Week of May 30th – June 3rd

A Note from Ms. SicklerCLOSED - Memorial Day - ELK Products

I hope all Harvest families can take time to rest and relax during this long weekend and reflect on what matters most to you and your family, whatever that may be.  As we enjoy time with family, let us also take the opportunity to remember and express our gratitude to all the men and women who have served and sacrificed for our country.

Last Wednesday, I shared the following message:

We have made the decision to postpone Harvest Field Day due to the current weather report which calls for rain most of the day on Friday.  Harvest Field Day will now take place on Monday, June 6thStudents will continue to follow the original schedule.  Thank you for your understanding.

Last Thursday, I shared the following message:

This week, I have been watching the media with great sadness and thinking about your child.  I recognize the role and responsibility we play as we welcome your child and the other 451 students to Harvest each day.  I see you as you hug your child extra tight before they bound into our school, as you stand outside and watch them walk/skip/twirl their way to start the day.  I know those hugs take place at bus stops and before drop-offs too.  On behalf of the entire Harvest staff, please know that we don’t take our job lightly and that we show up daily to provide a safe, joyful, and rich learning experience for every single Harvest Hornet.  I could not be more proud of the Harvest staff and their commitment to the children we serve.  

This week I witnessed students collaborating with one another, growing as readers and writers, and sharing with their friends.  Our staff was responsive to our little learners and worked hard to create these rich learning experiences.  While the Robb Elementary tragedy was not directly addressed in classrooms, I took some time to find resources that may be beneficial to you and your family.

While I think these resources are appropriate for our Harvest Hornets, you are your children’s first and best teachers. You will know how they are doing today and moving forward.  If I can be of any assistance to your child or your family, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Ms. Sickler

Harvest Specials Information

2022 Virtual Art Show – HARVEST

Missed the virtual music concert that was sent on Wednesday, May 25th?  Contact Mrs. Dana (danat@salineschools.org) to get the link!


Third Grade Day Clap Out


PTA Points

  • Field Day
    • New Date – Monday, June 6th
    • If you previously signed up and now are unable to volunteer, please remove your name from the sign-up.  If you can not come and help, feel free to sign up!

    • Volunteers, if you have not already volunteered and are in our Harvest Raptor system, please stop by the office ahead of Field Day or plan on coming 10 minutes early to sign in on Friday.

Lunch & Meals Info - Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind

  • Sign up for lunch help HERE (through June 10th).

Quick Links

District

Harvest


District Notes

A few Saline parents have organized a community screening of the new documentary ‘Unseen.’ This 45 minute film brings community awareness to lives lived by Parents and Caregivers in the disability and special needs community. The movie will be hosted Wednesday, June 1st in the Liberty School Building Auditorium at 7:00pm- located at 7265 N. Ann Arbor St. Saline, MI. This event is free to any friends, family, community members and/or staff of the Saline Area Schools district in Saline, Michigan.  Please RSVP with the form below so that event organizers can plan for refreshments and caregiver resource gift bags for film attendees.  For more information about the film please visit www.caregiverdoc.com

RSVP Here:  www.tinyurl.com/SAScaregiverDOC


Sweet Tweets of the Week


Did You Know?

Did you know that the mission of the Saline Area Schools Early Childhood Services Pooh Corner Preschool Program is to provide an engaging learning environment to foster children’s imagination, creativity, and problem-solving skills?

Pooh Corner Program, for children ages 3 to 5 years old, is operated by Saline Community Education and is located in the Liberty School building. The program is designed to foster children’s competency in all areas of development. We offer a well-balanced curriculum to promote cognitive, physical, emotional, social development, and kindergarten readiness of children.


Ms. Sickler Reads!

Week of May 23rd – May 27th

A Note from Ms. Sicklermbf-social-blog-mentalhealth - Old Dominion University

 

With May being Mental Health Awareness Month, Still Waters Counseling put together this video of Mindfulness Activities for kids in grades K-5.

  • Sign up to volunteer HERE
  • Young 5s, Kindergarten, & First Grade Schedule
    • 9-11am: Field Day Activities (playground)
    • 11:15-11:45am: Lunch (bring a towel, hot lunch available)
    • 1:00-3:00pm: Bounce Houses
  • Second & Third Grade Schedule
    • 9-11am: Bounce Houses
    • 12:00-12:30pm: Lunch (bring a towel, hot lunch available)
    • 1:00-3:00pm: Field Day Activities (playground)

Don’t Forget

Remember, No School on Monday, May 30th!

Ms. Sickler

PTA Points

  • Thank you to Harvest family members who have signed up to help with Field Day on Friday!
    • Field Day Volunteer Sign Up 
    • Volunteers, if you have not already volunteered and are in our Harvest Raptor system, please stop by the office ahead of Field Day or plan on coming 10 minutes early to sign in on Friday.

Lunch & Meals Info - Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind

  • Sign up for lunch help HERE (through June 3rd).

Quick Links

District

Harvest


District Notes

Coming Monday! An Invitation to Participate in the SAS School and District Quality Survey: A link to SAS’s annual end-of-year school/district quality survey will be sent via school email on Monday, May 23rd.  The district wants to hear your thoughts on critical school issues, including academic support, student support, family involvement, school/district leadership, and more.  Your feedback is an important part of the district decision-making and goal-setting process. Your participation is truly appreciated!
Read Dr. Laatsch’s May 20th Community Message HERE.

Sweet Tweets of the Week


Did You Know?

Did you know that your child may be eligible for FREE Community Education summer programming?

Saline Community Education is excited to offer a wide array of summer programming from enrichment to recreation.  Students in families who qualify for free and reduced lunch and/or qualify in other categories per legislative requirements are eligible to participate for free as a part of the Covid-19 grant given to Saline Schools.

Families already eligible will automatically receive communication regarding this program next week; however, if you feel you are eligible and have not applied for free and reduced lunch, do so by clicking on this link: 2021-2022 Free/Reduced Lunch Application.

Questions regarding Saline’s free/reduced lunch program can be asked via Food Service’s Let’s Talk.

Week of May 16th – May 20th

A Note from Ms. Sickler

  • Field Day 2022 is almost here and we need your help to make this a huge success for our students.  We ask that if you wish to participate that you please volunteer at one or more of the events/times during the day.  We are excited to make this a really special day for all our Harvest Hornets and can only make that happen with volunteer support!  Help is still needed in the following areas:
    • 9am – 11am: 9 volunteers needed to help with 2nd and 3rd grade classes doing bounce houses
    • 11:15am – 11:45am: 12 volunteers needed to help with Y5, K, and 1st grade lunch
    • 12:00pm – 12:30pm: 16 volunteers needed to help with 2nd and 3rd grade lunch
    • 1:00pm – 3:00pm: 9 volunteers needed to help with 2nd and 3rd grade field day stations
    • 1:00pm – 3:00pm: 12 volunteers needed to help with Y5, K, and 1st grade classes doing bounce houses

Sign up to volunteer HERE

  • One of our favorite Harvest traditions is to “clap out” our third-grade students on the last day of school.  Students and staff line the halls and our third graders take a final walk through the halls at Harvest and a final lap on the playground.  We encourage all Harvest families to make the clap out extra special by lining the track on the last day of school.  Noisemakers, cowbells, and other celebratory items strongly encouraged (don’t forget your tissues too).
Ms. Sickler

PTA PointsMay be an image of ‎text that says '‎Harvest Helping Hands Many little hands Making BIG difference SOCK DRIVE BENEFITTING MICHIGAN FOSTER CARE WWW.MICHICANFOSTERCARECLOSET.ORG CLOSET Donate a pack of new socks based your child's grade Y5-K: infant 0-24ms 1st:6-10.5 2nd: 10.54 3rd: 3rd:4-10 4-10 ۔hbie floor between the stairs .y9-Ju3‎'‎

 

Lunch & Meals Info - Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind

  • Sign up for lunch help HERE (through May 27th).

Quick Links

District

Harvest


District Notes

Updated Covid-19 Guidelines for Saline Area Schools

  • Washtenaw County is currently at a “high” COVID-19 community transmission level.
  • At the high level, masking indoors is highly recommended (but not required) according to the CDC and the Washtenaw County Health Department (WCHD).
  • Indoor public locations include K-12 schools and other indoor community settings.
  • SAS will continue to follow the WCHD guidance linked HERE. 
  • Access to the SAS Covid Dashboard can be found HERE.
  • There are no masking mandate orders being considered at this time by the WCHD.

Information about Pandemic-EBT


Sweet Tweets of the Week


Did You Know?

Did you know that a few Saline parents have organized a viewing of the documentary Unseen?  The movie will be hosted on Wednesday, June 1st in Liberty’s Auditorium at 7:00pm. The event is free to staff and families thanks to the generosity of a Saline family.

Northstar Reach is a Michigan camp for students who are medically fragile. More information for families here.

Week of May 9th – May 13th

A Note from Ms. Sickler

For those celebrating today, Happy Mother’s Day!

Thank You Everyone! – Wood Chip Chatter

On behalf of the entire Harvest staff, we are so appreciative of all the kindness this past week as we celebrated Staff Appreciation Week.  Our staff is grateful for the treats last week and the ongoing support all year!

The SAS Wellness Committee is partnering with Still Waters Counseling to offer a Parent Webinar with Q&A Session focused on anxiety. The session is hosted by Smita Nagpal, Ph.D., Co-owner and Director of Programs Development at Still Waters Counseling. She will discuss why anxiety happens and physiological responses to anxiety, and she will offer tips and resources for parents to support their children. Finally, the session will conclude with a Q & A portion.

This event will take place on May 11th, 2022, via Zoom. There are two opportunities for you to attend. One is at 12:30 pm and the second is at 6:30 pm. Both sessions will cover the same information, so you do not need to attend both.

The Zoom link and codes for the May 11th, 12:30 pm session are:

The Zoom link and codes for the May 11th, 6:30 pm session are:

Ms. Sickler

May/June Specials Calendar


PTA PointsClip Art of the coming soon sign

  • Be on the lookout, we will be sending out more information this week about volunteers for our Field Day on Friday, May 27th!

 

Lunch & Meals Info - Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind

  • Sign up for lunch help HERE (through May 20th).

Quick Links

District

Harvest


District Notes

From Dr. Laatsch’s May 6th Community Message:

Board of Education Meeting
Tuesday, May 10th at 6:30 PM, Liberty School
Zoom Link  

Read entire message HERE.


Sweet Tweets of the Week

 


Did You Know?

Did you know that we continue to follow the Washtenaw County Health Department guidance regarding COVID-19 (linked here)? Page 4 has specific guidance regarding returning to school after a positive test including:

  • Students and staff must isolate for at least 5 days after symptom onset (considered day “0”). They should not return to school unless symptoms have significantly improved and they have been fever-free for at least 24 hours.
  • At this time, we are requiring students and staff to have a negative rapid test (NOT a PCR test) prior to returning to school. This will determine if the individual is still contagious. We can offer a test at school or provide free at-home test kits for use at home if needed.
  • Students and staff must continue to wear a fitted mask through day 10 after symptom onset (which is day “0”). KN95 masks are available in the office for all students and staff returning after a COVID infection if needed.

Please reach out to one of our district nurses if you have any questions regarding this guidance:

Thank you for your continued partnership as we continue to navigate COVID-19 in the school setting!

Week of May 2nd – May 6th

A Note from Ms. Sickler

Harvest PTA has created a wonderful week to make all our Harvest staff feel special for Teacher Appreciation.  Want to make your teachers’ day extra special this week?  Check out their favorite things HERE.

  • Monday: small gift and note
  • Tuesday: small gift and note
  • Wednesday: Breakfast treats before school
  • Thursday: small gift and note
  • Friday: special gift bag

 

Additionally, please take a look at our most recent guidance about returning to school after a COVID infection (linked HERE).  As someone who recently tested positive for COVID, I too will be following this guidance, ensuring I come back only after a negative rapid test and wearing a KN95 mask through day 10.  Thank you for your continued partnership as we continue to navigate COVID-19 in the school setting.

Ms. Sickler

The SAS Wellness Committee is partnering with Still Waters Counseling to offer a Parent Webinar with Q&A Session focused on anxiety. The session is hosted by Smita Nagpal, Ph.D., Co-owner and Director of Programs Development at Still Waters Counseling. She will discuss why anxiety happens and physiological responses to anxiety, and she will offer tips and resources for parents to support their children. Finally, the session will conclude with a Q & A portion.

This event will take place on May 11th, 2022, via Zoom. There are two opportunities for you to attend. One is at 12:30 pm and the second is at 6:30 pm. Both sessions will cover the same information, so you do not need to attend both.

The Zoom link and codes for the May 11th, 12:30 pm session are:

The Zoom link and codes for the May 11th, 6:30 pm session are:


PTA Points

  • Our Harvest Field Day is Friday, May 27th!  If you are interested in having your child(ren) have a field day t-shirt, order HERE.  All orders are due by May 1st.

Musical Instruments Clipart - dj-with-music-system-big-speakers-clipart-2 - Classroom Clipart

  • In Search Of: Large Speakers and adult to play music at the 2022 Harvest Field Day (Friday, May 27th, 9-11am and 1-3pm).  Contact harvestptapresident@gmail.com.

 

Lunch & Meals Info - Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind

  • Sign up for lunch help HERE (through May 13th).

Quick Links

District

Harvest


District Notes

From Dr. Laatsch’s April 29th Community Message:

COVID-19 Outbreaks

As shared earlier this week, after reviewing the data from last weekend and Monday, we observed a definite uptick in COVID activity compared to previous weeks. Review of the data identified clusters/outbreak activity mostly in the elementary setting and some situations tied to school trips (5th grade camp and the Washington DC trip). We continue to work with the WCHD in these situations and will continue to follow the WCHD guidance regarding outbreak management and notification. An outbreak/cluster is defined by the WCHD as 3 or more cases within a classroom/group or 10% or more of the class.

Update from Tuesday’s message:  We identified outbreaks in 11 classrooms over the course of this week, primarily in the elementary school setting. In addition and as previously reported, we identified outbreak situations tied to the Washington DC trip.  We are providing notification to all classrooms/groups involved and following the WCHD guidance around testing and masking in these situations. Our nursing staff has worked hard administering COVID tests throughout the district over the past week related to these situations. In addition, approximately 800 free home tests have been distributed to families. This work will continue until the end of the school year.


Sweet Tweets of the Week

 


Did You Know?

Did you know that our third-grade families can walk through Heritage on May 26th?