Cramton Center serves as hostage training site

During a professional development day for staff in mid-January, the Cramton Campus on Lake Nepessing Road, home of Lapeer Community High School, was transformed into a situational training location that was designed to both challenge the preparedness of the building in the case of an emergency situation, as well as allowing for the Special Response Team (SRT) members from the Lapeer County Sheriff Department to conduct valuable situational training in a school setting.

This was the first training of its kind in Lapeer County and involved more than 20 members of local law enforcement. “The scenario was modeled after the recent hostage situation in a high school in Wisconsin,” explained LCHS Principal Kevin Walters. “It was modified to present an opportunity for multiple levels of training and involvement.”

Staff members from LCHS were active participants in the training sessions, which include active shooter, bomb and explosives, barricaded gunman, and hostage situations throughout the day. The day ended with a luncheon and an opportunity to debrief between school staff and law enforcement.

“We would like to acknowledge the outstanding collaboration between the building and the Lapeer County Sheriff Department,” said Walters. He praised the work of Sgt. Andy Engster and Sgt. Don Brady, who worked with Walters to develop the scenario for this training.

Sheriff Ron Kalanquin was present during the training as well. Deputy Dave Hill assisted and is assigned to LCHS by the Sheriff’s Department. Last school year, LCHS enlisted the assistance of the department in providing a critical review of the school’s emergency response and lock-down procedures. Lt. Jim McLain, Sgt. Engster, Sgt. Brady and Deputy Hill from the Sheriff Department assisted in that review as well.

“This is a great example of collaboration between the school and local agencies in the interest of school safety,” Walters noted.

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.

Lapeer Community High School honors Top Graduates

The photos of the Top 3 Lapeer Community High School graduates and the bios are now available for viewing at the photo gallery.

Congratulations to these graduates!

Swing Out 2010 - Photos

Photos of Swing Out 2010 are now posted on the District's photo gallery. This nearly 80-year tradition continued with graduates from Lapeer East, Lapeer West and Lapeer Community High School marching through town and being greeted by friends and family.

Lapeer Community High School senior represents LCS at Thumb Works event

Morgan Kelly, Lapeer Community High School’s top senior, recently participated in the recent Thumb Works Community and Education Day activities.

Morgan participated with other top seniors from Huron, Lapeer, Sanilac, and Tuscola Counties in a roundtable discussion that was moderated by the keynote speaker for the event, Mr. Jim Winter, a former educator and successful business owner from Chicago.

“Morgan did a great job representing both Lapeer Community High School at Cramton and LCS!,” said Lapeer Community High School Principal Kevin Walters. “We are proud of her and her accomplishments as an outstanding example of the quality student that is produced from all three high schools in the district.”

From the information packet:

“In an effort to support the “Best of the Class” from our local school districts, again this year we are pleased to have a panel of Thumb Area high school valedictorians on hand to share their views of “special”. This highly interactive session will allow attendees to gain a different, youthful perspective of special through the eyes of those taking their first steps into life after high school graduation.”

East, West, Community students win honors, awards at State vocational events

Vocational students from Lapeer East, Lapeer West and Lapeer Community High School have scored well in State competitions and some of the students will compete nationally.

Lapeer East and Lapeer West High School students participating in vocational courses at the Lapeer County Intermediate School Education and Technology Center placed in 14 competitions at the Skills USA State Conference the weekend of April 16-18.

To see photos of the top winners at the Skills USA contest go to the District photo gallery.

Two students from Lapeer East, Joshua McDonald (Computer-aided Design) and Colin Hile (Culinary Arts) and one student from Lapeer West, Mark Wells (Welding and Machining) will compete at the Skills USA National Conference as a result of first place finishes at the State event.

One other East student, Corey Uren, placed first in Residential Electrical and HVAC, but will not go onto the national competition because there is no similar competition at the nationals.

Also placing at the State conference was: Lapeer East; Mollie Brennan (2nd -Culinary Arts); Steven Hoffa (2nd-Culinary Arts); Dylan Anderson (3rd-Diesel Technology); Myranda Jenks (3rd-Early Childhood); and Justin Ferguson (3rd-Electronics). Lapeer West students who placed were: Joe Gingiloski (3rd-Collision Repair); Ashlynn Balmer (2nd-Culinary Arts); Deanna Childress (2nd-Culinary Arts); Jessica Gary (3rd-Early Childhood); and Luke Woolner (Welding and Machining).

Competitions included a variety of areas within each discipline, such as events like Team Banquet and Commercial Baking within the Culinary Arts section; and Preschool Teaching Assistant and Prepared Speech in the Early Childhood area.

Students won prizes and scholarships ranging from t-shirts and pins to scholarships worth up to $17,000 at vocational institutions.

Jordan Ging, of Lapeer West, placed second in Personal Care at the Health Occupations Students of America competition at the Grand Traverse Resort last weekend and will now compete nationally at a Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando.

Kaitlyn Brennan, of Lapeer Community High School, Cora Lenneman and Marissa Powell, of Lapeer East were part of a first place team in the floral category at the State FFA competition.

Lapeer East, West and Community High School students honored for art at show

A recent show at Gallery 194 in downtown Lapeer recognized the artwork of a number of Lapeer East and Lapeer West art students who had work selected for the Region 10 Michigan Art Education Association show.

A number of those students were selected for State judging in Lansing. (With the artwork all in Lansing, no photos were available for this article, but we will be putting up high school artwork next week).

At Lapeer West students from Mrs. Nancy Barry’s class were Elizabeth Smith (senior), Cheryse Burns (junior) and Rachel Gillotte (junior). Students from Mr. Jeff Bolzman’s class were Rhonda Vandercook (senior), Cheryse Burns (junior) and Jessica Phelps (senior). Kelly Greenman was selected from Mrs. Julie Fernandez’s eighth grade art class.

Three students of Lapeer East teacher Mrs. Deb Helbig, Kayla Miller (senior), Hillary Davlin (junior) and Ayla Asawasathaporn (senior – two pieces) also had artwork selected for further judging in Lansing.

The 2010 Michigan Art Education Association Region 10 Art Show is a juried art show of student art from Genesee and Lapeer counties.

Other students who had work chosen for the region show were:

Lapeer West: Karley Bauroth (sophomore); Kami Carpenter (freshman); Samantha Chouinard (8th grade); Lisa Noelle (senior); Alexandra Norton (sophomore); Haileigh Sanders (senior); Madison Dearing (8th grade); Abrianna DeBono (freshman); Lauren Gates (senior); Kaylee Hammerstein (freshman); Danielle Holmes (freshman).

Lapeer East: Sharon McCully (senior); Dawn Wesley (senior).

Lapeer Community High School students in Ms. Kelly Wagner’s class: Kayla Bowman (senior); Amanda Ramirez (senior); Sonja Dietz (senior); Magan Hadley (senior); Amanda Swain (senior).

Battle of the Bands this Friday at Lapeer East

High school bands from Lapeer East, Lapeer West and Lapeer Community High School will face off in the Battle of the Bands on Friday, March 12 in the Lapeer East High School auditorium. Doors open at 6 p.m. and music is scheduled to start about 6:30 p.m.

Admission is $5 and the proceeds will help pay for the Leadership Forum of OMNI Council, an umbrella student leadership group made up of students from all three high schools.

Ceremony celebrates Cramton as new home of Lapeer Community High School

Students prepare to cut the ribbon at the re-dedication and open house ceremony of the newly refurbished Cramton building on Tuesday, September 22, 2009. The site now houses Lapeer Community High School.

Cramton re-dedication ceremony and open house set for September 22nd

A re-dedication ceremony and open house at Cramton school, 1220 Lake Nepessing Road, is planned for Tuesday, September 22, 2009.

The ceremony to dedicate Cramton as the new home of the Lapeer Community High School will take place at 6 p.m. with the open house following until 7:30 p.m. The public and press are invited to attend.

The Cramton school is named for Louis C. Cramton, a native of Hadley Township and Republican representative who served in Congress from 1913 to 1931 representing Lapeer and the Thumb Region.

New photos of District construction

Completed Lapeer East High School science lab photos.

Nearly complete Lapeer West High School science labs.

Work continues on the new Zemmer Middle School.

Lapeer West auxiliary gym nears completion.

Move-in day at Lapeer Community High School at Cramton.

2009 Lapeer Community High School graduation

Enjoy the edited version of the 2009 Lapeer Community High School graduation ceremony.

Lapeer Community High School gets new facility, leader for 2009-2010

Lapeer Community High School, a vital program of Lapeer Community Schools, will enter the year 2009-2010 with a new building and a new leader.

Kevin Walters, former principal at Lapeer West High School, was selected to be principal at the alternative high school in its new location at the remodeled facilities at Cramton.

Tim Zeeman, recently the assistant principal and athletic director at Lapeer West High School, will serve as acting principal of Lapeer West High School during the 2009-2010 school year. A new assistant principal will replace Zeeman.

Walters, who has a wealth of experience dealing with at-risk students and recent administrative leadership experience, will bring those valuable assets to Lapeer Community High School.

In his 15-years at LCS, Walters has been a teacher, an elementary school principal and principal at West since 2005. He has a Bachelor’s and Masters degree from Central Michigan University.

Zeeman joined the District in 1996 taught English at Lapeer East until 2005 when he was appointed assistant principal and athletic director at Lapeer West. He has a Bachelor’s degree from Albion College and a Master’s degree from Marygrove College.

“Lapeer Community High School serves a critical role in the education of a unique, but important, group of students in our District,” said Superintendent Debbie Thompson. “We need a leader at Lapeer Community High School who can build and improve the important mission of that school.”

“Tim Zeeman’s appointment to the acting principal position will provide the excellent leadership at Lapeer West High School,” Mrs. Thompson said. “Tim brings his own wealth of experience in the District, community and in leadership at Lapeer West High School.”

2009 Lapeer Community High School graduation ceremony

The 2009 graduation ceremony for Lapeer Community High School students. Lapeer East and West's graduation ceremonies will be up shortly.

2009 Lapeer West High School and Lapeer Community High School Swing Out

This video shows the 2009 Lapeer West High School and Lapeer Community High School graduates during the Swing Out parade.

Cramton work, new Lapeer Community High School facility underway this summer

Work on converting and updating the Cramton facility into the new Lapeer Community High School building is underway. Completion is schedule for late August and in time for students at LCHS to attend classes in their new school.

For more photos go to the District photo gallery.