Rudyard Area Schools

In an effort to ensure our students' safety and comfort, we have added another bus route! Please check your child's backpacks for his/her new bus times. If you do not see any notes, assume the time has not changed. If you have any questions, please call the office and leave a message. We will get back to you!

The Rudyard CTE Allied Health - EMT class will be hosting a blood drive on January 30th from 11-2 PM at Rudyard High School. The community is welcome to come and donate. Community members should enter the school from the Football parking lot to the Tech Wing. (Signs will be posted) This event is in partnership with the Upper Peninsula Regional Blood Center.

This week's alumni spotlight is Taylor (Bitner) Casey '17! My best memory from high school is all of my days spent in the gym for basketball. Practices, games, and open gym. I miss the atmosphere, music and nerves I felt before a game! I also miss playing in Pep band. My favorite class was definitely wood shop! Shout out to Mr. K! My advice for students is to keep it real, stay focused, and be present. Be realistic about your future decisions. If you want to head to college you need to start thinking and working for that immediately. But, it’s not just about grades, you also have to be involved and take leadership positions because at the end of the day in the real world that’s what makes you stand out. Stay focused. Keep your focus on the future, especially if you feel like your high school experience might not be the best. Drama and problems with other students are so common, and even though it’s easier said than done, you have to ignore it. High school isn’t all about making friends or “who’s cool” it’s about making a name for yourself and being focused on working on yourself to become the best version of you that you can be. Although you need to focus on your future, also be present. Live in the moment. Before you know it, high school is over, and there are no re-dos. Make connections, but stay true to yourself. Right out of high school I left home, at 17. Attended Northern Michigan University, where I worked on receiving my Masters in Athletic Training and Bachelors in Science. I pushed myself and received two degrees in 5 years. I graduated in May 2022. Right out of college I started two jobs, one in my Athletic Training field, with UPRehab, and my other job working in Hospice at Trillium House. For my Athletic Training job I specialize in preventing, assessing, diagnosing, and treating musculoskeletal injuries and illnesses. For my Hospice job I am the Lead Care Aide, where I help create a peaceful, homelike environment for individuals who are at the end of their journey here on earth

Reminder: Rudyard Area Schools is scheduled to have a 1/2 day of school on both 1/18 & 1/19.

Tonight's Varsity Girls Basketball game at Cheboygan has been cancelled due to weather.

At 1:45PM, the school was made aware of a verbal threat. The school went into secure mode and an investigation began. At 2:50PM the investigation concluded that no one was in any danger. The resource officer removed the suspect from school grounds and there will be consequences.

A great opportunity for our students to have an evening with friends to play games and watch some football. Football game start at 8:00PM, Cornhole tournament starts at 6:00PM. Parents are welcome to pick up their students at anytime, but please have plans to pick them up immediately after the game.

Rudyard Area Schools will be on a 2 hour delay today, Wednesday January 10, 2024. All bus pick ups will be 2 hours later than the normal times and school will begin at 10:18 (3rd hour).

We are asking all parents of a Rudyard Area School Student(s) and all Community Members to please fill out a quick survey. Parents will choose the parent survey and community members will choose the community survey. Your input helps with our District Improvement Process. Thank you for supporting our school and students Parents Survey - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdOox5yfnGcI2PpTtBy6wsukcCdSp2FzT-KxB0SJfFo4TSGIg/viewform?usp=sf_link Community Survey - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdhavtHmIaMjoJrMHWxQ-SApct8USM0TjO7tS96IO-Tt7nX6A/viewform?usp=sf_link

This weeks Alumni Spotlight is Mackenzie Knutsen '17 What was your best memory from school? I had a lot of great memories from school, most of them involving sports. I think my favorite is breaking two records my senior year in volleyball and going to UP finals for track. What was your favorite class/activity? Honestly, I think my favorite classes were all the college math classes I took with Ms. Verdoni. I learned more in those classes about real life situations, finances, credit cards, etc. than I have in the rest of my education. My other favorite would definitely be science classes with Mr. Peterson and his great sense of humor. What advice do you have for students? It's ok to not know what you want to do right out of high school or to change your plan later on, but always stay true to yourself. You want to be happy with your career and what you choose to do, so it may take time to find the right thing for you. I never thought I would end up as a lawyer, but it is something that makes me genuinely happy. Always remember where you come from, being from a small town in the UP gives you a lot of insight and values that others do not have. Don't feel like you have to go to college either, there are plenty of careers out there where you do not need an education. Don't be afraid to step out of the box or do something different! Also, get involved with different groups while you’re in high school and as an adult. If you're into sports, join adult leagues, or look into other activities. It gives you a chance to still build a community even if you are no longer home by your childhood friends. What did you do right out of high school, and what do you do now? Right out of high school, I attended Grand Valley State University with the intentions of becoming an Athletic Trainer. I earned my bachelor's in Exercise Science in 2021. During my last semester of undergrad, I worked at the courthouse and absolutely fell in love with the criminal justice system. I went back to GVSU and got a second bachelor’s in legal studies. After my legal studies classes, I decided to apply to law school at Michigan State University. I graduated from GVSU a second time in 2022, then started law school at MSU Fall of 2022. After my first year, I completed an internship at the Kent County Office of the Defender in Grand Rapids and decided to stay working there for the start of my second year. I have now accepted an internship at the Marquette Public Defender's Office beginning May 2023, once I finish my second year of law school. Once I graduate, I plan to continue working in the criminal defense world.

Exciting opportunity for our elementary students to get some basketball experience! Link to register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/18MH8N8MTSBYg2E8eIurKcrV808uvPrRTCHX1L3FOgiY/prefill

Please see the attached info for those individuals & businesses that would like to register for Career Day 2024. Thank you so much, we are excited to host the event again! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc6b7v-QrBbbYU4HlK2idKaH_gcjNfwZzBBcRlISb06d9dizg/viewform

February 9, 2024 our Boys Basketball team will be playing Pickford at home. This event will be a fundraiser, "Hooping for a Cure" with money raised staying locally for the Road to Recovery. Please consider donating to this great cause if you are able.

This weeks alumni spotlight is Kori McDowell-Eby '81! My favorite memory from school was our class in general. The class of 81’ had a diverse group of kids but we all got along great. From sporting events to the arts everyone supported one another. I have lasting memories and friendships with most to this day. We are one of the few classes that have class reunions ever 5 years that are well attended. What was your favorite class /activity? My favorite class was definitely Mr. Flanders’s class , creative writing and drama. I struggle with dyslexia and probably A.D.D. Which at the time was never diagnosed or discussed in schools at that time. He helped me so much by organizing my thoughts and putting them on paper. He took an interest and helped through my difficulties. Bless his heart! He also pushed me out of my comfort zone. I was in his drama class to work creating the sets designing, painting backgrounds and such, well he had other plans, he put me in one of the leading roles, which I was definitely was not comfortable with. I thought for sure he had made a mistake, But after many supportive talks and encouragement the play went on without a hitch. He knew I could do it and helped me believe I could too. What advice do you have for students? Believe in yourself. You can do anything. Don’t put limits on yourself. Be kind to everyone, you don’t know what someone is going through. If you struggle with learning, such as ,dyslexia, Attention Deficit, RHS has the best teachers and resources to help you, use it! Be the best you you can be.! What did you do right out of school and what do you do now? My senior year I enrolled in cosmetology school through RHS vocational program. After graduating and receiving my state license, I started working at the Clip Joint for 7 years. Then moved to St.Ignace and opened my own salon Makin’ Waves , where I worked for 5 years before moving back to Rudyard and buying my present salon , which I’ve been for 30 years.

This week's alumni spotlight is Steve Klinker '74! My Best memories from Rudyard have to include, of course LUNCH! Everyday at Lunchtime Mr. Berry would allow us to play hearts in the biology room. There were usually 4 tables of 4 playing every day. The goal was to make it to the “big” table and to be able to play with Mr. Berry. Only the best were able to play at the Big” table. It took me a couple of years, but I finally made it! Another great memory, I was a yearbook photographer. This allowed a lot of unique opportunities with teachers, staff, and students, and gave a lot of unique photos. I got to see the the realness of those I had admired. My favorite classes were probably chemistry, and biology and I continued to get a college degree in Biochemistry. My favorite activities were the pep rally and the sports, better yet to be able to photograph the activities. Advice for students, discipline is the key to success. If one is not able to able discipline self, accomplishments will be few. Right out of school, I attended Northern Michigan University, where I got two degrees, biochemistry and business I was awarded the outstanding Alumni in 1991. I then went to Texas A&M college of veterinary medicine, after graduating I went to the University of Texas college of Dentistry. I then set up a dental practice in Austin Texas, I then became a medical missionary, traveling all over the world. After I retired from Dentistry, I went back to school and became a Golf Professional, in Florida where I am today, teaching and coaching golf. The Photo is with President Bush, for being his brightest point of light for volunteer work. The work was medical relief in Central and South America.

The Civics classes took classic games and converted them to be based on Executive Branch topics. The teams picked a game to use and one topic. TOPICS: A. Qualifications and Presidential Succession B. Presidential Roles C. Presidential Powers (Executive, Judicial, and Legislative only) D. Presidential Powers (Diplomatic and Military) E. Executive Offices or "Agencies" F. Executive Branch Departments G. Civil Service System H. You pick topic. Approved by me. Shown are - Qualifications and Presidential Succession Monopoly by Carrie Hoolsema -Presidential powers Memory by Megan Rolston, Atty Clark, and Liam Hansen -Qualifications and Presidential Succession Candyland by Lily Kwiatkowski, Lindsey Masterson, Madalynn Pearsall, Lexi Tobias

Thank you to the middle school student council for planning the spirit week for next week!

This week Mr. Darr's Biology classes were working on an owl pellet lab today!

Today's Boys Basketball game will be in St. Ignace, tickets will be sold via GoFan at the following link: https://gofan.co/event/1187409?schoolId=MI10368 Saturday's tickets for the Wrestling meet in the Soo will also be sold via GoFan at the following link: https://gofan.co/event/1175059?schoolId=MI10369 Go Bulldogs!

This past week our high school physical science class, instructed by Mrs. Pearsall was able to partner with LSSU Center for Freshwater Research and Education on a one site lab and tour of their facilities. During the tour the students were able to interact with a large sturgeon!