A Note From Ms. Sickler

• Harvest Pick-Up, this Thursday and Friday! Please read through the steps HERE to ensure we keep everyone safe.

• Harvest Virtual Community Meeting, this Thursday!
  • Please click this URL to join. https://salineschools-org.zoom.us/j/92901322882?pwd=MC9BRDdTT09vNlV3MXVsNkhWUURwdz09
  • Password: 636641

• Field Day, this Wednesday!
  • We are very excited about our upcoming Field Day!  For the first time in Field Day history, all Young 5-5th graders across the district will be participating in this event!  Please use the following link for all necessary information, and to help you get prepared for Wednesday’s Field Day!  FIELD DAY 2020 – INFORMATION.
    #SalineFD2020

Specials Newsletter

Each week our elementary specials teachers will be sharing some ideas for you to create, sing, move, innovate, and read.  Check out this week’s newsletter HERE.

COVID-19 District Notes

• If your family is moving out of Saline Area Schools, out of state, changing elementary school boundaries, or changing school districts, please take a moment to let us know HERE.
• ALL families are eligible to pick up meals for their children from SAS. Sign up for next week is OPEN: salineschools.org/meals/
• Saline Area Schools COVID-19 Resource Page

PTA Points

• The PTA thanks Saline Board of Education member and Saline alumni business owner Tim Austin of A & H Lawn Service for providing the installation of the bricks into the courtyard.

• Yearbook Surprise! The PTA is joining with me in purchasing a yearbook for every child in the school! I’m grateful to the PTA for their unending support through this crazy time. We all felt it was even more important this year for every child to receive a yearbook.  We are working with SchoolPictures.com to get the yearbooks printed. They are hoping to print after June 1 when/if they are allowed to safely return to work.
  We will be working to develop a plan to get your child’s yearbook to him or her.

Did You Know?

Did you know, third graders, that you can take a virtual tour of Heritage?  Learn more about Heritage here!

Ms. Sickler Reads!

A Note From Ms. Sickler 

Checking in as we enter our final two weeks of school.  Please let us know how you are doing HERE.  As always, reach out to myself or your classroom teacher with questions or concerns.

Ms. Sickler

Moving or Not Returning for the 2020-2021 School Year?

As we near the end of the 2019/2020 school year, it is time to reach out and see if any of our families are moving out of the Saline Area Schools district, enrolling in a new school district, homeschooling, or transferring between PreK-3 buildings within Saline Area Schools.

If your family is moving out of Saline Area Schools, out of state, changing elementary school boundaries, or changing school districts, please take a moment to let us know. This information is beneficial to us as we begin the placement process for the 2019/2020 school year.

If you have a 3rd, 5th, or 8th-grade student AND will still be attending Saline Area Schools you do not need to complete this form.

Please complete this form for each of your children that are leaving SAS.

Harvest Pick-Up Plan

We have tentatively scheduled June 4th and 5th as dates for one family member from each family to pick up medication and personal items belonging to students that are at school.  A family member will also be able to return borrowed technology (iPads and Chromebooks), library books, and teacher books/materials that may have been sent home on March 13.  It will be imperative that all school borrowed books and technology are returned to us so we can clean and prepare for the fall.  We are working hard to prepare for whatever the fall looks like, but most for the full return of our students and staff back to the building.  Details on how the process will work will be shared prior to June 4, 2020.

Tentative Pick Up Timeline:

June 4:

2:30 – 4:30 pm 

6 – 8 pm 

June 5:

9 – 11 am

1 – 3 pm

Specials Newsletter

Each week our elementary specials teachers will be sharing some ideas for you to create, sing, move, innovate, and read.  Check out this week’s newsletter HERE.

COVID-19 District Notes

• Please remember to take the District Distance Learning Survey – sent via email Monday, May 18th
• ALL families are eligible to pick up meals for their children from SAS. Sign up for next week is OPEN: salineschools.org/meals/
  • Due to the holiday weekend, there will be no food distribution on Tuesday, May 26th. 
  • Food distribution will resume back to normal on Friday, May 29th. 
• Saline Area Schools COVID-19 Resource Page

Did You Know?

Did you know registration continues to be open for Kindergarten and Young 5s (link HERE)?

Young 5s/Kindergarten Informational Presentation

For non-resident families considering Saline Area Schools for their children, the District is accepting applications for a limited number of spots.  Here is the link to the School of Choice site.

A Note From Ms. Sickler

I have been inspired by John Krasinski’s Some Good News and the last page of this week’s read aloud, “look with kindness and you will always find wonder”, to be even more intentional to look for the good… even during these very challenging and trying times.  May all our Harvest students emerge from this pandemic learning what really matters in life.

As we continue with distance learning through the end of the school year, I want to recognize your efforts and thank you for your partnership.  Our Harvest staff all know that what you are doing is not easy.  Hang in there with us for the next couple of weeks!  We are currently planning some fun end-of-year celebratory virtual activities for the last week.  We’re almost there! 

Let us know how you are doing and if you are in need of anything. Please take a moment to check-in with us HERE.

Hugs,

Ms. Sickler

Specials Newsletter

Each week our elementary specials teachers will be sharing some ideas for you to create, sing, move, innovate, and read.  Check out this week’s newsletter HERE.

Third Trimester Report Card Update

We want to thank all of our families who have worked together with our teachers and staff to provide continuity of learning during this crisis. We encourage you to continue your efforts to support students with distance learning as much as possible. We recognize that this has not been an easy time for many of our families and so appreciate all that you have done to help provide some level of normalcy for our youngest learners. 

Due to the COVID-19 school closures and the suspension of face to face instruction, Elementary level (K-5) report cards, and IEP progress reports will not be issued for the third trimester of the 2019/2020 school year.  

While we don’t know what tomorrow will bring, please know we are here with you and for you as we continue to grow and learn together!

Message from Superintendent Graden

SAS Community,

At Saline Area Schools, we believe one of the best ways to prepare your children for an increasingly complex society is to listen. That means giving you opportunities to share your honest feedback and not shying away from what you have to say. It means holding ourselves accountable when you tell us about an opportunity for improvement or growth. And, it means digesting your feedback and acting upon it in a way that will benefit everyone in the SAS family.

That’s why it’s critical we hear from you in our Distance Learning Feedback Survey, which launches Monday, May 18th. The survey asks for feedback on your and your student’s experience with distance learning during the coronavirus pandemic. We will use the results to continue making meaningful decisions in our schools.

Complete email message linked HERE.

COVID-19 District Notes

• ALL families are eligible to pick up meals for their children from SAS. Sign up for next week is OPEN: salineschools.org/meals/
• Saline Area Schools COVID-19 Resource Page

Saline Area Social Services Update

Items needed for the week of May 18th.
*Sliced Cheese – individual slices
*Cream Cheese
*Spam
*Canned Corned Beef Hash
*Canned Beef Stew
*Ramen Noodles
*Canned Fruit
*Diapers – Size 5 & 6
Donations can be dropped off Mon. 10-5:30, Tues. & Wed. 10-12:00, Thur. 10-2:30, Fri. 10-12:00 and Sat. 11:30-12:30.

PTA Points

Brick Update!  We wanted to let families that ordered a brick for our courtyard know that they have been engraved.  We are working with the company to plan a time for installation.  We are hoping to have a celebration event in the fall once the bricks have been installed and we are safely able to congregate.  Stay tuned for more information…

Did You Know?

Did you know that Harvest Elementary has been recognized as a Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Distinguished School for providing broad access to transformative learning opportunities for students through PLTW Launch?  It is one of just 404 elementary schools across the U.S. to receive this honor. PLTW is a nonprofit organization that serves millions of PreK-12 students and teachers in schools across the U.S. 

Ms. Sickler Reads!

A Note From Ms. Sickler

Wishing all our moms a happy Mother’s Day!  A huge shout out to all of you, taking on distance learning alongside all your many many responsibilities.  I hope you have a wonderful day.

Just checking in to make sure you are all hanging in there and to see if you are in need of anything. Please take a moment to check-in with us HERE.

If you or your loved ones are struggling with the Covid-19 crisis, here is a valuable reference for you.

Thank you for your support and engagement during this unprecedented time. As always, please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

Sending each of you hugs & love,

Ms. Sickler

Specials Newsletter

Each week our elementary specials teachers will be sharing some ideas for you to create, sing, move, innovate, and read.  Check out this week’s newsletter HERE.

COVID-19 District Notes

• ALL families are eligible to pick up meals for their children from SAS. Sign up for next week is OPEN: salineschools.org/meals/
• Saline Area Schools COVID-19 Resource Page

Saline Area Social Services Update

SASS Priority Needs for the Week of May 11th below. Donation hours are Friday, 10a-12n, Saturday 11:30a-12:30p, Monday 10a-5:30p, Tuesday 10a-12n, Wednesday 10a-12n, Thursday 10a-2:30. Thanks for your support!

– Milk 1/2 gallon containers
– Individually packaged sliced cheese
– Cream Cheese
– Diapers – Size 5 and Size 6
– Laundry Pods
– Razors in smaller packages
– Deodorant (men’s & women’s)

Did You Know?

Did you know that you can apply online to get a Saline District Library Card?  Apply through their website: https://www.salinelibrary.org/ and a direct link to the application page is: https://www.salinelibrary.org/get-a-card/

Ms. Sickler Reads!

A Note From Ms. Sickler

May 4th – May 8th is Teacher Appreciation Week.  We are so lucky at Harvest to have so many amazing teachers on staff.  Earlier this year, I was able to pop into classrooms and watch teachers curate opportunities for their students to be inspired, supported, loved, and become risk-takers in their learning.  During our “new normal” I continue to see this level of commitment from the online activities to the seesaw responses to the classroom zoom meetings to the ways teachers are reaching out to individual students in ways that best fit their needs.  Dr. Michael Rice, State Superintendent, shared this quote about Teacher Appreciation, “When our students look back on this period years from now, they will remember those of us who stood tall in their lives during this challenging period.”  Our Harvest teachers stand tall for your children each and every day.  I am so proud to serve alongside this mighty Harvest staff.  Please take a moment this week to thank a teacher.

I’ll be thanking my first-ever teacher, who is a retired 2nd-grade teacher and elementary principal… and who I am lucky to call mom.

Please let us know how your family is doing by checking in: HARVEST FAMILY CHECK-IN FORM.

Love and virtual hugs,

Ms. Sicker

Specials Newsletter

Each week our elementary specials teachers will be sharing some ideas for you to create, sing, move, innovate, and read.  Check out this week’s newsletter HERE.

COVID-19 District Notes

• ALL families are eligible to pick up meals for their children from SAS. Sign up for next week is OPEN: salineschools.org/meals/
• Saline Area Schools COVID-19 Resource Page

Saline Area Social Services Update

Here is the updated list for SASS as of Friday, May 1st.  UPDATED HOURS – Mon. 10-530, Tues. & Wed. 10-12:00, Thur. 10-2:30 and Fri. & Sat. 10-12:00. As always, your help and support are greatly appreciated!

Milk ½ gallon containers
Ramen
Razors in small packages
Bar Soap
Deodorant (men’s and women’s)

PTA POINTS

Box Tops will honor clips expiring now – in the November count.  Please save your box tops and turn them in when we return to school.

Did You Know?

Did you know that MAISA (Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators) has created guidelines for distance learning time frames?  Please refer to the chart below.

Pre-K suggested schedule

Elementary suggested schedule

PreK-5 recommended time guidelines

“Kids and Teachers Don’t Need to be Spending Eight Hours a Day on Schoolwork Right Now” article

A Note From Ms. Sickler

Our Harvest Family has a message for all of you…

Please let us know how your family is doing by checking in: HARVEST FAMILY CHECK-IN FORM.

Additionally, CNN’s Erica Hill and Dr. Sanjay Gupta partner with Sesame Street to explain the ABC’s of coronavirus in a town hall for parents and kids. Watch the full event here.

Love and virtual hugs,

Ms. Sicker

Specials Newsletter

Each week our elementary specials teachers will be sharing some ideas for you to create, sing, move, innovate, and read.  Check out this week’s newsletter HERE.

COVID-19 District Notes

• ALL families are eligible to pick up meals for their children from SAS. Sign up for next week is OPEN: salineschools.org/meals/
• Saline Area Schools COVID-19 Resource Page

Saline Area Social Services Update

SASS Priority Needs:

• Toothpaste
• Gluten-Free Items
• Boxed side dish ie noodles, rice, potatoes
• Canned tuna
• Canned chicken
• Canned vegetables
• Canned fruit
• Canned stew, chili and spam

PTA POINTS

• ORDERS DUE BY THIS THURSDAY – please use the following link and click on “ORDER NOW” to place your order.

Did You Know?

Did you know that you can share input for the 2020-2021 school year?

Please select the correct link for what grade your child is entering in the fall.

• Students entering YOUNG 5s or KINDERGARTEN
• Students entering FIRST GRADE
• Students entering SECOND GRADE
• Students entering THIRD GRADE
• Students entering FOURTH GRADE

Ms. Sickler Reads!

READ ALONG with MICHELLE OBAMA | The Gruffalo | PBS KIDS

A Note From Ms. Sickler

We continue with our distance learning plan this week.  If your child has not yet engaged with any of the learning our teachers have developed and posted to SeeSaw and emailed to families now is the time to get started. While our buildings may be closed, our learning continues to grow. The Governor’s order regarding the closure of schools requires that new learning opportunities and student engagement in these new opportunities continue to take place.  That being said, we realize every family is in a different space and has different needs.  I have been so very grateful to the amazing Harvest teachers for creating positive remote learning environments for their students.  With that, we are especially grateful to parents and families.  We know that balancing work, family, and school isn’t easy for anyone.   Please let us know how your family is doing by checking in: HARVEST FAMILY CHECK-IN FORM.

If there is anything we can do to support your family in any way, please let us know – you can email your classroom teacher or me at sicklere@salineschools.org

Love and virtual hugs,

Ms. Sicker

Specials Newsletter

Each week our elementary specials teachers will be sharing some ideas for you to create, sing, move, innovate, and read.  Check out this week’s newsletter HERE.

*NEW THIS WEEK* – Mrs. Reeves has created a video to help with moving between classes in Seesaw, check it out HERE.

COVID-19 District Notes

• SAS MEAL PROGRAM: IMPORTANT UPDATE! 

  • Our Department of Food Services has been working extremely hard to provide nutritious meals for our community each week. I am emailing you with information regarding a slight change in the program:

    • Starting now, families will need to sign up for meals on a weekly basis. 

    • The window to request meals for the following week will open on Friday at 12:00 p.m., and close on Monday at 12:00 p.m.

    • When you sign up, you are now accounted for the following Tuesday and Friday for meal pickup.

    • The pickup process, location, days and times will remain the same.

    • For more information, please visit our new SAS Meals Page on the website.

    Reminder, you can receive meals for all students under the age of 18 and anyone with special needs under the age of 26. Meal request for the week of April 20th, 2020, is now open – click HERE.  

    If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us via “Lets Talk,” and we will respond.

   

• Saline Area Schools COVID-19 Resource Page

Saline Area Social Services Update

UPDATED NEEDS AS OF 4-14-2020
Deli Meat (Prepackaged)
Eggs
Yogurt
Chunky Soup
Boxed Side Dishes (noodles, rice, potatoes)
Canned Tuna
Canned Chicken
Canned Vegetables
Canned Fruit
Canned Soup (not chunky)
Canned Stew, Chili and Spam
Toilet Paper

PTA POINTS

• ORDER A YEARBOOK BY 4/30 – please use the following link and click on “ORDER NOW” to place your order.

Did You Know?

Did you know that Mrs. Rosen-Leacher is retiring in June?  The Saline Post article is linked HERE.  I know for many of you, Betty was the first principal for your family and holds a special place in your heart!  If you would like to send her well-wishes, you can send notes to Pleasant Ridge in care of her.

Pleasant Ridge Elementary School

229 Pleasant Ridge Dr.

Saline, MI 48176

Ms. Sickler Reads!

Ms. Sickler Reads! Playlist, including all chapters of Amelia Bedelia Means Business.

A Note From Ms. Sickler

• We have worked with SchoolPictures to extend the deadline to purchase yearbooks until 4/30.  If you have not purchased a yearbook and still are interested in getting one, please use the following link and click on “ORDER NOW” to place your order.

• On Wednesday, April 15, 2020, from 2 pm – 4 pm, SAS is offering a device pick up at Saline High School. If your child needs an additional device, please fill out this form for each child for whom you need a device: LAST CALL – DEVICE PICK-UP to get your child (children) added to the list.  Please complete this form no later than Monday, April 13th at 12:00 pm.  Note that SAS does have plenty of devices to support your family’s needs. It is difficult to have to share devices within each family so if you need additional devices, we have them available.

• With our continuity of learning plan now in motion, we felt that it was important to issue a supplemental acceptable use policy that deals specifically with some of the nuances of distance learning. Please review the document with your child, enter your first and last name as well as the first and last name of your child. When completed, please sign the form and click submit. It would be appreciated if this form could be completed by Tuesday, April 14, 2020.   The form can be accessed by clicking here.
• Let us know how you are doing!  HARVEST FAMILY CHECK-IN FORM

If there is anything we can do to support your family in any way, please let us know – you can email your classroom teacher or me at sicklere@salineschools.org

Specials Newsletter

Each week our elementary specials teachers will be sharing some ideas for you to create, sing, move, innovate, and read.  Check out this week’s newsletter HERE.

*NEW THIS WEEK* – We are adding a new class for you to post your Specials work in Seesaw.  Please check out this video to learn more!

COVID-19 District Notes

• A Guide to SAS Distance Learning
• Saline Area Schools COVID-19 Resource Page

PTA Points

We were able to collect many items for Mott Children’s Hospital during our last Harvest Helping Hands.  Although we are unable to donate them to the hospital at this time, they are in storage at Harvest and as soon as the hospital is accepting donations, we will drop them off.  Thank you to all the families who brought in a toy to be donated.

Saline Area Social Services Update

Priority items – April 10th:
Eggs
Laundry pods
Toilet paper
Deli meat
½ gal containers of milk
Healthy Snacks
Mac and cheese
Instant Oatmeal
Cereal
Peanut Butter
Jelly in a plastic container
Yogurt
Canned condensed soup

Did You Know?

Did you know that you can share input for the 2020-2021 school year?

Please select the correct link for what grade your child is entering in the fall.

• Students entering YOUNG 5s or KINDERGARTEN
• Students entering FIRST GRADE
• Students entering SECOND GRADE
• Students entering THIRD GRADE
• Students entering FOURTH GRADE

Ms. Sickler Reads!

Amelia Bedelia Chapters 1-10 on the Ms. Sickler Reads Playlist!

A Note From Ms. Sickler

On Monday, April 6th, we will begin our previously planned distance learning plan.  Please remember that we have never done learning like this before. Your child is new at this.  You are new at this. We are new at this. We fully expect some challenges this week and expect this to evolve over time.  The health and well-being of our students and families remain our focus and we have not lost sight that we are in the middle of a global pandemic.  Please let us know how you and your family are doing by completing this quick check-in, linked HERE.

As your child heads “back to school” tomorrow, know that the district administrative team is meeting daily to figure out answers to the many questions that have come up since Governor Whitmer’s Executive Order.  Expect continued communication from both Superintendent Graden and myself.  If you have any questions, please reach out to me.

We are ready and excited to continue to connect and engage with our students.  We are Saline Strong.

A Note From Ms. Sickler

Good morning Harvest Family, 

First and foremost, I hope your family is healthy and staying safe.  Yesterday was a hard day with Governor Whitmer’s Executive Order closing schools for the remainder of the year.  Please refer to Superintendent Graden’s email sent yesterday about Governor Whitmer’s Executive Order HERE.  If you are anything like me, there was a wide range of emotions yesterday.   I spent the day thinking about all 466 of my Harvest “kids” and wondering how they were doing.  Please tell them how much I miss them!

What I do know is that school is not closed – buildings are.  Here at Harvest we have the most hardworking, passionate educators who started three weeks ago working on ways to stay connected with their students and finding new ways to provide educational opportunities from afar.  We are committed to continue to be innovative and responsive to our students.  

Beginning next week (April 7th), the Saline Area Schools Food Services Department will be providing meals two days per week on Tuesdays and Fridays.  For more information, please refer to this website article: https://bit.ly/2UxV9d0

To best serve the community and prepare meal packages, we request that all interested families fill out THIS FORM. 

I hope you use this time to love your family.  While we didn’t choose to be home, we can choose, at least in part, how we use the time.  

Love and virtual hugs,

Ms. Sickler