December 2022 | Monthly news for and about the staff of Northwest Education Services

Celebrating 2022 and Looking Ahead to '23

Dear North Ed Staff,



We are nearing the end of 2022 and as we prepare to turn a page on the calendar year, I always try to find time to reflect back on the year we’ve had.

There was much to celebrate here at North Ed, and a great deal of it is due to your hard work and commitment to serving our students and region. Some of my favorite experiences are when I get to witness first-hand the work YOU do in the classrooms (and in the community). The care and compassion you exhibit to reach every child is inspirational, and I want to thank you for your incredible efforts. As you may recall, one of the SAIL 2.0 goals is for senior leadership to re-establish a routine of engagement and increased presence in North Ed’s buildings to improve our understanding of what’s happening on the front lines. If you have opportunities for us to learn more about what’s going on in your programs and buildings, please feel free to reach out to any of the senior leadership team members and we’ll share that information with the team.

As we look ahead to a month of holiday celebrations, I want to also look back at November and recognize the successful election that is worth celebrating as well. Thank you again to all those who voted for the special education millage. Your support has set the stage for our special education funding to be in a stable position for years to come, and our region and the 3,000 students who rely on those services are in much better standing because of it.

When one calendar year ends, that means we must also begin a new year, and 2023 looks to be an exciting one. Over the last few weeks of 2022 we have been busy with the preparation for and start of new construction projects at our North Ed facilities. This work will not only improve our operations, but will enhance the on-campus experiences for our students and staff.

From new lighting at Career Tech to new learning spaces at Creekside School and New Horizons, we are excited for these projects to come to fruition. You can learn more about what’s happening by reading the summary below.

Whether it is in the company of friends and family or spending your time some other way, I hope this holiday season is a source of joy for you and that you are able to find time to reflect on this past year’s successes. I am confident 2023 will have plenty more to celebrate.

Respectfully,

PHOTO ABOVE: Superintendent Ceglarek cooks eggs during a recent breakfast event at Creekside School. The school hosts weekly breakfasts, typically on Mondays, for students and staff before classes start for the day.

SAIL(ORS): Organizational Recognition System

Use the form linked below to nominate a colleague who has gone above and beyond in their work. That colleague will receive an email copy of your nomination. One person is selected from the pool of nominees each month to be recognized by the North Ed Board of Education. 

Welcome New Employees

Nichole Black

Medicaid Coordinator

Previous work: D&W Mechanical

Education: Traverse City Area Public Schools

Interests: Enjoys time with family, camping, gardening and knitting

Margaret Dinkel

Adult Education Teacher, Kalkaska

Previous work: Caro Community Schools, State of Michigan Prison System and GED Teacher

Education: Lake Superior State University and Saginaw Valley State University

Fun Fact: Full-time RV resident while building a house for the past two years. Target move-in date is Christmas! Also received a teacher of the year award

Cheyenne Dolaskie

Accountant, Admin Building

Previous work: Trelleborg

Education: Traverse City Central High School

Interests: Enjoys hiking, reading

Fun Fact: Just bought a new home

Hillary Matthews

Teacher Assistant, Life Skills Center

Previous work: Kent ISD

Education: Charlevoix High School; Aquinas College

Interests: Enjoys fishing, working out and outdoor activities.

Fun Fact: Married in July; honeymooned in Maui

Brent McCall

Secondary Literacy Consultant

Previous work: TCAPS MS Social Studies & ELA Teacher

Education: Saginaw Heritage HS; Adrian College; Siena Heights University

Interests: Enjoys skiing and snowboarding, has two children, Bridger (4) and Bryce (2), and is a fan of the TV show Survivor.

Fun Fact: Coached varsity baseball for 13 years

Amy Saxton

Teacher Assistant, East Middle School

Previous work: Forest Area Early Learning Center

Education: Suttons Bay Virtual High School

Interests: Embroidery, reading and volunteering at church

Fun Fact: Raises livestock and rabbits

Mid-Year Retirement

Candy Chamberlain

Teacher Assistant,

East Middle School

13 Years of Service

Tina Martinek

Payroll Manager,

Administration Building

17.5 Years of Service

Mary Povolo

School Social Worker,

Bridgeway

18 Years of Service

Rena Spencer

Special Ed Supervisor,

Life Skills Center

19.5 Years of Service

Jennifer Stairs

ELA Instructor,

Career Tech

14.5 Years of Service

Julie Trudel

Teacher Assistant,

Bridgeway

25 Years of Service

Welcome new arrivals!

Rory Charles Fritz

Born Nov. 21, 2022

8 lbs., 13 oz., 21" long to

Maura Carney, School Social Worker

Celebrations

Diverse December

December is full of diverse holidays and events to celebrate and topics to acknowledge. We hope you enjoy this calendar from Diversity Resources that highlights some of those holidays and days of recognition.        

• 12.1.22: World AIDS Day: Raises awareness of HIV/AIDS.
• 12.3.22: International Day of Persons with Disabilities: Recognized by the United Nations, the day raises awareness for the rights and well-being of those with disabilities.
• 12.10.22: International Human Rights Day: Celebrates the day in 1948 when the UN adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
• 12.16.22 – 12.24.22: Las Posadas: Religious festival, primarily in Mexico and Latin American countries, of the Christmas season.
• 12.18.22 – 12.26.22: Hanukkah: Also known as the Festival of Lights, this holiday celebrates the Jews and their rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after their triumph over the Syrian Greeks for their independence.
• 12.21.22: Winter Solstice/Yule: The winter sabbat, according to the Pagan and Wiccan faiths, is celebrated in several ways by people across the globe.  
• 12.25.22: Christmas: Holiday recognizing the birth of Jesus Christ. Here are some different ways Christmas is celebrated. 
• 12.26.22 – 1.1.23: Kwanzaa: An annual seven-day holiday affirming African family and social values celebrated primarily in the United States. Both the name and the celebration were devised in 1966 by Maulana Karenga.

Extra Credit: As educators, it’s critical to respect the holidays celebrated by all of those in our classrooms and communities. To learn more about how to do that, consider these resources from the Anti-Defamation League: Teaching About Religious Holidays – and – Dilemma or Opportunity?

How to Respond

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has created a guide to help educators and administrators respond to bias incidents, as well as offer additional information that may benefit those working in our schools. To view or download a copy of the Guide for Responding to School-Based Bias Incidents, visit the ADL’s website.

Lunch & Learn

Over the next several months, the North Ed DEIB Committee will host several Lunch & Learn sessions on the Netflix documentary “Amend: The Fight for America”, which looks at the struggle for equal rights in the United States. The first episode of the series is available to stream on Netflix and YouTube. Below are two opportunities to join your colleagues to discuss the episode. Additional Lunch & Learn dates covering the remaining episodes in “Amend” will be communicated in the coming weeks.  

• 4:15-5 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 15 – Earthen Ales, 1371 Gray Drive, Suite 200, Traverse City (Drinks available to purchase)
• 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Friday, Dec. 16 – Remote via Google Meet

Professional Growth Opportunity

Interested in social justice? Want to learn more about equity? Do you care about justice for marginalized groups? If you haven’t already taken it, consider registering for “An Introduction to Social Justice for Educators: The Core Course.” This professional development opportunity consists of eight two-hour sessions from 3:30-5:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, beginning Jan. 10 and ending April 18. There are a limited number of seats available, so register now through Unified Talent. 

Facilities Projects

Building Improvements Underway

Several projects are underway or scheduled to begin soon at North Ed facilities. Below is a brief update on those projects. All timelines are estimates and subject to weather and other delays. More information will be shared as the projects continue.

• Career Tech: Lighting upgrades to the facility include installing LED fixtures and occupation sensors to improve energy efficiency. Work will take place on nights and weekends. Construction crews have been mobilized and the upgrades are expected to be substantially complete by June 30, 2023.
• New Horizons: Work began in mid-November to add two classrooms to the south end of the building, upgrade flooring and lighting in the North Ed wing’s main hallway and remodel the entrance near the North Ed office to enhance security. This work is expected to finish by June 14, 2023, followed by upgrades to the building’s fire alarm system and parking lot/bus loop that are anticipated to be completed by Aug. 10, 2023. (PHOTO ABOVE: Crews pour concrete footings for the classroom addition at New Horizons)
• Creekside School: Renovations are expected to begin April 2023 and will include the addition of a secure entrance, administration offices and a conference room on the north end of the building by the parking lot. Work will also include repurposing the current entrance vestibule and office area to instructional spaces. The project is anticipated to be substantially complete by Aug. 23, 2023.
• Tech Services Department:  Renovations to the area used by Tech Services in the Arnell Administration Building are expected to begin Feb. 1, 2023, with asbestos abatement and pre-construction work starting in January. The space will be more cohesive and efficient for Tech Services operations at Arnell. Substantial completion of this project is expected by April 1, 2023. During the construction period, employees in need of in-person support from Tech Services may visit the Antrim Room in the Arnell Administration Building.

Facility Needs Requests

One of the outcomes of North Ed's SAIL strategic planning process was to explore, assess and identify facility needs. As a result, all staff members are encouraged to communicate facility needs as they identify ideas or opportunities that can support their role in the organization.

Student News

Kindness Exemplified

Thoughtfulness can arise in unsuspecting ways and oftentimes the gesture can change one's perspective in powerful ways. Educators have an inherent character of compassion that is frequently modeled for students, colleagues and community throughout the school year. It is with notable praise when our students turn the tables and shower others with kindness.

Recently, a North Ed colleague, Sarah Olree, learned that her first-born daughter Riley was diagnosed with Rett Syndrome, a rare genetic neurological disorder which occurs in 1 of every 10,000 female births worldwide.

October was Rett Syndrome Awareness Month which inspired students and staff at North Ed Life Skills Center to rally together and declare a coin war to support Rett Syndrome research. With friendly competition among classrooms, many students dug deep to fill their team jars with loose change. One particular student living with Down Syndrome donated $47 with an assortment of coins and dollar bills. When asked if the donation was the student's true desire, they answered, "many people donated money to the Down Syndrome Foundation and I want to do this." In short, our words and actions can be very powerful!

Rotary Outstanding Students

Congratulations to two Career Tech students who were honored for their outstanding achievements and community contributions on Nov. 29 by the Traverse City Rotary Club.

Noah Send is a senior from Traverse City Central High School enrolled in the Auto Repair program and Alyssa Dahl is a senior from Traverse City West Senior High School enrolled in Health Sciences.

North Ed Life Skills Center partners with local J&S Hamburg restaurants on a regional Feed the Kids project. Tyler and Gavin work alongside their coaches, contributing valuable time and support packing bag lunches for this worthy cause.

Donations & Assistance

Community Resources

Everyone needs a little help once in a while. Below are some resource lists for organizations that offer assistance to families and individuals in our region, both during the holiday season and throughout the entire year.

• Holiday Assistance and Anytime Resources
• Traverse City Community Resource Guide
• Grand Traverse County Health Department: Health and Community Resources
• Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency
• Michigan 2-1-1

Career Tech Donations

Career Tech maintains a pantry on campus to assist with various student needs. Below is a list of what's currently needed. Thank you in advance for your generosity in donating gently used/new clothes as well as hygiene and "easy" food items. Donations may be dropped off at the front office.

• Interview clothes: Blazers, ties, button-down shirts, blouses, slacks, skirts, etc.
• Shop clothes: Jeans/pants, sturdy work boots, etc.
• Winter clothes: Jackets, gloves, winter boots, etc.
• "Student" clothing: Hoodies, jeans, T-shirts, etc.
• Hygiene items (new/in package): Deodorant, toothbrush & toothpaste, soap, etc.
• Non-perishable "easy" foods: Protein bars, mac-n-cheese, cans of soup, etc.

McKinney-Vento Program

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act secures the rights and helps to support the needs of children who are in a state of transition for housing or those experiencing homelessness. In order to support our center students who are experiencing homelessness, we would like to gather donations to support current needs as well as meet future needs by establishing a donation closet. Please consider donating the following items to our cause:

• Gently used or new children's clothing, coats and shoes
• New children's socks and underwear
• Hats and gloves
• Pull-ups (Large and X-large) 
• Children's snow pants
• While we will accept any size children and young adult clothing, we are in immediate need of boys size 5-6T, boys size 12, and girls size 8-10 clothes

Donations can be dropped off at East Arnell, Attn: Marty Guiney.

Center Programs Bus Bags

Many of our center students are on the bus for extended periods of time to attend their center programs. To provide positive activities for students to engage in on the bus, we have put together bus activity bags. While we have a good start to this project, we could use some help in gathering more items to put in our activity bags. Please consider donating the following items to this project:

• Small toys such as Matchbox cars, small plastic animals, small dolls
• Paperback books, especially non-fiction books with pictures for our older students at LSC and easy-reader books for our younger students (they love books with characters from popular kid TV shows or movies)
• Activity books (picture searches, connect-the-dot, coloring)
• Fidgets
• Hand-held or travel games (no small pieces please)

Donations can be dropped off at East Arnell, Attn: Marty Guiney.

North Ed NETWORK NEWS

Learn more about North Ed programs, services, students and colleagues in all the latest newsletters linked below!

Last month's Staff Newsletter - Check it Out 11.1.22

Farm to School - November 2022

Career Tech News - Fall 2022

DATES TO REMEMBER - Summary of the 2022-23 School Year!

Be sure to get ALL the news!

Click here to view in a web browser

Employee Assistance Program

North Ed offers an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that provides staff members with a number of support services, including help with depression, relationship problems, substance abuse, gambling addictions and more. As a North Ed employee, you have access to counselors and consultants to help with many needs related to your health and well-being. For more information on the EAP and other resources, visit the Human Resources page on our staff intranet. 

Prescription Coverage Support

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are working with Sempre Health to help members save on their eligible medications and make healthy choices, by reminding them when it’s time to refill their prescriptions.

Enrolling is easy – members can enroll with a text message to take full advantage of this free program and start saving. They’ll earn discounts on their out-of-pocket costs when they enroll in this program and fill their medication regularly as prescribed.

For more information, call the customer service number on the back of your health insurance card.

Snow Day Expectations

Please review the details linked here for snow day work expectations for the 2022-2023 school year.

All North Ed buildings will remain open on snow days for those who are required to report by the nature of their work, required by a supervisor or prefer to report to the building they service. Any questions should be directed to your supervisor.

$500 Referral Bonus Applies to TAs and Parapros

North Ed staff can earn a $500 bonus for successfully referring someone who joins our team as a teacher assistant or paraprofessional. Due to an ongoing need to fill vacant TA and parapro positions, this opportunity will remain in place until vacancies are filled. Simply email the name of your referral to HR Generalist Jaime Walton. If that person is hired, you will get a $500 bonus in your paycheck.

December Pay Date 

Northwest Education Services is closed for the holiday recess on the pay date of Dec. 23, 2022. This date is not a bank holiday; therefore, paychecks and direct deposits will be processed on Dec. 23, 2022 as usual.

Please be sure to submit all reimbursements and completed extra duty sheets prior to the holiday recess if you wish to have them processed for the Jan. 6, 2023 pay. Employees using the UKG Ready timekeeping system should review and approve their hours for the period from Dec. 11, 2022 to Dec. 24, 2022 on the last work day prior to the holiday break.

W-4 Changes for 2023 

Please note that you will need to file a new W-4 (Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate) if the filing status, dependents, other income, deductions or credits listed on your current W-4 will change for the 2023 calendar year. Your current W-4 filing status for federal and state income tax withholding are shown in the lower right side of your pay stub. 

Please contact the Northwest Education Services payroll office (Tina Martinek and Sabrina Gunning) to obtain a blank W-4 form if you wish to change your federal or state withholding status. 

North Ed employees may view their pay stubs by visiting https://www.myinfo.misd.net/ or by clicking on the "My Info Direct Deposit" link in the North Ed Bookmarks folder when logged in to the Google Chrome web browser using a work account (Gmail username). 

North Ed Bytes

Join your colleagues to learn more about the tools and resources available to all Northwest Education Services team members. These "mini-PD" sessions are generally 20-30 minutes and cover topics that extend beyond technology to other tools and helpful tips that you may not be familiar with. Employees may attend as many sessions as desired. We will provide the coffee or tea refill and you can learn with your colleagues at the Administration building or Career Tech. Contact Brandi Reynolds for suggestions or questions 231.922.6280. Here are the first two sessions:

• How to connect to REMC Conference Room? Also, what is REMC 2?
• Dec. 2, 8:40-9 a.m., REMC 2 Conference Room, Career Tech
• Learn the many ways you can connect to the various displays the conference room and take a tour of REMC 2 to see how they may be able to support your work.
• Why is my Google Drive so messy?
• Dec. 8, 9-9:30 a.m., REMC 2 Conference Room, Career Tech
• Learn how to manage your Google Drive and use built-in Google tools for organizing and searching.

Classified Ads

House For Rent - 2 Bedroom/1 Bath, Furnished home, Indian Trail neighborhood (near Career Tech). $1500/mo. plus utilities. Trash and water services included. Lease ASAP through May 15, 2023. Contact Garrison Reardon at reard1gp@gmail.com

Holiday Sale - Handmade Quilled Ornaments are crafted by ACE Teacher Assistant Kathy Nickols. Snowflakes are priced at $12 and Santa's and holy crosses are $14 each. For inquiries or to order please email Kathy at kathylnickols@gmail.com

North Ed staff are welcome to submit ad requests by the 25th of each month to NorthEdNews@NorthwestEd.org

North Ed Apparel Store Now Open

North Ed swag is available for purchase! Order direct from our approved supplier. It's easy! Browse the North Ed online catalog TODAY!

Website link location:

Intranet/North Ed Brand/Be a Brand Ambassador

Getting the Lingo Right

As you talk about Northwest Education Services (shortened to North Ed, not Northwest Ed), it is important that we all use the correct words and represent the organization in unified fashion. Brand integrity depends on each of us. If you have brand questions or need logos for an event, document or presentation, contact the Communications Department at NorthEdNews@NorthwestEd.org.