Check our website www.lapeerschools.org
and click on the School Closing Information icon near the top of the page
TV station – LCS-TV Channel 99
For the most detailed and immediate information, tune in to the following radio stations:
WQUS – 103.1 FM
WMPC – 1230 AM
Other radio and TV stations to listen to:
Radio
WJR 760 AM
WCRZ 107.9 FM
WWJ 950 AM
WHNN 96.1 FM
TV
LCS TV Channel 99
WJBK Fox 2
WNEM Channel 5
WXYZ Channel 7
WJRT Channel 12
WDIV Channel 4
WEYI Channel 25
The decision to cancel the regular school day program usually is made no later than 6:00 AM, if at all possible. Only in unusually severe weather conditions is a decision made the night before.
Although rare, the decision to send students home after the school day has begun may be necessary. A decision to close school early will not be made after 11:00 AM.
Elementary school students will be returned to their school if the bus driver determines that they cannot be left at home. Students needing to remain at school for an extended period of time will be transferred to a Kids & Company site.
Students who are kept home by parents because of unusual or hazardous road conditions in their area will have their absences excused. However, those absences are still counted in the attendance policy.
When necessary to close an individual school because of electrical, plumbing, or other problems related only to that building, it will be announced on radio and TV stations.
Kids and Company will offer child care at Rolland-Warner Middle School for children 2½ through 12 years of age on days when school buildings are closed for the entire day due to weather-related conditions.
When school is cancelled, Enrichment classes and children’s recreation league offerings also are cancelled.
Some after-school activities, are not automatically cancelled when school is closed for the day.
Athletic practices that are still held during school closings are optional. Separate decisions are made on these activities, and the information is available after 1:00 pm on the District’s website (www.lapeerschools.org), on LCS-TV (the District’s Charter cable access Channel 99) and on local radio and TV stations.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
LCS finances get an ‘A’
The Lapeer Community School District has earned an “A” from its independent financial auditors.
Eric Formberg and Andrea Edwards from Plante Moran reviewed the audit results for the 2009-2010 school year for the Lapeer School Board December 2. The results were positive, with a “clean” audit.
This is the highest rating the auditors can give a district, Formberg told board members. “It’s like getting an A on your report card.”
“The auditors have confirmed that our school district provides outstanding value in the community,” said Superintendent Debbie Thompson. “We are at the lowest end of state per-pupil funding,” Thompson added, “and yet compared to other districts, a greater percentage of our funding is going right into the classroom.”
The District and its employees have consistently found ways to do more with less. That’s particularly important in Lapeer County, which has been hit especially hard by the current economic downturn.
General fund revenue for the District has dropped by $4 million (more than 7%) from 2008 to 2010, the audit report pointed out, but nearly 63% of expenditures in 2009-10 were dedicated to instruction, an increase from 60% in 2008.
The Plante Moran audit pointed out that for the last seven years, Lapeer Community Schools have consistently dedicated a higher percentage of resources to the classroom and significantly less to administrative costs than the average of all school districts in the state.
During the presentation to the Board, the auditors noted that the District had again brought the 2009-10 budget in extremely close to the actual final numbers for the school year, differing by only $15,000 on a $51 million budget, or by a few hundredths of a percent.
Auditors commended the Board and the Finance Department for continuing a trend of very accurate budgeting during these economically challenging times.
In supplemental material provided for the board, the Plante Moran auditors noted that Lapeer Community Schools’ per-pupil state Foundation Allowance is the lowest given to school districts across the state. It is nearly $300 per pupil under the state average, $700 per-pupil less than the average of school districts of similar size, and is $5,000 less per-pupil than the highest Foundation Allowance for districts of similar size.
The auditor’s report noted that if Lapeer Community Schools were to receive the state average per-pupil funding, it would add $1.88 million to the District’s annual revenue.
Plante Moran’s Formberg said, “The district has done an outstanding job maximizing what they have to work with.”
Eric Formberg and Andrea Edwards from Plante Moran reviewed the audit results for the 2009-2010 school year for the Lapeer School Board December 2. The results were positive, with a “clean” audit.
This is the highest rating the auditors can give a district, Formberg told board members. “It’s like getting an A on your report card.”
“The auditors have confirmed that our school district provides outstanding value in the community,” said Superintendent Debbie Thompson. “We are at the lowest end of state per-pupil funding,” Thompson added, “and yet compared to other districts, a greater percentage of our funding is going right into the classroom.”
The District and its employees have consistently found ways to do more with less. That’s particularly important in Lapeer County, which has been hit especially hard by the current economic downturn.
General fund revenue for the District has dropped by $4 million (more than 7%) from 2008 to 2010, the audit report pointed out, but nearly 63% of expenditures in 2009-10 were dedicated to instruction, an increase from 60% in 2008.
The Plante Moran audit pointed out that for the last seven years, Lapeer Community Schools have consistently dedicated a higher percentage of resources to the classroom and significantly less to administrative costs than the average of all school districts in the state.
During the presentation to the Board, the auditors noted that the District had again brought the 2009-10 budget in extremely close to the actual final numbers for the school year, differing by only $15,000 on a $51 million budget, or by a few hundredths of a percent.
Auditors commended the Board and the Finance Department for continuing a trend of very accurate budgeting during these economically challenging times.
In supplemental material provided for the board, the Plante Moran auditors noted that Lapeer Community Schools’ per-pupil state Foundation Allowance is the lowest given to school districts across the state. It is nearly $300 per pupil under the state average, $700 per-pupil less than the average of school districts of similar size, and is $5,000 less per-pupil than the highest Foundation Allowance for districts of similar size.
The auditor’s report noted that if Lapeer Community Schools were to receive the state average per-pupil funding, it would add $1.88 million to the District’s annual revenue.
Plante Moran’s Formberg said, “The district has done an outstanding job maximizing what they have to work with.”
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Writing workshop encourages budding authors at Maple Grove
The focus has been on creativity over the last several weeks as 45 students have stayed “after class” for Maple Grove Elementary School’s first Writing Workshop.
The PTA-funded program gives students a look at many aspects of the writing experience. The 1st through 5th grade students got a chance to drop in to a number of writing stations, to explore Poetry, Story Line, Characters, Setting, Brainstorming and Words.
The Maple Grove Writing Workshop is sponsored in part by the Meadow Brook Writing Project, a Michigan site of the National Writing Project. Oakland University is the host university.
PTA parent Christina Hall is a writing teacher at OU and became a part of the Meadow Brook Writing Project when she heard about it through Marshall Kitchens, the director of MBWP and the head of the writing department at Oakland University. MBWP's goal is to help teachers and schools participate in professional development and other programs in order to improve student writing. MBWP sponsored the majority of the event and will fully support any writing activities in Lapeer Community Schools.
The Writing Workshop got a healthy assist from parent volunteers Margaret Tompkins, Lena Kline and Kim Knickerbocker. Maple Grove teachers Rose Rinke, Jacquie Campbell, Kelly Vangel and Lynn Delpy were also part of the team.
The first session on Nov. 22 included a visit from children’s author Dan Waltz, who discussed his books with the students. That session was the first of three, where students explored all aspects of a story and brainstorming. In the next session students created a story or collection of poetry, or in one case a co-authored novel. The works are being put together in a hardcover book. Writing Workshop students at Maple Grove also will participate in a Writing Festival Dec. 16 from 5-7 pm where the children will have the opportunity to share their work with parents and peers.
The Maple Grove program is a pilot for future Writing Workshop and Festivals. “We are looking at doing one in the fall and one in the spring, and the plan is also to create a program that will be duplicated in other schools in the district, “ said Hall.
“I am extremely pleased with how it is going so far, the kids had so much fun, and I can't wait for the rest of the sessions and for future projects in Lapeer.”
Additional photos are available in the LCS Picasa online photo albums at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/LapeerCS/MapleGroveWritersWorkshop#
The PTA-funded program gives students a look at many aspects of the writing experience. The 1st through 5th grade students got a chance to drop in to a number of writing stations, to explore Poetry, Story Line, Characters, Setting, Brainstorming and Words.The Maple Grove Writing Workshop is sponsored in part by the Meadow Brook Writing Project, a Michigan site of the National Writing Project. Oakland University is the host university.
PTA parent Christina Hall is a writing teacher at OU and became a part of the Meadow Brook Writing Project when she heard about it through Marshall Kitchens, the director of MBWP and the head of the writing department at Oakland University. MBWP's goal is to help teachers and schools participate in professional development and other programs in order to improve student writing. MBWP sponsored the majority of the event and will fully support any writing activities in Lapeer Community Schools. The Writing Workshop got a healthy assist from parent volunteers Margaret Tompkins, Lena Kline and Kim Knickerbocker. Maple Grove teachers Rose Rinke, Jacquie Campbell, Kelly Vangel and Lynn Delpy were also part of the team.
The first session on Nov. 22 included a visit from children’s author Dan Waltz, who discussed his books with the students. That session was the first of three, where students explored all aspects of a story and brainstorming. In the next session students created a story or collection of poetry, or in one case a co-authored novel. The works are being put together in a hardcover book. Writing Workshop students at Maple Grove also will participate in a Writing Festival Dec. 16 from 5-7 pm where the children will have the opportunity to share their work with parents and peers. The Maple Grove program is a pilot for future Writing Workshop and Festivals. “We are looking at doing one in the fall and one in the spring, and the plan is also to create a program that will be duplicated in other schools in the district, “ said Hall.
“I am extremely pleased with how it is going so far, the kids had so much fun, and I can't wait for the rest of the sessions and for future projects in Lapeer.”
Additional photos are available in the LCS Picasa online photo albums at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/LapeerCS/MapleGroveWritersWorkshop#
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Lynch families care "A whole awful lot"
Once again the Lynch community has shown that their generosity and giving spirit is alive and well.
Each year the Community Resource Program at the Department of Human Services and other local agencies are in need of personal care items and household cleaning supplies to help low income families and children throughout Lapeer County. Food assistance programs do not allow for the purchase of these very necessary health and hygiene items.
This is the 5th consecutive year that Lynch has participated and each year surpasses the last. In 2009 Lynch received a special commendation from the DHS for having contributed more items than any other school in the district.
This year they passed last year's successful drive by 500 items.
Each classroom held a good-natured contest to see who could bring in the most items. Mrs. Schlusler’s 1st graders won the lower el contest with an outstanding 2,400 items. Thanks to the tenacity and generosity of her students they pushed Lynch way beyond this year’s goal.
Special thanks go to Carter Hornback and his mom Sandy who approached her employer requesting help. Mrs. Hornback’s employer Greenblendz Inc. a company in Bloomfield Hills, generously gave more than 2,200 cleaning and hygiene items from their “green” product line.
Mrs. Jamison’s 4th graders won the upper el contest with more than 300 items brought in. Each class contributed at least 50 items, with many donating 150 or more.
In total, Lynch students collected around 4,000 items.
Mrs. Jamison’s and Mrs. Schlusler’s classes will be treated to homemade hot chocolate and cookies for their efforts.
As the socially aware Dr. Seuss once said, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” Thanks to all of our Lynch families for caring ”A whole awful lot.”
Each year the Community Resource Program at the Department of Human Services and other local agencies are in need of personal care items and household cleaning supplies to help low income families and children throughout Lapeer County. Food assistance programs do not allow for the purchase of these very necessary health and hygiene items.
This is the 5th consecutive year that Lynch has participated and each year surpasses the last. In 2009 Lynch received a special commendation from the DHS for having contributed more items than any other school in the district.
This year they passed last year's successful drive by 500 items.
Each classroom held a good-natured contest to see who could bring in the most items. Mrs. Schlusler’s 1st graders won the lower el contest with an outstanding 2,400 items. Thanks to the tenacity and generosity of her students they pushed Lynch way beyond this year’s goal.
Special thanks go to Carter Hornback and his mom Sandy who approached her employer requesting help. Mrs. Hornback’s employer Greenblendz Inc. a company in Bloomfield Hills, generously gave more than 2,200 cleaning and hygiene items from their “green” product line.
Mrs. Jamison’s 4th graders won the upper el contest with more than 300 items brought in. Each class contributed at least 50 items, with many donating 150 or more.
In total, Lynch students collected around 4,000 items.
Mrs. Jamison’s and Mrs. Schlusler’s classes will be treated to homemade hot chocolate and cookies for their efforts.
As the socially aware Dr. Seuss once said, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” Thanks to all of our Lynch families for caring ”A whole awful lot.”
PTC meeting at Rolland-Warner
The Roland-Warner PTC will meet on Thursday, December 9, at 6:30 pm in the media center. Door prizes will be given to a few lucky winners.
Monday, December 6, 2010
West students host Blood Drive
Lapeer West High School students rolled up their sleeves last week to give the gift of life in the school’s semi-annual Blood Drive.
The West Student Council hosted the American Red Cross Bloodmobile on Friday, December 3, and 52 students signed up to give blood, surpassing the goal for the day. By the end of the day the Genesee-Lapeer Chapter of the American Red Cross had collected 36 pints of blood.
The next Red Cross blood drive at the school is set for March 30.
The Red Cross explains that there is a critical need for blood donors right now. “In fact, someone is counting on you at this very moment to give the gift of life,” notes a Red Cross spokesperson. All blood types are needed, but type O negative donors can make the difference between an adequate blood supply and a shortage.
Anyone interested in donating blood can call 1-800-RED CROSS or visit www.redcrossblood.org/make-donation to find a convenient blood donation location and to schedule a lifesaving blood donation appointment.
Photo caption:
Red Cross Nurse Dawn Moos checks on Senior Chris Collins. Red Cross Nurse Garry Hamm is cataloging blood in the background.
Additional photos are available at: http://picasaweb.google.com/LapeerCS/WestHostsBloodDrive#
The West Student Council hosted the American Red Cross Bloodmobile on Friday, December 3, and 52 students signed up to give blood, surpassing the goal for the day. By the end of the day the Genesee-Lapeer Chapter of the American Red Cross had collected 36 pints of blood.
The next Red Cross blood drive at the school is set for March 30.
The Red Cross explains that there is a critical need for blood donors right now. “In fact, someone is counting on you at this very moment to give the gift of life,” notes a Red Cross spokesperson. All blood types are needed, but type O negative donors can make the difference between an adequate blood supply and a shortage.
Anyone interested in donating blood can call 1-800-RED CROSS or visit www.redcrossblood.org/make-donation to find a convenient blood donation location and to schedule a lifesaving blood donation appointment.
Photo caption:
Red Cross Nurse Dawn Moos checks on Senior Chris Collins. Red Cross Nurse Garry Hamm is cataloging blood in the background.
Additional photos are available at: http://picasaweb.google.com/LapeerCS/WestHostsBloodDrive#
State educators learn from LCHS example
Lapeer Community High School Principal Kevin Walters believes strongly in the Lapeer Community Schools alternative education program.
He was a featured presenter last month at a statewide conference in East Lansing sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Education.
The conference was attended by a group of more than 200 teachers, counselors, social workers and administrators. Walters presented a session on the important role of Alternative Education within the Response to Intervention, a concept designed to provide support to all students, with increased interventions and strategies for students that require more intense support in finding academic success.
“Quality alternative programming, with a commitment to Total Quality Management, has the power to provide a model of genuine success for ALL students”, Walters told his fellow educators.
His November 2nd presentation outlined strategies and approaches in practice at Lapeer Community High School that challenge existing mindsets about alternative education.
“Our Board of Education has continued to place both priority and high expectations for all students, including those in the alternative setting. The commitment to a beautiful facility at Cramton and the presence of high-tech classrooms represents a point of pride for the district and community of Lapeer. The staff at Community High School takes that commitment and our responsibility seriously and, in turn, models those priorities and high expectations for our students on a daily basis”.
“The perceptions of old as it relates to alternative education are being replaced by the reality that our alternative education program is a viable high school setting, flexible to the learning styles of our students and small enough to individualize the educational journey. Many students find academic success for the first time within our program.”
In our current state of High School Reform, the importance of alternative education programs across the state will become more and more evident. We all bear responsibility to educate all students in an effort to prepare them to be productive and contributing members of society. The statewide conference offered an opportunity to highlight the commitment of Lapeer Community Schools to that vision.
Please take the time to stop in at Lapeer Community High School, Cramton campus and visit the program.
Photo caption:
LCHS Principal Kevin Walters with students Kayla Borror and Sarah Emmons.
He was a featured presenter last month at a statewide conference in East Lansing sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Education.
The conference was attended by a group of more than 200 teachers, counselors, social workers and administrators. Walters presented a session on the important role of Alternative Education within the Response to Intervention, a concept designed to provide support to all students, with increased interventions and strategies for students that require more intense support in finding academic success.
“Quality alternative programming, with a commitment to Total Quality Management, has the power to provide a model of genuine success for ALL students”, Walters told his fellow educators.
His November 2nd presentation outlined strategies and approaches in practice at Lapeer Community High School that challenge existing mindsets about alternative education.
“Our Board of Education has continued to place both priority and high expectations for all students, including those in the alternative setting. The commitment to a beautiful facility at Cramton and the presence of high-tech classrooms represents a point of pride for the district and community of Lapeer. The staff at Community High School takes that commitment and our responsibility seriously and, in turn, models those priorities and high expectations for our students on a daily basis”.
“The perceptions of old as it relates to alternative education are being replaced by the reality that our alternative education program is a viable high school setting, flexible to the learning styles of our students and small enough to individualize the educational journey. Many students find academic success for the first time within our program.”
In our current state of High School Reform, the importance of alternative education programs across the state will become more and more evident. We all bear responsibility to educate all students in an effort to prepare them to be productive and contributing members of society. The statewide conference offered an opportunity to highlight the commitment of Lapeer Community Schools to that vision.
Please take the time to stop in at Lapeer Community High School, Cramton campus and visit the program.
Photo caption:
LCHS Principal Kevin Walters with students Kayla Borror and Sarah Emmons.
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