Local transportation supervisors learn about Michigan’s ‘OK2SAY’ effort and how they can help with student and school safety

Each day, school bus drivers and aides are the first contact thousands of young people have outside of their families. Much like their teacher counterparts, school transporters get to know the students who ride their bus, and they can be among the first to witness a change in a child’s behavior. Because of their important connections with students and their well-being, local transportation supervisors recently learned about another tool to help the students in their care. At an area-wide transportation supervisors’ meeting on Oct. 5, 2018, 19 local transporters from 11 Char-Em ISD school districts heard details about the “OK2SAY” program, a Michigan call center for confidential reporting of concerns regarding the safety of students, staff and schools. Transportation Supervisors receive OK2SAY training media release

 Lakeview High School teacher Kelly Wilson understands the power of connecting students with rich experiences. Because of her association with the Top-of-the-Mitt National Writing Project, a unique opportunity for Lakeview students presented itself. At an NWP board meeting, Wilson learned that the Good Hart Artist and Writing Residency out of Harbor Springs had guest writer Bryna Cofrin-Shaw arriving in the area in September, and the Residency asked Bryna to work with local students. 

One of Cofrin-Shaw’s areas of interest is the “relationship between human and environmental traumas.” On Sept. 25, 2018, she came into the classroom at Lakeview, an alternative high school that partners with the 7th Probate Court to serve Emmet County youth. Cofrin-Shaw worked with students, presenting “beautiful, creative fiction and non-fiction” pieces and her own draft of a story, all of which the students responded to individually and as a group. Two days later, the students and staff of Lakeview traveled to the McCune Nature Preserve. Read the students' work

During the week of Nov. 5-9, 2018, area students, parents and community residents will have the opportunity to tour some of the region’s most unique and important manufacturing facilities. Tours will take place at several plants in Charlevoix and Emmet Counties, during school hours. Area high schoolers will be able to learn first-hand about the skills they’ll need to enter the manufacturing workforce. Local parents will learn about the high-paying, in-demand job opportunities for their students right here in Northern Michigan. Community residents will see our successful businesses in action. More details will be available soon. National Manufacturing Day - Northern Michigan flyer

Please encourage your student(s) to participate in this unique offering, presented by a group including Char-Em ISD Career and Technical Education staff, local chambers of commerce, Northern Lakes Economic Alliance, North Central Michigan College, and regional manufacturers.

Boyne City High School has taken a standard classroom space and turned it into what looks like the scene of a lineworker training grounds – sections of utility poles are connected with thick electrical conduits, hefty leather toolbelts are loaded with every necessary tool of the trade, and critical supporting equipment lines the walls.

This newly converted classroom houses Energy Fundamentals: Lineworker Emphasis, a new Career and Technical Education (CTE) program launched on the first day of the 2018-19 school year. A ribbon-cutting celebration took place on the morning of Sept. 11, 2018 with students, teachers, invited guests and collaborative partners. New Energy Fundamentals: Lineworker Emphasis course launched at Boyne City High School

Professional Learning opportunities offered by Char-Em ISD for 2018-19 include a diverse array of subjects and presenters. This year’s PL booklet is now available on the Professional Learning Page. Please note: There will not be a printed PL booklet; all courses and registration information will be published online only.

The theme for Professional Learning this year is “Hope. Rise. Thrive!” That theme will be carried through the learning sessions and it will be a main focus during Area Wide Professional Learning Day on Nov. 1, 2018, at Castle Farms in Charlevoix. To register for classes, visit www.charemisd.org/pl and choose Online Registration.  Also, please check back online regularly through the year as more classes may be added. You can also stay up-to-date by following Char-Em Professional Learning on Facebook.