Week of September 11th – September 15th

Emily Sickler

It’s time for the annual Fun Run at Harvest Elementary School! This is our ONE BIG fundraiser for the year and provides the PTA with the funds to pay for many awesome things! Every dollar donated is VERY appreciated!  Funds raised go to PTA-funded events and programs such as classroom reimbursement for teachers, teacher grant programs, field trip transportation, science fairs, field days, and more! 

We have teamed up with Get Movin’ to make this event fun and profitable with online mobile-friendly technology!  Please help us reach our goal by sharing your student’s webpage with friends and family via social media, text messages, and email. We genuinely appreciate your support!

Follow these 3 Simple Steps:

  • First Register or re-login to your parent dashboard and complete your child’s student webpage with a PICTURE at getmovinfundhub.com. School Identifier: 5d63f5a11df5e
  • Make an online donation using the red Donate button right away
  • Share with friends and family, they want to help!
    • Send 10-15 emails and/or text messages
    • Post Facebook or Twitter
    • Help your child reach their goal in 24/48 hours

OUR TOTAL SCHOOL GOAL is $25,000.00

Event Details:

Fun Run Date: 10/06/2023
Final Donation due date: 10/13/2023 11:59 PM
Donations in the form of cash & checks (in-school donations), should be turned in to the school.
Please make checks payable to: Harvest PTA

Emily

Parents and guardians are invited to join Saline Area Schools personnel for a series of School and Family Partnership sessions designed to leverage school and community resources for the best outcomes for students and children. The first of this series will provide an overview of the measures Saline Area Schools take to provide a safe environment for students, and the ways in which families can help us keep our buildings and students safe. Join us on September 19 from 6-7 p.m. at the Liberty School Board Room. An RSVP is appreciated by completing the form at bit.ly/44D74a9 

Did you know that Community Education has a Sweetheart Dance?

Register HERE

District

Harvest

Week of September 4th – September 8th

Emily Sickler

  • Students will be called to get their photos taken with their teacher and class starting the morning of Thursday, September 7th.  We schedule classes prior to specials and lunch for the most ideal photo.
  • Order photos online: schoolpictures.com (use keyword: AA1205Fall23) 
  • School picture photographers will be back for retakes for students who are not in school on Thursday or would like to retake their photos.  More information will be shared closer to the retake day.

Emily

  • Sign up to help this Thursday for Picture Day HERE
  • Sign up to help in the lunch room HERE

Two District Advisory Committees Seeking New Members

Two District-wide advisory committees are seeking applications for new members. Committee positions are open to parents, students, and community members. Applications are open on a rolling basis, but will be reviewed after September 30.

SAS Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Committee (DEIAC)

The DEIAC, along with Saline Area Schools, are committed to creating a culturally competent and responsive school environment where the diverse attributes of each student, staff member, and community member are recognized, valued, and celebrated. If you are interested in being a part of this charge, please complete an application by September 30, 2023. Please direct any questions to Laura Washington at washingl@salineschools.org

SAS Wellness Committee

The mission of the SAS Wellness Committee is to ensure the Wellness Policy created by the Saline Board of Education, as required by law, is implemented and reviewed regularly. Additionally, we hope to support and improve the physical and mental health of our school community, both staff and students, through education, experiences, and access to goods and services. Interested individuals should complete an application by September 30, 2023. Please direct any questions to Musetta Deneen at deneenm@salineschools.org

Did you know that on September 18th from 5:30-7:30pm there is a session on Positive Discipline at the Ypsilanti District Library (Dinner and childcare will be provided with a sign-up) through the Parent Coalition Meeting?  Sign up HERE.

District

Harvest

Week of August 28th – September 1st

Emily Sickler

Seeing so many of you earlier this week at Open House was wonderful!   Please take a moment to review the following points to ensure a smooth, safe, and successful first week for all our Harvest Hornets!

ARRIVAL

Many adults will be outside to support arrival the first week of school.  If you are able to help students who are arriving off the bus, please sign up HERE.  Students will line up with their class.  Check out where each class lines up in this slide deck (starting on slide 7).

SPECIALS

Each Harvest Hornet is able to experience a “special” block a day.  Check out the Specials Calendar and Specials Rotation below.

LUNCH

Only full breakfast/lunch meal choices are included as part of the free school meal program.  Families may still choose to fund their students’ accounts using the Meal Magic Portal, in order to cover the cost of ala carte choices and snacks outside of breakfast and lunch. Parents are invited to view the Frequently Asked Questions for additional information.

Here are the following lunch times:

LUNCHTIMES
1st 11:00-11:30
2nd 11:35-12:05
Y5/Kdg 12:10-12:40
3rd 12:45-1:15

We GLADLY accept help in the lunchroom each week, please sign up HERE to help!

 

DISMISSAL

Please make sure your student’s teacher is aware of how your student is getting home on the first day of school.  Bus assignments are now visible in the Ride 360 app.  If you have any questions about bussing/transportation, the best way to reach the department is by email at transportation@salineschools.org or by phone at (734) 401-4479.

 

YOUNG 5s/KINDERGARTENEN ONLY

Monday, August 28th will be an ORIENTATION day for district Young Five students and Kindergarten students. Your child leaves with you at the end of orientation.  This type of day provides an opportunity for you and your child to meet the teacher and receive important information as part of a small group.  We feel this day will greatly reduce “first-day jitters” and help produce a smooth, easy transition into the school year.  When visiting the classroom on August 28th, please come at the time designated in your child’s teacher placement letter.  Family members and students will stay for the entire 45-minute session.  Please arrive promptly! We ask that you NOT bring younger siblings to this orientation day.  Our students and family members will have several tasks to complete during this period.  Unfortunately, we do not have babysitting arrangements for younger children.

Finally, an important reminder to give your students a lot of grace when they get home this first week of school.  We ask a lot of our young learners as they transition from a “summer schedule” to a “school schedule”.  Please be ready with water, snacks, and (most likely) quiet time when you see your children at the end of the day.  It takes time for young brains and bodies to adjust to the new social, emotional, and academic load.  We get there, but usually not for a couple of days… and water and snacks help!

Emily

  • Help make this first week a success with arrival!  You will support students getting off the bus and getting into their correct teacher lines.  We will need support from 8:30-8:50 each day during the first week (and on Tuesday of the second week)!  Sign up HERE.
  • Sign up to help in the lunch room HERE

Did you know that Harvest students can be part of Cub Scouts?  Learn more on September 14th at 6:30pm at the Saline First United Methodist Church.

District

Harvest

Week of August 21st – August 25th

Emily Sickler

On Wednesday we will be having our Harvest Open House from 5:30-7:00 pm where you can visit your classroom (drop off supplies prior to the first day of school) and meet Harvest staff members.  With so many families visiting Harvest, parking tends to fill up quickly.  The Saline High School parking lot is another great option to park.  A crosswalk and sidewalk allow you to safely cross and get to our school.  If you arrive before 5:30 pm, feel free to play on our playground.  At 5:30 pm we will open all three sets of doors (main doors, Kindergarten/2nd grade, and 1st grade/3rd grade) where you can enter Harvest.  Make sure to stop by the cafeteria to check out the PTA table selling Harvest gear and learn more about various community organizations.  The Harvest office will also be open where you can meet our building secretary and drop off medication.

Throughout this week I will be sending some specific updates related to arrival/dismissal to help ensure next week is safe for everyone.  Feel free to take a look at this arrival/dismissal slideshow to learn more about how we all work together to ensure our Harvest Hornets safely get in and out of our building.

New to the Harvest Happenings Blog?  Here is what you missed:

Emily

  • Make sure to stop by the cafeteria and meet PTA board members during Open House!
  • Help make this first week a success with arrival!  You will support students getting off the bus and getting into their correct teacher lines.  We will need support from 8:30-8:50 each day during the first week (and on Tuesday of the second week)!  Sign up HERE.

For the upcoming 2023-24 school year, the State of Michigan has authorized free meals for all students as part of the Michigan School Meals program! This means students 4 years old and above attending public schools will have the opportunity to enjoy breakfast and lunch at no cost throughout the academic year. Please note: Only full breakfast/lunch meal choices are included as part of the free school meal program. A la carte menu choices including milk, snacks, etc. are charged separately.

Families should still complete the 23-24 School Meals EBT application, which helps ensure ongoing state funding and can qualify our school or community for other special programs and provides reduced rates for programs like athletics and community education. Parents or guardians can submit confidential applications online.

Families may still choose to fund their students’ accounts using the Meal Magic Portal, in order to cover the cost of ala carte choices and snacks outside of breakfast and lunch. Parents are invited to view the Frequently Asked Questions for additional information.

Michigan School Meals offer a great opportunity for everyone to eat together in the cafeteria and hopefully make it easier for students and families to confidently check breakfast and lunch off their list. We’re excited to serve even more students in the Saline community this year, helping to fuel busy days with favorite menu items and a variety of delicious new recipes! 

District

Harvest

Week of August 14th – August 18th

Emily Sickler

I realize that there are a few weeks of summer left and I hope more fun is still left to be had.

  • This Thursday – get a letter from your new teacher via PowerSchool and learn about your bussing information.  If you do not receive your teacher letter by 5:00pm on Thursday, please email harvestoffice@salineschools.org and someone will get back to you on Friday.
  • Should you wish to get a jump on Back to School shopping, classrooms welcome the following supplies/donations.  ALL supplies will be available for students if you are unable to bring in supplies.  However, please note that individual teachers may also have requests unique to classroom needs and will be indicated on your child’s “Welcome”/placement letter.

Miss last week’s Harvest Happenings (our first edition of the 23-24 school year)?  Read it HERE.

Emily

  • August 28th – First Day of School for 1st – 3rd graders
    • Y5 & Kindergarten Orientation (specific times sent with teacher letter)
  • August 29th – First Day of School for Y5 and Kindergarten students
  • August 30th – September 3rd – Saline Community Fair
  • September 1st & September 4th – No School
  • September 7th – Harvest Picture Day
  • September 16th – RunTough Event

If you want to know more about Harvest PTA and how to get involved, feel free to check out our Harvest PTA Welcome Letter.
2023-2024 Harvest Board Members:
  • Katie Reynolds-President (harvestptapresident@gmail.com)
  • Lori Garcia-Treasurer (harvestptatreasurer@gmail.com)
  • Karly Melkonian-Recording Secretary (harvestptarecsec@gmail.com)
  • TBD – Volunteer Coordinator/ Communications (harvestvolunteercoordinator@gmail.com)
  • TBD – Vice President (harvestptavp@gmail.com)
  • Chris Burke – Spirit Wear (harvestspiritwear@gmail.com)
  • Sandra Alfonso – Community Outreach (harvestptacomoutreach@gmail.com)
  • Melissa Reeves – Teacher Liaison (reevesm@salineschools.org)

Register HERE for your 2nd and 3rd graders to take a field trip to the fair through Saline Community Education on September 1st.

District

Harvest

Welcome to the 2023-2024 School Year

Emily Sickler

Welcome Harvest Families,

My name is Emily Sickler and this is my fifth year serving as the proud principal of Harvest Elementary School.  If I have not yet had a chance to personally meet and welcome you to Harvest, please read page 3 of our Harvest Handbook where I share a message and a short video.

If you have driven by Harvest, you can see that crews are working hard on our roof.  This project is a two-year project with half of the roof to be completed this year and the reminder to be completed in Summer 2024.  Thus far, we are right on track with the roof work that needs to be completed for Summer 2023!  While work is happening outside, we are also working hard inside the building to make sure we can welcome so many new and returning students to Harvest this year.

I will use this blog to keep you updated with all Harvest Happenings!  Please be on the lookout for weekly updates each Sunday at 3:00pm. The cadence of this blog is consistent, with the following sections:

  • Note from Ms. Sickler
  • Save the Dates
  • PTA Points
  • District Notes
  • Quick Links
  • Did You Know?
  • Ms. Sickler Reads

I hope to keep you informed on the most pertinent information about what is happening here at Harvest to keep all students safe, joyful, and able to thrive.  If that is not the case for your child, please reach out to me directly so we can meet.  I can be reached at sicklere@salineschools.org.

Our Harvest Handbook has a wealth of information.  Throughout the next few months, I will be pulling out pieces of the handbook to highlight in this blog.

I am grateful for the most important work that I do… walking alongside families as students take some of the very first steps in their educational journeys.

Emily

  • August 11th and 12th – Saline Summerfest
  • Week of August 17th – Look for information from Transportation Department about bussing information
  • August 17th – Teacher Assignment Letters shared via PowerSchool email at 3:00pm
    • If the Powerschool re-enrollment forms are not completed by 8/14 (for returning Harvest students), families will not receive teacher placement letters on the 17th.
  • August 23rd – Harvest Open House (5:30-7:00pm)
  • August 28th – First Day of School for 1st – 3rd graders
    • Y5 & Kindergarten Orientation (specific times sent with teacher letter)
  • August 29th – First Day of School for Y5 and Kindergarten students
  • August 30th – September 3rd – Saline Community Fair
  • September 1st & September 4th – No School

If you want to know more about Harvest PTA and how to get involved, feel free to check out our Harvest PTA Welcome Letter.
2023-2024 Harvest Board Members:
  • Katie Reynolds-President (harvestptapresident@gmail.com)
  • Lori Garcia-Treasurer (harvestptatreasurer@gmail.com)
  • Karly Melkonian-Recording Secretary (harvestptarecsec@gmail.com)
  • TBD – Volunteer Coordinator/ Communications (harvestvolunteercoordinator@gmail.com)
  • TBD – Vice President (harvestptavp@gmail.com)
  • Chris Burke – Spirit Wear (harvestspiritwear@gmail.com)
  • Sandra Alfonso – Community Outreach (harvestptacomoutreach@gmail.com)
  • Melissa Reeves – Teacher Liaison (reevesm@salineschools.org)

Student ID numbers were sent to emails. This number is important for students and families to access important school applications and systems. Please refer to your email for more information.Photo from @salineschools on Instagram on salineschools at 8/1/23 at 7:43PM

District

Harvest

Final Harvest Happening of the 22-23 School Year!

Emily Sickler

  • THANK YOU for sharing your child with us this year.  It has been my pleasure and privilege to watch your child grow in so many ways this year.
  • Mrs. Larsen, our amazing art teacher, is retiring at the conclusion of this year.  We have been so lucky to have had her at Harvest to teach so many Harvest Hornets to be creative and find their artistic side for so many years.  Feel free to snap a photo of some artwork from home that you did in art class that you love, create a new piece of artwork for Mrs. Larsen, or add a special message to share with Mrs. Larsen on this Kudo board.  Mrs. Larsen will love to see the impact of her work at Harvest.
  • One of our favorite Harvest traditions is to “clap out” our third graders on the last day of school.  Our students and staff line the halls to allow our third graders a final chance to walk the halls and wave goodbye to their teachers from previous years.  Noisemakers, cowbells, and other celebratory items are strongly encouraged (don’t forget your tissues too).

Remember, this Thursday and Friday are 1/2 days of school.  School ends at 12:10pm and lunch is not served.

Emily

  • Join the 1st Annual Saline Alumni Golf Outing

Family Input For the 23-24 School Year

This is your opportunity to share your thoughts regarding your child as we start gathering information to begin the placement process for the 2023-20234 school year.  These input forms will be open throughout the remainder of the current school year.

Did you know we are not allowed to store student medication in the office in the summer months?  Learn more HERE.

District

Harvest

May 29th – June 2nd

Emily Sickler

A Note from Ms. Sickler

I hope all Harvest families were able to 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 who have served and sacrificed for our country.

A few notes as we are wrapping up the final weeks of the 22- 23 school year…

  • Join us this Thursday at 4:30pm in the Harvest Media Center to hear about a few *NEW* parking lot design options with our Kingscott Architects and share your thoughts.  Students are able to come and sit in a different part of the Media Center during the presentation.  If you are unable to attend but are interested in learning more about the design options and sharing your thoughts, please email Emily Sickler (sicklere@salineschools.org) and she can reach out to you personally.
  • One of our favorite Harvest traditions is to “clap out” our third graders on the last day of school.  Our students and staff line the halls to allow our third graders a final chance to walk the halls and wave goodbye to their teachers from previous years.

  • The June main entrees have changed from the school menus that are published.  In addition, please make sure to pay any outstanding balances by the end of the school year.  You can check your account HERE.
    • June 1  Sloppy Joe
    • June 2  Bosco Sticks
    • June 5  Nuggets
    • June 6 Cheeseburger
    • June 7 Taco
  • Please be on the lookout for Acadience data, which will be sent home the week of June 5th
  • We have a few extra yearbooks.  If you did not order a yearbook, you can order one using THIS LINK.

Emily

May/June Specials Calendar

PTA Points

District Notes

  • Join the 1st Annual Saline Alumni Golf Outing

  • The deadline for the Sex Ed Advisory Board has been extended to June 2nd.  Information and application are linked HERE.
  • EL Summer Camp will not be held this summer; however, there are several free options for summer programs through Saline Community Education and free private and/or small group EL tutoring. Our EL Families have been updated and we will be in contact with them to support them with registration.  Saline Community Education is excited to offer a wide array of Summer Programming, from Enrichment to Recreation.  You can access all of our programs by visiting our website at https://salineonline.reg.eleyo.com/. Please fill out the Google form to register for programs. COVID Summer Grant Registration Form. For questions, contact EL coordinator Katie O’Keeffe (okeeffek@salineschools.org)

Family Input For the 23-24 School Year

This is your opportunity to share your thoughts regarding your child as we start gathering information to begin the placement process for the 2023-20234 school year.  These input forms will be open throughout the remainder of the current school year.

Quick Links

District

Harvest

Did You Know?

Did you know that on May 13th, the Saline Heritage Science Olympiad team (which includes some Harvest Hornets) competed in the 2023 Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad?

Sweet Tweets

 

Week of May 22nd – May 26th

Emily Sickler

A Note from Ms. Sickler

This Friday is our Harvest Field Day!

 

All adults must go through the raptor process prior to helping or being a field day cheerleader. The more we know in advance, the more prepared we can be to get stickers printed ahead of time.  If you have not gone through the raptor system yet this year, you will need to come into the office with your license sometime this week or prior to your volunteer shift on Friday to be screened.  The process only takes about 2 minutes!

Field Day Schedule 

  • 9:00-11:00am
    • Y5-1st Grade – Field Activities on the playground
    • 2nd-3rd Grade – Bounce Houses
  • 11:15-11:45 – Y5-1st Grade Lunch
    • We will only be serving one hot lunch option (cheese pizza, fruit, vegetable, BBQ chips, and a juice box)
  • 12:00-12:30 – 2nd & 3rd Grade Lunch
    • We will only be serving one hot lunch option (cheese pizza, fruit, vegetable, BBQ chips, and a juice box)
  • 1:00-3:00pm
    • Y5-1st Grade – Bounce Houses
    • 2nd-3rd Grade – Field Activities on the playground

What to bring:

  • Reusable water bottles clearly labeled with your child’s name

  • Tennis shoes/ closed toed

  • SOCKS

  • Dress in layers

  • Towel for picnic-style lunch

  • Sunscreen (should be pre-applied at home)

Signing out your child after field day?

Families that choose to sign out their child after field day will sign out with their child’s teacher by the classroom once all classrooms have been dismissed back into the building at the conclusion of field day.

Emily

PTA Points

District Notes

Safety & Security – Superintendent’s Message (UPDATED May 19th)

SAS Families,

Over the past two weeks, Saline Area Schools and the Saline community has been impacted by actions and events that have created concern and fear. Saline Schools officials have worked diligently to respond to and address incidents that have occurred in multiple schools.

We appreciate that families, when encountering such circumstances, handle the transparency and related discussions in their homes in a variety of ways.

We have witnessed unsubstantiated / non-credible threats in multiple buildings. As a result, our staff in these buildings are putting in place measures to help curtail this behavior. This includes:

  • Even greater visibility by all our staff in the hallways during transitions and lunches

  • More frequent bathroom checks to make sure that these spaces are remaining free of graffiti and/or threatening comments

Here are ways that all of you can help the District and support your students in the process:

  • Assuring them that their principals and teachers are committed to their safety and would not open a building if there were reason for concern.

  • Encouraging them to express thoughts and feelings to a trusted adult.

  • Reporting concerning comments, actions, or images to a trusted adult immediately (NOTE: students have been historically very good at this and we greatly appreciate their proactive voices)

Additionally, please refer to my message earlier this year regarding the seriousness of these types of threats and related District response measures.  The District will continue to prioritize the safety and security of our students.

Thank you for your continued partnership,

Dr. Stephen Laatsch
laatschs@salineschools.org
(734) 401-4001

Family Input For the 23-24 School Year

This is your opportunity to share your thoughts regarding your child as we start gathering information to begin the placement process for the 2023-20234 school year.  These input forms will be open throughout the remainder of the current school year.

Quick Links

District

Harvest

Did You Know?

Did you know the WISD is launching a new program called My Future Fund?

Sweet Tweets

 

Week of May 15th – May 19th

Emily Sickler

A Note from Ms. Sickler

First, to all of our mothers and mother figures that support our Harvest Hornets daily with love, encouragement, and care, I wish you a very happy Mother’s Day!  I hope you are able to celebrate the special day that you deserve.

Secondly, I would be remiss if I did not reflect on the stress of this past week.  Superintendent Laatsch shared in his safety update on May 11th about supporting students with conversations.  I wanted to layer on some additional information that to support adults who are navigating these challenging times here at Harvest.

  • Harvest only has its main doors open in the morning until 8:51am and many adults are present during our “arrival time”.  After this time, every door is locked.  To enter Harvest, an individual would need to come to the vestibule and share their reason for entry via the intercom before being “buzzed in” to the main office.
  • All visitors are asked to wear a visitor badge during their time at Harvest.
  • Staff members and students complete safety drills that go through scenarios if we would need to quickly lock down the building, including if students were in large spaces like in the cafeteria.
  • Regardless of the age of students, we take all threats seriously and go through due process to ensure the safety and security of all our Harvest Hornets.
  • If you ever have any questions or concerns at any time, please do not hesitate to reach out to me personally.  I can be reached at sicklere@salineschools.org or 734.401.4501.

Emily

PTA Points

  • Harvest Field Day is in just two weeks. Students will be outside on the playground from 9-11AM and 1-3PM. All family members are welcome but will need to pre-signup.  Sign up HERE to volunteer to run a station or HERE to be a cheerleader.

  • Lunch Help (through 5/26)

  • Harvest PTA Website

District Notes

Superintendent Laatsch’s Safety Update

May 11, 2023

Dear SAS Families,

This week, Saline Area Schools and the Saline community has been impacted by actions and events that have created concern and fear. Saline Schools officials have worked diligently to respond to and address incidents that have occurred at Saline High School, Saline Middle School and Harvest Elementary.  Saline High School will be closed again tomorrow (click HERE for the message announcing the closure from Principal Stager) as Pittsfield Township Officers and Detectives continue the investigation.

Our families share students across several buildings and that opens up our younger learners to an awareness of district events this week.  There are numerous rumors floating around regarding these incidents, and as can be expected, a variety of emotions and reactions.  We appreciate that families, when encountering such circumstances, handle the transparency and related discussions in their homes in a variety of ways.

As you navigate conversations at home, please consider supporting your student(s) by:

  • Assuring them that their principals and teachers are committed to their safety and would not open a building if there were reason for concern.

  • Encouraging them to express thoughts and feelings to a trusted adult.

  • Reporting concerning comments, actions, or images to a trusted adult immediately.

We understand that everyone responds to this type of information differently. If you/your student needs additional support, please know that our social workers and counselors are available to help.

Additionally, please refer to my message earlier this year regarding the seriousness of these types of threats and related District response measures.  The District will continue to prioritize the safety and security of our students.

Thank you for your continued partnership,

Dr. Stephen Laatsch

laatschs@salineschools.org

(734) 401-4001

Family Input For the 23-24 School Year

This is your opportunity to share your thoughts regarding your child as we start gathering information to begin the placement process for the 2023-20234 school year.  These input forms will be open throughout the remainder of the current school year.

Quick Links

District

Harvest

Did You Know?

Did you know that Headstart/GSRP applications are now open?  Are you interested in free preschool for a child who is 3 to 5 years old?  Many children qualify!  If you think your child might qualify, complete the form HERE or call (855) 644-PreK and someone will be in touch with you about the free preschool opportunities that are available.  Visit About Us to learn what makes a child eligible for free preschool.

Sweet Tweets