District Welcome Brochure - Lake Orion Community Schools

District
At-A-Glance
8,000 Students
456 Educators:
WELCOME
L
74% hold Master’s Degree or higher
31% of educators have spent at
least five years with the district;
egend has it a dragon made
38% more than ten years
its home in the northern
Standardized Testing:
Oakland County village of
MEAP (grades 3-8):
Lake Orion nearly a century ago.
Rank in the Top Ten among
28 districts in Oakland County
in reading (5th), science (6th),
social studies (6th), math (7th)
Since those days, families from around
the world have made this close-knit
community their own home, too.
and writing (8th) for 2011
A cornerstone of the area’s growth
over the past two decades has been
Superintendent Marion Ginopolis
Michigan Merit Exam:
and athletics we offer children of all ages. We recognize each
District annually outperforms Oakland
County and state averages in all tested
subject areas. In 2012, ranked 6th in
county in mathematics, science and
social studies; 7th in reading and writing
child is unique and combine award-winning teaching expertise
ACT:
the exemplary Lake Orion Community Schools. We’re proud
of the many accomplishments of our students, not only in
academics and the arts, but also in the wide variety of activities
and modern, world-class resources to provide a stimulating,
caring and exciting learning environment.
Average test score of 22.5,
compared to state average 20.1,
for 2012 graduates
The district’s dedicated, professional staff is supported by the
College Board 2012-13
parents and families of our students, as well as community
Advance Placement (AP)
District Honor Role
and business leaders, and other local organizations, to assure
these young people the best opportunities possible. Our goal
is to prepare them for the future – wherever their journeys may
take them. It’s this connection between our students, their
educators and the greater Lake Orion community that breathes
District Graduation Rate: 91%
Each year several million dollars in
merit scholarships are awarded to
district graduates attending college
fire into learning each day and makes our schools truly unique.
Marion Ginopolis
Marion Ginopolis
Superintendent
Lake Orion Community Schools
Scan for more information about the
Lake Orion Community Schools
OUR SCHOOLS
Elementary Schools
Neighborhood Options
Each of the district’s four neighborhood schools – Blanche
Sims Elementary, Paint Creek Elementary, Pine Tree
Elementary and Webber Elementary – is designed to meet
the unique needs of the families and neighborhoods they serve.
All feature identical curriculum and enrollment is open to
students living within each school’s boundaries. They have
been recognized as Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary Schools.
Webber Elementary also features the Moose Tree Nature
Center, visited by students throughout the district.
Carpenter School Intersession
Intra-District Focus Schools
Lake Orion also is home to three award-winning focus schools
that offer unique opportunities; each is a Michigan Blue Ribbon
Exemplary School.
Carpenter Year-Round Elementary provides an alternative
to the traditional September-June school year, with a more
balanced calendar that promotes learning retention. During
breaks, students may attend optional theme-based learning
intersessions.
Orion Oaks Multi-Age Elementary was designed with
Middle School Applied Technology
four multi-age neighborhoods. This allows for a smaller,
more closely knit community within the larger school
environment. Teachers work in teams and students benefit
from grade-specific and multi-age learning experiences.
Stadium Drive Elementary School of the Arts features a
curriculum that not only adheres to state guidelines, but also
includes dance and theatre for students in kindergarten
through fifth grade.
Middle Schools
Lake Orion operates three middle schools for students in sixth
Middle School Social Studies Exploration
through eighth grades. Oakview Middle School, the newest
of the three buildings, opened in 2002. Scripps Middle School
and Waldon Middle School received extensive building
renovations that same year. Student achievement and
well-being are stressed during these critical years of learning
and growth. All three buildings are Michigan Blue Ribbon
Exemplary Schools and designated as Michigan Green
Schools for their conservation efforts.
L A K E
O R I O N
C O M M U N I T Y
DID YOU KNOW?
The Michigan Department of Education ranked
Carpenter Elementary School among the top 1% of all
schools in the state for the academic success of its students.
Webber Elementary is a member of the National Math
Olympiad Honor Roll, ranking in the top 10 percent
of all teams internationally.
S C H O O L S
Lake Orion High School
are offered to persons living in Lake Orion and other
Situated next to Bald Mountain State Park, Lake Orion High
communities. These include a high school diploma
School opened in 1997. It offers a broad-based curriculum
program for adults, G.E.D. test preparation, career-training
with numerous options for all students. The school features
certificate programs and credit recovery classes for high
71 classrooms, 10 computer labs, an instructional resource
school students. Taught by certified educators, G.E.D
center/library, multi-level fieldhouse, performing arts center
students at Lake Orion have historically achieved
and natatorium. Its Freshman Academy helps young
proficiency ratings higher than other programs. In 2008,
students adjust to the high school learning environment.
Lake Orion was recognized as the Oakland County
In recent years, the high school has been recognized as
Community and Adult Education District of the Year.
a National Blue Ribbon School and New American High
School. It also is accredited by the North Central Association.
The building regularly hosts community events, as well
as regional and state athletic competitions, fine arts
performances and educational seminars.
Learning Options
Lake Orion offers Learning Options, an alternative education
program for students in grades 9-12 who have experienced
limited success in a mainstream high school setting. It was
established to provide personalized educational services
for students who are at risk of not graduating with their
LO-AM Broadcast
class and/or having individual needs not being met in the
traditional classroom. The program is voluntary, with the
opportunity to earn a diploma and prepare for college or
the workforce.
Special Education
The district’s comprehensive Special Education Department
supports and prepares students with unique learning styles
to meet the challenges of tomorrow. Its trained staff is
Computer-Aided Design
dedicated to addressing a wide range of needs and
providing ample learning opportunities to students,
regardless of a child’s disability. Children with social,
emotional and learning impairments are enrolled in the
program and are integrated into traditional classrooms
as much as possible. The U.S. Department of Education
recognized Lake Orion with the Blue Ribbon Schools
Special Emphasis Award in special education.
Adult Education
High School Spirit Week
Lifelong learning is promoted through the district’s awardwinning Adult Education program. A variety of day/night
educational, vocational and enrichment opportunities
L A K E
O R I O N
C O M M U N I T Y
S C H O O L S
I
nfants, toddlers, preschoolers and pre-kindergarten students in the
district’s Early Childhood programs flourish in a safe and inviting
learning environment that caters to their individual development
needs. The pre-kindergarten program is carefully aligned with the Lake
Orion kindergarten curriculum to assure a solid learning foundation.
The district’s award-winning Reader’s Workshop has quickly become
a model for districts throughout Oakland County. Lake Orion educators
receive special training to work with young readers and their families.
The goal is to not only help students improve their skills, but encourage
them to truly enjoy reading.
E
L
Early Childhood Learning
Education Innovation
and Leadership
Academic success is celebrated through the district’s Lamp of Learning
award program. Unique to Lake Orion, it recognizes students who excel
in the classroom beginning in seventh grade through their senior year in
high school by awarding an academic letter for these achievements. The
program is funded in part through private donations from the community.
Students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grades have access to
Math IXL, a comprehensive, standards-based math program offering
unlimited practice in thousands of mathematical skills. The online instructional
tool can be accessed from school or home, providing students and their
families with full access to the instructional concepts and lessons.
Technology in the Classroom
Lake Orion is one of only a few districts in the state that uses the
Middle School Concept team-teaching approach in sixth through
eighth grades. Validated by national research, this program integrates
the educational curriculum with small teams of trained teachers who
collaborate daily and act as advocates for every student during these
critical years of learning and development.
DID YOU KNOW?
Some 500 adults and children from more than 30 countries participate
in the district’s English as a Second Language program each year.
It is designed to enhance their ability to speak, read and write the
English language. The program is free to district residents.
L A K E
O R I O N
C O M M U N I T Y
S C H O O L S
Elementary Writing Instruction
E d u c a t i o n
I n n o v a t
GAP: Habitat for Humanity
Scripps Middle School Anti-Bullying Rally
Elementary Character Development
Incoming ninth graders are part of the district’s exclusive
portfolio and an exit presentation is given before a panel
Freshman Academy, another county first. The Academy
of educators and community members.
is structured to help facilitate a smooth transition into
high school. Using a modified team-teaching approach,
this program is designed to help freshmen flourish
academically in a positive social setting, launching their
high school careers in the right direction.
The district and Lake Orion community have fully embraced
the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program to enhance
peer relations and foster a safe learning environment for all
students. Lake Orion is one of the few districts in the state
that is implementing this renowned program in all of its
More than 180 high school students participate in the
schools. This effort is self-funded through grants received
district’s Leadership Development Class each year.
from various state and local resources.
This for-credit class fosters team building, organizational
skills, problem solving, creativity, time management
Lake Orion students are melding education and technology
and public speaking. Lake Orion’s program has been
through the district’s comprehensive Web-based
recognized as one of the best in the state and regularly
Learning program. More than 60 online classes are
hosts regional leadership conferences.
offered for high school credit in a range of subject
Students blossom through Career-Focused Education at
Lake Orion High School. This program starts in ninth grade
areas. Blended-learning classes integrate both
classroom and online course work.
and aligns a student’s skills and interests with the appropriate
A variety of positive afterschool recreational activities are
elective classes to help explore various career pathways.
offered to Lake Orion students of all ages through the
During their senior year, students prepare an employability
district’s Guided Activities Program (GAP), the largest
L A K E
O R I O N
C O M M U N I T Y
S C H O O L S
i o n
a n d
L e a d e r s h i p
SPOTLIGHT:
District Staff Accolades
2012 Michigan
School Business Officials
Meridian Award of Excellence
2012 Oakland County
Excellence in Transportation Awards
2012 Children’s Choice
North American School Bus Driver of the Year
2011 Michigan Association of
Middle School Educators
Middle School Teacher of the Year
Promising Young Educator of the Year
2011 Betty Campion
Education Award Grants
Distinguished Support Service Award
such program in Oakland County with more than 2,500
youth participating annually. Developed by students and
adult supervised, programs focus on sports, arts, culture,
games, technology, community service and more.
Unencumbered by the traditional school calendar,
21st century year-round learning is promoted through
the district’s Project 21 initiative. Geared toward elementary
– Oakland County –
2011 Michigan Association of
School Boards
Education Excellence Awards
Pine Tree Elementary
and
Stadium Drive Elementary
and middle-school students, the program is designed to
give participants avenues beyond the traditional classroom
for learning, personal enrichment and community service.
Lake Orion parents, administrators, school principals
and police have joined forces to form the district’s
DID YOU KNOW?
Transportation Advisory Committee. Its goal is to
The College Board recently honored Lake Orion Community
monitor and enhance the safe transport of students
Schools as one of only 539 districts across the country
throughout the area. The group addresses issues related
to bus stops, walking areas, crossings and traffic safety.
Parents actually make up more than half of this committee.
L A K E
O R I O N
C O M M U N I T Y
S C H O O L S
(39 in Michigan) to make the Advance Placement
District Honor Roll for increasing student access to AP classes
while also maintaining the percentage of students achieving
passing AP exam scores.
S
tudents seeking more rigorous academic challenges
can enroll in a range of Advance Placement Courses
at Lake Orion High School. Currently, 14 AP classes
are offered in a variety of study areas, including science,
economics, history, art and English, among others. Each year,
more than 500 students take AP tests for college credits.
The high school also offers a number of Honors Courses,
including advanced algebra, chemistry, English 9 and 10,
geometry, physics, pre-calculus and trigonometry. Some
1,200 students enroll in these classes each year. In addition,
Engaging Classroom Instruction
Lake Orion High School offers students the opportunity to
enroll in college courses through partnerships with Oakland
University and Oakland Community College.
Something
for Everyone
Music exploration takes center stage in Lake Orion. All
three middle schools have award-winning bands, as well as
jazz combos, with numerous students selected to All-State
Ensembles. For several years running, the Dragon Marching
Band at the high school has finished among the best bands
in state competition, as well as a finalist in the Bands of
America regional competitions. The school’s wind ensemble
and symphonic band regularly earn top ratings at band
festivals across the state. The percussion ensemble was
named state champ in 2010 and runner-up in 2011.
8th Grade Music Exploration
Lake Orion’s high school Vocal Music Program features
more than 100 students in three choirs, ranging from the
campus choir to the more advanced chorale and highest-level
chamber choirs. There also are two show choirs. Students
perform in numerous school concerts and state music
festivals annually. Many have enjoyed regional and state
accolades, including recognition in the State Honor Choir
Program. Some have been invited to sing at the prestigious
Michigan Youth Arts Festival.
The high school’s Thespian Society and drama students have
enjoyed the stage for decades and currently perform in the
839-seat Lake Orion Performing Arts Center. In addition to fall
High School Theatre
L A K E
O R I O N
C O M M U N I T Y
S C H O O L S
play and spring musical performances, students conduct an
state and national competi-
outdoor Shakespeare performance each summer. A variety
tions, where Lake Orion has
of exciting productions have taken place in recent years,
placed among the best in
drawing rave reviews. Drama students also compete in
recent years.
state theatre competitions, with many performing at the
Michigan Youth Arts Festival.
Juniors and seniors interested
in hands-on vocational training
are encouraged to enroll in the
Oakland Schools Technical
Campus. They spend part of
the school day at the vocational
Lake Orion Drum Corps
program’s headquarters, studying the culinary arts, automotive
mechanics and cosmetology, which are among the more
popular programs. More than 100 students participate in this
program annually and upon completion have the skills to
enter the workforce after graduation.
FIRST Robotics Competition
Since 1996, future engineers and business leaders have
joined Team 302 to represent Lake Orion in the prestigious
national FIRST Robotics Competition, as well as regional
robotics events. Members work with teachers, mentor
engineers, machine/automation experts, alumni and parents.
Team 302 competes against other schools in competitive
robotic games that test students’ engineering prowess.
The competition timeline is rigorous and members are
selected to participate through an interview process.
The Lake Orion school
district sends 40 students
each year to the renowned
International Academy
in Bloomfield Hills. This is
a tuition-free, high school
of choice for students of
14 Oakland County school
districts collaborating in
consortium with university and
LO-AM, the high school’s student-produced daily live news
business partners. Selection
program, has been named the “Best Newscast” in the state
into the program is by lottery.
by the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association (MIPA) for
Students are immersed in a challenging, academic setting
the past two years. In 2012, the program’s students also
with a global focus.
Oakland Schools Technical Campus
won a record 50 awards for their individual work, while Lake
Orion’s broadcast program was given the Spartan Award,
the highest recognition in the state.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Dragon Yearbook staff has won many awards for writing,
Students in the Forensics Society compete in a variety of
photography and design. It has received the Spartan Award from
regional and state forensics tournaments, showcasing their
the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association for overall quality
dramatic interpretation and public address skills. There are a
20 times. The yearbook is a member of the MIPA Hall of Fame.
range of competitive categories, ranging from storytelling to
It also has won a National Pacemaker Award for excellence
prose, broadcasting to informative speaking. Lake Orion
has received many individual honors in recent years,
including state finals accolades.
Selling is the name of the game for participants in the
Distributive Education Clubs of America, commonly
known as DECA. This organization is for students studying
marketing education. DECA students compete at district,
High School
Art Instruction
L A K E
O R I O N
C O M M U N I T Y
S C H O O L S
in student journalism.
T
hrough hard work and dedication, students
in Lake Orion compete in 15 sports on 97
athletic teams at the seventh and eighth
grade, freshman, junior varsity and varsity levels. Most
recently, Lake Orion’s middle schools added tennis
and lacrosse programs.
Our athletes compete in the Oakland Activities
Association, regarded as one of the most competitive
Varsity Girls’ Swimming
athletic conferences in the state. An estimated 1,000
students participate in sports at the middle school
level each year, while more than 1,500 student-athletes
compete at the high school.
student-Athlete
success
Academic success is stressed in each of the district’s
sports programs. The average Lake Orion High School
student-athlete has a grade point average of 3.265 versus
3.038 for the overall student population, with many athletes
taking college-preparatory and advanced coursework.
A number of Lake Orion coaches are educators in the
district and welcome tutoring opportunities to help
student-athletes achieve in the classroom.
Lake Orion student-athletes also have enjoyed much
athletic success over the years. This includes state
championships in football, wrestling, baseball, girls’
Varsity Football
Middle School Girls’ Basketball
Varsity Girls’ Skiing
L A K E
O R I O N
C O M M U N I T Y
S C H O O L S
Varsity Baseball
Varsity Volleyball
Varsity Hockey
golf, boys’ track and powerlifting. Teams also have
enjoyed deep state playoff runs in volleyball and hockey
in recent years. The high school varsity coaches are
responsible for building the middle school and high school
programs, fostering development and consistency as
student-athletes progress through the district.
In addition, a number of life skills are garnered through
participation in sports, including teamwork, commitment
and decision making. Research shows student-athletes
also are less at risk for drug/alcohol abuse, childhood
obesity and risky sexual behavior.
S P OT L I G H T
Athletic Facilities
Lake Orion High School was one of the first in Oakland
County to feature a synthetic turf football field, used
by not only the high school football and lacrosse teams,
but also middle school and community sports programs.
Dragon soccer athletes play on one of the county’s only
soccer-exclusive synthetic turf fields, situated next to
the high school’s football stadium.
Dragon swim and diving teams enjoy a state-of-the-art
natatorium, featuring an Olympic-size 50-meter pool,
warm-up pool and competition diving facilities. The pool
DID YOU KNOW?
Combined, senior athletes at Lake Orion High School
receive an average of $1 million in academic/athletic
college scholarships annually.
complex, with seating for more than 650 spectators,
regularly hosts county and state competitions. The
community also is invited to use the pool facility, with
open-swim, lesson and exercise programs.
Lake Orion’s multi-level fieldhouse features ample
space for multiple sports teams to condition, practice
and compete. The facility also hosts numerous county
and state athletic competitions throughout the year, as
well as multi-age instructional sports programs.
The high school’s baseball and softball diamonds, as
well as tennis complex, have been updated in recent
years for the high school teams and community-based
youth programs.
Athletic Scholarship Signing Day
L A K E
O R I O N
C O M M U N I T Y
S C H O O L S
S
ervice Learning is a graduation requirement
for all Lake Orion High School students. This
program integrates education, service and
citizenship to proactively teach our students the value of
using what they have learned to help others. Students
must complete 40 hours of approved community service
to graduate. Designed to build character and empathy,
the popular program features a virtually unlimited number
of volunteering opportunities.
Student educational opportunities are enhanced and
enriched through the efforts of the Lake Orion Education
Middle School Adopt-A-Road Program
Foundation (LOEF). The non-profit organization was
created by friends and supporters of the Lake Orion
Community
Connections
Community Schools. Each year, the Foundation awards
monetary grants to district educators for a variety of
classroom resources. LOEF also has partnered with the
district to implement the Olweus Bullying Prevention
Program. Funding is raised through the organization’s
annual Evening for Education dinner and auction, golf
outing and 5K run/walk event.
The nationally recognized Lake Orion Optimist Club,
made up of local business owners, educators and residents,
recognizes outstanding youth and challenges them to
become active community members. The Club works
closely with Lake Orion’s schools to recognize the education
Lake Orion Optimist Club
community’s Citizen of the Month. It also conducts essay
and oratorical contests for scholarship opportunities. The
group is launching a Junior Optimist Club.
Area businesses of all sizes recognize the value of
educating students and have contributed greatly to
High School Community Blood Drive
the success of the school district over the years. This
L A K E
O R I O N
C O M M U N I T Y
S C H O O L S
Elementary School Holiday Caroling
Varsity Girls’ Basketball: Coaches vs. Cancer Fundraiser
includes providing significant monetary support for the
Lamp of Learning academic recognition program, the
schools’ anti-bullying efforts and Lake Orion High School’s
Challenge Day activities promoting acceptance, as well
as various athletic teams. Businesses also have supported
various community events sponsored in part by the district
and designed to benefit Lake Orion students and families.
Lake Orion Community Schools enthusiastically support
the Lake Orion Special Olympics program, annually
hosting basketball, soccer, track-and-field, poly-hockey
competitions and other athletic events for local athletes
LOEF Evening for Education
ages eight and up with disabilities.
Orion Township Public Library and the Lake Orion
Community Schools have long-partnered to establish
Think Link to enhance the educational pursuits of
district students, families and educators. Its goal is
to promote academic success by offering library
resources to fill research and information requests
from teachers and students in all grades, as well as
provide tutoring opportunities.
Lake Orion Special Olympics
A Mother’s Wish Charity Run/Walk
L A K E
O R I O N
C O M M U N I T Y
S C H O O L S
T
he Lake Orion Board of Education and district
administrators take a long-term outlook in
regard to fiscal planning. This forward-thinking
approach has led the district to secure a strong financial
position in the current, challenging funding environment.
In recent years, the Lake Orion Community Schools
district also has completed a variety of building renovation
projects to not only enhance the learning experiences of
our students, but also assure the buildings’ long-term
operating efficiency. This has included a number of
energy conservation projects designed to save the
district hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.
responsible
Fiscal planning
Lake Orion Community Schools enjoys an AA- bond
rating – the highest available to a school district. This
enables us to secure better financing rates for debt used
for capital investments. The district also continually explores
means for refinancing debt. In 2012, steps were taken to
refinance a portion of the bond debt that will save taxpayers
$6.1 million over a 15-year period.
District Shared Services
L A K E
O R I O N
C O M M U N I T Y
S C H O O L S
Lake Orion Community Schools Board of Education
The district’s target fund balance equity is 10-15 percent
of the yearly budget. This maintains cash-flow capability,
DID YOU KNOW?
enabling Lake Orion Community Schools to avoid having
All buildings in the Lake Orion Community Schools district
to borrow money from outside lenders at much higher
have Wi-Fi access, providing educators and students with
interest rates to cover working capital expenses, thus
protecting instructional resources.
mobile access to a wealth of information on the Internet.
Recognizing new ways students learn, the district enacted
a technology policy that allows students to use personal
To maximize its budget, Lake Orion Community Schools
also has entered into shared-services agreements with
smartphones, tablets and laptop computers to complete
work in class at a teacher’s discretion.
neighboring school districts. This includes management
positions in the food service and operations (buildings
and grounds) functions. Sharing such human resources
not only saves the district thousands of dollars annually,
but also allows for more effective sharing of best
practices. In addition, select members of the district’s
administrative staff are hired on a contractual basis,
which helps lower the district’s fixed costs.
The district has a strong working relationship with
its educators, who play a more direct, active role in
curriculum development compared to other school
districts. This has eliminated the need for several
administrative positions, resulting in more funding
for educational programs.
Innovative Maintenance Programs
L A K E
O R I O N
C O M M U N I T Y
S C H O O L S
For more information visit www.lakeorion.k12.mi.us,
or contact the district’s administrative offices at 248-693-5400
Photos provided by Lake Orion Community Schools and The Lake Orion Review.
© 2012, Lake Orion Community Schools