Cheboygan Area Schools – Sunday Soup Newsletter
Week of January 5, 2025 | Welcome Back!
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Welcome to 2026!
Congratulations, you made it through our two-week winter break. I hope you had time to refresh and recharge, whether that meant resting at home or escaping south in search of warmer weather. As we return to work and school, I am hopeful we are all ready to finish the first semester strong as we approach the midpoint of the school year. And, for HS students, final exams are right around the corner, with more detailed exam information coming out later this week.
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Finish the Semester Strong!
One of my favorite quotes states: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”
With just two weeks remaining in the first semester, this quote serves as a timely reminder that long-term success is not the result of isolated efforts or singular moments of achievement, but rather the cumulative impact of consistent behaviors practiced over time.
After time away for winter break, it is essential to return with a focus on establishing small, daily routines and habits. When we recommit to strong day-to-day practices, progress follows naturally, and the future tends to take care of itself. One of the most important routines to restore after a long, unstructured break is your sleep cycle. Going to bed early and waking up early, helps ensure you arrive at school and class on time each day. These simple habits position you for continued daily success.
The foundation of success lies in repeatedly practicing positive habits and actions. Our daily behaviors shape our character. If we want to continue improving, we must focus on building and sustaining strong routines daily. Excellence then becomes a natural and achievable outcome, rather than a distant, abstract, or unrealistic goal.
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The Days Are Getting Longer… Yeah!
December 21 marked the shortest day of the year and the official start of winter. It also represents an important turning point in the calendar. From now until late summer, daylight will gradually increase, slowly at first, then more noticeably as we move closer to spring.
This is one of my favorite times of the year. Experiencing even a little more daylight each day is energizing. As temperatures gradually rise and daylight increases, these changes serve as both an encouraging marker of progress and a reminder that we are halfway through the school year, and that summer is once again on the horizon.
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Looking Ahead...
• January 5 – Return to School (Monday)
• January 12 – COPESD Superintendent Meeting @ 10:00 AM
• January 13 – BP-Only Meeting @ 9:00 AM (Board Room)
• January 14 – Rotary Presentation @ Noon
• January 15 – Athletic Committee Meeting @ 6:30 PM
• January 20 – Finance Committee Meeting @ 10:00 AM
• January 20 – Negotiation Team Meeting @ 11:30 AM
• January 20 – Policy Committee Meeting @ 2:30 PM
• January 20 – Curriculum Committee Meeting @ 3:45 PM
• January 21 – MASA Winter Superintendent Conference
• January 22 – Half Day for Student Exams / Teacher Work Afternoon
• January 23 – Half Day for Student Exams / Teacher Work Afternoon
• January 23 – Official End of the First Semester
• January 26 – Cabinet Meeting @ 1:00 PM
• January 26 – Board of Education Meeting @ 6:30 PM (Reorganization)
• January 27–28 – SL in Board Room – Prep Work (All Day)
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Quote of the Week…
“You’ll never change your life until you change something you do daily.”
— John C. Maxwell
John C. Maxwell is best known as a leadership expert, author, and speaker, particularly for his work in leadership development, personal growth, and organizational effectiveness. He has written more than 80 books that are widely used in business, education, athletics, and nonprofit organizations.
Maxwell is especially known for translating complex leadership concepts into practical, actionable principles that emphasize:
• Consistency over intensity
• Daily habits as drivers of long-term success
• Influence, and the ability to move an organization toward established improvement goals, as the true measure of leadership, not title
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As always, thank you for your continued partnership and dedication to the success of Cheboygan Area Schools.
Spencer S. Byrd, EdS, CSBO, CAA
Superintendent
Cheboygan Area Schools