Fourth Wednesday student count

The Lapeer Community Schools reported a student head count totaling 6,113 students in the annual Fall Fourth Wednesday student count on Sept. 29.

The total represents a loss of 154 students from the Fall Fourth Wednesday count in 2009.

“The loss of students was anticipated, based on population shifts within the district and in light of an overall decline in population within the state because of the weakened economy,” said Lapeer Community Schools Superintendent Debbie Thompson.

Revenue for state public school districts is based primarily on the semi-annual student counts. A blend of the September count and a February count are used to determine the amount of state funding the district will receive for the current school year. That formula currently provides the District with $7,316 per student.

“This expected enrollment decline was already factored into the 2010-11 budget process,” Thompson said. The District’s 2010-11 budget is $52,062,330.

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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.

Before-school program forming for Middle Schoolers

Kids and Company would like to offer a before-school program middle school students.
The program will be hosted at Rolland-Warner (Zemmer Middle School students will be shuttled from Rolland-Warner to Zemmer).

The cost for the program is $7 per day for child care from 6:30-9:00 a.m.

Students will be offered activities based on their interest such as games, crafts or gym activities.

We require a minimum number of 11 registered children in order to run the program. If you are interested, please call Kids & Company at (810) 667-2454 to be put on a program list.

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

Rolland-Warner students plant pinwheels for peace

Students at Rolland-Warner Middle School were part of a worldwide celebration of the International Day of Peace on Sept. 21.

Students lined the walkway near the entrance of the school with hundreds of pinwheels to mark the event.

Pinwheels for Peace is an art installation project started in 2005 by two Art teachers, Ann Ayers and Ellen McMillan, who teach at Monarch High School in Coconut Creek, Florida, as a way for their students to express their feelings about what’s going on in the world and in their lives.


The project was quickly embraced by their students and the entire school community and by millions of art teachers, teachers, parents, children and adults who desire peace in our world.

The first Pinwheels for Peace were installed on Sept. 21, 2005. Since then, it has grown from 500,000 pinwheels planted the first year, to three million pinwheels in 2009!

Travel advisory for West football fans

Traffic heading into the Friday night (Sept. 24) Lapeer West football game at Swartz Creek will be impeded by the “Bikes to Bricks” motorcycle caravan, which is scheduled to travel down Miller Road through downtown Swartz Creek beginning at 7:00 p.m. (game time).

The caravan is expected to be 3 to 5 miles long. It begins north of I-69 and will be moving at a slow pace. Fans should plan to arrive at the game early to avoid being held up by this event.

East to host College Fair

Lapeer East High School will host its annual College Fair Wednesday, October 6, from 6:30 p.m. until 8 p.m.

More than 50 representatives from colleges, universities and technical schools will be present to answer questions regarding academic programs, admissions and financial aid. High school students and parents from the area are invited to attend.

You may call the Lapeer East Counseling Office at 810-667-2421, ext 3124, for Susan Wilmers for further information.

East Homecoming tickets on sale now

Lapeer East High School will be pre-selling football tickets for the homecoming football game which is on Friday, September 24, 2010. Tickets will be sold to the community in the Lapeer East Athletic Office from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., starting Monday, September 20, through Friday, September 24.

East students can purchase tickets during lunches starting Monday, September 20, through Friday, September 24.

Middle School PTC meets Thursday night at 6:30

The Rolland-Warner/Zemmer PTC will meet Thursday, Sept. 16, at 6:30 p.m. in the Zemmer media center.

Video: Zemmer Middle School Ribbon Cutting

Video: Opening Day for teachers 2010

Procedure in place for receiving free athletic punch card

Consistent with MHSAA regulations, Lapeer Community Schools is expanding the opportunity to receive a free athletic punch card to all families of secondary students who receive free or reduced lunch.

Eligible families will receive a letter from the Lapeer Community Schools Operations Department informing them of their eligibility to receive one free punch card for the 2010-2011 school year.

Families who are interested in taking advantage of this opportunity will then present the letter to the secretary in the Operations Department, 250 Second St., Lapeer, who will give the family a punch card.

We are happy to be able to extend the opportunity for free attendance at Lapeer Community sporting events to the families of our community who have documented financial needs.


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East tennis coach notches 100th boys win

This is a synopsis of a story that appeared in the Sept. 10 Flint Journal

Lapeer East tennis coach Oscar Rodriguez notched his 100th win as a boys coach in a match with Lapeer West on Thursday, Sept. 9.

“It doesn’t feel any different, it’s like having another birthday," Rodriguez said. "It’s just another day.”

Rodriguez has led East's boys program to a 100-86-7 (.536) overall record since 1995.

He is the 22nd Flint-area tennis coach to reach the 100-win plateau coaching boys, the second from Lapeer.

The area record is held is by Rod McEachern, who tallied 338 dual-meet victories at Lapeer West and its precursor, Lapeer High, from 1958-89.

Rodriguez has an overall mark of 252-189-18 (.569), having led the Eagles' girls program to a 152-103-11 (.592) overall record since 1988.

The Flint native is only the eighth area coach to win 100 or more duals coaching boys and girls.

Thursday, East won three of the four singles flights — Nos. 1, 2, and 4 — and No. 4 doubles in three sets to beat the Panthers, 8-0, and improve to 2-2 overall and 1-1 in the Metro League. West fell to 0-2-1 in the Metro.

Capturing three-set victories for East were Henry Peabody (No. 1), Tony Wagner (No. 2), Aaron Marietta (No. 4) and Brandon Kelts and James Apfel (No. 4 doubles).

"I’m going to be around for a long time," Rodriguez said. "I love the opportunity and 'm having a great team. I'm glad I can say I coach at Lapeer East."

Zemmer hosts evening with Prosecutor Byron Konschuh

Zemmer Middle School will host an evening with Lapeer County Prosecutor Byron Konschuh on Monday, Sept. 13, at 7 p.m. in the school cafetorium.

Konschuh’s discussion will focus on several topics that affect adolescents, including the use of cell phones, texting and social media such as Facebook and MySpace. He also will outline the legal ramifications of bullying and hazing. He will be joined by a representative of the Child Advocacy Center.

The presentation is open to the public and parents of all middle school students. It will include a question-and-answer session.

Visitors are asked to park in the rear parking lot and enter through the events entrance at the north end of the school at 1920 W. Oregon in Lapeer.

New Enrichment Classes for Middle School Students

Lapeer Community Schools 6th, 7th and 8th graders can stay active this fall by signing up for a variety of fun fall activities offered through City of Lapeer Parks and Recreation Dept. in cooperation with Lapeer Community Schools.
Sign-up is underway now for:
Flag Football
Flag Cheerleading
Soccer
Competitive Swim
Splash Swim Club
Competitive Dance
Art @ Gallery 194
Actors’ Gym
Ecology in the Parks
Kids’ Night Out

Call 810-664-4431 for details.

Some students qualify for free athletic Punch Cards

Student athletes in the Lapeer Community Schools who participate in the Free/Reduced price lunch program are eligible to receive one free athletic ticket Punch Card per season they play.

The program is designed to make it more affordable for families with documented financial need to attend school sporting events.

The cards can be used to purchase $50 worth of admission to school sporting events.
Each card provides 50 punches, worth $1 each, when paying for admission at the gate. The Punch Cards can be used at regular school sporting events within the Lapeer Community Schools, including both high school (except hockey) and middle school athletic contests.

Additional cards also are available for purchase by students, parents or community members at the school offices at Lapeer East High School, Lapeer West High School, Rolland-Warner Middle School, Zemmer Middle School and in the Operations Dept. at the Lapeer Schools Administration and Services Center. The cards are priced at $25 and can be used to purchase $50 worth of admission to school sporting events. That’s a 50% discount.

Cheering for Jamie

Just over two weeks ago, the Lapeer East Cross Country coaches, along with several team members and parents gathered at the Lake Orion track on a hot Sunday afternoon.
They were there to do what they have been doing for the past four years – cheering on Jamie Caminiti.

Jamie was there to complete a 1.5-mile time trial, competing for a $10,000 scholarship through the Boomer Esiason Foundation. In spite of the fact that the event had to be moved at the last minute from East to Lake Orion, all of these people made the effort to be there for Jamie.

“We cannot begin to express our deepest appreciation and gratitude to everyone – coaches, team members and parents – for all of the support and encouragement that they have given to Jamie in her years at Lapeer East and for being a part of this special day for her,” noted Jamie’s parents, Joel and Sharon Caminiti.


Jamie won the scholarship by running the mile and a half in 9:32. The scholarship will go toward her studies at Cornerstone University, where she is a freshman this fall. The foundation annually awards this scholarship to two senior athletes across the nation with cystic fibrosis (one male, one female) with the best 1.5-mile time.

New school phone system

Thanks to the 2007 bond issue, the Lapeer Community Schools technology department has been busy this summer installing a new phone system.

Every building throughout the school district is involved in the upgrade, which brings a phone into every classroom. The new system was purchased with proceeds from the bond issue approved by District voters in 2007.

The new phones are connected to an internet-based network, which will allow anyone calling from within the District-wide system to contact any of our 400 classrooms and offices by dialing the 4-digit extension.

The new system also will allow teachers to check their school voice mail messages from home or any other outside location.

Most of the bugs have been worked out of the system in preparation for the start of school on Sept. 7. Normally the volume of calls increases with the start of school, so parents may occasionally have difficulty getting through. We ask for your patience.

The conversion to the new voice over internet protocol (VOIP) system provides greater access by staffers to phone communications and also will save the district thousands of dollars each year on its phone bills, explains Lapeer Community Schools Technology Director Nick Ward.

The upgrades to the phone system required a change in phone numbers for some locations in the Lapeer Community Schools. You can find an updated list of building phone numbers by visiting the District website at www.lapeerschools.org. Click on the Contact Us icon at the upper right.

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Many school starting times change

The school bell will be ringing one hour earlier for students in five of the District’s elementary schools this fall.
The “country” elementary schools (Lynch, Maple Grove, Mayfield, Murphy and Seaton) will now follow the same schedule as the “city” elementaries (Schickler and Turrill) to optimize the busing schedule across the district. All elementary school students, grades K-5, will start the day beginning at 8:07 a.m. and end at 3 p.m.
Middle school students in grades 6-8 at both Rolland-Warner and Zemmer will attend classes from 9:07 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
The starting times at the District’s three high schools (Lapeer East, Lapeer West and Lapeer Community) remain the same. East and West students attend classes from 7:25 a.m. to 2:07 p.m. Community High School students go from 7:30 a.m. to 1:55 p.m.