The Ram Announcer - April 2015 - Galesburg
Transcription
The Ram Announcer - April 2015 - Galesburg
GALESBURG-AUGUSTA COMMUNITY SCHOOLS 1076 N. 37th St. Galesburg, MI 49053 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID LAKE MICHIGAN MAILERS, INC. RAM ANNOUNCER April 2015 www.g-aschools.org **ECRWSS** Residential Customers G-A SCHOOLS HONORED BY GOVERNOR’S OFFICE................Details on Page 12 Administration Offices 1076 N. 37th St. Galesburg, MI 49053 (269) 484-2000 Primary School (Pre-K through 4) Principal: Dr. Garth Cooper (269) 484-2040 [email protected] Middle School (5th - 8th Grades) Principal: Darin Schmidt (269) 484-2020 [email protected] High School (9th – 12th Grades) Principal: Christie Robinson (269) 484-2010 [email protected] GA G R E AT A C H I E V E M E N T S Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools APRIL 2015 Page 16 Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools KALAMAZOO BULLDOGS RUGBY CLUB If you are looking for a sport rife in tradition and history then rugby is the sport for you. On a global scale, rugby is the one of the most played sports in the world. Rugby does however manage to retain its uniqueness here in the United States. To give you a brief history of rugby in our area, in 1988 the men’s club, Kalamazoo Dogs Rugby Football Club (RFC), was revived which lead to the formation of Western Michigan Universities Bronco Rugby Club a few years later in the early 1990’s. The next step for development of the sport would be at the High School level, and this is what brings us to Richland. The Kalamazoo Bulldogs High School Rugby Club was founded in the spring of 2011 with the intention of introducing rugby to the high school aged youth in our communities and to their families. The club is based out of Richland. High school rugby is a spring season that runs from the end of March through May. There are about 45 high school clubs throughout the state, broken up into 3 divisions. The state is also divided into a West and East Bracket. These brackets combine for the state finals. On the field of play, each team is comprised of 15 players. At the high school level, a match lasts for two 35 minute halves and an additional 20 minute 3rd period is added to get all players time on the field each week. The sport of High School rugby not only demands a high level of fitness, it also fosters a strong team spirit, since a player must make quick decisions on the field of play and execute them with his teammates. Rugby is a fluid game, with very little set play and no time outs, so players must work together, communicate and execute different strategies to gain territory on the pitch (field), often times transitioning from offense to defense in a seconds time (similar to hockey). Upon completion of the match, both clubs, the referee, coaches, and families get together for a meal, which is a tradition held at all levels of the sport. Rugby players have always enjoyed this aspect of the sport, which is also evident at the high school level based upon comments from a senior from Gull Lake High School who said that he enjoyed sitting down with the players from the opposing club and talking about the match and the sport. Kalamazoo Bulldogs Rugby is a club, which means any high school aged athlete is welcome. Since most players have never played the sport, there is absolutely no experience necessary to participate. The Kalamazoo Bulldogs won the 2014 State Championships in D2 and made it to the Semi Finals in D3! This type of success is not only due to the commitment of our athletes, but it is also to our families, and local rugby communities. The support has been absolutely fantastic from current and former rugby players, Gull Lake Community Schools, and other sponsors such as Ruggers Up and Under and F.L.A.G.s (Foreign Links Around the Globe). The other very important piece was a home, which the club found with Richland Town- ship Park. The Bulldogs have trained there since the team’s formation. During home matches, the sidelines are full of spectators watching their kids, grandkids, and friends play. For more information about the Kalamazoo Bulldogs High School Rugby Club contact Matt Kaemming at 269203-5054 or via email at mattkaemming@hotmail. com. Welcome New Board Member Keith Jordan Keith Jordan was appointed to the Galesburg-Augusta Board of Education in January. The district is very excited to have Mr. Jordan a part of the board as he brings a business and industry background. He is eager to help the district meet the needs of each individual student within the district. Keith Jordan Current town/city: Galesburg Occupation: Continuous Improvement Consultant, Bronson Healthcare Background/Profile: I worked for 20+ years in manufacturing, including leadership positions. My wife and I also owned a retail business from 2009 to 2013. I transitioned to healthcare in 2013. Why did you want to become a school board member? To offer my time and assistance to the school district. I wanted to help insure that our children of the district have the same advantages upon graduation as those of neighboring districts. Share something interesting about yourself: I really enjoy traveling. I have visited over 40 states in the U.S. and numerous countries abroad. G-A SCHOOL BOARD MEETING DATES April 20, 2015 May 18, 2015 June 15, 2015 All meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. and are held in the high school media center. Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools APRIL 2015 Page 1 From the Desk of Superintendent Dr. Bazzi Superintendent’s Message I Had a Mother Who Read to Me Some of my favorite memories come from reading with my mother. My mother loved to read and shared her love of reading with Superintendent Bazzi us as children. She read delightful stories to us for many years. I have tried to emulate my mother’s example by spending time, sitting side-by-side, and reading to my own son. I have enjoyed not only being a part of developing early literacy skills, but associating reading, at a young age, with the feeling of spending time with the people you love doing something you love. I was motivated to do this by both my mother and a poem. “You may have tangible wealth untold; Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold. Richer than I you will never be- I had a mother who read to me.” Strickland W. Gillian Research shows that reading aloud is the single most important thing you can do to help a child prepare for reading and learning. Why Read aloud? Language Development: The number of words that a child knows on entering kindergarten is a key predictor of his or her future success. Instill a Love of Reading: Your example demonstrates that reading is important, pleasurable and valued. NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY It is the policy of the Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools that no discriminatory practices based on sex, race, religion, color, age, national origin, disability, height, weight, or any other status covered by federal, state or local law be allowed in providing instructional opportunities, programs, services, job placement assistance, employment or in policies governing student conduct and attendance. Complaints or inquiries related to discrimination should be forwarded to: Superintendent of Schools 1076 N. 37th St. Galesburg, MI 49053 269-484-2000 Knowledge Gained & Share: Books are a pleasure, yes, and they are also informative. You and your child can learn something new as you read aloud. Literacy Skill Building: Reading aloud builds literacy skills such as vocabulary, phonics, familiarity with the printed word, storytelling, and comprehension. Brain Development: From birth to age three are critical years in the development of language skills. Bonding: Is anything better than sharing a good book? In other words, reading that bedtime story may not only entertain and soothe a child, it may also develop his/her vocabulary, improve his/her ability to learn to read, and – perhaps most important foster a lifelong love of books and reading. We know you want the best for your child, and we invite you to begin a parenting practice which will benefit your child the rest of his or her life – reading with your child at home 20 minutes a day from birth through elementary school. Children whose parents read with them learn to read well and are typically proficient readers by third grade. It’s as easy as that! Share the love of reading early in life. In Education, Dania H. Bazzi, PhD Superintendent Galesburg-Augusta Community School GA G R E AT A C H I E V E M E N T S Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools Vision Statement: To be the preferred small-school district in our region Mission Statement: The Galesburg-Augusta School District, in partnership with the home and community, will teach each student the knowledge, skills and attitudes to be a productive and ethical citizen. APRIL 2015 Page 2 Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools Special Education Millage Request on May Ballot On Tuesday, May 5, voters in the Kalamazoo RESA service area will be asked to vote on a six-year, 1.5 mill property tax to help fund the costs of special education in our local schools. “While the costs of special education have been increasing, the dollars available to reimburse local school districts for their special education programs have been eroded significantly over the past several years”, said Kalamazoo RESA Superintendent Dave Campbell Local school districts are mandated by law to provide special education services. When current millage dollars do not cover special education costs, local school districts must use their general education funds to pay for these services. In the Kalamazoo RESA service area, local school districts are paying $11 million for unreimbursed special education costs out of their general education funds. That means there are fewer dollars to support programs for all students in our local schools. Galesburg-Augusta currently pays over $220,000 in unfunded special education costs that must come from the general fund. Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools has had to make considerable cuts due to the lower level of special education reimbursement rates. Why are the majority of districts experiencing a shortfall? The shortfall in special education funding comes from several sources, most notably the drop in local property values. If the initiative passes, homeowners would approximately pay the following based on the taxable val- ue of their home, which is typically about half of the market value: Market Value Example: $100,000 Taxable Value $50,000 Annual Cost $75.00 If you have any questions with regards to this ballot initiative, please feel free to call or email Dr. Dania Bazzi at 269-484-2000 or [email protected]. Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools APRIL 2015 Page 15 G-A High School Athletic News: PHYSICALS Just a reminder to all potential Middle School and High School student-athletes. You must have a valid physical on file with Mr. Woodard(Athletic Director) before you may participate in athletics, including practices. A valid physical is one given on or after April 15th, 2014 for athletics this school year and April 15th, 2015 for participation in athletics next school year(2015-16). You may download a physical form from the school website, g-aschools.org or pick one up in the high school office. Also, we have teamed up with Hometown Urgent Care to provide physicals at the low rate of $25 per student-athlete. You will need to fill out a voucher, which can be downloaded from the school website or picked up from the high school office. Please call Mike Woodard at 484-2016 if you have any questions. PAST DUE ATHLETIC BILLS / UNIFORMS You MUST have all athletic bills paid and all uniforms turned in before you may participate in any other school sponsored sport. This includes any past participation fees that were not paid. The fee must be paid before your student-athlete may participate in their next sport. Please contact the high school office at 484-2010 or middle school office at 484-2020 if you are not sure if you are on the list. SPRING SPORTS SCHEDULES The spring sports schedules can be found on the school website at g-aschools.org From the homepage, you will need to click on the schools tab and select either the high school or middle PARTICIPATION FEES school. From there, click on the athletic schedule tab Please start planning for your athletes upcoming in the left hand column. Click on the appropriate sport participation fee. The fee at the middle school is $25 and then click on files to access the schedules. Please note, schedules are subject to change, so you per sport. The fee at the high school is $50 per sport. may need to check back frequently for any changes. There is a $200 family cap for the school year. If you are unable to pay the entire fee, you MUST contact the athletic director to request a reduction. Your child will CONGRATULATIONS not be able to make the request. It must come from a parent or guardian. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN DISTRICT 11 SOLO AND ENSEMBLE Congratulations to all of the Band students that participated in District 11 Solo and Ensemble on Saturday, February 7, 2015. All students received Excellent or Superior ratings on their solos and ensembles at the festival. Jimmy Chadwick, Judy Smith, Allyssa Gibson, Colin Whitman, Cherylynn Lamphear, Jacob Booth, Rachel Blood, Logan Matties, CJ Gidman, Carter Way, Linnea O’Neil and Sam Brooks qualified to perform at the state level festival on March 21, 2015. Great Job Rams! TO THE LADY RAMS BASKETBALL TEAM 2015 DISTRICT CHAMPS!! APRIL 2015 Page 14 Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools G-A High School News: Attention Parents! Testing! Testing! The class of 2016 is currently planning prom and are looking to find parent volunteers to help set up and decorate before the dance. Prom will be held at the Hayloft Theater (in Celery Flats) on Saturday, May 9th. We are looking to decorate the venue at 5 p.m, and will need help tearing down the venue after at 10 p.m. If you are interested, contact Erica Cataldo at (269) 484-2010 ext. 1036. We appreciate your help! The students of GAHS have been engaged in several tests this year. The movement in assessing student knowledge is slowly headed to online formatting. The summary of tests and purpose: Hougton-Mifflin: Exposure for all students to the dynamics of online testing, a pilot program providing a stipend to invest in our building. ACT & WorkKeys: All juniors participating in traditional paper and pencil testing that will evaluate college readiness, interest inventory, and skills assessment. PLAN: All freshmen and sophomores were evaluated on basic skills to build our data base and better drive our instruction to meet individual needs of our students. We Have WiFi!! Our high school building has been making advances in technology. Our technology department worked to realign and upgrade our infrastructure to support our forward movement. The high school is actively pursuing availability of devices, application of resources, and more individual access for our students. Underclassmen Calendar April 1, 2015 3rd Marking Period ends April 6-10 – Spring Break April 24 – 1⁄2 Day K-12 – Early Release PLC May 14 – High School Awards Assembly – 1 p.m. Good Behavior is Cause for Celebration! May 20 – Senior Concert & Band Awards – 7 p.m. May 25 – Memorial Day – No School High school students were provided a time of cele- May 29 – Graduation – 7 p.m. bration to honor their exemplary behavior and attitude June 2 – Modified Schedule - High School at school. Students were served a special breakfast 1st hour Exam begins @1:11 p.m. and enjoyed music provided by their peers. Several June 3 – High School Exams – 2nd Hour @ 7:35 a.m. – of the band students performed their solo and ensem3rd Hour @ 9:20 a.m. ble pieces live as entertainment and a break from the June 4 – High School Exams – 4th Hour @ 7:35 a.m. – routine. We had 225 students who modeled top-notch 5th Hour @ 9:20 a.m. behavior. June 5 – High School Exams – 6th Hour @ 7:35 a.m. – 7th Hour @ 9:20 a.m. Mural is an Impresive Addition! On February 27 an impressive mural was presented to the community by the Athletic Boosters. The mural is sponsored by sponsored by GA Sports Boosters, EMA, Harding’s, Galesburg Ford, and David Wayne. If you have not had an opportunity to see the mural in person, stop by the main office and we would be happy to share this fantastic addition to our school. Thank you for the incredible addition to our school! Class of 2015 - Dates of Interest Senior Exams: May 20, May 21, & May 22, 1015 Senior’s Last Day: May 22, 2015 Academic Awards Assembly: May 14, 2015 – 1p.m. Senior Concert & Band Awards: May 20 – 7 p.m. Baccalaureate: TBD Memorial Day: May 25 – No school Senior Breakfast: May 29 – 8 a.m. Graduation Practice: May 29 – 9 a.m. Graduation: May 29, 2015 – 7 p.m. in the High School Gymnasium Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools APRIL 2015 Page 3 Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools Foundation The Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools Foundation is a non-profit organization established to promote, receive, invest and administer funds or other tangible gifts for students. The Foundation was organized to provide an avenue for individuals and businesses to contribute funds into the educational system in an organized manner that can be of financial benefit to the donor and a benefit to G-A students. All gifts are to be used solely for the support or enhancement of educational, literary, artistic or scientific endeavors of the school district. Currently scholarship awards are given to high school seniors from the Galesburg-Augusta community. In the last 30 years, we have awarded over $100,000 in student and staff grants. Providing Opportunities: Projects that enrich students’ exposure to 21st-century learning and promote the district’s commitment to educational excellence. Recognizing Excellence: Opportunities to celebrate quality education while acknowledging the significant contributions of select individuals. Building Futures: Endowed scholarships established to assist those students and families desiring to access quality programs and services both on a post-secondary and basic education level. The Foundation accepts contributions from individuals, families, corporations, civic groups, local businesses and other foundations. All donations support the educational efforts of the Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools. Why Give? The Foundation’s ability to continue its mission depends on the generous support of individuals and groups in the Galesburg-Augusta community and beyond. Your If you would like to donate, checks can be made paygenerous gift will be used to enhance the educational experiences of our students by: able to: Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools Foundation and mailed to: 1076 N 37th Street, Galesburg, MI Supporting Education: Venture grants designed to 49053. Remember, every dollar helps create better stusupplement the educational program and provide teach- dents and citizens in the G-A Community! Thanks for ers and students with unique learning experiences. your consideration. A NOTE FROM AUXILIO TRANSPORTATION Auxilio Transportation Staff would like to thank the community for all their continued support for this school year! As we head towards warmer weather and the end of the school year, we would like to remind everyone to drive safely during the early morning and afternoon when school buses are on the roads and you see students walking to and from school. Auxilio would also like to encourage anyone who is interested in learning more about becoming a School Bus Driver to stop in and talk with us! Congratulations to the G-A Graduating Class of 2015! Thank you all again for your continued support!! Auxilio Transportation Staff You can also donate by using Amazon Smile: http:// smile.amazon.com/ch/38-3082334 2014-2015 SCHOOL CALENDAR April 1 April 3 April 6-10 April 13 April 24 May 21 May 25 May 29 June 2 June 3 June 4 June 5 Third Marking Period Ends Half Day K-8 / Records Day Spring Break School Resumes Half Day K-12 Early Release PLC 12:30-3 Last Day of Preschool No School K-12 Memorial Day H.S. Graduation 7 pm H.S. Exams- modified schedule Half Day 9-12 H. S. Exams Half Day K-12 H.S. Exams Half Day K-12 Last Day of School Stay connected to Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools by: APRIL 2015 Page 4 Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools G-A Primary School News: Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools G-A High School News: March is Reading Month Kids’ Gym Field Trip Michigan to Move From ACT to SAT The March is Reading Month theme was: “I Read! What’s Your Superpower?” Among the scheduled activities were “Lucky Lunch Mondays,” “Grocery Bag Art,” “Drop Everything and Read Fridays” and “Reading Counts Roundup.” On the five Monday’s in March, the cafeteria staff conducted “Lucky Lunch Day” with student names drawn at random to receive a free book or prize. The Fridays in March saw the entire building participate in a common time group reading activity in the mornings and our second, third and fourth grade students were challenged to earn a combined 2,000 Reading Counts points in the month of March. Students in our preschool and Kindergarten classes participated in a variety of locomotion and coordination skills activities at Kids Gym in Portage. This field trip is an extension of Mr. Merasco’s physical education gymnastics and tumbling units that the students participate in at school. This annual field trip is a highlight of the year for these young learners! If you’re a high school sophomore in Michigan, get ready for a dramatic change in testing during your junior year: The ACT is out and the SAT is in. Also: Grocery Bags We decorated grocery bags from Harding’s Market again this year. Hardings bagged customer’s groceries in the decorated bags during the month of March. This is a great way to connect our school and community. Each child decorated one bag, with the theme “reading.” They chose favorite books, book covers, or phrases such as “I love reading” or “Wacky Readers.” Congratulations to Ann HoganStandley for being honored as Educator of the Year by the Galesburg-Augusta Education Association! Ann will be honored at a Kalamazoo County celebration dinner Monday, April 27, 2015 at the Fetzer Center on the campus of WMU. Ann has been a devoted teacher to the students of Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools for 22 years! APRIL 2015 Page 13 The immediate impact of the change: Students who want to take the ACT after the 2014-2015 school year will likely have to pay for the exam themselves. The SAT will be administered in schools free of charge. ACT, Inc. will still provide its WorkKeys assessment for all high school students, which is currently a part of the spring testing period. The WorkKeys test gauges career readiness. Both the SAT and WorkKeys will be administered as part of the Michigan Merit Exam. Education experts who have looked at the revamped SAT test — the one students will start taking in 2016 — say it will be more aligned to Michigan standards. Those include: requiring to back up claims, testing vocabulary in reading passages, fewer math topics but in more depth, and testing knowledge of U.S. founding documents. Jump Rope for Heart Time Again On Friday, March 6th, the first through fourth grade students held their 14th annual Jump Rope for Heart event to raise funds for the American Heart Association. The first thirteen years of this program we raised nearly $78,000, making G-A one of the top schools in southwest Michigan. Last year Galesburg Primary raised over $7,800. This event is sponsored by the American Heart Association which uses the money to help build healthy environments, scientific discovery, CPR training and education. Thanks to JRFH, heart disease deaths have fallen an amazing 30% the past 12 years. No other disease has seen a drop like that. The Jump Rope for Heart kickoff assembly Also, SAT/College Board has partnered with Kahn Academy, the free, online learning resource, to provide free SAT preparation materials to all students starting in 2015. Stay connected to Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools by: National Honor Society The National Honor Society induction took place on December 11. It was a pleasure to recognize the students in our district who exemplify the pillars of NHS: scholarship, service, leadership, and character. The seventeen current members welcomed the fourteen inductees as they were sworn in to share a common vision for the Wes and Ruth Burrell chapter of the society. Our New Inductees: Abigail Chapman, Gina DeGraaf, Josh East, Sinque Ezbenko, Cherylyn Lamphear, Sierra Nantz, Judy Smith, Samuel Spencer, Taylor Verburg, Courtney Way, Carter Way, Colin Whitman, Colleen Whitman, and Grace Wood. Senior Members: Megan Beaver, Rachel Blood, Jacob Booth, Kirsten Cox, Holly Deleon, Katherine Dooley, Tyler Dunithan, Carlin Goza, Casandra Klomparens, Kennedy Mazza, Alexandrea McDaniel, Emily Midgett, Sarah Millen, Jonathon Penix, Logan Sondgerath, Tyler Walker, and Elizabeth Washburn. APRIL 2015 Page 12 G-A Middle School News: Middle School Wrestlers Learn Grit Middle School Wrestling is in full swing, and with 21 wrestlers the Rams are a strong team. The team has brought home six medals this year with the KVA still yet to come. With many first year wrestlers Coach Grace and Coach Pate have helped to develop their wrestling skills to help build the high school team and the middle school team next year. The wrestling team will have faced eight teams and wrestled at three tournaments by the end of the season. The wrestling team motto this year was “Champions Train, Losers Complain”. To the team this meant working hard in practice and leaving everything on the mat, and if you lose learn from it and become a better wrestler next time you take the mat. Coach Pate and Coach Grace have watched these 21 wrestlers bloom into outstanding athletes. Many schools have commented on the outstanding sportsmanship the Rams have shown before, during, and after a match. As always the Wrestling Rams will put in the HARDWORK and represent Galesburg-Augusta Schools with pride. Book Drive Success! The middle school held a book drive during the week of conferences because our library is in need of current materials for the students. During this book drive, we collected nearly 500 books! Thank you to everyone who donated or spread the word to help our students! March Reading Madness For March is Reading Month, we will be having our own “March Madness.” Students will be able to participate in selecting the G-A Middle School “Champion” book of the year. The top books that are checked out of the library have been selected as the “Sweet 16” and placed into brackets. Students will be able to review the books and vote. Which book will be the G-A Middle School “Book of the Year?” Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools G-A Schools Honored by Governor’s Office Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools was honored at a reception held by the Governor’s office on February 5th for first responders and volunteers that assisted with the I-94 accident that occurred on Friday, January 9th. On the day of the massive pile up, The American Red Cross, Police and Fire authorities requested Galesburg-Augusta Primary School be designated as the Emergency Response location. From late morning to late evening, the G-A community showed their compassion, dedication, and selflessness to help those Pictured (L-R)...Denise affected by the accident. Armstrong, Dr. Dania Bazzi, Our staff and community Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley, and Dr. Garth Cooper. reacted in such a proactive manner that we were able to provide comfort to many people. Our staff and community ensured people were kept safe, warm, comfortable, and fed; simply put, they ensured everyone was taken care of in every way possible. The American Red Cross shared that GalesburgAugusta’s level of support was certainly above and beyond what they have seen in the past. Yearbook Reminders Last chance to preorder your copy of the 2014/15 Yearbook before they arrive. Yearbooks are $60. Deposit $30 to secure your yearbook for early release, $30 due when yearbooks arrive. Parent Ads are available once again this year. A great spot to highlight your senior’s extracurricular sports and/or activities. Also include a congratulatory note with a picture or two of your senior. Prices: 1⁄4 page $25.00, 1⁄2 page $50.00, 3⁄4 page - $75.00 or full page $100.00. Yearbook needs “Looking Back” pictures of the class of 2015. Any group or classroom pictures would be appreciated. Also need an 8th grade dance group picture. Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools APRIL 2015 Page 5 G-A Primary School News: Primary School Garden Do you like to garden? Would you like to instill and nourish a love of gardening in children? Then please consider volunteering at the vegetable garden at G-A Primary. You will work with teachers and other volunteers to guide a small group of elementary aged children through the process of starting, growing, and maintaining a vegetable garden in the raised beds at the primary school. This would be a once a week after-school program during the spring and fall, and would meet once a week throughout the summer to water, weed, and harvest the garden. If you are interested, please contact Kim Stone via e-mail at [email protected]. Afterschool Clubs a Big Hit Third grade teacher Stacey Ryder has organized two separate after school clubs for the students here at G-A Primary School. The first is called the American Girl Club and involves activities such as crafts, simple cooking, simple sewing, making a timeline of the time period of the doll of the month, science, and special projects. The second club is a Lego Club. The Lego Club will help children build problem solving skills, encourage kids to discover how things work, and motivate kids to learn math and science concepts. Both clubs have a full 30 student roster which is very impressive. While several teachers have also volunteered to help with the club activities, Mrs. Ryder, who is in her second year of teaching here at G-A Primary, and 19th year of teaching overall, has done a tremendous amount of work to get these groups going and insure their success! Thanks also go out to the Galesburg-Augusta Community Foundation which provided grant money to support the clubs. Preschool and Kindergarten Registration to be Held Preschool registration night was held on March 12th and our Kindergarten roundup was held on March 19th. Registration is now open for any student who will be aged three or four on September 1st to enroll in one of our preschool programs. We currently offer half day sessions, four days a week for three-year-olds and full-day sessions, four days a week for four-year-olds. Registration packets can be picked up at the Primary School office or accessed on the school’s website. Kindergarten registration is now open for any student that will be five years old on September 1, 2015. For more information please contact the Primary School office at 269-484-2040. APRIL 2015 Page 6 Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools G-A Primary School News: APRIL 2015 Page 11 G-A Middle School News: G-A PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN FOURTH ANNUAL LEARNING FAIR Galesburg-Augusta Primary School held the Fourth Annual Learning Fair on March 12th, with students from grades PreK-4 presenting displays that demonstrated their learning on topics of study from a variety of fields. Projects ranged from natural science (tornados, volcanoes, the four seasons and the solar system), to social studies (the histories of Galesburg and Augusta, firefighting and ancient pyramids) to sports/hobbies (fashion and Star Wars). Ninety-four students participated in this year’s event by creating displays on a variety of research topics with an additional twenty others creating original artwork to be displayed. All four of our preschool classrooms collaborated on creating our Learning Fair logo globe, with each room submitting a group project as well. Once again, the support from parents, relatives and the community was amazing in helping the students create their projects and celebrate their accomplishment! The event is a collaboration of efforts between Principal Dr. Garth Cooper, the Primary School teaching staff and parent volunteers, led by Mrs. Jen Blake and Mrs. Wendy Lockner. This year, Mrs. Blake and Mrs. Lockner even created a Learning Fair weebly site that parents and students could access online for information and project suggestions, plus links to online resources. The event was kicked-off on February 18 with an all-school assembly featuring guest presenter Randall DeJong from Zoetis in Kalamazoo, who put on an exciting display of science “magic” that inspired the students to participate in this year’s Learning Fair. This year’s Fair expenses were funded by a combination of sources including a small portion of an environmental science grant the school received from the Kalamazoo Community Foundation and the Adults For Galesburg Augusta Kids (AFGAK) parent group that supports student activities at Galesburg-Augusta Primary School. In addition, one family personally donated $200 to support the event! Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools G-A School Board Members Jessica Gutherie and Diana Walker checking out 2nd grade student Owen Pfeiffer’s “Natural Disasters” exhibit. Third grade student Leiahna Cody with her project on Dragons! Preschool student Ella Carley showing off her contribution to Mrs. Bell’s preschool classroom project! First grade student Claire Newton with her project on moldy bread! Dr. Volcanus, aka second grade student Erich Lear, proudly displaying his Learning Fair project! Superintendent Bazzi observing Isabelle Feltch’s erupting volcano! FITNESSGRAM RAMS Every student enrolled in Physical Education at GA Middle School, participates in a comprehensive assessment called the FitnessGram. The FitnessGram is used to assess physical fitness and physical activity levels for children. The assessment includes a variety of health-related physical fitness tests that are used to determine students’ overall physical fitness and suggest areas for improvement when appropriate. Students are tested in areas of muscular strength, muscular endurance, aerobic capacity, and flexibility. Students are challenged to maintain, or improve their scores in the tested areas by the end of the marking period, semester, or school year. The FitnessGram is more than a tool that compares student scores to standards. The FitnessGram is aligned with the curriculum to teach students goal setting, and what it means to be physically fit. Using the assessments in class equips students to self-assess their physical activity and fitness levels in the future, building a foundation for physically active and healthy adults. Ultimately, the FitnessGram is an educational tool that helps students learn—as part of a high quality, standards-based physical education curriculum—how it feels to become more physically fit, and how to value a physically active lifestyle. The Physical Education department at G-A Middle School would like to recognize all of our students for their outstanding efforts so far this school year. We would like to congratulate and distinguish the following students: Gage Hardin, Toby Lear, Madison Thompson, Gavin Miller, Cameron Rupert, Macy Sierengowski, Anthony Kuras, Morgan Wallace, Lance Wheeler, Asia Mench, Hannah Waterbury, Nick Good, Dominic Pickett, Aubree Sedore, Ellie Danger, Emma Fleck, Faith Waterbury, Madison Binfet, Madison O’Steen, Audrey Clemence, Jeremy Leeson, Megan Earles, Tyler Goodrich, Riley Baird, Alli Durnell, Auddie Terry, Riley Sanderson, Alex Rios, Bo Brady, Avery Labrie, Dylan Coburn, and James Nixon III. These students scored within or above the “Healthy Fitness Zone” standard in at least three out of the four components of fitness categories. WAY TO GO RAMS!! Fifth Graders in Harmony Thanks to the G-A Education Foundation This year in music, the fifth graders are learning to play the ukulele with the help of Meagan Brummel, our Pre-K to 5th grade music teacher. 15 of the ukuleles were purchased with the help of the G-A Education Foundation which provides grants to teachers to fund special classroom projects. The students are using what they have been learning in music and applying it to the instrument, including note and rhythm reading. They most enjoy playing well known pop songs such “Best Days of My Life” by American Authors and “Yellow Submarine” by the Beatles. Thanks to the G-A Education Foundation for providing our students with this awesome experience! APRIL 2015 Page 10 Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools G-A Middle School News: teams and lost in very competitive games against strong teams. “I am really impressed with the hard work and improvement the girls have shown each day. We are practicing and playing ball together six days a week to continue the tradition of a winning girls’ basketball program.” mentions Coach Merasco. “This is a talented group of ladies that I am sure will continue to grow and improve, I will be excited to watch them play as High School players.” Cutting-Edge STEM Programs to Come to G-AMS Thanks to generous grants managed by KRESA and WMU, our middle school will bring Project Lead the Way to our students next year. Middle school is the perfect time for students to explore and learn that there is more than one way to reach a solution. PLTW GatewayTM provides engineering and biomedical science curriculum for middle school students that challenges, inspires, and offers schools variety and flexibility. Through topics like robotics, flight and space, and DNA and crime scene analysis, middle school students engage their natural curiosity and imagination in creative problem solving. PLTW’s Gateway program is a strong foundation for further STEM learning in high school and beyond, challenging students to solve real-world problems, such as cleaning up oil spills and designing sustainable housing solutions. Using the same advanced software and tools as those used by the world’s leading companies, students learn how to apply science, technology, engineering, and math to their everyday lives. G-AMS will begin with Foundation Units in 2014-15, with the possibility of expanding to Specialization Units in the future. Foundation Units - Design & Modeling Students apply the design process to solve problems and understand the influence of creativity and innovation in their lives. They work in teams to design a playground and furniture, capturing research and ideas in their engineering notebooks. Using Autodesk® design software, students create a virtual image of their designs and produce a portfolio to showcase their innovative solutions. Automation & Robotics Students trace the history, development, and influence of automation and robotics as they learn about mechanical systems, energy transfer, machine automation, and computer control systems. Students use the VEX Robotics® platform to design, build, and program real-world objects, such as traffic lights, toll booths, and robotic arms. G-A Primary Literacy Night Offers Interactive Displays Join us at the G-A Primary for our 2nd annual Literacy Night, which will be held on Tuesday, May 5th between 5:30pm-7pm! Families will be able to take part in interactive literacy displays, word and letter games, a make your own bookmark station, an Author’s Chair, and much more! Each child that attends will also receive a book bag, summer writing journal, as well as a “new to them” used book, once their superhero punch card is complete! The BOGO Scholastic Book Fair will also be open in the library, so make sure to stop by and visit Mr. Russell and purchase some new summer reading materials for your student! A few of our local libraries will be there as well to share information about some of their summer reading programs! And before you leave for the night, swing in to the cafeteria for a complimentary hotdog dinner with your family! If you would like to help in any way with this event, please contact Laura at [email protected]. Thank you! G-AMS Behavior All-Stars Are 24 Karat Solid Gold G-A Middle School students recently celebrated Positive Behavior with our first semester Gold Club Reward. An amazing 217 students participated in a wide range of activities throughout the school including board games, open gym, a movie, art projects, and technology time. They were able to select activities and rotate to different locations during our half day reward. These students are wonderful examples of outstanding citizenship and great role models at G-A Middle School. Congratulations first semester Gold Club Members! APRIL 2015 Page 7 G-A Primary School News: Eighth Grade Girls Have a Bright Future! This year’s eighth grade basketball team consists of 12 dedicated players that have been working very hard since the season started the first week on January. The team members are Lexi Reist, Skylar Bollinger, Sam Thomas, Kenzi Daniel, Macy Sierengowski, Victoria Dack, Madison Thompson, Kelcey Bullard, Sam Verburg, McKenzie Phillips, Natalie Voss and Abby Snyder. They have had impressive wins against rival KVA Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools Stay connected to Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools by: APRIL 2015 Page 8 Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools G-A Middle School News: G-A Middle School News: Miss Champion’s Fifth Grade Science Class Study Volcanoes Miss Champion’s fifth grade science class has been learning about plate tectonics and volcanoes. For the last couple of weeks, the class researched, built, and erupted their own volcanoes. The students built the framework out of cardboard then used Paper Mache and paint to create his/her volcano masterpieces. The fifth graders took turns erupting his/her volcano with different combinations of ingredients in order to see how they reacted. The fifth graders had an absolute blast with this activity! A big thank you goes out to the parents who donated supplies; we couldn’t have done this without you! The Washington’s Came to the Middle School for Story Telling This year, the Galesburg-Augusta Community On February 12, the Galesburg-Augusta Middle School had the privilege of having world known story Schools Foundation donated money that allowed the tellers, Von and Fran Washington, present A River to fifth and sixth graders to attend two Education for the Cross to the fifth and sixth graders. Arts programs. A River to Cross is a story based on the true history of the William Bright Conner family of Covert, Michigan. The Conner family traveled from the south in 1849 to escape southern slavery. At one point in the story, our students were so wrapped up into the story that a student actually shouted out “Shhh...” when a character screamed. The student didn’t want the family to be caught by the guards. Von and Fran Washington are a part of the Education for the Arts program sponsored by KRESA. The assembly was made possible by a generous donation from the Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools Foundation. Stay connected to Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools by: MS Student Poetry to be Published “It is difficult to get the news from poems yet men die miserably every day for lack of what is found there.” William Carlos Williams, Asphodel, That Greeny Flower and Other Love Poems: That Greeny Flower Congratulations to Mrs. Fotis and 56 of her eigth grade writing students! These students have been accepted to be published in A Celebration of Poets, sponsored by Creative Communication. This is a tremendous achievement of which the entire G-AMS community can be Ram Proud! The following students will have their poem published! The AB means they were absent for the picture. Alec Beatty Alex Eaton Alex Monk Chris Rios AB Austyn Spence Jonathan Robinson Brooke Miller Josh Miner Champaign Mueller AB Markus Lamphear Jon Depalma Michael Whitney Levi Root Noah Fouch Madison Liskovec AB Qwin Fleckenstein Pam Crosslan Skylar Bollinger AB Samantha Perry Toby Lear Aubrey Feist Lexi Reist Devon Cote AB Gabe Valadez Katie Hogan Josh Davidson AB Rose Vincent AB Allyssa Haan Victoria Dack Brianna Haan Sammi Nearpass Hana Gonzales Patrick Wallace Annie Dowdy Aden Bajo Cameron Wing Cameron Rupert Kenzi Daniel Jade Levering Lydia Johnson AB Kaylee Saggio Kelcey Bullard Logan Moses Macy Sierengowski McKenzie Phillips Abby Snyder Chloe Page AB DJ Brannon Dylan Maher Eric Swager Jarret Briley Logan Williams Matt Lucas AB Max Thompson AB Samantha Thomas APRIL 2015 Page 9