panther press - Comstock Park Public Schools

C O M S TO C K PA R K P U B L I C S C H O O L S
PANTHER PRESS
District Contacts
Ethan Ebenstein
Superintendent
[email protected]
Jamie Carnes
Director of Finance
[email protected]
Bob Fidler
Curriculum Director
[email protected]
Missi McPherson
Community Liaison
[email protected]
Jodi Smith
Human Resources
[email protected]
District Phone Numbers
Central Office
Food Service
Transportation
CP High School
Mill Creek
Pine Island
Stoney Creek
Greenridge
254-5000
254-5242
254-5050
254-5200
254-5100
254-5500
254-5600
254-5700
I SS U E
6
FE B. / M A R.
From the Superintendent
“Refinancing Bonds
Saves Tax Payer’s Money”
Even with signs of some economic recovery
in Michigan, school financing remains tight
in our state. The funds we receive that we
have control over spending (discretionary
funding) has still not recovered
to 2008 levels. At the same
time, much like with your
home and personal expenses,
the cost of living and inflation
continue to creep up. Therefore, we are always looking for
ways to reduce our expenditures to increase discretionary
spending for the classroom. At
the same time, we always look
for ways to reduce financial obligations for
the district to save taxpayers money even if
it doesn’t impact discretionary funding.
It is with that last point in mind that Comstock Park Public Schools is very pleased to
Board Members
share that we have recently refunded
bonds to save taxpayers a sizeable sum in
Christy Nowak, President
Denise Clement, V. President the coming years!
Terry Benjamin, Secretary
Over the years, the Comstock Park commuKevin McLellan, Treasurer
nity has been enthusiastically supportive of
Ted Spangenberg, Trustee
the district when bond issues have come
Tom Egeler, Trustee
before the voters. When these bond issues
Michael Brown, Trustee
are approved, we then sell bonds to generate the funds for the various projects. Much
like a loan from a bank, this borrowed
money has interest on it that is paid back
over the life of the bonds.
Comstock Park Public Schools
Much like on a home mortgage, interest
101 School St. NE
rates change and fluctuate over time. Our
Comstock Park, MI 49321
Phone 616-254-5000
Fax
616-784-5404
2 0 1 5
business office, along with financial professionals we work with, keep an eye on
these rates and when the timing is right,
we pursue “refinancing our mortgage” to
a new lower rate. The goal is similar in
that by lowering the interest rate, you
will pay less interest to the bank over the
life of the debt.
We are pleased to share
that we have successfully
sold and refinanced
$10,650,000 in bonds. These
bonds were originally refinanced in 2005 at an average interest rate of 4.83%.
This sale had a true interest
cost of 1.51%.
This bond sale and subsequent refinancing then over the next 15
years will be saving taxpayers over
$1,684,000 in future tax payments. Even
though this doesn’t directly impact the
classroom, these savings do positively
impact Comstock Park residents.
As part of the bond issuance process with
this refunding, a financial rating service is
required to look closely at your district.
Standard & Poor’s Rating Services reviewed the district’s financial condition
and assigned an “A” credit rating to us.
The quality of the credit rating directly
impacted the marketability of the bonds.
In its report, Standard & Poor’s cited a
strong local economy, good budget flexibility and a stable tax base as strengths of
the District.
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Greenridge Contacts
Jodi Miller
Principal/
Special Education Director
[email protected]
Greenridge Elementary
Little Panthers Preschool Open House
Fall 2015-2016
Carie Drake
Secretary
[email protected]
3825 Oakridge
Comstock Park, MI 49321
Phone 616-254-5700
Fax
616-785-9829
PANTHER
PRIDE!
Greenridge Elementary is hosting a preschool open house on Thursday, March
26th from 6:00 – 7:30 pm. We invite you to take a look at our successful programs, meet our preschool teachers and staff, and enter to win prizes.
Little Panthers 4-year-old preschool will prepare your child for kindergarten
through a proven academic curriculum that promotes learning through structure
and play. Your child will be taught Zoo-Phonics, letter and number development,
pattern recognition, basic math and reading and other skills that are all aligned
with the state’s early childhood goals and Comstock Park’s kindergarten curriculum.
We also offer a 3 year-old preschool session. This program is designed as the
first step in getting ready for kindergarten. Your child will benefit from early exposure to counting, number and letter recognition, fine and gross motor activities, classroom structure and social interaction.
Greenridge Elementary is located at 3825 Oakridge, Comstock Park, MI 49321.
Applications will be accepted beginning March 26th. The registration form and a
$40 deposit will hold your child’s spot in our fall program. We look forward to
seeing you there!
Greenridge Programs
3 yr. old Preschool
Tuesday & Thursday
Greenridge Teachers & Staff...
4 yr. old Preschool
Monday -Thursday
Early Childhood Special
Education
Monday - Thursday
Home Community
Monday & Wednesday
or
Tuesday & Thursday
Great Start Readiness
No school on Friday’s
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Stoney Creek Contacts
Stacy Reehl
Principal
[email protected]
Jason Rykse
Vice Principal
[email protected]
Cindy Wildey
Secretary
[email protected]
200 Lantern Dr. NW
Comstock Park, MI 49321
Phone 616-254-5600
PANTHER
PRIDE!
Pine Island Contacts
Stacy Reehl
Principal
[email protected]
Rena Rhoads
Secretary
[email protected]
Pat Calkins
Office Clerk/PBIS Support
[email protected]
6101 Pine Island Dr. NE
Comstock Park, MI 49321
Phone 616-254-5500
Fax
616-785-4176
Stoney Creek and Pine Island Elem.
Chuck E Cheese night is coming on February 26. Come out and support
a great cause—American Cancer Society! A portion of all the sales that
are taken in that night will go towards our team participating in the Relay for Life event. Watch for information that will come home with your
child.
Wash, Wash, Wash your hands! Did you know one of
the most important things you can do to keep from getting sick is to wash your hands? During flu season it is
even more important to wash your hands to prevent the
spread of germs that would result in sickness. Common
illnesses that can be prevented through washing hands
includes: colds,
influenza, food poisoning, Hepatitis A
(food-borne viral illness
that causes
liver inflammation and
gastrointestinal
upset, and Rotavirus
(common
cause of diarrhea),
among many
other things. There are
times when we are doing tasks or we are places where
soap and water are not available. In these situations
another option is to use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
This product will get rid of most of the germs on your
hands. The proper way to use hand sanitizer is to apply a
dime-sized amount to the palm of one of your hands
and then rub both of your hands together until they are
dry. When using this product make sure to cover all
parts of your hands.
The month of February
usually means “love is
in the air!!!”. Remember to take a moment
and tell something that
is special in your life
that you appreciate
them. It is always the
little things that matter!
Until next time……
Hug your child!
IMPORTANT DATES
February 26
Chuck E Cheese night
February 27
5th gr field trip to the symphony
March 3
4th gr field trip
March 10
PTO Meeting
On Thursday, February 12, representatives from NAEP
(National Assessment of Educational Progress) were at Pine
Island administering a test to a randomly selected number
of our Fourth Graders. The tests consisted of Math, Reading, and Science. NAEP tests Fourth Graders across the
United States to measure student achievement nationally
and uses the results to develop ways to improve education
in the US.
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Mill Creek Middle School
Teachers Return as Students!
Mill Creek Middle School teachers spent after school PD time learning how to effectively use
Google Docs in the classroom. Kent Intermediate School District IT instructors led instruction of
two groups of teachers: beginners and advanced users of Google Docs. The advanced group
learned how to expand their use of this tool, while beginners learned the basics of Google Docs.
Google Docs is an online word processor that lets you create and format text documents and
collaborate with other people in real time. Here’s what you can do with Google Docs:








Upload a Word document and convert it to a Google document
Add flair and formatting to your documents by adjusting margins, spacing, fonts, and colors — all
that fun stuff
Invite other people to collaborate on a document with you, giving them edit, comment or view
access
Collaborate online in real time and chat with other collaborators — right from inside the document
View your document's revision history and roll back to any previous version
Download a Google document to your desktop as a Word, OpenOffice, RTF, PDF, HTML or zip file
Translate a document to a different language
Email your documents to other people as attachments
Mill Creek Contacts
Gus Harju
Principal
[email protected]
Robb Hurt
Dean of Students
[email protected]
Ruth Gravelyn
Secretary
[email protected]
Future PD will involve advancing the use of Google in classrooms and instruction.
100 Betty Street NE
Comstock Park, MI 49321
Phone 616-254-5100
Fax
616-785-2464
January
Students
of the
Month
Upcoming Events
Pictured left:
Pictured above:
Olivia Pyard
Britney Ketner
Maddie Van Vliet
Sadie Essex
Sarah Bidgood
Grace Goetzcka
Shelbie Dart
Shaylin Rings
Keegan Peoples
Kayla Fricke
Olivia Pitchure
Kristi Snyder
Leslie Walters
Elijah Ross
Brad Kingman
Andrew Wohlford
Ben Ryan
Kaden Tofferi
Q Martin
D'Angelo Campbell
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Helping Students Learn—Whatever
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February 19
8th gr Student/Parent Meeting
6:30pm @ CPHS
February 20
Variety Show
March 3
Parent/Teacher Conferences
4:00-7:30 pm
March 24
PAC Meeting
7:00 pm
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Comstock Park High School
High School Contacts
Eric Hipple, former Detroit Lions Quarterback, came to the high school to talk with students about depression. The program was grant funded and presented in cooperation
with the University of Michigan and Mental Health Research Association.
Through his “Under The Helmet” campaign, he has reached thousands of
high schools and youth coaches across the country. Eric’s personal tragedy
has prompted him to devote his life to building awareness and to help break
down the stigma surrounding depressive illnesses.
February 23
Mid-winter band concert
February 26
Parent/Teacher conference
Walk-in 3:30-7:00 pm
OK Blue Summit at Comstock Park
Comstock Park High School hosted the OK Blue Summit in January. The other schools that attended were Sparta, West Catholic, and Coopersville. The students shared ideas of successful
events held at their school and collaboratively brainstormed
other projects they may be helpful. It was a rewarding and
friendship building experience for everyone.
March 3
Junior Testing - ACT
March 4
Junior Testing
Work Keys/MME
March 11
NHS Blood Drive
March 17
PAC Meeting
7:00pm
March 18
NHS Induction
6:30-8:00pm
Tony Petkus
Assistant Principal/
Athletic Director
[email protected]
Chris Sposaro
Student Services/Event Coord.
[email protected]
Upcoming Events
February 19
8th gr student/parent
Meeting 6:30-8:30 pm
Steve Gough
Principal
[email protected]
The Winter Spirit Week was held the first week of
February at the high school. It was called ‘The CP Hunger
Games’. Every day the students dressed according to
the theme for the day. There was a door decorating contest and a Trivia Contest between students and teachers.
It was a great week and a refreshing change for the staff
and students to break up the winter blues.
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Leisha Emmorey
Secretary
[email protected]
150 Six Mile Road NE
Comstock Park, MI 49321
Phone 616-254-5200
Fax
616-785-9835
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Tax Assistance
Tax season is here! Need help filing?
If your annual household income is $55,000 or less, you may qualify for free tax preparation through the
United Way Kent County Tax Credit Coalition.
Here are 3 ways to get your taxes filed for free:
*Attend the Community Tax Prep day at Steelcase University. Walk-ins welcome!
 Tuesday, February 17, 2015 from 3-8pm
 Location: 901 44th Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI
*Call 2-1-1 to schedule an appointment now through April 15 with a certified tax prep volunteer.
*E-File online at MyFreeTaxes.com
Click here for a checklist of important documents to have while preparing your taxes.
Happy filing!
Alumni Basketball/Volleyball Game
Helps Fund Tribute Scholarship
On Saturday, February 21 there will be a basketball and volleyball activity day for Comstock Park High School
alumni, staff, and current Comstock Park Public School students. This event will be held at Mill Creek Middle School
and the tentative schedule of events looks like this:
1:00 - 2:30 P.M.
Alumni/Staff Volleyball Game
2:30 - 4:30 P.M.
Free Throw, Hot Shot, Three Point Shooting Contests
(Divisions arranged by age)
5:00 - 6:00 P.M.
Young Alumni Basketball Game
6:15 - 7:30 P.M.
CP Staff Members vs. Alumni Basketball Game
All spectators will be charged $2 admission and everyone is welcome to attend this event. Students that want to
participate in the shooting contests will be charged $2 and alumni and staff members will be charged $5 to participate in the games. All proceeds will help fund the Comstock Park High School Tribute Scholarship. This scholarship
is presented each year to a CPHS graduate that attends Grand Rapids Community College. This $1000 scholarship
goes a long way in helping pay for the GRCC tuition for a student that may not otherwise be able to attend college.
CPHS Science teacher and Tribute Scholarship Committee member, Aaron Peoples, is organizing the event. He is
also being aided by other Tribute Scholarship Committee members and the CPHS Mentors Club. Thanks also goes
out to Pam Kernosky, the manager of the Subway on the corner of Division and West River Drive who donated coupons for free subs to be given away as prizes.
Any Staff or Alumni that are interested in playing in any of the games should email Aaron Peoples at:
[email protected]. Students do not have to pre-register in order to participate.
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Curriculum Director News
Preparing for the M-STEP
By Bob Fidler Curriculum Director
7
Contacts
Bob Fidler
Curriculum Director
[email protected]
616-254-5017
When the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) was asked by our State
Legislature to develop a new student assessment to measure achievement on
our current state standards, the M-STEP (Michigan Student Test of Educational
Progress) was developed. This test replaces the 44-year old MEAP test. Unlike
the MEAP, the M-STEP will be given in the spring. Many of you may have noticed this when you didn’t receive the friendly reminders this fall about assuring
your child is rested, well fed and ready for testing.
The new M-STEP will include test items that are both Michigan-developed as
well as items modified from the multi-state Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium to be unique for this assessment. Some key points for parents to be
aware of are that the assessments will be moving online, they will be given in
the spring, and they will measure current versus previous year student knowledge. Parents may also want to know that there is a slight shift in what subjects are tested at what grade. English Language Arts (ELA)
and mathematics will be assessed in grades 3–8, science in
District Calendar
grades 4 and 7, and social studies in grades 5 and 8. It also
Tues. Sept. 2nd – 1st day of School
includes the Michigan Merit Examination in 11th grade.
Wed. Nov. 26th – Nov. 28th – No School
During the summer of 2014 the State Legislature also reMon. Dec. 22nd – Fri. Jan. 2nd – No School
quired MDE to begin preparing proposals to bid out a stuThur. Jan. 15th – ½ day of School
dent assessment system beginning with the 2015–16
school year. This creates a possibility for another new stu- Friday, Jan. 16th - ½ day of School – End of 1st Semester
Mon. Feb. 16th – No School
dent assessment beginning in 2015–16. This assessment
may or may not be similar to the M-STEP. It also creates
Fri. Apr. 3rd – Friday, Apr. 10th - No School
the possibility for a different assessment for the state’s stuMon. May 25th – No School
dents three years in a row.
Wed. June 3rd – ½ day of School
M-STEP will require students to be tested for longer periThurs. June 4th – ½ day of School - Last Day of School
ods of time and in a new manner (on-line). Although it will
contain materials from the current State Standards that
Comstock Park is using, the exact type and nature of questions and how students use technology to complete the assessment are still greatly unknown to
us.
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Comstock Park Food Service
Comstock Park Schools is pleased to announce two new services now available through our Food Service Point of
Sale (POS) system: sendmoneytoschool.com and LunchApp.com.
sendmoneytoschool.com enables you to view your child’s account history and food choice details at no charge. In
addition, you will be able to deposit money into your child’s account using your debit/credit card. There is a service
fee when utilizing this electronic deposit feature. This web site is easy to use. All you need to begin using this site is
your child’s student ID#. If you have not already received this information in the mail please contact Lisa Nava,
Food Service Administrative Assistant at 616-254-5018.
The second new feature of the POS system is LunchApp.com. This site allows you to fill out an application for Free
& Reduced Meal Benefits on-line. You will no longer need to send in the paper application and, in most cases, your
application will be reviewed and a determination made within one business day. Please remember that a Free &
Reduced Meal Application needs to be filled out every new school year by September 30th.
Randy Kincaid, Director of Food Services stated “We are excited to offer you these new services. LunchApp.com
not only offers a higher level of confidentiality, it is faster, more accurate, and very easy to use. With LunchDeposit.com you will never worry about lost or misplaced lunch money again!”
Food Service Calendar
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Elementary PTO
Thank you for your huge turn-in of Box Tops & Labels for Education! We're
still cutting and counting--winners will be announced soon!
March is right around the corner!
It's Reading Month!
PTO Officers
Tracey Slack, President
Heidi VanOverloop, V. President
Macy Durry, Secretary
Jodie Fish, Treasurer
Be sure to like us on
Facebook at
Comstock Park PTO
Pine Island Book Fair will be 3-9/3-13.
Stoney Creek's Book Fair will be 3-16/3-20.
Spring Goodies Fundraiser will be March 6-23.
Check out the great products, including
popcorn, cookie dough and subs. Pick-up
will be April 17, during a fun Family
Movie Night at Pine Island! Mark your
calendars!
Stoney Creek's VIP Day will be March 20!
Watch for information to come home.
CP Educational Foundation
CPEF Officers
Denise Clement , President
Alex Clayson, V. President
Sharon McLellan, Secretary
Jeff Hoag, Treasurer
Website
www.cpef.weebly.com
The CP Educational Foundation would like to thank everyone who came out on
Saturday, January 31st at Mill Creek Tavern! The night was full of laughter, wonderful entertainment provided by “Pancho and Lefty” as well as special guest
performer, Megan Gough. Special thanks to the awesome performers!
The purpose of the event was to promote the good work that the CPEF provides
in our school district and to get folks excited to join our team!
Our next meeting is slated for Tuesday, March 10th from 6 to 7 pm in the board
room located at Mill Creek Middle School. We are actively making plans for the
upcoming “Hacking for Education” golf outing at Scott Lake Country Club, which
is planned for Sunday, May 17th!
Come and join our team……all are invited and welcomed!
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Northwestern Little League
Baseball/ Softball season will soon be here –
Sign-ups will open on January 1st 2015!
SIGN UPS: this year, the only way to sign up for Little League is through our website at: www.nwll.us
PLAYER EVALUATIONS: to determine team selection, each player’s skill level will
be evaluated by coaches. Keep an eye on the website to see which time you are
to report
evaluations on one of the following dates:
Life for
is
one grand, sweet song,
See our Website
for complete
Details
www.nwll.us
WHEN:
March 7
so start the music.
March 14
~Ronald Reagan
March 21
WHERE:
Mill Creek Middle School – Gymnasium
100 Betty Street N.E. Comstock Park, MI 49321
TIME:
9:00 a.m. until completed
Little League division boundaries are on the website. Please confirm your League
location.
Games are scheduled to begin in late April.
Community Help Needed
The Giving Closet at Greenridge School is in need of items. See our flyer on page 18 for open times.
The purpose of the Giving Closet is to assist families that are at risk. All items are Free.
*Gently used clothing of all sizes
*Food donations—We are gearing up for Spring Break assistance
*Cleaning supplies—dish soap, laundry soap, floor cleaners, bathroom cleaners, etc.
*Paper supplies—Kleenex, paper plates, toilet paper, etc.
*Hygiene items—shampoo, body wash, tooth brushes, deodorant, etc.
*Kitchen items—pots, pans, silverware, dishes, etc.
All items can be dropped off at Greenridge during school hours or at Comstock Park Central Office.
We appreciate your assistance!
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Athletic Boosters
EXECUTIVE BOARD
President - Lisa Dudick
Vice President - Tracie Egeler
Secretary - Annette Dubridge
Treasurer - Julie Endres
Life is
MEETINGS
Meetings are held the 1st Monday of each
month at 7:00PM in the High School Media Center. Next meeting to be held November 3rd.
WEBSITE
Check out the Comstock Park Athletic Page for all
updates and athletic event schedules.
http://comstockparkathletics.com/
2015 Panther Cash Bash
Don't miss out on this years
so start the music.
Panther
Cash Bash!! Its at the Casino Club
~Ronald Reagan
this
year on March 14!!
If you have never been, this is the perfect year to
give it a try! If you love going to the Cash Bash,
don't miss out on the new and exciting things we have
planned. Tickets are $100 for the party raffle and a limited number of
guest tickets will be sold for $50 each. Top prize is $5000!!
one grand, sweet song,
Winter Sports
Boys Basketball
Competitive Cheer
Girls Basketball
Hockey
Wrestling
If you have any questions or
just want to know more about the
Panther Cash Bash, contact
Jen Zalinski at 485-0307.
SAVE THE DATE!
Coming to Comstock Park High School on March 20th, 2015… Pure Passion for Fashion.
P2 is a high energy show that will feature students from the Comstock Park community and surrounding areas, local entertainment, video, music, and current
trends in modest fashion. Students and parents will hear about making healthy
choices and about pursuing their life's passions from internationally-known speakers CD and Melody Fabien. Parents will also have an
opportunity to attend a free parent event prior to the
show, that will include dinner, inspirational speaking,
and prizes. Tickets are available for a suggested
donation of $5/ticket and will be available soon. To reserve your tickets early,
you may email Carrie Parlin at [email protected].
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The Comstock
Park School Band
Boosters is a
group of adult
volunteers whose
main goal is to
help fund and
support the activities of the
Comstock Park
School Bands.
Band Boosters
Band Booster Meetings
First Thurs of every month
7:00PM-8:30PM
Life Skills Kitchen Room (Across
from Band Room)
March 5
April 2
May 7
June 4
Band Booster Board
President - Terry Benjamin
Vice President - Theresa VanLeeuwen
Secretary - Kelly Chizmar
Treasurer - Caroline Dykstra
Trustee - Jen Carpenter
Trustee - Joan Sterken
Trustee - Ted Spangenberg
For information please contact:
[email protected]
Upcoming Performances
Feb. 23 – Mid Winter Band Concert grades 7th – 12th
March 12 – District Jazz Festival at CPHS
March 14 – WMU Jazz Festival
March 21 – State Solo & Ensemble Festival
April 1 – Regional Jazz Festival
April 24 – Hastings Jazz Festival
May 11 – Spring Awards Band Concert
May 28 – Commencement
Fundraising Events
2-16-15 thru 2-27-15
The 2015 Easter Flower & Dreamscapes
Dessert Sale – (pickup 3-26-15) delivery
for Easter.
3-2-15 thru 3-18-15
Ada Valley Sale (pick up 3-26-15)
3-4-15
Buffalo Wild Wings Fundraiser
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Adult Education Classes
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15
FREE
ESL, GED & HIGH SCHOOL
COMPLETION CLASSES
You can change your future in a few hours a week! Attend classes and gain
the skills you need to be competitive in the job market.
Do you need help learning English? We can help you with our English as a
Second Language (ESL) classes.
Take online classes to earn your HS diploma or attend class to prepare for
your GED. You attend, we pay for all 4 of your GED tests!
Students must be at least 20 years old to attend.
CLASSES MEET: Monday - Thursday evenings from 5:15pm -8:30pm or
Tuesday/Thursday mornings from 9:00am-12:15pm
CLASS LOCATION: York Creek Community Center
3999 Alpenhorn Drive NW
Comstock Park MI
Sparta Adult Education
480 S. State St.
Sparta, MI 49345
Main Office: (616) 887-7321
Fax :(616) 887-7503
Jennifer Grimm
Director
[email protected]
Phone
616-887-7321
Call Sparta Adult Education to register or for more information!
(616) 887-7321
**Visit us at www.spartaschools.org of find us on Facebook
Sparta Adult Education
Comstock Park Golden Panthers
About Us
The Comstock Park Golden Panthers is a group that was created to offer a wide variety of programs
and activities to seniors of all ages in the local community. Please feel free to join us for fun, exercise
and socialization! See our School News Network article on the next page!
Location
Greenridge School
3825 Oakridge Ave. NW
Comstock Park, MI 49321
Website
Current Activities
EnhanceFitness – M, W, F 9:30AM-10:30AM
For more information please see our website
http://cpgoldenpanthers.weebly.com/
Are you looking for some travel options? Check out Northview’s Senior Center.
Click Here
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School News Network
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School District Helps Link Seniors with Ways to Engage in Community
by Erin Albanese
Comstock Park Public Schools, MI —
Doreen Empie enjoys exercising in the Enhance Fitness class three mornings a week at Greenridge Elementary
School, working out with a group of seniors.
Going to the class made her aware of Comstock Park Public Schools' Giving Closet, and so she stepped in to volunteer, folding up clothes to donate to families in need.
"I like to help people," said Empie, a Comstock Park resident. "Once I got here I started to do different things... It
really got me more social."
Because the senior population in the area has grown rapidly, Superintendent Ethan Ebenstein is playing a key role in
developing Golden Panthers, creating and spotlighting opportunities for seniors to connect with the community and
school system. Many have had children and grandchildren in the district, and "the school system is that one binding
tie," he said.
More than a dozen seniors regularly attend the class. Another senior who attends has begun to volunteer at school
events.
According to U.S. Census data, the population of people older than 50 increased 32 percent in the Comstock Park
district from 2000-2010; with the total population only growing four percent. The school-aged population only increased 1.7 percent, and the number of adults aged 25-44 actually declined 10 percent.
As an unincorporated area, Comstock Park had no center or main gathering place for seniors or community education program.
Now, Greenridge, the district's Early Childhood Center, is working to become a place for residents in their golden
years to meet and host events. A senior lounge is open to serve as a place for socializing, book talks and even engaging with preschoolers.
"Like the concept of 'It takes a village to raise a child,' this is a village helping your elder members as well." Ebenstein
said. "It falls upon the community to take care of itself and come up with some option," he said.
For the complete article—please click here—School News Network
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KDL
Kent District Library
KDL offers a wide variety of
events, programs, and
classes at little or no cost!
From children's storytimes
to adult computer classes,
KDL has something for everyone! Search events by
visiting our website at:
www.kdl.org
C.P. KDL Branch
Nancy Mulder
Branch Manager
Branch Amenities
Wireless internet
Public computers with internet, word processing, and
other software
Color copier
KDLville early literacy
play space
Teen space
Community meeting room
Ongoing used book sale
Battery recycling drop-off
Sun.
Mon.
Tues.
Wed.
Thurs.
Fri.
Sat.
Hours
Closed
9:30AM-8:00PM
12:00PM-8:00PM
9:30AM-5:00PM
12:00PM-8:00PM
1:00PM-5:00PM
1:00PM-5:00PM
Comstock Park (KDL) Library
Join us for our Spring Programs at the Comstock Park Branch!
Did you know that Kent District Library offers free computer classes at the KDL Service Center,
located at 814 West River Center in Comstock Park? It’s right behind the Wendy’s. You can sign
up for classes like “Computer Basics,” “Digital Photos: Online Editing Fun,” “Email Basics,” and
“Facebook Basics.” To register, just call 616-784-2007 or stop in at the library, where you can
get a brochure of the full list of classes, and to register.
FOR FAMILIES
Family Building Bricks Party
Design, build and bond. Bring the whole family together and create a towering monument using
the library's building bricks. The best part? No big mess at home to clean up!
Saturdays, February 21, March 14, April 18 and May 9, 1:30 PM
FOR YOUNG CHILDREN — AGES 6 AND YOUNGER
Toddler Time
Nurture your toddler's love of books through music, movement and stories while helping to
develop their language, motor and social skills. For children ages 3 and younger.
Mondays, February 2 – May 4, 10:30 AM
Rhyme Time Music and Movement
Move and groove together with action rhymes, songs, games and hands-on musical activities
that will help children develop motor, listening and literacy skills.
Tuesdays, February 3 – May 5, 1:00 PM
Evening Storytime
Bring your teddy bear or other snuggly friend; pajamas optional!
Tuesdays, February 3 – May 5, 6:30 PM
Preschool Storytime
Preschoolers enjoy stories, rhymes, music, movement and more as they build their early literacy skills and develop a love of reading. For children ages 3 to 6.
Wednesdays, February 4 – May 6, 10:30 AM
FOR TEENS — GRADES 6–12
Teen Zone
Teen-only fun for you and your friends at the library! Stop by for activities that may include
board games, food and more.
Thursdays, March 12, April 16 and May 7, 2:30 PM
FOR ADULTS
KD aLe: Home Brewing 101
Join Edward Long from Siciliano's Market and local home brewer Matt Ross for a presentation
on the basics, including ingredients, equipment, process and everything else you need to get
started.
Thursday, February 19, 6:30 PM
The Lit-Wits: A Book Discussion Group for Adults
Get more out of reading! Join us for good company during a friendly, informal discussion. Stop
in and pick up a copy of the book at the library. Snacks provided.
Thursday, February 26, 7:00PM: The Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda
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Community Spotlight
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Tiffany’s Pet Spot
Tiffany Cowart started her pet grooming business with “a table and a tub.” Now
there are three grooming stations and three employees in the suite she rents in
downtown Comstock Park.
Cowart, owner of Tiffany’s Pet Spot at 3979 West River Dr., grew up surrounded by
animals, so it was only natural for her to make animals a part of her life’s work. “My
family would take in dogs, give them a home until we found them new homes,” she
said. “I grew up with cats….we had lizards. “I thought I wanted to work with exotic
animals,” she added.
Cowart, a 2007 Comstock Park High School graduate, took veterinary courses for a
short time but decided school wasn’t for her – she wanted to get right to working
with animals. Cowart enrolled at Paragon School of Pet Grooming in Jenison, and worked as staff there after
graduating as well as taking business courses. She worked at a couple pet grooming salons, and when she decided
to open her own business, she took on a third job at a gas station to support her venture.
Cowart said she knew as soon as she started school at Paragon that she wanted to own her own grooming business and saved money toward that end. Just as Cowart knew what she wanted her business to be, she knew exactly where she wanted to locate her business. “I grew up in Comstock Park, and I thought that right here in
downtown Comstock Park would be a really neat little area,” she said, adding that she finds the rent affordable.
Cowart opened Tiffany’s Pet Spot in 2010 in the 500 square foot space she rents. The three employees work on
commission. In August 2014 Cowart took over another salon in Cedar Springs from the owner who was moving.
There are two employees at that salon, also called Tiffany’s Pet Spot. Cowart said she relies primarily on word of
mouth for advertising.
The salons are full service salons providing all grooming needs for both cats and dogs. Cowart noted she has even
trimmed nails for an occasional rabbit or guinea pig. A full grooming session for a dog can take one to two hours
depending on the breed and the temperament of the dog. “One of our goals is to get the dogs out (quickly) so
they don’t have to sit here all day,” noted Cowart.
During a full session, dogs get bathed, shampooed, brushed trimmed and blow dried (or air dried if the blow dryer
makes them nervous). Fifi or Fido can get a free bow or nail polish upon request. An advantage to her business
location is that there are the restaurants and the library just a block away where customers can wait while their
pet has a spa time. In the summer, Cowart gives customers a coupon for a free doggie sundae at the ice cream
shop in the next block.
Cowart said grooming cats and dogs is as different as, well cats and dogs. “Cats are a little more high stress,” she
said, adding cats are generally scheduled when they have the place to themselves to avoid the stress.
Cowart has three dogs of her own – Trixy and Misty who are standard poodles and one toy poodle named Ducky.
Misty is a retired grand champion expecting a litter of puppies.
Cowart is a certified pet groomer working on the first level of becoming a certified master groomer and hopes to
complete all three levels by July of this year. She will take part in her first grooming competition in March. She still
lives in Comstock Park. She said that when she’s not busy at her salons, her time is pretty much spent showing,
grooming and training her own dogs.
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Community Spotlight
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Victory Sign and Graphics
When Keven and Lynn Hoisington bought their sign company, now called Victory
Sign and Graphics, the business did “zero international business, zero Internet
business,” said Keven Hoisington adding, “Now I would say online sales are forty
percent of our business.”
Besides building their online sales, the couple also built their international sales
and, just for fun, have a map with pins in the countries they’ve shipped to such
as Russia, Germany and Saudi Arabia. Closer to home, travelers on West River
Drive can see signs made at Victory Sign and Graphics at the Whitecaps, the
Rockford Fire Department, and the Comstock Park Library, as well as the sign on
their own building at 4306 Abrigador Trail in Comstock Park.
Wherever their customers originate, it’s likely they found Victory Sign and Graphics on the Internet. Keven Hoisington said they advertise primarily through storefronts on sites like eBay and Amazon. The company provides
vehicle graphics, banners, vinyl graphics, wood and aluminum signs, and more. They also make electrical illuminated signs, although that is a small part of their business. “Bumper stickers to billboards” pretty much covers
what they do, said Keven Hoisington, adding, “If there’s a way to put a logo or a sticker on it, we do it.” Keven
Hoisington said most of their customers are small businesses rather than large corporations, and they have many
long-time customers. “We make our living off of small jobs,” he added.
Keven Hoisington got started in sign making by way of screen printing tee shirts. He started that in the late 1980’s
before computers were used by the industry and said he’s gone through several versions of the sign making and
graphics program he uses. In 1994 he began working at Parris Sign Company, founded by Bill Parris. Parris started
the business in 1960 in his basement and moved a couple of times before building the current building on Abrigador Trail in 1980. Parris’s son took over the business, and the Hoisingtons bought the business from him in
2008, changing the name to Victory Sign and Graphics. Lynn Hoisington said that with the growth they’ve experienced since buying the business, the 2400 square foot building is bulging at the seams.
Neither of the Hoisingtons started out to be a sign maker. Keven Hoisington was a music major concentrating on
percussion at Central Michigan University and planned to teach music. He left school to go to work in 1988. Lynn
Hoisington studied accounting at what was then Davenport College and worked at what was then Grand Rapids
Teachers Credit Union. She put her career on hold to become a partner in Victory Sign and Graphics, and has recently started back to school to earn a nursing degree.
They both like being business owners. “It’s a lot of work, don’t get me wrong, but the freedom of owning a company is wonderful,” said Lynn Hoisington, adding the flexibility of setting her own hours makes it easier to tend to
family matters. Keven Hoisington likes the variety of the work. “Every order is different,” he said. “Every person
has a message they are trying to get across.”
The Hoisingtons live in Pierson and have two children – a son in high school, and a daughter who teaches high
school Spanish. Keven Hoisington is a percussion instructor at Tri-County High School in Howard City and gives
private lessons. He is the music director at Grace Community Church in Howard City, and Lynn Hoisington is an
officer for Women of Grace, the church’s ladies ministry.
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