Mid-September 2021 Update

Things are cooling off and the geese are beginning to migrate south.  September in the UP is a great month: no bugs, mild temperatures, and the start of the school year.  We’re off and running Grand Marais!  

 

The first week of school is always an exciting time meeting new people and building lasting relationships.  Our faculty and staff deserve immense credit for preparing some great learning experiences for our students both inside the school and out.  I saw so much hands-on active work, I am truly amazed at what we can accomplish with such a small school.  

 

Mr. Roberts leading a parachute game

 

Will kicking for the fences

 

I am pleased to announce that we have so far not had a single Covid-19 case reported in the Burt Township School District.  Wearing masks has no doubt been uncomfortable and undesirable but they are keeping us all safe, healthy, and in the school. We’ve also found creative ways to get outside and remove our masks like picnic table lunch, field trips, and soccer field assemblies.  In addition, MDHHS and LMAS have just issued new school quarantine guidance which greatly favors schools with universal masking like ours.  I continue to track Covid-19 data daily and have weekly meetings with area superintendents and local health department officials to receive the most up-to-date statistics and guidance to help make the most informed decisions possible.  

 

School Quarantine Guidance Update 9/9/21

 

Lastly, it may not look like much right now but we started building a bike path.  That’s right Grand Marais, the ever sought after, ever elusive H-58 bike path is coming!  We broke ground on the first phase of the trail in the beginning of September and have already cut the path through phases 2 and 3.  It winds west of Grand Marais Creek, north of H-58 through maple and spruce towards Jim Harrison’s old driveway.  It then pops into an old growth hemlock stand before leaving school forest property and entering township land.  From there, it follows the old road grade where aspen flank its north and a classic UP mix of hardwoods and conifers flank its south.  We’ve stopped cutting where it meets up with the east end of the State of Michigan/DNR land across from the old Township dump.  I encourage everyone to search for the trail and walk along the path we’ve opened up to envision what the bike path will eventually look like.

 

Next step, mini excavator

 

Now for the kicker.  Unprompted, our 4 middle school boys said they want to do trail building as their elective.  So, Mr. Dobberstien and I have joined forces to co-teach a physical geography class with a trail building field study.  Students will learn about topography, soils, orientation, map skills, wildlife identification, and more in class and then apply their understanding out in the field helping flag, map, and build trails.  Truly organic experiential learning at its finest.  

 

They don’t make old growth maple like this anymore #schoolforest