Each week, Mr. Slavik shares a quick recap of what’s happening across Breckenridge Community Schools and a look ahead at upcoming events. Huskie Happenings is your go-to source for staying connected with school news, celebrations, and important reminders. Whether you're a student, parent, staff member, or community supporter, this newsletter keeps everyone in the loop as we grow and learn together. Stay informed. Stay engaged. Stay Huskie Strong!new paragraph block.

🗓️ Breckenridge Community Schools: Upcoming Events

🦌 Saturday, November 15 (All Day): Hunter's Opener - Best of luck and be safe!

🏀 Monday, November 17 (5:00 PM): MS Girls Basketball at Montabella

📚 Monday, November 17 (6:00 PM): November Regular Board Meeting

🔥 Wednesday, November 19 (5:00 PM): MS Girls Basketball at Home vs. Fulton

🤼 Thursday, November 20 (4:30 PM): MS Wrestling at Northeast Middle School

🤼 Saturday, November 22 (9:00 AM): MS Wrestling at Ovid Elsie

Thanksgiving Holiday

🍂 November 26 - November 28: No School - Thanksgiving Break. Classes will resume on Monday, December 1.

🌟 Important Community Update: Resources and Food Assistance for Breckenridge Families

Breckenridge Community Schools wishes to acknowledge and celebrate the exceptional generosity and support we consistently receive from the Breckenridge community and surrounding areas. Our district is incredibly fortunate to be part of a community that truly looks out for one another, and we are writing to ensure our families are aware of the support available, particularly as the holiday season approaches.

We understand that recent alerts regarding potential delays or disruptions to SNAP (Food Assistance) benefits this November, possibly due to a federal government shutdown, may cause uncertainty about food security for many families. Please know that help is available immediately.

School and Local Support

Our schools maintain direct resources to assist families, including the Breckenridge Elementary Grant, which is provided each November to offer timely support for students and families experiencing needs. Beyond this, our community is rich with supportive organizations, and we maintain strong connections with local food banks and aid organizations that are ready to assist.

If you or your family are experiencing challenges or needs during this holiday season—whether for food, clothing, or other support—please do not hesitate to reach out. We can connect you directly with these confidential supports and resources by contacting your respective school office.

Community Food Pantry and Assistance Locations

In addition to school-based assistance, several food pantries and soup kitchens in and around Breckenridge are ready to help:

The Breckenridge/Merrill/Wheeler Ministerial Assoc. Food Pantry operates out of the Breckenridge United Methodist Church every Tuesday from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

The Ithaca Community Food Pantry assists residents south of Tyler Road on Wednesdays from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM at the Ithaca Presbyterian Church.

The Community Cafe/Soup Kitchen is open every Thursday at 5:30 PM at the Alma First Presbyterian Church.

For immediate, all-hours access, the Breckenridge Community Cupboard is open to the public outside of the Howe Memorial Library.

Families may also utilize the Office of Human Services in St. Louis, located at 232 Mill St., which is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM.

For broader assistance across Northeast Michigan, you can call 211 for free, confidential support, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

We are here to support every child and every family in our district. Please allow us the opportunity to direct you to the wonderful community resources that are available.

Learning Environment/Culture

Breckenridge Community Schools will build relationships with a focus on creating engaging opportunities that encourage student involvement. 

🐾 We brought the energy this morning! Huge thank you to TV5 for the awesome Shout Out to Breckenridge Schools!

Watch the clip to see our students help wake up Mid-Michigan and spread some great Friday vibes! 🐾👇

[Video Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BMiOSfGjrvs9bhk_gW3Q8fSY-5agDQ6J/view?usp=sharing]

As the fall sports season concludes, we are thrilled to recognize the dedication and hard work of all our student-athletes. Your commitment, both on the field and in the classroom, is truly commendable! We are especially proud to announce the individuals who have earned MSAC All-Conference honors for football this season. These accolades are a testament to their skill, perseverance, and the excellent leadership demonstrated throughout the year. Please join us in congratulating these outstanding members of our football program!

Madi Aldrich (not pictured), Maycie Vande Steeg, Kylie Peck, Kanen Peck, Jessica Reed, Mr. Peters

The Breckenridge Schools District proudly celebrates the incredible run of our Volleyball team, whose season concluded this week in the Regional Semifinals. What an amazing journey filled with growth, determination, and outstanding teamwork!

This team represented the volleyball program, school, and community every step of the way, showing tremendous heart in every single match. Thank you to the coaches for their leadership and to our dedicated families and fans for packing the stands all season long! Your support truly fuels our athletes.

Communications/Community Engagement

Breckenridge Community Schools will promote collaborative partnerships between school, parents, and community to increase communication and engagement. 

🚀 Partnership in Education: Complete Our Annual Parent Survey!

We are committed to continuous improvement in our district, and that journey starts with YOU, our valued parents!

Your feedback is one of the most important components of our annual School Improvement Process. We use the data gathered to identify areas of strength and opportunities for growth in academics, school environment, communication, and more.

Please take 5-10 minutes to complete the survey for the school(s) your child attends:

🍎 BES Parent Survey Link: [https://forms.gle/CDrMuVqwUGiNLL3V8]

📘 MS/HS Parent Survey Link: [https://forms.gle/hDRxfK2Z7P1Gdcv3A]

Please take a few minutes to answer the survey questions so we can better serve your students.  This is an anonymous survey so email addresses will not be collected. Please complete this survey before November 21st

Thank you for helping us shape the future success of all our students!

🐾🐾🏀📢 Basketball Sign-Ups Are Now Open! 📣🐾🐾

It’s that time of year again! Youth basketball registration is now open for the upcoming season. Don't miss out!

Age Groups:

⛹️‍♂️ Boys: 3rd–6th grade (7th/8th grade boys will play through the school)

⛹️‍♀️ Girls: 3rd–8th grade

Sign-ups close: November 21st! 🗓️ Click the link below to register! 👇

🐾🐾Let’s get ready for a great season — Go Huskies! 🐾🐾

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeQNSu_aCal_8sBsA5_JPEEd-jYuyVfL65xcL_V5VWqu2xnQg/viewform?fbclid=IwdGRjcAOBb8VleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeFv6GPj2R3DPMSkaBzG5TY00__XOmLOdKGv5dBpM9i0KO1_jyS7sJq1-hH0E_aem_2xOlW54gelmjWmDVDOz6wQ

This week, our school community paused to pay tribute to the brave men and women who have served our nation with immense dedication. We held two powerful Veterans Day assemblies, which were not only a moment of solemn remembrance but also a vital educational experience for our students. These events were a profound opportunity to honor our heroes, whose sacrifices ensure the freedoms we cherish every day.

At BCS, our assemblies are designed to do more than just thank those who served; they educate our students on the true meaning of service and what it means to be a veteran. We strive to instill in the next generation a deep respect for those who have given so much and to understand the values of commitment, duty, and patriotism. We thank all community members, veterans, and families who joined us in making this week a meaningful and memorable tribute to those who stand for our freedom.

Academics/Programs

Breckenridge Community Schools will provide the time and resources to collaboratively and continually align PK-12 curriculum.   

We extend a sincere thank you to all the parents and guardians who attended our recent Parent-Teacher Conferences. Your active participation and dedication to your child’s education are deeply appreciated, and these conferences are a critical foundation for the collaborative success we aim for throughout the school year. The time we spent together discussing your student’s strengths, setting shared goals, and developing home-and-school strategies is invaluable in ensuring they reach their full potential.

If you were unable to attend the scheduled conferences, we strongly encourage you to reach out to your child's teacher as soon as possible. We believe this one-on-one communication is essential for a strong educational partnership. Please contact the teacher directly to set up a brief follow-up meeting or phone call at a time that works best for your schedule. We are committed to making sure every family has the opportunity for this important connection.

This week in Chemistry class, our students conducted a fascinating lab focused on atomic emission and the structure of the atom. They performed exciting flame tests on various elements, observing the unique, vibrant colors emitted by each one—a spectacular visual confirmation of energy in action!

This experiment helped students directly connect the theoretical concepts of atomic structure and electron energy levels to a real-world phenomenon, explaining why fireworks display such distinct, specific colors. It was an engaging way to solidify their understanding of how energy changes the behavior of electrons.

Personnel/Leadership 

Breckenridge Community Schools will support, recruit, and retain highly qualified personnel to collaborate and meet the needs of our students. 

This week was a tremendous success for readers across our schools as both libraries, expertly led by Ms. Nira and Ms. Gibbons, hosted their annual Book Fairs! We want to extend our deepest gratitude to all the families who visited and made purchases. Your support is instrumental, as every book bought not only puts fantastic new reading material directly into the hands of your students but also provides proceeds that allow our libraries to continually update their collections, ensuring we always have fresh books to spark the reading interests of every student.

We were overwhelmed by the amazing turnout and the generosity shown by our community. Thank you once again for supporting our libraries' mission! A special thanks is also due to our dedicated volunteers and helpers—your time and effort were invaluable in making both book fairs run smoothly and successfully.

Operations 

Breckenridge Community Schools will strategically utilize resources to provide an optimal environment for staff, students, and community.

🚨 ATTENTION HUSKIE PARENTS! 🚨

There is NO SCHOOL on November 26 - 28 for the Thanksgiving holiday.  Happy Thanksgiving, Huskies! 

School resumes on Monday, December 1st. 

⏰ School Schedule Reminder – Let’s Start the Day Right!

A quick reminder of our daily schedule! It's important for students to arrive on time and start their day with a consistent routine. Routines help set a positive tone for learning, and arriving by the start time helps avoid tardies and potential truancy issues.

Please help your student build strong habits by ensuring they are at school on time each day.

🏫 Breckenridge Elementary School (BES)

• Doors Open: 7:30 AM

• School Starts: 7:50 AM

• Dismissal: 2:50 PM

🏫 Middle School / High School (MS/HS)

• Doors Open: 7:30 AM

• School Starts: 8:00 AM

• Dismissal: 3:00 PM

We appreciate your support in helping every Huskie get the best start to their day! 💙💛