West, Rolland-Warner choirs are 'excellent'

On Wednesday, March 9th, the choirs at Lapeer West High School and Rolland-Warner Middle School attended the annual district choir festival.

Lapeer West took two choirs, Treble Chorus and Mixed Chorus. Both choirs from West scored "excellent" ratings allowing them to compete in the State Choir Festival on May 3-4th. This is the third straight year that Mr. Thomas Kaiser's choirs earned this honor.

Both choirs are extremely excited to be nominated and to compete in May. Last year, Lapeer West took two choirs to state festival, with one earning an excellent rating. "This year we will try and match last year's results and earn ourselves another plaque to add to the choir room wall." said Kaiser.

The Rolland-Warner choirs also attended the event and earned "excellent" ratings as well. This was the first year that the school has attended.

The choir, made up of 55 seventh and eighth graders, are headed to state festival. This year's Junior High festival will be held May 19th at Central Michigan University.

"I am happy that my choirs did so well yet again. They worked hard to earn excellent ratings, and it is just another achievement for all of my kids"

LCS students perform in honors band concert

More than two dozen high school and middle school music students from Lapeer West, Lapeer East, Zemmer and Rolland-Warner performed in the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association District III Honors Band Festival on Saturday, January 29, at Brandon High School.


Lapeer West High School students participating in the District III MSBOA High School Honors Band Festival included Kayla Haneline, Stephanie Wilcox, Taylor Harvey, Ashley Nugent, Tim Waelde, Deanna Childress, Aidan Smith. Lapeer East High School students included Dakota Hart, Sarah Powers, Whitney Harvey, Hannah Hastings, Keefer Maresh, Alison Gonda, Lillian Miller, Mason Sorenson, Alex Frederick.

Rolland-Warner Middle School students who participated included Sara Burns, Vanessa Sparks, Mark Lutz, Desmond Doneen and Emily Gillis. Zemmer Middle School participants inlcluded Morgan Combs, Shawn Deverell, Blake Clements, Serra Seib, Emily Dice, Meredith Henderson, Mark Lutz.

The Middle School Honors Band was conducted by Roger Weyersberg, director of the Lions of Michigan All-State Band, Low Brass Instructor at Saginaw Valley State University and the retired director of Music in the Ovid-Elsie area schools.

The High School Honors Band was conducted by Scott Boerma, associate director of bands, director of the University of Michigan Marching Band and professor of Conducting at he University of Michigan. He is also an avid composer. The band performed Glimpses, one of his original compositions, at the performance.

The students were nominated by their director and chosen from hundreds of entries around the Thumb, based on outstanding musicianship and participation in solo & ensemble.

Rolland-Warner Band Director Heather Hundt noted, “Their participation is an honor, and they did a wonderful job representing our school and our district and gave an awesome performance Saturday night.”

To view photos from the concert, please visit the Lapeer Community Schools Picasa photo albums at: https://picasaweb.google.com/LapeerCS/MSBOABandFestival#

Trio offers artistic insights to West students

Local artists Deb Keene RuthAnn Mersino and Dale Vronch visited with several dozen Lapeer West students January 10 to discuss their life with their art.

They told students their successes and the challenges of working and running an art business and about their goals and how the students can also enjoy different arts, but that they need to continue their education.

RuthAnn Mersino told the students that after taking ten weeks of basic oil-painting classes, she began experimenting with palette knives. Since 1971, she has painted almost exclusively with palette knives, which she says is faster, cleaner and brings more realism to the subject painted. For 30 years she has been selling her art and teaching her palette knife technique.

Deb Keene is a wilidlife artist that may be best known for her carved wooden feathers. Keene expresses her artistic flair in just about every medium; from oil paints to meticulously precise carvings of woodland creatures and nearly everything in between. The work includes vivid landscapes and a remarkable attention to detail, especially in her wildlife pieces.

Dale Vronch’s home is located in a natural setting that lends itself to many photographic subjects. Dale specializes in nature photography. He explained to students how he can spend many hours searching for unique subjects to capture as images. This could include finite detail, achieved through macro photography, to the wide angle perspective of landscapes.

The discussion was hosted by the West library staff and arranged by library parapo Judi Warnke. Students were invited to learn about the different types of art done by the three artists. They explained to the students how they can sell their artwork, but would likely need another source of income as well. As part of the program the library got a chance to showcase all of the art books that are part of the wide variety on the school library’s shelves.

Photo caption:
Artists Deb Keene and RuthAnn Mersino, and photographer Dale Vronch spoke to students in the Lapeer West library.

For more photos of the visit, please go to: http://picasaweb.google.com/LapeerCS/LocalArtistsVisitWestStudents#

December 2010 West Holiday Concerts

View videos of the December 2010 West High School Choir Concert and the West Band Concert.

West choirs


West band

West trumpeter to perform with all-state band

Lapeer West senior trumpeter Tim Waelde has been selected to perform with the All-State High School Band at the Michigan Music Conference on January 22 at Devos performance hall in Grand Rapids.

All-state band members had to endure a rigorous audition that included required music, scales, and sight reading. A selected panel of judges listened to recordings of all auditions to make the final selections. Students auditioned statewide for this event.

West students serve up pancakes in Project Graduation fundraiser

Lapeer West students donned their aprons and added big smiles as they “took over” the Applebees Restaurant on DeMille in Lapeer at a Sunday-morning fundraising breakfast for Project Graduation.


The pancakes and sausages were cooked up by volunteer Applebees Manager Maggie Edgette and served up by the students. The restaurant opened its doors early for the special all-you-can eat breakfast service.

All proceeds from the November 21 event went to fund Project Graduation for West High School students. West High School’s post-commencement lock-in all-night party will take place June 5 from 10 pm to 5:30 am at the Zap Zone in Farmington.

For a look at more photos from the event go to http://picasaweb.google.com/LapeerCS/WestStudentsServeUpBreakfastAtApplebees#

West students clean up courtyards

A group of students at Lapeer West High School took advantage of some nice weather over the last couple of weeks to clean up the courtyards at the school.


West High Garden Club members were joined by National Honor Society members on Nov. 15 and 22.


The Garden Club is in its second year and works in cooperation with the women of the Lapeer Wildflower Garden Club, who have spent countless hours over the past few years working to beautify the courtyards at West.

The Wildflower Garden Club has planted trees, plants and cleaned up some neglected areas. They have added picnic tables, chairs and other garden features as well.


The student group has helped them in these efforts and has raised money to help fund the improvements. This fall’s clean-up involved Garden Club members and NHS members who wanted to help as well as earn community service hours.

View photos from the cleanup at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/LapeerCS/WestStudentsCleanUpCourtyards#

High School parents to host Lapeer County Prosecutor

Lapeer County Prosecuting Attorney Byron Konschuh will be the featured speaker at a meeting of the Lapeer East and West High School Parent Advisory Councils at 5:30 pm Tuesday, November 9, at the Lapeer East High School Media Center.

Konschuh’s discussion will focus on several topics that affect high schoolers, including bullying and hazing, the use of cell phones, texting and social media such as Facebook and MySpace.

After the prosecutor’s presentation, East and West parents will split into separate building PAC meetings.

Lapeer East High School and Lapeer West High School host combined PAC Meetings throughout the school year. Mr. Roper, Principal at Lapeer East, and Mr. Zeeman, Principal at Lapeer West, look forward to parent involvement at these meetings.

Future meetings are set for January 11th at West; February 8th at East; March 8th at West; April 12th at East; May 10th at West.

West athletes pitch in to harvest for the Food Bank

The Food Bank of Eastern Michigan needed a little help.

This year produced a bumper crop of squash, and there were thousands of them sitting in the fields of the Wiegand Farm in Almont with no one to harvest them.

Athletes at Lapeer West answered the challenge, and 143 Lapeer West athletes spent a good part of the day Tuesday collecting the remaining vegetables for donation to the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan.

The gleaning is part of the high school’s participation in the Channel 12 Spirit Squad which will be at the school Friday for a live broadcast at 5 a.m.

"They're gathering. They're collecting. There's a spirit and excitement about it," West Athletic Director Mary Haslinger told a reporter from WJRT-TV Channel 12.

"You get to be with all your friends and help the poor," added senior Beau Allen.
"I put out a call to all of my athletes, and 143 of them are here today," Haslinger said.

The 35-acre field was owned by George Wiegand, who died this spring. His daughter Cheryl Wiegand Stanek told the television reporter he would approve of the donation. "I just believe this is a gift from my dad from heaven to feed the poor. He always cared for the poor. He gave so much to the poor."

"Every week we're feeding close to 50,000 to 60,000 people. Right now in the fall, with the harvest, you can make squash soup. There are any number of ways the clients are going to use it. It's nice to have fresh produce," said Tracy Fowler-Johnson from the Food Bank.

"We're going to feed a lot of people who couldn't get food anywhere else," senior Jalen Houston told ABC12's Randy Conat.


To view the TV report of the Lapeer West gleaners, go to:
http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/story?section=news/local&id=7745806

Haunted Hallways this Saturday and Sunday at West

The Lapeer West Key Club will be sponsoring its annual Haunted Hallways located at the North entrance of Lapeer West High School.

The dates are Saturday and Sunday, October 23rd and 24th, from 9 am to 4pm. All ages are welcome, and the cost is $2 per person.

All proceeds will go to UNICEF.

West student earns National Merit honors

Lapeer West senior Aidan E. Smith has been named a Commended Student in the 2011 National Merit Scholarship Program.

A Letter of Commendation from the school and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation will be presented to Smith by Lapeer West Principal Tim Zeeman for his scholastic accomplishment.

Aidan, a senior at Lapeer West, is the son of Jennifer and Stephen Smith of Lapeer. He has a 3.98 grade point average and is a member of the Symphony, Marching and Jazz Bands at West. He also is a member of the Cross Country team and is an active member of Quiz Bowl. His plans include applying for a Marine NROTC scholarship and to study animal science at a university yet to be decided.

About 34,000 Commended students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although they will not continue in the 2011 competition for National Merit Scholarships, Commended students placed among the top five percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2011 competition by taking the 2009 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).

“Recognition of high-achieving students is essential to advancing educational excellence in our nation,” said a National Merit spokesperson. “As demonstrated by their outstanding performance in our highly competitive program, the young men and women named Commended Students represent some of the most academically talented students in the country. We sincerely hope this recognition will enhance their educational opportunities and encourage them in their pursuit of academic success.”

20 LCS students earn AP Scholar honors

A total of 20 Lapeer Community Schools high school students have earned AP Scholar Awards in recognition of their exceptional achievement on the College Board’s Advanced Placement Exams.

The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement based on students’ performance on AP Exams.

At Lapeer West, Anastasia Tkach earned a 4.0 grade in three classes to qualify as an AP Scholar.

At Lapeer East, Nicholas McHardy qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award by earning an average grade of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.

Four Lapeer East students qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award by earning an average grade of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams. These students are Kaleb Elwert, Kyle Griffin, Aaron Moskal and Rebecca Wright.

Fourteen students at Lapeer East qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP Exams with grades of 3 or higher. The AP Scholars are Clayton Burke, Ashley Daniels, Joel Dewey, Jacob Lebel, Bradley McCully, Taylor McGuffie, John Nestor, Katryna Peacock, Michael Puskar, Matthew Schneider, Kathleen Sheldon, Christopher Simpson, Devin Verhulst and Caitlyn York.

Of this year’s award recipients five are juniors: Anastasia Tkach, Bradley McCully, John Nestor, Michael Puskar and Christopher Simpson. Tkach graduated at the end of her junior year, and the other four students have one more year in which to complete college-level work and possibly earn a higher-level AP Scholar Award.

The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program provides motivated and academically prepared students with the opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses while still in high school, and to earn college credit, advanced placement, or both for successful performance on the AP Exams.

Lapeer West students host Supreme Court justice

A group of about 60 Lapeer West students played host Sept. 23 to a visit by Michigan Supreme Court Justice Robert P. Young Jr.

Juniors and seniors in Criminal Justice classes were joined by sophomore Civics students as Justice Young spent an hour or more explaining the workings of the state’s court system and fielding questions about the rule of law.

Justice Young was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1999 by Gov. John Engler and is seeking re-election to the high court in the upcoming Nov. 2 general election.

The visit to Lapeer West was arranged by Metamora attorneys Mike Nolan and Tim Turkelson.

Prior to the visit, students spent time in the media center doing independent research on the state’s court structure, getting background material about Justice Young and reviewing the role of the Supreme Court in the justice system and as one of the three branches of government.

During their research students found a number of topics that interested them. “I was very proud of their efforts and ability to question policies in Michigan,” said teacher Carol Noble.

“It was wonderful to see their enthusiasm in the research process. I particularly enjoyed listening to their private discussions concerning their understanding of a ruling and its enforcement.”

“They were thinking outside of the box,” said Noble. “Because there was no major grade attached to this research, I believe that gave them the freedom to read briefs that interested them without the fear of being wrong or working for a specific grade.”

While in Lapeer, Justice Young also paid a visit to a noontime luncheon with the Senior Citizen Police Academy sponsored by the Lapeer County Sheriff’s Dept. and taped an interview with Lapeer County Prosecutor Byron Konschuh for the Lapeer County Crime Scene program, which aired Friday morning on WLCO-1530 AM.

Lapeer West 'clickers' featured on TV-25

Students at Lapeer West High School are excited about the new technology in their classroom that allows everyone to get involved.

A news team from WEYI-TV Channel 25 visited Lapeer West High School Sept. 23 to see the TurningPoint clickers in action.

TurningPoint technologies provides teachers today a way to get all students in the class involved in discussion. Mr. Richard Mayberry's biology class uses the TurningPoint clickers to answer questions in the classroom without having to deal with the embarrassment of giving the wrong answer.

The story aired at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 23, and on Friday, Sept. 24, morning news programs.
To view the story, go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkLhwY6KF_U

New hockey coach at Lapeer West

Lapeer West High School has named Brian Macdonald as its new varsity hockey coach.

The veteran player and coach has been involved with hockey for nearly four decades, beginning as a player on the 1974 State Championship Detroit Catholic Central team, followed by three years of play with the University of Michigan-Dearborn hockey team, which made it to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) championship finals.

Lapeer West Athletic Director Mary Haslinger noted, ”I am excited that Brian has accepted the coaching position, and I am confident that he is the right coach to lead Lapeer West toward contention for a Flint Metro League Championship.”

His coaching career began at Brother Rice High School, and he has been a coach in the Michigan Amateur Hockey Association (MAHA), coaching young players from Mites through Bantams, since 1996.

Macdonald lives in Lapeer and served as an assistant coach in the Lapeer East hockey program for six years, where his son played for four years.

Macdonald says he is excited about the coming season. “We will have a winning attitude,” he said. “I’m looking forward to working with the kids. I want to see them work hard and help them improve their skills.”
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Lapeer West's Nate Smith signs with Concordia University to study, play football

Nate Smith always dreamed of attending college on a football scholarship.

With some hard work and a little twist of fate, the Lapeer West High School senior’s dream has come true. Nate signed a commitment letter on Friday, May 7, 2010 to accept a football scholarship to Concordia University in Ann Arbor. He will play quarterback for the university.

“It’s kind of crazy,” Nate said at the signing ceremony. “Two weeks ago I thought I was going to Alma (College).”

That was before fate stepped in. Anthony Pratley, Concordia’s Offensive Coordinator, said he was watching a game tape for another team when he saw Nate quarterbacking West’s team.

“I said, ‘We have to get a hold of this kid,’ ” Pratley said. Pratley called Nate’s coach, not then knowing that West Coach Mike Smith also is Nate’s father.

Nate is happy that Pratley called. “I’m glad to be going to a good place with good people to play and study,” he said.

His dad and coach, Mike, also is happy for him. “And maybe just a little bit proud,” he said.

Nate’s mother, Lila, and sister, Maddison, a Lapeer West sophomore, also attended the signing ceremony.

In 2009, Nate was named to the Flint Metro League First Team and led West to a 9-2 record, passing for 1,612 yards and 10 touchdowns. He rushed for seven touchdowns. He also lettered in football, basketball, golf and track.

Professional soccer player takes over Lapeer West boys' varsity soccer, girls' jv program

Kenny Uzoigwe, a forward with the Michigan Bucks professional soccer team in Pontiac, is the new Lapeer West High School boys’ varsity and girls’ junior varsity soccer coach.

Uzoigwe, a prolific scorer with several professional soccer teams, is a graduate of the University of Toledo.

At a high school known for its American football, Uzoigwe wants to bring a level of excellence to the other “football.”

“What I want to do is build the program and it’s not going to happen overnight,” Coach Uzoigwe said. “It’s a development process.”

With a retired professor as a father, Uzoigwe understands the term “student-athlete.”

“Education is very important, you play the sport, but you have to make sure you have a good education and a degree to fall back on,” Coach Uzoigwe said. “I am very excited about this opportunity.”

In 2007, Uzoigwe was the Most Valuable Player on the Michigan Bucks team. He has also played for the Major League Soccer Colorado Rapids Reserve team, the United Soccer League Division 1 Charleston Battery and the Toledo Slayers of the United Soccer League’s Premier Development League. He was a goal scoring finalist, member of a PDL Championship team, selected to the PDL All Conference Team, All-Star, All-American teams in consecutive years and was the PDL Conference Leading Goal Scorer in 2006.

He has helped coach at Lake Orion High School, at the Lake Orion Soccer Club and is employed by the Michigan Bucks to conduct youth summer camps as well as play.
“We are very excited to welcome Coach Uzoigwe to the Lapeer West athletic team,” said Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Mary Haslinger. Uzoigwe is married. He and his wife, Melissa Wright, live in Auburn Hills with their twin son and daughter.

Video features highlights of Lapeer West High School choir's holiday concert

Lapeer West High School's choir celebrated the holidays with a special concert in December. View the highlights in this new video.

Lapeer students to honor longtime teacher and coach David "KP" Kirkpatrick

For 30 years, Coach David “KP” Kirkpatrick was devoted to his students as a teacher, counselor and athletic coach.

Coach Kirkpatrick passed away last March after a battle with cancer, but his students have not forgotten the impact he made on their lives.

On Friday, February 12, the students will honor their friend and mentor with “KP Fight Cancer Night.” The varsity boys’ and girls’ basketball teams from Lapeer East and Lapeer West will dedicate their games to him. All proceeds from concession stand sales and a 50/50 drawing on that night will be donated to Katie’s Wings, a charity named after Mr. Kirkpatrick’s late daughter, Katie , that helps cancer patients. A table will be set up during the varsity games to take donations from people who would like to make additional contributions.

“On behalf of my family, thank you to the basketball teams and their coaches for the dedication of the games to KP, and thank you to those organizing the night who have invested so much of their time and energy,” Niki Kirkpatrick, the coach’s wife and a Murphy Elementary School teacher, said. “Whether in the classroom, in the counseling office or on the court, KP put everything he had into what he did. He approached his fight against cancer with the same determination and would have been so humbled by this honor and also so grateful to those supporting the cause.”

During his three decades with Lapeer Community Schools, Coach Kirkpatrick taught biology at Lapeer West and was a counselor at East and West high schools and at White Junior High School. He coached the varsity boys’ and girls’ basketball teams at Lapeer West and lower level soccer at Lapeer East. He coached junior high track at White Junior High School for years and coached youth soccer for the Lapeer Soccer Club.

Anyone unable to attend the February 12 games can still make a contribution by writing a check payable to Katie’s Wings, P.O. Box 458, Metamora, MI, 48455.

Donations can also be mailed: KP Fight Cancer Night, c/o Bill Kinzer or Andy Roberts, Lapeer West High School, 170 Millville Road, Lapeer, MI 48446

Lapeer West to usher in spring with first annual Spring Fashion Show

They are eager for spring at Lapeer West High School and they want to spread the fever.

Sponsored by the Lapeer West Junior Student Council, the school will host a Spring Fashion Show at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 11. The first annual show will feature 20 senior couples in prom attire and local businesses will have displays with incentives and coupons.

The Lapeer West Jazz Band will perform. For the first time ever, the school will crown a Mr. Lapeer West. To enter for a chance to win that honor, sign up in the Counseling Office before Friday, February 12. First prize is $50!

Other events include raffles for prom tickets and prizes.

There also will be the chance to sell your old prom dress. Bring your slightly used dress to be displayed for potential buyers. Dresses will be tagged with the owner’s name, address and phone number along with the size and price. Cost to display a dress will be $5 each or $10 for three, with proceeds going to the student council. Dresses will be accepted for display from 5-6:30 p.m. the day of the fashion show. Dresses that do not sell will be available for pick-up at the end of the show.

Admission to the fashion show is $2 with tickets available at the door.