DKHS WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

As the year winds down, we still have a lot going on here at the high school. Kids are working hard to secure their credits and prepare for exams next week. Pending those results, I would encourage students who are missing credits to register for summer school. Those forms are available from a hanging folder on the main office windows. Students who are too far behind pace for graduation within their 4-year career will be transferred to the DK Academy. Don’t forget our exams take place on the last 3 days of the year, which are scheduled as half days. On Monday, which is our last full day, we will have a brief honors assembly at 2 PM in the gym to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of our 9th-11th graders. Feel free to join us at that time.

We still have just a few staffing and scheduling questions to sort out, and then we will be able to post student schedules. Remember, our schedules are dictated by student needs first, and then we try to get them all of their elective choices, but we cannot build a schedule on the personal preferences of 300 students. Any schedule changes will be limited to just those cases where the things they need for graduation are missing. Students always need to be prepared to be in a class that wasn’t their first choice. New experiences and trying out other classes can be a good thing.

I’m proud of our band for their participation in parade performances over the holiday weekend. That must have been HOT for them. Shout out to the DK Band for giving back to the community and honoring those who serve our country. Thank you, veterans, and thank you, Mrs Knight and the DK Marching Band.

On Tuesday this week, our DK Golf Team finished 3rd in the 21-team regional at Island Hills. That finish qualifies them for the State Finals next week. This year, the Division 3 Finals are right in our backyard at Bedford Valley. They play June 5 and June 6 with a 9 AM tee-off each day of this 2-day event. Come out and support our DK golfers as they make a run at the State Championship. Grady Matteson (4), Carter Brickley (8), and Jason Marshall (4) all finished in the top 8 and were Regional medal winners. Tyler Howland finished in the top ⅓ of over 120 golfers to round out our scoring. Congratulations, DK golfers and Coach Nick Haas.

Congratulations to Claire Barker, Cora Morris, Laana Hooker, Emily Stevens, Mallory Momenee, Olivia Post, and Madalyn Caldwell on passing their Medical Terminology Certification test. This is a byproduct of the Allied Health class they took with Nurse Rhonda, working in conjunction with Mrs. Guthrie and her Anatomy class. This “real and relevant” learning gives these DK students a head start toward their healthcare careers and helps them build their resume and college applications for next year.

On Thursday, many of our FFA and Agricultural Science students took a trip to Mooville to see their dairy operation. From the cow to the cone, our kids were able to see the farm-to-table process. This is another great example of how we are connecting student learning to real-life applications. I can’t wait to see where our AG program goes when we get the new barn built and operational in the fall. Shout-Out to Ms. Hebenstreit for her work getting students multiple hands-on learning experiences.

Maria was selected out of all of ICES students throughout the entire United States to be student of the month. She won this honor over thousands of other international students. Huge accomplishment!!!

From ICES:

Please join us in celebrating Maria from Spain, who has spent her exchange year in Hickory Corners, Michigan! When Maria first arrived, she was shy, reserved, and hesitant to engage. Over the course of her exchange year, her growth has been nothing short of remarkable. From nervous first conversations to walking confidently into exit orientation laughing, engaging, and heading off to her powder puff game, Maria’s journey has been a beautiful example of personal transformation

Maria embraced new experiences every step of the way—participating in cheer, making varsity basketball despite never having played before, and dual sporting this spring in both track & field and flag football, all while maintaining straight A’s. Her growing confidence, initiative, and communication skills helped her navigate challenges with maturity and courage. Maria’s story is a powerful reminder of the life-changing impact of cultural exchange.

Today, thanks to Ms. Hebenstreit, we had the opportunity to visit Mooville and learn more about agriculture and dairy farming. During our trip, we enjoyed delicious ice cream, went on a tour of the farm, and learned about cows and the process of how milk is produced, filtered, and prepared. Our tour guide, Bonnie, was very helpful throughout the day and answered many questions about the barns, cows, and how the farm operates on a daily basis.

Students were able to see different parts of the farm up close and gain a better understanding of the hard work that goes into the dairy industry. The trip was both educational and fun, and everyone enjoyed spending time together while learning more about agriculture.

Woodshop students have been busy making custom projects thanks to a grant through DKEF. Students have been learning how to use a CNC machine to take their projects to another level. They learned how to design projects in the program Easel, then carved out the custom designs with precision. We are looking forward to making more cool projects with this awesome tool!