Cheboygan Area Schools – Sunday Soup Newsletter
Week of November 10, 2025 – Week 11 of 18
Veterans Day Celebrations – Tuesday this Week!
Tuesday is Veterans Day, and there will be many activities honoring our veterans. This year, the main event will be held in the HS gym, with all schools invited to attend in the morning.
Veterans Day is especially meaningful to me, as I have two veterans in my family: my father, who passed several years ago, proudly served in the Navy during WWII, and my oldest brother served in the Army during Vietnam, eventually retiring after twenty years of service. I deeply appreciate all our students, teachers, and administrators who take time to pay tribute to those who have served our country, both here and gone.
Planning for a Happy Thanksgiving – November 24th
As the holidays approach, Cheboygan Area Schools comes together to support families in need. Each Thanksgiving, we participate in the Free Thanksgiving Meal Box Program. Each box contains enough food for a small family dinner, ensuring every family enjoys a special holiday meal. To participate this year, please contact your child’s school office directly to reserve a box.
Date: Monday, November 24
Time: Starting at 10:00 AM
Location for Pickup: Bus Barn (same as previous years)
Administrators and high school student volunteers will check registrations and load vehicles; there will be no need to get out of your car.
CTE Millage Results from last Week:
Yes = 6,045
No = 7,306
Unfortunately, the millage to support CTE programs in and for our region did not pass. Tomorrow, Monday, the 10 superintendents in our region will meet at COPESD to discuss the results and identify ways to improve communication and community engagement in the future. We will likely try again soon, possibly as early as next year.
Reminder: We are one of only 15 regions in Michigan without a CTE millage. If we believe that CTE is essential to preparing students in our northern communities, we must stay committed to this pursuit. Mr. Huber shared with me that it has taken neighboring regions multiple attempts before their regional CTE millage passed.
Now, our local CTE funding focus has shifted from a “growth” mindset to a “sustainability” mindset. Currently, our CAS CTE programs are funded primarily through grants, which can vary from year to year. For more information, visit the COPESD website.
Friday Backpack Food Program – Are You Signed Up?
Our Free Friday Backpack Food Program is ongoing at every school in the district. These backpacks provide supplemental food for the weekend. To participate, contact your school’s main office or Cris Nesbitt at the District Office to be added to the list.
Special thanks to Inverness Academy Principal Kris Jewell and the IA student volunteers who pack the bags each week — your efforts make a real difference for our students.
Additional Food Assistance Resources: If you need more food assistance in Northeast Michigan, please call 2-1-1 or visit www.211nemichigan.org for free, confidential support.
K9 Dog Search Training – Wednesday, November 19th
Each school year, we focus on improving student safety within the district. We are continually reviewing and strengthening our practices and partnerships to ensure preparedness for all types of emergencies.
So far this year, all four buildings have completed required fire, tornado, and lockdown drills. This year, we are adding a new safety initiative — the K9 Drill/Training.
The K9 drill will take place on Wednesday, November 19th, serving as a joint training opportunity for both local law enforcement and district staff. Teams will meet before the drill to coordinate and again afterward to review lessons learned.
This is a planned and staged training event at the HS. Students will be placed in a lockdown scenario and remain in classrooms while dogs search the hallways. Students will not come into contact with the dogs. Time permitting, the search may include vehicles in the student and staff parking lots. Once the building is cleared, classes will resume as normal.
Please note: After this exercise, the district may conduct unannounced searches throughout the school year, including lockers, classrooms, hallways, and vehicles. For questions, contact your building principal.
November – How much longer until Thanksgiving Break?
10 – COPESD Superintendent Meeting @ 10 AM
11 – ELE Rebid Walkthrough – Non-Mandatory @ 9 AM
11 – District Veterans Day Celebrations @ HS
11 – Monthly BP Meeting @ 9 AM – Cancelled
11 – Winter Player/Parent Meeting @ 6 PM (HS Auditorium)
12 – Zoom Meeting with SL @ 9:30 AM – Draw Down Schedule
12–14 – M&K Curriculum Work, Push-In Classroom Observations
13 – AI Cohort Final Meeting @ COPESD @ 8:30 AM – Governance & Policy
13 – Athletic Committee Meeting @ 6:30 PM
14 – BP Makeup Meeting @ 9 AM
15 - Opening Day
18 – Finance Committee Meeting @ 10 AM – Auditor Zoom Report
18 – Negotiation Team Meeting @ 10:30 AM
18 – Policy Committee Meeting @ 2 PM – Governance/AI Policy
18 – Curriculum Committee Meeting @ 3:45 PM
19 – K9 Dog Search Training @ HS @ 9 AM
19 – Dentist Appointment @ 3 PM
21 – MASA Region 2 Meeting @ 9:30 AM (JoBurg)
24 – Thanksgiving Food Box Pickup @ Bus Barn @ 10 AM
24 – Cabinet Meeting @ 1 PM
24 – BOE Meeting @ 6:30 PM
26 – ½ Day for Students and Staff
27–28 – Thanksgiving Break
Dec 5 – Administrator/BOE Christmas Party @ Mulligan’s – 5 PM
Quote of the Week
“We all need to find that spark to light our engines each day. We must remind ourselves we are living a life of privilege, doing what we love — coaching and teaching every day.”
—Rick Pitino
Rick Pitino, who began his prestigious basketball coaching career in 1974, is now 73 years old. Coach Patino continues to coach at a high level with St. John’s University. Pitino approaches every day and every game as if it’s his last — a mindset he’s maintained for over 15 years to stay motivated and fully present. He views coaching as a privilege that allows him to face challenges, grow, and work alongside his players every day.
New - Challenge Coin – What Does a Cheboygan CHIEF Represent?
C - Collaboration - Working together across teams, departments, and stakeholders.
H - Honesty - Maintaining transparency and integrity in all decisions.
I - Inspiration - Motivating staff and students to reach their full potential.
E - Excellence - Striving for the highest standards of leadership and education.
F - Fairness - Ensuring equitable treatment and decision-making for all.
As always, thank you for your continued partnership and dedication to the success of Cheboygan Area Schools.
Spencer S. Byrd, Ed.S, CSBO, CAA
Superintendent
Cheboygan Area Schools