National Teacher Appreciation Week is May 5-9, 2025. The Michigan Department of Education’s (MDE) Office of Educator Excellence wishes to celebrate teachers across Michigan for the entire month of May.

MDE invites parents to submit 15-30 second videos of their students recognizing and thanking a specific teacher for their impact. Cell phones easily capture the videos. Please follow the directions on the flyer. Videos and parental consent must be submitted via the Teacher Appreciation Video Project Google Form. Videos are currently being accepted until Friday, April 16, 2025.

Submitted videos may be posted on the Teacher Appreciation Month webpage and MDE’s YouTube channel. The Office of Educator Excellence’s Facebook (@MIeducator) and X (formerly Twitter) social media pages will be promoting the videos throughout the month of May. 

If your child has great things to say about a teacher, use the instructions found on MDE’s website to submit a video today! 

If you submit a video to MDE, please share it with Amber Todd, our Communications Director, at atodd@dowagiacschools.org. This will enable her to feature these videos on our website and Facebook pages.

Spring Musical

From the Desk of the Principal

March is READING Month!! Last Friday, we sent home week #1 reading log. Please make sure to help your students keep track of their reading minutes for the rest of the month. We will have a drawing every Friday for a winner of a free book, and at the end of the month we have a drawing for a new bike! We will be doing dress up days at the end of each week during Reading Month. They are:

Friday, March 7 - Dress in your favorite team colors

Friday, March 14 - Wear your favorite team jersey

Friday, March 21 - Favorite team hat day

Thursday, March 27 - Chieftain Day - wear orange and black

Penny War: Our Student Council will be doing their annual Penny War starting Wednesday, March 5th. Look for papers to be sent home with student this week.

END OF DAY CALLS and PICK UPS: You must call the office by 3:00 p.m. to make arrangements for your student to go home a different way. This is a policy that we have had in place and unfortunately have to enforce. Thank you for your anticipated cooperation.

Bus Rider Families: Please ensure you arrive at the bus stop for pickup and are prepared to board the bus 5 to 10 minutes early each day. This will help the drivers maintain their schedule and adhere to the designated routes. Thank you!

Outside Lunches: The district does not allow outside lunches to be delivered or brought into school for the students.

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

When to Stay Home Letter from our District Nurse, Suzanne Dorman, MSN: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1W3aFB8SfABu7JH6g_2PGwxQc1ahLhY12/view?usp=sharing

Schedule of Events

March 12 - Evening Conferences 5:00-8:00PM

March 13 - Half Day of School

March 13 - Afternoon Conferences 1:00-4:30PM

March 17 - Board of Education Meeting @PAC, 6PM

March 20 - Spring Music Program

March 21 - Science Olympiad

March 28 - No School

March 31-April 4 - Spring Break

Book Fair Link

Dates: March 17- March 21

Building Highlights

Mrs. Mac's class is playing Basketball Math! When a team gets a math fact correct, they get a chance to make a basket. They got to attempt either a 1 point, 2 point or a 3 point shot! Way to go Mrs. Mac's class!!

Pat Ham is proud to have 3 of our students participate in the Future Chefs Competition on Thursday, March 6th at the Middle School. Picture from L to R: Heavenly Jones, Jayla Runyon and Jordan Mohr. Congratulations to our participants! We are proud of you all!