Pentwater Public Schools

As parents we know that trying to find reputable resources to keep your students educationally engaged can be difficult. I want to be able to help with this task as much as I can so here are some recommendations that I hope you find useful: - KhanAcademy’s (Khanacademy.org) free recommended home study schedule - Code.org’s recommended activities - Help for parents: www.SchoolClosures.org - Help for educators: www.LearningKeepsGoing.org One resource that I forgot to post yesterday is that the Pentwater Police offered to help anyone that may need some help picking up food for your students or if your students are home alone and if you wanted them to stop in to check up on them, they would be willing to do so. This is an amazing and helpful offer from our local Police Department, thank you Chief Hartrum! As always I will try to keep everyone posted as much as I can and I will continue to post possible resources that may help during this closure. Respectfully, Dr. Karaptian

Information regarding WSCC and Dual Enrollment: This information applies to all Pentwater Students enrolled in a dual enrollment class this semester. West Shore Community College is cancelling classes for Monday and Tuesday, March 16 and 17, and then moving most face-to-face classes to an online format beginning Wednesday, March 18. This move is anticipated to last until the end of the winter semester, but is subject to change as the spread of the Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, evolves. The entire college campus, including the Recreation Center and Ice Arena, will be closed to the public on Monday and Tuesday, March 16 and 17, to provide faculty and staff the opportunity to prepare for course content to be online. The Board of Trustees meeting, on Monday evening, will be held as scheduled and is open to the public. “The health and safety of our campus community, along with our surrounding communities is our highest priority,” said WSCC President Scott Ward. “There are many unknowns as this public health issue continues, and it has presented us with many challenges. We are doing all we can to continue offering our services and fulfill our primary mission of providing students the education they need.” Ward said the College is taking these steps after speaking with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and state authorities, who offered guidelines to higher education leaders following Tuesday’s declaration of a state of emergency. Effective Monday, March 16, most WSCC sponsored and/or community events will be canceled or postponed. Unless otherwise specified, after March 17, the campus will remain open for staff, and business operations will continue with appropriate measures in place to protect the health of college employees. There may be limited services in some of the college’s departments. A leadership team is collaborating daily, focusing on preparedness and response, following guidance from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as state and local public health authorities. For the latest information, follow this CDC link. The college will provide updates on a WSCC website link –– www.westshore.edu/coronavirus that is updated as information becomes available.

Please see that attached document regarding resources and information that Dr. Karaptian has put together to help during the school closure.

All National Honor Society candidate related deadlines and interviews have been put on hold. More information will be available once school resumes.

Please see the attached Rotary Club Camp Scholarship Application for 2020

Congratulations to Lucas and Nicole for earning awards in the 22nd Annual WSCC High School Art Competition! Sculpture 1st Place:Nicole Daniels, Printmaking Honorable Mention:Lucas Quinteros, Textiles 2nd Place:Nicole Daniels, New Media 1st Place:Lucas Quinteros

Attached is a up-to-date letter from Dr. Karaptian regarding the change in the Marking Period 3 end date as well as a food service update. Please share with all this may impact!

Food Service - Breakfast and Lunch: The Ludington Area School District will be graciously providing breakfast and lunch options to their students as well as ours in an effort to assist families during this difficult time. The Ludington Area School District has established locations throughout the community where their transportation and food service employees. Each day, starting on Monday, March 16, 2020, their District will provide both a grab and go style lunch and breakfast to cover the following morning for students. This will be offered through Friday, April 3, 2020. These meals will include all of the requirements of a reimbursable meal, just as students receive each day while at school. We hope that this program will assist families in our school community and we thank the Ludington Area Schools for allowing us to participate! Also please know that the locations and times are subject to change if they find that the needs of the community are not met by this schedule. The schedule for the food service hub location for our area will be: Pentwater Days Inn: 7576 S Pere Marquette Hwy 11:00 am - 11:30 am

Good evening everyone, please read the attached Regional Covid-19 letter that was compiled by area school superintendents and the West Shore Educational Service District.

ANNOUNCEMENT: The school board meeting scheduled for Monday, 3/16/2020, at 7pm, has been canceled. A reschedule date has not yet been established, thank you for your cooperation

Good afternoon, Attached is a letter from Dr. Karaptian updating students, parents, staff and community about the upcoming school closure. Thank you!

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT: "BREAKING: All MHSAA winter tournaments are suspended, effective immediately and indefinitely, due to concerns related to COVID-19. This is a pause in the postseason; updates and press release to follow." The boys district basketball game on Friday, 3/13/2020, has been canceled. MHSAA will be reviewing and providing an update on Monday, 3/16/2020, as to reschedule dates/times.

The 22nd Regional High School ART Competition Awards event this Sunday, March 15th, 2020 at WSCC has been CANCELLED. In the coming days winners will be announced and the award certificates distributed in the coming weeks.

PUBLIC RELEASE: The boys basketball district finals will be played at Marion on Friday, 3/13/2020, however, due to the COVID-19 virus, the MHSAA has restricted attendance at this event limited to parent/s, guardian/s and other essential administrative personnel only, no siblings. Below is an excerpt from an email from the MHSAA to all school districts: "Boys Basketball District Finals Rounds: All scheduled for March 13. Attendance: Limited to parents, legal guardians and essential administrators. Broadcast: Live streaming of some games, with subscription, on MHSAA.tv Bands, cheerleaders and gatherings in parking lots or elsewhere on-site will not be allowed. Restrictions on noisemakers, etc., will continue to be upheld for those fans who will attend. For those allowed to be present, there will be no attendance charged at any of these five events. Online ticket sales have been stopped, and all tickets that have been purchased are voided and will be fully refunded." We thank you for your cooperation and, Go, Falcons, we will be with you in spirit!

Ms. Sisung and 10 11th graders had the opportunity to travel to Lansing to the Capitol and the Michigan History Museum.

Visit District Health Department #10 on Facebook and vote for our Student Artists’ Poster Designs!

Congratulations to Lauren Macher in 1st grade and Joshua Johnson in Kindergarten! Their artwork was selected for the 2020 Michigan Art Education Association Elementary Level Statewide Art Show! Their work will be on display at the Midland Doan History Center May 4th - 22nd with a hands-on workshop and awards ceremony on Saturday, May 16th.

The Pentwater Service Club is providing scholarships for Pentwater students to attend Blue Lake or Interlochen Fine Arts Camps for the summer of 2020. Applications are available in the front office.

Pentwater Public Schools will be hosting Kindergarten Round-up Monday, April 6th, at 5:30pm in the school library. Please see the attached flyer for more information.

Youth tennis Summer camp signup forms with Coach Brown are available in the front office. If interested, please stop by and grab one.