Manchester Community Schools
Educational Excellence in a Caring Community

May 17, 2010, E-Newsletter

Home Stretch!  We are headed into the final four weeks of the 2009-2010 school year, and while there are many celebrations and special events planned to mark the end of the school year, our focus each day continues to be on student learning and making sure we make the best possible use of each instructional moment for the benefit of students.

Thank you!  On Tuesday, May 4, residents of the school district overwhelmingly voted to approve renewal proposals for the non-homestead millage.  The approval of these renewal proposals secures 10% of the school district’s funding for the coming school year.  Because of continued uncertainty regarding state funding for all public schools, we still face serious fiscal challenges for the 2010-2011 school year.  As a community we can be proud of the fact that we have acted to preserve that portion of school funding over which we have control.  For more information on state-wide school funding and how you can influence the process in Lansing, please click here.

Special Events:  There are several special events scheduled for the next four weeks.   Listed below are highlights of what is planned.  
May 19      Klager PTO Talent Show @ 7:00 p.m.
May 20      HS Spring Concert @ 7:00 p.m.
May 25      MS 7,8 Spring Concert @ 7:00 p.m.
May 26      HS Awards Night @ 7:00 p.m.
May 27      MS 5,6 Spring Concert @ 7:00 p.m.
May 31      Memorial Day – No School
June 1       MS Honors Night @ 7:00 p.m.
June 3       Klager Field Day
June 3       HS Baccalaureate @ 7:30 p.m. (Emmanuel Church)
June 6       Graduation @ 2:00 p.m.
June 11     Klager Awards Assembly @ 9:00 a.m.
June 11     Last Day for Students – ½ day only (a.m.) for students
Please remember to review building newsletters and web pages for events planned during the school day.   48158.com, the Manchester Area Chamber of Commerce website, is an excellent source for community event information. 

The Manchester Community Business Expo will take place on Thusday, June 3, 2010, from 3:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., along Adrian Street.  This event, held in conjunction with the Thursday Farmers Market, is sponsored by the Manchester Area Chamber of Commerce, of which the school system is a member.  The expo includes exhibitor booths, continuous music from the Manchester Mill porch, games and kids’ activities, plus various food and drink choices!  For a flyer, which includes information on how you can register for a booth, click here.

School of Choice applications for the 2010-2011 school year are now available.  You can obtain one by clicking here.   Please consider inviting friends and family members who live in Washtenaw County or in any county that borders Washtenaw County to join your children as students in the Manchester Community Schools.

Enrollment changes for 2010-2011:  If you know that you will be leaving our district over the summer, and your children will not be attending school in Manchester in the fall, please let building principals know this information as soon as possible.   We do not want to lose any families, and remind you that even if you move out of the district continuing to attend our schools as School of Choice is a great option.   However, if you are not going to be able to continue with us, please let us know this, as having such information is of value to us in our planning.   As you become aware of new families moving into our community, please encourage them to visit our district website (www.mcs.k12.mi.us), or to contact a school building principal or central office staff member for enrollment information.   We want to do all that we can to welcome new families and children to our community and schools!

The 2010-2011 District-Wide Open House to launch next school year will be held on Wednesday, September 1, from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.   This is an opportunity for parents, students, and community members to visit the district's three schools, meet teachers, and get ready for the start of the new school year.   The Food Service department will be available in all buildings providing samples, and various school-related organizations will have information to share with families.   Please mark your calendars for Wednesday, September 1!

Food Service Updates: 

• The food service department operates a summer food program for children.  Federally funded meals will be made available at no charge to children 18 years of age and under, or persons up to age 26 who are enrolled in an educational program for mental or physical disability that is recognized by a state or local public educational agency. Meals are provided without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, or disability from June 21, 2010 through July 30, 2010 at Klager Elementary School.  Breakfast is at 8:30 a.m.; lunch is at 11:30 a.m.
   
• Effective Monday May 17th the food service department stopped accepting charges for meals for this school year. All students must pay cash or have the money in their food service accounts.  All negative balances in food service accounts are due in full by Thursday, June 3rd.

Summer Childcare:  Community Education has summer childcare programs for children from infants to twelve years old.   All programs provide care in fully licensed facilities.  Age appropriate activities, including arts and crafts, trips to the Library, reading time, music, walking (strolling) field trips, non-competitive sports, plenty of outdoor activities, games and lots of friends are available.  For additional information regarding opportunities for infants through age five, click here; for information about the program for five to twelve year old children, click here. 

Media Coverage:  We are grateful for the coverage being given to school events in the Manchester Enterprise.   The Enterprise’s editor has our thanks for the outstanding job she is doing not only with school events, but community news in general.  We also want to thank the Jackson Citizen Patriot for their expanded Manchester Area coverage.   And, we would be remiss if we did not also acknowledge the excellent coverage of school events provided in Manchester’s M Magazine.   There are great things happening in our schools and community and it is good when such things are noticed and reported.