Local schools prepare for first day
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ALPENA -- Local school districts are busy preparing for the first day of school. Custodians are cleaning, teachers are setting up classrooms, bus drivers are running their routes, and everyone is looking forward to welcoming students.
The first day has already come and gone for some districts. Hillman Community Schools and Atlanta Community Schools began class on Thursday.
Alpena Public Schools, Alcona Community Schools, and Onaway Area Community School District begin school on Monday.
Posen Consolidated Schools and Rogers City Area Schools welcome students on Sept. 8, the day after Labor Day.
The excitement for the start of the school year is building, local superintendents say.
Posen Superintendent Michelle Wesner said teachers and staff are in and out of the building all the time and getting ready for the student's return.
"They like to get in as soon as they can and start prepping their classroom," Wesner said.
Professional development for the teachers will start on Tuesday.
Wesner said that this school year each student will have a cell phone locker and key to store their phone in during instructional time. That change comes with the new state law banning cell phones in classrooms, House Bill 4141 signed in February by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
This school year Posen schools will also introduce their new welding lab funded by DTE Energy.
Posen's junior and senior high students will be able to take classes in the welding lab in the future.
Rogers City Superintendent Nick Hein said that students will begin school with a half day on Sept. 8. It's about the latest school can start, he said, depending on when Labor Day falls.
"We like to transition them in here and get them back into the process," Hein said.
On Wednesday, Rogers City Schools will have a back to school night and middle and high school orientation. School staff will start professional development that day to go over safety protocols, Hein said.
Teachers are already prepping their rooms.
There are a number of construction projects going on around the school, including repairs to areas of the high school and elementary school parking lots and a brand new press box at the at Gilpin Memorial Field. A section of the high school roof was re-done over the summer.
APS Superintendent Dave Rabbideau said all staff were welcomed back on Monday to begin professional development.
Rabbideau said he had a meeting with the transportation staff on Aug, 17, to go over their Rehmann employee engagement results. APS administration is using data from the Rehmann employee engagement to gauge employee satisfaction and respond to feedback.
Bus drivers have run their routes, and custodians are waxing the floors and cleaning in preparation for students.
Rabbideau said that administration has been working on the strategic plan behind the scenes. The strategic plan has five pillars with the ultimate goal being to strengthen student outcomes: academics and programs, whole child development, personnel, family and community partnership, and stewardship.
That plan is being fully kicked into gear this school year.