SJHS joins SJMS in move to Remote Learning
Due to staffing limitations St. Johns High School will move to remote learning until Tuesday, October 20.
A staff member at the high school has tested positive for COVID-19. This led to several staff members and students being quarantined for two weeks. As a result there are not enough staff members to provide for in-person learning.
The Mid-Michigan District Health Department has investigated the situation and is working with the staff to identify any individuals who need to be quarantined.
Earlier this week an individual at St. Johns Middle School tested positive for COVID-19. The Mid-Michigan District Health Department investigated the situation and worked with school staff. This has led to several staff and students having to be quarantined for the next two weeks. Those students are scheduled to return to in-person learning on Monday, October 19.
St. Johns Schools will continue to implement thorough cleaning procedures to protect staff and students. They will implement enhanced cleaning protocols in the entire building before the return of staff and students to that faclity.
Out of an abundance of caution and due to the limited number of substitute teachers available, Middle School students only will move to remote learning for the next two weeks. In-person classes will resume on Monday, October 19.
Students should follow their daily schedule and connect in with their classroom teacher through Google Classroom. If a student is in need of materials that are currently in the building, please contact the Middle School Main Office at 939-227-4300.
On to the State Championship
Redwing Tennis was victorious over Ionia and DeWitt to win MHSAA D3 District Championship. Now they advance to the state championship meet in Holland.
MMDHD Responds to COVID-19 Emergency Order
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) issued an Emergency Order under the Public Health Code to update COVID safety requirements for Michiganders. As expected, many parts of earlier emergency orders are continued. The complete order can be found here: https://www.michigan.gov/documents/coronavirus/MDHHS_epidemic_order_-_Gatherings_masks_bars_sports_-_FINAL_704287_7.pdf.
Here is a partial summary of key points in the document:
– Face coverings continue to be required in public places, schools, businesses, government offices, and other operations.
– Indoor gatherings are limited to 10 people, however gatherings of 10-500 can occur if following specific restrictions (see 1(c)3 of order).
– Outdoor gatherings are limited to 100 people, however gatherings of 100-1,000 can occur if following specific restrictions (see 1(c)6 of order).
The new Emergency Order is issued under MCL 333.2253 of the Public Health Code, which gives the director of MDHHS this authority. It states: “If the director determines that control of an epidemic is necessary to protect the public health, the director by emergency order may prohibit the gathering of people for any purpose and may establish procedures to be followed during the epidemic to insure continuation of essential public health services and enforcement of health laws. Emergency procedures shall not be limited to this code.” This authority is not tied to the emergency orders that were overruled by the Michigan Supreme Court.
The Mid-Michigan District Health Department (MMDHD) expects additional guidance from MDHHS in the future.
In addition to the guidance above, MMDHD reminds the community of the following:
– Employers are still responsible for the health and safety of their employees and customers, and should continue to follow all CDC, MDHHS and MIOSHA guidance. Executive Directive 2020-06 (different from an emergency order) instructing Michigan government agencies to enforce COVID-19 safety in businesses is still in effect.
– County governments should continue using their COVID-19 safety plans. Remote meetings remain legal under Executive Directive 2020-02.
– Schools should continue to follow their COVID-19 plans and other Michigan Department of Education guidance under House Bills 5911-5913, the Return to Learn plan.
“The Mid-Michigan District Health Department wants to be sure that the public understands that basic public health work will continue unchanged,” said Marcus Cheatham, Health Officer for MMDHD. “All basic public health operations including contact tracing, quarantines and food and water sanitation are still required by law and must go on.”
The new guidance issued recently is still referred to as an “emergency order” and should not be confused with the emergency orders vacated in a recent Supreme Court ruling. Persons with suggestions and concerns about this order have been invited to submit their comments via email to COVID19@michigan.gov.
Frequently asked Toys for Tots Questions
Aren’t you collecting toys?
We are still collecting toys! We have a drop box at Santa’s Remote Workshop located at 306 E. Elm Street in St. Johns. Toys may also be shipped to this address.
I see your wish list on your website; is this the only vendor?
No. We do not have a preferred or endorse any one vendor. The wish list is created as a starting point and ideas.
Will there be collections boxes in the community?
To be responsible about tasks we ask of Santa’s Top Volunteer Elves, there will not be collection sites throughout the community.
We love hosting a Toys for Tots Collection Box; is there a way to still host?
Yes, we understand people enjoy this tradition. If you would like to host we will ask for your commitment to bring the donated toys to us.
What toys and items are needed?
We need items for teenagers. There are toys left from last year and many for littles.
Any special instructions for donated toys?
Per Toys for Tots guidelines, all toys need to come to us unwrapped and be $30 or less.
How do you screen families?
I will be honest, this is a tough question for me. Screening means different things to different people. We will serve all children and youth whose caregiver requests help. Recently at a Toys for Tots Conference we were told we are not the “toy police” and I could not agree more.
We know many churches and agencies in our community offer generous help to families. It is my hope that all who support Toys for Tots do so with an open heart and mind and understand there are many, many family dynamics and scenarios that lead needing holiday help. Do I think some may take advantage of other’s kindness? Yes, I am not that naive. However, I am not comfortable with the message families who need holiday help need to be investigated and vetted.
If this is not comfortable for you, I absolutely understand. We all need to support causes that mean something to us. It means something to me and our agency to support all children and youth to have a bright holiday season.
SafeCenter Needs Your Support
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in the United States. Usually when we think of “domestic violence,” we think of physical abuse. But domestic violence encompasses more than just physical abuse. Domestic violence includes any intentional act that seeks to exert power and control over another person, including but not limited to: emotional abuse, mental abuse, financial abuse, and sexual abuse.
According to the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV), an average of 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States – more than 12 million women and men over the course of single year; 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men aged 18 years and older in the US have been the victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime; 1 in 10 high school students has experienced physical violence from a partner in the last year alone. And since the onset of COVID-19, calls to the National Domestic Violence Hotline have increased 9% as victims have been isolated at home with their abuser(s) during periods of isolation and quarantine.
SafeCenter Domestic and Sexual Violence Services of Clinton and Shiawassee Counties has been fully operational since the pandemic began in March, providing a variety of services to adult and child survivors. Although the Emergency Shelter has only been able to operate at 50% capacity due to CDC guidelines, individuals in high danger have been moteled in a safe location off-site when the Shelter is full. All other available services have continued, either in-person following health and safety guidelines, or virtually since the onset of COVID. While SafeCenter’s doors have remained open and the calls for help have continued to come in, however, donations to the organization have dramatically decreased as the market and economy have been uncertain, and there was an inability to hold the annual fundraising event this year due to health/safety concerns with COVID.
SafeCenter needs your support this October. It is the goal of the organization to raise $60,000 this year to increase the sustainability and continuity of programs and services to survivors across the area. By giving to SafeCenter, you partner in the mission to Empower, Advocate, Educate, and Prevent and provide essential services to adults and children who are in dangerous and potentially lethal situations. Your contribution also provides SafeCenter with the ability to partner with other community organizations across the area and hold perpetrators of this crime accountable for their actions. We can’t do this work alone. Take a stand against Domestic Violence this October, support SafeCenter, and help make our community a safer place to live, work, and play.
Relay for Life to hold silent auction
The 2020 Silent Auction in support of Relay for Life will be online November 18 – 30. Having it in the fall will allow them to take advantage of the holiday shopping season. You can’t get more #ShopSmall than Relay For Life!
To make this a success organizers need your help securing items. There is not a minimum value required, but they do recommend bundling smaller items together to create “baskets.”
As with the on-site auction, whatever amount your donated item(s) go for will be applied toward your team/personal fundraiser.
Please reach out to Nikki or Marlene with questions and to submit items. For more information visit the website.