Alumni Scrapbook - Columbia School District

PAGE 6 - TORCH BEARER - JANUARY 2012
COLUMBIA CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL
Taking Several for the Team
“Eagles come in all shapes and sizes,
but you will recognize them chiefly
by their attitudes”
… E.F. Schumacher
Early in the season, the cheerleaders committed to
doing team pushups after every touchdown or point
the football players scored…as the football team
experienced success the cheerleaders were doing LOTS
of pushups…at one game the girls did over 240 pushups!
The fans count down with them followed by their
favorite “Beastly Women” cheer. The squad attended
a four day camp where they received the All Camp
“school spirit” award and had a great final day
performance. CCVC (Columbia Central Varsity Cheer) as
they like to be known worked hard on conditioning,
stunting, tumbling and cheering preparing for competitive season which began in November. Last year they
missed a bid to States by seven points placing 5th at the
regional competition. They also broke the school record
score, won SMAA Conference Champions and placed
runner up at Districts. Coach Poniatowski explains, “The
girls are geared up and have a drive like none other.”
The Columbia Central High School varsity competitive
cheer team won the first Southern Michigan Activities
Association jamboree at Leslie in December.
Columbia School District
Alumni Scrapbook
Cheerleaders from the top right of the “C”:
Joey Clouse, Ashley White, Tasha Greene, Kaitlyn
Hagerty, Shelby Daglow, Maddie Currie, Cheyenne
Williamson, Jada Hudson, Caroline Lemke, Tayler
Wheaton, Danyelle Hotchkiss, Maddie Hasseman and
Emily Savage
Dan Spencer
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Class of 1995
After graduation, Dan spent two years in Los Angeles, California doing
missionary work for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He
graduated from Brigham Young University in 2001 in Physical Science
Education. Dan taught 7th and 8th grade science in American Fork,
Utah before moving back to Michigan in 2005 where he taught
chemistry, physics and engineering at Michigan Center High School. He
also coached varsity cross country and track. At Michigan Center
he started a pilot program focusing on using iPod Touches to help kids learn at their own
hoolDis
pace. Dan awas
named to the Techsmith: 20 Educators to Watch list and the
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Converge Magazine
Yearbook of Technology Innovation in Education. With that extensive
background he then was hired by Jackson County ISD last year to become their educational
technology consultant helping teachers use technology to improve teaching and learning
in the classroom. Dan also works for a software company in Okemos called Techsmith as
their Educator Emissary. Dan is married to wife Rachel and has three children, Isabel (7),
Ruben (5), and Cruz(2).
Dr. Brigette Dagneais, DVM
Class of 1998
Dr. Dagenais attended Michigan State University after graduation studying in the veterinary field. She married Chad Schedeler from CCHS graduating class of 1995. After receiving her degree she moved to the Ann
Arbor area and worked in a large veterinary clinic, but felt she wanted
to be back in the Jackson area. She now owns the Country Garden
Veterinary Clinic (www.countrygardenvet.com) located across the street
from Giglios Italian restaurant on M-50, and hired two other Columbia
graduates to help in her office. Trisha Rulewicz and Jamie Daugherty take care of animals
and staff the front desk. Dr. Dagenais also takes great pride in the animal boarding area
provided through her clinic. “Pets are really an extension of your family…and we practice
really good medicine.” Her new facility has a world- class animal boarding area, which holds
up to 20 cats and dogs comfortably. Their temporary “homes” have glass doors with large
windows looking out over the grass field where Dr. Dagenais and her assistants walk and
play with the animals.
Ashleigh Morea and Regan Miller
The Why of our Unique
Body Characteristics
Mr. Dickens 10th grade biology class began their studies on DNA. The students were all required to learn the
structure and function of DNA and then build a model of
DNA with required qualifications. Ian Scott explained
they were to demonstrate the twisted double helix
genetics instructions which determine the unique characteristics of the body. The students were quite innovative in the construction of their models choosing different resources to demonstrate their DNA molecules.
Lucas Blackburn
Class of 1997
After graduation Lucas attended Saginaw Valley for one year and
then transferred to Western Michigan University receiving his
Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. He moved to Arizona
shortly after graduation and taught 6th & 7th grade science in the
Higley School District. Lucas pursued his Masters in Education
Leadership from Northern Arizona University and soon became the
Assistant Principal at Gilbert Learning Center. He is currently the Assistant
Principal/Athletic Director at Mesquite Jr. High School in the Gilbert School District. Lucas
lives in Chandler, Arizona with his wife Stacie and their two boys, Liam and Kellan. Lucas
still loves to run! He is currently training for a marathon in February 2012.
Brittany Gavett and Ian Scott
TORCH BEARER - JANUARY 2012 - PAGE 7
United Way Grants Manager Scott Schmidt and CMS
teacher Leslie Schmidt
Holly and Hunter Miller
Way, Way United
A Family Affair – The McClan’s. Brett & Gail and Blythe
(1st grade) and Taegan (2nd grade)
Ryan Beal
Throughout the summer families, staff, and community members have been busy working together sprucing
up the grounds of the Columbia Elementary and
Columbia Middle Schools. Students under the supervision
of their parents helped move mulch to playground
equipment areas, planted flowers and even tried their
hand at some painting. All in an effort to emphasis the
importance of coming together while fostering school
pride. In early fall volunteers gathered…Dads and
Moms brought tools from home and began the process of
weed trimming and helping to smooth out the mulch
that was moved with a tractor by Ryan Beal. United
Way Grants Manager Scott Schmidt and his wife Leslie,
who is a teacher at our middle school, organized the
event with a grant provided by the United Way of
Jackson. The grant was given through the United Way
Community Campaign and Day of Caring and
Remembrance. Fifth grade students Mason Crane and
Kyley Griffin expressed how exciting this year has been
so far and how they have felt very comfortable in the
middle school environment. Mason further stated, “The
biggest difference is that we went from the oldest at
the school to the youngest. We still have all our friends
from our old school and it has been really easy to make
friends with the Brooklyn kids, it has been great!” Kylie
added, “We rotate to a couple teachers for different
subjects, which makes the school day more fun.” Fifth
grade teacher Mr. Dave Hamilton is very pleased at how
quickly the students have blended as one cohesive
grade; he added “It seems to have been a very smooth
transition for the students.” At the high school campus
staff volunteers Lisa Petersen, Michelle McBean (and
their husbands) as well as Kevin Miller toiled in the
Memorial garden and the general grounds around the
school entrance area. The football club as well as school
workers and volunteers helped to spruce up the athletic
fields as the fall season approached. The school district
is very appreciative of all the helping hands, the support
from United Way of Jackson and the affirmation of
school spirit…together we can make the difference.
Mason Crane, Mr. Hamilton and Kyley Griffin
Serving Others
Builds Character
Bus Driver Jeff McCrea and Parent Volunteer
Mr. Kevin Miller’s leadership class helped to organize and volunteered their time in another successful blood drive held at Columbia Central High
School for the American Red Cross.
When senior Abbi Hoover participated in the
Leadership Forum last year she had no idea what was in
store for her. After listening to a group called Absolute
Leadership Development she decided to take a Hero
Holiday to the Dominican Republic this past summer.
Abbi spent ten days on a humanitarian relief trip building
homes for the Dominicans. Her group stayed at a hotel in
the Puerto Plata Province in a small town called Sosua.
“We took a bus to our worksite each day,” she said.
Time allowed for a few excursions and life changing
experiences during her trip. “The main thing that sticks
out in my mind is the day we went to the garbage dump,” she said. She explained that the dump was a place
where some of the poorest Dominicans went to work. “They picked through garbage to get plastic,” she said.
She recalled a young boy, only around six years old, who worked there just to survive. “It was pretty emotional
to take it all in at once,” said Abbi. Extreme poverty and deplorable conditions are part of the Dominican
Republic life. “One day we went to a different city where when it rains it floods black water,” said Abbi referring to Aguas Negras. Rainwater washes sewage through
the streets because the city is surrounded by the sea on
one side and a river on the other so there is nowhere for
the flooded sewage plant water to go. She is also quick
to say that there is a lot of beauty in the Dominican
Republic. “We went on an hour and half hike to a waterfall,” she said. It was a much needed break from the
hard work of building homes. She added that the food
was palatable and included beef, pork, chicken, fish,
rice and beans. “Plantains,” she noted, “were a little
different.” Her life altering experience has given Abbi a
new outlook on her global perspective. She has maintained friendships with her work group as well and is
eager to lend a helping hand again. “This summer I’m
hoping to go back as an intern,” she said.
PAGE 8 - TORCH BEARER - JANUARY 2012
COLUMBIA CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL
Engineering Success
Our first engineering class, Mathematics of
Engineering, began about eight years ago. Teacher Mr.
Steve Malewitz went to Texas for 10 days in the summer
to learn the “Infinity Project”. He then returned to
offer this class; it’s been a big hit with students since
that time and always attended by about twenty students
who create some great projects. A few years ago, the
ISD offered the PLTW (Project Lead the Way) to all local
schools, only a few accepted the invitation. Science
teachers, Ms. Kim Samson and Ms. Jennifer VanWagnen
began teaching IED (Introduction to Engineering Design)
and POE (Principles of Engineering). IED is the first
class, followed by POE the sophomore year. These have
both been very successful. IED is a high school course
for students who are interested in design and engineering with the major focus to expose students to the
design process, research and analysis, teamwork, communication methods, global and human impact, engineering standards, and technical documentation. In one
activity, they learn to use the electricity from the solar
module to separate hydrogen from oxygen, harness the
hydrogen and use as fuel. POE is a course providing an
overview of engineering and engineering technology.
Students develop problem-solving skills by tackling realworld engineering problems through theory and practical hands-on experiences. Students who complete POE
can take a test to receive college credit. In the MOE
(Mathematics of Engineering) course the engineering
curriculum is built on a comprehensive set of computerbased exercises using the Infinity Technology Kit. They
learn how engineering plays a role in the subjects they
use every day – music, the Internet, digital imaging,
video and more. Eleventh grade student Annie Gray
says, “The class is more hands on work which helps to
comprehend the concepts of engineering making it easier to understand than just sitting and listening to a
teacher’s instruction.” Students who have
completed IED and POE can take four other engineering
classes offered at the Jackson Area Career Center. CCHS
Principal, Mr. Dave Slusher asserts, “I think this has
been a wonderful program; the kids gain a lot of computer skills, perform technical writing, and become
excited about a career in engineering. They also learn
that there is a huge shortage of engineers and it’s a well
paid career.”
Measuring through
Verse and Chorus
High school science teacher, Mr. Kendon Smith
reserves a whole week each fall teaching the mole
concept of measuring very small particles that might
be found in chemistry. Named after nineteenth century scientist Amedeo Avogadro, who is credited
with being the first to realize that the volume of gas
is proportional to the number of atoms or molecules,
this form of measurement is referred to as the
Avogadro number. Recognizing there are many ways
to teach, Mr. Smith enhanced the lesson by strumming his guitar as his students join in unison on the
chorus singing and learning about the Mole unit and
the concept of a mole of measurement.
A mole is an animal that burrows in the ground,
Or a spot on your chin that you gotta shave around.
But there’s another kind of mole of interest to me,
That’s the kind of mole they use in chemistry.
A mole is a unit, or have you heard,
Containing six times ten to the twenty-third,
That’s a six with twenty-three zeros at the end,
Much too big a number to comprehend.
Say you had a mole of pennies to distribute ‘round the world,
Give to each of the five billion grownups, boys, and girls,
There wouldn’t be a single soul down and out of luck,
Cause everybody in the work would get a trillion bucks.
Or say you had a mole of paper and stacked it toward the sky,
Paper’s awful thin, but that pile would get so high,
It’d reach up into outer space, in fact I think you’d find,
It’d go up to the moon and back, eighty billion times.
Chorus:
Suppose a mole of marshmallows fell upon the planet,
Over each square inch of land and sea, thank that you could stand it?
That layer would be twelve miles high and of course block out the sun,
We’re talking close to five million trillion tons.
Well, maybe we could save ourselves if we all started eatin’,
One marshmallow each second, not two ‘cause that’d be cheatin’.
With five billion people munching, how long do you think it’d take:
Forty million years-and that’s without a bathroom break.
But say you had a mole of atoms, would the pile be immense,
Should I say the answer now or leave you in suspense?
Well, atoms are so very, very small, you understand,
You could hold a mole of atoms in the palm of your hand.
So shake a little sugar in the middle of your palm,
Now you don’t want to spill it, so try and stay calm.
You hardly can imagine and barely realize,
There’re more atoms in that sugar than stars up in the sky.
Copyright Michael Offutt 1988
“Message from the Principal”
– Mr. Dave Slusher
The first semester of the 2011-12 school year is nearing a close and we have much to be proud of. It’s been a
fine beginning for all; students, athletes, coaches, staff,
and administration have enjoyed the positive, meaningful growth in all aspects of the educational milieu.
Advanced Placement: Our high school continues to be a
leader in the county for academically challenging our
students to excel. We’ve added Advanced Placement
Chemistry and World History, and a second year class in
Anatomy and Physiology. With the challenges of the
Michigan Merit Curriculum, and additional challenges
from our own mandates, I proudly say, most of our students continue to graduate “with honors”. We’ve incorporated a “weighted grading” system to encourage more
students to make the advanced classes part of their academic plan; students can earn an extra point on the
grading scale for these classes. All data relating to this
suggests that student performance is enhanced for those
who approach a more challenging curriculum.
Character Counts: This program is supported by administration and staff; bullying and harassment are simply
not allowed to exist. Students are encouraged to move
forward with positive character traits and engage in
community service. All National Honor Society students
are required to complete 40 hours of community service
annually; the Leadership Class reaches out to the community with the can food drive, tutoring in the elementary school, and many other service related activities;
and the SADD Chapter and Key Club are both active in
community service. One hundred percent of Columbia
students are given the opportunity to engage in community related activities.
Music/Drama/Athletics: I’ve never been more proud of
this extended group; coaches insist that all our athletes
conduct themselves respectfully, team spirit and personal growth are of the greatest essence, and competitive sportsmanship is mandated. Our fall play, “Anchors
Aweigh” was a highlight, the CCHS Marching Band placed
at the State Finals at Ford Field, and our CCHS Choir is
spectacular.
Safety: We take the greatest pride in making our building a “safe haven” for all; students and staff wear lanyards and identification, we have a “closed campus”
(visitation is limited), and a full time liaison officer.
Sixteen cameras monitor student activities, both inside
and outside the building. We move aggressively to deal
with discrimination and harassment.
Parents and community members are always welcome
to visit our building; parent membership on the school
improvement team is recommended. Please call the
high office with questions or concerns.
The Measure of Success
It’s easy to measure success in classes such as math and
reading. Simply give the student a test and assign a letter
grade to their score. In fact we check our children’s abilities and compare them to the state and nation with such
standardized tests as the MEAP, ACT, and SAT to name a
few. At CCHS there is a class called Leadership where the
measure of success isn’t necessarily given a grade but is
felt throughout the school and community. Involved in
such things as Brooklyn Buddies, blood drives, the Lyle
Torrant Center, or just shoveling the snow off someone’s
walkway, these students participate in character building
activities. “Each of these kids has made a difference in
somebody’s life,” stated teacher Mr. Kevin Miller.
Recently, the class put on their annual Leadership Forum. What started almost a decade ago as a unique and
exciting way to kick off the holiday canned food drive has turned into a school wide “awareness day” that features speakers from diverse backgrounds. All high school students choose from over twenty different seminars
throughout the school day. “It’s an opportunity for them to understand there are people out there less fortunate and have bigger issues to deal with than they may have,” said Mr. Miller. Subjects range from teen awareness to gangs to social isolation and even global issues. One speaker lectured on diversity. “He discussed how
our perceptions of people affect how we treat people and what we expect from them,” said senior Alex Rogers.
Another speaker told a different, more personal story. “He got hit by a drunk driver,” said senior Brittany
Ritson, “It made you realize you have to be smart with your decisions….It was life changing,” she said. Both
Alex and Brittany felt Leadership class and the forum have helped them be more outgoing and more responsible.
“These are life skills we are carrying throughout our life,” said Alex. Math, reading, and science are very important classes to take and without these subjects most people’s lives would be drastically different. But there is
so much more to education; something not measured with test scores. It’s how you use your knowledge of these
subjects that impacts your life as well as others. Leadership class helps students learn how to use these tools.
“It really makes a difference,” stated Brittany.
TORCH BEARER - JANUARY 2012 - PAGE 9
COLUMBIA MIDDLE SCHOOL
Aiming for Safety
In October classroom teacher Mr. Rich Spooner
and his assistant Ms. Patti Kanaan took their
Transition’s Class to the Brooklyn Archery Range.
Students were trained in bow safety, practiced
shooting bows into targets, and also shot in the virtual hunting range. Owner Melissa Weaver worked
with all the students and also served them lunch.
The students and staff left with a new appreciation
for bow hunting and the importance of safety.
I Scream, You Scream for Science
When Ms. Karen Liebau teaches her students about
exothermic reactions in her science class the fun doesn’t
stop. “We have been learning about physical changes,”
explained Ms. Liebau and what better way to learn than
making ice cream. The students used milk, sugar, Zip
Loc bags, salt, ice, and vanilla or chocolate flavoring to
create their tasty treat. “It’s really good,” stated seventh grader Emily Salsbury. The students mixed their
ingredients in a smaller bag then placed that bag in a
larger bag full of ice with some salt. Then the shaking
begins. For about ten minutes the young scientists shake
or agitate the bags thus creating the reaction. “It was
fun. Salt helps to speed up the process,” said seventh
grade student Haley Brown. Ms. Liebau’s second hour
class shared their experience with Ms. Trudy Kelly’s
kindergarten class who were surely delighted. “Our flavor is a lot better. We put extra chocolate in it,” stated
seventh grade student Dawson Arnett.
All about Me Books
Article by Ms. Barb Dagenais
7th grade English/Informational Literacy Teacher
After learning about metaphors and similes, 7th grade
students interviewed preschoolers in both Ms. Knaup’s
and Ms. Uhl’s classes and then wrote a story incorporating a minimum of three similes and two metaphors as
well as details from their interview. They then typed
them in word, used the paint program to create illustrations, and read/gave the finished book to the preschooler about whom they wrote. This was a wonderful experience for both our “big” and “little” kids!
“Message from the Principal”
– Mr. Geoff Bontrager
Columbia Middle School has had a great first semester
of the 2011-2012 school year. Although there have
been many transitions and adjustments with our
new alignment of buildings, our teachers and staff have
done a tremendous job of moving forward. MEAP testing
took place during the month of October and I would
like to thank the students and staff for all of the time
and effort they put into the entire process. I am very
proud of the passion our teachers and staff exhibit daily
for our students. I would like to thank the Columbia
Middle School PTO for the many ongoing contributions
they have given to the school this year. Developing
leaders is evident through our Builders Club and
Student Council, as well as activities such as Challenge
Day. Once again, we sponsored families for the holidays
in order to give back to our community. We also
participated in Toys for Tots and donated to our local
food pantry. These are the types of activities that our
students participate in that encourage them to help
make a difference in a positive way. The Columbia
Middle School after school Academic Support Program
has paid great dividends in helping our students’
academic achievement soar. As you can see, it truly
does “take a village to raise a child”. Once again,
I would like to thank our community, parents, teachers
and staff for making Columbia Middle School such a
positive learning environment.
Pictured from left to right: Sydney Griffin, Nicholas
Alcorn, Aubree Dickens, Parker Miller
The Concept of Art
Extreme Hula
Ms. Nancy Backus, art teacher provided blocks of
wood, bendable coat hangers, pantyhose, paint, paper,
and glitter to stimulate her 5th grade classes to design
holiday trees or some abstract artwork. The students
enthusiastically began their creations and were excited
to share their projects. You walk into Ms. Willow Jeffreys
classroom and with all the different holiday tree creations you felt like the Grinch and Whoville was her
classroom. Delightful! Sydney Griffin and Nicolas Alcorn
agreed the project was so much fun and so cool. Aubree
Dickens explained, “It doesn’t matter what you design it
is your creation, your design and your art piece.” All the
students expressed appreciation for the different mediums to produce their artwork being provided this year.
Brenden Small said, “Mrs. Backus is great, she gives us
cool supplies and then we create.” We truly appreciate
all of Ms. Backus efforts in introducing different art forms
to our younger students, many of them said they will be
taking art as they move to the upper grade levels.
What started out as a simple exercise in gym class
turned into an extraordinary feat for two Columbia
Middle School students. Reagan Steele and Morgan Foust
outlasted the rest of the fifth grade class in an extreme
hula-hoop contest. Reagan hooped for 58 minutes and
Morgan for 82 minutes. “I backed up and hit the wall,”
said Morgan referring to what knocked her out of the
competition. “After I did it my legs felt like Jell-O,” she
said. Teacher Mr. Hollis Jeffreys challenged his classes
to the contest after he noticed several of the students
enjoyed “hooping.” “It got bigger and bigger and turned
into a contest,” said Morgan. Hula hooping is a great
way to exercise and work the core muscles of the body.
Both the girls demonstrated incredible stamina. “I’ve
been hula hooping since I was two,” explained Reagan.
Pictured from left to right: Sam Huddleston, Brenden
Small, Mackenzie Ashby, Michael Phillips
Map Quest
There may be some future mapmakers in Mr. Nick
Rulewicz’s seventh grade social studies class at
Columbia Middle School. After learning about Europe the
students were to choose a country and make a poster
sized map of it. They were to include climate, physical
features, natural resources, and political boundaries on
their map. “You had to do a lot of research about the
country,” said student Ryleigh Lena. After several days
of research then came time for the young Cartographers
to showcase their artistic abilities. “We already knew
stuff about each country. It was just a matter of putting
the information on posters,” stated student Alexa
Tackett. Once the maps were made then it was time to
give a presentation of their chosen country to their
classmates. “I was nervous at first but once you got
going it wasn’t that bad,” said Ryleigh.
PAGE 10 - TORCH BEARER - JANUARY 2012
COLUMBIA MIDDLE SCHOOL
Cellular Speaking
Open to the Public From All Areas!
The Story of Kate’s Eyes
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After spending about two weeks learning the intricacies of cells in Ms. Lisa Kennell’s eighth grade science
class, her students got busy reconstructing one. Each
student was to build a model of an animal or plant cell
utilizing materials such as buttons, pasta, pipe cleaners,
Styrofoam, and
beads to name a
few. Afterwards,
the students presented their project to the class
and gave an
overview of what
cell they built
and gave an
analysis of the
parts and subsystems of their cell
and how the
parts interact.
“We had to make a cell and put on all the organelles
and talk about their structures and functions,”
explained student Glen Parkinson, Jr. “We got to
present it when we were all done,” he said. By building
a replica of a microscopic structure, the students
saw the lesson come to life and better understood the
basic functions of the cell structures. They expressed
they also got a feeling of accomplishment. “I think
it turned out better than I thought it would,” said
student Kennedy Koebbe. Speaking in front of their
peers added another dimension to the project. Usually
not embraced by everyone, peer speaking builds
confidence and prepares students for an array of social
situations as well as allows students to learn from one
another. “As long as you are prepared it’s not that
bad,” said student Daniel Peek.
By: Rachel Rudd student from Mrs. Barb Dagenais
7th Grade Language Arts Class (2010/2011)
Way back when, my great-great-grandmother was just a girl.
No color in her eyes, except for a blank gray,
Like the clouds of a summer storm.
She grew up in a small village along a river.
She knew everyone in the town, and was friendly to them.
The village bustled with life,
Yet no one knew why her eyes were so gray in this happy of a place.
Everyone will never forget the day her eyes lit up,
That was the day she met Sam.
One day my great-great-grandmother Kate,
With her eyes just ghostly shadows,
Was walking through town to smell the lilacs,
And watch the sun set like she always did.
This time though,
Just as she reached the purple flowers, it started to rain.
It rained harder and harder,
Until you could no longer see.
Kate ran to find shelter in the darkness,
But there was no place to go.
Then all of a sudden something ran into her,
And knocked her down.
She looked up and saw a stranger,
Asking to help her up.
As soon as she saw his face, her eyes lit up,
Like the sun after a rain.
Rachel Rudd
Her eyes sparkled in the most beautiful blue,
As if they were the river themselves.
A sparkle of innocence,
She had a child’s eyes.
The sparkle was always in Kate’s eyes.
As long as Sam stayed with her,
It would never leave.
Sam was always happy when he was with her,
And a smile clung to his face every day.
Eventually Sam fell so in love with her, that he married her.
Kate was always happy with Sam,
And Sam was always happy with her.
The sparkle never left her eyes,
Until the day she died.
No one will ever forget Sam and Kate’s story.
The always evolving Columbia School
District website is full of important information regarding school functions
and daily activities. Log on to
www.ColumbiaSchoolDistrict.org and
follow the links to find the lunch menu,
curriculum updates, sports and band
schedules, Torch Bearer archives, school
calendar, policies, new student enrollment information and various other points
of interest. The website also features
a link to PowerSchool where students and
parents can access a student’s records
including attendance, grades, assignments
and even messages from teachers. Just
click on Parent/Student and follow the
links. To see what sports are being played
on any given day or to obtain a sports
schedule click on Athletics and follow the
links to the individual sport of your choice
or for a different view, choose What
is happening this week at Columbia.
For assistance with the website, contact
your school office or the administration
office at 592-6641. (Note: Website is
currently “under construction” with
appropriate changes)
CC Fitness Center - The Equipment!
CARDIO
7 Elliptical Trainers
8 Treadmills, 4 Bikes
WEIGHTS
16 Universal Machines
6,000 lbs. Free Weights
CC Fitness Center - The Classes!
Strength Training • Spinning • Boot Camp • Yoga
Zumba • Pilates • BG & F • Cardio-n-Line • Tae Kwon Do
CC Fitness Center - The Amenities!
TV’s • Showers • Lockers • Certified Trainers
FREE Indoor Walking Track • Body Mass Index Machine
CC Fitness Center
Located on the south end of Columbia Central High School
Beginner? Rehab? Senior?
Big, small or new to fitness, we’re here to help!
Visit us ONLINE: www.CCFitnessCenter.org
Or call us at 517-592-3393
FREE!! One Week Guest Pass
Name: _________________________________________________________________________________
Start Date: _____________________________ Exp. Date: ______________________________
Staff Signature: _____________________________________________________________________
Give us a try... what do you have to lose?
ATTENTION ALL CCHS PARENTS - Do your kids need some exercise? CCHS Students…
Would you like to have some fun? CAN YOU RIDE A BIKE?...THEN YOU CAN DO THIS!
Columbia Community Fitness Center is proud to announce that we’ve won a grant from the Youth Advisory
Committee of the Jackson Community Foundation to provide an exercise class called “8th Hour Spinning for
Fitness” for ALL Columbia Central High School students. “8th Hour Spinning For Fitness” offers a unique way to
exercise. Spinning is a fun activity that will help our younger generation begin respecting their health by staying in
condition. Rather than running and weight lifting, it will give the students an opportunity to enjoy a biking experience, with both slow and fast-pace, motivating music and instruction. We encourage all students to take advantage
of the “8th Hour Spinning For Fitness” class, which will be an 8-week session. The interested students may participate Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday at 3:00 pm. The grant includes a partial scholarship to cover
almost ½ of the cost to attend. The total cost for 16 Spinning classes over an 8 week session including an orientation, instruction, documented results and FUN is $30. First come first serve! Space is limited so please call the fitness center at 517-592-3393 to reserve your bike for the next session!
TORCH BEARER - JANUARY 2012 - PAGE 11
COLUMBIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
“Message from the Principal”
– Ms. Debra Powell
By the time you read this article, the holidays will be
over and we will be finishing up the first semester of the
school year. Wow, it is hard to believe that half of the
school year is almost over and we have accomplished so
much! The merger of BES and MES into CES has been
busy this fall. We have had to tweak dismissals, adjust
bus schedules and amend lunch routines. However,
when it has been said and done, over all our kids are
doing great with the transition and now own Columbia
Elementary as “their” school! CES kicked off the school
year with the Back to School BASH, where students and
parents get the chance to meet teachers, tour their
classroom and school and meet new friends. Next, with
the introduction of a new school, a great kick off to the
school year was the presentation from Have you Filled a
Bucket Today? As a component of the CES Character
Education Program we are continuing to be bucket
fillers, not bucket dippers. In addition to this Character
Education Program, CES has continued to support
student led organizations such as student council and
K-Kids. What a great way for our kids to learn to give
back to their community! The CES PTO has been so
supportive of our school. They helped start out our
school year by supporting the CES Race for Education.
This student and family supported fundraiser helped
raise over $16,000 to support programs for our kids. In
addition, they also coordinate a successful book fair and
helped finish out the year with Secret Santa Shop. Their
endless fundraising efforts, generosity and countless
hours of volunteerism are most appreciated! A great
addition to the CES staff this fall was Nancy Backus, our
CES art teacher. Her creativity and enthusiasm for art is
contagious! Not only do we enjoy having her in the
classroom, but respect her eagerness to look for
supporting programs outside the classroom. She applied
for the Michigan International Speedway’s MIS Cares
Grant and received $8,925 toward the development of
the CES Reading and Learning Garden Project. As you
can see, we have had a very busy and successful first
half, which could not be accomplished without the
support and dedication of such great CES staff team
members and families behind our kids. We look forward
to an even more successful second half!
Merry Trails to You
Granting Wishes
The second grade at Columbia Elementary School
showcased their talents in the annual Christmas
musical. Set in the old west, the show featured a
combination of cowboys, townspeople, Santa
Clause, and other holiday characters intermingled
at the O.K. Corral.
What started out as volunteer work in her grandchild’s
classroom has morphed into a twelve-week endeavor
that is funded with the help of the PTO. “What I try to
do is teach them as many techniques in the twelve
weeks as I can,” said Ms. Backus. The young artists
appreciate her efforts. “I love art,” said third grader
Nevaeh Douglas, “Just coloring and drawing is fun,” she
said. Just before Thanksgiving the students were making
turkeys out of cardboard and paper bags. Many of the
items recycled from within the school. “I like how we
get to color our turkeys for Thanksgiving,” said third
grader Aliyah Sewejkis. Last summer Michigan
International Speedway (MIS) advertized they would be
accepting grant applications under their MIS Cares program. Through their charitable arm, MIS donated more
than $30,000 in grants to a number of area organizations
and charities in 2010 and were extending this opportunity again in 2011. Ms. Backus enthusiastically explored
the idea of enhancing the school complex at Columbia
Elementary School. She began the tedious application
process exploring the concept of an outdoor reading garden adding space for an outdoor learning area with landscaping, fence, walkways, tables and artwork…a special
place to stimulate the educational process for our children. In early December she was notified she had
received a grant from the MIS Cares program and accompanied by our Superintendent of Schools, Mr. Brent
Beamish she attended a ceremony hosted by the MIS
Cares program where the applicants were applauded for
their efforts as she accepted the grant on behalf of
Columbia Elementary School. Ms. Backus exclaimed, “I
am so excited to get started and I have a goal to have it
completed by Special Persons Day at CES.”
Fun Raiser
The first annual Race for Education at Columbia
Elementary School took place this past fall and was a
great success. Kindergarten through fourth graders collected pledges for doing laps around the playground
track. The money raised will help the PTO fund such
things as playground additions, field trips, and art programs to name a few. Prizes were also awarded for different pledge collections. “The class that raised the
most money gets to go bowling together,” said PTO CoPresident Ms. Danielle Fowler. The students really pulled
together and did a great job and it showed in their
enthusiasm. “When I heard about it I was really excited
because I love running,” stated fourth grader Jasmina
Menzoor. Refreshments and fruit based snacks were also
served as music played in the background. “We are trying to promote nutrition and healthy lifestyles,” said
PTO member and teacher Ms. Wendy Hawkins. At the
end of the day some of the laps were left on the track
but there was a unique solution. “Our little ones cannot
always make it around four times so the older ones finish
up their laps,” said teacher Ms. Lisa Weidenbach.
Giving Thanks by Giving Back
Pictured are members of the Columbia Elementary
Student Council with food donated for families in need
around Thanksgiving. The student council spearheaded a week long canned food drive that netted enough
food to help several families in the community.
Fire and Safety
Fire Safety Week at Columbia Elementary School usually involves coloring books, work books, and escape plan
templates. However when Fire Chief Shawn Lutz and
Assistant Chief Scott Cota show up to the classroom
things got pretty serious. The two, along with a couple of
firefighters, went over the many important aspects of
fire safety at home and in the school. The students
learned about the EDITH approach at home. Exit Drills In
The House was stressed as a major safety plan and should
be practiced with your family on a regular basis. Students
are no strangers to fire drills at school either and are told
to stay quiet and meet at a designated area in an orderly
fashion. The students were also taught about fire detec-
tors, calling 911, feel the door technique, and a video
featuring Pummba and Timmone from the Lion King
about fire safety was shown to the lower elementary to
help drive important points home. There was a question
and answer session with Chief Lutz where several concerns from the students were covered. One such concern
was the importance of knowing your street address. It
was noted that the fire stations caller ID doesn’t show a
residence address when using a cell phone making it
much harder for emergencies to be located. Each day
throughout the week Fire Chief Lutz and his crew visited
all the classrooms as they do every year. Hats off to
these men for providing this valuable service!
PAGE 12 - TORCH BEARER - JANUARY 2012
Columbia’s Art Gallery
Somewhere Out There
Article provided by 5th grade teacher, Mr. Dave Hamilton
A field trip to visit the Peter F. Hurst Planetarium in Jackson
sounded like a great way to wrap up a space unit for Mr. Hamilton
and Ms. Bivins’ 5th grade classes. Both classes had been studying
astronomy since September, and decided the planetarium would be
a fitting wrap up of their unit. The planetarium, located in Ella
Sharp Park in Jackson, has a Spitz Model A-4 star projector under a
30-foot dome. The students were treated to a great lecture on
space and astronomy by Mark Reed, high school astronomy teacher
and planetarium director. Mr. Reed discussed various distances
between objects in space and the importance of astronomy in
today’s world. He also put on a constellation show using summer
and winter constellations. The students in Mr. Hamilton and Ms.
Bivins’ classes enjoyed their experience in the planetarium, and are
hoping to take another field trip to learn more about a future subject. The planetarium proved to be an excellent way to complete
the space unit.
Ms. Nancy Backus 4th grade art classes at
Columbia Elementary worked with a clay medium where they formed, air-dried, painted and
added special effects like feathers and jiggle
eyes.
Pictured above from left to right: Joe Tennant,
Olivia Nau, Ray Votzke, and Shania Albertson.
Pictured below from left to right: Nick Jeffreys,
Nina Webb, Aiden Adams and Jensey Tumas.
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Columbia Central High School senior Richard Bartlett realized
he wanted to serve his community in a positive manner his last
year in high school so he started Every Penny Counts. During
lunch hours, Richard collected change from students and staff,
usually foregoing his own meal. “The idea was that there are
families out there that needed help and I wanted to be the kind
of person to help them out,” said Richard. His dedication to the
project was unwavering as he meticulously collected, counted,
and stored the money every day in the hopes of lending a hand
to a family during the Christmas season. What’s even more
inspiring is that Richard is a student with special needs. Within
a few short weeks he had collected just under $140. “I’m
actually astounded,” said Richard, “I thought we might get
fifteen dollars or so. That just shows how much Columbia
cares,” he said. The plan was to help a couple of families with
presents and food and donating items to the local food pantry.
His mentor and school social worker Ms. Michelle McBean
planned on taking Richard shopping. I’m really proud of Richard
with his creativity and following it through,” said Ms. McBean.
Richard’s positive attitude and community service is something
he hopes helps him fulfill a dream. He hopes to be part of
the winter homecoming court. Something, he says, will make
his mother proud.
m
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Making a Difference
2013
Kindergarten Registration
Columbia School District
If you have a student who will be starting Kindergarten in the fall and
would like to attend the Columbia School District, please pick up a
registration packet in the Columbia Elementary School office. There
will be a Parent Meeting on Tuesday, April 24th at 7:00 p.m. in the
media center for Columbia Elementary.
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Please bring the following items to the parent meeting:
Your completed kindergarten packet
Your child’s Immunization record
An original birth certificate (we will copy items for you)
Proof of residency (telephone, electric bill, etc.)
Your child must be 5 years old by December 1, 2012.
Note: Kindergarten packets will be available after March 2012,
and completed packets may be returned to the school office
anytime prior to the meeting.
“Meet & Greet” for all of our future Kindergarten students will be
held on Tuesday, May 8th at 1:30 p.m.
If you have any questions regarding Kindergarten registration
please contact:
Columbia School District Newsletter
DONNA BUSH, Editor JEFF BUSH, Reporter
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 592-6641 • FAX 592-8090
11775 Hewitt Road, Brooklyn, MI 49230
COLUMBIA ELEMENTARY AT 592-6632
Ms. Deb Powell – Principal