Shepherd Middle BlueJay Bulletin

This week, students are engaged in two SOAR service contests that support our community. Coins for a Cause recognizes National Homelessness Awareness Month, and students are encouraged to bring in loose change to benefit the Isabella County Restoration House. Donations may be contributed in SOAR classes through Tuesday, November 24.

Our Hoops for Hunger campaign also continues through December 19, with students contributing non-perishable food or hygiene items to assist families in need. As a reminder, one donated dollar provides nine pounds of food, and the top SOAR class in each grade level will earn a trip to the Hoops for Hunger game on January 7.

As we conclude the trimester, we recognize that some students met their goals, others made steady progress, and some may not have reached the outcomes they intended. A trimester transition offers an opportunity to reflect, reset, and begin with renewed focus.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we are emphasizing the value of teamwork and gratitude, and families may wish to ask students whom they appreciate and how those individuals strengthen their school or home community.

We will conclude the short week with a celebration of the trimester’s end during our first BlueJay Rally of the year on Tuesday afternoon.

November

• 24- Beginning of second trimester
• 26-28- Thanksgiving Break

December

• 22- Holiday Break begins

As we approach the final days before Thanksgiving and wrap up the month of November, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude—not just for the children we are privileged to support, but for you, the families who nurture and guide them each day. Parenting is meaningful—and often challenging—work, and your care, patience, and dedication make a profound difference in your children’s lives.

This holiday season offers a special opportunity to pause, reflect, and savor the many moments for which we can be grateful. Whether it’s sharing a meal, taking a walk together, or simply enjoying each other’s company, these moments of connection remind us of the strength and love that surround us. It is in these everyday acts—big and small—that gratitude truly flourishes, grounding us and highlighting our place in a much bigger, caring community.

From all of us here, we extend our deepest thanks to you for the partnership, support, and trust you share. Wishing you and your family a peaceful, restorative, and joy-filled Thanksgiving.

Jonathan Haidt’s book, The Anxious Generation, explores the rise in anxiety and depression among adolescents, starting in the early 2010s. Haidt points to two key causes:

1. Less Play, More Supervision: Starting in the 1980s, kids lost opportunities for outdoor, unsupervised play, essential for building resilience and independence.
2. Smartphones and Social Media: In the 2010s, the shift to smartphone use and social media fueled anxiety, isolating kids from real-world connections.

Haidt encourages parents to prioritize outdoor play, delay smartphones and social media, and build supportive, real-world communities to foster healthier childhoods.

https://jonathanhaidt.com/anxious-generation/

Mrs. Faber and Mrs. Fulgencio's classes had the opportunity to share a thanksgiving feast together! Students spontaneously began sharing what they are grateful for.

Shepherd High School Leadership designed some school swag that is now available in an online store. You can even get your items delivered to your doorstep!

PA 57 of 2023 requires districts to provide all students in grades 6–12 with the Michigan Department of Education’s (MDE) Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault Information Guide, the district’s Title IX coordinator contact information, and the district policies on sexual assault and harassment. This information, for Shepherd Public Schools, is linked below.

Email: sps_sms_office@shepherdschools.net

Phone: (989) 828-6605