Week of January 15th – January 19th

Saline Area Schools are closed on Monday, January 15 to honor the legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. We encourage families to use this opportunity as a “day on” to learn more about the significance of MLK’s legacy or take time to honor equality, justice, and service to the community. Some local opportunities for extended learning are captured in the article linked HERE.

Please note the lilac paper that was sent home in your student’s take home folder. This Parent Information/Feedback Form will be shared with the Washtenaw County Health Services Department when they complete hearing & vision testing with students from January 31st – February 2nd. If you have not already returned the lilac paper, please do so this week.

Emily

THIS MONDAY – No School
Thursday, January 25th – 6:30-8:00pm SEAC (special education advisory committee) members Meet & Greet at Liberty School
Thursday, February 1st – New York Times Bestselling author Julie Lythcott-Haimes speaking on topics from her book, How to Raise an Adult. Interested participants can RSVP here.
Friday, February 16th – Early Release Day (lunch served, 1:10pm dismissal)
Monday, February 19th – No School
Thursday, March 7th & Friday, March 8th – 1/2 Day (no lunch served, 12:10pm dismissal)
March 23rd – March 31st – No School; Spring Break

Do your kiddos’ Crocs need a new look? Check out our brand new Saline hornet jibbitz! Get one for $4 or get three for $10! Available now in our Spirit Wear shop linked HERE
Sign up to help in the lunch room in January HERE

Thanks to the dedicated work of our bus drivers, mechanics, substitutes, and Operations Team, we cancelled only 2% of our bus routes this fall AND hired several new bus drivers. While bus route cancellations are always possible, they are unlikely, and we will be ceasing our weekly updates about the status of bus routes. Impacted families will be notified directly if route cancellations are necessary.

Join us for an evening with Dr. Julie Lythcott-Haims, New York Times bestselling author of “How to Raise an Adult,” on Feb 1, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. at the Saline Middle School Auditorium. Gain insights on fostering resilience in children without over-parenting. RSVP: bit.ly/44D74a9

Did you know that Saline has a Special Education Advisory Committee? They serve as a resource to support and advise SAS administrators on matters pertaining to special education services in SAS. Members of the SAS Special Education Advisory Committee will consider matters such as, but not limited to, the following:
- Educate and inform SAS parents, staff, and administration as well as the community
- Advise and recommend the processes and standards for the delivery of services
- Provide administrative and staff support
- Perform other duties as suggested by the Superintendent of Schools, the Director of Special Education, or SAS Building Administrators

Who Are We?

Meet Tara and Carol, your SEAC parent representatives for Harvest Elementary School! Tara has 2 daughters in the Saline School District; 3 daughters total (1 in different district). Tara’s oldest daughter Michaiah is in 7th grade and has Autism and ADHD. Alexis is in 2nd grade and has Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) and Autism. Outside of school, Tara is also an advocate and fundraiser for an incredible non-profit, Friendship Circle. Friendship Circle’s goal is to provide every individual with special needs, adult or child, with the support, friendship, and inclusion that they deserve.

Carol’s oldest son, Lucas is in 3rd grade has ADHD and a speech delay. Noah is in 2nd grade and has Autism and a speech delay. Carol’s desire is to bridge the gap between school and parents within the community in bringing opportunities for parent support and playdates. Tara and Carol are passionate in their roles as both mom and special education advocates and would love to share any knowledge or experience we’ve gained to help families navigate similar pathways.

Please feel free to contact us with questions regarding special education and resources or if you’d like to partner and connect. We look forward to hearing from you!

Contact info:

Tara Hayes-Johnson (Tara Hayes). Phone: (317)908-4428. Email: tarhayes@gmail.com

Carol Allard. Phone: (734)529-7784. Email: carolallard@live.com

SEAC Meet, Greet and Collaborate

Please join us for a meeting with the SEAC (special education advisory committee) members on Thursday, January 25, 2024 6:30-8pm in the Board of Education room, Liberty Building. The evening will start with an introduction of committee members and the district PAC reps. We will be meeting parents and discussing the special education programs at Saline Area Schools and collaborating on ways to improve student and parent experience and engagement.

Learn more HERE