VIKING VOYAGER - Potterville Public Schools
Transcription
VIKING VOYAGER - Potterville Public Schools
Potterville Public Schools VIKING VOYAGER June 2012 POTTERVILLE SCHOOLS 420 N High St Potterville, Michigan 48876 PHONE: 517-645-2662 FAX: 517-645-0092 High School 645-7609 Middle School 645-4777 Elementary 645-2525 We’re on the Web! See us at: www.pps.k12.mi.us A CALL TO UNITY Another graduation is upon us, and by the time you read this, our Class of 2012 will have left our high school to move on to the new endeavors that they have prepared for and dreamed of. I wish them all the best for a bright future and a fulfilling life. We are grateful to have shared years with them as our students, and we are blessed that they shared their talents and knowledge with all of us. Good luck to all our seniors…the Class of 2012! Mr. Donahue Superintendent At the close of another school year, a time for reflection back on the year seems most appropriate. And what a challenging and unprecedented year it has been. Granted, it’s just the end of my fifth year with Potterville Public Schools, so I may not be the historical expert on this assertion, but I am sure many would agree that these have indeed been some troubling months this school year. We have had to go on without some important and valuable programs this school year, and we have all been tasked to do more with less in the same time in the school day or the school week because we are making do with fewer staff members than we started the year with. None of this has been wholly pleasant, thoroughly planned for, or exceptionally perfect. We have had to make our way through these changes, which in my humble opinion, were changes foisted upon us by state leadership in Lansing with an agenda. Nevertheless, making it through this year has been especially difficult, and never more than before have we needed each other—all of us who are here as part of this learning community—to make it through and make the district work for the betterment of our kids. As the calendar turns to May and then June, my attention as superintendent has already turned to the 2012-2013 school year. I am watching to see what Lansing will do for public school funding next year and further working condition changes that are being thrust upon our teachers. I am looking at our projected enrollment, our schools of choice applications, our program needs, our bond proposal work and sinking fund projects this summer, and many other factors that will shape the future of this district for next year. As I think about all of these factors to shape them into the school year yet to come, I think Potterville Public Schools is at a crossroads of its future success like no other time. Continued on page 2... J U NE 2 0 1 2 V I K I NG V O Y A G E R PAGE 2 Continued from page 1… In my mind, we have arrived at this crossroads after two important events since February of 2012. First, we were very pleased to have the support of this community for our education technology and security bond proposal. The vision of this initiative from the start has been to create a premier, destination district for this area by putting cutting edge technology tools in our classrooms and in our kids’ hands so they are ready for the future world that we can’t yet define but know it is our duty to prepare them for. After getting the community’s approval for this significant change to our district, work is underway for the coming months. We will start the next school year in a much better place technologically than we have been before. Other districts are watching us and following us down this road to one-to-one computing and learning in the 21st century, and it’s a credit to our school board and our community for leading the way. But the other road that has lain before us would have taken us down another path. In recent months, there have been two recall attempts against district leaders who have faced difficult choices amid dwindling financial resources. As much as these initiatives failed, it remains clear that we have disputes within our community about how our school district will function, how it will look, how it will serve our kids, and how it will survive in these turbulent financial and political times for public schools in general, and our district in particular. So after all of this, which path do we choose in these crossroads—do we move forward as planned, to create the vision imagined for our district and our schools? Do we continue to make the difficult yet necessary choices that allow us to be most able to meet the needs of the majority of our students—despite limited resources like schools have not seen in quite some time in state history? Do we continue to support each other—our colleagues, our families, our students—so that we can continue this journey to being the best district we can be? Of course we do! Getting to this future we envision, however, may involve a change in each of us to do the heavy lifting, the collaborating, and the forward thinking that will lead us to that success. With all that transpired this year, let us learn to set aside the mistrust and the petty disputes that have distracted us from giving the best to our kids. Let us frame our conversations to highlight the positives that happen here daily. At the same time, we cannot ignore our problems; they must be confronted constructively and realistically, rather than pointing fingers of blame or taking actions to undermine those who are investing their time and their passion for our kids. Let us maintain that support for our students, whom I implore to continue their best efforts to get the education they desperately need to make sense of, and to survive and thrive in, the world that is ahead of them. Let us look for the best in each other—our teachers and our administrators, our support staff and our board members, our parents and our community members—rather than disparaging each other and the district. If Michigan is going to continue to underfund public schools to meet a highly political agenda of privatizing education through charter schools— which research shows perform no better than public schools, or cyber schools, with absolutely no data at all to indicate educational success, Potterville Public Schools must continue to reinvent itself and move forward, and not be hindered by disputes and conflicts. We have to highlight the great things we have done thus far. If we want to increase our financial resources by gaining enrollment and the foundation grant that follows from it, we have to market ourselves to students and parents who want innovative educational programs, not just the status quo of how schools have always been, just because that’s the way we have always done it. That works no longer. We can’t move forward with yesterday’s rules and yesterday’s tools. The game has changed, and so must we. Continued on page 3... J U NE 2 0 1 2 V I K I NG V O Y A G E R PAGE 3 Continued from page 2… In conclusion, as a writing teacher for over fifteen years, I always had to curtail student writers’ use of clichés, but I hope you will forgive me for use of one now that succinctly speaks to the essence of my message: if you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem. I and many others in this district continue to selflessly dedicate our efforts and time and heart to this school district. I ask you to join with us to make Potterville Public Schools the premier district for K-12 education in this area. And if you cannot share in this vision, for whatever your reasons may be, I encourage you to dialogue with me or our courageous and dedicated board leaders to help us understand your viewpoint and to arrive together at solutions and mutually beneficial goals that enable Potterville Public Schools to continue improving life for our kids, our community, and our future. PTA ROCKS! I have been a school media specialist for almost 30 years. I decided to work toward a library science degree when I was still in high school because I had adults around me who were passionate about books and the libraries that provided them. I watched as they listened and selected books that students swooped up and devoured. I wanted to be one of them. When I arrived in Potterville in 1988, my main responsibility was the middle/high school library. I worked with Pam Walbridge who served as the library parapro in the elementary school. As I spent time in the elementary school, I was amazed at the quality and quantity of the books in that collection. When I asked Pam, I was told that the PTA sponsored the elementary library and every year they purchased a generous amount of good books for the students. Every year since then I have witnessed the dedication of the elementary PTA as they continued to have book fairs and donate books to the elementary library. Students came in and out of that library with books to read and treasure. So many children left that building with a love of reading and the knowledge that the library was the place to go for cool books. When they came over to the middle school, I was lucky to inherit those kids who devoured books. It was both a delight and a responsibility as I worked to continue the legacy the PTA had begun in the elementary school. So my hat is off to the members of Potterville PTA who have given their time and efforts to enrich the lives of Potterville students. Know that your work has affected several generations of kids. Know that you are appreciated by the many kids who are now teachers, firemen, business owners, lawyers and computer engineers. You have created generations of dreamers! You rock! J U NE 2 0 1 2 V I K I NG V O Y A G E R PAGE 4 THE ELEMENTARY ELEMENTS ELEMENTARY NEWS Look what hatched in Mrs. McClellan’s class! Baby chicks! Students were totally engaged in "life science" for the past 21 days! The kids were able to see the growth of the chickens daily by candling the eggs. The chickens started hatching on Tuesday and finished on Wednesday. Many classes got to visit to witness the chicks hatching. Now the children can learn how to care for them and also hold them (under supervision of course). It is an inspirational experience that unites all ages, boosts morale and makes learning fun. Pride in Potterville week was a huge success thanks the PTA, as well as the students and staff at Potterville Elementary School. Our PTA hosted our most Mr. King successful book fair ever raising over $8,000 in new books for the school. PTA Elementary Principal also directed the school talent show followed by an awesome ice cream social. The Grandparent luncheon was the highlight of the week with grandparents having the opportunity to have lunch with their grandchild. In addition to serving all the students during the week for breakfast and lunch Chef Andrew and his super staff were able to serve over three hundred adults who ate with the children throughout the week. On Wednesday May 23rd Potterville Elementary School held a Safety Patrol Picnic for our fourth grade safeties in gratitude of their service to keeping our school safe. Fun was had by all with games, prizes, snacks and ice cream. Thank you to all our fourth grade safety patrol members for providing a great service for the younger kids at Potterville Elementary School. The third grade students have been working really hard this marking period on Animal Reports. Each student researches, take notes, learns to form proper paragraphs and then presents their final report to their classmates and other children throughout the school. They also create a hands-on project to show something that they learned during this process. The pictures shown here are of three habitats that were created by Mrs. Stiver's students. Justin Bannister showed the habitat of the bald eagle. Shaylee Sherman created the environment that a giraffe could be found in, and finally Kaya Allen has shown the habitat, along with the predators and prey, of a polar bear. Great job third graders! J U NE 2 0 1 2 V I K I NG V O Y A G E R PAGE 5 MIDDLE SCHOOL HAPPENINGS NEWS FROM THE MIDDLE As the 2011-2012 school year culminates in a variety of activities to punctuate the year, and anticipation of summer fun is on the minds of students and staff alike, we reflect on how much has been accomplished this year. This was my sixteenth year in Potterville and my first serving as principal of the middle school. I am encouraged and inspired by the gifted staff we have and look forward to working as a team to move our school and student achievement to new heights. We implemented the privilege system for all grades and saw most students succeed at meeting our goals and expectations. As a staff, we will of course be reflecting on how we can keep the system in place and look for even more ways to recognize students who continue to make our school a positive place Mrs. Roe to learn. We implemented academic interventions for students, with oppor- Middle School Principal tunities during the school day and after school. While we will continue to move forward with our efforts to help students reach their potential, we will also look forward to integrating more technology thanks to the bond our wonderful community approved this year! We will strive to utilize our new tools to find more ways to keep parents informed and part of our team for student success. This spring I talked to the staff about a special trip for our 8th graders as they finish out their career in the middle school. The students will be taking a trip to Michigan's Adventure as a reward for their hard work and citizenship. We hope to continue this tradition for years to come. The Farewell dance was another continued tradition to celebrate the end to their middle school career. We wish all our students well as they begin their high school career in the fall. Attendance is an important piece of the success puzzle. I want to thank the parents of our students for supporting this concept and making attendance a priority. We had many students with outstanding attendance this year and we had one student with perfect attendance. Congratulations and job well done goes out to Hunter Robirds, who made it through without one tardy or absence. Thank you Potterville PTA! I want to extend my gratitude to all the parents involved in the PTA. This year was my first to experience the benefits from all the hard work and dedication of this organization. On behalf of the teachers in our building, I want to extend a sincere thank you for all the financial support and also for the dinners provided during parent/teacher conferences. With budgets continuing to shrink and resources becoming scarce, it was nice to have the support of our PTA to get some needed items. The dinners provided at conferences were a wonderful option to fast food or having to plan for bringing something in, and everything was wonderful! A special thank you to president of the PTA, Kelly Yarger, for all the time she devotes to heading this group! The recent walk-a-thon was again a great success. Thank you to Mrs. Hill for organizing the event, collecting donations, and collecting prizes for students participating in the event. This year's total was $7,000. Again, with tight budgets, our school greatly benefits from these funds to provide supplies and products that all our students benefit from. We had great weather this year for the event and a majority of the students participated. We are taking orders for student planners for use next year. This is a wonderful tool to help students stay organized and help remind them of upcoming due dates. We were able to secure a low price of $3.00 and if you did not get your chance to preorder, you may plan to purchase one in the fall. As always we hope the summer brings with it not only warm and wonderful weather, but the time for students and their families to get quality time at home. Please remember it only takes a small investment of time to keep kids brushed up on their academic skills. Reading is the single most important activity students can do to maintain preparedness for school next fall. Have a wonderful summer and we look forward to seeing you for the 2012-2013 school year. J U NE 2 0 1 2 V I K I NG V O Y A G E R POTTERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL PAGE 6 NEWS & INFORMATION POTTERVILLE’S 2012 GRADUATES This time of year is often bittersweet as we have to say goodbye to our seniors. While it is difficult to let them go, we are excited for them as they prepare for the next phase of their lives. The 2012 Senior Class has demonstrated strength of character and commitment to scholarship in so many ways and we are glad to have had the opportunity to watch them transform throughout their high school years. If you had an opportunity to attend the Spring Honors program, you were a witness to the number of awards, scholarships, and other recognitions the members of this class have accumulated. That evening, more Mrs. Klomp High School Principal than 50 seniors received subject area awards from their teachers, and 25 students were honored for their scholarship, service, and athleticism. Ten students graduated with Honors for earning a GPA between a 3.0 and 3.5, and another 11 students with a GPA of 3.5 or higher graduated with High Honors. This group included our Salutatorian, Kara England, and the Valedictorian, Tam Nguyen. On behalf of the Potterville School District staff, administration, and board of education members, we are proud to announce the 2012 High Honors Graduates: SENIORS Graduating with High Honors 2012 J U NE 2 0 1 2 V I K I NG V O Y A G E R Tam Nguyen • • • • • • • • • • • Distinguished Service – Youth Advisory Council – Student Council President DAR Good Citizen Award – PHS Class of 2012 Nominee Lake Trust Credit Union Community Scholarship Program Michigan Competitive Scholarship Semifinalist President‟s Award for Educational Achievement Potterville Education Association Scholarship Principal‟s Award National Honor Society Cords ● Academic Honor Roll Graduating with High Honors Valedictorian Attend Michigan State University to study Chemical Engineering Kara England • Distinguished Service • • • • • • • • • • • – Peer Assistance Leaders – Student Council American Choral Directors Award CMAC Scholar Athlete „10 Who Are 10‟ Award ● Embassy Art Contest Award Poskey Foundation Scholarship Tabitha Stanton Scholarship Elizabeth “Betsy” Lowe Memorial Scholarship President‟s Award for Educational Achievement National Honor Society Cords ● Academic Honor Roll Graduating with High Honors Salutatorian Attend Michigan State University to study Psychology PAGE 7 J U NE 2 0 1 2 V I K I NG V O Y A G E R Joshua Ackley • Distinguished Service – Peer Assistance Leaders • Dual Enrollment Achievement • • • • • • • • CMAC Scholar Athlete Eaton Federal Savings Herbert R. Black Memorial Scholarship Michigan Competitive Scholarship Finalist President‟s Award for Educational Excellence National Honor Society Cords Academic Honor Roll Graduating with High Honors Attend Michigan State University to study Civil Engineering – 3 credits Sara Anderson • • Central Michigan University‟s Board of Trustees Academic Honors Scholarship Outstanding Achievement – Capital Area Health Education Program • • • • • • Breanna Hill • Outstanding Achievement – Capital Area Health Education Program • • • • • • • • • Poskey Foundation Scholarship Tabitha Stanton Scholarship Michigan Competitive Scholarship Semifinalist President‟s Award for Educational Achievement National Technical Honor Society Medallion National Honor Society Cords Academic Honor Roll Graduating with High Honors Attend Michigan State University to study Nursing Michigan Competitive Scholarship Semifinalist President‟s Award for Educational Achievement National Technical Honor Society Medallion Academic Honor Roll Graduating with High Honors Attend Central Michigan University for the Physician‟s Assistant Undergraduate Program PAGE 8 J U NE 2 0 1 2 V I K I NG V O Y A G E R Samantha Mehney • Distinguished Service – Youth Advisory Council • • • • • • • • CMAC Scholar Athlete EISD Career Preparation Center Award Lansing Community College Foundation Scholarship Michigan Competitive Scholarship Semifinalist President‟s Award for Educational Achievement National Technical Honor Society Cords National Honor Society Cords Begin at Lansing Community College to study Architecture Jessica Ritchey • Outstanding Achievement – Capital Area Health Education Program • • • • • • • • • • • • CMAC Scholar Athlete Abbey Award Gerald & Lala Mae Elliot Scholarship Poskey Foundation Scholarship Elizabeth “Betsy” Lowe Memorial Scholarship Jackson Community College Full Athletic Scholarship President‟s Award for Educational Achievement National Technical Honor Society Medallion National Honor Society Cords Academic Honor Roll Graduating with High Honors Attend Jackson Community College to study Nursing and play Basketball Kaitlyn Tarrant • • • • • • • • • • • • Distinguished Service – Peer Assistance Leaders – Youth Advisory Council – Student Council President‟s Volunteer Service Award – Bronze Dual Enrollment Achievement – 10 credits Advanced Placement Achievement Sarah M. Jones Memorial Scholarship and Tabitha Stanton Scholarship Youth Advisory Council/American Red Cross Blood Drive Scholarship Grand Valley State University – Laker Scholarship Michigan Competitive Scholarship Semifinalist President‟s Award for Educational Achievement Academic Honor Roll ● National Honor Society Cords Graduating with High Honors Attend Grand Valley to study Elementary Education PAGE 9 J U NE 2 0 1 2 V I K I NG V O Y A G E R PAGE 10 BreAnne Turner • Quiz Bowl – Varsity Member • EISD Career Preparation Center Award • Advanced Placement Achievement • Potterville Music Boosters Scholarship • President‟s Award for Educational Achievement • National Technical Honor Society Cords • National Honor Society Cords • Academic Honor Roll • Graduating with High Honors • Begin at LCC to study majors in the Fashion Industry Morgan West • CMAC Scholar Athlete • President‟s Award for Educational Achievement • Jackson Community College – Full Athletic Scholarship • Academic Honor Roll • Graduating with High Honors • Attend Jackson Community College to study Sonography and to play Basketball Christopher Wonch • Michigan Competitive Scholarship Semifinalist • President‟s Award for Educational Excellence • Academic Honor Roll • Graduating with High Honors • Attend Michigan State University J U NE 2 0 1 2 V I K I NG V O Y A G E R PAGE 11 WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO: A FOCUS ON THE CAP ALTERNATIVE TEACHERS For the past four months, I’ve had the honor of working with three of the finest teachers I’ve ever worked with. As the student success coordinator of the CAP program, I couldn’t ask for a more dedicated and caring staff. I spent some time talking with each of them about their teaching beliefs and what they think is most important for students to learn. Here’s what I found out. Chris Graham (The Helpful and Understanding One): Chris believes that all students are capable if they are given the opportunity. She has the utmost respect for our students who choose to come to school, even though she knows they’ve had more life struggles than she has seen in her own life. She knows that building relationships with her students is key and part of the reason that our students choose to be here. She acknowledges that academics are a struggle for our students and while they are important, they are not the most important thing. Regardless, they deserve a quality education, to be looked at as individuals and treated with respect. She believes that the most important thing she teaches students is that they are capable. She can see their confidence grow after just one opportunity with success. Degrees earned from: College of Charleston and Olivet College Years teaching: five One word that describes her teaching experience: “Rewarding” John Ley (The Positive and Patient One): John believes that motivation is the key to education, but this is a double-edged sword for us. Our students are more likely to question the importance of curriculum and we must work to make their learning meaningful and self-directed. This intertwines with what he thinks is most important for students to learn, which is answering the question “why is this important?” Students need to get on board with their learning and the answer needs to go deeper than good grades and for college. When we deal with counseling issues both inside and outside of academics, it often makes it difficult for students to see the importance of their education so we must work to make it intrinsically interesting using big concepts. John sees positive social interaction as the most important thing he teaches his students. He wants them to understand the importance of how they will be perceived in different social settings. Degrees earned from: Michigan State and the University of Michigan Years teaching: 18 One word about his teaching experience: “Amazed” Mary Sherwood (The Loving and Supportive One): Mary believes that if students can leave our program with a positive attitude toward learning, they will continue to learn and grow in their future and that every student has something to offer the community and the world. The most important thing that students need to learn is that things aren’t perfect the first time and that there is always a process and there is always room for improvement. Our students have faced years of failure and in many ways have given up on themselves and on getting good grades. We have to re-teach them that they can all be successful. The most important thing that Mary teaches is life skills and building relationships. She wants students to understand how to maneuver in the world as humans, not as students evaluated by a test score. Degrees earned from: Olivet College Years teaching: 15 One word that describes her teaching experience: “Enriching” JJU UNE NE 22001122 VVIIKKIING NG VVO OYYAAG GEERR PAGE PAGE 12 12 “Bear in mind that the wonderful things you learn in your schools are the work of many generations. All of this is put in your hands as your inheritance in order that you may receive it, honor it, add to it, and one day faithfully hand it on to your children." -Albert Einstein Potterville Public Schools Mission Statement: It is the mission of the Potterville Public Schools to provide an educational learning environment with a level of instruction that gives all students opportunities to reach their individual potential and to develop the skills essential for success in life and work. Potterville Schools Board of Education 2012 2012--2013 School Year President Christopher Hampton Vice-President Jim Lehman Secretary John Hampton Treasurer Karen Miller Trustee Jerry Sweet Trustee Angela Schmalbach Trustee Dean Geisenhaver POTTERVILLE BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETINGS - 6:00 PM ADMINISTRATION BUILDING BOARD ROOM Mark your calendars—we urge the community to attend July 16, 2012 August 20, 2012 September 17, 2012 October 15, 2012 November 19, 2012 December 17, 2012 January 21, 2013 February 19, 2013 March 18, 2013 April 15, 2013 May 20, 2013 June 17, 2013 It is the policy of Potterville Public Schools that no person on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, age, sex, marital status or handicap shall be discriminated against, excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of or otherwise be subjected to discrimination in any program conducted by this educational agency.