Instructional Services Newsletter

As the first semester ends, we at the Saginaw ISD Instructional Services Office want to express our sincere gratitude for your participation in our programs and support throughout this past term. We hope you had a restful and rejuvenating winter break filled with warm thoughts and cherished moments. As you prepare for the exciting second semester, please remember that the Instructional Services Office supports you with a wide range of services, including student programming, curriculum and instruction support, and strategies to enhance student engagement. We are committed to being your thought partners in creating dynamic and compelling experiences for all learners - child and adult.  

Leadership Update

Principals LEAD

The building LEADers in Saginaw County have continued their monthly work by focusing on balancing the responsibilities of a principal. Michelle Allen of Lead Resourcefully has led the work around how administrators can stay focused on their "why", meet the demands of the job, and keep priorities in balance.

Additional presentations:

• Katie Mielens - Saginaw Art Museum - "Arts for All"

• Mark Lyons - Saginaw ISD/REMC 9 - Introduction to AI

• Ken Longuemire - Saginaw County Youth Protection Council - School support services

• Megan Smith - Lexia - "Literacy initiative look Fors" in classrooms.

• Wendy ZDeb & Bob Kefgen - MASSP - Legislative Updates

McKinney-Vento

Liaisons have continued to build community connections through in-person meetings hosted by local shelters. The group has visited both Mustard Seed and Innerlink this fall. These have allowed for great 2-way communication opportunities for our schools and community resources working to support our students experiencing homelessness.

Systems Work

The Saginaw ISD continues working with the Regional MDE consultant to host Federal Grants and Programs workshops. Each workshop covers topics associated with the NexSys platform and programming supported by State and Federal grants. The Systems Work meeting in December examined how district MTSS plans will meet the requirements of the updated Dyslexia Law. In January, Brad Brunner from the College Board presented the new score reports for the SAT suite of tests. He helped attendees navigate the reports and plan how districts can use the information in data-driven decision-making for continuous improvement plans.

For more information, see the Saginaw ISD website: www.sisd.cc/page/instructional-services

CTE Update

January Update

As we launch into the New Year, our Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs continue to create valuable learning experiences and career pathways for students across Saginaw County. From expanding career development support to hosting hands-on career exploration events, we are committed to preparing students for success in education and the workforce.

SCC CTE/Early Middle College Programs

SCC’s CTE /EMC students are making great academic progress, with first-year students focusing on writing in ENG 111, and second-year students taking Composition II, General Biology, and Intro to Psychology. To ensure their success, CTE staff meets with students biweekly to provide advice and resources. Currently, 42 students are enrolled in the program.

Expanding Career Development

Through a partnership with Youth Solutions Foundations, Merrill Middle and High Schools are enhancing their career development efforts. XELLO training is supporting students in career planning, while career pathway presentations are being scheduled. These efforts align with the newly revised Michigan Career Development Model (MCDM) to ensure students receive the guidance and resources necessary for post-secondary success.

Engagement Across Grade Levels

• Elementary Schools: Career Pathway and Social-Emotional Learning presentations underway, with strong participation.

• Middle Schools: Skilled Trades Fair at Willie E. Thompson Middle School and upcoming career pathway presentations at Carrollton Middle School.

• High Schools: XELLO training at Merrill and Bridgeport High Schools, 10th Grade Recruitment Days, and SCC Open House provide students with career and college readiness opportunities.

Youth Ambassadors & Special Events

The Youth Ambassadors Program (YAP) is engaging students through leadership training and workforce connections. With the Dale Carnegie Leadership Institute kicking off in February, students will further develop their leadership skills. Additionally, Skilled Trades Nights at Heritage and SCC have generated strong interest. Plans are underway for a Saginaw United Career Fair and Skilled Trades Day at Thompson Middle School.

With exciting events, strong partnerships, and new career opportunities, we look forward to a productive and impactful year ahead. Thank you for your continued support of CTE!

Instructional Coaching and Literacy Update

SISD Instructional Services and Instructional Coaches are thrilled to host a watch party for the upcoming Dyslexia Summit, organized by the MiMTSS Technical Assistance Center. This exciting event will be an opportunity for educators to deepen their understanding of dyslexia and how we can better support learners with reading challenges. This event is being held on Friday, January 31, 2025. More information can be found here.

The summit is especially timely given the recent passage of PA 146 and PA 147, groundbreaking dyslexia legislation that underscores the importance of early identification and intervention for students. These laws are designed to ensure that every child has access to the resources they need to succeed, and the summit will shed light on how we can identify the early signs of dyslexia and the importance of screening. We hope you can join us for this exciting event.

Instructional Services is also hosting a variety of upcoming literacy events. Registration and more information is available on the Saginaw ISD website:

www.sisd.cc/page/instructional-services

The Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds

The HBHM team started this year’s programming in October. They covered counties from Iosco to Saginaw. Students were treated to five recipes this year: four mixed recipes as well as one food tasting. During the food-tasting lesson, the students used their five senses while trying a red bell pepper, a variety of rainbow carrots, a red apple and a green pear.  The students especially enjoyed trying the pears. It was discovered that many of the students had never tried a fresh pear before! 

Besides the taste testing, students also tried  Blueberry Corn Salad; Pasta with Fresh Tomatoes, Garlic, and Basil; a sweet recipe called Crunchy Yogurt Mountains; and a fun snack called Sticks, Stones, and Bricks. This recipe consists of grapes, cheese, cucumbers, and pretzel sticks.  The students were allowed to “play with their food” before eating. They came up with some super creative structures before consuming the yummy snack.

In addition to providing lessons to students, the HBHM team also helped out at the Education Department’s Touch a Truck event.  They enjoyed networking with other teams from the ISD as well as talking to families that visited the event.

Block #2 HBHM Statistics

HBHM: 1253 Students served

237 Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds lessons taught

6,085 recipe samples served

Physical Activity Minutes

HBHM students had 17,960 minutes of physical activity in Quarter 2

The Annual Education Report (AER) is designed to meet federal and state requirements for reporting on performance for the most recently completed school year to parents and communities. The 2024-25 AERs are based on data from the 2023-24 school year.  All schools and districts are required to report this information by posting the AER letter on their website.  

The Instructional Services Department generated the AER District and School letters for each district and school.  The individual folders containing the letters were sent to local Superintendents on Monday, January 6, 2025.  Each AER Letter includes a link to the district or building’s MiSchool Data 24-25 AER Report.  Once the letters have been reviewed, they should be posted on each district and/or school’s website by Tuesday, February 18th.  If you have any questions, please contact Terra Kelpinski, SISD Data & Skyward Manager, at tkelpinski@sisd.cc.

DEPARTMENT HIGHLIGHT

Minutes with Miller