Lapeer East students visit the Newseum

Lapeer East High School Bus 4 students at the Newseum with the Capitol in the background.

Looks like another beautiful day for touring. More photos are here.

Another D.C. photo

Kim Rodela's bus 4 group at the Albert Einstein statue. See the whole set of photos here. For a larger version of the pictures, simply click on them.

More from the East Eagles in Washington D.C.

Top photo is the Bus 4 group at the Albert Einstein statue; second photo is the Chelsea Riley group from Bus 4; third photo is the bus 4 chaperones; fourth is bus 3 today heading for some touring; and photo 5 is a group at the Air Force Memorial today. Stay tuned.

Superintendent recommends north-south plan for middle school students

A recommendation to assign students to Rolland Warner and Zemmer Middle Schools based on a north-south geographic plan was presented to the Lapeer Board of Education at its regular meeting Thursday (May 7th) night.

While both schools appear different in their outward architecture, the interior classroom, music, media center, computer, science, art, cafeteria and performance spaces will be equitable in size and opportunity for both schools.

In February, a group of 32 parents, staff and a student worked through a process that examined a number of demographic issues related to assigning students on an east-west or a north-south basis to two new middle schools set to open in the fall of 2010.

Specific student populations such as special education and economically disadvantaged students were studied in the process. It would not be academically sound to have an imbalance of either of those populations at one school. The negligible difference between a north-south or east-west plan, turned out to be a non-factor in the recommendation.

Superintendent Debbie Thompson researched transition issues that put the most stress on students. Some of those factors are obvious, like elementary students moving into a new building and learning their way around and adjusting to having more than one teacher. Socialization is a huge issue with middle school students.

A survey of current students in the 7th through the 12th grade was done to get information about how they viewed some of these transition issues.

Students noted that social networking was the most important aspect of their middle school experience. Nearly half, or 48 percent of 8th-12th graders said they developed and made new friends when they ended up at either high school after leaving Zemmer Junior High School, and only 28 percent said they met their current friends at Zemmer.

Looking at current elementary populations the Superintendent studied the demographics of keeping students together from elementary into middle school. An east-west plan keeps 74 percent of the students together from elementary school to middle school, while a north-south approach keeps 88 percent of the students together.

The administration believes the two middle schools will, and must, develop a unique identity and not one necessarily tied to which high school to which students will eventually attend.

“New middle schools are not being developed as a ‘junior high school’ program or as appendages to the high schools, but as a unique academic experience designed and focused on this special population of student,” said Superintendent Debbie Thompson.

Each middle school will have its own mascot, school colors and identity. (Zemmer is the bulldog and Rolland Warner is the wolf)

“One thing the new middle school plan will not do is dampen the friendly East-West high school rivalry that both we and our community enjoy,” said Mrs. Thompson “In recent years, the Lapeer East and Lapeer West competition has become a positive force in making both schools better, academically, athletically, musically and artistically. Iron sharpens iron, as they say.”
Many students make and keep friends at the rival high school.

In recent years students from the District’s three high schools have worked, played and shared together in the Omni Council, which was designed to foster better and more healthy relationships between the schools.

The Board of Education will discuss the recommendation at its next work session, May 21, and likely vote on the plan in June.

Students heroic actions make the TV news

Three students who assisted food service staff with a young man who was choking at lunch Tuesday at Lapeer East High School were featured Thursday night on WJRT-TV, Channel 12.

Tonight at 6 p.m. those same three students are to be interviewed on WNEM-TV, Channel 5.

That link will be put up tonight.

Lapeer West Panthers have arrived in D.C.

Eighth grade students from Lapeer West High School have arrived safely in Washington, D.C. for their annual trip. They have had breakfast and are headed to Mt. Vernon for a tour.

More from the Eagles in Washington, D.C.

It appears the weather is perfect for touring in Washington, D.C. today. Here are some photos of the students at the Korean War memorial, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, and walking to Arlington via the Teddy Roosevelt Bridge.

The Eagles have landed in Washington, D.C.

Students and staff from Lapeer East High School have arrived in Washington, D.C. for their annual trip to the nation's capitol. All are safe and sound. Here's a couple pictures taken at the Washington monument this morning.

Lapeer East students who performed Heimlich interviewed for television news

Three students who worked with a food service worker at Lapeer East High School Tuesday were interviewed today for separate news segments on WJRT-TV, Channel 12, and WNEM-TV, Channel 5.

Chris Iloncai, James Richie and Emily Miller each performed the Heimlich maneuver on a student in the cafeteria when food became lodged in his throat.

The Channel 12 broadcast is scheduled for the 5 p.m. news tonight (Thursday, May 7th) and the broadcast date and time for the Channel 5 interview, is a little less clear, but supposed to be on Friday.

If you miss the segment a link to the archived broadcast segments will be put up on the blog.

(Top photo is the Channel 5 interview in the Media Center and the bottom photo is the Channel 12 interview in the cafeteria)

First-graders make annual visits to Safetyville

In what is a first-grade right of passage in Lapeer County, first-grade students are making their visits to Safetyville this spring.

Sponsored by the Lapeer County Sheriff's Department and a number of local businesses, Safetyville is a fun way for children to learn safety tips and techniques.

Sheriff's deputy Stacey Stimson talks to the children about bike and water safety, the importance of not touching guns they may find, avoiding the advances of strangers and the meaning and importance of traffic signs.

The children then have a chance to drive a course that is fitted with signs and traffic signals where they learn to stop, look both ways and then proceed when they have the green light.

Also students are taught how to cross roads and railroad tracks, if they happen upon them.

To see photos of a Lynch and Mayfield class visiting Safetyville go to the District's photo gallery.

LCS honors staff at 2009 Employee Recognition Award Dinner May 5

Service “above and beyond” by teachers and non-certified support staff was honored at the 2009 Employee Recognition Award dinner at the Lapeer Country Club Tuesday night, May 5.

Six teachers, Craig Beachum, at Lapeer East High School, Kathy Hergenreder at Lapeer West High School, Duane Machesney at Lapeer East High School, Oscar Rodriguez at Lapeer East High School, Luanne VanAllsburg at Lynch Elementary School, and Gail Vettraino at Murphy Elementary School, were honored with Distinguished Educator Awards.

Consideration for the Distinguished Educator Award is based on professional skills, personal qualities, educational expertise and involvement and work done with students in extra-curricular activities, as well as student and educational contributions outside the school environment.

Kathy Lynch, Mayfield Elementary School paraprofessional, Hollie Marcola, Lapeer West High School secretary, and Tim Zeeman, Lapeer West High School athletic director and assistant principal, received Distinguished Service Awards.

Distinguished Service Awards are given to non-certified support staff and administrative staff for exemplary job skills, high personal qualities and dedicated service to the District.

Carolyn Stroh, Turrill Elementary School paraprofessional, received the Outstanding Contributor Award.

Recipients of the Outstanding Contributor Award are those chosen based on creativity, innovation and the development and use of ideas that contribute to improved instruction or those who have “gone beyond the call of duty” in supporting District programs and operations.

Lapeer West secretary Chris Sierakowski received the Pam Markgraf Memorial Employee Health and Assistance Program (E.H.A.P. Award.

The E.H.A.P. award recognizes staff for exemplary contributions to the health and welfare of those working in Lapeer Community Schools.

In addition to the awards, the district honored 17 employees who retired following last year’s employee recognition program, but prior to or during this school year and those who have retired or are leaving the district at the end of the current school year: Linda Blauet, Carolyn Botkins, Jan Burkhardt, Pam Ciaramitaro, Cheryl Coulter, Lauraine Ferris, Linda Fisher, Carol Jones, Susan King, Jenis Stapleton Nagle, Joan Petersen-Smith, Roberta Rickett, Sue Sharma, Anita Spencer, Sue Strump, Gale Waun, and Mary Ann White.

Lapeer East, Lapeer West soccer teams hold fundraiser for new varsity field

A dinner catered by E.G. Nick’s and a live and silent auction that starts at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 15th, at Lapeer East High School will raise money to furnish the new varsity soccer field shared by the Lapeer East and Lapeer West High School soccer teams.

Mackinac Island vacation packages, furniture, Tiger and Shock tickets, white water rafting trips, golf packages, painting services, portrait packages, dinner, auto, spa, flowers and animal service gift certificates, along with lessons in wakeboarding, karate and much more will be offered during the silent and live auctions.

Dinner, which includes pasta with marinara, salad, bread, dessert and beverage will be served for $8 for advance tickets and $10 at the door.

Tickets are available at Burke’s Flowers, 148 W. Nepessing Street in downtown Lapeer at the athletic offices at Lapeer East and Lapeer West High Schools, or by e-mail at mebkenny@msn.com.

Three Lapeer East students react to choking student with Heimlich manuever

Three Lapeer East students worked together to help another student choking on a piece of cheese at lunch on Tuesday, May 5th.

The student began choking and a Lapeer East cook attempted the Heimlich maneuver but her relative size to the victim’s did not allow her to get enough pressure to dislodge the food. Two other students, Chris Iloncai and James Richie also attempted the maneuver before student Emily Miller stepped in and forced the food out.

Other kitchen staff went for additional help, but the food was dislodged before it was necessary. The victim was taken to the office, but needed no further medical treatment.

Emily Miller learned the life saving technique at a class in her Health Occupations course at the Lapeer County Intermediate School District’s Education and Technology Center.

“We are proud of the quick actions of everyone involved, particularly our students, in helping this young man,” said Principal Kelly Paige.

“In January, the District provided Heimlich and other food-related first aid training at a January in service for food service employees,” said Scott Smith, Director of Food Services.

Photos (top to bottom): Emily Miller, Chris Iloncai and James Richie.

Seaton students visit R. Michael Supernault Outdoor Education Center

It was the sixth-graders, in Mr. Cory Hoggard's Seaton Elementary School class, turn to visit the R. Michael Supernault Outdoor Education Center on Thursday, April 30th.

Students from around the District have been making their spring trips to the beautiful 80-acre, District owned outdoor classroom in Oregon Township.

Recent rains have filled the ponds and wetlands and the students at one point were greeted by a pair of nesting Canada geese.

Mr. Al Hoppe, the teacher at the outdoor center, led the students on a hike to various ponds and wetlands to collect a variety of spring specimens, such as frogs eggs, larvae and insects.

Back at the center, it was time to sort them out by scientific classifications and then look at them under a stereo microscope in one of the cabin classrooms at the center.

Photos of the students are available at the District photo gallery.