SLPS 2021-2022 School Year Calendar

July 20, 2021

Dear St. Louis Public Schools Families,

We hope all of our staff, students, and families are enjoying the summer break.  The SLPS administration has been working to put plans in place for the start of the 2021-2022 school year. 

On June 25, 2021, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services sent out recommendations for operating schools safely.  St. Louis Public Schools is committed to helping to mitigate the transmission of COVID-19 within our community. Based on the current guidance and the data collected from the parent and staff survey, the following policies will be in place for the 2021-2022 school year:

• Masks are recommended and encouraged for unvaccinated staff and students while indoors. However, the use of masks will be optional for staff and students regardless of vaccination status both in school and during extracurricular activities.
• The current CDC order in effect does require masks to be worn on public transportation, which includes school buses and school vans. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/k-12-guidance.html Per the CDC’s order, regardless of the mask policy at school, passengers and drivers must wear a mask on school buses and school vans.
• Vaccination against COVID-19 is recommended for staff, however, vaccinations to attend school are not required.
• SLPS will not perform diagnostic testing (Antibody testing) on staff or students as it is not required at this time by MHSSA or MDHHS.
• SLPS will continue to promote social distancing to the maximum extent possible.
• SLPS will continue mitigation measures such as additional cleaning and sanitization of buses, classrooms, and surfaces that are used frequently. Staff and students will be encouraged to wash and sanitize their hands frequently.
• SLPS will advise staff and students to stay home if they are sick or have been exposed to COVID-19.
• SLPS will continue to work closely with the Mid-Michigan District Health Department on reporting cases and staying informed about current community transmission levels.
• SLPS will continue to monitor and evaluate the 2021-2022 COVDI-19 policies to best ensure the health and safety of staff and students.

We will continue to monitor the recommendations and requirements set forth by the Mid-Michigan District Health Department and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. 

St. Louis Public Schools will return for the 2021-2022 school year five days a week for in-person learning.  Over the past year, we have recognized the need for our students to be in school for face-to-face learning.  There is no platform that is able to replicate face-to-face learning.  Therefore, at this time the St. Louis virtual option will only be available for students who are deemed medically vulnerable by a physician.  If your child meets these requirements please call (989) 681-2545 by August 4, 2021, to schedule a meeting to discuss possible options. 

The 2021-2022 calendar is now available for families (2021-2022 SLPS Calendar).  

Upcoming important dates:

• August 25^th – St. Louis High School and Nikkari Elementary Open Houses
• August 26^th – TSN Middle School and Carrie Knause Elementary Open House
• August 30^th – First day of school (Early Release)
• September 2^nd – Community Tailgate (Varsity Football Home Game)

 Please do not forget to vote on August 3, 2021, for the St. Louis Public Schools Bond Proposal.  This is a unique opportunity to continue to reinvest and make the needed repairs to keep our schools great for our students, staff, and community.  Since the millage is scheduled to drop off, our community can raise these funds without increasing taxes from the current levy.

Sincerely,

Jennifer McKittrick, Superintendent

St. Louis Public Schools

August 3, 2021, Bond Proposal

No Tax Rate Increase From Current Levy

Dear St. Louis Community,

The St. Louis Public Schools community will have the opportunity to vote on a bond proposal on the upcoming August 3rd, 2021 election ballot.  This is a unique opportunity to continue to reinvest and make the needed repairs to keep our schools great for our students, parents, and the community.  Since millage is scheduled to drop off, our communities can raise these funds without increasing taxes from the current levy.  This August’s vote is the only time we can do this.  The bond proposal would generate $15,580,000 to support all of the critical and infrastructure needs of our school district.

The proposal focuses on preserving district facilities and upgrading aging systems to extend useful life cycles.  This bond would improve mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and building system upgrades as needed to improve operational efficiencies. 

Building and site improvements across the district include new energy-efficient lighting, flooring, parking lots, and paving.  Improved air quality in all buildings with new air purification systems that will remove pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, and mold spores as well as reduce energy use.

The proposal also focuses on safety and security improvements throughout the district including security cameras, access points at entrances, improved traffic patterns for drop-off and pick up at the elementary schools.

Improvements for student and staff technology in classrooms and district-wide to meet the 21st-century learning needs of our students.  As well as provide vital safety and industry-standard improvements in our skilled trades areas such as industrial arts and agriculture science. 

There would be improvements to indoor and outdoor facilities which will enhance areas and encourages community use and involvement

The critical improvements proposed were designed in mind to promote the most optimal learning environment for our staff, students, parents, and community.  The link below of the PowerPoint lists the work that could be accomplished with this bond proposal.

Strong schools promote strong communities.  This bond is about our students, our community, and our future.  Please partner with us!  

Sincerely, 

Jennifer McKittrick, Superintendent

SLPS Bond Proposal Scope of Work

SLPS Bond Proposal Frequently Asked Questions

Kindergarten registration is happening now! Call (989)681-3535 to register your child today.

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Go to Return to Learn for the most up-to-date information on our Return to Learn plan.  

• St. Louis Public Schools Continuity of Learning plan (Spring 2020)

• St. Louis Public Schools COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan (August 2020)

  • Face-to-Face Learning vs. Virtual Learning

  • St. Louis Public Schools Preparedness and Response Plan (Powerpoint)

•  Michigan's 2020-2021 Return to Schools Roadmap
  
  

• End of Year SLPS Extended COVID19 Learning Goal Reporting

COVID-19 Informational Links

Mid-Michigan District Health Department
Michigan.gov Coronavirus
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (COVID-19)
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Justice Onstott All-State Athlete

Sophomore Justice Onstott earned all-state honors by placing seventh at the MHSAA Division 4 State Wrestling Tournament April 3, in Grand Rapids at Van Andel Arena.

SLHS Wrestling Program Secures Its Sixth District Title in a Row!

The St. Louis High School wrestling team won its sixth consecutive district title at Beaverton High School March 17.

Boys Cross Country State Champions!

Congratulations to Joe Erickson, Aaron Bowerman, Nate March, Ben March, Alex Davis, Keegan Honig, and Dylan Marr, our 2020 Boys Cross Country State Champions!

National Honor Society Induction Ceremony 2020

On September 17, St. Louis High School's National Honor Society held their induction ceremony. Congratulations to the following students: Alexander Baxter, Craig Bebow, Mikenna Borie, Aaron Bowerman, Dawson Brundage, Kaylyn Collins, Haylee Davis, Abigail Francisco, Kiersten Francisco, Ellie Gager, Reece Giles, Delaney Hitsman, Elizabeth Munderloh, Adryana Munoz, Allison Onstott, Gracelynne Shattuck, and Zachary Starry.

FFA State Degree Recipients

The State FFA Degree is the highest honor a State FFA Association can bestow upon its members. To qualify for this degree, members must have been enrolled in agricultural education for at least two years and complete 360 hours of school-based agricultural education. They must also have a productive Supervised Agricultural Experience, which is conducted outside of school where they have invested an additional 300 hours. Members must have also demonstrated their leadership abilities through a speech, demonstration of parliamentary procedure, and serve as a committee member or as a chapter officer. FFA Members who receive this award have completed a minimum of 25 service hours and have a satisfactory academic record verified by the school administration. The Michigan State FFA Degree is also counted by Michigan State University for six general education credits and can be applied to any degree track at MSU. This year’s recipients are Kassidy Acker, Corban Allen, Michael Hrabal, Taylor Marr, and Jaden Simmons. 

St. Louis Students Assist in the Need for Blood Donations

Little Free Library

Take a Book ~ Share a Book

You may have noticed a new addition outside of Carrie Knause! We now have our own little free library! One of our 2nd graders in Mrs. Jenkin's class thought this would be a great addition to our school. Her and her classmates then pursued a grant through the Youth Advisory Council with the Gratiot Community Foundation to secure the funds for this project! Please feel free to grab a book when your child needs something to read or swap us books after your child has finished reading one of their books!
 

Digital All-State Athlete Display

Please check out our new interactive touch screen display just outside the gym for All-State athletes at SLHS! All you have to do is walk up and touch the display to interact with it. This is an ongoing project by some of our business students and we are working to get it updated and current.  If you have additions to this site, please email Mr. Brian Anderson, Athletic Director.  Also, for most of the athletes we had to scan in old yearbook photos so if you have an updated photo of yourself, please send it on as well. View the Digital All State Display here.

Schools of Choice

Schools in Gratiot and Isabella counties participate in a cross-district Schools of Choice Program.  Parents can consider a school that best fits their child's individual needs.  Schools of Choice applications must be completed and submitted to the Gratiot-Isabella Region Education Service District. Check out the Schools of Choice brochure and the School of Choice Application for more information.

We are the St. Louis Sharks!

Our motto that St. Louis Public Schools lives by is: “Together we Can, Together we Do!” We have had that motto for the past two years and will continue to live by that. “Together we Can, Together we Do!”   means we really need to work together.  Working together will bring support and pride to everyone.  Working together will allow for us to always put kids first.  We take pride in our programming, our staff, our students, and our community. 

Shark Pride Archive  

Check out our Shark Pride Archive to see what's been happening throughout the year.

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