Lapeer East, Zemmer students participate in Watershed study of area creeks and rivers

Students from Lapeer East High School and Zemmer Junior High School joined students from 21 area school districts in collecting water samples as part of a Watershed STEM Initiative to investigate the health of area streams, creeks and rivers. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

The Zemmer students took samples from Farmer’s Creek and the Lapeer East students took their samples from Hunter’s Creek. Back in the classrooms, students analyzed the data from the collections.

Students from Mrs. Karen Hale’s class at Zemmer and from the Lapeer East 8th grade classes of Mr. Chad Kenny and Mrs. Cheryl Butterfield’s 11th and 12th grade Forensic Chemistry classes took part in the river study.
Students will identify issues in the local watershed and develop a project to address it under the program.

In Genesee, Lapeer, and Oakland counties, the work done in Flint River GREEN compliments the on-going monitoring project that the Watershed Coalition has conducted for several years. It also provides information for use by the Genesee County Drain Commissioner in fulfilling responsibilities relative to storm water runoff concerns and abatement.

The Watershed Coalition currently has over 30 classrooms in a number of Genesee County school districts involved in Flint River GREEN.

The Watershed STEM Initiative (WSI), is an extension program of Earth Force’s GREEN (Global Rivers Environmental Education Network) program. Earth Force is a national nonprofit organization focused on engaging young people as active citizens to improve the environment and their communities now and in the future.

Earth Force is partnering with the Lapeer Intermediate School District, the Flint River Watershed Coaltion and the Clinton River Watershed Council to deliver the WSI in Lapeer County.

Through the WSI teachers will become skilled at combining STEM and civic education into service learning projects and using community resources in the classroom. Students will become adept at using their study of science, technology, engineering and math to investigate watershed problems and civic skills to engage community members to solve those problems.

Professional mentors from agencies across the watershed contribute to student learning and awareness. Prior mentors have come from General Motors, the Genesee County Drain Commissioner’s office, City of Flint, the Center for Applied Environmental Research at UM-Flint, TetraTech, Flint River Watershed Coalition, Sierra Club, and Delphi.

Zemmer Junior High School renamed officially to Zemmer Middle School

Zemmer Junior High School officially became Zemmer Middle School in a vote by the Lapeer Board of Education Thursday night.
Opened as Zemmer Junior High School in October 1969, the school is currently undergoing a major renovation to convert it into a 21st Century Middle School. Voters approved a bond in May 2007 that financed the construction of Rolland-Warner Middle School, Zemmer Middle School, District wide technology improvements and other facility improvements.

A ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony is planned for late summer 2010 with the first classes in the new school to begin in September 2010.

Students, parents sought for after-school tutoring progam at Lapeer East High School

Students struggling with courses and parent volunteers are needed to participate in after school peer tutoring programs at Lapeer East High School and Zemmer Junior High School at Rolland-Warner Middle School.

The Lapeer East program – “Your Time” – matches students needing help with particular courses with National Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society students on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. for one-on-one tutoring.

It is also a time for help with completing homework.

The Zemmer program at Rolland-Warner is available to all 7th grade students on Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. National Honor Society students are looking for more students to stop in for help with homework or studies, said parent William Gavette, the coordinator of both programs.

Parents are needed to supervise the programs. All tutoring is done by the honor society students. Parent volunteers will need to fill out a volunteer form, which takes about a month for a routine check to be completed.

“These are great programs and I encourage students needing help with their courses to stop in and take part in the tutoring,” said East principal Kelly Paige.

To volunteer or receive more information on either program contact Mr. Gavette at (810) 417-1559 or by e-mail at: wmgavette@gmail.com.

Zemmer construction moves onward and upward

Real changes can now be seen at the former Zemmer Junior High School site. Construction on the expansion and modernization of the building are well underway.

Masonry work will transform not just the appearance but the size and utility of the new Zemmer Middle School.

To see additional recent photos of the construction please visit our photo gallery.

Parents and students meet the teachers at Zemmer Junior High at Rolland-Warner

The Meet the Teacher night at Zemmer Junior High School at Rolland-Warner drew lots of parents who came to see the new building and meet their child's teacher.

A dream come true!

Students filed into the new Rolland-Warner Middle School this morning as classes began for Zemmer Junior High School at the new facility.

Aside from a few students who needed help finding a classroom or working their new lockers all went well today.

Students from Zemmer Junior High School will be attending classes at the Rolland-Warner Middle School building while construction is completed on a second middle school at the former Zemmer Junior High School site.

(Photo: Students arrive on the first bus to the new school building) More photos available at the District photo gallery.

Phone information for students at Rolland-Warner campus, LCHS, Kids & Co.

(Update: Tuesday, September 8, 2009, phones are now working at Cramton and Lapeer Community High School)

The opening of a new school, the move of Lapeer Community High School and the Kids & Co. program to new facilities, as well as the transfer of fifth and sixth grade Murphy Elementary students to the Rolland-Warner Middle School campus has caused some telephone number juggling.

The phone number for Zemmer Junior High School at the new Rolland-Warner Middle School campus remains the same as at the old site, (810) 667-2413.

Parents of Murphy Elementary School fifth and sixth graders attending classes at Rolland-Warner Middle School during the 2009-2010 school year, should also call the (810) 667-2413 to reach Murphy staff at that location.

The Kids & Co. program, which has moved from its previous home at the Cramton facility on Lake Nepessing to the Rolland-Warner Middle School campus at 333 Demille Boulevard, can be reached at (810) 667-2454, which is the same number as previous years.

A new fiber connection is needed to transfer Lapeer Community High School’s number, (810) 667-2453, to its new home at Cramton. That connection is expected to be completed soon.

Lapeer East, Lapeer West and Zemmer Junior High School orientations set

Lapeer Community Schools would like to remind parents and students of the orientation schedule for Zemmer Junior High School, Lapeer East and Lapeer West High Schools. Orientation will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lapeer East and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lapeer West, except for the make-up session, on the dates below. Lapeer West’s make-up orientation is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lapeer East is located at 933 S. Saginaw Street and Lapeer West is at 170 Millville Road. Zemmer Junior High is located at the new Rolland-Warner Middle School campus, 333 DeMille Boulevard.

Eighth grade orientation is Tuesday, August 25th.

Ninth and tenth grade orientation is Wednesday, August 26th.

Eleventh and twelfth grade orientation is Thursday, August 27th.

A make-up orientation date will be held on Monday, August 31st.

Zemmer Junior High School, located at Rolland-Warner Middle School, 333 DeMille Boulevard, will hold its orientation on the following schedule.

For last names that begin with A-K: Friday, August 28th, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

For last name that begin with L-Z: Monday, August 31st, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Zemmer athletic practice, competition schedule published

Important information for Zemmer Junior High School athletes and their parents is now posted on the District's website.

A letter from Tony Strump, the assistant principal and athletic director, outlining several requirements, as well as a complete fall 2009 sports practice and competition schedule can be found here.

Zemmer Junior High School 2009 Talent Show video

Enjoy the edited video of the 2009 Zemmer Junior High School Talent Show.

Zemmer teachers visit Rolland-Warner, custodians work together to clean new school

Although there is a lot of work yet to be done, much of the interior and exterior construction work at Rolland-Warner Middle School is complete.

A small group of teachers stopped over Wednesday morning, July 29th, to organize their classrooms and prepare for fall classes.

Posing in their hardhats they are (left to right) Christine Newton, Lisa Bjork, Michelle Milk-Mlecsko, and Linda Shamaly. To see larger photos click on the pictures.

A team of custodians is working hard to clean up after 14 months of construction work at the new facility. They stopped briefly for a photo. They are (left to right) Alex Ancona, John Wilson, Dennis King, Tim Tovar, Janeen Hornung, Pete Haggadone, Greg Koski, Dave Peasley, Gary Tripp, and Ernie Saltzman. Camera shy, or missing from the team photo were: Willie Behm, Joe Palazzolo and Pat Hutton.

While at the campus we shot a photo of the new gymnasium that is shined to a high gloss and just waiting for those first students to arrive.

New photos of Zemmer construction work

Late last week, new photos were taken of the construction work at the Zemmer Junior High School campus. Outside grading and interior demolition are well underway.

Work begins at Zemmer Middle School

Demolition work has begun on the facade of Zemmer Junior High School in preparation for more extensive remodeling that will start soon. A few more photos are available here.

Zemmer students enjoy fresh air, make the news

The first wave of students from Zemmer Junior High School to visit the R. Michael Supernault Outdoor Education Center this week were expected to be the subject of an ABC news segment today.

Students from Zemmer will be visiting the Skinner Lake outdoor center in separate groups all week. In the photo at right, instructor Al Hoppe is interviewed by Channel 12 reporter Randy Conat. The segment was expected to run about 5:30 p.m.

In addition to four science stations, students will be working on English Language Arts, math, art and physical education classes at the 80-acre, District-owned center.

To see photos from today's visiting go to the District photo gallery here.

Ground breaking at Zemmer marks exciting new beginning to the future of LCS

A cloudless sky and warm temperatures matched the wonderful occasion of the ground breaking at the site of the future Zemmer Middle School on Wednesday, May 20th.

A large group of parents, students, staff and community leaders were on hand to mark the official beginning of construction work to transform Zemmer Junior High School into a state-of-the-art Middle School. More photos are here.

Students Billy Irvine and Blake Clements, of Seaton; Martin Flores and Brooke Soroka, of Murphy; and MacKenzie Putnam and Brianna King, of Turrill Elementary, led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Superintendent Debbie Thompson welcomed everyone to the event and introduced the Zemmer Band under the direction of Joann Royce which played "This Is My Country."

Board of Education President William Laidlaw thanked the community for the passage of the 2007 and welcomed a bright future for the Lapeer Community Schools with the eventual completion of two new middle schools in the fall of 2010.

The Board of Education members, William Laidlaw, Peggy Bush, John Nugent, Denise Becker, Michael Keller, Michael Nolan and Gary Oyster then official broke ground for the new school.

Following the Board were student participants from several elementary schools that will eventually feed into the new school. Participating were: Logan Morys and Anthony Tholl, of Schickler Elementary; McKenna Carr and Ryan Klingler, of Maple Grove Elementary; Olivia Petrie and Jessica Creason, of Mayfield Elementary; Allison Ciak and Matthew Gizinski, of Lynch Elementary; Billy Irvine and Blake Clements, of Seaton Elementary; Martin Flores and Brooke Soroka, of Murphy Elementary; and MacKenzie Putnam and Brianna King, of Turrill Elementary.

Zemmer Junior High students to study in the great outdoors next week at Skinner Lake

Natural classroom lighting will take on a whole new meaning for Zemmer Junior High School students who will gather at the R. Michael Supernault Outdoor Education Center at Skinner Lake for a full day of classes in a variety of subjects all next week, beginning Tuesday.

Students will work on math, English, art and even fishing skills – part of the physical education program – during their school day at the center.

The center is an 80-acre District owned property in a beautiful, rural setting in Oregon Township. It is primarily used for science field trips for students from Lapeer and other area districts.

There will be eight stations that students will rotate through during the school day. Four of the stations will involve science subjects including, water quality testing, macro invertebrate collection, classification and observation in a lab setting.

For English, students will write about their surroundings, using their senses.

Math will involve using trigonometry functions to measure the height of a tree.

An outdoor art class will have the students drawing what they see around them.

Fishing rods, received through an outdoor health and physical education grant, will be used as part of the outdoor education and physical education class for that day.

Zemmer Junior High student, Braydin Walters, chosen for U.S./Canadian hockey team

Braydin Walters, a Zemmer Junior High School student, was recently selected to play on the Border City Bandits, a blended U.S. and Canadian hockey team. The team consists of players from Ontario and Michigan and will compete in elite AAA tournaments over the next three years during the spring and summer.

Scouts from the team identified Braydin and scouted him for a year before contacting his parents, Kevin and Candi Walters. Kevin Walters is principal at Lapeer West High School.

Braydin was recently named Most Valuable Player of the 2009 Bantam Spring Showcase Tournament in Port Huron.

Last season, Braydin scored 50 goals and had 28 assists (78 points) in 41 games.

“Braydin has been very blessed to be offered these opportunities at such a young age,” said Kevin Walters. “Candi and I are truly proud of him.”

Superintendent recommends north-south plan for middle school students

A recommendation to assign students to Rolland Warner and Zemmer Middle Schools based on a north-south geographic plan was presented to the Lapeer Board of Education at its regular meeting Thursday (May 7th) night.

While both schools appear different in their outward architecture, the interior classroom, music, media center, computer, science, art, cafeteria and performance spaces will be equitable in size and opportunity for both schools.

In February, a group of 32 parents, staff and a student worked through a process that examined a number of demographic issues related to assigning students on an east-west or a north-south basis to two new middle schools set to open in the fall of 2010.

Specific student populations such as special education and economically disadvantaged students were studied in the process. It would not be academically sound to have an imbalance of either of those populations at one school. The negligible difference between a north-south or east-west plan, turned out to be a non-factor in the recommendation.

Superintendent Debbie Thompson researched transition issues that put the most stress on students. Some of those factors are obvious, like elementary students moving into a new building and learning their way around and adjusting to having more than one teacher. Socialization is a huge issue with middle school students.

A survey of current students in the 7th through the 12th grade was done to get information about how they viewed some of these transition issues.

Students noted that social networking was the most important aspect of their middle school experience. Nearly half, or 48 percent of 8th-12th graders said they developed and made new friends when they ended up at either high school after leaving Zemmer Junior High School, and only 28 percent said they met their current friends at Zemmer.

Looking at current elementary populations the Superintendent studied the demographics of keeping students together from elementary into middle school. An east-west plan keeps 74 percent of the students together from elementary school to middle school, while a north-south approach keeps 88 percent of the students together.

The administration believes the two middle schools will, and must, develop a unique identity and not one necessarily tied to which high school to which students will eventually attend.

“New middle schools are not being developed as a ‘junior high school’ program or as appendages to the high schools, but as a unique academic experience designed and focused on this special population of student,” said Superintendent Debbie Thompson.

Each middle school will have its own mascot, school colors and identity. (Zemmer is the bulldog and Rolland Warner is the wolf)

“One thing the new middle school plan will not do is dampen the friendly East-West high school rivalry that both we and our community enjoy,” said Mrs. Thompson “In recent years, the Lapeer East and Lapeer West competition has become a positive force in making both schools better, academically, athletically, musically and artistically. Iron sharpens iron, as they say.”
Many students make and keep friends at the rival high school.

In recent years students from the District’s three high schools have worked, played and shared together in the Omni Council, which was designed to foster better and more healthy relationships between the schools.

The Board of Education will discuss the recommendation at its next work session, May 21, and likely vote on the plan in June.

Come join in the May 20 ground-breaking for the new Zemmer Middle School

Exactly a year to the day after Lapeer Community Schools' broke ground on a new Rolland Warner Middle School, the District will break ground on the second half of the project, the new Zemmer Middle School at the site of the current Zemmer Junior High School.

The public is invited to the ground-breaking ceremony at 6 p.m. on May 20th at Zemmer Junior High School at 1920 Oregon Road in Lapeer.

This is an exciting event and one that opens another chapter in the history of the District.

Demolition and construction work will begin at Zemmer immediately after school is out.

Today we shot new photos of the construction work currently in progress at the Rolland Warner Middle School facility. To view a progression of photos beginning last May go the District photo gallery.

'Empty Bowls' fund raiser at Zemmer "Fine Arts Night" nets $1,232 for soup kitchen

An evening of band and theater arts performances by Zemmer Junior High School students, as well as student art displays, and an “Empty Bowls” fundraiser, collected more than $1,232 for a local soup kitchen, Thursday, April 16th.

Participants purchased a student-crafted bowl and then chose from a variety of homemade soups at the fundraiser.

Students in the Theater Arts program under the direction of Mrs. Karen Hale, presented a play in the theater arts room and band students under the direction of Mrs. JoAnn Royce, presented selected musical pieces in the gymnasium.

All donations from the event will go to the soup kitchen at Grace Episcopal Church.
Photos are available on the District photo gallery here.