Back to School

NORTHVILLIANS,

As we transition off our Heritage (Victorian) Festival week where many of our students marched in the parade and took part in history activities at the Mill Race Village, I would like to talk about our youth…their resilience and persistence during what history will remember as a bizarre time for education and growing up within a pandemic.  Northville school graduations and ceremonies have gone partially virtual, and the word “ZOOM” no longer conjures up thoughts of things that go fast.  We are now always on guard on what is around us, and social distancing is a part of our life.  Open spaces used to be referred to as the prairies out West.  Masks aren’t just used on Halloween anymore.  It hit us all, especially our kids.

Notably, our High School seniors have had graduation car parades vs. grad ceremonies, and our music has been in the background vs. front-and-center in our Northville downtown social district, which, by the way, hosted a Senior Prom-type open air event this past year.  We (Northvillians) congratulate our award-winning students whose school district just was ranked #1 in the Michigan 2022 Niche rankings. Our youth have truly transitioned to new norms.  

School is Now Back in Session with COVID Policies and Procedures being adhered to:

• As we enter our third school year affected by this pandemic, it reminds us how our award-winning youth have had to be flexible…like all of us through these Covid times.
   
• Since our first official public school in Northville was built in 1853, the Ville has always been known as a “center of learning” with private & public-school availability. From one-room schoolhouses to various learning centers, educational development has been a priority and an integral part of the fabric of this community since our beginnings in 1827.

• Covid has changed our learning process to be partially virtual, following social distancing guidelines, with less face-to-face interaction at our schools. Each one of our schools have been affected equally, albeit differently, but all have persevered.
   
• I applaud our Teachers, Administration, School Board, parents and students for all they have endured during this Pandemic.  And again, let’s all congratulate them on their #1 Niche ranking position.
   
• Our Schools have been named after historical and geographically significant local areas, as well various community & school leaders.  Examples are:  Amerman, Silver Springs, Winchester, Ridgewood, Thornton Creek, Meads Mill, Hillside and Northville High School.
   
• I also want to thank the parents who have assisted in celebrating unique graduation ceremonies, who have been involved with modified athletic & club event protocols, who have made adjustments on-the-fly so special events could happen.  They have relentlessly supported our youth.
   
• With your assistance, we have had multiple vaccination clinics, including at the High School and at Schoolcraft College.  I thank all that volunteered their time & talents to be part of these Covid “battle stations”.
   
• I especially appreciate the High School parents who were involved in the Senior outdoor all-night party and the car parades on 6 Mile.
   
• In the past, I have participated in person at the NHS Honors banquet as well as reading activities and events in our various Northville Schools.  These happenings have all gone virtual since Covid. 
   
• During the Pandemic, I had the honor to participate as a Guest Speaker at an NHS TEDx presentation (all digital).  Also, via Zoom, I presented awards to students for the Honors banquet and virtually read books for classes that I had done in-person previously.
   
• Knowing all these things, it’s even more remarkable that Northville Schools have remained one of the top-ranked districts in all categories throughout the state.

Again, I thank you for assisting our youth, our seniors and all Northvillians as we transition through the various phases of COVID in our lives. I certainly appreciate all that each of you have done to share your time and talents, especially with our youth during very trying times. 

Keep that Northville Connected Faith! We will continue to work through this…together!

Brian Turnbull
Mayor – Northville
BTurnbull@ci.northville.mi.us / 248.505.6849

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