Engadine Consolidated Schools
by James P. Wilcoxen Superintendent

HOME OF THE EAGLES•KNOWLEDGE LETS YOU SOAR

The school year has started on a positive note. Student numbers are on the increase, and we anticipate additional enrollment by the end of the month.

A number of our students are taking online classes through Michigan Virtual High School; they include Spanish, sociology, and calculus. A few students are taking Michigan Virtual University classes, as well.

The district will begin GLAD testing of students through grade seven within a few weeks, and preparation has begun for testing elementary through junior high grade students on the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP). Our counselor has also begun the process of preparing for the Michigan Merit Examination (open to this year's juniors, and senior retesters).

Engadine and all Michigan public schools are involved in an ongoing assessment process. To better prepare our students, our teachers and administrators are making a greater effort to address the educational benchmarks through their lesson plans. Lesson plans for ninth grade students now specifically address what benchmarks are being covered on a daily and weekly basis. A special thanks goes out to the teaching staff for their commitment.

A reminder to all parents and community members that Engadine Schools has changed the school events calendar. Spring break is now scheduled for March 3 to March 7 instead of March 24 to March 28, due to testing requirements. School will be closed for Good Friday March 21. The senior trip is scheduled for April 1 through April 4. This year, the seniors will be visiting Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

I encourage all parents to read the Engadine High School (EHS) Code of Conduct. There have been a number of changes this year. The code of conduct functions as an operators manual for our secondary school. Please note that that this year's changes include eliminating In-School Suspension, adding Saturday School, standardized grading for grades 7 to 12, creation of an attendance committee, as well as a minor change to the EHS Athletic Code. If you have any questions regarding these changes, please give me a call. Sonja Wilcoxen, our athletic director, can answer questions regarding Engadine School athletics.

We have recently hired a new bus driver to cover the district area that encompasses Sandtown, Stimac, Pleasant, and Melville streets. In light of Pleasant Avenue being temporarily closed in one area, this route has been restricted. Please contact the school if you have questions regarding adjustments to this route.

Engadine Consolidated Schools will seek a Sinking Fund Millage November 6. Funds from this millage will be used to repair our schools and make the facility more energy efficient. Major repairs have not been done to our schools since 1995.

We are always looking for parent volunteers to provide academic assistance to students. If you are interested, contact me or Mrs. McArthur at the elementary school.

Educating our kids is truly a shared responsibility between you and our school community. It's their future we are creating.