NEWS & HAPPENINGS

August 22, 2022—

The Hartland Consolidated Schools Board of Education unanimously voted to appoint Cindy Shaw to the seat vacated by Bill Gatewood. Shaw is a Research Administrator Senior at Michigan Medicine. She has been a resident of Hartland since 2006. As the parent of two sons, one graduate and one currently enrolled, she has been involved in the community for years. Past roles include Lakes Elementary PTO President and the current HHS Parent Advisory Committee President.

Shaw is excited to serve on the board because she wants all students in the district to receive the best education possible to prepare them for life after public education. Her goals include being available to parents for more open communication and working to retain and attract the highest quality teachers and staff.

Her term will expire at the end of December 2024. Shaw was planning to run in November, but said in a recent Facebook post, “Because I accepted the board position, my name will not be on the November 8 ballot.”

August 26, 2022 —

Hartland Gymnastics Academy is taking over the former “Warm ‘N Cozy Bazaar” in 2022. The Winter Whimsy Marketplace is scheduled for Saturday, December 10 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm in the HESSC building (old Hartland HS) on M-59. Fundraising coordinator, Kailey Jenks, said the event is a gym-wide fundraiser and a majority of the proceeds will be distributed to the academy’s 110+ gymnasts to cover leotard costs, dues, meet fees, and more. Jenks said she is working closely with the Hartland Women’s Club to keep the layout, fees, and policies similar to the past.

The craft bazaar was previously hosted by the Hartland Women’s Club for nearly 40 years. In 2022, the club voted to dissolve the 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

Interested vendors can apply using the application below. All items must be handmade or designed. Commercial products and direct sales are not allowed.

September 14, 2022 –

The field in the director search for Cromaine District Library has been narrowed to 4 candidates and the public is invited to participate on Thursday, September 15 and Friday, September 16. The candidates are presenting to the board at 5:00 pm on September 15 and the public is welcome to come and watch the presentations.

On Friday, September 16, the library is closed for staff in-service and final candidate interviews. The public is welcome to come at 1:00 pm to view the interviews in person. At 7:00 pm on Friday, at the Board of Trustees Meeting, the board will select the new director.

All presentations, interviews, and the board meeting are held in the third floor Community Room at Cromaine.

September 14, 2022–

The public is invited to join the Partners in Progress for the 2022 State of the Community address! Get a video update from Bill Fountain Hartland Township Supervisor, Chuck Hughes Hartland Consolidated Schools Superintendent, Emmalyn Wheaton Hartland Area Chamber of Commerce Director, and Glenn Fischer Cromaine District Library Interim Director. PLUS hear the Volunteer of the Year Winner Announcement LIVE! The event is Monday, October 3 at 4:30 pm at Emagine Hartland located at 10495 Hartland Rd, Hartland, MI 48353.

Read about the six nominees for Volunteer of the Year and cast your vote before Monday, September 19!

October 6, 2022 –

Congratulations to Darin Loruss, Hartland Living’s 2022 Volunteer of the Year! Other nominees included Brent Leestma, Jennifer McCracken, Katie Schlueter, Karen Vermillion, and Scott VanEpps. The winner was announced at the State of the Community Address at Emagine Hartland on Monday, October 3.

Darin Loruss has been involved in the Hartland Archery program for the past 12 years and is currently the elementary coach. According to his nominator, Michelle Pollock, Loruss goes above and beyond with the archery team getting to know each child on the team and emphasizes their strengths and teaches them how to improve in the sport. Pollock also said, “Archery is a time consuming sport with several practices a week, several weekend tournaments a month, the State competition and Nationals. Coach Darin donates so much of his own time and makes such an impact on these kid’s lives.”

“Volunteering and investing in your community is showing you care by giving of yourself and your time,” said Loruss. “I would encourage everyone to volunteer and realize it’s more about the journey than the task at hand. By making the most of your time investing in others we are working together to make Hartland a place where we all care about each other. Secondly, I would say when you volunteer and give of yourself you receive back much more from the kids then you give to them. By doing this we are all making Hartland a better community.”

The Hartland Living Volunteer of the Year is an initiative of Hartland’s Partners in Progress, a joint venture between Hartland Consolidated Schools, Cromaine District Library, Hartland Area Chamber of Commerce and Hartland Township.

October 17, 2022–

The holiday season will be here soon and the Hartland Optimist Club is already planning for their annual Adopt-A-Family program. They are looking for groups, families or individuals that would like to support the program with an adoption, a monetary donation, or non-perishable food items or paper goods donations. Last year the club was able to brighten the holidays for over 70 families and over 200 children with gifts, food, and even gift card donations!

Monetary donations can be made via Paypal using the button below. For other inquiries, please email the committee at hartlandadoptafamily@gmail.com.

November 2, 2022–

Hartland High School Drama Club is proud to present their fall show “Almost, Maine” a heartwarming story set under the Northern Lights. The play, by John Cariani, is comprised of nine short plays that explore love and loss in a remote and mythical almost-town called Almost, Maine.

There are four performances of “Almost, Maine” Friday through Sunday, November 11 to 13, at Hartland High School (HHS), 10635 Dunham Road in Hartland. Showtimes are Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m.; as well as Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Individual tickets purchased in advance are $13 for adults and $11 for students, children and seniors.

Tickets are available online at www.hartlanddramaclub.org and at the door. Individual tickets purchased in advance are $13 for adults and $11 for students, children and seniors. Tickets purchased at the door are $15 for adults and $13 for students, children and seniors. Group rates are also available. For more information, contact Scott Usher at 810-626-2360 or via email at scottusher@hartlandschools.us 

November 3, 2022–

Hartland Consolidated Schools students as a group are testing above the average levels in the state and county on the English Language Arts component of the M-STEP, or the Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress. Hartland students also scored higher than the county average with 70% of third graders, or 254 of 363, reaching advanced or proficient. The statewide rate is 42% of students scoring advanced or proficient.

According to Hartland Superintendent, Chuck Hughes, HCS outperforms county and state averages in almost every testing category regularly (math, science, ELA, and social studies, including PSAT and SAT). Hughes also said in his weekly update to parents, “The staff works tirelessly to help students overcome learning deficiencies while utilizing a continuum of data points to determine intervention strategies that promote student growth.”

In the English language arts section of the M-STEP, students read short passages and answer questions based on the passage to gauge reading comprehension. There is also a section in which students complete writing prompts based on passages or essay questions. This fall’s reporting, from testing in the spring of 2022, shows that Hartland students are not suffering from pandemic-related learning loss, unlike many other students in Michigan and across the country.

December 9, 2022–

Hartland Virtual Academy and LEGACY High School were invited to attend the MACUL Student Technology Showcase (STS) in Lansing on December 7 courtesy of Michigan Virtual University. Hartland was there to present on the ways virtual learning expands traditional learning opportunities. In attendance were  principal Mrs. Nicole Conley, teacher Mrs. Erin Dennis, Jaycob DeMott (a freshman who learns entirely virtually and is taking an A.P. Course as a freshman), Vanessa Shafer (LEGACY Senior who takes an additional Math course through MiVU), and Camille Natter (Sophomore who is currently in Colorado training as a competitive skier, who uses virtual learning to maintain training opportunities while still graduating from home).

Hartland was one of about 30 schools in attendance at STS, and Legacy/HVA wasn’t the only school from the district. The STEM teacher from Village Elementary was there as well. The HCS focus was on ways that technology can support learning. Staff and students also met Lt. Gov. Gilchrist at the event.

December 26, 2022–

The Hartland Area Chamber of Commerce recently held their annual Holiday Lunch and Awards Ceremony at Crystal Gardens. The festivities included a performance from the Hartland High School Choirs, Reindeer Games, a buffet lunch, and the Chamber’s Annual Awards. Congratulations to all of those who were honored this year or those who are celebrating a milestone year in business!

Lifetime Achievement Award: Connie Brinkerhoff
Ambassador of the Year: Michelle Wilson
New Member of the Year: Eric Glabach with Great State Window Cleaning
Business Investment Award: Two Men and a Truck
Innovative Leader Award: LaFontaine Automotive
Chamber Volunteer of the Year: Jake Andrews
Community Impact Award: Barbara and David Walker
Give Back Recipients: Hartland Optimist Club; Hartland Area Community Council; LACASA; HERO Round Table; Livingston County Chorale

January 6, 2022 —

January 13, 2023–

The Michigan Department of Education has released school grades for the 2021-2022 school year and Hartland Consolidated Schools has six schools with the grade of A and a designation of a Reward School. Two of HCS schools received a grade of B. Each year MDE ranks schools academically based on student proficiency. Schools in the top 5% of the Top-to-Bottom ranking are Reward Schools. 

Hartland Superintendent, Chuck Hughes, was excited to share that Hartland schools continue to receive stellar grades. Hughes also said in his weekly update to parents, “We should be proud of the work being done in the district to ensure that our students are performing above state expectations. I am so proud of our entire staff for all that they do to care for and teach the children of this community. We are currently prioritizing intervention to address learning loss over the past few years.”

Grades for Proficiency:
Creekside Elementary A and Reward School
Lakes Elementary A and Reward School
Round Elementary A and Reward School
Village Elementary B
Farms Intermediate A and Reward School
Middle School A and Reward School
Hartland High School A and Reward School
Hartland Virtual Academy B
LEGACY Compliant and Met Academic Progress (MDE changed how it handles Alternative High School grading to these two highest ratings.)

The Michigan State Legislature enacted Public Act 601 of 2018 to create an A-F grading system as a measure of school performance. As with all accountability systems, it is helpful to view multiple measures. 

January 23, 2023 –

Orientation for incoming 2023 Kindergarteners is scheduled for Saturday, February 18, 2023 from 10:00 to 11:30 am in the Hartland Educational Support Service Center. The orientation provides parents an opportunity to hear from kindergarten teachers and principals about a “typical” school day and the curriculum. In addition, central office administrators, transportation, student nutrition personnel, and the school nurse will be on hand. Parents are welcome to bring their child(ren). Enrollment packets are available at Central Office, located at 9525 Highland Road, or online using the button below.

February 14, 2023-

Congratulations to Hartland High School on being named a Special Olympics National Banner Unified Champion School for five years in a row! The banner was presented on February 9 at a Unified Basketball game, and all school assembly, when the Eagles played host to the Brighton Bulldogs. 

A Special Olympics Unified Champion School has an inclusive school climate and exudes a sense of collaboration, engagement and respect for all members of the student body and staff. A Unified Champion School receiving national banner recognition is one that has demonstrated commitment to inclusion by meeting 10 national standards of excellence. These standards were developed by a national panel of leaders from Special Olympics and the education community.

Hartland High School’s unified sports team is made up of general education and special education students to promote the importance of inclusion.

March 3, 2023—

The Hartland Area Chamber of Commerce held it’s 5th Annual Black & Bling: Celebrating Women in Business event on March 3 at Crystal Gardens. The event began to celebrate International Women’s Day and to inspire women in Hartland with the stories of other successful women in the community! This year’s keynote speaker was definitely contagious with her positive attitude. Kathy King is a success coach, educator, and entrepreneur who left the entire crowd, both women and men, inspired with her words.

The presenting sponsor for the event was LaFontaine Cadillac Buick GMC, the dessert sponsor was Brighton Ford and the welcome sponsor was Two Men and a Truck. The table sponsors graciously donated all the beautiful centerpieces for a raffle and Kenny Privett Productions served as emcee. This year’s 2023 Queen of Bling was also crowned. Stay up to date with the Chamber on their website: www.hartlandchamber.org