SCHOOL NEWS
We have so many great things going on in our region! Did you know that one of our local school districts is building housing? Housing is an extreme need in the EUP, and often impacts employers’ ability to hire and place new employees.
Les Cheneaux Community Schools is partnering with the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians to build housing in the area. On land purchased by the Sault Tribe, the Geometry in Construction class is building a small house. The intent is for a class to build one house a year. The Geometry in Construction class is taught by Scott Barr and Jessica Derenzy, and includes sophomores from Les Cheneaux Community Schools. This is a great utilization of the regional CTE millage. Local community members are sharing their expertise and teaching plumbing and electrical processes, providing insight into more trades.
What great work by our students, local community members and CTE programming! What a great partnership between our schools and the Sault Tribe!
Please take time this month to breathe and enjoy the season! I wish each of you a peaceful December!
Seasons Greetings!
GENERAL EDUCATION
READING RECOVERY®, LITERACY LESSONS™, AND LITERACY SUPPORT
SOCIAL STUDIES
Fall 2022 Newsletter Highlights:
- Regional History Day is Friday, March 10, 2022! The linked newsletter gives information on this year's History Day theme, how to monitor student progress with their projects, and many resources!
- Upcoming Social Studies Teacher Leader Corps dates: December 6, January 10, & February 28. Any K-12 teacher who covers social studies content is welcome to join us! 5 SCECHs are offered per session, lunch is provided for in-person attendees. For more information, contact Helen Craig, social studies curriculum consultant (hcraig-isd@eupschools.org).
REGIONAL DATA SYSTEMS/INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY
REMC 22 Lend-Items Library Access
REMC 22 has a library of classroom materials that can be checked out to support student engagement and learning... books, robots, maker materials, tools, and technology. Contact Marianna Ripple (mripple@eupschools.org) or REMC 22 (remc22@eupschools.org) if you have questions or if you want to set up your account.
Need SCECHs? REMC Free Virtual Courses
Regional Data Manager Meetings
Data Managers from all regional schools are asked to participate in these meetings in order to create and communicate regional processes related to student enrollment, NWEA, technology, and reporting. Please see Wisdomwhere to register for the meetings: 1/5/2023 - 2/9/2023 - 3/23/2023 - 5/11/2023.
Weekly support sessions will be available on a drop-in basis. These will take place on most Thursdays at 1pm. See the Data Management Team in O365 for updates and meeting links.
NWEA Testing for 2023
Testing plans will help ensure that all students have the opportunity to demonstrate their learning and growth. A plan to complete testing one week before the end of the testing window can help account for student absences.
Winter: January 2 – February 3, 2023
Spring: May 1 – May 26, 2023
Discovery Education Access
Discovery Education offers video and activities content to support learning. Are you using blended teaching or virtual settings with your students? Discovery Education (DE) has engaging content for you and your students! Contact Marianna Ripple (mripple@eupschools.org) for access, questions, and support.
HEALTH
November & December 2022 Newsletter:
- Grant Opportunity:
- CATCH Global Foundation is offering free resources and stipends to develop sustainable Whole Child initiatives, including direct support for implementation of the CATCH My Breath vaping prevention curriculum. Further details will be shared via email - the interest form for any school interested in participating can be found here. More information on CATCH Michigan is available on their website.
- Tobacco-Free Schools Policies:
- Erin Kiraly, Community Health Worker with Delta & Menominee Counties, is working on a UP-wide initiative to update Tobacco Free School Policies. Wellness teams responsible for the HSAT survey may be interested in contacting Erin (ekiraly@phdm.org) for support with resources and policy recommendations, especially around alternatives for suspensions and other vaping-related issues.
- Upcoming Comprehensive School Health Trainings:
- January 18, 2023 (2 p.m.-4 p.m.): Genders & Sexuality Alliances advisor training. In-person or virtual – Wisdomwhere registration coming soon - contact hcraig-isd@eupschools.org for registration details.
- January 19, 2023 (1 p.m.-3 p.m.): Sex Education Supervisor Meeting (Virtual only)
- January 26, 2023 (9 a.m.-3 p.m.): Regional Health & PE Curriculum Resource Team. Theme: Nutrition Education (Location: COP ESD in Indian River, MI).
- Mental Health Movie Mondays: This series, hosted by Bayliss Library at LSSU’s Performing Arts Center, features documentaries covering mental health topics and features a discussion with local mental health experts, including EUP ISD school psychology staff, social workers, and consultants. Upcoming movie dates include December 19, January 23, February 20, & March 20.
SPECIAL EDUCATION
Student Assistance Team
General education intervention occurs when a child demonstrates needs that are not currently being met within the general education setting. The process begins as early as preschool and requires schools to have data-based documentation of appropriate instruction in general education settings delivered by qualified personnel, repeated measures of academic achievement showing progress during instruction, and the general education interventions and strategies implemented for each child. In many districts, Student Assistance Teams (SATs) carry out the steps of a problem-solving sequence that results in the development of an intervention plan. The plan documents the child’s: areas of concern, the interventions implemented, data reflecting the child’s response to the interventions, and recommendations based on the child’s response to the interventions.
While the Student Assistance Team Process is appropriate for supporting many students, if at any time the SAT suspects that a student may have a disability, the team must refer the student for an initial special education and/or Section 504 evaluation. The SAT process should not delay a student from receiving a special education and/or Section 504 evaluation. During the SAT process, parents must be informed of the nature of student performance data being collected, the general education services being provided, strategies for increasing the student’s rate of learning, and their right to request an evaluation.
The Student Assistance Team is one component of a district’s Multi-Tiered System of Support. MDE’s FAQ on MTSS can be found at this LINK. To access a parent friendly explanation of MTSS, visit the MDE Family Matters Fact Sheet.
Restorative Practices
What are Restorative Practices? Restorative practices is a field within the social sciences that studies how to strengthen relationships between individuals as well as social connections within communities. There are many technical pieces necessary to implement restorative practices. However, for successful implementation schools must commit to the adaptive and relational elements of restorative practices. School staff and communities must believe in restorative practices; that takes a mindset shift, paradigm shift, changes in values, and belief system around school climate and school discipline.
What is IIRP? IIRP is the International Institute for Restorative Practices. IIRP provides training, education and tools for increasing the use of restorative practices in many different contexts. Many schools use restorative practices already and many are looking to integrate restorative practices into their current practice. The tools available through the IIRP restorative practice training allows schools to communicate and manage conflict more effectively throughout the school community (Link to IIRP). Staff can be trained directly through IIRP as a restorative practitioner.
Are there requirements for districts related to Restorative Practices?
In Michigan, schools must consider and document seven factors prior to suspending or expelling any student for disciplinary reasons. One of the seven factors is if restorative practices have been used as a means of intervention in the student’s discipline history.
Resources from Michigan Alliance for Families~ School Discipline:
Michigan Alliance for Families has basic discipline information and resources, along with resources to Rethink Discipline Implementation.
EARLY CHILDHOOD
25 Days of Books Giveaway
One winning family will be chosen each day, Dec. 1st-25th 
You must reside in the EUP, child ages 0-8, and only 1 entry per family for the month, please.
Registration Link: https://forms.gle/1KGWpp9LSzoa4NQQ7
MDHHS Virtual Baby Fair
Are you a new or expecting parent? Join us for a virtual baby fair to learn about resources available to you, important information, and ask questions to experts.
Tuesday, December 6, 2022, from 9:00-1
1:00 a.m.
Monday, December 12, 2022, from 9:00-11:00 a.m.
Wednesday, December 14, 2022, from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/.../virtual-baby-fair-tickets....
For more information, please contact Kristen Thompson at ThompsonK23@michigan.gov or 517-284-4992.
Join our Monthly Virtual Playgroup!
It's free. We provide the supplies. You'll get an email with zoom link and come listen to a story and do some crafts.
Use this link to register!
https://forms.gle/EPmxn93294LT92Rz5
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Please write or call with your comments, suggestions, and/or concerns.
Angie McArthur, Superintendent – angiem@eupschools.org
