In-Person Learning returns to SJPS January 11
St. Johns Public Schools will extend remote learning for the week following winter break. Remote learning for all students will continue from Monday, January 4 through Friday, January 8, 2021.
“The positive cases of COVID-19 have been trending downward over the last 7 to 10 days, which is certainly
good news,” says Superintendent Mark Palmer. “Like many school districts,” he adds, “we are concerned that we will see a spike in cases after the holidays.
“Although our belief is that in-person learning is the most effective platform for delivering an education to
the majority of our students, our top priority continues to be, and always has been, to offer in-person learning as safely as possible.”
Palmer adds that he and the Board of Education hope that we will not see a significant rise in cases and believe that this extension will provide time for any possible exposures over the holidays to run their course before they bring large numbers of students and staff back into the buildings.
Festival of Lights to hold in town parade Friday, December 18
Join your friends and neighbors for an in town parade on Friday, December 18.
Decorate your car, truck or anything that is legal on the road and join them at the St. Johns High School parking lot on Friday at 5:00 p.m. as everyone does a small drive around with Christmas cheer ending in beautiful downtown St. Johns. The parade will end down by traveling down Clinton Avenue for anyone to see.
Special thanks go out to Bob Rehmann and his never-ending desire to support the downtown district and to New Look Computer Data for all of their help with these events.
Toys for Tots reminders
– Santa’s Remote Workshop closes on Wednesday, December 23 at 6:00 p.m.
– Toys are needed for all children and youth age 17 and under.
– If you need help with toys, please visit the website.
– All toy pick up information is on the website.
Toy Pick Up Dates and Times at 306 E. Elm Street in St. Johns
– Tuesday, December 22 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
– Wednesday, December 23, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. (Last Day)
MMDHD expects vaccine as early as next week
by Jean Martin
The Mid Michigan District Health Department has chosen Sparrow Carson Hospital as the distribution point for vaccines for its Clinton, Gratiot and Montcalm County area. Originally it was thought that the hospital would receive the Pfizer vaccine; but as Health Officer Marcus Cheatham told the Board of Health this week that it now appears that the satellite hospital will be the repository for the area’s Moderna vaccine once it has been approved.
For now Cheatham says that his concern is for area deaths which have risen sharply. “I hope new cases have leveled off; but deaths have surged lately, exceeding state rates.” He went on to add that recent deaths in the three-county area have reached a consistent total of 5 per day. These, combined with the previous weekly death totals from cancer, heart disease and other causes, have doubled the weekly death rate in the area. He is hoping that the vaccine will help reduce mortality.
Department staffer Kara Trimbach spoke at length, outlining the phases in which vaccination will be rolled out. The vaccine, she says, will be offered free; and local pharmacies are expected to handle the vaccination of residents in long-term care facilities. Others who have been registered and specially trained to administer the inoculations will handle everyone in Phase 1A.
Medical Director Dr. Jennifer Morse, MD says of the numerous vaccines still in the pipeline for distribution, “No one company can produce enough vaccine for the United States and all of the other countries.”
Cheatham expects that health department employees will be working throughout Christmas week and on into the new year to distribute the Moderna vaccine locally.
Redwings help out Baby Pantry
Recently members of the Redwing football team, basketball team and Youth Action Committee volunteered their time to help out with the St. Johns Baby Pantry. Through this program, families are able to participate in the Christmas Adoption Program and “adopt” a child or children that are in need in our area.
Gifts were dropped off to be distributed, and Redwing student volunteers were on hand to assist with loading the gift bags.
During a normal year students would have also helped out with an open house for the families of the adopted children. During the open house families would have received their gifts and been served breakfast. Another big part of the open houses were the activities including writing letters to Santa, making crafts and even decorating cookies.
Due to Covid restrictions, the open house was not an option this year; but many students were still able to help out and even make some lasting connections with the families.
This year a record 175 children were registered and adopted locally. The St. Johns Baby Pantry also provides food, clothing and diapers to children in need throughout the year. For ways to get involved or for more information on this program, please the St. Johns Baby Pantry Facebook page.
Pandemic crisis moves LAFCU to double number of scholarships
Adam Eichenberg of St. Johns was one of four recent high school graduates who have each won a $2,500 college scholarship through the Lansing Area Federal Credit Union’s Write to Educate Essay Contest. Other winners included Abigail Payment of Ovid, Madeline Smith of Grand Ledge, and Jack LaFevre of South Lyon.
Typically, two winners are selected for this annual contest; but with the state’s stay-at-home orders closing schools and interrupting seniors’ final classes, traditions, graduation ceremonies and possibly college plans, LAFCU decided to support more graduates.
“The pandemic has been a huge disruptor in the lives of these students just as they are beginning to pursue their post-high school aspirations,” said Kelli Ellsworth Etchison, LAFCU chief marketing officer and chief diversity officer. “We decided we could do more to help this year’s graduates. They have dealt with a great deal of uncertainty; we wanted to provide some financial stability.”
The winners were selected based on their one-page essays about the role of technology in their lives and its positive or negative effect on personal safety.
Part of the contest is for each winner to select a charity to receive a $500 donation from LAFCU on behalf of the winner. Expanding the number of winners also increased total charity donations from $1,000 to $2,000.
“The charitable-giving component within this contest helps demonstrate the leadership skill of ‘giving back,’” Ellsworth Etchison said. “This year has shown how important it is for those who can, to step forward and help those in our community who are hurting.”
Adam Eichenberg, a 2020 graduate of St. Johns High School, is attending Davenport University. The LAFCU charity donation in his name was directed to Child and Family Charities, which works to strengthen and support children, families and individuals in mid-Michigan.
The winning essays are online at www.lafcu.com/writetoeducate.
Applicants did not need to be LAFCU members, but must have been attending high school in Michigan, LAFCU’s geographical service territory.
The Lansing State Journal is the contest’s community sponsor for 2020.
LAFCU has awarded $55,200 for this essay contest since it began in 2009: $47,200 in scholarships and $8,000 in charity donations, which were added to the contest in 2012.