The Spartan Spark

Dear Spartan Families,

It’s hard to believe we’re already in October! The school year is off to a strong start, and we’re proud of how our students are settling into routines, working hard in the classroom, and showing pride in being Spartans.

This fall, we’re continuing to build a school culture where every student feels safe, respected, and connected. From morning meetings to classroom discussions and team-building activities, we’re helping students understand what it means to be a positive member of our school community. We talk a lot about making good choices, looking out for one another, and using kindness and empathy every day.

👣 Keeping Our Hands and Feet to Ourselves

As we reflect on the first part of the school year, we’ve been looking closely at behavior data, and we’ve noticed a common theme: many of our students are engaging in unnecessary physical contact—things like rough play, playful pushing, or touching others when it's not appropriate.

To proactively address this, all students have received direct instruction on:

• What it means to keep hands and feet to yourself

• How to handle conflicts or frustrations in safe and respectful ways

• When and how to get help from an adult

While some of this contact may seem playful, we know that it can quickly lead to hurt feelings or unsafe situations. We are committed to creating a calm, respectful environment where every student can focus on learning and feel safe at school.

We ask for your partnership in reinforcing this message at home. A quick reminder about respecting personal space and using words instead of physical actions can make a big difference. Together, we can help our students grow not just academically, but socially and emotionally as well.

Thank you for being an important part of our Spartan community!

Warmly,
Mrs. Danielson
Principal

We want to give a huge THANK YOU to everyone who participated in, supported, and helped organize this year’s PTC Color Run! Whether you ran, walked, cheered, volunteered, or donated — you made it an incredible event.

Our students had a blast getting active and colorful with their classmates, and the energy and community spirit were truly something special.

Thanks to your generosity and enthusiasm, this fundraiser helps make it possible for our upper elementary students to enjoy:

• Field trips that extend learning beyond the classroom

• Hands-on experiences that bring lessons to life

• Fun, engaging events that build school spirit and create lasting memories

We’re so grateful for the support of our Parent-Teacher Council and the many families and staff members who made this day a success. Events like the Color Run help strengthen our Spartan community — and they make school even more fun and meaningful for our students.

📸 Check out some fun moments from the Color Run in the photos below!

👉 If you’re interested in getting involved with our PTC, we’d love to have your support!
🗓️ The next PTC meeting is on October 16th at 6:00 PM in the Upper Elementary Library.
It’s a great way to meet other families and make a direct impact on your child’s school experience.

Thank you again for helping us create such a positive and enriching school year!

This month, our 4th and 5th graders will take part in presentations from OK2Say, a student safety program through the Michigan State Police. The program focuses on important messages for elementary students: preventing bullying, speaking up if you see something dangerous, finding a trusted adult, and choosing kindness every day.

OK2Say also gives students an anonymous way to report dangerous or harmful situations, ensuring that they always have a safe outlet to share concerns.

Students in 4th and 5th grade will be bringing home opt-out forms if you do not wish for your child to participate. Families also received an email with more detailed information about the program.

We are thankful for the opportunity to partner with OK2Say to help empower our students to speak up, stay safe, and look out for one another.

A huge thank you goes out to Dollar General and Mr. Peterson for supporting our library! Mr. Peterson applied for and received a $4,000 grant from Dollar General, which provided us with brand-new books for our students to enjoy. We are so grateful for their generosity and commitment to literacy. Thank you, Dollar General and Mr. Peterson!

At MCC Upper Elementary, we are focusing on helping students grow not just academically, but also socially and emotionally. This month, our SEL emphasis is on kindness and respect. Families can help at home by encouraging children to:

• Use kind words with siblings, friends, and adults

• Pause and take a breath when feeling frustrated

• Think about how others might feel before acting

Together, home and school can build strong, caring habits that help students succeed in every part of life. 🌟

For more information, please contact the school.

When students are valued, they feel valuable!