The Times Family Newsletter

Wilson Talent Center

Annual Open House

The Wilson Talent Center will host an Open House on Wednesday, December 14, from 4:30-7:30pm for prospective students and their families. During the event, guests can learn about the curriculum, meet instructors, have enrollment questions answered and learn about free college credit opportunities. Students and parents who are considering enrolling for Fall 2023 are encouraged to attend.

"Be The Match®" Donor Registry Event

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) program at the Wilson Talent Center is teaming up with Be The Match® to host a Donor Drive Registry on Friday, December 16, from 8:30am – 2:00pm at 611 Hagadorn Road in Mason in honor of a former student. Thousands of patients with blood cancers and other deadly diseases could be cured with a blood stem cell donation from a genetically matched donor. You could be a family’s hope for a cure. To participate in the Donor Drive Registry, you must be between the ages of 18-40, a resident of the United States and able to meet the health guidelines. If you meet the criteria, you simply have your cheeks swabbed at the event. If you are unable to attend in person on December 16, you can text "TeamWilson" to 61474 to register, and a test kit will be mailed to you if you qualify.

Heartwood School

Holiday Idol

Heartwood School families are invited to attend this year's "Holiday Idol" performance. It will take place on Wednesday, December 14, at 12:30pm in the school gymnasium. The students and staff have been working hard to prepare for this event. Come out and enjoy some holiday cheer!

Winter Spirit Week

Heartwood School's Winter Spirit Week will take place during the week of December 12-16, 2022. The themes for this year are shared below. Heartwood students and staff are encouraged to dress up for a little extra fun!

Monday (December 12) – Wonderland White Out (dress in all white)
Tuesday (December 13) – Ugly Sweater Day
Wednesday (December 14) – Fancy Attire (for Holiday Concert)
Thursday (December 15) – Holiday Color Wars (classroom colors are TBD)
Friday (December 16) – Comfy, Cozy, PJ Day

North Star School

Beam Signing and Logo Reveal 

On Thursday, November 10, many Ingham ISD staff and students took part in signing a beam that will be used in the construction of the new North Star School. In addition, the new logo for the school was unveiled. North Star School will be a combined school for students in the Secondary Learning Center and Evergreen program. Enjoy some photos of those who took part in the beam signing.

Ingham ISD Events & Activities

December

12-16 – Heartwood School Winter Spirit Week
14 – Wilson Talent Center Open House
14 – Heartwood School Holiday Idol Concert
16 - Be The Match® Donor Registry Event
19 – Winter Recess Begins, no students
20 – Ingham ISD Board Meeting
23 & 26 – Winter Break, District Closed
30 – New Year Break, District Closed

January

2 – New Year Break, District Closed
3 – Classes Resume
16 – MLK Day, District Closed

Heartwood Spirit Week

Wilson Talent Center Celebrates 50 Years 

The Wilson Talent Center is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. When it opened in the fall of 1972, the Capital Area Career Center was viewed as vocational training for students that were immediately entering the job market upon graduation. In 2017, the Capital Area Career Center became the Wilson Talent Center to better reflect that today’s students were building upon their talents before entering college, an apprenticeship, or a career field. It is estimated that approximately 35,000 students have benefited from programs over the fifty years. Under the direction of 11 principals, numerous construction projects and additions, enrollment has continued to grow year after year. Wilson Talent Center offers 19 career & technical education programs for high school juniors and seniors in twelve career pathways. Students earn high school academic credit, state and national certifications and free college credit for successfully completing the programs. For more information, visit Wilson Talent Center. 

October is College Application Month 

October is College Application Month! The Michigan College Access Network has compiled a list of colleges/universities which do not have application fees as well as those that are waiving application fees for the month of October.

Download the Ingham ISD Mobile App 

Ingham ISD recently launched a mobile application geared toward families, staff and local school district representatives. The app provides information on programs, events, employment opportunities, news features and much more. Families can also receive alerts specific to their child's program. The application is available for free download on both Google Play and the App Store. Stay connected and download it today! #InghamImpact 

Wilson Talent Center Students Participate in National Manufacturing Day  

Students from the Wilson Talent Center Engineering, Precision Machining and Welding programs participated in National Manufacturing Day on October 7. Students had the opportunity to visit various manufacturers to learn more about career opportunities throughout our region. Thank you to our partners, local manufacturers and students for making this year great!

From left to right: Stacy Adado, Communications Specialist; Lindy Daman, College and Career Preparation and Assessment Coordinator; Jason Mellema, Ingham ISD Superintendent; Paul Guetschow, WTC Engineering Instructor; Jon Daman, WTC Graduate; and Jamie Engel, Ingham ISD Executive Director of CTE

Construction Progress Continues 

Construction continues on our Mason campus as we enhance learning environments for our students. The North Star School addition is really starting to take shape with exterior walls going up, bathrooms at the Wilson Talent Center and Heartwood School are nearing completion and interior projects will continue over the next several months. #InghamImpact

ICHD COVID-19 Pandemic Community Survey 

Ingham County Health Department (ICHD) has developed a short, online community survey to evaluate ICHD’s COVID-19 Pandemic response and the effect the COVID-19 Pandemic has had on our community. The survey is available in English (note: Spanish and Arabic versions are coming soon!) and takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. It will be on the right side of the ICHD homepage (see screenshot below) from Monday, October 3, 2022 through Friday, November 4, 2022.  

If you have any questions regarding the ICHD COVID-19 Pandemic Community Survey, please don’t hesitate to contact cmhendrickson@ingham.org or 517.887.4477. 

Seeking Focus Group Volunteers for an Ingham ISD Mobile App

January is School Board Recognition Month 

During the month of January, we take a moment to appreciate the time and dedication of our Board of Education members during School Board Recognition Month. This group is responsible for educating students, providing for the safety and welfare of students, determining matters relating to school employees and contractors, controlling the expenditure and receipt of school funds, and making joint and cooperative agreements along with many other things. Thank you to Nancy Stanley (President), Lori Zajac (Vice President), Michael Flowers (Treasurer), Erin Schor (Secretary) and John Wolenberg (Trustee). 

Wilson Talent Center Hosted Leadership Lansing

On Tuesday this week, the Wilson Talent Center hosted the Leadership Lansing contingency from the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce. Jason Mellema, Ingham ISD Superintendent, and Dr. Sean Williams, Eaton RESA Superintendent, served on a panel moderated by Cindy Kangas, Executive Director of the Capital Area Manufacturing Council. Mellema and Williams spoke with Lansing business associates about how educators and businesses can work together to provide more learning opportunities for students, especially in the area of career and technical education. 

District Closed January 17, 2022

As a reminder to families, Ingham ISD will be closed on Monday, January 17, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday. King was the chief spokesman for nonviolent activism in the Civil Rights Movement, which protested racial discrimination in federal and state law. The campaign for a federal holiday in King's honor began soon after his assassination in 1968. Classes will resume on Tuesday, January 18. 

COVID-19 Updates 

On December 28, 2021, the Ingham County Health Department (ICHD) adopted recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that the isolation and quarantine requirements for close contacts be reduced from 10 days to 5 days.

A few more updates came out from the ICHD and CDC this week. Those changes are outlined on our website in our new isolaton and quarantine guidance. Testing for unvaccinated students and staff happens each week day on our Mason campus. This allows unvaccinated students and staff who have no symptoms but have been deemed a close contact in one of our programs to remain in class by testing negative on the appropriate days. 

Summer Camps a Success 

We would like to thank those families that attended our various camps this summer including Kids' College, Math Scholars' University and the Wilson Talent Center Summer Career Camps. All of these camps were well attended, and students were engaged, learning and had some fun. We would also like to thank the instructors who participated and provided students with additional learning opportunities outside the traditional classroom. Please enjoy some photos and video clips from these camps. We hope to offer summer learning opportunities again next year. Keep an eye out at Ingham ISD beginning in March 2022. 

Kids College 2021

Math Scholar's University 2021

Wilson Talent Center Summer Career Camps 2021

COVID-19 Return to School Protocols

With the return to school approaching quickly, we know many families have questions about COVID-19 protocols for the fall. At this time the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) are recommending "universal indoor masking for teachers, students, staff and visitors to schools regardless of vaccination status and for students to return to full-time, in-person instruction."   

Effective August 16, 2021, Ingham ISD now requires face masks for all students, staff and visitors while indoors, when medically feasible. Masking is required for all Ingham ISD programs and services regardless of location. Masks are also required on buses as mandated at the federal level. Masks are not required outside. We encourage families to continue to do a daily health self-assessment before leaving for school each day and/or boarding the bus and encourage good hygiene and hand-washing. Please read the Ingham ISD Updated COVID-19 Protocols for Families, to ensure you have all the details about our layered strategies to minimize the transmission of COVID-19. 

Health screeners are required for any staff or visitor, which includes family members, to Heartwood School. This is also a federal requirement as Heartwood has a clinic onsite. Families receiving home-visiting services are required to fill out the online health screener prior to a visit. If you or your child is sick, please stay home or cancel your early childhood visit or play group until you're feeling better.  

We all need to work together to keep our learning environments healthy and safe. 

Ingham ISD Mobile App Is Coming! 

Ingham ISD is in the process of creating a personalized mobile app for our families, local districts and staff to provide quality communication in a timely manner. This app provides for on-the-go alerts, calendars, news items and contact information just to name a few. The app will be available for download for both iPhone and Android users. We are currently in the development stage and plan to host some focus groups with stakeholders before finalizing the app. If you are interested in participating in a focus group and have a student who attends an Ingham ISD program, please email us at communications@inghamisd.org. We would greatly appreciate your input!  

The Early College at LCC

The Early College at LCC held a virtual 2021 Convocation event on Wednesday, May 12, for graduates. Forty-two graduates from a variety of local districts were celebrated for completing the three-year early college program where motivated students get a head start on their college program with tuition, fees and books provided free. Congratulations to these students!

Heartwood School

Heartwood School held a graduation ceremony for students aging out of the program on Tuesday, June 8, with families and friends. There are four graduates from the 2020-21 school year, and the six graduates from the 2019-20 school year were also invited to participate, as they were unable to have their ceremony due to the pandemic. After the graduation ceremony was complete, all of the graduates did a final parade walk through the building as students and staff cheered them on! 

2021 Graduates (from left to right): Ben B., Matthew O. and Cody C. 
Not pictured: Soray. A.

2020 Graduates (not pictured): Minju K., Tony W., Tyler K., Lulu G.,  Logan K. and Zach Z. 

Welcome to the May issue of The Times. The Times was designed to reflect that our programs are moving forward and celebrating education in a new way. We hope you enjoy this issue.

Summer Learning Opportunities

Ingham ISD will offer several summer learning opportunities for students including Gifted & Talented Programs and Wilson Talent Center Summer Career Camps. Ages and registration fees vary depending on the particular camp experience and all camps will be held on the Ingham ISD campus  in Mason. COVID-19 safety protocols will be based on federal, state or local health guidance. Seats are limited, so register early. Some scholarship opportunities may be available. #InghamImpact

Welcome to the December issue of The Times. “The Times” was designed to reflect that our programs are moving forward and celebrating education in a new way. We hope you enjoy this issue.

A Message from Superintendent Jason Mellema

We know this has been a school year like no other. There have been schedule changes, new protocols to follow, and information coming at you from every direction as we follow the state requirements. We want to thank all of our students and families for your support and diligence in keeping our students and staff safe when in our buildings. Please watch this video from Superintendent Jason Mellema.

We hope you are all able to take some time over the next two weeks to enjoy some downtime and relax. From all of us at Ingham ISD, Happy Holidays! 

Classes Resume January 4 Remotely Through January 8 

As communicated to all families on November 25, remote learning for Ingham ISD programs will be extended through Friday, January 8, 2021 as outlined below. As of right now, in-person instruction will resume on Monday, January 11, 2021, unless we receive additional direction or extended emergency orders from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services for the following programs: 

• Autism Spectrum Disorder Programs in East Lansing and Stockbridge 
• Evergreen 
• Heartwood School 
• Project SEARCH 
• Secondary Learning Center (SLC) 
• Skills for Adult Independent Living (SAIL)  
• Wilson Talent Center 

If your child's program is not listed above, you will be hearing directly from program leadership about their return schedule. 

This decision was made out of an abundance of caution due to the surging number of both new and percent positive COVID-19 cases our communities have been experiencing and the potential for insufficient staffing for in-person learning due to quarantines. Prior to the most recent Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) order, if the program was providing instruction in cohorts or attending in-person full-time, those structures will remain in place when resuming in-person instruction on January 11, 2021. Please note that should the MDHHS extend the current order and we need to push back the in-person return date beyond January 11, 2021, we will notify families and staff as soon as possible. 

We are very fortunate not to have any active transmission/spread in any of our Ingham ISD programs/buildings thus far. However, when individuals have to quarantine (either staff or students), in-person learning may become a challenge and remote learning may be necessary.  We are grateful to families and staff for continuing to adhere to safety precautions, health screening guidelines, extensive cleaning protocols, and the wearing of personal protective equipment to keep our learning environments as safe as possible. 

As always, if you have any questions, please reach out to your student's building principal or program administrator. 

Extended COVID-19 Learning Plan Update 

In August of 2020, legislation was signed into law that requires school districts to prepare an Extended COVID-19 Learning Plan and have it recertified monthly by their Board of Education for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year. This plan helps guarantee that each school district is providing, to the best of their ability, different types of instruction to help students stay on pace with their learning whether they are in-person or learning remotely. 

A dedicated team of professionals from various Ingham ISD program areas meet monthly to make any necessary adjustments to our plan prior to our board meetings based on recent MDHHS epidemic orders. The most recently approved plan is always available for viewing on the transparency reporting page of our website. 

Many of our programs surveyed families regarding your thoughts on remote instruction, cohorts/in-person learning, and health and cleaning protocols. We want to thank all of you for taking the time to share your thoughts with our leadership teams. Your input is valuable as we make decisions about the future. It is likely that we will be surveying families again in the new year to hear from you as we move forward.  

Inclement Weather Days 

We've learned a lot this year from COVID-19. Remote learning is a way to continue learning when inclement weather appears. When we created the student handbook this summer, we were hopeful that our school year would be a little different than last spring. Now that the school year is underway and COVID-19 is still active, we have one change to the student handbook we want you to be aware of for planning purposes.  

For the remainder of this school year, if inclement weather comes to our area, we will move to remote instruction. Now that we have the technology and ability to teach remotely, we are planning for online delivery of instruction. Please be prepared to have your child learn from home as necessary. Staff will either be able to teach remotely or go into the building and teach from their classroom, whichever they prefer. If by chance Ingham ISD makes the decision to close the district entirely instead of moving to remote instruction, we will clearly state that in our messaging.  

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your principal or program administrator. 

Welcome to the October issue of The Times. “The Times” was designed to reflect that our programs are moving forward and celebrating education in a new way. We hope you enjoy this issue.

Podcast 

Ingham ISD continues to educate and provide strong supports for students and families during COVID-19. Our Early Childhood specialists and instructors in  Skills for Adult Independent Living (SAIL)  go above and beyond to adapt and work together in order find the best learning solutions for each student. Check out this podcast that shows just a fraction of what they do every day for learners.

Thank you

This school year has been quite a journey! We want to thank all of our families for your diligence in reporting COVID-19 cases. Doing the right things to ensure the safety of yourself and others really goes a long way to minimize the spread. We have had a few positive COVID-19 cases this year and we did not see a spread beyond the initial identified individual. Staying home when you are sick, continuing health screening, washing your hands, keeping socially distant when possible, is truly making a difference. Thank you for your continued support! 

Safety Protocols 

Safety protocols are so important to keep our students and staff safe. As more cases continue to rise in our state, we want to reinforce preventative measures, checking for symptoms and how we work with the ICHD to report positive COVID-19 cases.  

Preventative Measures 

Take as many preventative measures as possible. 

• Stay home if you're sick 
• Wear a mask 
• Wash your hands often 
• Social distance when possible 
• Keep surfaces clean 
• Use a health screener to ensure you are healthy 

Symptoms 

Please screen your child for symptoms daily before leaving for school. If your child has ANY of the following symptoms or has been in close contact (within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes) with someone diagnosed with COVID-19 in the last 14 days, your child should be EXCLUDED from in-person school. 

1. Child has ANY of the following symptoms (new/different/worse from baseline of any chronic illness):  
   • Temperature 100.0 F or signs of fever (chills/sweating)  
   • Sore throat  
   • New uncontrolled cough that causes difficulty breathing  
   • Diarrhea, vomiting or abdominal pain  
   • New onset of severe headache 
2. Child has had close contact (within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes) with an individual diagnosed with COVID-19 in the last 14 days.  

DISCLAIMER: This screening tool is subject to change based on the latest information on COVID-19. 

Health Department 

We work with the Ingham County Health Department when a positive COVID case is identified to determine close contacts and initiate contact tracing. If you receive a call from the health department, it is critically important that you answer the phone, to allow them to verify any needed information about COVID.  

COVID-19 Dashboard 

On Tuesday, October 6, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHSS) issued an emergency order requiring all K-12 schools to provide public notice of any probable or confirmed COVID-19 cases in their district. 

Ingham ISD has created a COVID-19 Dashboard on our website. This dashboard will be updated as we receive information from the Ingham County Health Department (ICHD). Ingham ISD will continue to work closely with and seek guidance from the ICHD in determining who needs to receive notification about probable/positive cases through contact tracing, and they will determine the need for any building closures. We sincerely appreciate the guidance and partnership the ICHD has provided us during this time. 

As we all know, orders and requirements are constantly changing. We will continue to provide timely updates to our families and staff as information becomes available. One thing that will NOT change is that student and staff safety will continue to be our top priority. 

Did You Know? 

Did you know there are a variety of family resources available on our Education Reimagined website? This site was developed as a collaboration between local public school districts and intermediate school districts in Region 5 of the Governor's Economic Recovery Council Reporting Regions. Some of the topics covered include child care services, instruction, mental and social-emotional health as well as safety tips. Check it out! 

Last spring we began sending families involved in Ingham ISD programs and services a newsletter called, “Stronger Together” as we navigated finishing the school year amid COVID-19. We received a very positive response to this newsletter so we want to continue sharing news with families during the 2020-21 school year. We are renaming this newsletter “The Times” to reflect that we are moving forward and celebrating education in a new way. We hope you enjoy this first issue.

Podcast - New Year, New Ways to Connect

When a new year starts with so many unknowns, we are all cautious. Many of the programs and services offered through Ingham ISD are most effective when offered face-to-face. With that in mind, we are working hard to balance safety while providing the best educational experience possible. This short 3-minute podcast is a great example of our staff and student connections during this uncertain time and preparing for the move to virtual if that is needed. Thank you to our staff and to our families for continuing to work together!

Extended Continuity of Learning Plan

When schools were closed last March due to COVID-19, school districts were required to prepare a Continuity of Learning Plan (COL) to ensure that each school district was providing, to the best of their ability, students with different types of instruction to help them stay on pace with their learning.

New legislation requires school districts to prepare an Extended Continuity of Learning Plan (ECOL) and have it re-certified monthly by their board of education for the remainder of the school year. Our plan will be updated regularly and placed on the transparency reporting section of our website.

Ingham ISD Program & Service 2020-21 School Year Plans

All of Ingham ISD programs and services continue to deliver instruction that best meets the needs of their families while keeping students safe. Some programs are fully face-to-face, some using cohort models and some delivering online instruction. Each program area has developed a companion plan to accompany our Extended Continuity of Learning Plan (ECOL). These Program Preparedness & Response Plans are also available for viewing on our website.

Transition Program Making the Most of Online Learning

Students and staff from our Skills for Adult Independent Living (SAIL) program have been making the most out of online learning. Over the summer they hosted online pizza parties and now that school has resumed with a hybrid plan, they are continuing to host book studies, library guests and working on their money skills through a variety of games.

According to Sarah Winslow, Director of Transition Services, this team has continued to build relationships, engage with students and keep up the teaching and learning through this time of blended instruction. Thank you to our SAIL Team for all you are doing to keep students engaged!

Fall Fun Fest

Ingham ISD's Special Education Parent Advisory Council is hosting the annual Fall Fun Fest online! In place of the in-person event this year, we will offer an online resource opportunity. The goal of this event is to provide families of students with an Individual Education Plan vital resources to navigate the world of special education. There are a variety of community partners with information on things such as transportation, immunizations, early childhood programs, transition programs and more.

Safety Protocols In Place

Ingham ISD is following all safety protocols recommended by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Ingham County Health Department (ICHD). All students and staff are required to wear face masks, socially distance whenever possible, and are encouraged to regularly wash their hands. Temperature checks are not required but are recommended by the health department. Therefore, Ingham ISD is taking the extra step to check student temperatures prior to entering buildings for now. The ICHD has a variety of data, tools, tips and guidance for schools available on their website.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact us at Ingham ISD Communications.