Dear LPS families,

Welcome back to this cold January season! I hope your winter break was restful and wonderful! 

We are back in the swing of things and this was a busy week. 

Next week we have a few reminders:

• Wednesday, Jan 15 is a half-day for students

• Friday, Jan 17 is the last day of Semester 1, with report cards finalized the following week

Announcement: LIFT Partnership Begins! We are SO excited to be launching a partnership with Leelanau Investing for Teens (LIFT). LIFT is beginning to connect with LPS this year to understand our school and needs. Next year we can expect a full LIFT experience at our middle school level. What does that mean for our LPS middle school? Free after-school care/activities, partnerships for fun events and trips, and one more amazing group of super-cool humans to help middle school students grow and find their niche. 

Next week, mark your calendars for Thursday evening for a LIFT Meet and Greet! This is an especially great event to attend if you are a family with a middle school student or 5th grade student. 

LIFT Meet and Greet

• Leland PAC

• Thursday, January 16, 2025

• 6 pm - 7 pm
  

Hope to see you there, middle school families!

As usual, please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions: sfehrenbach@lelandschool.com or (231) 256-3802. 

Shelagh Fehrenbach, K-12 Principal

sfehrenbach@lelandschool.com

Yae, a Japanese exchange student at LPS, learned how to cross-country ski over winter break with Coach Karen Kirt.

(Coach Kirt loves all things XC skiing, lived and taught in Japan for part of her career, and speaks Japanese!)

"She’s a natural!" - Coach Kirt

Crystal Mountain After School Program started this Wednesday! Crystal Mtn ski and snowboard programs as well as the Leland Gliders cross country ski program are amazing opportunities for Comets to build on lifelong skills, be active, and get outside in the winter!

"The Leland Gliders first ski on Monday! Many participants use skis from the Leland Glider XC Ski Club provided by a grant from ASEA and equipment funding from LPS. We Thank you!" - Coach Kirt

K-12 students, staff, admin.... even Santa and his pal the Grinch were making spirits bright this holiday season! Shout out to every member of the LPS community who showed up for some holiday fun and make someone else smile.

"Mr. Dick Grout, our Veteran's Day Speaker passed away December 19th. What a treasure he was! Our thoughts are with his family, all who knew and loved him, and all who appreciated his life."

- Mrs. Long 

https://www.record-eagle.com/news/local_news/dick-grout-d-day-vet-father-and-community-leader-dies-at-104/article_4beca7ea-be26-11ef-8f2f-b3670e724531.html

Important Dates

Monday, January 6th - Back to school for 2025

Wednesday, January 15th - HALF DAY Students, Teachers PD (Students listen to a special guest speaker. Teachers make up for a Snow Day PD)

New* Monday January 20th - NO SCHOOL, MLK Day

New* Tuesday, January 28th - Auditions for Oliver 3rd - 5th grade 3:30 - 5:30pm

New* Wednesday, January 29th - Auditions for Oliver 6th - 12th grade 3:30 - 5:30pm

New* Thursday, January 30th - Callbacks forOliver 3:30 - 5:30pm

Monday, February 3rd- Monthly PTO Meeting 6pm, and The Anxious Generation Book

Club at 7pm

New* Wednesday, February 12th - Half Day, Parent Teacher Conferences, Winter Count Day

New* Thursday, February 13th - Half Day, Parent Teacher Conferences

New* Friday, February 14th - Half Day

New* Monday, February 17th - No School, Mid-Winter Break

New* Wednesday, February 26th - Half Day for Students/ Teacher PD

New* Monday, March 24th - Friday March 28th No School, Spring Break

New* Wednesday, April 16th - No School, Teacher PD

New* Wednesday, May 7th - Half Day for Students/Teacher PD

New* Monday, May 26th - No School, Memorial Day

New* Wednesday, June 11th - Approximate Last Day of School

- From the LPS Counseling Team -

Thursday, January 9th

JV / Varsity Girls Basketball vs Buckley - 5:30pm / 7:00pm

Friday, January 10th

9th / JV / Varsity Boys Basketball vs Glen Lake - 4:00pm / 5:30pm / 7:00pm

Saturday, January 11th

9th Boys Basketball vs TC Bulldogs - 1:00pm

JV Girls Basketball vs TC Bulldogs - 2:30pm

Middle School Art Lab at the OAB

Each month of this five-month course comprises two (2) 2.5-hour sessions -- one on Friday after school and the other on Sunday morning. Throughout the semester, students will study a diverse roster of artists who work in a variety of genres including textile, painting, installation, sculpture, and art as activism.

Friday sessions will introduce a genre of art and artists who are experts in that area, with discussion and a journal/sketchbook activity. Sunday sessions will be focused on a related in-depth art project.

Students will have access to a wide variety of art materials, images, videos, and books and will be encouraged to experiment. Discussions will encompass Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS), a curriculum that helps foster critical thinking, deep and diverse perspectives and conversations, and aims to engage all voices. Art making will be play-based, student-led, materials-based, and open-ended.

This class is intended for students in sixth through eighth grades, with an emphasis on exposure to artists and art history, reflection and group collaboration.

Students will be asked to bring: a photo waiver, water bottle, snack, a blank journal, occasional found materials, and a sense of adventure! If you need assistance with these materials, please let us know.

Scholarships are available. Please email info@oldartbuilding.com with your request.

-------------------------------

WHEN

FRIDAYS - 4 to 6:30 PM - Jan 24, Feb 21, Mar 14, Apr 25, May 16
SUNDAYS - 10 AM to 12:30 PM - Jan 26, Feb 23, Mar 16, Apr 27, May 18

WHERE

Old Art Building

TEACHERS

Tracy Smedes-Hepler, Lindsay Gardner

COST

OAB Members: $290, Non-Members: $320

Please fill out the registration form at the time of payment. You will have several ways to pay.

REGISTER