DKHS WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

This week was so full it is hard to believe we had all this happen in 5 days!! We are mostly done with testing after our MSTEP for the juniors on Tuesday. Now we deal with some makeups for kids who missed and move to our AP Testing season. Our kids are working hard. Here are some other bulleted highlights from a busy week.

• I had the privilege of introducing our 2025 Top 10 at the board meeting. A very impressive group of elite students. Congratulations to all of you on your great school careers.

• We held a scheduling meeting with 8th through 11th graders and introduced a variety of new courses for the fall. Nursing, IGNITE Manufacturing, EMT, Makerspace Computing, more AG Science classes, and many others. Exciting times ahead at DKHS!!

• The metal shop's extreme makeover is complete, and the IGNITE Equipment is getting delivered on Friday. This new learning and certification opportunity for our students will set us apart and have employers recruiting our kids from that program for employment soon. DKHS is one of 2 schools in the State to get this grant this year. Over $500,000 of equipment.

• We have a disc golf course going up on campus.

• Our FFA officers are off for 2 days to a camp in Cassopolis for leadership training and team building.

• Some busy athletics highlighted by a school record 7 goals in a soccer game by Claire Barker. That doesn’t even seem possible to me in soccer, but Claire pulled it off with multiple great passes and assists from her teammates to help make it happen.

• It is getting real for our seniors who had their official cap and gown photographs taken. The photographer who works with many schools said our DK kids were the best she has ever worked with. Polite, patient, cooperative, and respectful were her words. Thanks, seniors, for representing us all so well. We are proud of you. That is doing a job!!

• Our band competed on Wednesday at Otsego in the MSBOA State Band Orchestra Festival and earned straight 1’s across all categories. That is as good as you can do!! Congrats, DKHS Band. They also put on a beautiful spring concert on Thursday night. I’m so impressed with the sound this group of kids can put out. Quite talented.

• Look closely in this bulletin for important dates and details of our Senior Tribute, Honors Program, and Graduation dates and times. We hope you can come out and celebrate the DKHS Class of 2025.

• Our Interact Club and FFA Students have some service projects in the works. New wood chips on the nature trail, mulch, and general grounds clean up, as well as some painting of the light poles in the parking lots, are all happening. Our kids love to serve and look for ways they can make a difference.

• Seniors are just 3 weeks away from their last day. Finish strong, seniors.

• I want to give a huge shout-out to our front office team here at the high school. Jennifer Sinclair and Tiffany Bever make it all happen and work tirelessly always, but the end of the year is when they really work their magic with all the added special events and the planning that goes into making things come together. I appreciate you both!!!

This week’s Hogie’s Heroes DO A JOB winners are our 2025 Top 10. In addition to being elite academically, this group is full of kids with great character. They have exhibited consistent leadership, service, citizenship, and care for our school community. Congratulations, Top 10!!

If you are not familiar with Youth Quest, it is a weekend long leadership program for Barry County youth entering 10th, 11th, and 12th grades in the 2025-2026 school year. This program challenges youth in areas of team building, leadership, goal setting, and problem solving. It takes place at YMCA Camp Algonquin. The cost is $25/student.

Delton Alums who want to give back to our school are having a shoe sale at their home on Keller Road on April 26 and May 10. Close to 7000 pairs of new shoes, most around $15.00. Many original prices over $100-$200. Prom shoes, fashion boots, flip flops etc... See the flyer below.

The Senior Decision Day will be held on Wednesday, May 14 at the High School. This is a special event to honor our Seniors. The day will start with a special breakfast for Senior students, followed by "The Grad Walk," where Senior students will visit their past teachers in the elementary and middle school. Congratulations to our 2024-2025 graduating Seniors!

The 8th Grade Orientation to High School will be held on Friday, May 23. 8th grade students will have the opportunity to visit the high school building and classes. Students will get a feel for what life is like at the high school level, so they are prepared for success for the 2025-2026 school year.

The Gear Cats Robotics Club received a $1,500 grant from The Barry Community Foundation to support its mission to bring STEM and robotics to students at DKHS. The award comes from the Youth Advisory Council (YAC) at the Community Foundation and the grant was written by Kristina Koan, a DKHS sophomore. The funds were used to purchase an enclosed trailer for the club. The Gear Cats will now be able to easily transport their robot and tools to competitions and events throughout Southwest Michigan.

There will be a Student Council meeting Thursday May 1st at 7:30am in Miss Dinda's classroom. All members must attend to plan the Fun Run and other activities. See you there!!

The Interact Club, CTE Shop classes, and Ms Zettelmaier's Integrated Science class were out this week taking care of the path along the lakefront to celebrate Earth Day. Students spread 5 loads of wood chips along the trail taking advantage of the beautiful weather and lake views while working outside. Be sure to stop out and enjoy this awesome path that curves along the lake behind the high school.

FFA students Audrie Adams, Evelynn Courneya, Samuel Champion-Paling, Isaiah Kellogg, Sophie Lebeck, and Olivia Post represented their chapter with pride at the Chapter Officer Leadership Camp. During the camp, they competed in chapter challenges, took home a win in the scavenger hunt challenge, learned valuable skills for their officer roles, and began planning exciting events for the 2025–2026 school year.