As we head into Mid-Winter Break, I remain cautiously optimistic. We are holding strong three weeks into in-person learning. Virus rates in our immediate area continue to trend in a positive direction; staff and student quarantine levels are stable and manageable, and more than 35% of our staff has secured an appointment to be vaccinated or are already in the vaccination cycle.

After consulting with the Oakland County Health Division, MDHHS, our Board of Education, and administrative leadership, Clarkston Community Schools will move forward with a phased transition to full face-to-face instruction, beginning on Monday, February 1.

Dr. Ryan shares new information and updates related to the district's path back to fully reopening schools in this week's Superintendent's Report.

Clarkston Community Schools will return to face-to-face instruction for all students on Tuesday, January 19.

CHS teacher Katie French is an Amazon best-selling author in Young Adult Sci-Fi and Fantasy whose book, The Breeders, was a semi-finalist in the 2014 Kindle Book Awards.

Congratulations to CHS Drama Club Troupe 803 for their outstanding performance at the Michigan Thespian Festival, earning $658,500 total in scholarship dollars.

A new year is around the corner and the likelihood of our return to face-to-face instruction on January 19 is very strong.

We have seen more reported cases per 10,000 residents within our school district boundaries than any other school district in Oakland County for five consecutive weeks.

The dedication displayed by the Clarkston Community Schools Board of Education during the past several months is profound and inspiring to me as a school leader.