Family Newsletter

Families,

I would like to thank everyone who took the time to join us for family conferences. We know how valuable the connection between home and school is in supporting the growth and success of every student. We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with our families and appreciate your continued support, communication, and collaboration.

Next week, a group of our middle school students will travel to Washington, D.C., for an exciting and meaningful educational experience. We wish them safe travels and a wonderful trip filled with opportunities to learn, explore, and create memories that will last a lifetime. We are fortunate to offer our students experiences like this that extend learning beyond the classroom and help bring history to life.

Next week also brings the PSAT for our junior class. This will be their final opportunity to take the PSAT before sitting for the SAT this spring. We encourage our students to approach the assessment with confidence and do their best. Experiences like these help students become familiar with standardized testing and prepare for the next steps in their academic journeys.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support of our school community.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to text, call, or email: (231) 590-8631 or reevec@suttonsbayschools.com.

Sincerely,

Chris Reeve
Principal, Suttons Bay Public Schools

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to OK2SAY for spending time with our students in grades 4–10 this past Tuesday. Student safety is, and always will be, our top priority. We are committed to providing a safe, supportive, and predictable environment where every student can learn, grow, and thrive.

This visit provided students with valuable, firsthand knowledge about the important role they play in keeping our school district safe. By helping students understand how to recognize and report concerns, we continue to build a culture of awareness, responsibility, and care for one another.

Thank you to OK2SAY for partnering with us to reinforce this important message and support the safety and well-being of our students.

On Tuesday, October 13, Suttons Bay High School, in collaboration with LIFT, welcomed James Vukelich Kaagegaabaw, an internationally recognized speaker, author, educator, and member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe.

James shared Indigenous wisdom, storytelling, and teachings with our students, focusing on the connections between language, culture, identity, and the importance of carrying traditional wisdom into our lives today. Students enjoyed learning from him and exploring the Seven Grandfather Teachings: love, respect, bravery, honesty, humility, truth, and wisdom.

Through engaging stories and meaningful lessons, James encouraged students to reflect on their choices, their impact on others, and the importance of thinking about future generations. His presentation offered students a valuable opportunity to learn about Indigenous perspectives, deepen their understanding of cultural traditions, and consider how these teachings can guide their lives.

We are grateful to James for sharing his knowledge and experiences with our students and to LIFT for helping make this meaningful learning opportunity possible.

As we settle into the first full month of this school year, we want to thank everyone for making the start to LIFT's school year programming so much fun!

In October, we hope you'll join us for all things "fall"! We have everything from pumpkin decorating and cozy baking to fall hikes and Halloween window-cling making on the calendar to help celebrate the much-loved crisp and spooky month.

Take a look at the full calendar on our website, and be sure to register your student HERE or by following the QR code to ensure they can join us for all our upcoming activities.

Our seniors are making great progress as they prepare for life after graduation! Here are a few important updates and upcoming opportunities for seniors and their families.

Common App Workshops

All seniors have been invited to and/or participated in the first of two Common App workshops held during the school day. The second workshop will take place on Thursday from 2:30–3:30 p.m. This is another opportunity for students to ask questions, receive support, and continue working on their college applications.

FAFSA Night Success!

Thank you to the families who joined us on Wednesday, October 14, for FAFSA Night! Of the nine families who attended, eight completed the FAFSA in under an hour! We are so pleased with this progress and appreciate everyone who took the time to participate.

Northwestern Michigan College (NMC)

Three weeks ago, all seniors had the opportunity to apply to Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) during the school day. We are excited to help students explore their postsecondary options and take steps toward their future goals.

Scholarship Opportunities Coming Soon!

Next week, our scholarship page on the school website will be updated and ready to go! As we get closer to January, scholarship opportunities will continue to increase. Watch for more information next week, including details about our updated scholarship link, to help students and families find and explore available funding opportunities.

We encourage all seniors and families to stay connected, take advantage of these resources, and reach out if they need support along the way. We are here to help our seniors make the most of their opportunities as they prepare for their next chapter!

Psychology students created posters based on content from chapter two, titled "The Biology of the Mind", in their introductory to psychology textbook and then presented the concepts to the rest of the class.

For full access to Suttons Bay Athletic schedules on your phone, click on the link and follow the step-by-step instructions to create your account.

Create Your Eventlink Account!

Bus routes have been updated! For all your logistical needs and questions, please visit our transportation webpage using the link below.

October 16: Early Release Day