Dear Leland Families,
Welcome to the first edition of The Quarterly Exchange for the 2026–27 school year! I hope the school year is off to a great start for you and your students. It's hard to believe I'm already into my second year as superintendent, but I'm excited to be back at it! One of the best parts of my first year was getting to know so many of our students and families, and I'm looking forward to building on those connections this year. I've gotten a lot of names down, but there are plenty more to learn, so don't hesitate to test my memory or introduce yourself when you see me around school or out in the community!
For those new to The Quarterly Exchange, it's something I started last year as a way to keep families informed about what's happening across the district while also hearing directly from you. Each quarter, I'll share some updates and invite your feedback on topics that can help inform our thinking and decision-making. It's meant to be a two-way conversation, and I appreciate everyone who takes the time to be part of it.
I'm especially excited to kick off this year's exchange by sharing our newly completed 2026–2031 Strategic Plan, included with this communication and linked here. We've got a lot to be proud of at Leland, and this plan gives us a shared direction for building on what makes our school so special while also challenging ourselves to keep getting better.
A Collaborative Process
One of the most important aspects of developing this plan was the process itself. Over the past six months, we engaged students, staff, families, and community members through focus groups and surveys, while also examining district data to reflect on our current strengths and opportunities for growth. That collective input informed a collaborative goal-setting process that helped shape the direction of our district for the next five years.
Importantly, this is our Board of Education's strategic plan, developed with the voices and perspectives of the community it serves. The Board's responsibility is to establish the vision and long-term priorities for the district, while my responsibility as superintendent is to lead our staff in translating that direction into meaningful action.
Our Values and Commitment
The plan begins with six updated district values that reflect both who we are and who we aspire to be. They affirm our commitment to serving students first, fostering belonging for all, building lifelong relationships, providing world-class opportunities, developing critical thinkers for global citizenship, and connecting students to the people and place of Leland.
We have also brought our previous mission and vision together into one clear statement that states both where we are going and how we plan to get there:
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Our Commitment:
Leland Public School provides students a connected community and world-class learning opportunities to develop essential skills and lead fulfilling lives.
Together, these values and our commitment establish the foundation for the five strategic goals that will guide our work:
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Growth and Achievement: Ensure each student is supported and challenged to achieve continuous individual growth.
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Facilities and Infrastructure: Invest in facilities to enhance the evolving needs of students.
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The Leland School Experience: Define and elevate the Leland Experience to connect all stakeholders to the Leland K–12 journey.
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Opportunities and Offerings: Strengthen the range of experiences, opportunities, and supports needed to advance the educational pathways of all Leland students.
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Culture and Climate: Create an environment in which all students and families feel a sense of belonging regardless of differences.
These goals are intentionally aspirational. A meaningful strategic plan should do more than describe what we already do well. It should challenge us to think beyond our current practices, pursue new possibilities, and continually improve the experiences and outcomes for our students. We won't accomplish everything at once, nor should we expect to. The five-year timeline allows us to approach this work thoughtfully and strategically, with a clear sense of purpose and direction.
From Planning to Action
With the strategic plan now established, our next step is developing the district's action plan. We will determine which goals warrant our initial attention and establish an intentional sequence for addressing them. From there, we will identify two to three strategic objectives within each long-range goal, followed by the specific actions and initiatives needed to achieve those objectives.
This is where the broader vision begins to take shape in the day-to-day work of our school. The action plan will help us focus our efforts, make thoughtful decisions about resources, and monitor our progress over time. It will also evolve as we learn from our work and respond to the changing needs of our students.
Continuing the Conversation: Your Input Matters
Just as community input was essential to developing this plan, it will remain an important part of bringing it to life. Throughout the next five years, we will continue seeking perspectives and feedback to inform our decisions, shape our priorities, and evaluate our progress.
That starts with this edition of The Quarterly Exchange. Along with sharing our new strategic direction, I'd like to hear from you in two specific areas:
- How the school year has gone so far, both in terms of successes and challenges for your family and also for your student(s)
- Consider how you would rank the urgency of addressing each of the five goals in our new strategic plan as we begin implementation.
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Please take a few minutes to complete the brief family survey linked below.
I am grateful to everyone who contributed to developing this plan and to our Board of Education for its leadership throughout the process. We have much to be proud of at Leland, and I am excited about the opportunity to build on those strengths together. I look forward to continuing the conversation and working collectively to turn this shared vision into meaningful improvements for our students and school community. Go Comets!
Respectfully,
Dr. Ryan Huppert
Superintendent, Leland Public School
(231) 256-3801
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Monday, November 2nd- No School, Regional Staff Development Day
Tuesday, November 3rd- Board of Education Study Session, 5:00 LPS Boardroom
Tuesday, November 10- PTO Sponsored Education Session on AI, 6:00 pm
Friday-Saturday November 13-14- Fall Play, Into the Breeches 6:30 pm
Sunday, November 15- Fall Play, Into the Breeches, 2:00 pm
Monday, November 16th- Board of Education Meeting, 6:00 HS Library
Thursday, November 19th- MSU/GVSU Field Trip
Saturday, November 21st- High School Fall Dance, PAC, 8:00-10:00 pm
Wednesday, November 25th-Friday, November 27th- No School, Thanksgiving Break
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Our 3rd and 4th graders had a fantastic day combining science and art on their trip to the Platte River Fish Hatchery and Gwen Frostic Studios. At the hatchery, students got up close with the life cycle of a salmon—even holding roe—while learning how Atlantic salmon are raised for release into the wild. Later at Gwen Frostic Studios, they watched real printing presses at work, went on a studio scavenger hunt, and explored the gift shop full of famous nature prints. It was an enriching, hands-on day from start to finish! |
The Elementary Cross Country program had another successful season due to the volunteer coaches and parents. A huge thank you goes to Curtis Kelenske and Sadie Koehler who led the elementary runners this season. Parent volunteers included: Lindsey Acker, Jessica Alpers, Ashley Burpee, Roxanne Dingrando, Megan Hamelin, Ryan Hebert, Jamie Mork, and Kate Sigworth. Many parents were also extremely helpful at meets and we are grateful.
The Middle School Cross Country Team completed the season Saturday, October 24 at a Regional Meet in Mancelona. Every team member ran their personal best time! This is a huge feat. Two Comet runners received All- Regional Honors. Elsa Preneta in 2nd place and Poppy Hafner-Fournet in 19th place in Division 3/4. The Male Team finished 5th out of 9 teams in a tough field. Congratulations to a successful season, Comet Runners. We are ready to cheer on the Varsity at Regionals this Saturday in Benzie.
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Crystal Mountain Afterschool Program Information
Important information and links below
Welcome new and returning families! The sign up window is now open for the Crystal Mountain Afterschool Program. This program provides lift tickets, equipment rental, and skill lessons at a discounted rate to support students aged 7-18 with access to skiing and snowboarding at Crystal Mountain. The season runs January 5th to February 9th.
Headline News - THE APPLICATION PROCESS IS 100% DIGITAL
STEP 1
Pass Purchase & Lesson LINK:
Username: leland
Password: Crystalmountain1
You will need a picture of your participant for the program pass and a ready credit card (message me for scholarship options). UPDATE - the program pass application is attached to the waiver so "Step 2" from last year is no longer necessary. Everything is done digitally in this step through the online portal. Use this link to sign up for lessons and skill assessments.
Important Notes:
- We have been assigned TUESDAY this year as our program day on the hill.
- Deadline to sign up for the program is Friday, November 20th.
- ALL RETURNING participants are required to participate in a skills assessment on December 13th. You sign up for a spot through the website with times of 1, 2, or 3pm. New participants will be assessed during the first lesson date January 5th.
- Same day, December 13, there will also be open session rental fitting from 9am-4pm. This is not required but a recommended opportunity so that renters are ready for the first day (saves time at the rental counter).
- Lesson sign up requires 72 hour advance online registration (example: our Wednesday lessons must be booked on prior Saturday).
- Crystal Mountain will continue to offer $10 meal deals for participants.
- Transportation is NOT provided so please make plans for driving or carpooling.
- Additional info in attachments (snow day protocols, hill access in the remainder of February/March, lift card replacement, etc).
Program Requirements: ALL ONLINE
- Season Pass Application and Payment
- Waivers
- Rental Liability (if applicable)
- Lesson sign up - required weekly 72 hours in advance (example: our Tuesday lessons must be booked on prior Saturday)
Advisors, Chaperones and Participants are responsible for the review and understanding of all program information provided. Questions or concerns may be directed to:
Emily Modjeski – School Program Coordinator
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LIFT is in the running to be named one of Oryana's 2027 Groceries for Good recipients, and voting closes end of day tomorrow, October 31!
The Groceries for Good program highlights one Northern Michigan nonprofit each month. Shoppers are able to round up their purchase to the nearest dollar in support of that month’s organization, and Oryana chooses one day each month to donate 2% of profits from both stores to that month’s recipient.
In addition to broader community awareness, this program offers the chance for LIFT to receive upwards of $10,000 in community support in a single month.
Cast your vote today in support of LIFT! Simply click the link, scroll down to "Youth Support and Education". Click the box next to "LIFT (Leelanau Investing for Teens)" and then click "SUBMIT".
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Come Be Part of It: The PTO is for everyone.
You don’t have to sign up, pay dues or commit to volunteering. If you have a student at Leland Public School, you’re already part of our PTO community.
Each fall, we come together through the PTO Impact Fund to raise the money we need to support our students, teachers, staff and families throughout the school year, and we want to make sure you know exactly what your contribution helps fund.
Last year, PTO dollars helped us:
- Celebrate and appreciate 331 school staff members
- Provide 6 parent education opportunities
- Host 4 family and community events
- Provide 188 elementary students with a $5 Farmers Market voucher
- Provide 354 donations of hygiene items, clothing, school supplies and more to students
- Support classrooms, teachers and students
- Cover the basic costs of running the PTO, including insurance, printing and our parent platform
We also asked our families what you want us to focus on. Your top three priorities were:
- Staff appreciation
- Family-friendly events
- Supporting classrooms and students
Those priorities line up closely with where we want to put our energy, and our dollars, this year.
Give what you can. Help us do more.
There’s no required amount and no expectation that every family contributes. Whether you give $10, $50, $100 or whatever works for your family, your contribution helps us make these things possible.
Everyone is welcome. Everyone can make an impact.
To contribute, drop a check in the office (made out to Leland PTO) or send your donation via Venmo (@Leland-PTO)
Thank you for being part of our PTO community and for helping us make Leland an even better place for our students, staff and families.
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The PTO will be hosting Peter Milne, Instructional Technologist & Regional Educational Media Center Director for Northwest Education Services, on November 10 for an educational session about Artificial Intelligence.
With over 25 years of experience in education, Peter works closely with educators across grade levels to promote personalized learning, student engagement, and hands-on, project-based approaches that empower both teachers and students. Peter is passionate about helping educators explore creative, accessible ways to use emerging technologies.
Join us to learn more about the history and ever-changing landscape of AI, both in the world and the classroom. A question and answer session will follow Peter's presentation. Please note that this presentation will not be specific to Leland Public School AI and Technology Policies.
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If you or your group have something you would like to share to the Comet Weekly, please send a clear image and information about it to cometweekly@lelandschool.com. Any submissions received after noon on Thursday will be considered for addition to the following week's newsletter.
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