January 16, 2026

Message from the Principal

Justus Gage Spelling Bee team 2026: We are so proud of our Justus Gage Spelling Bee team members. Today, they completed against the other three elementary schools. Parents, thank you for support our team members and Thank you Mrs. Munson for coaching our students. Please check out team pictures in our building highlights below.

Winter Weather and Indoor/Outdoor recess: As a reminder, our students will be outside for lunch recess unless the temperature with the windchill is below ten degrees. Please make sure that we are sending our students to school with appropriate winter clothes.

Semester End/Report Card Info: Report Cards were sent home today. Lets continue to work together on improving academic and social skills as well as attendance. I truly appreciate your efforts.

Good attendance is essential and Impacts More Than Academics: Besides learning loss, frequent absences harm social-emotional development, affecting how children build relationships and navigate school.

We will highlight our students who had perfect attendance for the month of December in next week's newsletter.

SCHOOL NURSE MESSAGE:

We are seeing an increased number of cases of head lice in our buildings as well as across the Southwest Michigan area. With the number of cases increasing, please check your child’s hair frequently for nits and live bugs. If your child is found to have head lice, please begin treatment immediately. Head lice treatment is very time consuming and can be expensive, but if the head lice and all of the nits are not removed from the hair as well as anything that comes in contact with the hair the cycle will start over in your home.

There are resources for head lice treatment in the main office if you need assistance. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns at 269-782-4420 ext. 1218 or sdorman@dowagiacschools.org.

Suzanne Dorman RN, MSN

District School Nurse

WINTER IS HERE: It is time to drag out those HATS, BOOTS, WINTER COAT, GLOVES and SNOW PANTS. Please put your students name in each item so that they don't get mixed up with other students having the same color item.

LOST AND FOUND: Our Lost and Found is OVERFLOWING!!! Please have your students take a look if they are missing any items. Any unclaimed items will be donated after Friday 1-23-26.

NO POKEMON or ANY KIND of TRADING CARDS BROUGHT TO SCHOOL!! Please remind your students that no Pokemon or any trading cards are allowed at school. Thanks for working together in keeping everyone's trading cards at home.

ST. FRANCIS OUTREACH FOOD PANTRY: The food pantry at the Catholic Church in Dowagiac on Oak Street is open every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month. No necessary forms to complete.

DISMISSAL TIME REMINDER: Please remember to park Northbound on James St., Eastbound on Wayne St. and Southbound on Oak St. when you are picking up your child. GSRP and Kindergarten parents are to use the parking lot which is accessible off of James Street and then please exit onto Wayne St. Thanks for working together in keeping everyone safe.

Schedule of Events

January 19 - No School, MLK Day, Staff Professional Development, Regular Board Mtg.

January 23 - HERO Store

January 28 - County Spelling Bee

January 30 - Jump for Heart Kickoff Assembly

February 16 - Jump for Heart Fundraiser Ends, Board of Education Meeting

February 27- HERO Store

Building Highlights

4th and 5th Grade Spelling Bee Teams

4th Grade Spelling Bee Team

Eleonora Hand, Elliot Emerson, Vertilla Bennett, Joseph Castelan-Huertas, Christopher Slaughter, Abraham Hatfield.

5th Grade Spelling Bee Team

Carissa Grant, John Bakeman, Jayke Dutoi, Maxwell Kremer, Brooklyn Wright, Maia Little.

November Student of the Month

Ethan Souers

Ethan Souers is the third grade student of the month for Justus Gage Elementary. Ethan was chosen because he works hard on his assignments, he is a good friend to his classmates and he helps out whenever someone is needed. Ethan is often found helping pick up the playground balls at the end of recess or closing a student's locker who forgot to shut it. He also is a very good student because he asks great questions and is interested in learning. It is so nice to have Ethan in my class.

Ethan is the son of Christopher and Lynne Souers. He has 1 brother Leland in 2nd grade. Ethan has a cat named Lucy, a Great Dane named Bowser and another dog named Tater Tot.

Ethan would like to be a WWE wrestler or Mechanical Engineer…not sure which one yet but he knows he is REALLY GOOD at WRESTLING!

When asked why he thought he was chosen to be the Justus Gage Hero: I’m nice and I do not hurt people (except for my little brother when he makes me MAD)...I’m kind to my classmates, Justus Gage Staff and I follow the rules.

The entire Justus Gage Staff is extremely proud of Ethan!

Shout Out Friday

Helpful Information

Reminders

OUTSIDE LUNCHES: The district does not allow outside lunches to be delivered to school for students.

SICK CHILD: Please call the office and report that you are keeping your child home due to illness. The Cass Van Buren Health Department requires schools to report illnesses every week.

FLIP FLOPS & SANDALS: Please do not send your student to school with flip flops or sandals. Tennis shoes are best for this time of year.