Back-to-School: What's New for Novi Schools

Late Start Dates

As part of the , all Novi Community Schools will have five late start dates this year for professional development days. School will start 2.5 hours later on the following Wednesdays:

• Sept. 28
• Nov. 9
• Dec. 7
• March 14
• May 16

The starting times for each school on late-start days are as follows:

• Novi High School: 9:45 a.m.
• Novi Middle School: 10:15 a.m.
• Novi Meadows: 10:40 a.m.
• Deerfield Elementary School: 11:35 a.m.
• Novi Woods Elementary School: 11:05 a.m.
• Orchard Hills Elementary School: 11:05 a.m.
• Parkview Elementary School: 11:35 a.m.
• Village Oaks Elementary School: 11:35 a.m.

Novi High School Super Wednesdays

In order to provide a time for high schoolers to make up tests and meet with their teachers, is adding "Super Wednesdays" to its schedule this year. This will be a 40-minute academic advisory session after third period every Wednesday. On Wednesdays, seventh period classes will not run and extracurricular activities will not begin until 3:10 p.m.

New Administration

The Novi Community School District has several new staff members on its administration team this year:

• Superintendent:
• Assistant Superintendent of Business and Operations: Steve Barr
• Assistant Superintedent of Human Resources and Administration Services: Bonnie Lobert
• Principal of Novi Middle School:
• Principal of Novi Meadows:
• Principal of Novi Woods Elementary:
• Principal of Ochard Hills Elementary:
• Principal of Deerfield Elementary:

Breakfast Program

Novi will be to , and this fall, making the program part of every school. Under the program, students who are financially eligible for free lunch are offered a free breakfast; students eligible for a reduced lunch can get breakfast for 30 cents; and students who are ineligible for free lunch can purchase breakfast for $1.50.

New Technology

Something new and shiny for this school year: all elementary schools will have a cart of iPads to share among classrooms, thanks to money leftover from a technology bond. Approximately 1,800 computers and laptops in the district were also replaced.

Japanese School of Detroit

Ringo Kai, also known as the Japanese School of Detroit, from Birmingham to Novi Aug. 27. Ringo Kai will be renting out Novi Meadows to host its school on Saturdays for the next 10 years. The school will also use seven classrooms in the Instructional Technology Center on Tuesdays-Saturdays for office space.

Construction Updates

Several construction projects were completed during the summer using money from the sinking fund. Most of the projects have already been completed or will be completed by the first day of school or shortly after. Here's a list of what was done at each school:

Educational Services Building

• New attic access doors installed
• Attic insulation and soffit baffles improved

Novi High School

• Concession building toilet room upgraded
• Stadium seating expanded
• Main building locker room upgraded
• Baseball field dugouts replaced
• Baseball field toilet building added

Novi Middle School

• Underground drain to teacher's lounge sink replaced
• Additional sidewalks from 11 Mile Road installed

Novi Meadows

• New fencing installed at upper playfield
• Exterior of masonry screen wall replaced
• New outside storage building constructed

Village Oaks Elementary

• Fencing along west and north property lines replaced

Parkview Elementary

• Main lobby and corridor upgraded

Deerfield Elementary

• Sidewalk approaches along Wixom Road installed
• New outside storage building constructed

Novi Woods Elementary

• Partial part of the existing roof restored
• Classroom markerboards replaced
• New outside storage building constructed