March 14th, 2025

Eric Leopold, Principal

Scott Millbrook, Assistant Principal

The school news is a completely student-led operation. They work hard creating and putting together content each week! They analyze and critique each episode as a class on Mondays and aim to improve each week. Thank you for supporting and encouraging our students. Here is a link for this week's episode. 

TENNIS for Middle School Girls And Boys » GLPS Community Recreations is doing a doubles tennis league for 6th-8th grade girls and boys – here is a flyer – beginners welcome, no experience required!  Practices Mondays & Wednesdays; matches on Saturdays.

Our whole school will take part in this special, community-wide shared reading event beginning this Monday, March 3. Every family will receive a free copy of the same book  – Booked by Kwame Alexander – and will be asked to read it together at home. We are asking you to set aside about 10 minutes each day so that your family can participate together in this special activity with our Hayes community. 

On Monday your student will bring home their copy of the book, a reading calendar, a bookmark, and 3 reading logs. The Calendar of Events and Reading Schedule is included here. On Monday, March 10 students will turn in their first parent-signed Reading Log to their homeroom teacher. They will turn in Reading Log 2 on March 17 and Reading Log 3 on March 19. On March 20 we invite them to wear their favorite team jersey!

We hope you enjoy this special reading time with your child/children. In the days to come, we will all be talking about the characters in Booked and the lessons learned about facing challenges and disappointments in life while discovering the power of words. With your help, we can build a Community of Readers at our school. Many thanks to our generous Hayes/Beagle PTO for sponsoring this event for the 4th year in a row!

We want to make all 5th and 6th grade families aware of some concerning online trends we’ve noticed among students. Large Snapchat and text message group chats are becoming common, often containing explicit content, threats, or material of a sexual nature—sometimes even involving unknown peers or adults. Students may find it hard to leave these chats, as they can be readded by others. While we can’t fully monitor online activity outside school hours, we’re partnering with Eaton RESA to bring social media safety lessons to classrooms soon. At home, consider using parental controls, limiting group chats, or exploring alternatives like flip phones to keep communication safe. Contact our school counselors Laurel Miller and Kim Malkewitz with any questions—we’re here to support you in keeping our students safe!

 

Hayes Intermediate School students in grades 5 and 6 will participate in the MI Student Voice Perception Survey during the week of March 10th. This brief, anonymous online survey (under 40 questions, 10 minutes or less) explores students’ engagement and sense of belonging to guide district improvement efforts, without touching on personal topics like drug use or relationships. Administered on computers or mobile devices, it prioritizes student privacy and is voluntary—students can skip questions or stop anytime. We encourage participation to better understand and enhance their educational experience.

Here is an opportunity to host a high school international exchange student NEXT school year. These students all speak English, have medical insurance, and have money to pay for their own incidental expenses. Students come from over 50 different countries and have a variety of interests. Host families come in all shapes and sizes. Contact Mr. Schuchaskie (schuchaskied@glcomets.net) for more information! 

We have an outstanding joint PTO with Beagle Middle School. They have provided several incredible opportunities for our students and staff over the past few years. To stay current on updates and meetings, click here.

The next meeting is April 8th. 

To see your student’s current progress in the PowerSchool App:

Within the specific essential learning, you can click to get more detailed information about your student’s progress.

Practice Assignments are scored as follows:

Standards are scored using a scale. Scales for all 5th and 6th Grade courses are located on the district website.

Please note: Scale and Rubric grades do not equate to letter grades.

If you need access to the PowerSchool App or PowerSchool Parent Portal, please click here or call the school office at 517-925-5740 and our amazing secretaries will walk you through the process.

PICKING UP STUDENTS:

Please pull all the way forward when dropping off students in the morning and picking up your students at the end of the day. Even though the office has moved, we still need the space to accommodate all the vehicles at pick up.  (If we don't pull all the way forward, this causes the backups on Nixon Rd.)

Just a friendly reminder that dismissal is at 2:25pm and there is no adult supervision after 2:40pm. Please make sure that your student(s) have transportation arranged. 

Due to the construction of our main office, we are unable to accommodate having students wait to be picked up. If you need to pick up your student before dismissal, please give yourself extra time for the secretaries to call down your student to the office once you arrive. Thank you.

ATTENDANCE REPORTING:

There are several ways to report an absence at Hayes. When using any of the options below please include the following information; Child's full name, homeroom teacher and the reason for their absences.  

Online Attendance Reporting: You can use the online portal at ps.glcomets.net. Once you have logged in, select “Attendance Monitor” from the left navigation menu. Then, click “Report New Attendance.” After you have entered the date, reason, and explanation, click Submit. For more detailed instructions, please use the Parent Attendance Portal Directions . Please note: online attendance reporting is not available in the app; it is only available on the website.

You may continue to email HAAttendance@glcomets.net or call the attendance line at 517-925-5333.  

REPORTING ILLNESSES

We are in the midst of the “cold and flu” season, and still receiving positive reports of Influenza A, Strep Throat, RSV, gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea/vomiting/diarrhea) and other nonspecific or undiagnosed symptoms of fever, cough, nasal congestion, sore throat, and headache. If your student is exhibiting any of the above symptoms, please keep them at home to slow the spread of illnesses. 

When calling or emailing to excuse your students from school for illness, please let the secretaries know what your students symptoms are. We track symptoms and report them to the health department. Thank you!

LOST AND FOUND:

The lost and found at Hayes is filling back up again. Please stop by and enter Door #19 to go through for your students lost items. 

VOLUNTEERING:

If you plan to volunteer or need to enter the building for an extended period of time, including chaperoning for the upcoming dance party, please fill out this application. This is REQUIRED when coming to volunteer in our building. It takes a couple of days for the background check to be completed, so please plan accordingly based on your volunteering schedule

CELL PHONE USAGE:

A friendly reminder that cell phone usage is not permitted on school property. If you need to contact your student during school hours, please call the office at 517-925-5740 and we will either get the message to your student or have them come to the office and speak with you. Thank you!

DISTRICT NEWS, EVENTS AND COMMUITY INFORMATION:

View flyers and more of what the school district shares in newsletters about events, news, and information by visiting: GLcomets.net/Upcoming