Beaverton Elementary School -

WE HAVE LIFT-OFF: One long-held tradition at BES to close out the year is our sixth-grade Science classes launching rockets. Ably and safely guided by Mrs. Lyons, Mr. Fry and guest-launcher Mr. Hayes, students fired their rockets off into the beautiful morning sky and retrieved their parachuted remnants, learning some cool lessons along the way. #BeaverScience

SUPERINTENDENT UPDATE: The Beaverton Schools Board of Education will interview four finalists for its vacant superintendent position next month. Board President Adam Zdrojewski announced on Tuesday the names of the four candidates and the dates and times for their interviews, all of which will take place in the Beaverton Jr./Sr. High School Media Center. All the details can be found at https://bit.ly/3QLwNsT.

UNBREAKABLE: Our peer-to-peer LINKS program - which matches student mentors in grades 6 through 12 with younger students who can use a little extra attention - closed out the school year today with a smile-filled field day. Eighty students enjoyed ice cream, beach balls, bubbles, hula hoops, frisbees and the crowd-pleasing parachute, among other activities. It was an excellent finale to a program whose astonishing two-year climb in participation and friendships has inspired neighboring districts to implement similar programs, and it should pay significant dividends in student growth, happiness and performance for years to come. #Proud

VOICES HEARD: It was Election Day at BJSHS, and we did it up right. After weeks of preparation, candidate speeches and campaigning, next year's 7-12 graders assembled in the media center and recorded their choices for student government. The Gladwin County Clerk's office and several township election officials were on hand with official election equipment to administer the proceedings. Students got a look at how it all works in real life, from long lines to verifying their identity to spoiled ballots to uncontested races. It was an excellent civics lesson and a great reminder of our sacred responsibility to participate in this grand experiment we call democracy.

BAND TOGETHER: Don't miss one of your final chances to see this year's musicians on full display. Join us for the Beaverton Music Department's Spring Program Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. at BJSHS. There is no admission fee, but donations will be gratefully accepted.

We hope to see you there!

KIDS IN CHARGE: What do you get when you mix zombies, surfers, Star Wars, robots, and a bunch of other stuff that is frankly indescribable? You get Monday night's BES Spring Showcase, a student-driven combo platter of music, dance and skits created and performed by students in grades three through five. We'll let the photos do the talking, but you better believe the kids had F-U-N. #GoBeavers

NEW WORLD/OLD SCHOOL: Fifth-grade social studiers have arrived at the New World in their curriculum, but on Friday, the New World came to them. While David and Karen Keeley put on a fully authentic display of military life during the Revolution, Benjamin Franklin impressionist Bob Stark ran through a set of electricity-related demonstrations. And - because one can't appreciate the full experience of living in the era without involving food - the students examined artifacts from Michigan's Indigenous Peoples and ate succotash, a Native American dish. #GoBeavers

Want more Book Fair? No problem! Keep the party going at our Book Fair online. All book purchases over $25 ship free and every purchase benefits our school! [https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/beavertonelementaryschool]. #ScholasticBookFairs

TASSEL TURNER: Our seniors aren't the only folks with graduation on the brain these days. BJSHS Academic Counselor Misty Johnson (BHS '08) walked the stage Friday at Grand Valley State University having completed her Master's of Education in School Counseling with distinction, earning the Excellence-in-a-Discipline Award along the way. Congratulations to Misty and her family, which was on hand to celebrate. #BeavertonAlways

Friendly Reminder: The Buy One, Get One Free Book Fair is open until 4:00 today, Wednesday, April 24th. The final day for the fair is this Friday. Thanks for all of your support so far!

ONE LAST TIME: Our Parent Involvement series wraps up for the school year Wednesday at 5 p.m. at BES, and we'd love to see you there. Our guest will be Desirea Woodworth from the Northern Michigan Alliance for Children, and the topic is Abuse, Cyber Bullying, Online Safety and Bullying Prevention. Snacks and childcare will be provided, and one family will win tickets to a BJSHS athletic event.

THEIR ART'S IN THE RIGHT PLACE: Make sure to stop by the BAC Saturday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. for the annual GAAG Open Art Show. Among the exhibits will be several BJSHS students' work from the acrylic pour projects they created last month, and be warned: They're amazing. Stop by and don't forget to vote in the Viewers' Choice Awards. #PouredMyArtOut

BUY ONE, GET ONE! This year's Book Fair is going to be epic! More Books. More Choices. More Fun. Check out the link below to set up an eWallet, preview books, and shop online: https://www.scholastic.com/bf/beavertonelementaryschool The fair runs Monday, April 22 - Friday, April 26.

BEAVERTON SCHOOLS PRESENTS...SEVEN SLIDES: Beaverton Schools Board of Education President Adam Zdrojewski shared a state-of-the-district presentation at the recent Chamber of Commerce Legislative Breakfast. See the video here: bit.ly/3VXVFB8

Beaverton Schools, along with other school districts in Clare and Gladwin Counties, are currently operating without internet service and with intermittent phone service due to a technical failure. Our Information Technology partners at Clare-Gladwin RESD are working to resolve the problem, but at this time, it is unknown when services will be restored. For this reason, the PSAT ninth-grade testing scheduled for tomorrow has been rescheduled for Monday, April 22. Parents should be advised that district telephones, along with internet and email, may still be affected tomorrow and plan accordingly. Thank you for your patience; we hope to be back to full strength tomorrow.

ANOTHER CHANCE: Hey there, parents of kids ages three through five: If you missed your opportunity to stop by Beaverton Elementary for New Learners Info Night last month, we’re running it back. Come to BES Thursday night from 5 to 6 p.m. and hear all about Preschool, Young Fives and Kindergarten, meet our teachers, take a tour and even enroll if you wish. (You can also do that at any time at beavertonschools.net/enroll.) Join us - you’ll be glad you did. #ProudToBeABeaver

DID YOUR PRINCIPAL EVER DO THIS? If you ever wondered how far a principal would go to get kids fired up about state testing, we may have found the answer this afternoon. Not only did BES leader Shawna Hartwell dress up as Wonder Woman for the superhero-themed assembly, but the bleachers shook with fury as select representatives from each class were chosen to...SLIME THE PRINCIPAL! It was an uproariously good time and a great way to bring winning energy to next week's testing. Here's hoping for a repeat of last year, when Beaverton students in grades 3 through 6 outperformed their counterparts in neighboring districts by an average of more than 10 percent. Let's do this, Beavers. #Slimed

SUPERSTAR ROUNDUP: Put your hands together for your Beaverton Schools Students of the Month. At BES, they are (l to r) Emma Knake, Dean Vaughn, Ben Griffin, Briar Whittington, Alyvia Snyder, David Holder, Lily McLaren, Jaxton Longstreth and Chasity Hect. Not pictured: Jaxson Defore. And at BJSHS, we've got (back row, l to r) Dakota Knake, Daya Gillette, Kaelyn Fischer, Ford Kingry, Hermes Madurga and John Walgren, and (front row) Emma Sherman, Emily Skotynsky, Ashton Proffitt and Adam Krzyzaniak. Not pictured: Austin Colvin and Ashliegh Sites. Congrats to all and #GoBeavers.

RIGHTY, TIGHTY: Sixth-grade STEM students have spent the whole week tearing stuff apart and putting it back together, and it's been just as fun as it sounds. The reverse-engineering curriculum is designed to help students think about how things work and spark an interest in related careers. #BreakItDownAndBuildIt Up #GoBeavers