port huron

New Education Programs Coming to St. Clair TEC

St. Clair County high school students interested in a career in education have a new opportunity to get a jumpstart on their careers. New Early Childhood Education and PreK – 12 Education programs are being offered at St. Clair TEC in the 2021-22 school year for forty-eight students.

Students entering the two-year program will start with classroom centered learning for the first year and move to an internship in their chosen setting for the second year.

Pat Yanik, Director of Career and Technical Education at St. Clair County RESA said, “This program will allow students to explore the wide range of careers in education and help them make a knowledgeable decision based on their first-hand experience. Students will complete the program with the skills and credentials they need to enter the workforce or further their education at a 2- or 4-year institution.”

RESA Superintendent Kevin Miller said there is a shortage of skilled childcare professionals and this program will “help meet the need of our local community while providing our students with career opportunities in an industry with long-term growth potential.”

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

Port Huron Schools Ask Parents to Remain Vigilant as COVID Cases Rise

Port Huron, MI — Port Huron Schools marked the one-year anniversary of learning in the midst of COVID with a letter to families and the community.

Port Huron Schools Superintendent Jamie Cain thanked families for their flexibility and understanding and said that all district staff who chose to get the COVID-19 vaccine have now received their second dose of the shot, making them fully vaccinated.

While there is hope for better days ahead, Cain cautioned that with rising case numbers in the county, parents, students, staff, and the community can not let their guard down.

In the letter, Cain said, “I want our community to know the factors that we are evaluating to make decisions for each building.” Cain said the factors are student and staff attendance, the actual transmission of COVID-19 during the school day, and the ability to safely staff buildings.

Cain asked for continued vigilance from families including keeping kids home when sick, following face mask and handwashing protocols, following quarantine mandates, and also keeping up on schoolwork even when quarantined. He also encouraged families to take time to listen to how kids are feeling about the situation.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Officer Huisman Achieves Status as National SRO Practitioner

Port Huron, MI–School Resource Officer Dennis Huisman was recently recognized by the National Association of School Resource Officers as a National SRO Practitioner. To achieve that status, Huisman had to meet certain qualifications that included training, a commitment to school-based policing, and leadership in the school-based field of law enforcement.

School resource officers are not security guards, but rather sworn law enforcement officers that are placed in schools to ensure the safety of students and staff and to foster positive relationships with youth. Having school resource officers in place has been proven to minimize property damage in schools, prevent student injuries, reduce the need for schools to call 911, and increase the feeling of safety among students and staff.

Officer Huismen has been a school resource officer since March of 2018 when the program began as a partnership between the Port Huron Police Department and the Port Huron Schools. His recognition as a National SRO Practitioner identifies him as one of the elite School Resource Officers in the nation, and it signifies a high commitment to the youth in our community.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

MDOT Keeps Blue Water Bridge Rates the Same; Canadian Side Increases Toll

Port Huron, MI — The Michigan Department of Transportation has announced that toll rates, paid in Canadian currency, will remain the same, while the Federal Bridge Corporation, which operates the Canadian side of the bridge is raising rates. The Bridge has remained closed to non-essential travel for nearly a year.

The toll rates are adjusted on April 1st and October 1st of each year in accordance with the Blue Water Bridge parity rate adjustment policy that was effective April 1st 2016. There are no changes to the bridge fare for those paying with Canadian money, heading into Canada from the U.S.

With the current average daily exchange rate, the toll rates remain at $4 Canadian per trip for passenger vehicles, with extra axles costing another $4. Trucks and buses cost $4.25 per axle.

The rates for those paying with U.S. dollars heading into Canada are $3 for passenger vehicles and another $3 for each extra axle and $3.25 for each axle on trucks and buses.

For truckers and essential travelers heading into the U.S. from Canada, the rates are set to increase on April 1st to $5 Canadian or $3.75 U.S. per axle, as decided by the Federal Bridge Corporation, on the Canadian side.

Reporting for WGRT- Jennie McClelland

Volunteer Training Starts April 1st at Spero Center

Port Huron, MI — Spero Pregnancy Center wants to remind you that volunteering is good for your health, and they have a volunteer training session beginning April 1st that will help you plug in to their nonprofit medical clinic.

Spero Center has a holistic approach to working with women and men experiencing unexpected pregnancies. They provide support through client advocates, mentors, medical staff, and many other staff members and volunteers.

They provide a five-week training program that equips volunteers with the skills they need to serve their clients well. There are opportunities to work with the center’s clients along with providing volunteer IT support, graphic design, cleaning, community outreach, and office support.

Volunteering is rewarding in many ways, and it’s proven to increase over-all well-being in the areas of physical, mental, and spiritual health.

Learn more about volunteer opportunities at Spero Pregnancy Center  by visiting their website at BlueWaterBabies.org.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

24/7 DAD Program Helps Fathers Be Their Best

Port Huron, MI — I.M.P.A.C.T. works hard to enrich the lives of the people they serve through information, referral, advocacy, prevention, and treatment, and the organization is excited to offer a new program that focusing on fatherhood called 24/7 DAD.

The 24/7 DAD program is for fathers in all stages who hope to become the best father possible for their kids. It will also address the unique needs of fathers who are working with the court system and need parenting classes or those who are working through custody issues and want to learn their rights and improve their communication skills.

The program lasts 12 weeks, and it will take place at the I.M.P.A.C.T. center on Military Street in Port Huron. The program is partially funded by the Community Foundation of St. Clair County which cut the participant fee in half bringing it to just $60 per person.

For more information or to register, contact Pamela Motte at 810-985-5437.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand