School resumes Monday in Dexter, after classes were canceled Friday as the community recovered from a tornado that destroyed more than 100 homes.

Superintendent Mary Marshall made the announcement on her district's web page on Sunday.

Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com

The schools continued to be open during the weekend as a resource and destination for children, opening for 'gym and swim' events and as a destination for donations.

Following is Marshall's note, posted at 6 p.m.:

Hello Dexter Parents,

It has been another busy and productive recovery day. I know we are all getting pretty tired. We have to remind each other of all of our blessings and start to monitor our rest and good eating habits. We have to take care of ourselves so that we can take care of our little ones. Thank you for all you are doing to help each other. What a community!

Today we had another successful swim and gym at Wylie. Wow! What a turn out! Thanks to the volunteers who worked this event. We couldn't have done this without you. The kids had a ball.

The Red Cross move went very well. We are up and functioning at Creekside. The community donations are beyond belief. If you have been affected by this storm, please, before going to the grocery store, come by Creekside. People donated these items to show their compassion for you. Please stop by and pick up food, clothes, toiletries, bedding, etc. It is being cleaned by volunteers and will be fresh and ready to go. Thank you to everyone who donated. The Red Cross hotline for accessing resources is 734-961-

We have been asked to share some space for a community lost and found. This is a volunteer run space for community members to bring items they have found in the clean up and to check if they have items missing. Dexter Community Schools cannot be responsible for the safety of any of these items, as I am sure you can understand but we are happy to provide a space (with video surveillance) for this community exchange to take place. The lost and found is at Creekside Intermediate School on the North side in portable #2. The hours are 8:30 AM - 8:00 p.m.

We do need more volunteers for the sign up to cover the donation space and lost and found. Please click here. if you have time between 5 and 8 p.m to work at these volunteer run spaces.

Now for the answer to the big question. Yes, we will have school tomorrow!!

We worked with the Sheriff Department and the Road Commission to establish the following routing adjustments. Runs not listed here will be on their usual run and hopefully, usual times.

Buses will run normally except for the following runs: • Huron Farms bus stops and pick up/drop off times will be the same as before • Dexter/Pinckney Road residents who live between 4165 Dexter-Pinckney Road and 4915 Dexter-Pinckney Road will be asked to bring their students to Samuel Drive@Parkridge Drive in the Westridge sub-division at 7:20 am and the students will be dropped off at 3:30 pm. The students will be riding bus #14 which will be the first bus in line at the bus hub (closest to Bates). If your child rides a shuttle bus to the hub please continue this process and have the students walk down the hill to bus #14. • Horseshoe Bend bus stops and pick up/drop off times will be the same. • Alice Hill bus stops and pick up/drop off times will be the same. The only change is that we will enter Alice Hill after picking up the students and turn around at the cul-de-sac. In the afternoon we will use the cul-de-sac as a turnaround and then drop off the students at the usual bus stop. • Meadow Creek bus stops and pick up/drop off times will be the same. • If you have a PM Kindergarten student in any of the above Dexter-Pinckney subdivision your bus stop location and pick up times will be the same. However it might be a different driver and bus number than you are used to. If this is the case, the driver will introduce themselves to you. • The district is also planning to have counselors ride the buses going through the Dexter-Pinckney area to assist with students who have not witnessed the devastation of those areas and may need to discuss their feelings and concerns.

If for some unforeseen closures happen along Dexter/Pinckney Road during the day and we cannot get to the subdivisions as described above, we will send out an Alert Now Message announcing that we will use an alternate drop off location at the Dexter Township Hall. We will have supervision there until you arrive, but if you get such a call, plan to pick up your child at about 3:40.

While traveling along Dexter/Pinckney Road our buses may be escorted by police cruisers. We are taking this precaution for added visibility in these areas. You may want to forewarn your child that this is for their safety and there is nothing to be afraid of.

All school will have counselors available on Monday. Age appropriate responses have been planned for each building by members of our Crisis Committee. In another email to come at a later time, I will share details of this amazing group of people and how they respond in these rough situations - just awesome!

Please contact your child's teacher or principal if you have any thoughts about how we can make the transition back to school as smooth as possible for your children. We look forward to joining you in working toward a normal routine, and with your help and support, tomorrow will be a big step in that direction.

Take good care,

Mary Marshall Superintendent