As the 2021-2022 school year approaches, Clarkston Community Schools is providing families an opportunity to decide if they would like their student(s) to continue with their current learning model or request a transfer to a different learning model in the coming school year.

After communicating plans to introduce additional distance learning days last Friday, I was presented with compelling public feedback that suggests that for many, distance learning is solely a crisis education tool, and that now is not the time to reinvent its role for instructional innovation.

The past year demanded that we adapt quickly to teaching and learning remotely, and I'm interested in looking at potential ways we can use this experience to continue to innovate and grow as a school district.

As we head into Mid-Winter Break, I remain cautiously optimistic. We are holding strong three weeks into in-person learning. Virus rates in our immediate area continue to trend in a positive direction; staff and student quarantine levels are stable and manageable, and more than 35% of our staff has secured an appointment to be vaccinated or are already in the vaccination cycle.

After consulting with the Oakland County Health Division, MDHHS, our Board of Education, and administrative leadership, Clarkston Community Schools will move forward with a phased transition to full face-to-face instruction, beginning on Monday, February 1.

Dr. Ryan shares new information and updates related to the district's path back to fully reopening schools in this week's Superintendent's Report.

Clarkston Community Schools will return to face-to-face instruction for all students on Tuesday, January 19.

CHS teacher Katie French is an Amazon best-selling author in Young Adult Sci-Fi and Fantasy whose book, The Breeders, was a semi-finalist in the 2014 Kindle Book Awards.

Congratulations to CHS Drama Club Troupe 803 for their outstanding performance at the Michigan Thespian Festival, earning $658,500 total in scholarship dollars.