help families navigate providers, insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, and sliding scale payment options for those without insurance.
Families can access Care Solace in three ways:
Call 888-515-0595 anytime. Multilingual support is available 24/7/365. A dedicated care companion will help you research options, secure appointments, and follow-up to make sure the provider is a good fit.
Search anonymously to get matched with an extensive list of care providers at www.caresolace.com/salineschools.
Contact your school social worker, and they will submit a referral on your behalf.
Information on individual treatment providers is gathered by Care Solace based on criteria such as geographic proximity, whether the provider accepts the authorized user’s insurance, and whether the provider is accepting new patients. The school district does not recommend, endorse, promote, or refer to any of the individual treatment providers.
Families or students experiencing a life-threatening emergency or mental health crisis, please call 911 or The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. Care Solace is not an emergency response service or mental health services provider.
