Superintendent's Welcome
Dear Parents, Students, and Community Members,
“Let’s Roll.”
That’s the theme Hazel Park Schools will embrace for the 2024-25 school year. “Let’s Roll” were the last words United Flight 93 passenger Todd Beamer spoke on Sept. 11, 2001, just before he and other passengers launched an attack on three hijackers who wanted to crash the plane into a Washington, D.C., target.
All of Hazel Park Schools will get behind our “Let’s Roll” theme and use it as a call to action to do the right thing at the right time. We watched the country come together. We watched people helping others, without expectation of anything in return.
We at Hazel Park Schools will never forget.
“Let’s Roll.”
Our dedicated teachers and staff serve more than 3,000 students in 12 schools throughout Hazel Park and Ferndale each year. We are fortunate to receive incredible support from parents, grandparents, churches, civic groups, and local businesses as we work together to prepare students for the future.
We welcome students from all backgrounds as we strive to inspire and empower all learners to achieve excellence through a variety of scholastic opportunities and extracurricular activities. Our Ferndale and Hazel Park resident students have access to the Hazel Park Promise Zone and College Access Network, which offers a tuition-free path to an associate's degree. We also provide college and career preparatory programs such as the UAW Chrysler School-to-Work Program, Fire Fighter Academy, Early Middle College, and our welding program. Our Michigan College Access Network (MCAN) counselor and Oakland 80 staff support all Hazel Park students as they work to become productive citizens.
We continue to grow our academic and extracurricular programs at all grade levels. We have kindergartners through seniors competing in robotics. Our drama program continues to amaze audiences with its outstanding performances. Our award-winning National Art Honor Society continues to refine its craft, and our National Honor Society has a record number of members. Our drama program has provided our community and others with amazing programs. Our marching band continues its tradition of bringing spirit to the football and performance fields.
Our athletic teams continue to contend for league and state-level titles every year.
In the fall, our Varsity Volleyball team won its second consecutive MAC Bronze Division championship, going a perfect 10-0, and captured a second straight Division 2 District title.
In the winter, our Varsity Girls and Boys Bowling teams won MAC Gold Division titles for a second consecutive season, and both teams also qualified for the Division 3 State Finals. We also had two individual bowlers reach the State Finals. Our Varsity Wrestling team won a Division 3 District title for the first time since 2011 and had an individual State qualifier for the first time since the 2021-22 season.
In the spring, our Varsity Softball team went undefeated in the MAC Silver Division to claim its second title in the last three seasons. Our Varsity Baseball team captured a Division 2 District title in dramatic fashion. It was the team’s second District championship in two of the last three seasons. Our Boys Track & Field team won the school’s first MAC Division championship and had two individual state qualifiers for a second consecutive season. Desteny DeJarnett also broke the Girls Shot Put record. Our Varsity Girls Soccer team broke the school record for wins in a season en route to a berth in a Division 3 District championship match.
To help build our athletic programs at Hazel Park Schools, we offer our young athletes FREE summer camps run by our varsity coaches to teach them fundamentals and prepare them to participate on teams at our Junior High and High School. We are also part of the Junior Vikings, who currently offer competitive football, cheer, and wrestling for our young athletes, with more sports soon being offered.
And let's not forget our wonderful adults who sell flowers and gifts at the Jardon Greenhouse for Special Education students.
We support a collaborative and well-rounded education for all students.
We have eight fundamental beliefs we adhere to that are outlined in our strategic plan, Today’s Learners, Tomorrow’s Leaders.
We believe:
The school district supports the social, emotional, physical, and academic needs of each child in a caring, healthy, and safe environment.
All students have the ability to learn.
A culture that celebrates diversity and promotes equity.
Student achievement and social-emotional learning are at the core of every decision.
Students are successful when staff, families, and the community are engaged and support learning.
Research-based curriculum, aligned with state standards, is the foundation for high-quality instruction.
Student-driven learning environments foster self-efficacy and individual ownership of learning.
Student success is fostered and supported through multiple pathways toward graduation.
Unveiled in 2016, after an extensive year-long process, Today’s Learners, Tomorrow’s Leaders is centered on four primary implementation goals for the district: Climate and Culture, Curriculum and Instruction, Community Relations, and Resources.
To date, Hazel Park has worked through many of these goals as we have implemented the following targets:
A balanced budget and strong fund balance.
Implementation of positive behavior support systems.
Implementation of social-emotional learning and trauma-informed programming.
Expanded communication and media plan.
Increased community involvement.
Increased extracurricular activities.
Additional fine arts and electives.
I encourage you to explore each goal — as well as the rest of this website — to determine how you can help us be “Today’s Learners, Tomorrow’s Leaders.”
I welcome your involvement, and please reach out to my office with any input.
With Students in Mind,
Dr. Amy Kruppe, Superintendent
Hazel Park Schools
