Region 5 MiFamily Engagement Center

09/03/2026

Region 5 is proud to partner with Bangor Township Schools and Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential to share how we are engaging families and students in our region!

Great things can happen when BAISD and local districts collaborate! Check out our own Maggie Wisniewski from BAISD and Melissa Vrable from Bangor Township Schools! These 2, local student and family champions are being featured on a national webinar on supporting family engagement through systems building! So proud to highlight their incredible work!

09/01/2026

🍎 Everyday Attendance Starts Now 🍎
Showing up every day early in the year helps kids build confidence, connect with classmates, and stay on track with learning.

Need support or want to learn more? Visit fewerthan5.com for family resources. Funding for Strive for Fewer than Five is supported by the Region 5 MiFamily Engagement Center.

09/01/2026

Last week, Bay-Arenac ISD Early Childhood staff came together to explore the harmful effects of excessive screen use and begin developing a framework for a family engagement event centered around the Region 5 Unplug & Play Digital Diet.

The team hopes to bring this family event to districts throughout Bay-Arenac ISD, giving families practical tools, strategies, and resources to support healthier, more balanced screen habits at home. 📱➡️💛

We’re excited to see this collaborative work continue to grow across our region!

Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential

08/27/2026

🎓 Show Up for the Future 🎓

Every school day helps students build the knowledge, relationships, and habits they need for what comes next. Regular attendance supports learning today while helping children and teens stay on track toward future milestones—including graduation.

The future is built one day at a time. Keep learning. Keep growing. Keep showing up. 💛



Need support or want to learn more? Visit fewerthan5.com for family resources.

Funding for Strive for Fewer Than Five is supported by the Region 5 MiFamily Engagement Center.

08/25/2026

Back-to-school season is here! 🐾🚌 Our dedicated transportation team is proud to transport our community's most precious cargo to and from school safely every single day.

Safety on the road takes all of us—check out the quick guide in the graphic below for a refresher on school bus signal lights!

Please stay alert, avoid distractions, and help us protect our Huskies this school year! 🐾

08/25/2026

🔔 THE BELL HAS RUNG! Welcome to Day 1! 🔔

The doors are officially open for the 2026-2027 school year! We are so excited to see our classrooms fill up with energy, curiosity, and fresh possibilities today. We are ready to help students Belong, Grow, and Excel.

📸 Show Us Your Smiles! Let's fill our feed with the bright futures of Bay City!
Have a safe, wonderful, and inspiring school year.

08/25/2026

📚 Welcome Back! 🍎

A new school year is here, and we’re excited to welcome students, families, educators, and staff back for another year of learning, growth, and connection!

Whether you’re returning to a familiar classroom or beginning a brand-new adventure, we hope your year is filled with new opportunities, meaningful moments, and plenty of reasons to smile.

Here’s to a great 2026–2027 school year! 💙

08/25/2026

📅 First Week = Routine Week 📅
Try to avoid “just one extra day” of vacation once school begins. The first week sets habits that last all year.

Need support or want to learn more? Visit fewerthan5.com for family resources. Funding for Strive for Fewer than Five is supported by the Region 5 MiFamily Engagement Center.

08/21/2026

💛 Belonging Starts With Showing Up 💛

Each day at school gives students another chance to build confidence, strengthen friendships, and connect with caring adults. Regular attendance helps children and teens feel like they are part of their school community.

When a student is absent, their presence is missed. Their ideas, personality, and contributions matter.

Every day will not be perfect. What matters is staying connected, asking for support when needed, and continuing to show up.

💛

Need support or want to learn more? Visit fewerthan5.com for family resources.

Funding for Strive for Fewer Than Five is supported by the Region 5 MiFamily Engagement Center.

08/20/2026

Attendance support in action!

For families, getting to school every day is not always as simple as setting an alarm. Sometimes, removing a barrier can make all the difference.

Saginaw Public Schools Schools Truancy Officer Charles Cork is pictured with a vehicle provided by the district to help support students with transportation to and from school, putting attendance and engagement into action by helping students get where they need to be: in school, connected, learning, and belonging.

This work is strengthened by the partnership and support of Saginaw Intermediate School District and by the shared commitment to Strive for Fewer Than Five across Region 5.

Together, our five regional ISD partners, Bay-Arenac ISD, Clare-Gladwin RESD, Gratiot-Isabella RESD, Midland County Educational Service Agency, and Saginaw Intermediate School District, are working alongside local districts and communities to strengthen attendance, remove barriers, support families, and reinforce one important message:

School is not the same when you are not there. We miss you.

This is what a regional attendance effort looks like: shared messaging, local action, strong partnerships, and a commitment to making sure students and families have the support they need to show up and thrive.

Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential