The Spartan Family Newsletter
September 4th, 2026
Stronger Together
When students feel connected to their school, they thrive. Research shows that strong school spirit directly boosts academic performance, enhances emotional well-being, and fosters a deep sense of belonging. We want every child who walks through our doors to feel proud to be a Spartan and that spirit starts with all of us!
Nothing builds that sense of community quite like seeing our halls, classrooms, and bleachers filled with Spartan gear. To help our families rep their school pride, the Spartan Store is officially open!
Gear for Every Budget
We know every family’s situation is different, so we’ve made sure our store offers a wide variety of choices. Whether you’re looking for budget-friendly basics or premium brands like Nike and Under Armour, there are options for everyone.
Giving Back to Our Students & Staff
You might notice a small price increase on items in the store. We want to be completely transparent about where that money goes: 100% of the small markup goes directly into a new Spirit & Swag Fund for students and staff.
Every purchase you make helps us buy gear and prizes that we’ll be giving away directly to students and staff throughout the school year during assemblies, spirit days, and recognition events. When you buy a shirt for your family, you’re helping put gear into the hands of a student who might not otherwise have any!
Thank you for your continuous support, your energy, and for helping us build a culture where every student feels like they belong.
The store will be open throughout the school year and some of the items will be swapped out it with others items throughout the year. Once you play an order and pay for it, you can have your order shipped directly to you for a fee or have it delivered to the school for free. If you have it delivered to the school, you can pick it up or we can send it home with your child.
It’s a great day to be a Spartan!
We are STRONGER TOGETHER!
Notes from Mr. O'Leary
Homecoming Court
Senior College & Career Pathway Meeting: This Friday at Noon
Join Mrs. Crist this Friday at noon in the Media Center to start planning your life after high school! Seniors will begin exploring post-graduation pathways, setting up their FAFSA accounts, and building their college application lists. Don't miss out on getting a head start on your future!
Temporary School Board Positions Available
Upcoming Halloween Event
Spooky season is right around the corner! 👻 The PTT and administration are already planning a fun, free Halloween event for our community. To go all out, we need your help to make it amazing.
If you have large outdoor decorations we can borrow, please email Matt Furtney at matt.furtney@waldronspartans.org. Want to help plan, set up, or run the event (or join the PTT)? Email PTT Advisor Nichole DiCenso at nichole.dicenso@waldronspartans.org.
Thank you for your continued support. We can't wait to bring another great event to Waldron! 🎃
Upcoming Dates
Sept 7th - NO SCHOOL - Labor Day
Sept 16th - Waldron PTT meeting at 5 pm
Sept 16th - Waldron School Board Mtg 7pm in the Media Center
Sept 18th - 1st Popcorn Friday
Sept 18th - Hungry Howie's Pizza fundraiser (money and orders) are due.
Sept 25th - 1/2 Day for students
Sept 28th - NO SCHOOL - Fair Day
Sept 29th - NO SCHOOL - Fair Day
Oct 8th - Picture Day
Oct 16th - 1/2 Day for students
Oct 21st - Waldron School Board Mtg 7pm in the Media Center
Oct 30th - End of Marking Period 1
Oct 30th - Halloween Parade
Nov 5th - Conferences
Nov 6th - 1/2 Day
Nov 18th - Waldron School Board Mtg 7pm in the Media Center
Nov 25th - 1/2 Day
Nov 26th - NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving
Nov 27th - NO SCHOOL
Dec 3rd - Picture Retake Day
Dec 17th - 1/2 Day - Exams
Dec 18th - 1/2 Day - Exams
Dec 21-31 - NO SCHOOL - Christmas Break
Jan 1st - NO SCHOOL - New Year's Day
Jan 18th - NO SCHOOL - MLK Day - Possible weather make-up day
This week in SPARTAN Athletics
Sporting Events for this week (09-07 through 09-11)
Monday (09/07) – Labor Day
Tuesday (09/08) – Nothing Scheduled
Wednesday (09/09) – JH Football vs Camden-Frontier @ 5pm, JH Volleyball at Litchfield @ 5:30pm
Thursday (09/10) – HS Volleyball at Hillsdale Academy @ 5:30pm, JH Volleyball vs Hillsdale Academy @ 5:30pm
Friday (09/11) – HS Football at Camden-Frontier @ 7pm
Waldron PTT (Parent Teacher Team)
The Waldron PTT (Parent Teacher Team) is hosting a fundraiser for K-12 graders. The fundraiser is a Hungry Howies "Dough Raiser" An order form will be coming home on Monday. The certificates purchased are valid for a one Medium 1 Topping Pizza. These are great for those busy school nights and you need an easy dinner! The Fundraiser runs September 1st through September 18th. Please have all money and forms turned in on September 18th. All proceeds benefit the school for various project funding.
Coding Club
For students that are wanting to join coding club please sign up in the office. The first meeting is Wednesday September 2 from 3-4pm. Coding Meetings will be held every Wednesday from 3-4pm, unless noted.
Daycare Update
The Waldron Daycare will be closed on Friday, Sept 4th and Monday. Sept. 7th in observance of Labor Day. We hope you have a wonderful long weekend.
If you are interested in your child(ren) attending the Waldron Daycare, enrollment forms are available in the main office. For questions regarding before-school care, please contact Tammy Fix at tammy.fix@waldronspartans.org.
SAVE THE DATE... Agriculture Career Day
As you wrap up your school year, Hillsdale County Farm Bureau would like to provide you with a Save the Date for the fall Agriculture Career Day scheduled for Tuesday, September 15, 2026 at Nutrien Ag Solutions in Reading.
OK2Say for you and your child/children
OK2SAY is a 24/7 confidential safety tipline for reporting threats against students or schools. Contact them by phone at 855-565-2729, text at 652729, email at okaytosay@mi.gov, the OK2SAY app, or via their website.
Updated Morning Drop-Off Procedures
As part of our ongoing efforts to improve school safety and daily operations, we are implementing a few updates to our morning drop-off routine.
- Building Opening Time: Doors will open at 7:30 a.m.
- Early Arrival & Before-School Care: Please note that morning supervision with Mrs. Brenda is no longer available prior to 7:30 a.m. If your child needs to arrive before 7:30 a.m., our on-site daycare is available for a fee. Children must be officially enrolled prior to attending; enrollment forms are available in the main office. For questions regarding before-school care, please contact Tammy Fix at tammy.fix@waldronspartans.org.
- Morning Supervision (7:30 a.m. – Bell): Once students are dropped off after 7:30 a.m., they will head directly outside to the playground for morning recess with Mrs. Olivia. In the event of rain or extreme cold, students will gather in the elementary gym until the school day begins.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation and support in keeping our mornings running smoothly!
School dress code
As we start the 2026/2027 school year, I would like to remind everyone about the Student Handbook Dress Code. Please know that all students and staff are required to abide by the dress code set forth by the school district. While we understand that some parents might not fully agree with every aspect of the policy, it is part of our official code of conduct and must be followed.
It is never our intention to embarrass or humiliate any student regarding their attire. Should a situation arise, we will always offer an alternative clothing item at school before reaching out to ask a parent or guardian to bring a change of clothes.
If you would like to review the full details, you can view the student code of conduct at the link below. The dress code section can be found on pages 30 and 31:
If you ever have any questions or concerns regarding the dress code, please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly.
When visiting the School and late drop off.
We are so glad to have you visit and hope you feel welcomed in our building! To best ensure the safety of our students and staff and maintain the daily flow, we have a couple of important requests for visitors:
When you arrive, please use the front doors to check in and sign out at the main office.
Please do not leave your vehicle unattended in the front bus loop during the busy morning drop-off or afternoon dismissal times. We need to keep this lane clear for our buses to maneuver safely and efficiently.
If you are late dropping off your student, after 8am, please be sure to drop them off at the front door. All other doors will be locked at 8am, we can't have any students standing at the door waiting for someone to come let them in. Thank you for help with this.
Your cooperation with these small matters is greatly appreciated!
Support our Special Education program!! Kroger Community Rewards.
How to Sign Up for Kroger Community Rewards - benefits Waldron Special Education Classrooms
Go to Kroger App
Click on person icon in Top Left corner
Click on Payments and Resources
Click on Community Rewards
Type in DW074 to choose Organization or type in Waldron Special Education Classrooms.
Click Enroll button
Thank you for your support!
NEW School Phone and Personal Technology Update and Policy
As we kick off the new school year, our top priority is providing a safe, engaging, and distraction-free learning environment for all students. With research showing the significant impact of personal screen time on classroom focus and student well-being, we are implementing a district-wide Cell Phone & Personal Technology Policy.
We ask for your partnership and support in reviewing these guidelines with your child before the school year begins.
Important Legal Notice: State Law Mandate
Please be aware that this policy is governed by state law, which mandates restrictions on personal telecommunications devices in public school classrooms. Waldron Area Schools is legally obligated to implement and strictly enforce these requirements. We appreciate your full support and cooperation in helping us comply with state regulations to maintain a focused learning environment for every student.
Policy by Grade Level
Elementary Students
No Phones Allowed: Elementary students are not permitted to bring cell phones or personal communication devices into the school building.
Middle & High School (MS/HS) Students
Classroom "Pouch" System: Students may bring cell phones, smartwatches, wireless headphones/earbuds, and other devices to school, but they are strictly prohibited from having them on their person during class time.
Passing Periods & Lunch: Students are permitted to use their technology responsibly between classes and during lunch.
Restrooms & Locker Rooms: For privacy and safety, cell phones and personal technology are strictly prohibited in all bathrooms and locker rooms at all times.
How the Classroom System Works (MS/HS)
To ensure consistency across every classroom, we are using a Wall Pouch System:
Classroom Arrival: Upon entering every class period, students will immediately place their phone, smartwatch, and headphones into an assigned, numbered pouch on the wall chart.
Instructional Focus: Devices must remain in the assigned pouch for the entire class period.
Out-of-Class Passes: Students leaving the room during class (e.g., to use the restroom or visit the office) are not permitted to take their technology with them.
End of Class: Students retrieve their devices when the end-of-period bell rings.
Consequences (MS/HS)
To keep expectations fair and clear, the following steps will be taken if a student chooses not to place their technology in their designated pouch during class:
Offense and Action Taken
1st Offense
Official Warning, Disciplinary Write-up, and Parent Notification by the teacher.
2nd Offense
Disciplinary Write-up, Parent Notification by an administrator, and the device is turned in to the main office for the remainder of the school day.
3rd Offense
Disciplinary Write-up, device turned in to administration, and held until a parent/guardian meeting is conducted.
4th Offense
Administrative Review, which may include formal suspension, loss of personal technology privileges at school, or other disciplinary measures.
📞 How to Reach Your Child During the School Day
We understand that parents sometimes need to contact their children during the day. To help us maintain an uninterrupted learning environment, please keep the following options in mind:
For Urgent Messages or Emergencies: Please call the Main Office directly at 517-286-6251. Our staff will immediately get a message to your child or bring them to the office.
For Non-Urgent Messages: Feel free to text or message your child! They are welcome to check their phone and respond during passing periods or their scheduled lunch break.
Thank you for your cooperation and continued support in helping our students stay focused, engaged, and successful this school year! As always, if you have any questions, please reach out to me: Matt.Furtney@waldronspartans.org.
