End of October 2026

Dear D7 Families and Community,

It is hard to believe how quickly the school year is moving! As we wrap up October, I want to take a moment to reflect on what has already been a wonderful start to the school year. Our students and staff have settled into their routines, classrooms are filled with learning, and there has been so much energy and excitement throughout our schools. Thank you to our families and community for the continued support you provide to our students and staff each and every day.

We had a successful Count Day, and I want to thank our families for making every effort to have their children in school, on time, for the full day. Every student counts. Student attendance and enrollment are important to our district budget and help us continue providing the programs, services, and opportunities our students deserve. Your support truly makes a difference.

Our Homecoming celebration was another highlight of the month. It was wonderful to see our current students, families, staff, and alumni come together to celebrate Homecoming 2026 and the traditions that make D7 so special. Seeing generations of D7 students and graduates together is a wonderful reminder of what a dedicated and supportive community we are fortunate to have. We captured some great photos of the different Homecoming events. See below.

October brings some of the most beautiful changes of the year. The vibrant colors of the leaves and cooler temperatures are a reminder that fall is here. I encourage everyone to take time to enjoy the beauty of the season, while also making sure our students are dressed appropriately for the drop in temperatures as we move into November and the colder months ahead.

Safety continues to be a priority throughout our district. We remain committed to providing safe and supportive learning environments for our students and staff. You will find additional safety information and updates in this newsletter including some great photos of our Bobby the Boot safety assemblies.

I am also pleased to share updates on upcoming projects that will continue to improve and maintain our district facilities. We are committed to making thoughtful investments in our buildings and ensuring that our facilities remain safe, functional, and welcoming for our students and community. Please take a look at the information below for more information about these important projects.

And, of course, there are plenty of activities and events happening throughout our district and community. I hope you will take some time to enjoy the many opportunities the fall season has to offer. See the information below and be sure to check out our website and social media pages.

I am also excited to welcome the newest members of our D7 team. We are fortunate to have such dedicated professionals working each day to support our students. Our latest newcomers are introduced below.

There is much excitement as we move through this school year. Thank you for your partnership, your support, and your continued belief in our students and our schools. I am proud to be your Superintendent and grateful for the opportunity to serve the D7 community.

Wishing you and your families a safe and beautiful fall season!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS:

• October 31 Halloween
• November 1 Daylight Saving Time
• November 2 No School–K-12 students Staff PD
• November 3 No School–K-12 students and Staff Election Day
• November 13 End of Marking Period
• November 19 Half Day K-12 students Conferences
• November 25 Half Day K-12 Staff Thanksgiving Break
• November 26 No School–K-12 students and Staff Thanksgiving Break
• November 27 No School–K-12 students and Staff Thanksgiving Break

BUILDING AND SITE SINKING FUND UPDATE:

Last year, our community graciously supported the 10 year renewal of our Building and Site Sinking Fund. Below is a list of projects that were approved. The first major project we will tackle is the new roof for O. W. Best Middle School. Bids will be going out in early spring with work slated to begin in June. We are very excited to begin these projects and will keep you up to date with our progress. These projects are phased in over a ten-year time frame. They are prioritized based on safety and needs.

The following projects will be included in this renewal:

• O.W. Best Middle School Roof Project — First Project
• Cement Repairs District Wide (sidewalks and drop off lanes)
• Roof Project for Board Office
• Pardee Parking Lot Project
• AHS HVAC and Univent Project
• O. W. Best HVAC and Univent Project
• District-Wide Restroom Refresh
• Madison Elementary Project – building updates and refresh
• AHS Parking Lot Resurface
• AHS 2nd Floor Roof

OUR NEWEST D7 STAFF:

CHARTWELL FOOD SERVICE DIRECTOR: As you may know, D7 partners with the Chartwell Food Service Company to provide breakfast and lunch for all of our students. The program was supervised by Paul Daniels through Chartwells. Paul will be retiring later this month and we want to thank Paul for his work here in D7. We wish him the very best in retirement.

We would like to welcome our new Chartwell Food Service Director, Mitzi Burton, to D7. Mitzi comes to us with a wealth of experience in K-12 food service. She previously served as Senior Director of Dining Services at Ypsilanti Schools. Welcome Mitzi!

NEW SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER (SRO): D7 would like to welcome our new School Resource Officer Hamze Younis. With 8 years of law enforcement experience, Officer Younis has had the opportunity to serve in a variety of roles that have strengthened his commitment to community-focused policing. As a School Resource Officer, he has completed both the basic and advanced NASRO (National Association of School Resource Officers) courses, and is a certified ALICE (school safety program) and TEAM (Teaching, Educating, and Mentoring) Instructor. These certifications have allowed Officer Younis to lead a variety of presentations for students and staff across several school districts. Beyond instructional duties, Officer Younis has proudly served as a Field Training Officer, Evidence Technician, and was honored to become the first liaison for the Dearborn Heights Police Department’s ACCESS program—an initiative aimed at supporting residents facing mental health and substance abuse challenges. Officer Younis is looking forward to the opportunity to work with the D7 School to help create a safe and welcoming environment for the community. Welcome Officer Younis!

Pool Updates:  

Recently, the Board of Education, following the recommendation of the Building and Site Committee, approved repairs and improvements to the pool’s mechanical systems. These improvements include new louvers designed to enhance air quality and circulation in the pool area, as well as a new pool pump to support the pool’s ongoing operation.

Our pool is an important asset for our students, staff, and community, and we are pleased to make these investments to help maintain a safe, functional, and welcoming facility for everyone who uses it. Below are photos of the new louvers and pool pump.

Open Swim and Swim Lessons:

Please review the following information in regards to our Open Swim and Swimming Lessons offered here at D7! These are great opportunities for our students and families!

AHS HOMECOMING:

A special “Thank You” goes out to all those who were involved in this year's Homecoming! Another great time at D7!

HALLOWEEN:

Polk, Pardee and Bedford Elementaries will be hosting a Truck or Treat event on Friday, October 30th at the Polk Elementary Parking lot, off Annapolis Street. This is a great event for our students! Please see the flyer below:

AHS Haunted Hallways:

The students and staff at Annapolis High School are excited to welcome all to the Haunted Hallways on October 30th! Please see the information below: 

WHO DO YOU CALL?

Thank You to all who support our District!