Saranac Community Schools

Students/parents/teachers and coaches: Better Together 4 Saranac is hosting a backpack giveaway this Thursday. They are also promoting the Bridgefe5K run/ walk.
The registration fee for the 5K goes up after August 9 and you're not guaranteed a t-shirt if you sign up after the 9th.

BT4S is seeking 1-3 high-school student volunteers to help with the giveaway. It would be 1:45-6:30 on Thursday. Students interested in volunteering should text Cindy Talcott at (616) 485-1135.

Information is attached to this post.

The 2026 fall sports season officially starts next Monday, August 10th, for high school sports (volleyball, football, cross country and sideline cheer). All athletes must have a current MHSAA physical form turned in to participate in practices. New athletes will also need to sign the Athletic Code of Conduct. Pay-to-Participate fees are due by the first contest. The cost is $100 per athlete/per year.

If you have questions please contact SCS athletic director, Kellan Smith, or SCS athletic secretary, Kate Hardy, at 616-642-1100. Go RedHawks!

The JSH office reopens today, Monday, August 3rd, for the 2026-27 school year. We will be open daily from 7:30 AM to 2:30 PM until school starts. Once school starts, the office is open from 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM.

Each year, the Dr. David Hawkins Award is awarded to the overall high senior team (either 4-H or FFA) with the highest score in the 4-H and FFA Livestock Judging State Contest. This year, the award goes to the Ionia County 4-H Senior team with a team score of 1,594.
The traveling trophy was presented to the team last night during the Michigan Livestock Expo Sale-A-Bration. The team will be traveling to the National Western Stock Show in January to compete at a National Livestock Judging contest. Congratulations, team!

Team members: Addison Dahms, Addison Elliott, Alivia Elliott, and Anna Dahms.

The Saranac FFA livestock judging team won the State FFA livestock judging contest. The team member included Addison Elliott, Alivia Elliott, Anna Dahms, and Caiden Hardy. The team competed in a day long contest at MSU. They placed eight classes of beef, sheep, goats, and pigs. They also gave three sets of oral reasons and answered a set of 10 questions on a livestock class. They will now compete in the Livestock Evaluation contest at FFA National Convention in October.

Construction at the school continues to progress as we approach August. Attached are some mid-summer pictures of the progress being made. Saranac Community Schools sure is blessed to have such great community support. Pictures start with the high school, elementary, and lastly the outside work. We will update everyone in a few weeks. Keep having a great summer!!

Wishing everyone a Happy Independence Day !!!!

Interested in the possibility of hosting an international exchange student? Saranac Community Schools partners with CETUSA to place a number of students each year with local families. See the attached information sheets for details!

Due to construction, the sports physicals have been moved across the road to Galilee Baptist Church at 291 Orchard St. They are still 12-2 on Friday, June 26th. Cost is $20 per athlete. The JSH summer school will be moved that day as well to our Central Office, the same location where we started. There will be no access to the JSH from Friday until Monday. Thank you for your flexibility.

Saranac Community Schools is pleased to introduce Jordan Piercefield. Jordan is returning to Saranac after teaching in Tennessee for the past 6 years. She will be serving as an elementary special education teacher in the fall. Jordan loves to travel and we are very excited that she has returned to Saranac Community Schools. Please join us in welcoming Jordan Piercefield back to the Saranac Community Schools family.

SCS will be offering athletic physicals to all Saranac student-athletes (K-12) on Friday, June 26th from 12:00 to 2:00 PM in the JSH auxiliary gym. The cost is $20. MHSAA physical forms are available on our website or at the event. These physicals will cover student athletes for the entire 2026-27 school year.

Good Morning,

The construction abatement is complete at the JSH. The JSH office staff have moved back into the building, and summer school will be located for the rest of the session in the auditorium lobby. Students should enter at the weight room entrance. Thank you!

JSH Administration

Happy Summer season from Saranac Community Schools.

Please know starting next week, June 15th, Saranac Community Schools Central Office will be open Monday-Thursday
8:00 am -3:00 pm. We are available on Friday's by appointment only. (We are closed Friday, July 3rd, for the holiday)
Regular office hours, 7:30 am- 4:00 pm will resume Monday, August 17th.

Thank you. Enjoy your summer.

Saranac Community Schools is pleased to introduce Kellan Smith. Kellan is a 2020 graduate of Saranac Community Schools and currently has a degree in social work. He will be serving as our Athletic Director and will also assist in behavioral support for students. Kellan enjoys sports and spending time supporting his community. Please join us in welcoming Kellan Smith to the Saranac Community Schools family.

Saranac Community Schools is pleased to introduce Tricia Yonker. Tricia is a graduate of Saranac Community Schools and currently has a degree in math. She will be serving as a middle school math teacher in the fall. Tricia has been active in our community and enjoys spending time with her family. Please join us in welcoming Tricia Yonker to the Saranac Community Schools family.

Saranac Community Schools is pleased to introduce Leeah Flanagan. Leeah has completed her elementary education teaching degree from Northern Michigan University. She has served as a special education para previously for the school district. She will be serving as a kindergarten teacher starting in the fall. Please join us in welcoming Leeah Flanagan to the Saranac Community Schools family.

Due to construction./asbestos abatement, the JSH office will be housed at the central office building June 8-12th. JSH summer school will be located there, as well. Our office hours through June 19th will be 7:30 to 2:20 PM. The JSH office will be closed June 22nd through August 2nd. Thank you for your flexibility!

Saranac Community Schools sends a shout out to Jones's Meat Market, Pinkney Hill Meats, and Ryan Hesche (Greenridge Realty) for providing food for our staff celebration lunch today Also, a big thank you to our cooks Greg Smith and Alvin Smith.

Saranac Community Schools would like to extend congratulations to our colleague and friend, Vicki McElvain. Vicki joined the district in 1986 as a cook at the elementary. She would retire in 2006, but would join us again 2021 and continue until June of 2026. Vicki spent 24 years in the elementary kitchen. We thank Vicki so much for her years of service and conitinued committment to our school. We are blessed to have her as part of our school family.

Please join us in congratulating and celebrating Vicki McElvain.

Saranac Community Schools would like to extend congratulations to our colleague and friend, Mrs. Jan Renwick. Jan joined Saranac Community Schools in 1972 as a sub in the kitchen. She was officially hired in 1974 in the kitchen and playground. She became an instructional aide in 1976. Jan worked until retiring in 1999, she then stayed home to help with grandchildren. Jan would return and was hired again in April 2013. She would continue until June 2026.
A truly amazing 40 years of service to the district.

Please join us in congratulating and celebrating Jan Renwick.