Chippewa Hills School District

🌺 Honoring Heroes & Celebrating Culture in 2nd Grade! 🌵 Mrs. Huffman’s 2nd grade class at Weidman Elementary had a special visit on Friday from the American Legion Auxiliary of Mt. Pleasant. The ladies shared a story about the poppy flower and its powerful meaning as a Memorial Day symbol, then donated the book to the classroom! Each student was gifted a poppy bookmark, a coloring book, and a brand-new pack of crayons. We are so thankful for their time and generosity! To keep the creativity going, students made cactus puppets to celebrate Cinco de Mayo on Monday! It’s been a week full of learning, generosity, and fun in 2nd grade!

🎓 Honoring Our Retiring Teachers: What I’ll Remember, What I Hope For Teacher Appreciation Week, we’re celebrating the teachers who are closing out their final school year with Chippewa Hills. Today we’re honoring high school art teacher Andrea St. John, who has spent the last 26 years inspiring students through creativity, connection, and an unwavering love of art and learning. Mrs. St. John began her career teaching part-time at St. Michael’s School and Clare Primary School, and just a few years later, she returned to her roots—stepping into the role at CHHS once held by her own high school art teacher, Dan Lee. Since then, she’s taught everything from creative writing and literature to all forms of visual art, including Pottery, Sculpture, Digital Photography, and Advanced Art. 🖌️ What she’ll remember most: “I will remember my students' excitement about projects they loved, the great teachers and administrators I have worked with, and my room. I love my room. I am most proud of the relationships I have built, the love of art I have shared, and the skills I have learned over the years that I teach and practice with my kids. I learned something new every day.” 🎨 What she hopes for the future: “I encourage all of my students, current and past, to keep learning, keep trying. Every mistake is a learning opportunity. You are never too old to try something new. Always be creative. I hope when my former students and colleagues think of me they have something they can smile about, a memory that is good, and that they always know I care for them.” In her retirement, Mrs. St. John is looking forward to pouring her energy into her own art, spending more time with her grandkids, gardening, reading, enjoying the outdoors—and getting in as much horse time as possible! Thank you, Mrs. St. John, for sharing your creativity, passion, and care with the students of Chippewa Hills. Your legacy lives on in every Warrior who learned to see the world—and themselves— a little more beautifully in your classroom. ❤️💙

🎉 National Teacher Signing Day! 🎉 Congratulations to senior Madison Sellers who officially signed her commitment to pursue a career in education! Madison took this important step during a special signing event today at the Mecosta Osceola Career Center, joining students across the country who are answering the call to become tomorrow’s teachers. National Teacher Signing Day, led by Educators Rising, honors students who are preparing to shape the future—one classroom at a time. We’re so proud of Madison for choosing this meaningful path and can’t wait to see the impact she’ll make in the lives of her future students! ❤️💙

🌟 Help Shape the Future of Student Wellness at Chippewa Hills! 🌟 The Chippewa Hills Wellness Center is hosting a Community Advisory Council Meeting, and your voice matters! Whether you're a parent, educator, school staff member, or community partner, we want you at the table. Please join us for a 30-minute meeting tomorrow, May 7, at 3:15 PM in the High School Media Center. We’ll be sharing updates from this school year and discussing how we can better support the health and wellness of our students and community in the 2025-26 school year. Your attendance also helps us meet state requirements that ensure our school-based health center continues to thrive. If you can’t be there in person, please join us virtually via Microsoft Teams using Meeting ID: 212 284 777 150 8, Passcode: jE36GG3L Come share your ideas, hear what’s happening, and be part of something that makes a difference. Let’s build a healthier future for our Warriors—together!

🎓 Honoring Our Retiring Teachers: What I’ll Remember, What I Hope This week, we’re celebrating the teachers who are closing out their final school year with Chippewa Hills. Today, we’re honoring high school science teacher Kelli Young, whose career has spanned three decades and touched countless lives along the way. In her own words: “I'm going to miss driving north to Chippewa Hills! I'm going to miss talking with the students—asking about their weekend, their hobbies, their dreams, their plans. I've identified as a teacher for the last 30 years... it's strange to say the word retired! I'm going to miss the staff, who have become life-long friends. I truly enjoy my job! I'm walking out of here on May 23rd with a smile in my heart and on my face. I am proud of Chippewa Hills and our impact on our community. I am leaving behind the very best staff at CH.” “My advice to my staff and my students: Surround yourself with good people—they're going to lift you up on the bad days. Have fun and don't sweat the small stuff. Go home at night and be present with your family and friends.” Over the past 30 years, Mrs. Young has taught everything from 7th & 8th grade English and Science to high school courses including Biology, Applied Physics, Lab-Based Science, ACT Prep, AP Biology, Anatomy & Physiology, and Forensic Science. She’s spent 12 years at the Junior High and 18 at the High School, always bringing joy, dedication, and heart into her classroom. Thank you, Mrs. Young, for your passion, wisdom, and the warmth you’ve brought to our Warrior community. You’ve left an incredible legacy—and you’ll be truly missed. ❤️💙

🎉 Happy Teacher Appreciation Day! 🍎 "Teaching is the one profession that creates all other professions." Today we celebrate the incredible educators of Chippewa Hills, the ones who shape not only young minds, but the future of our community. With every lesson taught, our teachers build the foundation for future doctors, artists, scientists, tradespeople, leaders, and, of course, Warriors. Their impact reaches far beyond the classroom walls and lasts a lifetime. To our Warrior teachers: thank you for your unwavering dedication, compassion, and belief in what’s possible. You make a difference every single day. Thank you for all you do. ❤️💙

📣 We want to hear from you! 📣 Your voice matters, and your feedback helps us make our schools better for every student. Parents, please take a few minutes to complete our Parent/Family Perception Survey and share your thoughts on what we’re doing well and where we can grow. Please complete the survey for each building where you have children attending. The survey is open now and will remain live for 2 weeks: https://forms.gle/hXLHnZcbBHpTVytX9 Thank you for partnering with us to support our students and school community!

🚜 Change of Plans! Due to the busy planting season, we’re canceling this year’s Drive Your Tractor to School Day. Our tractors are out doing what they do best — working the fields! Thanks for understanding, and big props to our FFA students for stepping up this spring! 🌱

🎓 Honoring Our Retiring Teachers: What I’ll Remember, What I Hope This week, as part of Teacher Appreciation Week, we’re celebrating the educators who are closing out their final school year with Chippewa Hills. These teachers have dedicated their lives to shaping students, supporting colleagues, and building a legacy that will live on in our classrooms and hearts for years to come. We’re starting the series with a reflection from high school science teacher Cris DeWolf, who shared his journey to Chippewa Hills, the work he’s most proud of, and the hopes he carries forward for our school community. In his own words: "In the summer of 1992 I left Covert High School and we moved to my parent’s home on Blue Lake. Dad had passed the previous year so I chose to leave teaching and help my mother prepare to move back to Grand Rapids and sell the house on the lake. My oldest daughter started kindergarten that year. I was exploring either going back to school for a doctorate or finding another teaching job. My daughter’s teacher knew I was looking for a teaching job, even out of state. She did not want to lose Caitlin to a move so she let us know when a long-term sub position became available here at the high school. I took the job, which became full-time the following year. Through the support of our administration, I was able to grow as an educator to an extent I had never felt possible. Our department developed unique curricula - including LBS (Lab-Based Science) that was an early approach to incorporating technology into the classroom. I was allowed time away from the classroom to pursue training on the use of research in the classroom. Students from our school were able to travel to Kitt Peak Arizona and do research on solar magnetism at The National Solar Observatory. Another group went to JPL (the Jet Propulsion Laboratory) to be trained on software needed to analyze data from the Spitzer Space Telescope. They were part of a team granted time on Spitzer to look for newly formed stars in dark nebulae. And another student and I spent time at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Green Bank West Virginia to search for the rapidly spinning neutron stars known as pulsars. Much of the research these students did was published, and some of the teams presented at an International Science and Engineering Fair. I learned so much during my time at Chippewa Hills, and quite a bit of it was from my students! I loved it when one of them could show me different ways to approach a problem or question from their perspective. My advice to others going into education is to always be open to new learning - not just from your colleagues but also from your students. Before CHHS, I taught at St. Patrick’s High School in Portland. I taught all of the sciences there as a department of one for 5 years. I next taught at Covert High School, where my teaching assignment included Biology, Chemistry, and 7th grade science. Two years later I started at Chippewa Hills. Mostly Biology and Earth Science, but also a brief use of my English minor with American Literature. I have also taught AP Biology, Astronomy, and Oceanography. Looking back, taking that long-term sub position was the best decision I could have made. I made my home here, my wife and I raised our family here, and we plan on staying in the area as a base of operations as I start the next chapter in my life." --- Thank you, Mr. DeWolf, for your decades of dedication, innovation, and inspiration. Your impact on generations of Warrior students, both in and out of the classroom, is immeasurable. We are deeply grateful for the legacy you leave behind at Chippewa Hills and wish you all the best in your next chapter. Once a Warrior, always a Warrior. ❤️💙

May the 4th be with you! Please enjoy this special Star Wars Day episode of the Warrior Watch from our Middle School Digital Media class! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8fFWma21no

REMINDER: Monday, May 5, is an early release day! The High School & Middle School will be released at 12 PM. Elementary Schools are released at 12:15 PM.

🍎✨ Happy School Lunch Hero Day! ✨🍎 Today we celebrate the incredible Food Service team who feed our Warriors with love, care, and a whole lot of hustle. From early mornings to busy lunch rushes, they work hard every day to ensure our students have healthy and delicious meals that are always served with a smile. Thank you for your dedication, your kindness, and the joy you bring to our cafeterias. You’re a vital part of what makes our schools feel like home. ❤️💙

🎉 Don’t Miss the Spanish Fiesta – RSVP Today! 🎉 All Chippewa Hills and St. Michael’s elementary students are invited to a Spanish Fiesta for Cinco de Mayo! Join the fun on Monday, May 5 from 4:30-6 PM at the Middle School! Festivities include crafts, games, food, dancing & more! Only 100 spots available, so RSVP today: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfbafS61UMS3CDBTARh_QsbiJEwp-nvisubkGPqh875A4AuAQ/viewform?usp=dialog

🎉 Happy National School Principal’s Day! 🎉 Today we celebrate the incredible leadership, dedication, and heart our principals bring to our schools each and every day. Behind every successful school is a principal who works tirelessly to support students, staff, and families—lifting up our entire school community through their guidance and care. To our principals: thank you for all you do for our Warriors every day. Your commitment to excellence, your steady presence, and your belief in every student make all the difference. You are the foundation of our Chippewa Hills school community, and we are deeply grateful for all you do. ❤️💙

🍎 Need help with summer groceries? Eligible families can get $120 per school-aged child through Sun Bucks – Michigan's Summer EBT Program! We've included a letter and flyer with all the details — including how to apply through MI Bridges and where to find more information. This program is in addition to our district’s Meet Up and Eat Up free summer meals, so families can use both! Check out the info below and apply today so your family doesn’t miss out! Apply here: www.michigan.gov/mibridges

🌞 Mecosta Elementary spelling in the sun! ✏️ Mrs. Tice’s 2nd graders took full advantage of last week’s beautiful weather with a sidewalk chalk spelling test! Learning felt more like play as students showed off their spelling skills while soaking up the sunshine. Way to make learning fun, Mrs. Tice!

🚜 Drive Your Tractor to School Day is coming up! 🚜 Mark your calendars for Tuesday, May 6 — our FFA students will be rolling in style as they drive their tractors to school! Students will gather at the Wrestling Barn early in the morning and, with the help of the fire department, will safely cross M-66 before the usual busy morning traffic picks up. If you're driving near M-66 and Arthur Road that morning, please be extra cautious and give our tractor drivers a big wave! 👋🚜💨 We’re excited to celebrate our agricultural roots and the hard work of our FFA students. Thanks for supporting them (and their tractors) on this special day! 🌾

🌎💚 Huge thank you to our Middle School Honor Society and Middle School Student Council members for celebrating Earth Day by giving back to our school community! Last week, these students rolled up their sleeves and spent time picking up trash and cleaning the grounds around the entire secondary complex. These students lead by example, showing what it means to care for our community and our planet. Thank you, Warriors! The grounds look fantastic!

BLOOD DRIVE TOMORROW! Our final blood drive of the year is tomorrow from 8:15 AM – 1:30 PM in the High School Gym lobby. Every donation can help save up to 3 lives! Please join us to help our Honor Society students reach their donation goal! Walk-ins are welcome, but you can avoid the wait by scheduling an appointment here: https://donateblood.versiti.org/.../drive_schedule/11408075 Help our Warriors make a difference — one pint at a time!

🎉 Congratulations to our High School National Honor Society members! 🎉 Yesterday, we celebrated an important milestone with our NHS Induction Ceremony. We proudly welcomed our new members for next year, swore in our incoming officers, and honored our graduating seniors with their NHS graduation stoles. We are incredibly proud of all our NHS students for their dedication to scholarship, leadership, service, and character. Your hard work and commitment inspire us all, and we can't wait to see the amazing things you will accomplish! Congratulations again to our new inductees, next year's officers, and our graduating seniors! ❤️💙