Out cleaning up the community! Great job girls!
Cleaning up the community! Great job athletes!
JLAS Preschool & Kindergarten Round-Up 2025-2026!
Is your child ready to start preschool or kindergarten this fall?
Come join us for our Preschool & Kindergarten Round-Up and meet the amazing JLAS staff, explore the classrooms, and get all the info you need to start the school journey off right!
See attached flyer for more details about this event!
Are you organized, friendly, and ready to make an impact? Do you want to be part of an amazing school community? JLAS is looking for a dedicated K-8 Secretary to help keep our school running smoothly and support our students, staff, and families. ❤️🤍🖤
Apply now at applications@jlas.org
We were very fortunate to host Shari Culver, COO of Great Lakes Energy, Tony from Michels, and others from their groups to share with staff all that's is happening as they rebuild our power grid. It has only been with their support, planning, and approval that we were able to welcome our staff and students back to school!
PIE&G has also been supportive and has reached out to get our bus routes so we can be back to full transportation ASAP.
There are so many to thank, but also critical to our re-opening is Mark Corbiser, IT Director, and our undamaged MERIT fiber line, as we have full communications and internet in our district.
With our planning and preparations with these teams, patience , and grace, we expect a safe and supportive return to school.
Hello families!
We had a great day welcoming staff back to the school and are looking forward to seeing students tomorrow. We know that there are roadblocks for some of you and we will do everything we can to help with those.
Busing
Most of our buses will be running according to their regular schedule. Drivers communicated changes due to power line issues today- if you did not get a call from your driver, plan for normal pick up and drop off. Please be patient. Travel takes longer in order to keep lineman safe. We will return to completely normal as soon as we can.
Parking
In Johannesburg, Great Lakes is working out of our high school parking lot. It is critically important that we have strict plans for parking. All staff except high school teachers will park in the K-8 parking lot.
High school students, teachers, and administrative staff will park in the parking lot by the field house.
This means parking for parents will be significantly limited. Parents that need to come to the building during the day for the clinic or any office, should park in the drop off loop at the K8 and enter the building there.
Drop Off
All parents dropping off K-8 students will use drop off at the K-8 entry. It is important to use every inch of the drop off loop and pull all the way forward. We have a safe sidewalk all the way to the entry and will have adults outside to assist.
Parents dropping off High School students need to use the loop back by the field house. It will be CRITICAL to not have parents parking in parking spaces as we will need every space for our students and staff.
Pick Up
Same location as drop offs, regular times. Please do not pull into any parking spaces and pull all the way forward to ensure we keep traffic flowing. Do not block the bus entry/exit.
Preschool parents. Times for drop off and pick up times are adjusted as follows:
8:25am for drop off
3:25pm pick up
The location has been changed to the bus loop. You enter the bus loop from the back parking lot. Parents will not be allowed in the loop until ALL BUSES have exited. Do not arrive early for these times as we have student drop off and pick up for our buses just before preschool.
Student Preparations
6th -12th grade students must report to school with their chromebooks AND chargers. 9th-12th grade students will have a Friday schedule both Thursday and Friday this week.
High School students who would like to access the showers in the locker room may do so beginning at 7am and until 8:05am. If a student cannot get here early for a shower, but would like one, just stop in the office. We have some supplies and supervision. You will enter by the field house and go directly to the locker room.
Middle School students who need to shower just need to ask the office in the morning. Times will be set up for students to access showers.
For Elementary students who need showers, parents should contact the office or school success workers for help with showers.
Breakfast and lunch will be served as normal and changes to the menu are being made based upon supply.
After school support for students in grades 6-12 will take place daily after school until 5:30pm. The activity bus will be running as normal.
Other News
The Fitness Center in Johannesburg and walking track will be closed at this time. Once we can adjust parking, we will look at re-opening.
The Fitness Center in Lewiston will reopen Monday with their regular hours.
Free food distribution at 6 pm tonight, 4/8 at Giving Tree Food Pantry.
Good evening Cardinal families,
Due to our current situation, we are moving back the student return date to Thursday, April 10.
Our staff are reporting Wednesday, April 9 and will be making family contacts to assess the needs of our families. Please answer their calls so we can be best prepared for all of our students.
A transportation plan will be forthcoming, we know our buses will not be able to access all locations so alternate plans will need to take place. We are hopeful our drivers can establish some batch pick up points to make it as easy as possible on families.
We recognize that returning on Thursday may not be possible for everyone, we ask that parents excuse their children from school if it is not possible for them to attend.
We highly encourage attendance as we will be assessing needs, providing meals, and trying to establish some normal during this disastrous time.
The parking lot at the high school will continue to be used as a staging area as it is desperately needed by the crews working so hard to get power restored to our communities. Drop off and pick up will be changed and communicated later in the day on Wednesday.
Michigan Works has financial support available for those with lost wages due to inability to work during the recovery from the ice storm. You can reach out to Michigan works for more information. And as we have communicated in the past, for any needs, you have due to the storm recovery, call 211. They are most efficiently able to address and connect you with resources for these needs.
We know the ice storm crisis has brought unexpected challenges and disruptions to your daily lives, and our hearts are with each of you as you navigate this difficult time. Please know that your strength, resilience, and care for your children do not go unnoticed. As we begin the journey back to school, we want you to feel supported every step of the way. Our priority is the safety and well-being of your children, and we are here to work together to restore a sense of stability and routine. Together, we will rebuild, reconnect, and rise—stronger than ever.
Hang in there Cardinals!
See you soon!
I had an amazing opportunity today, thanks to Tyler Smith at Talley's, to speak with the Governor regarding what our districts and the surrounding districts need from the State at this time. Thank you to Governor Whitmer and her team for showing up in Lewiston to see what a small community can do, listening and learning about what needs we have.
JLAS will be closed for students Monday and Tuesday (4/7, 4/8). A notice will go out Monday with an update on return dates. Charlton Hall is hosting HS students on Saturday from 12-5. Students are encouraged to go to the hall to hang out and play games. There is NO PARKING at the school. Students should park near the hall, but away from all power company equipment. Food truck distribution will be on Sat. at 12:30pm at the Otsego Co. United Way in Gaylord. At this time, we ask everyone to work on being safe and not go to either building. Keep being helpers out there; call 211 to report any needs as this is the fastest way for resources to be allocated!
Dear Cardinal Families,
We hope this message finds you safe and surrounded by support. Our thoughts are with all of you as we navigate the challenges brought on by the recent storm. If you or your family need assistance, please know that help is available. By dialing 211, you can access a variety of essential resources. Additionally, shelters are open to provide a safe place to rest, shower, and receive meals. Charlton Hall in Johannesburg, Saint Francis Church in Lewiston, and EFree Church in Gaylord are all available to those in need. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need support during this difficult time.
Returning to School
We understand that many of you are eager for information about when and how we will return to school. Our top priority is ensuring the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and families. As we assess our ability to reopen, we are considering several key factors:
Student and Staff Safety – It is crucial that our schools are not only accessible but also fully operational. This includes
restoring power, ensuring adequate heat and water, securing food and resources, and verifying that our communication
systems are functioning.
IT Systems – Reliable internet service is necessary for school operations, including phone communication. Our primary
internet connection is based in Johannesburg and extends wirelessly to Lewiston. We are working to ensure full restoration
as soon as possible.
Food Service – Our food service team will assess inventory to determine what is usable and what needs to be replenished.
They will have to coordinate orders to ensure we have the necessary supplies for student meals.
Transportation – Our transportation department will evaluate road conditions to determine whether bus routes need to be
adjusted due to storm-related damage.
Will We Have to Make Up Days?
At this time, we do not yet have a definitive answer. The governor’s state of emergency does not automatically waive missed school days. However, we are actively communicating with the state superintendent, local legislators, and the governor’s office to advocate for our district and ensure we are not unfairly penalized due to this unprecedented weather event. We will share any updates as soon as we receive guidance from Lansing.
Dual Enrollment Classes
For students participating in dual enrollment, we encourage those with internet access to continue attending their courses online. If you experience difficulties due to connectivity issues, please communicate with your instructors so they are aware of your situation. We believe the colleges are working closely with high schools to accommodate affected students, and we will continue to support you in any way we can. Mrs. Nowak is the point person for dual enrollment questions. She can be emailed for assistance, but like others, she also has limited access to internet or phone services.
Spring Testing
Once we have a firm return-to-school date, our administration and testing coordinators will review the testing schedule. Any necessary adjustments will be made to meet state requirements while prioritizing what is best for our students.
A Message of Encouragement
We know that this is an incredibly challenging time, and we wish we could provide clear answers about when life will return to normal. While we don’t have all the answers just yet, please know that we are in this together. Let’s continue to be patient, kind, and supportive of one another. We are grateful for the many helpers in our community who are stepping up to assist those in need, and we encourage everyone to lean on one another during this time. Keep an eye out for all of the helpers! We have some great ones right here!
Thank you for being part of our Cardinal family. We appreciate your resilience and understanding as we work through these challenges together.
Your Partner in Education,
Katy Xenakis-Makowski, Superintendent
Due to the ongoing damage from the storms, all events and activities are cancelled at the schools this week. We will reschedule the kindergarten and preschool open house. Please do not come to the buildings, they are closed for the week.
Due to the continued emergency in the area, JLAS will be closed the rest of the week. If you are in need of assistance, call 211 for help with resources. There are many helpers out there. Keep being a helper!
Due to the damage from the storm, JLAS will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday April 1st and 2nd. Stay safe and help each other out. The buildings are not accessible for anything at this time.
Due to the ice storm, power outages, and downed power lines, JLAS will be closed Monday, March 31st. Please stay safe and stay away from downed wires. Fitness centers are also closed.
Thank you to Mrs. Goddard's last hour English class for helping to create an amazing end to March's reading month.
Spring Break
Kindergarten March Madness came down to a tough decision today!
The 2025 champion is "Mustache Baby" by Bridget Heos
Attention JLAS K-5 families-Bare Necessities , Forget Normal-Wear Pajamas tomorrow!
It seems like the weather keeps working against us! Due to freezing ice on many of our roads, JLAS will be closed today in order to keep students and staff safe. Please be careful if you have to go out.