April 8: Monday Magi Messenger
April 8, 2024

Week of April 8, 2024
Superintendent's Monday Magi Message
Happy Monday Magi Families
Happy Monday Magi Families,
My message will be short today. I wanted to remind you that students start state testing this week, so please work with us to ensure they arrive at school on time for a good breakfast and testing.
Last week, I was able to spend a lot of time with our students, which is something I absolutely love -- but not something I am able to do often, given the other requirements and responsibilities of my role. Our kids are just amazing - they are passionate, creative, funny, and ready to accomplish great things. You all know this, but it is an important reminder for us all that while we spend time gearing up for state tests, our kids are so much more.
Have a magical week,
Rachel Kowalski
5th Grade & High School Assessments This Week
Solar Eclipse Message To Families
Please read our letter regarding Safety Precautions for the Solar Eclipse on April 8, 2024
Parents and Families, please review this important letter from Colon Community Schools regarding solar eclipse safety and planning: https://tinyurl.com/SolarMagiLetter. All students and staff will receive glasses for the eclipse. Please speak to your students about the importance of eclipse safety. It's crucial that they understand the risks associated with looking directly at the sun during an eclipse without proper eye protection. Remind them to use approved solar viewing glasses or indirect viewing methods to observe the eclipse safely. Their health and well-being are our top priority, so let's ensure they are informed and prepared for this celestial event.
Important Dates & District Informational Events
Student Awards Ceremonies 2024
Attention Colon Elementary and Colon Jr/Sr High School families! Mark your calendars for our upcoming spring awards events! Save the dates now, and stay tuned for more detailed information from our principals. Let's celebrate our students' achievements together!
On Tuesday, our third-grade students embarked on an incredible Treasure Hunt to prepare for their upcoming state assessments!
They showcased their brilliance while gearing up to rock those assessments! A huge shoutout to our dedicated educators for organizing such a fun and educational experience! Way to go, everyone! Let's keep shining bright!
🔍🏆 Friday marked the last of our Treasure Hunt adventures as we gear up for the assessments!
6th Grade Bubble Blitz!
Our 6th graders had a blast today with their Bubble Blitz review session ahead of the MSTEP! It was incredible to see their energy and enthusiasm as they brushed up on their skills with teachers and staff. We're so proud of all they've accomplished this year, and we can't wait to see them shine on the test and beyond!
🎉🤖 Way to go, Colon Jr/Sr High School Robotics Team! 🤖🎉
Congratulations on making the playoffs at your event this weekend! Your hard work and dedication have truly paid off. Finishing 5th out of 41 teams is incredible, and we are SO proud of you!! Best of luck as you head to the state competition next week! Keep up the amazing work, and continue to shine bright!
Easter Egg Hunt
From CES: DK's CVC Easter egg hunt! Each student had to find 3 eggs with their number on them and then read the words or letters to Miss Bower in order to get the treats inside!
OKTOSAY
We want to extend our gratitude to Tonia Shoup for introducing OK2Say to our 4th and 5th-grade students! Your dedication to empowering our young learners with the knowledge and tools to stay safe is commendable. Thank you for your invaluable contribution to our community!
CES Mileage Club
CES Mileage Club is off to an incredible start! Thanks to all of our students who have joined us on this journey so far. Whether you're running or walking, every step counts towards a healthier you!
Day 2
From Mrs. Minor-Arnett: So proud of my kiddos! As of Day of mileage club our 2nd through 5th grade students have ran 176.15 TOTAL miles!!!! Here are the TOP 3 class standings as of today:
1. Mr. Baker’s 5th grade class with 30.68 miles
2. Mrs. Ray 5th grade class with 25.74 miles
3. Mrs. Lindsey 2nd grade class with 24.7 miles
Updated Stats
We just completed our FIRST WEEK of Mileage Club!!
School Wide Total 303.03 miles!!!
Top 3 Classes:
1. Mr. Baker’s 5th Grade Class with 51.74 miles
2. Mrs. Vreeman’s 3rd Grade Class with 47.97 miles
3. Mrs. Lindsey’s 2nd Grade Class with 45.76 miles
So many students have earned their spot in the 5K Club as well as 1 student (Riley Jackson) earning his place in both the 5K and 10K club!!!
Career & College Pathways Are A Focus Always at Colon Jr/Sr HS
Shoutout to The Salon Professional Academy for hosting our Colon HS students! And to Mrs. Kevnick for supporting our students with college and career education! It was an invaluable experience providing them with real-world insights and hands-on learning. Thank you, TSPA, for empowering our Colon Magi!
Friday Pride Day at CES!
Mrs. Bowen's class won with 81% participation. Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Lindsay had students with the next highest participation of 71% and 65%.
We are very grateful for Mrs. Reilley for all of her work on Friday Pride Day's this school year!
Congratulations to Kayleen Shupp!
She will represent Colon Community School District as an applicant for this year's Dr. Aurora F. DeCastro Scholarship! This scholarship is the first of its kind at SACF and will award one student from St. Joseph County with a $40,000 scholarship ($10,000/year for four years). Each eligible applicant has been nominated by their high school, submitted a full application, and will participate in an interview later this month.
Our GSRP, DK, and Kindergarten Roundup event was a huge success!
We were thrilled to see so many families attend to register for the upcoming 2024-2025 school year.
GSRP, DK and Kindergarten Signing!
Here are just a few of our favorite moments from the evening!
Welcome All New Families & Students!
Stay tuned for announcements about additional events where you can bring your new Magi to register. We can't wait to meet even more of you and welcome you into our school community!
Take Our Safe Routes To School Survey... Millions For In Grant $$
Exciting news! Draft recommendations for our Safe Routes To School program are ready for your feedback, stemming from our October 2023 meetings with 30+ stakeholders. With $300,000 per school for upgrades across three schools, we're poised to enhance safety and reduce traffic congestion through local partnerships. Each school also has $15,000 for programming initiatives, totaling nearly a million dollars in grant funds. Your input is crucial to shape this initiative for our students and community. Please take a moment to review and provide feedback via this survey. We value your thoughts, whether or not you've been involved in previous discussions or meetings. Let's make Colon safer together!
SURVEY: https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSc0VZ0EtN9N.../viewform
VIEW THE PROPOSAL: https://drive.google.com/.../158ZQ1SvczC.../view... (please note that the lines/drawings in “pink” are proposed additions. The lines in “blue” are already existing)
PROPOSAL MEETING RECORDING: https://drive.google.com/.../1fL-afWbYZPP550CKpe5.../view...
Magi Athletics
Looking for Team-Specific Athletic Info? Team Reach Codes!
Team Reach For District Athletic Teams...
Simply download the app from your app store, create an account by joining with email, google, or Facebook. Once you have created an account then you can join the following groups. To do this select the join group option and enter the group code. Once you have done that you will be accepted into the group, and you will then start to receive message!
Families of Young Magi-in-Training! 🎩✨
Upcoming Events For Our Students & Schools
🎉🍔🌞 Don't miss out on the highlight of the year! 🌟
Join us at Colon Elementary's annual end-of-year picnic – it will be amazing! 🎈🎊 Bring your family and friends for fun activities, delicious food, and great company. 🍉🥪🎶 Let's celebrate another fantastic school year together!
📅 Date: Thursday, May 23, 2024
🕛 Time: 11AM-3PM (see times for each grade level)
📍 Location: Colon Elementary School Be sure to sign up using the link below to reserve your spot, and let us know how many guests will be joining you.
Sign up here ➡️ https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdW6UQYloSwo1W8c1sfcDSZpSUk-cuM9MOelRDOBh2iX3YlEg/viewform
Fresh Food Initiative
Thursday, April 18th beginning at 4:30 pm there will be a fresh food distribution! This will take place near the cafeteria doors of the Jr/Sr High School!
Special Thank You's This Week
Remember To Check Your Student's PowerSchool!
PowerSchool
PowerSchool Login Help
Sign-Up For Google Classroom Notifications
More Opportunities, Events & Reminders
Important Links & Resources For Magi Families
Senior Dates - Class of 2024
Monday-Thursday CARE (CES) & Tutoring
Seniors: Class of 2024
2023-2024 Academic Calendar
Mrs. Kowalski, Superintendent of Colon Community Schools since spring 2022, oversees the implementation of budgets, policies, and programs at Colon Junior/Senior High, Colon Elementary, and Leonidas Elementary. Connect with her in person or via email (rkowalski@colonschools.org) or phone (248-770-5761) to share your feedback and thoughts. She lives in Colon with her family and two yellow Labradors and recently completed her dissertation and doctorate degree.