Deckerville Community Schools

December 10, 2021 Dear Parents: As you are well aware, in the wake of the Oxford School shootings, there has been a notable rise in threats made to our schools and students, teachers and staff across the state and in Sanilac county. When our children learn of school shootings and similar threats, the overwhelming majority of them handle this news with appropriate and understandable worry and confusion. Unfortunately, others see this as an opportunity to cause more fear and chaos; some with the hopes of simply getting out of school for the day, others with the hope of getting some sort of peer notoriety. Many of the students that have created such situations later claim they were just joking, or did not think it was a big deal—but, it is a big deal. That is why all the local law enforcement chiefs, all superintendents, the Sheriff, the State Police, and the Prosecuting Attorney are reaching out to you. These threats are not viewed as a joke and these acts will not be tolerated. If substantiated, appropriate criminal sanctions will be sought and issued against the offenders. If that happens, you and your child will be brought into the court to answer for what happened. Your child will also face consequences at school which will impact their education. Keep in mind that sanctions imposed by the justice system are by no means the only consequences that can be suffered from this behavior. A student may lose a scholarship or federal aid. They may be denied college admission or entry into the armed forces. They may be required to disclose the situation on job applications. The unintended consequences for such behavior can be severe and lifelong. We urge you to speak with your children about the power of their words—that what they say, even in jest, can have significant consequences for them. There is simply nothing funny about any shooting, let alone one that occurs in a school, and there is no appropriate time or place to joke about such events. To be clear, such threats will be investigated by law enforcement and prosecuted in accordance with the law. Respectfully, Law Enforcement: Prosecutor Brenda Sanford, Sheriff Paul Rich, MSP Post Commander F/Lt Brian McComb, Chief Bret Lester, Chief Ron Smith, Chief Bob Willis, Chief Brian McGinnis, Chief Ron Buckmaster, Chief Larry Sheldon, Chief Rod Jaskowski, Chief Jeremy Crisenbery Superintendents: Neil Kohler, Brown City Schools; Doug Muxlow, Carsonville-Port Sanilac Schools; Dan Gilberston, Croswell-Lexington Schools; Mike Hugan, Deckerville Schools; Matt Karaffa, Marlette Schools; Bill Kerr, Peck Schools; Paul Flynn, Sandusky Schools and Duane Lange, Sanilac Intermediate School District

This letter is being sent home with all 7-12 grade students today: Dear Parent/Guardian: We believe Deckerville Schools are a great place for students to learn, but we recognize that all communities face the threat of violence and drugs which can endanger students. This week, the following school safety topics were reviewed with your 7-12 grade student: • Safety measures currently in place at our school. The concept of the difference between possibility and probability. The statistics for an incident of school violence indicate the risk is very low. Therefore, we need to be prepared but do not need to live in a state of fear. The differences between tattling, gossiping, and reporting. Informing adults about potential harm is not tattling. Gossiping or spreading information to peers by word of mouth or via social media, rather than reporting to adults, often creates a situation that is false and spreads fear. The OK2SAY program, which allows anyone to confidentially report tips on potential harm or criminal activities directed at students, school employees, and schools (see "What is OK2SAY?" below for more information). What Is OK2SAY? OK2SAY is the student safety program which allows students to confidentially report tips on potential harm or criminal activities directed at students, school employees, and schools. It uses a comprehensive communication system to facilitate tip sharing from students and parents to school personnel, community mental health service programs, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and law enforcement officials about harmful behaviors that threaten to disrupt the learning environment. The nationally recognized program is run through the Michigan State Police, state agencies, schools, local law enforcement, and community mental health. Tips can be submitted 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week. Telephone: 8-555-OK2SAY (855-565-2729) . Text: 652729 (OK2SAY) • Email: ok2say@mi.gov • Website: ok2say.com .OK2SAY Mobile app: Available in the Apple Store or Google Play For more information about OK2SAY, please read the attached "OK2SAY Frequently Asked Questions", or visit their website at www.michigan.gov/ok2say.

Holiday Dress Up Days for the Jr./Sr. High School. Let’s make next week a lot of fun! Monday - Holiday PJs Tuesday - Christmas Eve Best Wednesday - Green vs. Red - Grades 7, 9 , & 11 wear RED - Grades 8, 10, 12 wear GREEN Thursday - Holiday Hat Day Friday - Ugly Sweater & Holiday Shirt Day Students who participate will be entered into a daily drawing for gift cards and students who participate all week will be entered into another drawing for a bigger prize.

Elementary Theme days Thurs Dec 9 Grinch Day Wed Dec 15 Ugly Sweater Day Thurs Dec 16 Green / Red day Friday Dec 17 Holiday Headwear / stocking hats / Santa hats / seasonal headbands

We are inviting public input in moving forward with spending ESSER III Federal Funds. In order to share your feedback, please fill out the short survey which can be found on our website. The link to the survey is under "News".

See the below message from the ISD regarding First Impressions ceremony that was scheduled for tomorrow (Dec 7) Good Afternoon In light of current circumstances, we have decided to postpone the First Impressions celebration for tomorrow. I will keep you updated as to when it will be rescheduled. We will be posting it on our Facebook page and Website. Please let me know what I can do to help make the community aware.

Due to school being closed Monday Dec. 6th, the band fruit fundraiser pickup will be postponed until Tuesday Dec. 7th from 3-5pm. Thank you.

Dear Deckerville Schools Community, At the beginning of school today, it was reported to me that someone, somewhere, posted the following statement on a social media platform: “Heard they gonna shoot yo deckerville school on Monday {sic}”. This is being circulated repeatedly throughout our greater school community. Needless to say, it is causing much anxiety. Here is what we are doing right now: I have requested increased law enforcement on our campus from Deckerville Police and the Sanilac County Sheriff Department. We have investigated this threat in conjunction with law enforcement, and determined that it is not credible. However, in light of recent events, we have decided to cancel school on Monday, December 6th. School will resume on Tuesday, December 7th, and we are requesting increased law enforcement presence for the rest of the week. Please continue to speak openly with your children about the importance of informing adults, if they see or hear anything which makes them uncomfortable. Students can also use Ok2Say by texting to 652729 or calling 855-565-2729 if they wish to make an anonymous report.

In the wake of the horrific tragedy that occurred yesterday at Oxford High School, I am asking the greater Deckerville Community Schools community to please keep the students, family, staff, friends, and anyone else affected by this heart-rending event in your prayers. Our heart goes out to Oxford Community Schools and to the students who passed, the students and staff who were physically injured, and the students and staff that were mentally damaged by witnessing the unthinkable. We wish you peace and healing. Please be assured that we here in Deckerville Community Schools take security issues seriously and will continue to do everything possible to ensure the safety and well-being of our students.

The First Impressions Awards Ceremony will take place on Tuesday, December 7 at the Sanilac County Career Center. Awards will be handed out between 9:30 – 11:00 for all grades. Lunch will be provided for students between 11:00 and 11:30. Please contact Jamie Roggenbuck with any questions: jroggenbuck@deckerville.k12.mi.us

Congrats to our Students of the Month!

Please check out the 2021 virtual Veterans program put on by the 4th graders . https://video.link/w/ezaKc Thank you to all who have served!

Book Fair starts tomorrow and is open from 8:00 am - 3:00 pm and will end on Friday Nov 12.

5th grade County Spelling Bee champ....Allison Vogel. Runner up Peyton Klaus. Grace Howard contestant.

6th grade County Spelling Bee Champ....Graden Raetz! tied for 2nd are both Parker Kirkpatrick and Andrew Eugster. Way to represent the Deckerville community!!

Deckerville Elementary picture RETAKE day will be Monday Nov 29, 2021.

For Football and Volleyball Playoffs: Tickets are completely online. No sales at the gate. Go to GoFan.com and search our school to find them. Boosters are putting it on their FB page. Our school’s GoFan page: https://gofan.co/app/school/MI9933

Congratulations to the varsity football team and all that voted! The Deckerville Eagles are the game of the week!

Thank you to the Sanilac County Drug Task Force for bringing us K9 Officer James and K9 Officer Anderson to demo a search and recover exercise for our preschoolers and kindergarteners.

We need YOUR support! Our varsity football game this week is the @Detroit Lions Youth Football #MIHSFBGameOfTheWeek nominee! Vote online between 12 P.M. Monday - 12 P.M. Wednesday to help support our student-athletes! Every vote counts, so VOTE, VOTE, VOTE! Vote here: www.detroitlions.com/highschool