Delivering Winter Cheer for Families in Need

February is Black History Month, but we support Black History education and our Black community everyday. Please visit our resource page at FerndaleSchools.org/BHM to find some great ways to show your support and educate yourself. Special activities are going on in our schools this month to honor the legacy of a beautiful culture that has blossomed out of such tragic beginnings.

It's important to remember that Black History month is more than just a highlight reel of Black accomplishments and Black tragedies. As President Obama said in 2016, "We know that this should be more than just a commemoration of particular events. It’s about the lived, shared experience of all African Americans, high and low, famous and obscure, and how those experiences have shaped and challenged and ultimately strengthened America. It’s about taking an unvarnished look at the past so we can create a better future."

We are pleased to present two distinguished new team members who are joining our district administration, as well as two familiar faces who are bringing their expertise to new positions. Please join me in welcoming them to the Ferndale Family!

From left to right: Terri Faison–Director of Human Resources, Robert Tolbert–Director of School Community Relations & Pupil Accounting, Dawn Huntley–Director of Finance, Jamie Stottlemyer–Assistant Superintendent of Operations.

Bios are linked below.

Lower Elementary music teachers Meagan Grammatico and Charissa Duncanson presented this past weekend at the Michigan Music Conference! Charissa led an engaging and fun session all about movement and mindfulness. She taught other music educators different movement activities to bring back to their classrooms.

Meagan was a part of a panel with two other music therapists called “Ask a Music Therapist.” She gave other music educators ideas on accommodations and modifications for students of all different abilities and talked about strategies to incorporate social emotional learning into the elementary music classroom. Next year, they plan to present together!

Mark Wood of the Trans-Siberan Orchestra will be returning to Ferndale Schools to perform with our orchestra students on Tuesday, February 7th at 7:00 pm. The Electrify Your Strings Breakout Tour is a rare opportunity for students to perform with an Emmy-award winning, genre defying stage performer. Mark led FMS students in an epic performance in 2016, and we are eagerly awaiting the return of this rare performance. This year, Ferndale Upper, Middle, and High School students will share the stage.

See more photos and a video of the 2016 FMS Electrify Your Strings performance here.

Students will be led by Emmy-award winning composer Mark Wood, an original member of the multi-platinum selling Trans-Siberian Orchestra and creator of the revolutionary Viper electric violin, Ferndale Orchestra students will once again be transformed into a full-fledged Rock Orchestra!

Tickets for this one-night only performance can be purchased through ShowTix4U by visiting tinyurl.com/eysferndale23

• Adult - $15.00
• Student/Senior - $10.00
• 10 years and under - $0.00

7:00 pm - Tuesday, February 7th
FHS Auditorium — 881 Pinecrest Dr.

On Monday, January 23rd, the Board of Education approved the following School of Choice Enrollment windows:

April 1st–April 30th—Oakland County School of Choice

• K: 20 students
• 3rd: 10 students
• 6th: 15 students
• 7th: 15 students
• 8th: 15 students
• FHS 9th: unlimited
• FHS 10th: unlimited

March 10th–September 1st—Oakland, Wayne, Macomb County School of Choice

• UHS 9th-12th: unlimited

Early applications cannot be accepted and will need to be resubmitted during the open enrollment period, in compliance with Michigan State Law.