the Future! - L`Anse Creuse Public Schools

September 2015
Volume 9
No. 1
Communicator
A L’Anse Creuse Public Schools employee newsletter
•
http://www.facebook.com/LanseCreusePublicSchools
Superintendent’s Corner
I absolutely love this time of year, hearing the negotiations between parents
and kids in the school supply aisle at the store and seeing the kids waiting at
the corner for their school bus in their new outfits, carrying new backpacks
stuffed with brightly colored folders and sharpened pencils. It is a time of firsts
— kindergartners trying to walk quietly in a straight line through the hallways;
sixth-graders as they face the most daunting of middle school challenges, finding
and opening their lockers; ninth-graders as they vacillate between anxiety at the
size and complexity of high school with just how cool they feel to be there; and at every level, new
friends and new opportunities.
With this new year comes a fresh start for all of us and our students. It is exciting because
everything is new and anything is possible. Every year we have the opportunity to make an
impression on the young people who look up to us and count on us to help them become successful
adults. We are not just teaching curriculum, serving meals, driving buses, cleaning schools,
fixing equipment, greeting parents, and assisting students; we are shaping respectful, resilient,
responsible youth. Opening Day speaker Dr. Deborah Gilboa explained that parents and school
employees play a significant role in nurturing all of these important character traits.
There has been extensive research showing that students who have a growth mindset, who
understand that the brain can be developed like a muscle are more interested in tackling
challenging material, more able to learn from their errors, and more successful academically
than their fixed-mindset counterparts. This research further supports the importance of making
connections with all of our students and discovering what motivates each one. Helping our
students to become more resilient will create the perseverance they need to try and try again
until they achieve their goals. With our guidance, our students can master the skills necessary
to fulfill their dreams.
As all of you know, each of our students is inspired differently and you continue to crack the
code. That is what makes your jobs, and you, so special. This can be quite a challenge, but you
face this challenge without hesitation year after year because your dedication to our students is
second to none.
In just a few days, our schools will be filled with over 10,000 fresh faces eager to learn. I know
you are ready, let’s make it a great year!
Administrative Changes for 2015-2016
Please join us in welcoming the following administrators in their new roles:
On March 8, 2016, L’Anse Creuse is
asking for a renewal of the 18-mill levy on
non-homestead properties. Non-homestead
properties include businesses, agricultural
properties and second homes — but not
primary residences. Most residents will not pay
a penny; but for those who are affected by the
levy, this is a renewal and not an increase. The
funds from this levy account for approximately
$14 million of the district’s annual operating
revenue and it is imperative that we maintain
these funds to ensure our students receive
the quality education they need to thrive in a
global economy. Below are quick facts and we
will provide you with further information over
the next several months.
Quick Facts
This levy renewal:
n is an existing 18 mills levied on commercial, business and rental
properties in the school district.
n will neither increase nor decrease taxes for homeowners’ primary property.
n is needed to provide 14 million of the
operating funds for L’Anse Creuse
Public Schools each year.
n is required by law so the district can receive its full allocation of
school aid from the Michigan legislature.
• Jennie Brady, L’Anse Creuse High School – North Dean of Students
• Dean Sabelhaus, F. V. Pankow Center
Associate Director (as of January 2016)
n
• Diane Simmons, Early Childhood Center Director
• Christopher Stanley, L’Anse Creuse
High School – North Associate Principal
Non-Homestead
Millage Renewal
Election
Brady
Sabelhaus
Stanley
Van Camp
is funding that goes directly to the district to sustain the high quality
education historically attributed to the L’Anse Creuse district.
n WILL NOT INCREASE TAXES.
• Michael Van Camp,
Assistant Superintendent
for Human Resources
Simmons
the Future!1.
High School Coach
Inducted into the
Hall of Fame
Board of Education Updates
On July 22, the Election of Officers took place at the Board of
Education Organizational Meeting. The elected officers are:
L’Anse Creuse High
School (LCHS) Coach
Don Roda was inducted
into the Michigan High
School Lacrosse Coaches
Association Hall of Fame
on June 13 at Detroit
Country Day School. He
has been coaching for over
30 years, primarily at
LCHS, his alma mater.
Roda was featured in an
online article “Don Roda’s
photographic memory.”
CLICK HERE to read
the article.
President – Donald R. Hubler
Vice President – Linda J. McLatcher
Secretary – Sharon L. Ross
Treasurer – Pamela L. Hornberger
The date, time, and place set for Regular/Organizational Meetings
was approved for the 2015-2016 school year. New this year, two
regular session meetings are now scheduled monthly. Board meeting
dates can be found on the district website.
Hubler
McLatcher
Ross
Hornberger
Multiple Teachers Accepted into Leader Program
L’Anse Creuse is proud to report that 17 of our teachers were invited to attend the Macomb Intermediate School District (MISD)
Teacher Leader Program. This invitation/application-only program was created to mobilize and energize K-12 teachers and help
strengthen leadership in the daily life of the classroom. Individual sessions will focus on the Teacher Leader as a facilitator, team
player, instructor, and school improvement agent. Individual
sessons started mid-August and run through March 2, 2016.
The following teachers are participating:
Joann Agosta - Atwood Elementary
Tina Bennion - Middle School – North
Kevin Blum - Middle School – North
Agosta
Bennion
Blum
Bryant
Clyne
Davis
Edoff
Ellis
Fournier
Heugh
Martinez
Mette
Nelson
Reimer
Rose
Schuck
Scoppa
Troost
Udvari
Amy Bryant - Yacks Elementary
Jennifer Clyne - Atwood Elementary
Shelley Davis - Tenniswood Elementary
Wendy Edoff - Green Elementary
Laura Ellis - Lobbestael Elementary
Kyra Fournier - Yacks Elementary
Stephanie Heugh - Atwood Elementary
Maja Martinez - Green Elementary
Tom Mette - Atwood Elementary
Diane Nelson - Middle School – South
Kellie Reimer - Lobbestael Elementary
Jamie Rose - Yacks Elementary
Kristin Schuck
- Green Elementary
Sabrina Scoppa Tenniswood Elementary
Jessica Troost
- Middle School – South
Laura Udvari
- Graham Elementary
2.
Middle School – East
Teacher Voted MVP
Highlighted
Middle School – Central
Teacher is State Finalist
L’Anse Creuse Middle School
– Central ELA Support teacher
Danielle Temple was a State
Finalists in the Samsung Solve
for Tomorrow contest. Over 3,300
applications were submitted and
Temple’s was one of the five best in
the state of Michigan. As a reward,
she received two Samsung Galaxy
tablets to aid classroom instruction.
Temple also received a complimentary
professional development course from
PBS TeacherLine.
Applications for the 2015-2016 Solve for Tomorrow STEM
competition are being accepted now. CLICK HERE for the
application.
L’Anse Creuse Middle School –
East teacher Brian King, member
of the L’Anse Creuse “Greyhounds,”
men’s softball team, was voted
Most Valuable Player for the
second time. King received this
honor and a commemorative plaque
from the league for his efforts and
achievements on the field.
“Brian led the league in batting
average and was one of the best
outfielders all-around,” says
teammate Jim Maisano. “He is
dependable and consistent, and
led our team through another
successful season.”
The Leader in Me
The Leader in Me training is in full
swing at Marie C. Graham Elementary
School. Staff has started the process with
four days of intense training. All staff
participated in the 7 Habits – Launching
Leadership training August 19 – 21 and Creating Culture
training on September 3. A small team of teachers and support
staff also took part in the Lighthouse Team – Launching the
Plan training on August 31.
NEW
EASY-TO-ACCESS
SCHOOL MENUS
The way we access our school menus is changing in an exciting
new way! L'Anse Creuse Public Schools in partnership with Chartwells
K12, is now using Nutrislice to publish the school menus to a new
interactive website and a free smartphone app! Now our school
community can access our menus anywhere, anytime!
New easy-to-use features include:
• More information about menu items, including a photo
and description
• Filter for common food allergens like nuts, wheat and dairy
• A translation feature to translate your menus into a number
of different languages
• Access to nutrition information like carb counts and calories
with just a few clicks!
The new site and mobile app will be available August 31, 2015.
Information will be posted on our website and mailed to parents in the
student back-to-school packets. Be on the lookout for the launch of our
new site and feel free to direct any questions to Debbie Elzerman,
Chartwells Food & Nutrition Director at (586) 783-6550 Ext. 1104 or
[email protected]
Tenniswood Club
Receives Grant
Tenniswood Elementary School’s Roaring Runners club has
once again received a $530 Employee Involvement Grant from
Fifth Third Bank. The afterschool club comprised of third,
fourth, and fifth grade girls, promotes positive self-esteem and
body image. Kristen Ridderkhoff, Tenniswood parent and Fifth
Third Bank employee nominated the club.
Submit your
EMPLOYEE NEWS
to Lori Spencer at [email protected]
3.
Meet Up and Eat Up
Congratulations to Terri Alore, Lori Bicksler, Stacey
Cook, Pauline Drake, Cecelia Haarz, Jery Klein,
Sandy Koch, Cathie O’Connor, Cindy Modzelewski,
Tayna Nofs, Laurie Reske, Cindy Szabo, Carol
Smentowksi, Lisa Travis, Susie Wendrich and Anita
Woodside for their participation in another successful 2015
“Meet Up and Eat Up” summer food program. From June
22 to August 21, 6,407 free, healthy lunches were served to
local children, doubling last summer’s total of 2,920. This
achievement proves that the additional mobile units, teamwork and creativity pay off.
Meals were available at Graham Elementary School and
to reach more students, mobile food units served students
at Fairchild Lakes Mobile Home Park and Aspen Creek
Apartments in Chesterfield, and Willow Point Mobile Home
Park in Harrison Township.
These free meals were made available to children 18 years
of age and under or persons up to age 26 who are enrolled in an
educational program for the mentally or physically disabled
that is recognized by a state or local public educational agency.
L’Anse Creuse
Receives
Certificate of
Excellence Award
in Financial
Reporting
For 29 consecutive years, the L’Anse
Creuse Public Schools Business
Department has received the
Association of School Business Officials
International’s Certificate of Excellence
in Financial Reporting award. L’Anse
Creuse achieved this honor again by
exceeding the program’s high standards
for financial reporting and accountability
for the 2014 fiscal year.
Driving to Rid SUIDS/SIDS
The family of Emma V. Lobbestael third grade
teacher Gina Skeltis is hosting a Golf Scramble
fundraiser to boost awareness of SUIDS/SIDS. The
event is being held in honor of Laiken Ann Marie
Skeltis and will take place on Saturday, September
19 at Hickory Hollow Golf Club in Macomb.
CLICK HERE to view Golf Scramble flyer.
Registration has been extended to September 4.
For more information contact Sam Skeltis at
(586) 557-2943.
L’Anse Creuse Public Schools
HONORED WITH
... is a nonprofit community group dedicated to
obtaining additional resources for students within
the district to enhance educational opportunities
and provide scholarships.
The Foundation provided support for . . .
• Scholarships for Graduating
Seniors at all three High
Schools, $10,000
• Grants for Teachers’ Academic
Projects, $15,000
• Dialogue Day, $1,300
• Kindergarten Round-Up
T-shirts, $2,000
• Movie Night, $1,000
The L’Anse Creuse
Foundation awards
$10,000 in scholarships
to graduating seniors
each year and $15,000
in teacher grants!
• Cardboard Boat Regatta,
$1,700
• Parent Network Bus
$1,000
• F.I.R.S.T. Robotics Team,
$3000
For more information on
how you can donate or
become a member, call
• Total of $35,000
High School Boat Regatta
(586) 783-6300,
Ext. 1207.
www.lcpsfoundation.com
4.
L’Anse Creuse Welcomes
Chinese Teachers
Highlighted
“We are L’Anse
Creuse” Blog
The district is launching a blog that will
give staff members, students, parents, and
community members a place to share their
stories. The blog will be titled “We are L’Anse
Creuse” and will feature testimonials portraying
the many wonderful stories that show the
character of L’Anse Creuse.
If a staff member has
made a difference for
your child, if you “caught”
a student or group of
students doing something
admirable, or if you
witnessed someone going
above and beyond, please
tell us your story.
You can submit your
stories by clicking the
“LCPS Stories” button on
the main page of the district website, which will be
available on September 9.
You can submit pictures and you can remain
anonymous if you so choose.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Superintendent Jackie Johnston, Assistant Superintendent for Secondary
Education Erik Edoff, and Assistant Superintendent for Elementary
Education Lisa Montpas welcomed new and returning elementary Chinese
Immersion teachers on August 27. This is the second year the program will be
available at Joseph M. Carkenord and Donald J. Yacks elementary schools.
Kindergarten and first grade classes participating in the immersion program
have an English-speaking head teacher for the entire day and a Chinesespeaking teacher for half of the day.
Pictured below from left to right include are: Zixin Bai (Carkenord
Kindergarten), Erik Edoff, Yu Yan (Yacks Kindergarten), Xin Li (Yacks
first grade), Tong Lin (Carkenord first grade), Lisa Montpas, Yifang Shi
(Coordinator for BCC International), and Jackie Johnston.
LCPS
s
Storie
Community
Relations
Receives
Awards
District
from the Office of School and Community Relations
June 2014
Transportation Career Day
The Frederick V. Pankow Center
hosted a transportation focused
career day for L’Anse Creuse Public
Schools’ fourth grade students on
May 29. Local workers educated the
students about their occupations
and the importance of operating
heavy equipment or emergency
vehicles. Students were able to
explore the specialized vehicles and
ask questions.
Transportation Day participants
included the Macomb County
Sheriff’s Department, Harrison
Township Fire Department, MedStar
Ambulance, United States Coast Guard and Army, Macomb County Department of Roads,
SMART Bus, Mount Clemens Ice Arena, Ruehle’s Towing and Square One-Segway.
Tenniswood
Roaring Runners
Tenniswood Elementary School’s
Roaring Runners club received a $530
Employee Involvement Grant from
Fifth Third Bank. The afterschool
club promotes positive self-esteem
and body image and is comprised of
43 third, fourth and fifth grade girls.
The club was nominated by Kristen
Ridderkhoff, a Tenniswood parent and
Fifth Third Bank employee.
Film Student Awarded
Scholarship
Summer Interlochen
Theatre
L’Anse Creuse High School – North
sophomore, Harper Hodgson, will study
Musical Theatre this summer at Interlochen
Arts Camp.
Hodgson has
been in several
L’Anse Creuse
Public School
performances
including “Little
Women,” “The
Music Man” and
“Carousel.”
Interlochen
Arts Camp is a
superior summer
arts program for
aspiring artists, attracting students and staff
from all over the world. Student-artists learn
from world-class instructors and produce
hundreds of presentations each summer in
dance, theatre, creative writing, visual arts,
music and film.
Discus State Champ
L’Anse Creuse
High School
senior, Jaevyn
Wortham, won
the Discus Event
at the 2014
Michigan High
School Athletic
Association
(MHSAA) State
Championships.
This is her third
State title in discus. Next year, she will run
track at Troy University in Alabama.
The Office of School and
Community Relations
received two awards in the National School
Public Relations Association’s (NSPRA) 2015
publications contest. The “District News”
e-newsletter and the L’Anse Creuse High School
Wind Symphony program both earned an Award
of Merit. According to NSPRA, “There were a
total of 919 entries in this year’s contest. In the
publications’ portion, there were 568 entries;
99 received Awards of Excellence, 134 received
Awards of Merit and 155 received Awards of
Honorable Mention.”
The “District News” e-newsletter also received
the highest award, Distinguished in the 2015
Michigan School Public Relations Association’s
communications contest. Out of 35 entries,
L’Anse Creuse was one of nine districts statewide
to receive this honor.
NSPRA is a leader in school communication
and is dedicated to building support and trust for
education through responsible public relations
that leads to success for all students. NSPRA has
honored the best work in school communication
on a national level for more than 50 years.
Frederick V. Pankow senior, Lauren Mueller, was awarded a $2,000
scholarship for her film “Drinking Haunts.” The 30 second student
made video was part of the national Courageous Persuaders video
competition focused on the dangers of underage drinking. This is
Mueller’s second award winning film; she has earned over
$4,300 in scholarships over the past two years.
Video Link
Click icon to view additional
Facebook photos
Click icon to view video
Registered Trademark
The L’Anse Creuse Public Schools’ logo is now
a registered trademark. If you would like the
updated digital logo with ®, contact Lori Spencer
at [email protected].
FACT
??? OR ???
RUMOR
L’Anse Creuse Public Schools is introducing the Fact
or Rumor section on the district’s website. If you hear
something about L’Anse Creuse and want to verify the facts,
please utilize the new “Fact or Rumor” button on the home
page of www.lc-ps.org. Questions with responses will be
updated periodically.
5.
STA F F! (((Sound Off!)))
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Lobbestael Elementary school
custodians did an outstanding
job cleaning and preparing
the building for the start of
the school year.
Thank You,
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The Harrison Township Public Library has hired
South River teacher Julie
Dries as their Youth
Services Specialist. Julie will continue her role in
the district as well as providing children’s
programming at the public library.
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