January 2015 - Durand Area Schools

Durand Area Schools • www.durand.k12.mi.us • 989-288-2681
Inside Track
Durand
Varsity Girls
Basketball
Gives Back to
Community
During
the
past
holiday season, the girls
varsity basketball team completed community service hours
and spent their time working and interacting at some local
events. The girls adopted and decorated a Christmas Tree at
the Durand Depot for the Festival of Trees. The team also
volunteered to work the Holiday Dinner hosted by Durand
Depot on December 6th. When the girls were not practicing or working in the community, they found time to make
Christmas cards for the Pediatric Unit at Hurley Children’s
Hospital. The girls and Coach Marv Allen would like to
give a big THANK YOU to Jennifer Johnston for delivering
the Christmas cards on Christmas Day!
John Timmons, a resident of Durand
Senior
Care
and Rehab, is
pictured here
with
DMS
students. Mr.
Timmons donated dozens
of hats that were personally knitted by him. We at DMS
thank him for his generous act of kindness.
Blanket Project Service Learning
Students in English 2 took a little break away from the
traditional English class this week to make blankets for
the homeless. The project was based on a lesson the students learned while reading the book Night written by
Elie Wiesel. The memoir teaches the dangers of being a
bystander. The students made blankets for the homeless to
learn to observe when those are in need, but also respond
to it by being active members in society instead of passive
ones. The service-learning project was partially funded
by a grant from the Durand Educational Foundation.
Superintendent News
“There is nothing permanent except change.”
-Heraclitus, Greek Philosopher
We all know that education is in a perpetual state of
change and it’s not just in how we teach and learn.
Schools are continually reacting to state and federal
mandates, varying levels of funding, and sundry other
initiatives put forth by the Michigan Department of Education. Most recently, you may be aware that Michigan
has selected the SAT and Workkeys to measure career
and college readiness after years of using the ACT as a
college entrance test.
Of course, this isn’t a Durand Area Schools specific
topic; it will have an impact on all of our schools and
children in Shiawassee County and the state. That said,
I felt it was worthwhile to share some of the key points
that are relevant during this time of change. Fortunately
for us in Shiawassee County, we have a resident expert,
A Model District Where Students Want To Be
Robotics
The Durand High
School Robotics
Team has started
their season at
a kickoff and
workshop event
Saturday, January 3rd and Sunday, January 4th. This year brings a new
game challenge called Recycle Rush. The Durand Railroaders Robotics Team 5282 will be working at building
a new custom robot during the next six weeks to prepare
for competitions at Kettering University on March 6-7 and
Mason High School on April 3-4. Information about the
team can be found at team5282.org.
FFA News
Home of the Railroaders!
The Special Area teachers at
Bertha Neal Elementary are
teaching more than Technology,
Spanish, Physical Education,
STEAM, and Music this year.
They are providing math support for students in Kindergarten and First Grade. Each grade
level participates in a Special
Area class every day. Following
their Specials, students receive additional individualized instructional time. Students’ math skills continue to
strengthen through this additional support.
Cleveland Enrichment
Trip Passengers:
There is a second payment of $50 due by January 30th.
Please make checks payable to Durand Middle School.
The Durand FFA Questions? Please contact Amanda Johnson at 288-8772.
recently adopted
Students were able
four families this
holiday season to select baking as
which consisted one of the activities
of 19 community for the Christmas celmembers in need. FFA members obtained wish lists from ebration on December
the community members and then brought in the gifts and 19th. These students
household items. The members wrapped the gifts and the elected to create some
items were picked up by the family members. Many items cookies topped with
were donated by FFA members and alumni along with chocolate kisses.
blankets by Mrs. Marci Long’s English classes. Area and
State businesses, who wish to remain anonymous, also doThe Robert
nated money, food baskets and household items to make
Kerr
“Kerr
this community service project a success and brighten a
Conductors”
holiday for those in need.
is a 4th grade
student leadDurand Area Schools and Board of Education would
ership
team
like to thank the following clubs and businesses for their
comprised of
generous recent donations to Robotics, Holiday Wish for
students who
Kids and Backpack program.
are nominated by their teacher based on academic and
Graff Chevrolet of Durand • State Farm Insurance
social conduct standards. The Kerr Conductors visit the
Donor’s Choose • Durand Rotary Club
Durand Convalescent Center monthly to participate with
Dean Management Services
the residents in craft projects and bingo. The Kerr ConBlackmore Rowe Agency
ductors also are a leadership group who work with 2nd
Durand Lioness Club
grade reading buddies and provide assistance with school
Durand Lions Club
based expectations and positive behavior support.
Kathleen Miller, an employee of the Shiawassee RESD,
who was included in the test selection process. The following information comes from a document she provided
to area schools to simplify understanding the issues involved in this change. Thank you Ms. Miller!
• A joint evaluation committee was formed involving
educators who then evaluated bids based on predetermined criteria.
• The College Board’s bid (SAT) scored 10 percentage
points higher than the next bidder; offered more teacher,
student, and parent support; and was $15.4 million less
than the next bidder.
• Starting in 2016, the SAT will be administered in schools
for free.
• The state of Michigan will be using a re-designed SAT
that will be focused on what matters most for college and
career success and will reflect what Michigan students are
learning in class and aims for more real-world applications and analysis from students.
• Changes include eliminating obscure vocabulary
words, focusing on math that “matters most,” problem
solving in real world contexts and analysis in science
and social studies/history.
• Free test prep materials and online practice tests will
be available for students to get ready for the 2016
SAT test.
• College Board (SAT) also promised professional development and training for teachers to assist in the change.
I suspect you will see even more news on this change
from ACT to SAT in the next several months. The bullet
points above are a portion of the details involved in this
change process. For more information, please visit our
website at http://www.durand.k12.mi.us/ to view more of
Ms. Miller’s breakdown of information involving Michigan’s switch to the SAT for our college entrance exam.
Respectfully,
Craig McCrumb
Superintendent, Durand Area Schools
Durand Area Schools • www.durand.k12.mi.us • 989-288-2681