Board of Education approves north/south boundaries for two new middle schools

The Lapeer Board of Education approved a recommendation that the boundaries for the two new middle schools, scheduled to open in the fall of 2010, be based on whether students lived north or south of Imlay City Road (M-21).

(Top drawing: Architect's rendering of Zemmer Middle School, bottom drawing, Architect's rendering of Rolland Warner Middle School.)

The decision followed a process that began in February with the establishment of a group of 32 parents, staff and a student who worked through a number of demographic issues related to assigning students to the new schools either on a north/south or an east/west basis.
In May, Superintendent Debbie Thompson concluded that less stress from transitions would occur to students based on a north/south boundary.

At the Thursday, June 4th meeting, the Board approved the recommendation. Superintendent Debbie Thompson said that Rolland-Warner Middle School would be the “south” school and Zemmer Middle School would be the “north” school when both open in 2010.

“We are thankful to the members of the committee and their work in providing us with the information we needed to make this important decision,” said Superintendent Debbie Thompson.

Lapeer West High School hosts 2009 Senior Honors Convocation on Tuesday, June 2

More than 125 graduating Lapeer West High School seniors were recognized at the Senior Honors Convocation on Tuesday, June 2nd.

In addition to honoring the graduates for achieving honors or high honors, the students were also presented with a number of scholarships and awards.

Lapeer West also honored its top ten graduates: David Jackson, Brett Cavanaugh, Scott Boller, Garrett Gauthier, Casey Spooner, Brynn Foss, Stephanie Kossak, Caitlin O’Brien, Charlotte Brown, and Daniel Barker.

Bridget Miller was honored as the Outstanding Female Athlete; Ryan Miller was honored as the Outstanding Male Athlete, and Emily Jones was honored as the Detroit Free Press Scholar Athlete Award Winner.

Dozens of students received scholarships and grants worth more than $1 million from a number of colleges and universities. Among the scholarships received were: A full ROTC Scholarship to the University of Michigan Ann Arbor, full tuition to Owen Community College, several Dean’s scholarships to Ferris State University, three full tuition pre-engineering scholarships to U-M Flint, several Trustee scholarships to Kettering University, several geographic region scholarships from Oakland University, an Aquinas Presidential Leadership Scholarship, several Award of Excellence Scholarships to Grand Valley State University, a Presidential award from Michigan Tech, a Merit Scholarship from Northern Michigan University, a Dean’s Scholarship from Saginaw Valley State University, a Freedom and Alumni Scholarship from Northwood University, Honors and Presidential Scholarship from Wabash College, a Presidential Scholarship from St. Mary’s College, a Board of Regents Scholarship from Baker College, a Scholarship from AMDA in New York, and a University of Michigan Ann Arbor Regents Award Scholarship.

Students also accepted more than $50,000 in local scholarship grants, including; $8,000, Lapeer Regional Medical Center; $4,000, Jean and Stewart Thiemkey Scholarship, ZF Lemforder Corporation; $1,000, Michigan Elks Association, Lapeer Fraternal Order of Eagles, Lapeer Education Association, Lapeer County Democratic Party/Cicchini Memorial, Lapeer County Bar Association, Lapeer Alumni Association, Clarke B. Adams Memorial Scholarship, James Niesen Memorial Scholarship, Kayla O’Mara Memorial Scholarship (two awards), Sam Walton Community Scholarship, American Legion; $700, Polish Legion of American Veterans; $500, Frances Klauser Memorial Scholarship, Carl H. Schilbe Memorial Scholarship, Jimmy Thompson Memorial Scholarship, Rod Parsch Memorial, Kimberly Montgomery Memorial Scholarship, Metamora Area Youth Development Association, Lapeer Gold and Diamond Scholarship, Lapeer Steelers Youth Football, Mark Robbins Memorial (three awards), Lapeer Odd Fellows, Lapeer Knights of Columbus (three awards), Lapeer Kiwanis, Lapeer Community Scholarship, Lapeer West Student Council Scholarships (three awards); Maine Rebekah Lodge #319 Scholarship, Irwin Schickler Elementary Scholarship (two awards), Lapeer County EMS Peplinski Memorial Scholarship, Debbie Louis Courage Award (three awards), Pamela Markgraf Memorial Scholarship, Tracey Thompson Memorial Scholarship, Carl Schilbe Memorial, Metro League Student Council, Lapeer County Republican Party Scholarship; $300, Joanne Nelson Memorial Friendship Scholarship, Technical Center’s Teachers Association Scholarship; $250, Peggy Laidler Nursing Scholarship, W. Gordon Hall Memorial; $100, John Philip Sousa Band Award; Lapeer Rotary Award (one computer).

“We are proud of the achievements of our students and thank our community for their generosity and giving to further the education of our fine students,” said Lapeer West Principal Kevin Walters.

Lapeer East High School hosts 2009 Senior Honors Convocation on Monday, June 1

Merit based college and NROTC scholarships with a potential worth of more than $1.5 million to 2009 graduates of Lapeer East High School were recognized at the 2009 Senior Honors Convocation in the Lapeer East auditorium on Monday, June 1st.

(Photo at left: L-R: Alexa Jones: Outstanding Service, Kristen Tomczyk: Patricia Coulter Outstanding Female Athlete, Bryan Bush: Outstanding Senior, Mike Carson: Doug Henley Outstanding Male Athlete, Ashley Hofert: Outstanding Leadership.)

About 130 graduating seniors from Lapeer East were honored for high academic achievement, college awarded scholarships, special awards and distinctions and local scholarship awards.

The Top Ten graduating seniors were also honored, as well as five students who received awards for Outstanding Achievement.

Top ten students were: Bryan Bush, Heather Dix, Ashley Gayheart, Amanda Harvey, Ashley Hofert, Alexa Jones, Samuel Kaczmarek, Danielle Robson, Ellen Tunison and Erin Weisler.

Bryan Bush was honored as the Outstanding Graduating Senior/Christopher Dirks Memorial Scholarship winner; Mike Carson received both the Outstanding Male Athlete and the Outstanding Citizenship/Webster Scholarship; Kristen Tomczyk was honored as the Outstanding Female Athlete/Patricia Coulter Award; and Alexa Jones received the Outstanding Service Award/Henning Scholarship; and Ashley Hofert received the Outstanding Leadership/Webster Scholarship award.

Students received and accepted scholarships to: Albion College, Baker College, Central Michigan University, Concordia University, Eastern Michigan University, Grand Valley State University, Iowa Wesleyan College, Kettering University, Lincoln College of Technology, Marygrove College, Michigan State University, Michigan Technological University, Mott Community College, Northern Michigan University, Notre Dame College, Oakland University, Olivet Nazarene University, Rochester College, Saginaw Valley State University, Saint Mary’s College, Savannah College of Art & Design, Tiffin University, University of Detroit Mercy, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, University of Michigan Flint, University of Notre Dame, Wayne State University.

One of the biggest awards of the night went to Mark Stefani, a High Honors graduate, who received a $180,000 Navy Reserve Officers Training Corps scholarship to attend Old Dominion University.

Students also accepted more than $50,000 in local scholarship grants, including; $8000, Lapeer Regional Medical Center; $4,000, ZF Lemforder Corporation; $2,500, Philip Hart Memorial; $1,000, Michigan Elks Association, Lapeer Fraternal Order of Eagles, Lapeer Education Association, Lapeer County Democratic Party/Cicchini Memorial, Lapeer County Bar Association, Lapeer Alumni Association, Ed and Bonnie LaClair Scholarship, Clarke B. Adams Memorial Scholarship (four-$1,000 awards), American Legion, Sam Walton Community Scholarship; $750, Patricia Coulter Outstanding Female Athlete, Lapeer East Boosters (two awards), Douglas Henley Memorial Male Outstanding Athlete; $700, Polish Legion of American Veterans; $500, Carl Schilbe Memorial Scholarship, Rod Parsch Memorial, Outstanding Service/Henning Scholarship, Outstanding Senior/Christopher Dirks Memorial, Outstanding Leader/Webster Scholarship, Outstanding Citizen/Webster Scholarship, Maine Rebekah Lodge #319 Scholarship (four awards), Marjorie L. Corey/Hadley Chamber of Commerce Scholarship, Metamora Area Youth Development Association, Mark Robbins Memorial (three awards), Lapeer Odd Fellows, Lapeer Knights of Columbus (three awards), Lapeer Kiwanis, Lapeer Community, Lapeer Gold and Diamond Scholarship, Lapeer Steelers Youth Football, Lapeer County Republican Party, Jacob Johnson Memorial (four awards), Irwin Schickler (two awards), Metro League Student Council, Don Hotchkiss Memorial, Debbie Louis Courage Award (three awards), Clarke B. Adams Memorial; $300, Technical Center’s Teachers Association Scholarship; $250, W. Gordon Hall Memorial, Hadley-Murphy PTC, Lapeer County Family Community Education; Lapeer Rotary Award (one computer).

“We have an incredibly generous community that is committed to supporting our students,” said Lapeer East Counselor Susan Wilmers. “I urge students each year to apply early and often to take maximum benefit of so many wonderful scholarships and grants.”

Lapeer West High School student athletes commit to colleges and universities for next year

Four Lapeer West High School standout athletes inked commitments to play sports at the next level in a ceremony at the school Thursday, June 4th.

(Photo: From left to right: Danielle Schoenherr, Ryan Miller, Emily Jones and Stephanie Kossak.)

Emily Jones, captain of the West softball team, will play at Grand Valley State University next year. A 2009 All Flint Metro League selection, Emily was also an honorable mention All-State athlete in 2008. Joining Emily at the ceremony was her coach, Mr. Brad Walker and her parents, Cynthia and Dan Jones. Emily had a 3.9 grade point average.

Stephanie Kossak, accepted a scholarship to continue her volleyball career at the Illinois Institute of Technology. Stephanie was a second team All Flint Metro League selection in 2007 and 2008. Stephanie’s parents, Linda and Jerome Kossak, joined her at the ceremony. Stephanie also had a 3.9 grade point average.

Ryan Miller, who compiled 3,312 rushing yards and 36 touchdowns during his West football career, will play football for Albion College in the fall. In 2007 and 2008, Miller was an All Flint Metro League selection and an All-State honorable mention selection in 2009. His mother, Paula Miller joined him at the signing ceremony along with Varsity head football coach Mike Smith.

Danielle Schoenherr, a First Team All Flint Metro League soccer star in 2008 and 2009, will play soccer next year for Northwood University. Danielle was an All District Team member in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. She had a 3.16 grade point average. Parents Leanne Peterman and Rick Schoenherr joined her in the ceremony.

“These students were more than just good athletes,” said Lapeer West Dean of Students Mike Smith. “They were also good students and good school citizens.”

Lapeer East soccer coach featured in Flint Journal column about sportsmanship

The Flint Journal's Bill Khan did a nice piece on the show of sportsmanship between the Fenton and Lapeer East Girls' soccer teams recently.

Lapeer East, Lapeer West High Schools honor Top 10 graduates for 2009

The Top 10 graduates from Lapeer East and Lapeer West High Schools were honored at convocations at each school this week.

To see the information on each of these high achieving graduates go to the Photo Gallery. The Lapeer East Top 10 are here. and the Lapeer West Top 10 are here.

Lapeer West Top 10 students. Back Row (left to right), Garrett Gauthier, Brynn Foss, Brett Cavanaugh, Casey Spooner, and Caitlin O'Brien. Front Row (left to right) Charlotte Brown, Stephanie Kossak, David Jackson, Daniel Barker, and Scott Boller.

Lapeer East's Top 10 students: Front Row L-R: Heather Dix, Amanda Harvey, Ashley Gayheart, Alexa Jones.Back Row L-R: Bryan Bush, Samuel Kaczmarek, Erin Weisler, Ashley Hofert.Not pictured: Danielle Robson , Ellen Tunison.

Lapeer East High School sewing students making the grade with dresses for Africa

Busy hands in the 8th grade sewing classes of Miss Terry Brennan are working on their final exam grade by making dresses for young girls in Africa from donated pillowcases.

When complete, the sewing students will make about 40 dresses for the http://www.littledressesforafrica.org/ project.

The sewing students are working in teams to ‘fancy up’ the pillowcases with lace, ribbon and bows. Students must use many sewing skills, like elastic casings and making armholes to finish the dresses.

Once completed, the dresses will be given to The First Presbyterian Church in Lapeer and shipped to Africa.

“This is a wonderful way to test the skills of my students and perform a worthwhile public service project at the same time,” said Lapeer East Life Management teacher Miss Terry Brennan.

More photos of the sewing students working on the dresses are at the District photo gallery.

Lapeer West High School athletes to sign commitments to play at the next level

Four Lapeer West High School senior student athletes will sign commitments to play sports at the collegiate level at a signing ceremony in the West media center on Thursday, June 4th at 7 p.m.

On hand will be Ryan Miller who is committing to play football at Albion College, Danielle Schoenherr who will play soccer at Northwood University in Midland, Stephanie Kossak who will continue her volleyball career at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, and Emily Jones who will play softball at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan.

Hadley-Murphy PTC hosts "Farewell Celebration" at the Hadley campus on June 10th

The Hadley-Murphy Parent Teacher Committee invites all Hadley Alumni and the Hadley community to a “Farewell Celebration” at the school from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on June 10th.

The Hadley campus of Hadley-Murphy Elementary School is closing after 50 years of service at the end of the current school year.

Festivities, which include building tours and a hot dog supper, are part of the event.

Former Lapeer West wrestling coach, John Virnich, named to Wrestling Hall of Fame

Former Lapeer West High School wrestling coach John Virnich, who led teams that won back-to-back State Division II championships in 2000 and 2001, was inducted into the Michigan Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame on May 17th at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing.

During his ten year coaching career at Lapeer West, Mr. Virnich coached ten individual state champions, 34 state place winners and 68 state qualifiers. In 2001, Lapeer West High School was ranked 20th in the U.S. and Coach Virnich was named the National Wrestling Coaches’ Association, Coach of the Year for Region 4.

Virnich’s teams also won three regional titles and nine district titles during his tenure.

He was also named Coach of the Year for the State of Michigan in 2001.

Virnich, who is retired from coaching and lives in Port Huron, began and ended his coaching career at Algonac High School, heading there in 2003 after leaving Lapeer West. Before coming to Michigan in 1991, Coach Virnich coached in Illinois and achieved success there as well.

John Virnich never had a losing season as a coach.

“I was blessed to have the opportunity to coach kids,” said Mr. Virnich. “I have good feelings about my time in Lapeer.

Mayfield Elementary 5th Grade Trebuchet Project now available on video at School Tube

Trebuchet projects (catapults) in the fifth grade classroom of Mr. Robert Losinger and the 6th grade classroom of Mr. Joshua Back culminated in a contest Thursday, May 28th, to see which catapult was more accurate. The video shot by the students is now on School Tube.

'Panther' ducks born May 20 find home in Lapeer West High School science courtyard

A Mallard duck and her nine ducklings have taken up residence in an interior courtyard at Lapeer West High School.

Lapeer West secretary Chris Sierakowski believes the ducks were hatched about May 20 and since then the mother has used a small pond in the courtyard to teach her offspring how to swim.

The home, which is right off the Lapeer West science classrooms, seems to be a relatively protected environment for the family.

The school's mascot is normally a Panther, but the ducks seem to be fitting in quite well. More pictures are available here.