Harvey-Swanson News

Our Harvey-Swanson family is dedicated to engaging and motivating all individuals to reach their personal best.

Helping Each Child Soar!

Our first week of school was amazing! So many highlights to share, but here are a few:

• Thanks to all of our fifth grade safeties for helping our JK and kindergartners off the buses, in the cafeteria during lunch and outside during recess, and for assisting with dismissal. We have some fantastic fifth grade leaders so far! We look forward to recruiting more.
• Our P2 focus has been the Other People Matter Mindset. We have countless examples of our students exhibiting this mindset: students holding the doors for each other, students using their words to problem solve during recess games, students helping to keep our hallways and bathrooms clean, and students following the directions in the cafeteria. It has been a pleasure joining all grade levels during lunch and recess each day. Watching the students play together at recess is so rewarding!
• All of the morning greetings: high fives, hugs and smiles were the best part of my day! Our Harvey-Swanson students are so kind and personable!

Thank you parents for all of your patience and help this week as everyone settled in.

• Starting Monday, all students will go to their classrooms independently. Only students will be in the hallways, locker areas, and classrooms in the morning. Parents are welcome to wait in the front entryway or the cafeteria and say their goodbyes there. We appreciate your cooperation as we strive to foster independence, honor instructional time, and ensure student safety.
• All parents picking their children up at the end of the day will either go to the office or cafeteria. Please do not go down the hallways or into the classrooms.

We are pleased to welcome the following people to our HSE team:

• Lenny Jaskulka is our new security guard: Lenny is a U.S. Army Veteran who retired from the Michigan State Police Flint post. He loves spending time with family (especially his grandchildren) and friends. He also enjoys hanging out by his pool and at the beach!
  
• Heather Held is one of our special education teachers. She used to teach at the high school.
• Emily Duffy is our new kindergarten teacher. She is a recent graduate from Oakland University and she loves bringing science into the classroom!
• Loren Mitten is our new first grade teacher. She is also a recent graduate from Oakland University and she loves volunteering for local schools and families in need.
• Bob Larson has joined our third grade team this year. He was Brandon's Technology Coach last year and in previous years he was a first and third grade classroom teacher. Mr. Larson loves integrating technology into his lessons!
• Sarah Fournier has joined our food services team and helps serve our students lunch each day.
• Hollie Shigley is our new elementary Social Worker. She splits her time between OES and HSE.

• The first PTA meeting is on Monday at 3:45 in the library. Please join us!
• We are looking for volunteers to help plan and run the upcoming Fall Festival. Please consider volunteering for this fun event. It runs from 5:00-7:00 PM on Friday, October 25th. There are so many ways to lend a helping hand.

The following language is in our Harvey-Swanson Handbook:

Students are discouraged from bringing electronic devices to school. Such items are distracting, easily lost, and appealing to steal. Should you decide to send a cellular phone with your child, it will need to stay in the backpack for the entire day.

• Personal communication devices (such as cell phones) must remain turned off during the school day including lunch time and recess time.

• Cell phones found on the person or turned on during the school day will be confiscated.

• As with any personal item, the district is not responsible for loss, theft or damage.

Every Friday is Harvey-Swanson T-shirt day. If you haven't ordered your shirt yet, no worries. Here is the link to order:

• Harvey-Swanson T-shirt Day: Every Friday
• PTA Meeting: Monday, September 9th at 3:45 in the library. Please join us to find out about all the fun things planned for our HSE students this year. You don't have to be a member to join us. All are welcome!
• Believe Fund Raiser Kickoff: Friday, September 27th

Email: dbrauher@brandon.k12.mi.us
Location: 209 Varsity Drive Ortonville 48462
Phone: 248 627 1850