SEPTEMBER 5TH, 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. 

Hi, my name is Sally Rickstad. This is my third year as the Dean of Students and Student Success Coordinator here at Hayes Intermediate. Before working in schools, I served in the Marine Corps and met my wife while stationed in Okinawa, Japan. We now have three kids, and as a family we love to travel, try new foods, and spend time together. I’m also working on my master’s degree at Michigan State University in MTSS (a system that helps schools support all students).

I support students by encouraging positive behavior and helping them when challenges come up. I work closely with teachers and families to make sure kids have the support they need to be successful. I also focus on building strong relationships so students know they are cared for and understood. Most of all, I want Hayes to be a school where every student feels safe, respected, and proud to be a Comet.

Get ready for an EPIC launch! Our Next Level fundraiser is taking off on September 8th, and we need YOU to complete the Golden Ticket materials coming home with your child today! 🌟 Don't miss out on the exhilarating adventure and amazing prizes awaiting! ✨ Let's make a difference together.💪🏼 Click this link to register 

GLPS will offer free meals to students at least through September 30, 2025, as part of the Michigan School Meals program, which was funded through the last state budget.  GLPS will have a better idea about the future of the Michigan School Meals program and whether free meals will be provided to students once the state government agrees on a new budget (for the state fiscal year 2026).  GLPS will communicate more about school meals as we learn more. 

In the meantime, you can DO YOUR PART, CHECK THE CHART – your family might qualify for education and meal benefits.  The Education & Meals Benefit Application helps our schools get state and federal funding for education programs.  This application must be completed annually in order to qualify for the education and meal benefits that help both your family and the school district.

Thank you also for your patience as we all navigate through a new car line process. Our goal continues to be getting every student safely into their family’s car as efficiently as possible.The first days of school typically have a longer carline and things tend to speed up after the first week or so. We will continuously monitor conditions and make changes as necessary. Meanwhile, here are a few safety guidelines:

For the safety of all students and staff, only pick up students at the curb.

Use both lanes in the carline, merging before you get into the pickup zone. Using both lanes as you circle the ball field helps get traffic off of Nixon Road. 

5th Grade parents can use the left lane to bypass 6th grade parents who are actively picking up students.

5th Grade students will be waiting on the West side (parking lot side) of the building

6th Grade students will be waiting on the South side (ball field side) of the building.

Think of the pickup areas like the airport arrival/departure areas - merge and allow people to merge.

Consider using the North Driveway, entering by the Operations sign, to wait in a shorter carline.

Consider arriving later to pick up students. Coming early results in a longer overall process. On most days, the carline takes 15 minutes from dismissal to the last car. This means that arriving at 2:35 could result in your total wait being under 5 minutes.

Thank you again for your patience as all families adjust to this new system.

South Driveway

For families coming from the south - Saginaw Highway - enter campus from the new South Driveway that loops around the practice field.

North Driveway

For families coming from the north - Willow Highway - enter campus from Penny Lane, by the Operations sign. Follow the signs behind the school where you will merge onto the South Driveway.

Drop Off

The carline will begin flowing at 7:20 AM when the school doors open. Take turns and allow cars to merge. Students can be dropped off on the south side of the school (by Door #16) or on the west side of the school (by Door #1). Follow directions from staff and pull all the way forward to stopped cars before dropping off your student. If you drop off your student on the South, you can simply exit without going through the whole carline

PM Pickup

5th Grade Students will wait on the west side of the school at the end of the school day. 6th Grade Students will wait on the south side of the school. After picking up your 6th grader, you may simply exit without going through the 5th grade portion of the carline. If you are picking up students in both grades, they should wait in the 5th Grade carline.

Please do not enter the Bus parking lot or the Staff parking lot.

Thank you for your patience as we will continuously monitor traffic flow and make changes to adjust for the first few weeks of school.

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.  

DROP OFF AND PICK-UP: Friendly reminder: Students may enter the building after 7:20 AM, and dismissal is at 2:25 PM. Please note, there is no adult supervision after 2:45 PM. Kindly ensure your student(s) have transportation arranged. 

2:00 PM is the cut-off for calling the office to change your students means of transportation home. 

REPORTING ILLNESSES

What’s going around:  Sore throat, strep throat, scarlet fever, stomachache, vomiting, diarrhea,  sinus infections, allergies ,hay fever, pink eye and fevers with unspecified illness

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!

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

If you plan to volunteer or need to be in the building for an extended period (including field trips or field days), you must complete a volunteer application. This is a required step for all volunteers. 

Please note: the background check takes a few days to process, so submit your application in advance based on your volunteer plans. 

If your student will be moving to a different school next year, be sure to select both their current school and the school they’ll be attending.
For example: If your child is currently in 4th grade at Wacousta and will attend Hayes next year, select Wacousta and Hayes on the application. This ensures you’ll be cleared to volunteer at both locations when needed. Applications are valid for one calendar year. 

The Hayes/Beagle PTO is making things happen for our students, and we’d love for you to be part of it! There’s no cost to join—just an opportunity to connect, stay informed, and support the programs and events that make our schools great.

Want a say in how fundraising dollars support students? Looking for a fun way to give back? We need volunteers for dances, field trips, teacher appreciation, and more—whether you have an hour or a whole afternoon, every bit helps!

Join us and see how you can make a difference! 

The first meeting on Tuesday, September 9th, 2025 at 6:30 pm in the Beagle Media Center. 

To stay current on updates and meetings, click here.