The Times Family Newsletter

June 13, 2024

Heartwood Students Enjoy Glow Dance & Prom 

Students at Heartwood School enjoyed either a glow dance or prom as the school year winds down for the summer. Elementary aged students had some glow in the dark fun at the Glow Dance on May 30, followed by a Prom celebration on May 31 for the older students. A prom king and queen were named and everyone had a wonderful time dancing and enjoying refreshments. #InghamImpact 

  

  

Heartwood School Graduation

On June 13, Heartwood School celebrated its graduation ceremony, honoring the achievements of this year's graduates. Families and friends came together to share this special day. Congratulations Heartwood graduates! #InghamImpact 

   

Post-Graduation Planning Resources 

For those with a recent high school graduate, there are various post-graduation resources available to families. The Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Opportunity in partnership with the Michigan Department of Education offer a variety of resources on Pathfinder, a custom roadmap to explore careers, schools and programs in Michigan. Check it out! 

Spartan Project SEARCH Students Celebrate Graduation 

Students enrolled in the Spartan Project SEARCH program on the campus of Michigan State University held a graduation ceremony on June 5. As part of the celebration, a graduation video was shared with the students and their families. The students also wrapped up their final work rotations this week, and we want to thank all of the locations who provided students a work experience. #InghamImpact 

Spartan Project SEARCH 2024 Graduation Video

SAIL Students and Families Enjoy Talent Show 

Students from all three of the Skills for Adult Independent Living (SAIL) classrooms had the opportunity to participate in a talent show on May 31. Students chose talents such as singing, dancing or playing an instrument. Family members of the students as well as staff from the Ingham ISD programs enjoyed the show and seeing the students express themselves. #InghamImpact 

  

North Star School End of Year Celebration 

On May 31, North Star School hosted the End of Year Celebration & Luncheon where they honored this year's graduates. Congratulations to all the graduates! #InghamImpact 

  

Cruise-In Held to Honor Retiring Educator 

On Wednesday, May 29, the Automotive Technology program at the Wilson Talent Center hosted a Cruise-In Car Show to honor retiring Automotive instructor, Scott Westenberg. Westenberg is retiring after 32 years of service to Ingham ISD. Former students and staff enjoyed a beautiful evening, thanking Scott for all he has done for students. #InghamImpact

  

Upcoming Events & Activities

June 27 – Last Day for Heartwood Students 

July  24 – Ingham Academy Graduation 

 

Heartwood Students Heading to Special Olympics Event 

Thirty-four students from Heartwood School will be participating in the Special Olympics Track and Field events at Michigan State University on Friday, May 10, beginning at 9:30am. Students will be participating in events such as the softball throw, 50-meter and 100-meter running events.  

For our younger athletes, there is a 25-meter dash, ball throw, frisbee toss and bean bag toss. In addition, the students with severe multiple impairments will participate in modified track, doing running events in their PACERS, wheelchair races and a ball toss. 

We wish all of these student athletes the best of luck tomorrow! 

Summer Learning Opportunities for 2024 

We have compiled a great list of summer learning and/or camp options for students. Research shows that engaging in summer learning activities can help prevent the summer slide, which is the loss of academic skills and knowledge over the summer months. We hope you are able to find something engaging for your student(s) this summer. 

Transition Peers Park Day 

Students enrolled in Ingham ISD's Skills for Adult Independent Living (SAIL) programs will take part in a Transition Peers Park Day on May 28, at Hawk Island Park. Students and staff will participate in outdoor activities including a walking trail and splash pad and will share a picnic lunch. They will also take time to celebrate a great school year with their peers and enjoy nature. 

WTC Students Advance to National SkillsUSA Competition 

Six students from the Wilson Talent Center took first place honors at the SkillsUSA State Leadership Conference earning them a trip to nationals in June. These students and their instructors will travel to Atlanta, GA, June 24-28, to represent Michigan in their respective categories: 

  • Zachary Fletcher (Stockbridge), Construction Trades (Plumbing) 
  • Brendan Trimmer (Holt), Criminal Justice (Job Skills Open) 
  • Olivia Quiroga (Holt), Elijah Straley (Holt), Jayden Rockwell (Dansville) and Katie Carr (Waverly), Criminal Justice (Crime Scene Investigation Team) 

Congratulations and best of luck in Atlanta!

Upcoming Events & Activities

Graduation Dates: 

  • Heartwood School, June 13, 1:00-2:00pm 
  • Spartan Project SEARCH, June 5, 11:00am, Morrill Hall (MSU) 
  • North Star School, End of Year Celebration, May 31, 10:45am 
  • Ingham Academy, July 24, 2:00pm

Other end of the year details: 

  • WTC Year-End Student Showcase, May 9, 4-7pm 
  • SAIL Transition Peers Park Day, May 28 
  • WTC Cruise-In, May 29 
  • Heartwood Glow Dance, May 30 
  • Heartwood Prom, May 31 
  • SAIL Talent Show, May 31 
  • Heartwood Family Picnic, June 1 

Transition Expo

Join us for a dynamic event designed for students in grades 6-12 with an IEP or 504 plan. Explore an array of valuable resources, engage in interactive activities, and gain insights from inspiring guest speakers in breakout rooms all while equipping students for a successful journey into adulthood.  

Hosted by the Ingham ISD Special Education Parent Advisory Committee, this year's Transition Expo will take place at the North Star School gym on March 13, 2024, from 4pm - 6pm. The address is 611 Hagadorn Road, Mason, 48854. Registration is now open. #InghamImpact 

Transition College to Career Tour 

Join us Friday, March 15, 2024, from 9am-1pm at Lansing Community College West Campus for the 6th Annual Ingham ISD Transition College to Career Tour

High School juniors with an IEP or 504 Plan from school districts in the Ingham ISD service area are invited to partipate. Students will have the opportunity to explore careers in technical programs through hands-on experiences. Registration is now open. If you have questions, please contact Amber Dale. #InghamImpact

February is CTE Month 

During the month of February, the Association for Career & Technical Education runs a public awareness campaign, CTE Month, to celebrate the value and achievements of CTE programs across the country. We are very fortunate to offer twenty CTE programs at Wilson Talent Center

Students enrolled in CTE programs are developing technical, academic and employability skills while engaging in work-based learning experiences. In addition, we offer seven early college programs through the Capital Region Technical Early College allowing students to earn up to an associate degree at no cost to the student. #InghamImpact  #CTEMonth  #MiACTE 

Play & Learn Groups 

Ingham ISD's Great Parents, Great Start program offers Play & Learn Groups for children from birth up to age 5. The groups provide activities for families to play alongside their children and explore many developmental domains including sensory experiences, motor skills and language skills. Activities can include story time, music, singing, movement, sensory table, exploration and peer interaction. 

Information on topics related to young children and parenting is shared, as well as connections to family resources. Registration is required. Various locations are available throughout the Ingham ISD service area. #InghamImpact

School Messenger Email Update 

Ingham ISD and our various programs use School Messenger, a school community notification system, to alert families of emergencies, closure days, absenteeism and other important information. School Messenger has recently made a change to their software that no longer allows Ingham ISD to customize the "from" email address.  Email messages will now come from broadcasts@schoolmessengermail.com. This will not have any effect on phone or text alerts, just emails. 

Please mark this email address as a safe sender to ensure you are receiving these important notifications. If you have questions, please email Ingham ISD Communications

News from Heartwood School 

On Wednesday this week, Heartwood School hosted a Valentine's Day dance. Students had the opportunity to listen to music, dance and celebrate this special day. Everyone had a great time. 

On Thursday, February 22, Heartwood students will be partnering with Zot Artz, a Kalamazoo-based arts organization that provides art activities for children and adults with disabilities. Heartwood students will be painting a huge floor mural that will cover the gym floor with paper. Students will use art rollers, pogo paint sticks with stamp designs, bubble operated blowers and a twirling art tool. The art tools can be attached to wheelchairs and walkers for students who use this equipment. #InghamImpact

  

Upcoming Events

 February  

16 – No Students (select programs)   

19 – President's Day, No students   

20 – Board of Education Meeting  

22 – Zot Artz, Heartwood School 

March 

13 – Transition Expo 

15 – Transition College to Career Tour 

19 – Board of Education Meeting 

22 – No students (select programs) 

25-29 – Spring Break 

Ingham Preschool Openings

While the year is in full swing, there are still available spots in preschool classrooms across the region for the current school year. There's no beginning or end to learning, so there's no right or wrong time to enroll. Communities like Dansville, Holt, Lansing, Leslie, Haslett, Stockbridge and Webberville have openings available. Families shouldn't wait to enroll as spots fill up quickly. See the current openings and contact information here.

Spartan Project SEARCH Update

Students in the Spartan Project SEARCH program have recently started their second rotation jobs. Students have been working at Sparty's Café, Case Dining Hall, MSU Linen Services and 1855 Place just to name a few. They have been navigating getting to their new assignments and learning new skills.

Spartan Project SEARCH combines classroom instruction with a year-long unpaid internship at Michigan State University. The application for the 2024-25 school year is now available. Applications are due no later than February 16, 2024. 

North Star School Honors Veterans

Karen Keel and her students at North Star School honored veterans with  a flag display in the drive of the Wilson Talent Center/North Star Schools in November. There were large flags representing each branch of the military, and families of staff and students had the opportunity to pay tribute to a veteran by displaying a smaller flag featuring their name and years of service beneath the larger branch flags. 

It was quite a display! Thank you Karen and students for remembering those who allow us to enjoy the freedoms we have today.  

District's Safety Webpage

Student and staff safety are a top priority at Ingham ISD. As part of our continued efforts in the area of school safety, we have launched a school safety webpage to keep families up to date on our safety efforts. This page includes school safety terms, updates and announcements as well as information on our relations with local law enforcement. In addition, most Ingham ISD staff have recently attended a full ALICE training for active violent incidents. It takes the effort of all of us to provide a safe learning environment for our students and staff. 

Wilson Talent Center Open House a Success

Yesterday, the Wilson Talent Center held its annual Open House. Thank you to the prospective students and parents who attended to learn more about our program offerings. As a reminder, students interested in attending the WTC next fall need to complete their online application as soon as possible. Current WTC students who are interested in returning next year do not need to complete another application. If you have questions about enrollment, please email WTC Student Outreach. 

Heartwood School Hosts Holiday Idol

Heartwood School held their annual Holiday Idol show yesterday, and it was a great success. The students have been preparing their holiday medleys for quite some time and were very excited to perform. Thank you to those who were able to attend. We hope you enjoyed the show, and it gave you some holiday spirit! Kudos to the Heartwood staff who helped prepare the students for the show. 

From all of us at Ingham ISD, Happy Holidays! 

Upcoming Dates and Events
 

  • December 19, 2023, Regular Board Meeting
  • December 25, 2023-January 5, 2024, Winter/Holiday Break
  • January 8, 2024, School Resumes
  • January 15, 2024, No School, MLK Day
  • January 16, 2024, Regular Board Meeting
  • February 19, 2024, No School, President's Day
  • February 20, 2024, Regular Board Meeting
  • March 13, 2024, Spartan Project SEARCH Transitio Expo
  • March 19, 2024, Regular Board Meeting
  • March 25-March 29, 2024, Spring Break 

As the school year begins, we wanted to provide some resources to help keep students safe both at home and at school. Student and staff safety is a top priority at Ingham ISD and in our programs and services.

September is Suicide Prevention Month

With September bringing awareness to suicide prevention, understanding the issues concerning suicide and mental health is an important way we can all take part in suicide prevention, help others in crisis and change the conversation about suicide. If you are thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one or would like emotional support, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week across the United States. The Lifeline network provides a variety of resources on how we can all help prevent suicide and partners with over 200 local crisis centers to provide local resources.

OK2SAY

OK2SAY is the student safety program that allows students to confidentially report tips on potential harm or criminal activities directed at students, school employees and schools. It uses a comprehensive communication system to facilitate tip sharing among students, parents, school personnel, community mental health service programs, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and law enforcement officials about harmful behaviors that threaten to disrupt the learning environment. Tips can be submitted 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling 8.555.OK2SAY, texting 652729 (OK2SAY) or by email to OK2SAY@mi.gov.

Secure Gun Storage Saves Lives

With firearms now being the leading cause of death among children in the United States, the Be SMART campaign was launched in 2015 by the Be Smart for Kids organization to promote responsible gun ownership to reduce the deaths, injuries and trauma that can result when a child or teen is able to access a gun. What does it mean to Be SMART? It means:

Secure (all guns and firearms in your home and vehicle),

Model (responsible behavior with firearms),

Ask (about the presence of unsecured firearms in others homes),

Recognize (the role of firearms in suicide), and

Tell (your peers to be smart about firearms).

The Be SMART campaign also offers some additional best practices adults can do to help keep kids safe and tips on talking to your children about guns.

Michigan 2-1-1 Help Available

Michigan 2-1-1 is a free service that connects Michigan residents with help and answers from thousands of health and human services agencies right in their communities – quickly, easily and confidentially. Whether you need assistance with food, housing, paying bills or support in a family crisis, they are here to help. Michigan 2-1-1 can be used 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year simply by dialing 2-1-1, texting your zip code to 898211 or via their website. With seven regional contact centers across the state, they believe access to information and social services are the cornerstone to thriving communities.

October is National Bullying Prevention Month

Since 2006, October has been a time to acknowledge that bullying can have devastating effects on children and families. Bullying happens in many ways, whether verbal, social, physical or through the use of technology. Over 8.2 million students face bullying each year. When students are bullied, they tend to want to avoid school, lose self-esteem, have increased anxiety and often experience depression. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network offers a variety of resources to raise public awareness and help families navigate the impact bullying can have on a child. 

Fall Fun Fest 

The Ingham ISD Special Education Parent Advisory Committee will host the Fall Fun Fest on Saturday, September 16, from 1:00-3:00 pm at the Hawk Island Park, Red Tail Shelter. The 8th annual event for families in the Ingham ISD service area will have community partners providing resources to families who have a student with an Individualized Education Program (IEP). Students will have an opportunity to participate in several interactive activities. 

2022-23 Graduations

Another school year in the books! We are so proud of all of our graduates and wish them all the best in their future. Below are a few photos for those programs who have already held graduation ceremonies.

Congratulations to Heartwood School graduates Holden Hill, Hallie Kemmis, Jonah Anderson, Victoria LaPorte and Alexy Walters!

Skills for Adult Independent Living (SAIL)

Congratulations to SAIL graduates Hunter Alvarado, Mary Chattaway, Brandon Davis, Emily Evans, Shianne Magwood, Chelsea Redford, Alexandra Romero and Cody Titus.

Project SEARCH

Congratulations to Project graduates Blake Blanchard, Caleb Day, Lauren Hayne, Emily Madery, Marco Migaldi, Noah Rah-Letts and Carlos Trevino.

Secondary Learning Center

Congratulations to graduates Angel Kushmaul (Mason), Burke Heiselt (Mason), David (DJ) Elliott (Stockbridge) and Emmalie Cooper (Lansing Sexton).

The Early College at Lansing Community College

Congratulations to our final graduates of The Early College at LCC Zahra Albarakat, Abder-Rahman Al-Mohidat, Aalton Bodiford, Benjamin Brown, Cooper Brown, Austin Clink, Evelyn Corey, Katherine Davis, Maddie Delaney, Gabriella Dixon, Juliette Flannery, Cheyann Havens, Lindiwe Helm, Ellery Holmes, Brandon Howlett, Olivia Huffer, Claudia Juarez-Allison, Arete Keener, Josue Mejia, Darysse Ornevil, Caroline Pendell, Olivia Perry, Jordan Porter, Ryan Pretzel, Mya Reynolds, Hunter Sager, Ryan Sarvis, Isabelle Scheidler, Taylar Selden, Shashank Shekhar, Alexa Sherwood, Aidon Sleight, Chloe Spears and Zain Zakaria.

Malcolm Williams School

Congratulations to graduate Eli Emery who graduated through Ingham Virtual High School in January as part of the Malcolm Williams program.

Ingham Academy

Ingham Academy graduation will be held on July 26. Congratulations to graduates Zaleaha Elizabeth Bullard, Ortease Myshawn Duncan-Smith, Tra'John Tekell Floyd, Christopher Stephen Hill, Carl Michael Angelo Johnson, Iceyona Nevaeh Lesha Nick-Hillis, Demasio Nino Perez, Ashley Rose Secord and Johnathan O'Brien Wallace.

Summer Learning Opportunities for the Family 

Summer is officially here! From workshops to camps and classes, there is something for everyone to explore and expand their knowledge during the sunny months.   

  • Curious Crew – With nine seasons available to watch online, the Emmy Award winning show, Curious Crew teaches kids of all ages the principles of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

  • Early Learning & Family Literacy Calendars - This calendar contains a variety of information related to preparing children for success in kindergarten, what children will be learning in kindergarten and fun things you can do together from birth to develop and support children’s skills! Families may pick up one free copy of each calendar from any Capital Area District Library location.  

  • The History Channel - Offers valuable support for kids' learning. The website includes informative articles, videos and quizzes that cover various historical topics. Kids can explore different eras, learn about significant events and discover fascinating facts.  

  • Khan Academy - Offers a wide range of educational videos and interactive exercises covering subjects such as math, science, history, life skills and more. Kids can access these materials for free and learn at their own pace. Khan Academy provides step-by-step explanations and examples, making complex concepts easier to understand. It also offers practice exercises to reinforce learning and track progress. Additionally, Khan Academy provides personalized learning paths, allowing kids to focus on areas they need to strengthen. 

Additionally, we have compiled a webpage with many other camps, activities and learning opportunities for kids and families. See the full list of Summer Learning Opportunities on our website. 

Construction Update 

Our Capital Improvement Projects continue to move along nicely. All of the windows are in for the new North Star School addition and interior work on the main office, gym and classrooms is starting to take shape. At the Wilson Talent Center, classrooms for Culinary Arts & Hospitality, Cybersecurity and New Media have been demoed for renovations. Lastly, new flooring and painting have taken place at Heartwood School and work continues on the new secured entrance.

In addition, through a grant received from the Michigan State Police, all new exterior doors were added throughout Heartwood School during spring break for additional security. 

Windows at North Star School

Home Visiting with Early On

Emily Brewer and Michelle Sabo, Directors of Early Childhood Special Education 0-3, recently shared the Early On Home Visiting Video at the Ingham ISD Board of Education meeting which illustrates what a home visit looks like led by the ISD home visiting staff. They also provided a few statistics about the Early On program with the Ingham ISD Board of Education.

Early On Home Visiting Video

Irish Dance Crew Visits Heartwood School 

McCartney Irish Dance Company visited Heartwood School on March 17 to perform for the students. The dancers, who have visited for several years now, do several types of sets and perform a couple of jigs and reels as well. The students very much enjoyed the performance, and it was a great way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day! 

Ingham ISD Hiring Event 

Ingham ISD will host a Hiring Fair with on the spot interviews on Tuesday, April 25, from 3:00-7:00pm. The event will take place at the Thorburn Education Center, located at 2630 West Howell Road in Mason. There are numerous positions available including occupational therapistsschool social workers and speech and language pathologists just to name a few. Ingham ISD offers competitive wages, five health insurance plans to choose from, paid leave time, retirement benefits and much more. Visit our Human Resources page to learn more. 

WTC Year-End Student Showcase 

The Wilson Talent Center (WTC) will host its Year-End Student Showcase on Thursday, May 11, from 4:00-7:00pm. This is an opportunity for family, friends and community members to visit and see projects created and skills learned by our students throughout the year. The WTC is located at 611 Hagadorn Road in Mason. Please join us! 

Upcoming Events & Activities 

May 2, 2023, Student Art Exhibit, 5:30pm, Thorburn Education Center
May 11, 2023, WTC Year-End Student Showcase, 4:00-7:00pm – Wilson Talent Center
May 16, 2023, Regular Board Meeting, 6:00pm – Thorburn Education Center 
May 19, 2023, Heartwood School Prom, TBA – Heartwood School
June 9, 2023, 
Heartwood Graduation, TBA – Heartwood School
June 10, 2023, WTC Car & Big Toy Show, 9:00am-4:00pm, Wilson Talent Center
June 19, 2023, Special Board Meeting, Superintendent Evaluation, 4:30pm – Superintendent’s Office
June 19, 2023, Regular Board Meeting, 6:00pm – Thorburn Education Center
July 18, 2023, Organizational/Regular Meeting, 6:00pm – Thorburn Education Center