Dear BHS/MS Students and Parents,
Welcome Back:
I hope you are enjoying a wonderful summer and both mentally and physically preparing for a return to school. I am excited to be a part of the fantastic learning community here in Breckenridge. I welcome and value your positive energy and dedication to excellence. Our skilled and devoted staff are planning and preparing for your child(ren). An all-hands-on-deck approach is necessary to provide your children with experiences that allow them to take the next steps in their educational journey.
Open House:
We are excited to have you join us for a sixth-twelfth grade open house on Wednesday, August 24th, from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm.
Breckenridge High/Middle School is an exciting place to be, and we want to help our students (and their parents) transition back into the school year. We encourage you to walk your daily schedule during our open house, meet our new staff members, sign up for Powerschool, and see the updated bond work. Teachers will be at their classroom doors to greet you, answer questions, help with lockers, and provide you with information specific to the classes they teach.
Sixth graders will have a short informational parent meeting at 5:00 pm in the Library/Media Center (LMC). After the brief introduction to middle school, sixth-grade students can walk through the school and practice locker combinations (so bring your schedules!) The Principal and Counselor will be available to answer any questions you have.
New Staff:
Each year brings positive change and often includes a few additions to our staff. We are delighted to welcome Mr. Tommy Cannon as our Counselor. Mr. Cannon demonstrates a great passion for building relationships with students and putting the best interest of students first while counseling from any space. Phone: (989) 842-3182 (ext. 1423) tcannon@breckhuskies.org Mrs. Ashleigh Shaw is our new High School English teacher. Ashleigh is a well-organized person with a passion for learning and giving students a choice in learning activities. We also add Ms. Sara Nachazel as our Agriscience Teacher and FFA advisor. Sara loves to develop lessons covering animal systems, culturally competent management practices, and plant systems.
Additional Student Supports:
Mrs. Kim Ostrander is returning for another year as our building Academic Specialist, who provides Tier 3 and Tier 2 support for our students. She will help students stay on track by monitoring grades and providing academic support for students. Mr. Kurt Peters is returning for another year as our Behavioral Building Specialist. Mr. Peters helps to monitor our RTC processes in conjunction with our Dean of Students. Mr. Peters works closely with students to make good choices and coaches them on how to respond when they make poor choices. We will also have a mental health specialist from the Gratiot Integrated Health Network (GIHN) with us a few days a week.
Building Update:
Bond improvements to HS/MS include building sidewalks, lighting/ceiling, cameras, lockers, updated classrooms, new science rooms, courtyard updates, high school gym basketball hoops, a new track, weight room/multi-purpose room, and concrete around athletic facilities, etc.
Communication:
Have you downloaded our Breckenridge Community Schools app? If you haven't, download it on Android or iPhone. Teachers will update, post, and provide curriculum via Google Classroom, Remind, and many other educational apps. We do our best to keep you informed by delivering newsletters and updating our website, Facebook, and the bulletin in Powerschool.
Website: www.breckhuskies.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BreckenridgeHuskies
Powerschool: https://ps.breckhuskies.org/public/
Parent/Student Handbook:
In July, a group of parents, students, staff, teachers, administrators, and school board members came together to connect our school's mission statement to our dress code, cell phone, and Chromebook policies. We will have grade level assemblies in the LMC scheduled throughout the first day of school to introduce new staff and the changes to school policy. Policy changes are reflected in the handbook, accessed through our school website. Please read through those changes before coming to school.
Powerschool:
Our staff uses Powerschool for grading, data collection, and student information. At the beginning of the school year, it is crucial to know how to log in and access the Parent Portal for Powerschool. Students also need to understand how to access the portal. Link/URL: https://ps.breckhuskies.org/public Directions can be found, including the ID and passwords at the bottom of report cards and schedules for each student. The code specific to Breckenridge Community School is: WMKP
If you need assistance logging into Powerschool, please contact our secretary, Erin Mayle, at emayle@breckhuskies.org
We are looking forward to a great year!
Mr. Freddie Willbanks
High School Principal
