Website Lab
Test 123
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Font Awesome possibilities . . .
SO... for our GLcomets.net website, I used Foxbright and added a "Plain Text / Embed Script" block (this block can be found in the "Special Content" section when you add a new block in Foxbright)... and then I pasted in the embed code from Canva. I think it looks pretty good.
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TESTING STORIES FUNCTIONALITY - Story Block
May 13, 2026
GRAND LEDGE, MI – Grand Ledge High School Band Director, John Szczerowski, has been named the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association District 8 Band Teacher of the Year.
MSBOA District 8 includes schools in a five-county (Ingham, Eaton, Jackson, Lenawee, and Hillsdale) area in south-central Michigan. As District 8’s peer-elected Band Teacher of the Year, Szczerowski’s name will be submitted to the state executive board for consideration to be one of the three finalists placed on the ballot for State Band Teacher of the Year for the 2026-2027 school year.
“I’m beyond honored to be named the MSBOA District 8 Band Teacher of the Year,” said Szczerowski. “I am grateful to teach in a district that is so supportive of the arts and have been overwhelmed by the recognition and kind words I’ve received.”
Mr. Szczerowski was nominated by District 8 member and MSBOA State President Bryan Mangiavellano. In a letter of recommendation, Mangiavellano states, “John’s ensembles consistently perform at the highest level of artistic merit. His Concert Bands are a fixture of excellence at (Band) Festivals, where they are frequently recognized for their refined tone, sophisticated phrasing, and technical precision. The performance of his Wind Symphony at the 2026 Michigan Music Conference was breathtaking. This success is not limited to the concert stage; his Marching Band program is equally outstanding.”
In addition to his hard work with his students, Szczerowski is also a dedicated and active member of the MSBOA. He has served the district in multiple Vice President positions and has volunteered to host festivals and audition sites.
In closing his letter, Mangiavellano said, “John Szczerowski embodies the qualities we celebrate in a Teacher of the Year: a master educator who produces elite musical results while simultaneously laboring behind the scenes to better our profession. He is a credit to his school district and a cornerstone of District 8.”
Newsletters via Stories
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4-24-26
GLPS Families,
It is hard to believe, but next Friday is May 1st! I am always amazed at how fast things move after spring break, but this year, in particular, it seems to be moving at light speed. Spring is a busy time of year in a school district, with a lot of events, learning, and celebrations happening, but it is also a time when it is important for us to pause and reflect on all of the people who do the work to make our district run and create a positive impact on students, families, and our community.
To those ends, I often share this graphic with our staff, reminding them that regardless of their role, they are all educators who impact the achievement of our students.
In our strategic plan, one of our belief statements is that We believe the GLPS staff are professionals who are vital to the health and future of the Grand Ledge community , and that is on full display every day across our district and Comet Country as a whole.
Last evening, the Grand Ledge Area Chamber of Commerce held its annual awards dinner, where it recognized Delta Center kindergarten teacher Darbi Carter as the Teacher of the Year, and Willow Ridge Dean of Students Lauren Patrick as the Support Staff of the Year, and they were both deserving winners among many deserving nominees for teachers and support staff. The event, and those nominations, were yet another reminder of how integral our staff is to the success of our community.
I share this with you today, because in the months of April and May, there are a number of days set aside to celebrate all of the people who make such a difference in our schools and communities. These are all listed in this table, and represent a wide range of our employee groups.
Date | Recognition Day | Focus Group |
April 1–30 | National Occupational Therapy Month | School OTs helping students with motor skills and sensory needs. |
April 1 | Paraprofessional Appreciation Day | Instructional assistants and classroom aides. |
April 4 | School Librarian Appreciation Day | Media specialists and library staff. |
April 6–10 | National Assistant Principals Week | APs who handle the "heavy lifting" of discipline and operations. |
April 19–25 | National Volunteer Week | Parents, community members, and boosters. |
April 19–25 | National Library Week | The broader celebration of school and public libraries. |
April 22 | Administrative Professionals Day | Your front office staff, secretaries, and registrars. |
April 28 | School Bus Driver Appreciation Day | The transportation team. |
May 1–31 | Better Hearing & Speech Month | Celebrating Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists. |
May 1 | School Principals Day | Building leaders and instructional heads. |
May 1 | School Lunch Hero Day | Food service staff and cafeteria workers. |
May 4–8 | Teacher Appreciation Week | The entire teaching faculty. |
May 5 | National Teacher Day | The focal point of Appreciation Week. |
May 6 | School Nurse Day | Healthcare staff and clinic assistants. |
May 8 | School Communicators Day | PR, communications, and social media staff. |
May 18 | National Speech-Language Pathologist Day | Specific honors for the SLP team. |
So, throughout the next few weeks, as we wind down the 2025-2026 school year, please make sure that you take time to thank the school staff who make GLPS such a wonderful place to learn and grow. Whether they have an identified day across these months or not, everyone who interacts with our students and schools on a regular basis shapes the positive educational experiences that we are proud to deliver.
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve this community, and thank you for giving us the opportunity to work with you and your children every day. Have a wonderful weekend; as always, I am #proudtobeacomet!
Dr. Bill BarnesSuperintendent of Schools
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John Szczerowski Named Teacher of the Year by MSBOA District 8 May 13, 2026
Here is the 2026-2027 School Calendar! December 9, 2025
