Magi Messenger: October 28, 2024

What a beautiful fall it has been, with unseasonably warm weather keeping us out and about as we begin Quarter 2. I included a photo of two of our awesome middle school students engaged in their science class, a glimpse into the meaningful learning happening every day in our schools. Our school board recently approved updates to our Strategic Plan, refined with invaluable input from community and staff. The revised plan now includes a comprehensive overview of the incredible work accomplished in just the past year and a half, showcasing progress in all areas. And, also, a survey we hope you will complete, your voice matters! As our committee of community members consider plans for a potential auxiliary gym, please take a moment to give the committee your input.

This week, we’re celebrating College & Career Week in all schools, thoughtfully planned to provide guidance —whether military service, trades, college, or the workforce is under consideration, this week provides students opportunities to explore. Be sure to see my spotlight on MS basketball tryouts, another example of how we are fostering engagement in academics and beyond.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership,

Dr. Rachel Kowalski

Superintendent

October is National Principals Month, and our board meeting in October was a perfect opportunity to honor the incredible dedication and leadership of our two building principals, Mrs. Wielenga and Ms. Braman. Each day, they bring skill, passion, and a commitment to ensuring every student has a positive experience in our buildings. Some of our students shared what they loved about each the most!

Parents of Seniors... here are some key dates. We promise to always keep everything up to date in the area at the bottom of the Magi Messenger, and will keep this in each edition for your reference.

Wicker likes how his picture turned out! Wicker wants to remind everyone that picture makeup day is coming up... Monday, November 11th!

**We will be providing dinner and painting to the first 100 individuals, arrive early, painting starts at 6PM**

Please see all of what we have accomplished since 2023 in our most recently updated Strategic Plan, board approved on Monday, October 11, 2024. You can visit our website for the plan: https://www.colonschools.org/o/colon/page/strategic-plan-2023

The Colon Community Schools Strategic Plan, approved in April 2023 with updates approved in October 2024, is a dynamic, data-driven roadmap for continuous improvement in Facilities, Student Learning, Human Resources, and Financial Resources. Key Fall 2024 updates include a “Progress/Timetable” column to learn about the work being done for students, curricular improvements in social studies, science, and math, and new benchmarks for mental health, staff retention, and teacher development. Insights and feedback from recent community and staff surveys supported our changes. Through collaborative efforts, the district remains committed to fostering a supportive, success-focused educational environment.

As part of our ongoing efforts to expand programs, offerings, and facilities, an Auxiliary Gym Exploratory Committee is looking at options for a new space that meets both athletic and community needs. Initial meetings included a review of community feedback and identified goals for the potential gym addition. The committee, comprised of about 20 individuals representing diverse community areas, met in late August to discuss community input from our summer survey, ideas on gym uses, accessibility, and benefits for students and community members.

Since then, committee members have toured local school district auxiliary gyms to gather insights on facilities in local districts. A follow-up meeting in October focused on narrowing the project’s scope and preparing this survey to gather further input from our broader community. Thank you for your participation!

CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY. If you wish to complete a paper survey, please visit the CHS Front Office and we will provide a paper copy to you. Thank you!

Our new website with incredible resources for athletes and families of athletes is: https://colonathletics.com/

Also See More: Letter from the Athletic Director - Recent Edition

We're thrilled to see such an incredible turnout for middle school basketball tryouts! This level of enthusiasm is a testament to our district-wide efforts to systematically increase student participation in athletics and engagement in academics. Research shows that engaged students are happier, more successful, and more connected to their school community, and we’re committed to creating opportunities for every student to find their passion. Our recent academic and student wellness data speaks for itself—our students are eager to get involved, and we couldn’t be prouder of their dedication and school spirit.

Congratulations to AD Dooley and our coaches and I wish you a fantastic winter sports season ahead, both on and off the court! - Dr. Kowalski

Click HERE for Math Resource Access

Visit: https://tinyurl.com/ColonMathMagi

🚌📱 Stay connected with our bus updates! 📱🚌 Stay informed about your child's bus route with timely text alerts for changes or delays. We know unexpected changes can be stressful, so sign up for updates to get notified instantly. Follow the instructions that will be sent home on Monday, or use the provided links. Thank you for trusting us to transport your child!

Brown Bear visit https://www.remind.com/join/kkdae8

Black Rhino visit rmd.at/blackrhin

Green Lizard visit rmd.at/greenlizar

Red Camel visit rmd.at/redcame

Orange Butterfly visit rmd.at/6eh3996

Blue Horse visit rmd.at/74777477

If you have questions, please contact Heather in Transportation: 269-432-3231 - Press 1 or email hwordelman@colonschools.org

More sign-up information is linked here.

https://www.colonschools.org/o/colon/page/parent-resource-center

Click HERE for Parent Resource Document

We are 3 years running... Our No-Cost CARE Program Sign-Up can be found at:

https://tinyurl.com/CES-CARE-24

https://tinyurl.com/magi24-25-calendar

For access to all bell schedules: click on this link.

Click here for main contacts: https://tinyurl.com/ColonContactsMagi & You can also see our website's staff page for additional staff contacts: https://www.colonschools.org/staff

All Events For Colon Community Schools Eventlink Info

NEWLY ADDED: Eventlink Guidance For Parents & Community

Curious why everyone loves attending and working in our schools? 🤔 Dive into our YouTube page to find out! 🎥🌟 Make Colon Community Schools your destination district or join our team! https://www.youtube.com/@ColonCommunitySchools

JUST RELASED: Class of 2025 Graduation Events For Parents & Families

In the coming weeks we will be posting lots of information about senior events, opportunities & more for students & families. Mrs. Spidle & Ms. Kevnick work together to update our scholarship page located on our website, at this link.