Rolland-Warner 7th graders celebrate Chinese New Year

It's the Year of the Golden Rabbit in China, and Rolland-Warner 7th graders celebrated the begining of the Chinese year 4708 on Feb. 11 (delayed because of a snow day on Feb. 3 when the new year began).

Rabbit is a lucky sign. Chinese tradition says the Rabbit brings a year in which you can catch your breath and calm your nerves. To gain the greatest benefits from this time, make it a goal to create a safe, peaceful lifestyle, so you will be able to calmly deal with any problem that may arise.

Students made masks and then took part in a dragon dance that filled the hallway and snaked through the media center and office before returning to the classroom.

The celebration was part of the 7th grade study of the Eastern Hemisphere and in particular the study of China.

For a look at more photos from the event, visit the LCS Picasa album at:
https://picasaweb.google.com/LapeerCS/RollandWarner7thGradersCelebrateChineseNewYear#

East's Donahue 1st girl soccer player to sign with Div. 1 school

She will attend Western Michigan University this fall


Lapeer East senior Ariana Donahue became the first-ever girls soccer player from Lapeer Community Schools to get a scholarship from a Division 1 school February 15 when she signed to play for Western Michigan University this fall.

While at East, Donahue’s accomplishments on the soccer field include starting all four years and earning All- Conference, All-District and All-Regional honors the past two seasons while leading the team in scoring.

She also was named to the All-State Second Team in 2010. Having been designated as Team MVP a year ago, Donahue, who plans to major in either psychology or journalism, also managed to lead the Flint Metro League tn 2009-10 with the most goals scored at 28 and notched 63 points as a junior, placing her fifth in the state for scoring after nabbing Honorable Mention All-State accolades as a sophomore.

“This is great. I’ve been playing (soccer) since I was seven, so this was my goal, to get a scholarship from a Division 1 school, so I’m really happy,” said Donahue. “My family has been with me every step of the way, so it’s really nice to have them here today.

“I really liked the campus and the general feel, but the coach (Suzie Grech) was probably the biggest thing for me. I really liked her. She said I would make a big impact (next season). I think she’s going to play me at center/mid, which is the position I’m used to playing, so I’m really looking forward to it.”

Besides friends and family, also enjoying the glow of Donahue’s on-field success was Lapeer East varsity girls soccer coach Chad Kenny, who helped guide the Lady Eagles all the way to the 2010 regional finals against Bloomfield Hills Marian.

“We take pride in all of our kids, but seeing Ariana accomplish what she’s been able to accomplish on the grander scale has definitely been a special thing,” said Kenny.

Having also considered Central Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University, Oakland University and the University of Wisconsin, Donahue’s development was a multi-faceted process that took many forms over time. This includes spending four years with the Michigan Hawks, the fourth-ranked girls soccer club in the nation.

Donahue’s other notable accomplishments include being the first female soccer player from the county to make the state and regional Olympic Development Program team.

She also boasts an impressive academic record, holding a 3.9 GPA and has been a 4-year starter on the Eagles Cross County Team and a four-year scholar athlete. She was named Academic All-State in 2009 and 2010.

Photos by Michael Selecky
Photo captions:
(top) Ariana Donahue signs her letter of intent to attend Western Michigan University flanked by her father, Richard, sister, Brennah, and mother, Susana.

(bottom)Ariana poses with coach Chad Kenny and teammates at Lapeer East.

East's Sawchuk signs to play at Wayne State

Lapeer East senior Mike Sawchuk on February 10 celebrated his signing of a letter of intent to play football for Wayne State University next year.

Having been projected as a safety by the WSU defensive staff, Sawchuk, who was an All-League defensive back as a junior prior to throwing for 1,201 yards and running for 1,063 yards as a senior, joins a WSU squad that went 9-2 overall in 2010.

“I’ve wanted this ever since I was little,” he told The County Press in an interview. “To finally actually do it is a huge accomplishment. This is the dream, what I’ve always wanted to do” said Sawchuk.

“It means a lot that my family supports me in everything I choose. They’re completely behind me. I’m going to miss my teammates a lot, too. They’re also my family and I’ve grown up playing football with them, so it’ll be really hard leaving them and moving on with a new group of people.”

Having also considered institutions including Grand Valley State University, Ferris State and Michigan Tech, Sawchuk was drawn to the Wayne State campus as much for its academics as anything else, where he plans to become a pre-med major in preparation for an eventual run at medical school.

“This is a great accomplishment for Mike, a real testament to all the hard work he’s put in,” said East football coach Jake Weingartz. “He’s a great kid and is going to a great university and he has an opportunity to play collegiate athletics, which is huge.”

Jim ‘Basketball’ Jones visits Seaton

Using a broad mix of basketball stunts, humor and common sense, speaker Jim “Basketball” Jones kept the crowd “in the game” February 9 as he visited Seaton Elementary with his motivational message.

His focus for the 1st through 5th grade students was on character, putting forth your best effort, teamwork and listening. With a bit of good-natured ribbing mixed in, his message is for kids to live their dream, which he says often means putting yourself out to help others do their best. Randomly selected students got a chance to test their skills alongside Jones and were rewarded with small gifts for their efforts.

Jones’s upbeat message comes from his own life. He overcame dyslexia as a youngster, honed his skills with basketball tricks and performed as a teen at halftime shows with the Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA.

Refusing to let his learning disability define him, he put forth the extra work needed to finally exceed everyone’s expectations and graduate with honors from Bowling Green State University.

Students were captivated as Jones engaged the crowd in his positive message as he ran through his bag of tricks with the basketballs: juggling, dribbling and inspiring balancing acts with the spinning spheres.

His feats included putting his autograph on a basketball with a spinning ball on top of his pen.

The Toledo native has been putting on his show for more than a dozen years, and during that time has visited 3,000 schools in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana.

For a look at addional photos from the day’s events, please visit:
https://picasaweb.google.com/LapeerCS/JimBasketballJonesVisitsSeaton#

East bowler rolls her first 300

From the LA VIEW:
Justice Schihl, a 16-year-old junior at Lapeer East became the first female and first youth bowler to roll a perfect game at Gerlach’s Bowling Center on Feb. 10.

Shihl was bowling during the East high school league, putting her up for Metro League honors. She fired a 176 and 193 in her first two games for a 669 series. She’s been bowling since the fourth grade and is three-year varsity player for East. Brother Austin also bowls for East as a sophomore.

"The closest I’ve ever come to 300 was a 235," Schihl told the View Newspapers Monday as she watched a brand new banner announcing her accomplishment go up above Lanes 3 and 4, where she had been bowling last Thursday. "I knew I was close when I had seven strikes in a row," she added. "I was nervous, but kept it all inside. Everyone was starting to circle around the lanes to watch."

Schihl credits her dad for getting her involved in bowling and she also plays tennis on East’s junior varsity squad.

"I like that (bowling) is all you," Schihl explained. "If you mess up, it’s all on you."

To celebrate, Schihl was taken to dinner by her mom, grandpa and boyfriend.

‘This is just a special accomplishment and I’m going to try to just let that stand as I prepare for the Baker match and then Regionals on Feb. 25," Schihl added. "I especially want to thank my grandpa, mom and stepdad, Tony, for supporting and paying for my bowling.”

Commenting on Schihl’s accomplishment, East coach Anthony Novick said, "I’ve had her for two years. She works hard, is at every practice and is a team captain. She is a leader on the squad and helped the team tie for second place in the Metro League. She made Second Team All-Metro, her first time for the accomplishment. Because she’s just a junior, it will be nice to have her back next year. She’s a good listener, and that helps in her bowling."
The banner that now hangs at at the bowling alley reads: Justice Schihl bowled 300 on 2-10-11. First Female ever @ Gerlach’s Bowling Center.

Photo by Lisa Paine
Photo caption:
Justice Schihl was surrounded by coaches Ken Sexton, Anthony Novick and Cody Crump.

Another big crop of Scholastic art winners

Ten high school artists from Lapeer West and Lapeer East have earned awards in the recent nationwide Scholastic Art competition.

The list of awards include three Gold Key, five Silver Key and five Certificates of Merit earned by nine students from Lapeer West and one from Lapeer East.

Nine students of Lapeer West art teacher Nancy Barry took 12 awards in this year’s regional show. West artists have won National honors in this Scholastics competition 13 times over the years. “Schools are honored to have even a single piece in this juried show,” noted Barry. “The competition is very tough.”

She added, “These students continue to impress me with their dedication and work ethic as well as their talent. To be successful in life these traits are invaluable. The arts connect people more deeply to the world and open them to new ways of seeing as well as improve motivation, concentration and confidence. This is evidenced in the comments from these students. “

The Scholastic art competition is the most rigorous art competition for high school art students. For more than 80 years, students from across the United States have competed in this difficult contest. The Regional show is the first step in what can lead to National recognition. All Gold Key winners go on to compete at the national level. The Gold Key awards will be photographed by professional photographers, and the images will be sent to New York for further competition.

If these Gold Key students are award winners at the national level, they travel to New York City to receive their awards onstage at Carnegie Hall.

Barry quotes Daniel Pink, author of A Whole New Mind, when she notes: ‘“You can’t outsource creativity.’ These students have skills they can use in their work life. I am glad I had a part in their preparation for life.”
The award-winning artists:


Adrianna Allen is in tenth grade at West. She put three pieces into the show and won three awards. This is her first time entering. Her mom also was a student of Nancy Barry.

Adrianna said, “I was surprised to learn that I had won awards in Scholastics, and I am much honored. I worked hard on my pieces, but I did not think that they could compare to the amazing art of other students. It will be exciting to see the other students’ pieces in the show.”

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Kaitlyn Becker is a junior at West. She entered the competition last year and won a Certificate in Drawing.
Kaitlyn said, “The Scholastics art show is a great experience; you get to see the unique work from around the country. You see techniques you may never have seen before.”

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Eric Birkle is a West senior. He is also a student in Barry’s Kendall Dual Enrollment College Drawing class. This was his first time in the show. “After putting in as much effort as I did into this project, I am so pleased to have won a Gold Key!” Birkle said. “I was overjoyed when I heard the news. This piece was of an antique cash register, from about 1900. This is an era that I really respect, due to the great amount of effort they put into designing and making things look appealing to the eye. I hope and strive to show this through my work.”

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Rachael Broecker, a senior at West, won a Silver Key for her drawing of lacrosse players. She spent several hours just drawing the net in the picture. “I worked very hard on this piece so I am really excited to win a Silver Key.”

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Cheryse Burns is a senior at West. She said, “Who wouldn’t be super stoked? I am deeply touched that people enjoy my art in which I have invested countless hours of focus, frustration and annoying perfectionism.”
Cheryse entered a group portrait of herself, her brother and her cousins for which she was awarded a Silver Key. She also entered a charcoal drawing. It, too, won a Silver Key.
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Victoria Hays drew a very detailed drawing of ribbons in spirals. The piece was done in prismacolors and took several weeks of meticulous work to complete. Victoria is a West junior. “Though I have worked with prismacolor pencils before, I have never done a piece as challenging and time consuming as this project. Every inch of this project has taken a great amount of focus, dedication and patience. Because of this, it makes me even more proud of the Certificate in Drawing that my piece received.”

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Paige Tigner won a Silver Key in her first show. She drew her brother hard at work at his desk. Paige had this to say, “I was unsure that this project would even be accepted into the show, let alone receive a Silver Key! So, after spending many hours putting my best effort into every detail, I’m absolutely ecstatic that I’ve been so fortunate.” Paige is a junior at West.

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Emily Prchlik, a junior at West, is interested in fashion design. She made a hat using a felting process. Her piece won a Certificate of Merit in the fashion division. “Receiving a certificate in the fashion division has made me more confident in following my dream to become a fashion designer. It feels great to know that my work can be shown with the other students in the Scholastics show, and that my hard work is being recognized.”

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Paige Vronch won a Gold Key in Fashion for a dress she created using white garbage bags. Paige used the yellow tie section of the trash bags to make a pleated border around the top of the dress. The dress balloons out in layers and flows to the floor.
Paige is a senior in the commercial art class at Lapeer West. “When I found out how I did at Scholastics I was surprised. It made me feel like it was possible for me to enter a career in fashion, even though I’m only a senior in high school.”

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Shelbi Davis, an East senior, earned a Certificate of Merit of in the Scholastic art competition for her drawing of a young woman fashionably dressed for winter, titled “Wonderous Surprise.” She is a student of Lapeer East High School art teacher Debbie Helbig.

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Paige Vronch and Adrianna Allen also earned special awards for a scholarship for a class at The College for Creative Studies in Detroit.

All of the West students study with Mrs. Barry, who has taught at Lapeer West for 37 years and is also the school’s fine arts chairperson. Barry also teaches classes for Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University after school. Students receive college credit for the classes at a reduced cost. One half of the students who received awards are dual enrolled in these college classes and have already started their college careers.

For another look at the winning art and photos of the artists at work in the classroom, visit the Lapeer Community Schools Picasa photo album at: https://picasaweb.google.com/LapeerCS/LCSScholasticArtAwardWinners2011#