August 31,2024
The dreaded summer reading slide is a big deal, and yes – it is a real thing. When students are not exposed to reading and learning over the long summer months, they can lose many essential skills.
Make sure summer is full of reading! Participation in the GISD's Read to a Million Challenge can boost reading skills. It is also a great way to encourage your child to read during the summer months! Use the QR code below to log your reading progress.
August 18, 2024
FREE meals for all students.
Adult Meals $5.11
Montrose Community Schools
Middle School/High School Cafeteria
303 Ray St. Montrose, MI 48457
Use the Auditorium Door Entrance
Meal Service Dates & Times
June 17- June 27, 2024
July 8 - July 31, 2024
August 1- August 8, 2024
Monday-Thursday
11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Visit www.michigan.gov/MeetupEatup or call 211 or text Food to 304-304 to find a site near you!
June 27, 2024
SCHOOLS OF CHOICE
WINDOW IS CLOSED
For those who have submitted their applications, below you will find information regarding the school of choice timeline & what to expect.
School of Choice Acceptance Timeline 2024-2025
For questions or further information, email: Denelle Klein at: denelle.klein@flushingschools.org or call 810.591.1183.
Administration Building
522 N. McKinley Rd
*Transportation: Parents of students accepted into the Schools of Choice program are responsible for transporting their children to and from school.
*Students previously accepted into the Schools of Choice program and currently attending FCS for the 2023-24 school year do NOT need to reapply. Once a student has been accepted, the acceptance will remain in effect unless there is a break in enrollment.
May 7, 2024
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If you missed one of the Community Information meetings, you can view the presentation by clicking this link: School Improvement Bond Presentation
Video of Mr. Shanafelt's School Improvement Bond Presentation
Bond Interview Videos:
Part 1 - Flushing Millage Bond Vote Explained - Money Questions
Part 2 - Mill rates, bond verbiage questions
Part 3 - Academics, Teachers and Student Challenges
Part 4 - Answers to Negative Online Questions
Part 6 - What upgrades and cost
Part 7 - The New Athletic Complex
Part 8 - Bus Garage & Music Program Questions
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Zero Increase School Improvement Facility Bond
Ballot May 7, 2024
As part of Flushing Community Schools commitment to continuous improvement, we regularly evaluate the evolving needs in our district, and study the most efficient and economical way to address the needs that we have. With that in mind, the Flushing Community Schools Board of Education has recently approved moving forward with a 0 (Zero) increase district wide school improvement bond to be placed on the May 7, 2024 ballot. It is the Board of Education’s hope to use this $23.5 million bond to address the growing safety and security needs of our buildings as well as to enhance the success of our schools instructional, fine arts, athletic, and extracurricular programs, protecting our community’s property values and attracting families to our wonderful community.
Based on our ongoing comprehensive structural and facility needs assessment, this project will focus on improvements in 6 different areas:
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Safety and Security - Updated alarm/ door entry systems, additional security cameras, new secondary entrances, as well as the installation of ballistic film in many of our entrances.
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Instructional Technology - Substantial investment in updated instructional technology in our classrooms, including interactive technology to aid in students' learning.
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Elementary Playground Enhancement- With an emphasis and priority on our extensive playground asphalt needs
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Auditorium Updates - Sound, carpet, stage and lighting upgrades/ enhancements to maintain our auditorium for our students and community.
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HVAC Upgrades - Air-conditioning areas that were not included in our last bond. Mainly air-conditioning of gyms and cafeterias throughout the district.
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Athletic Facility Upgrades - Including updates/ substantial renovations to all current outdoor athletic fields and tennis courts, as well as the construction of a multi-purpose outdoor stadium located on the high school campus, that will include artificial turf, a track and newly constructed out-buildings, such as restrooms, concessions, and locker rooms.
This will be a 0 (zero) mill increase over the current debt levy, which is aided by the rapidly increasing property values in our district. We currently levy 3.18 mills to retire our existing facilities school improvement debt, and this bond initiative is seeking to continue that same tax rate. While a possible tax rate increase was considered, this school improvement facility bond will meet our needs without having to raise the current millage rate. Our current 3.18 millage rate, which we are seeking to continue with this bond, is currently well below the county average. As examples, some of the other local school districts current debt levy millage rates include:
Clio-3.75
Swartz Creek-3.90
Carman-Ainsworth-4.10
Linden-4.19
Fenton-5.0
Davison-5.14
Grand Blanc-6.30
Montrose-7.0
Goodrich-7.75
Holly-8.5
Brandon-12.16
Bendle-13.0
With a simple continuation of our current debt levy of 3.18 mills, the Flushing Community Schools percentage of debt and tax burden on our community will remain significantly less than the county average.
We will be holding a number of community informational meetings throughout March and April so that everyone is thoroughly aware, educated and informed. If you have questions regarding this bond proposal, please do not hesitate to e-mail (matt.shanafelt@flushingschools.org) or call (810-591-1180) Superintendent Matt Shanafelt. As a reminder, school improvement millage funds are for structural enhancements and facilities, and cannot be used to pay for people, salaries or operating expenses.
As an educational institution, we strongly encourage everyone in our community to be as educated and as informed as possible and to exercise their right to vote on May 7, 2024.
Bond Information Summary - this document is a convenient way for you to share the 2024 Bond information with your friends and family.
For more information, visit the 2024 Facility Improvement Bond FAQ.
April 5, 2024
Dear Flushing Families,
On Monday, April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will cross North America, passing over Mexico, Canada, and the United States. A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the sun and the earth, completely blocking the face of the sun. While our region is not completely in the path of totality, we will experience approximately 96% coverage of the sun. You can expect the sky will darken as if it were dawn or dusk.
In Genesee County, the eclipse is scheduled to begin at 1:58 p.m. on Monday, peak at 3:15, and conclude at 4:27 p.m. The timing of this event not only encompasses part of our school day, but it is also occurring during dismissal. Our district will be providing “eclipse glasses” to all students to ensure a safe and positive experience for our students, should there be an educational component to this event or simply for the students’ safety while riding on the bus, walking outside or riding in a car.
We realize that this is an exciting event and we want our students who are interested in viewing this scientific occurrence to do so safely. With the exception of during the brief total solar eclipse, when the moon blocks the sun’s face, it is not safe to look directly at the sun without specialized eye protection for solar viewing.
Since students will be in a variety of places during the time of the eclipse, please assist us by speaking with your child about the requirement of wearing protective eyewear if they look at the sun during the eclipse.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this event, please contact your child’s building principal. Again, it is important to have a conversation with your children and remind them that it is never safe to stare directly at the sun, especially during an eclipse.
Thank you for your time and support.
Sincerely,
Jason Melynchek
Deputy Superintendent
Flushing Community Schools
April 4, 2024
IMPORTANT MESSAGE REGARDING BUS INCIDENT
Good evening to the parents and guardians of elementary students who ride Bus #153 from Central Elementary. Today on the ride home, pepper spray was accidentally released by a student on the bus.
When an aerosol is released, it is possible for a reaction to happen. If your child is having a reaction with their eyes due to being exposed, encourage them NOT to touch their eyes. They will need to continuously flush their eyes out with water. It is important to use clean hands, but do not use soap to flush the eyes. There is no extensive evidence that pepper spray causes permanent damage. However, if any eye pain does not subside, vision is blurred and not getting better, or if your child is having trouble breathing, please consult with your physician or take them to an Emergency Room for evaluation.
Devices such as pepper spray are not allowed on school property or on a school bus. We will continue to investigate this incident but wanted to make you aware in case your child is experiencing symptoms.
Jason Melynchek
Deputy Superintendent
April 1, 2024
Information Regarding Student Testing
April is a busy month with standardized testing for students in grades 3rd-11th. Many students will begin testing next week.
Please see the attached letters below from our State Superintendent, Michael Rice, and our district’s Electronic Device Policy for testing.
Parent Letter from State Superintendent Michael Rice
Flushing Community Schools Device Policy
March 13, 2024
Kindergarten Registration is now open for the 2024-2025 school year.
To begin the registration process:
Please follow this link: https://bit.ly/48QZj2g
If you could not make the Kindergarten Registration Night, please see the presentation here: Kindergarten Informational Presentation
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Please note: New to the 2024-2025 school year, you will need to have an Oral Health Assessment filled out for your incoming Kindergarten Student.
March 11, 2024
As we prepare to start a new school year, Jostens is offering a sale price on the 2023-2024 FHS yearbook.
$15 off the price of a yearbook with deals on personalization and icons. Parents only need to pay $70 for a yearbook instead of the normal $85.
https://www.yearbooknerds.com/flushing-high-school
February 23, 2024
Flushing Families,
As you are aware, the safety and security of our students and staff members is our highest priority every day. After receiving a few questions yesterday, I wanted to take this opportunity to clarify a couple of our safety practices. As part of our safety plans, we have the ability to put our buildings into a number of different modes, such as “secure mode” or a “lockdown”, based on the circumstances in, around or near our buildings.
During “Secure Mode”, which is used quite regularly, students continue with their learning as normal within the classroom setting. The movement of students throughout the building or in the hallways is limited and visitors to the building are escorted into or out of the building as necessary. Doors to the building remain locked (as they normally are during every school day). Our school buildings regularly go into secure mode for a variety of reasons, including, but not limited to a medical emergency in the hallway, a dysregulated student or a general concern in the area of our school buildings or boundaries. If the general concern that leads to secure mode is outside of the building, students are kept in from recess. During “Secure-mode”, there is a heightened awareness amongst the adults, but we do whatever we can to continue our school day as normally as possible for the students in the building. While secure mode is used frequently, it is often for a brief amount of time and we do not usually send a school messenger home in these instances.
Yesterday morning, the initial decision was made to send a “school messenger” phone call home specifically to our families with pre-schoolers because many of the preschool students were getting dropped off during our secure mode protocol, and it was brought to our attention that the situation had mistakenly been referred to as a “lockdown” to a number of our pre-school parents. Pre-school families were the sole intended audience of the school messenger to help clear up that misunderstanding.
A “Lockdown” is quite different. While practiced frequently so that kids know how to respond if necessary, we are extremely grateful that actual “lockdowns” are extremely rare. Lockdowns are used when there is a situation or circumstance that presents the possibility of imminent danger to our staff and students. Measures taken within the classroom and building are more extensive and extreme in order to make sure our students and staff members remain safe and secure. In these cases, there is communication home to parents via school messenger with any pertinent information as soon as it is safe and practical to do so.
We take our responsibility to communicate with parents incredibly seriously. In this day and age, where many of our students carry a cell phone and are in constant communication, it is inevitable that you may learn of a significant school event from your student before we are able to send a mass message home. We also realize that social media has a tendency to spread both information and misinformation alike very rapidly, so we will continue to be as timely as possible in getting accurate information home when necessary. If there are specific questions regarding what is happening in a school building at any time, please reach out to the building and they will be glad to help, sharing any information they can.
As a reminder, we are grateful to have a wonderful relationship and work incredibly closely with both the Flushing City and Flushing Township Police Department, and we are proud to have either a School Resource Officer or an armed Premier Security officer in all of our buildings during the school day. We greatly appreciate the ongoing positive partnership that we have with our families, as well as the faith and trust that you have in our school district every single day. We will continue to do whatever we can to keep our students and staff members safe and healthy, and to make sure that their school experience is as positive and as fulfilling as it should be.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to any of our building principals with any school specific questions or feel free to reach out to me if I can help in any way.
Sincerely,
Matt Shanafelt
January 8, 2024
Flushing Community Schools is providing an opportunity for dental health services for our elementary and middle school students that don't have regular access to dental care. Michigan Dental Outreach, a mobile dentist program, will be visiting the elementary buildings on February 6, and the Middle School on February 7. Dental screenings, teeth cleaning, fluoride treatments, x-rays and sealants will be offered to students who are in need of dental care. Parent consent forms were sent home with students on Friday, January 5. If you want your child to participate, please return the consent form to the school's main office by January 29. For more information or to register online, please visit www.myschooldentist.com.
December 4, 2023
A Great Way to Get Your Child Ready For Preschool
If you are looking for a fun weekly activity for you and your two-year-old, consider signing up for the Flushing Community Schools 2+1 program. This twelve-week program is packed with lots of activities geared towards getting your child ready for preschool. This class is attended by the toddler AND their parent or adult caregiver. It’s a great way to become familiar with the Early Childhood Center (ECC), our preschool classrooms, and our preschool teachers. Activities include singing, dancing, crafts, and story time. All of which help to improve fine motor skills, gross motor skills, sensory awareness, and social development.
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The evening class meets on Thursdays, 6:00-7:00 pm, and begins on January 18, 2024.
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The morning class meets on Fridays, 10:00-11:00 am, and begins on January 19, 2024.
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The cost is $150 for the 12 week session. Payment is due by the first class.
To register for this session of 2+1, please contact the ECC by emailing the building secretary, Katelyn Torrey, at katelyn.torrey@flushingschools.org. Please provide the parent/guardian name, student name, birthdate, and whether you are interested in the morning or evening class.
November 17, 2023
Dear Parent and/or Guardian,
Flushing Community Schools will begin utilizing a universal social and emotional screener for students in grades 3-12 to assess their mental wellness and to provide appropriate support as needed. In order to be intentional and to provide proactive, targeted support, we have partnered with iWellness Center, an organization focused on the social emotional wellness of K-12 students. iWellness Center provides a regular check-in for students, which will provide feedback on our students so that we may make informed decisions on programs, support systems, and individual referrals.
The iWellness Center check-in is informational and not diagnostic. A copy of the brief iWellness Center survey that we will be utilizing is included at the end of this letter. The purpose of the check-in is to give our students a voice and assist them in assessing their overall well-being.
At Flushing Community Schools, we believe that by educating the whole child, our students will feel safe, supported, and able to overcome adversity. The social and emotional factors that play a part in a child’s success are growing every year and Flushing Community Schools is taking a proactive approach at the Tier 1 level (all students) so we may be intentional in the support needed at the Tier 2 and Tier 3 levels.
Students in grades 3-12 will participate in the iWellness Center check-ins. All results will remain confidential and will be shared with only the staff members that “need to know” in order to support our students.
The following steps will be taken for the iWellness Center check-in:
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Step 1: Students login to their iWellness Center dashboard
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Step 2: Students take the seven question survey (see the questions below)
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Step 3: Students whose answers reveal a potential concern will individually meet with school personnel (i.e: school home coordinator, principal, counselor/social worker, MTSS personnel) to determine if further intervention would be recommended.
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Step 4: If an intervention may be needed outside of the school district support system (administrator, teacher, counselor, social worker, etc.) a school staff member will contact you.
Our desire in using the iWellness Center check-in is to gain a better understanding of individual, group and district wide trends to better support our students in the area of mental wellness, to obtain consistent data regarding students’ social and emotional well-being, and to make sure we are providing support to the students that need it.
Sincerely,
Matt Shanafelt
Superintendent
November 3, 2023
Each year, Flushing Community Schools provides an opportunity for parents, students, and staff to complete a school climate survey. These anonymous surveys are used to identify the culture trends in our schools. Scroll down for more detailed information.
The parent/family survey is open and ready. The parent/family survey will be available through November 9. Please see the links below to access the survey. If you have children in multiple buildings, please complete a survey for each building. If you have multiple children in a single building, you only need to complete one survey for that building.
- Early Childhood Parent/Family Survey
- Central Parent/Family Survey
- Elms Parent/Family Survey
- Seymour Parent/Family Survey
- Springview Parent/Family Survey
- Middle School Parent/Family Survey
- High School Parent/Family Survey
Students in grades 3-12 will complete the survey in class during the week of November 13. If you would like to view the survey for your child’s grade level, please do so here:
If you would like to opt your child out of the survey, please fill out this WAIVER to exclude them. Waivers must be submitted by 12:00 pm. Thursday, November 9, 2023.
We appreciate your time, and hope to grow as a result of the information collected.
If you have any questions, please reach out to your child's building principal.
School Climate Survey & Waiver Information Sheet
October 7, 2023
Flushing High School is proud to announce the Athletic Hall of Fame class of 2024. The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on Friday, January 26, 2024, at approximately 8:15 pm, during halftime of the boys varsity basketball game versus Fenton High School. The Raiders girls varsity game will begin at 6:00 pm The boys varsity game will follow at approximately 7:30 pm.
This year’s Hall of Fame class inductees are:
Angela (Hafner) Dowling -1982: Track
Lynn (Beardslee) James - 1988: Basketball, Volleyball, Track, and Golf
Greg Pattee - 1990: Track and Field
Andy Rishmawi -1994: Wrestling, Soccer, and Track
Flushing High School has always had an outstanding athletic program that has earned conference championships, team awards, individual awards, and several state championships. More importantly, FHS athletics has served as an extension of the classroom to prepare our students for life after Flushing High School.
For more information regarding this event, please contact: Mrs. Shawn Andrews, Athletic Director, at 810-591-2680.
Message from Matt Shanafelt
September 20, 2023
This message is to let you know it was reported earlier today that one of our high school students made a threatening comment towards the high school. Once the FHS administration team was made aware of the statement, they immediately removed the student from class and involved the Flushing Township Police Department. We applaud the student that came forward today and provided this information so it could be thoroughly investigated, ensuring the safety of all of our students and staff members.
Parents, please continue to reiterate to your students that involvement in any threatening behavior, including comments said in anger, or even “as a joke,” will result in time out of school. Students who make threats will not be able to return to school or participate in any school events until they complete a comprehensive risk assessment to assure they are not a risk to themselves or others, and they will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion from school. Law enforcement will be involved and students may face legal charges as a result of their actions.
The safety of our students and staff remains our top priority, and we will continue to work alongside our local law enforcement to investigate any threat made to the safety of our schools. Thank you for your assistance.
September 19, 2023
Beginning this Friday, Flushing Community Schools will no longer be allowing students to bring backpacks, duffle bags, cinch bags, or similar-sized items into sporting events, including football games at Raider Field. Additionally, all K-8th grade students attending any home high school athletic events must enter the event accompanied by a parent or adult.
