Hemlock Public School District - Innovate, Collaborate, Educate

Sweater Weather + Market Vibes 🧺 Thursday evenings are for fall strolls, good food, and community. 🍂
Shop local produce, meats, breads, and all your favorite fall finds at the Hemlock Farmer’s Market, open from 4–7 PM at the red barn.
#HemlockHuskies #HemlockStrong #SupportLocal

Today we celebrate Custodian Appreciation Day 🧹✨ A huge THANK YOU to our incredible custodial team who work tirelessly behind the scenes to keep our schools safe, clean, and welcoming. From early mornings to late nights, they go above and beyond to make sure our Huskies have the best learning environment possible.

We appreciate you more than words can say.

#HemlockHuskies #Huskietastic #HemlockStrong #Since1863

Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting Celebration ✨ Join us for a special evening as we celebrate the Grand Opening of Wallace Field and Krueger Track on Friday, October 3rd, 2025—just before the big game.

📍 Ribbon Cutting: 6:00 PM
🏈 Kickoff: 7:00 PM

Come early, be part of history, and help us cheer on the Huskies under the Friday night lights. Don’t miss this milestone moment for our school and community.

#HemlockHuskies #Huskietastic #HemlockStrong #Since1863 #FridayNightLights

It’s #ThrowbackThursday and today we’re headed to Prom ’95—familiar faces, classic smiles, and Huskie memories that still connect generations. Recognize someone? Tag them (or their recent grad) and share a favorite memory.

#HemlockHuskies #Huskietastic #HemlockStrong #Since1863

When you walk our halls, you’ll see more than walls and books—you’ll see investments made with care. Every resource, every dollar, every effort is poured into what matters most: helping our Huskies thrive.

#SmallTownBigOpportunities #HemlockHuskies #Since1863

#WednesdayWisdom #GrowThroughIt #HemlockHuskies

Hemlock Huskie History Fact. #Since1863 #PullTheSled

Hemlock Public School District mourns the passing of Richard “Dick” Redifer, who served our community for 37 years in many roles—principal, teacher, athletic director, bus driver, coach, and driver’s training instructor. Mr. Redifer was known for his quick thinking, work ethic, and unwavering commitment to students and families. His impact is woven into the fabric of Hemlock, and he will be deeply missed.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to Mr. Redifer’s family, friends, former students, and colleagues.

https://www.obitmichigan.com/Obituary/76552/Richard-Redifer

If you’re feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or unsure where to turn, there’s help. Right now.

Our partnership with Gaggle ReachOut gives Hemlock students a 24/7 crisis line that’s just a call or chat away. It’s confidential, student-focused, and always available.

Call 989-200-5514 or chat using this link: https://d1ycp1unyf9l00.cloudfront.net/partner/15a5dc9d-8072-4808-a2e2-5f6a6a043696/site/widget/index.html

Because your mental health matters. Because you matter.
#MentalHealthMatters #YouAreNotAlone #ReachOut #HemlockHuskies

Kindergarten Hedgehog Art: officially the new standard for adorable. 🦔
#HemlockHuskies #WorksOfHeart #YouAreWelcome

Free Meals Continue at Hemlock 🥪 Although the State of Michigan has not yet finalized its budget, Hemlock Public Schools remains focused on what matters most, our students.

For now, we’ll continue providing free meals to all students while we wait for more clarity on long-term funding from the State.

Thank you for standing with us as we put kids first.

#HemlockHuskies #BetterTogether #Since1863

Families and Community,

Sometimes we get it right, and sometimes we don’t. At Hemlock Public School District, nothing is more important than student safety—and clear, timely communication is a critical part of keeping everyone safe and informed.

Yesterday (Monday, September 29, 2025), our safety protocols were tested. Out of an abundance of caution and with limited information, we placed all HPSD buildings in Secure Mode. That was the right call. When in doubt, we will always put the safety of students and staff first—even if it later proves to be an overreaction.

As we processed information, we moved quickly to inform parents. Because there was no active threat and no action required from families, we used email. Here’s where we fell short: our system did not send the update to everyone. We identified the issue before the end of the day and have corrected it. We are now increasing our testing schedule to ensure messages reach every intended recipient. This failure is unacceptable, and we’ve taken steps to prevent a repeat.

A note about social media: asking the community not to post speculation during a safety event is not about hiding information. It’s about preventing misinformation and avoiding making our schools a target (check with Chief Goldman if you would like). When we have verified information to share publicly, we will share it. In some situations, we may use our official social media channels; in others, we will communicate directly with parents/guardians first.

We also want you to know: we work closely with the Richland Township Police and Fire Department, located on our campus and surrounded by HPSD on three sides. Chief Goldman, School Resource Officer Randy, and both departments are active partners in planning, training, and response. Our district has many safety features in place; we don’t publicize all of them, because doing so can create risk. You are always welcome to contact Chief Goldman at 989.642.5707 if you have questions.

In today’s world, security drills are as routine as fire drills. We don’t want to alarm you during a simple drill; however, when an unscheduled incident occurs, we typically follow up with an email to explain what happened—provided the situation isn’t time-sensitive. If we ever face an urgent situation that requires you to act right now (avoid an area, change pickup, follow specific instructions), we will send a text message using our district system, Apptegy. Text allows us to reach you quickly and reliably.

What we need from you (right now):

Verify your contact information. Please make sure your email address and mobile number are accurate in Skyward Family Access.

Early Childhood Center (HECC) families: We are actively working to include ECC-only families who are not yet in Skyward so you receive districtwide texts and emails. Until that’s complete, please confirm your current contact information with the HECC office so we can reach you promptly.

We are actively updating and testing our internal communication systems. Our commitment is simple: when seconds matter, you’ll hear from us by text; when a situation allows, we’ll follow up with a clear email summary. Safety and security are serious business for us, and we will keep refining our systems to serve you and your children well.

If you have questions or need help updating contact information, please call our office at 989.642.5282 (ask for Lela Gronski), or contact your school building office and speak with the building secretary.

Thank you for your partnership and trust.

All the best,

Don Killingbeck Jr., Ed.D.
Superintendent
989.642.5282

📅 Hey Huskies, check out these important dates for the next few months of the school year to stay in the loop, and be sure to follow your specific school building on Facebook for the latest.

#HemlockHuskies #PullTheSled #Since1863

The internet can be a noisy place, and sometimes stories get a little mixed up. If you’ve got questions about our district—whether it’s the exciting projects we’re building or the everyday moments happening in our schools—the best way to get the facts is to call us directly. 📞

Hemlock Elementaries: 989.642.5221 | 989.642.5235 (Ling)
Principal Cory Snider | snider@hemlockps.com
Assistant Principal Amanda Sensabaugh | sensabaugh.amanda@hemlockps.com

Hemlock Middle School: 989.642.5253
Principal Lori Gensch | gensch@hemlockps.com

Hemlock High School: 989.642.5287
Principal Keith Green | green@hemlockps.com

Central Office: 989.642.5282
Superintendent Don Killingbeck | killingbeck@hemlockps.com

Have a question? We’re just a phone call away.
#HemlockHuskies #HemlockStrong #Since1863

Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting Celebration ✨ Join us for a special evening as we celebrate the Grand Opening of Wallace Field and Krueger Track on Friday, October 3rd, 2025—just before the big game.

📍 Ribbon Cutting: 6:00 PM
🏈 Kickoff: 7:00 PM

Come early, be part of history, and help us cheer on the Huskies under the Friday night lights. Don’t miss this milestone moment for our school and community.

#HemlockHuskies #Huskietastic #HemlockStrong #Since1863 #FridayNightLights

🍂🍁 Fall in Hemlock: 5 stars
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Would recommend.

#HemlockHuskies #Huskietastic

Showing up isn’t just about schoolwork. It’s about connection, leadership, and kindness. Let your child know, "You can be someone’s bright spot just by being there." A new week starts tomorrow, and we’re ready to welcome them. #GoodAttendanceIsAGamechanger #HuskieAttendance #ShowUpAndLead

📌 A Day for Dax is today at Tommy's Express Car Wash on State Street in Saginaw. Don't miss this great opportunity to honor Dax's memory while supporting students. All day long a portion of every wash will go to a scholarship fund to support students from Hemlock High School who are going into the trades.
#DayForDax #WashForaCause #BetterTogether #HemlockStrong