Good Sunday Evening,
Happy Father’s Day 2024
Father’s Day is a day to honor the sacrifices and contributions of fathers and father figures in our lives. It is a great day to recognize their love, support, and guidance and show our appreciation for all that they do. My father past many years ago but I like to reflect on this day and try to recall and remember all the love and support his showed for me. My Dad served in the Navy during WWII and would tell me stories about some of his experiences when I was a child. I recall his WWII story of his ship being hit by a torpedo and sinking, having to spend days floating in the ocean while waiting to be rescued…as if describing a brisk Sunday walk through the park.
My Dad’s generation suffered through the Great Depression creating a generation known for their modest behavior, patriotic spirit, and resilience. Tom Brokaw coined the expression “The Greatest Generation” in his 1998 book of the same name, “They fought for what they believed was right, not for fame or recognition”. My Dad’s character and integrity still lives on today through his children, me and my brothers and sisters. Thank you, Dad, miss ya every day. Make sure to show some appreciation for your Dad today!
Athletic Committee met last Week!
I wanted to thank those folks who could make it to our Athletic Committee Meeting last week. We were able to discuss some good stuff going on now and some of the great things to come. Jason Friday shared his AD Report and here are a few highlights:
Hosting the Baseball and Softball Districts was a huge success with a special thank you to all the
folks that helped prepare the fields and manage the games
!
Fall sports begin August 12th
The newly formed Freshmen VB team has 15 games scheduled for next season already
The new FB scoreboard will be installed in approximately two weeks. A big
thank you to Citizens National Bank
for purchasing the scoreboard for the school district!
Proposed FB Homecoming date is 10-18 vs Grayling
Youth Camps going well and participation is up. Please contact the head coach if you need camp details for your sport.
It was proposed to send out the weekly athletic schedule on Sundays next school year through our new Apptegy system.
Recognized
Conference Champs
and the Banners are being Updated!
Girls VB
Girls Bowling (+Regional Champs)
Softball
Girls Cross Country
Two students qualified for state finals in Track this year:
Bella Ecker in the high jump (finished 15th)
Lucas Sidlauskas in the discus (finished 10th)
Jason Friday also wanted to send a
special thank you to Marianne Ridings and the Sports Booster Club
for all of their donations and support this 23-24 school year. They have helped and supported every athletic program at the MS and HS this year. The total monetary contributions totaled this year alone was $46, 020! Thank you, Booster Club!
Building Principals attending Adaptive Training this Week
The building principals and I will be attending the Adaptive Training this week on Tuesday and Wednesday, the 18th and the 19th, at the COPESD office, “Adaptive Training will help assist and develop the resources and capacities of the organization of individuals to cohesively respond to the changing needs of students and society.” Our team will learn how to value argument, stay on track and focused, and increase our team’s capacity as district and building leaders. There will be a follow up two-day workshop in August, before we return to school, on August 13th and 14th.
Summer School Updates:
We made it through the first week of summer school and we are ready to start week two! We have to admit, last week was a little rough getting started but we think we have all, or most, of the issues worked out and we are looking forward to a smooth week two!
I also wanted to thank all the teachers and staff that were able to get summer school up and running last week. It is a challenge to transition from a regular school year to summer school with little to no time in between. However, due to the hard work of our teachers and staff members who are dedicating some of their summer time to the betterment of our children, we were able to get it done! Thank you! Your time and passion for education is greatly appreciated and you make a difference every day!
A special thank you to Jamie McClintic who has spent countless hours this past winter and spring preparing our Summer School programs and camps. Great job!
Free Breakfast and Lunch this Summer!
The free breakfast/lunch program has started. The free breakfast/lunch program is for any person 18 and younger. It does NOT have to be a Cheboygan student to receive a free meal and you do not have to be enrolled in summer school to take advantage of the summer food program.
Breakfast will run from 8:00am to 9:00am
Lunch will run from 11:00am to 12:30pm
Food will be
available
at the Middle School and East Elementary
Food will be available this Month, June 10-27, (July and August Schedules will be released soon.)
If you have any questions or concerns about the summer food program, please email our Food Service Director, John Galacz, at galaczj@chebschools.com
Gym Floors to be Re-finished this Summer
Reminder, the MS and HS gyms will be off limits during our annual summer re-finishing process which takes about one week. No one can be on the floors during this process, no practice or walking on the floors from July 30th to August 3rd as the new finish cures. It takes at least a day or two to sand the old finish off the floors and then a day or two to put a new application of sealant/finish on the floors and then a day or two for the sealant to cure and dry. Once completed, it will look brand new again and ready for the school year!
Please Vote on August 6th!
As you know, the school district has issued a Referendum Resolution for August 6th, 2024, Election. The referendum comprises of three priorities:
Addressing facility needs at East Elementary.
Upgrading aged infrastructure within the entire district.
Implementing important projects that prioritize safety, accessibility, and enhance the environment of students, staff, and visitors at our schools.
This proposal is a zero-mill tax increase so your tax bill will NOT increase, it will remain the same, however the passing of this referendum will allow the school district to renew our current depleting bond fund which will allow us to continue to maintain and create the best educational environments possible for our students, your children.
The school district will be posting updated referendum information at this site to keep you as well informed as we can: https://bit.ly/cas-ref24
Also, we have just released a new information YouTube video for your review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2LvZY7depc
We will also be presenting this information at the board meeting on the June 24th and again at the Rotary luncheon meeting on July 10th.
Summer Work Plans for 2024
Work on replacing our HS bleachers has begun! We are being told the process can be completed within 3-4 weeks if they do not run into any difficulties in the process. So, hopefully, the gym will be available for use sooner than we thought. We will monitor the renovation process weekly and keep you updated.
Also, it is my understanding that the bleacher renovation process should not keep folks from using the Fitness Center so as of today, it appears the FC will be open and available in the summer.
Also, the approved HS Science Labs and the renovation of the PE/Athletic Lockers Rooms work has begun as well and should be completed before the start of next school year.
Fitness Center Classes for 2024:
If you are interested in taking a Fitness Center class during the day next school year, and you have not signed up yet, please check with your HS guidance counselor this week. We are looking to open up the new Fitness Center throughout the school day. Our goal is to make this new space available and accessible to more people and at more times. If interested, please talk with your counselor directly.
Week @ Glance:
Monday – June 17th
10:00 – Finance Committee Meeting
The meeting has been moved from Tuesday to Monday, due to the Adaptive Training Workshop scheduled for Tuesday.
3:00 – Talent Together District Training
Tuesday – 18th
8:30 – Adaptive Training @ COPESD
4:00 – Curriculum Committee Meeting
The meeting starting time was pushed back to 4:00, from 3:45, to give BP’s time to drive from COPESD to IA.
Wednesday – 19th
8:30 – Adaptive Training @ COPESD – Day II
9:00 – Leadership Cheboygan Class
Thursday – 20th
OPEN
Friday – 21st
Byrd – Vacation Day - Off
Thank you for your time and support, it is greatly appreciated. Go Chiefs!
Spencer S. Byrd
BA – Education – (Olivet) – 1991
MA – Education Administration – (NEIU) - 2005
EdS – Education Specialist Degree - (WIU) - 2014
CSBO – Chief School Business Official Endorsement - (U of I) - 2021
CAA – Certified Athletic Administrator Endorsement – (NIAAA) – May, 2024
Quote for the Week: “A father is neither an Anchor to hold us back nor a Sail to take us there, but a Guiding Light whose love shows us the Way” – Unknown
Important Future Dates:
June 24th – Cabinet Meeting @ 1:00/Lunch open at 12:30
June 24th – BOE Meeting @ 6:30pm
June 25th – Building Principals/Admin
last Day
for 23-24 School Year
June 25th/26th – School Safety Academy in the UP
July 11th – Athletic Committee Meeting @
July 16th – Finance Committee Meeting @ 10am
July 16th – Curriculum Committee Meeting @ 3:45
June 19th – Economic Development Day – Leadership Cheboygan
July 22nd – BOE Meeting @ 6:30pm
August 5th – Building Administrators Return to School
August 6th –
Election
– Vote!
August 12th – Official Start for ALL
HS Fall Sports
Programs - MHSAA
August 26th – BOE Meeting @ 6:30pm
September 3rd – Start of the 24-25 School Year for Students (
Tentative
)
Our Calendar Committee is currenting reviewing the 24-25 Calendar.
The proposed Calendar must be approved by the BOE.