Holly Academy News & Views
May 10, 2024
Director's Corner
On behalf of the entire Holly Academy staff, we would like our families and PTO for the wonderful gifts, treats, and lunches provided this week! We are so blessed to have such an amazing Husky family! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
As a reminder, the Parent Survey will close at midnight tonight.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HAPS24
Thank you to all who have taken the time to fill it out. We appreciate your feedback! In the coming weeks I will share feedback with families in the newsletter.
We would like to extend London, an 8th grader at Holly Academy, the best of luck as she is playing at the National Chess Tournament in Atlanta, GA this weekend! She took 1st place in the Michigan Women’s Championship tournament for her rating class last September and was featured in Michigan Chess Magazine. She has won eight trophies and three medals! London started taking chess lessons at Holly Academy beginning in 4th grade.
In addition to her success in the chess world, London is working on her pilot’s license. She will have her pilot’s license by the time she is 16!
Thank you for daring to be remarkable, London!
Curriculum Corner
Holly Academy’s strategic plan addresses our desire to educate the whole child. One of the objectives is to educate the whole child to encompass academic, social-emotional, and physical learning.
At Holly Academy, we continually strive to enhance the educational experience for our students. We are excited to share an important development with you. In our ongoing commitment to be intentional and proactive in supporting our students' well-being, we have established a partnership with iWellness Center. iWellness Center is dedicated to fostering student engagement and promoting connection through a structured weekly check-in process.
At the heart of iWellness Center's approach is a simple, yet powerful concept: the weekly check-in. Through this process, our students have the opportunity to provide valuable feedback that enables us to make informed decisions regarding our programs, support systems, and individualized assistance.
We believe that this partnership will allow us to gain deeper insights into the unique needs and experiences of our students. By actively listening to their feedback and concerns, we can take targeted steps to create a more nurturing and responsive learning environment.
We are excited about the possibilities this collaboration brings and are confident that it will contribute to the continued growth and well-being of our school community. We look forward to sharing more details about the implementation of the weekly check-in and how it benefits our students in the coming weeks.
The weekly check-in includes the following questions:
1. Do you feel connected to others?
2. Do you feel happy?
3. Do you feel calm throughout the day?
4. Do you feel safe at school?
5. Do you have strong self-esteem?
6. Do you think your friendships are healthy?
7. Do you feel like you can handle challenges?
These questions are informational and not diagnostic. All information will be kept confidential and in accordance with student safeguards defined by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
Should you have any questions, please reach out to Mrs. Craven or Mrs. Potteiger.
Testing Schedule Next Week
Monday, 5/13: 2nd grade NWEA Reading, 6th-8th NWEA Science
Tuesday, 5/14: 1st grade NWEA Reading
Wednesday, 5/15: 3rd and 4th grades NWEA Reading
Thursday, 5/16: 5th-8th grades NWEA Reading
2nd Grade Science
In 2nd grade we are comparing the diversity of life in different habitats. We learned about the Oak tree and what lives there by dissecting a Barn Owl pellet in class. We are taking a week to explore, sort, record and draw in-our science notebooks all of our discoveries. We are having so much fun!!!
Enrollment Information
Enrollment Open for Siblings
If you have a child ready for Young 5's or Kindergarten, it's time to enroll!
Steps for online enrollment:
1. Log into your Skyward account
2. Click on the New Student Online Enrollment tab at the top left
3. You will need a copy of birth certificate and immunization record to upload
4. Once you submit an email will be sent notifying the office
The State of Michigan is now requiring incoming Y5/K students to have a hearing, vision and dental screening. If you have any questions please contact Jenn Melton, meltonj@hollyacademy.org, or call 248-634-5554 ext. 150.
Athletics
Cross Country
Thursday, 5/16/24: Cross Country meet away hosted by Cornerstone Christian School at Settlers Park
Settlers Park
2835 Clark Road
Hartland, MI 48353
Staff Spotlight
Character Counts
“Equality is treating everyone the same. But equity is taking differences into account, so everyone has a chance to succeed.”
- Jodi Picoult
“When we tackle obstacles, we find hidden reserves of courage and resilience we did not know we had.”
- A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Spring Concerts
Camp Invention
PTO News
PTO 2023-24 Wrap-Up
We would like to take this moment to reflect on what the PTO accomplished this year with the teachers, staff, and families' support and partnership:
- Successfully held two school-wide "thon" fundraisers in the first and second half of the year to balance out our fundraising efforts and minimize conflicting fundraising with other groups
- Brought back support for school-wide assemblies
- Established a $100 direct-to-classroom allowance for each teacher in the school, including specials and special education classrooms
- PTO Ambassador program
- Developed annual strategic targets/grants for project funding:
- Technology Grant
- Facilities Grant
- Whole Child Grant
- Community Grant
- Fundraising support for the Music Department during Winter and Spring concerts
- Allocated the funding of $30,000 for the following:
- $11,000 Music Acoustical panels
- $10,500 technology grant - based on needs from the classroom
- $6,000 playground and gaga pit
- $2,500 Main gym lobby monitor
The PTO also sponsors many events and initiatives throughout the year, including Art Smart, Fall on the Farm, Someone Special Dance, Boys Day Out, Family Game Night, Teacher Appreciation Week, Annual Scholarship, 8th-grade yard signs, and staff anniversary gifts. We also had several other passive fundraising opportunities.
The PTO Board 2023/24 thank you for your support and to the many volunteers that made it all happen.
Mother's Day Hanging Basket Sale
Birthday Marquee
We are happy to announce we now accept online payments for the Birthday Marquee. The new form is now available here and in the office.
Art Smart 2024/25
Next year's Art Smart theme will use recycled items to repurpose into art pieces throughout the year. We will need your help over the coming months to save the following items for collection in the fall.
- Plastic bottle caps. All colors and sizes. (Please wash and store in clear ziplock bags. Bonus for sorting by color and/or size!)
- Magazines
- Paper egg cartons (no styrofoam)
- Paper towel tubes
- Plastic bread tags (Please store in clear ziplock bags)
- Bubble wrap
- Plastic dome cup tops (Please wash and store in clear ziplock bags)
Upcoming Events
- May 14: 4th and 5th grade music concert at 1:00pm and 6:30pm in the auditorium
- May 15: Board of Directors meeting, 5:30pm in the media center
- May 17: PTO dress down day, $1.00
- May 21: AAE concert at 1:00pm and 6:30pm in the auditorium
- May 22: Coffee and Conversation at 8:05am in the auditorium
- May 22: 4th grade Mini-Society Global Market Day, 1:30pm-2:30pm
- May 23: Band and Choir concert at 1:00pm and 6:30pm in the auditorium
- May 24: Half day; dismissal at 11:30am
- May 27: No school, Memorial Day
- May 28: 1st grade awards at 1:00pm
- May 28: 3rd grade awards at 6:00pm
- May 29: 2nd grade awards at 9:00am
- May 29: 4th and 5th grade awards at 6:00pm
- May 30: 6th and 7th grade awards at 6:00pm
- May 31: PTO dress down day, $1.00
- May 31: Senior walk through at 9:00am
- June 1: 8th grade graduation at 5:30pm
- June 3-5: 5th grade Mackinac field trip
- June 4: Young 5's celebration at 10:30am
- June 4: Kindergarten celebration at 1:30pm
- June 5: Field day
- June 6: PTO meeting at 8:00am in the auditorium
- June 6: Last day of school, dismissal at 11:30am
- June 19: Board of Directors meeting, 5:30pm in the media center
Follow our Husky Pack!
Email: info@hollyacademy.org
Website: www.hollyacademy.org
Location: 820 Academy Road, Holly, MI, USA
Phone: 248-634-5554
Facebook: facebook.com/hollyacademymi
Twitter: @hollyacademymi